The Rev. Frank Logue
King of Peace Episcopal Church
Kingsland, Georgia
March 7, 2004

Chosen to Choose
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 and Luke 13:22-35

This morning’s Old Testament reading recounts Abraham’s covenant with God. When we speak of the Jews as God’s chosen people, this is the point where they are picked. Abram, as he is still known at this point in the story, is childless, yet God promises descendants as numerous as the stars filling the sky over the desert on a cloudless night.  

I was reminded of a satire news article I read a couple of years ago and a search of the Internet turned the piece up. It’s not factual, but it is funny by how true it seems. The SatireWire.com[1] article said in part,  

Jews, whose troubled, 10,000-year term as God's “chosen people” finally expired last night, woke up this morning to find that they had once again been hand-picked by the Almighty. Synagogues across the globe declared a day of mourning.

Asked if the descendants of Abraham shouldn't be pleased about being tapped for an unprecedented second term, Jerusalem Rabbi Ben Meyerson shrugged. “Of course, you are right, we should be thrilled,” he said. “We should also enjoy a good swift kick in the head, but for some reason, we don't.”…Much of the world's re-blessed Jewish community shared that feeling. “It’s always been considered a joke with us. You know, ‘Please G-d, next time choose someone else,’ ha ha,” said New York City resident David Bashert.…

Elias Contreau, director of the International Interfaith Working Group, said… “According to the Bible, God promised to bless Abraham and those who came after him,” said Contreau. “Who knows, maybe that sounded good at the time, or maybe ‘blessed’ meant something different back then, like ‘Short periods of prosperity interrupted by insufferable… chaos.’ Whatever, I think it’s safe to say that people didn’t know what they were agreeing to.”

In Jerusalem, Jewish leaders said they will propose an amendment to God's Law prohibiting a people from having to serve more than two consecutive terms. “Hopefully, G-d will hear our prayer,” said Meyerson. “No, wait, that’s what got us into this….”  

After thousands of years of Jewish history, you have to wonder whether being God’s chosen people is all it must have sounded like to Abram that night in the desert. But what does that have to do with us. The world’s Jews and Muslims both view Abraham as their father. But what is he to you and me? As Christians, no matter what our heritage, we see ourselves as part of the new covenant of Jesus, grafted in to that promise made to Abram and so we too have a stake in those stars lighting up the night sky. We know that God has a special place in the divine heart for us, so we too are chosen in a sense. Perhaps not in that same way that Abram was selected for a covenant, but we have been chosen nonetheless. 

The reading from Genesis gives us a view of an Ancient Near Eastern covenant ceremony. The way the animals are prepared in this morning's reading from Genesis does not fit with sacrificial offerings. But the halved animals fit exactly with what we know about covenants. The animals were hewn in two and those making the covenant walked between them, saying that if either party broke the covenant may the same thing happen to them as happened to the animals cut in two. 

Then the most astounding thing happens in the darkness of that night after Abram slaughters the animals. A smoking firepot and a blazing torch represent God’s own presence making this covenant. God is laying God’s own life on the line this time.[2] God swears by God’s own self not to break this covenant. God would die, if such a thing were possible before God would break the oath made to Abraham. 

Fast-forward a few millennia to our Gospel reading. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will show that God is still willing to die for the love that binds Abram and all persons of faith to their creator. While teaching, Jesus confirms that “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets” will make it into the kingdom of God, but adds that we might still be surprised at the guest list.  

As I have heard it put before. When you get to heaven you might be surprised at who you see there. But think how surprised they’ll be to see you.

Jesus warns that the door is narrow and the time period in which it will be open will end. Jesus tells those whom he sees often as he preaches and teaches that having known him in passing will not ensure a hall pass to heaven. As preacher and scholar Fred Craddock has put it, when Jesus is asked if only a few will be saved he says, “the invitation is open but the way into the kingdom is narrow and demands more than a casual interest.”[3] 

Both of these stories—God’s covenant with Abraham and Jesus’ teaching about the narrow door—call us to question where we are with God. Abram had already left behind the only life he new in Ur to follow God into an unknown place. Abram had more than a casual interest in God. Jesus is also asking us to assess where we are. The door is narrow and you will not enter it by accident. You are invited he reminds us, but you are not coerced.

One thing I can assure you is that the narrow door to the Kingdom of God is open to you for you have been chosen. You may wish God would have chosen someone else, but you are still God’s choice. It’s your picture God has on the heavenly refrigerator so to speak.

Yet even with having been chosen, you still have a choice. The door is open now. But knowing about Jesus does not count. Going through the narrow door is not about head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Entrance into the Kingdom of God is all about relationship, for it does not matter how narrow the door is if you know the one who owns the mansion. Just like God was willing to put the divine life on the line to cut the covenant with Abram, Jesus put his life on the line for us. The covenant you are offered is eternal. 

If you have not taken the step of faith to turn your life over to God, there is no time like the present. You can offer you heart up and trust God to take over. But if you have taken that step, perhaps even long ago, where are you now?  

Our altar sits in the middle of a labyrinth this morning. It’s only 18 feet from the side to the center, but the winding path of the labyrinth makes into a much longer twisting turning journey which leads only to the center, with no possible wrong turns. Sometimes the path comes close to the middle and then veers way. Sometimes it gets to the very edge of the labyrinth almost out of the circle, even when well along the path. It’s a metaphor for our spiritual journeys. Where are you on the path toward God? Out of the circle completely? Close to the center? Turning away toward the outside?  

Where would you like to be? This Season of Lent is a time to prepare for the joy of Easter by taking stock of where you are in your walk of faith. It’s OK if some of Lent is about head knowledge, knowing more about Jesus. But Lent is a time for heart knowledge too—knowing Jesus.  

No matter where you, God has chosen you and wants to lead you closer to home. Open yourself up to following where God is leading you this holy season. 

Amen.