A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church on Trinity VII (St. James), July 25, 2004. Please read St. Matthew 4:18-22.
In addition to this being the weekly celebration of our Lord’s resurrection, today is a special day for at least two reasons. The first is that a baptism has been conducted, so we rejoice and welcome a new member into the covenant people of God. The second is that the church has set aside this day to remember the example of faith demonstrated by Jesus’ disciple and apostle, James the son of Zebedee.
These two causes of celebration are more closely linked than one might suppose at first. When Jesus called James to leave his fishing business and follow him, he was calling James to be a disciple – a learner. He and his brother, John, forsook all and followed the Savior: “And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Mt. 4:22). Although we are not called to follow the Lord in the exact manner as the original twelve disciples, we do indeed have a calling from Christ to be his disciples or his learners. This calling comes to those who hear the gospel message, and it is clearly set forth in Christian baptism. Simply put, discipleship and baptism go together. Jesus himself said this in what has become popularly known as the “Great Commission” found in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
The commands to teach and to baptize are bound together. For those who are baptized, this means that the obligation to learn comes with baptism. Like James and the other disciples, we must forsake all other priorities and place Jesus Christ as the first and foremost priority in our lives. We hear his voice in the words of Holy Scripture, and we follow him by doing what Scripture directs us to do. Now, we must recognize that this is not always easy to do. Following Christ has its price, as he himself recognizes: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me’” (Mt. 16:24).
Self-denial, taking up one’s cross, is not a pleasant or easy task, but it is a necessary one for us to learn if we are to be a true disciple of Jesus. However, if we think about it, following Christ really easier than choosing not to follow him. Doing things the world’s way may seem easier at first, but in the end it brings more grief, sorrow and trouble that if we had followed the Lord’s way. Listen to what Jesus himself says in this regard, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30). Our baptism calls us to learn to follow Jesus every day. May we find the rest for our souls and the peace that comes from being his disciple. Amen.
