Sermon for Holy Cross Day, 2009
Philippians 2:5-11, John 12:27-36a

It may seem ironic or perhaps irenic, that on a day when we gather to consider the future of this church and our place within its ministry and mission, we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, in the place of suffering and in the place of death. While we would rather be anywhere else, spending our time and effort on other more productive aspects of our church life, this, brothers and sisters, is where Christ has led us.

To put it bluntly, if we dare to dream or claim that we are “a Resurrection people, who pray first and walk together,” we must admit to ourselves and proclaim to the world, along with Christ, that there is no resurrection without death. For Jesus and those who follow in his way the cross is not a tragic misstep along the way. The cross is at the heart of who we are, what we proclaim, and it is the light we reflect into the darkness of this world.

With Jesus every one of us here this morning can say honestly, “My heart is troubled.” Even further, we share with Jesus the crisis moment of identity, saying “please, take it away.” Or do we recognize that it is “for this moment” that He was sent among us, and it is for this moment that you and I have been formed in our faith and placed into this crisis which invites a public witness on behalf of the Gospel?

Let’s be honest. We are also here because we would love to hear that voice from heaven speak clearly and settle the debate once for all. We would love that divine voice to speak the kind of judgment that really does undo the prince of darkness, and unleash the light of Christ for all to see and know.

Some of course thought that it was just such a voice that spoke in Minneapolis when the tornado tore open the roof of the convention center and toppled the cross at Central Lutheran.

The problem of course is that everyone heard that voice, saying what they wanted to hear, the voice confirming their/our personal stance, and pointed in the direction that they/we would want us to go.

The same is true of Scripture. If we simply hurl Bible verses back and forth we enter into a kind of scriptural arms race that lead nowhere.

I think we deeply need the perspective and reminder of this day telling us that the cross of Christ will not allow us to retreat into the comfort of Biblical literalism, or to pronounce that word of judgment that comes when we are convinced that we alone have divine authority and authorization.

So the way ahead for us all, no matter what side we stand on, regardless of the stance we take, and the opinions, hopes, and fears that we hold, is to seek Christ.

The way ahead for the church is to seek him who is already crucified and risen. To seek him who is the yes spoken by God to our every yes and no. To seek him who is the source and the goal of our faith, so that in Christ and through Christ the final amen will be spoken to the glory of God.

And so the question remains, “What now?”

Do we stay? Do we go? Do we fight or concede?

What do we have left to say now that the debate is over and our consciences are bound in such a way that whatever we say seems to have no authority other than our own, no power beyond the words themselves, no possibility of communicating anything than my/your/our opinion?

Having been pushed into this ecclesiastical corner, we are reminded that what in fact remains is not us, our opinion, belief, or vision. What remains is a crucified savior, calling the entire church by faith, to stand firm in a moment when the church is in danger of losing her bearings, abandoning her mission, and forgetting why this very one has called us into being.

What remains is more than enough to sustain us in the work that lies ahead.

What remains is more than enough to empower us to journey together in the way of the cross, lead by the crucified and risen lord of the church.

May that journey lead us to appreciate the ironic juxtaposition of this day,
and even more may that journey lead us into the irenic peace that is beyond our understanding, and far beyond our doing, yet well within our means of receiving.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Daniel E. Hoffman is the Pastor at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Eggertsville, New York.