Sermon: "Cornerstones of Faith"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

I want to begin these thoughts by looking again at a few words from our Collect of the Day. Earlier this morning, we began our prayer with these words: "Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone…" It seems to me that important cornerstones of our faith do exist, and we need to be mindful of them. These cornerstones provide parts of the foundation on which our faith is built. Without them, faith would become weak and, perhaps, crumble. But with such cornerstones, faith is made strong. Thus, we need to pay attention to the cornerstones of faith, realizing - as the collect says - that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone.

The reading from Genesis this morning presents us with some strange and troublesome images. But the intention of the reading is to identify an important cornerstone of faith. Remember that we read part of the story of Abraham. He was tested by God to prepare his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. And, Abraham was prepared himself to accomplish God's will, in response to God's command. Of course, God eventually provided a ram for sacrifice, instead of Isaac, so the story had a happy ending rather than an unhappy, brutal one.

The point of the reading, though, does not focus on sacrifice, as a means of worship in Old Testament times. Rather, the point involves the matter of priorities in life … that is, what comes first for us. Thus, we may perceive the important cornerstone of faith in this reading - that God should be our life's priority; that God should be first.

Then, the Gospel reading points to several other cornerstones of faith, it seems to me. The opening words of that reading are these: "Jesus said, 'Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me'"(Matt 10:40). In that observation from Jesus, we may find reference to several cornerstones of faith.

Again, these words from Jesus: 'Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." This affirmation makes a very important connection … the connection between followers of Jesus, Jesus himself, and God Almighty. And that is a good group with which to be connected! This reading comes in the middle of a series of Jesus' teachings in Matthew's Gospel … teachings directed at the apostles, as Jesus sends those apostles out to do the work of mission. Jesus indicates that as they do their work of mission, the apostles are directly connected to him … to Jesus. Indeed, those involved in Jesus' work of mission - even today - experience a cornerstone of Christian faith.

In my own ordained ministry, I served churches that began significant ministries of outreach and mission - first, a soup kitchen and, in another church, a homeless shelter. And you at St. Luke's can relate to these examples through your own ministry of feeding hungry people. In each of these cases, church leaders need to make the case that in serving those in need, we are serving Jesus himself. That is, we are not only interested in providing a community service, responding to an identified need. Indeed, we have another motive - a Gospel motive - for our actions. Thus, this cornerstone provides an important connection … the connection between Jesus' followers, Jesus himself, and God Almighty … and that connection is the cornerstone for Christian mission.

Also in this reading, we find the obvious encouragement of the practice of hospitality. In this regard, I cannot help but think of the visit Annie and I made last weekend - a visit to the Cheyenne River Reservation, in South Dakota, for the Niobrara Convocation of the Native Sioux People. They were wonderfully welcoming and inclusive of us in their midst, as they have been in previous years as well. In addition, I also want to point out that Annie and I are recipients today of the graciousness and hospitality of the people of St. Luke's Church. We are always grateful for the hospitality we experience through you … and today is no exception.

In our society, we understand that the practice of hospitality indicates a degree of good manners … and so it does. However, according to the biblical witness, something more is indicated by that practice. Jesus says that in welcoming one another, we welcome Jesus himself. And that understanding is a cornerstone of faith for us. "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me", Jesus said.

Then - and finally - as a basis for our life of faith, another cornerstone from the Gospel involves something very significant about relationships. That is, a profound and fundamental understanding of relationship in this world is that we are brothers and sisters of Jesus and of one another, by virtue of our baptism, and we are all children of God. The sign of the cross, made on our foreheads at baptism, stays there. It does not ever fade away. That connection and those relationships provide another cornerstone of our faith.

The name of this particular cornerstone is "unity" … unity among people who are signed by the cross of Jesus at baptism and, if we could be so bold, the unity even of all the people of God. Listen carefully to the Baptismal Covenant that we all will renew in just a few minutes. And recognize, please, that this covenant is an essential cornerstone of our lives in Jesus Christ.

In summary, then, we have before us today several important cornerstones of faith, recognizing that Jesus himself is the chief cornerstone. First, there is the priority of God in our life. The story of Abraham vividly indicates that nothing should be more important to us than our relationship with God. A second cornerstone involves our call to mission, as people of faith. Our Lord is quite clear that as we serve those in need, we are serving him. Thirdly, we have heard reference to the cornerstone of hospitality. That is, as we welcome other people in this life, it is as though Jesus himself is our guest. Finally - and fundamental to all these cornerstones - is the relationship of unity that we share with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and with all other people who are also children of God.

Thus, thanks be to God this morning for our cornerstones of faith … the foundations on which faith is built and made strong. May we pay attention to these cornerstones and may our faith be strengthened by them, more and more, remembering always that Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone. Amen.

Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee