Pentecost 11, year A, 2026

Most of the letters that we have that were written by the Apostle Paul were to communities, churches, that he had founded.  Places where he had visited, taught and established.  Rome is one of the exceptions. Paul didn’t establish the church in Rome, they had only heard of him…and so, in the letter to the Romans Paul isn’t simply reminding his congregants of what he had already taught, he had to be more through in his teachings. 

So, in Romans we get a more in depth teaching from Paul. One of the major topics that Paul was teaching about was a controversial subject in the first century, the faith of Jewish and Gentile Christians and how they should live out their beliefs.  Paul was a Jew, by birth, and well educated in Jewish law and practice; however he mostly preached to and taught non-Jews, gentiles…so there were a lot of cross cultural issues and assumptions that arose. 

In the first century the big questions was do non Jews need to become Jewish first, in order to be Christian?  But in Rome, a major and very cosmopolitan city where Jews were in the minority that question had changed.  If Christianity is the path to salvation, did God reject the Jewish people?  In every time and place there have been different foci for discussion and I would posit that the question that faces us today is: If Christianity is the path to salvation, how do we change the negative perception that our culture has of our faith?

Within the Christian churches them selves there are many debates; over gender and sexuality, over baptism and the interpretation of scripture…but the biggest challenge I see in our particular context is the perception of Christianity.  Most people get their information on Christianity these days from media, movies, the news, Hollywood or the many podcasts and shorts that people make about or mocking Christianity.  They mostly portray Christianity as negative or irrelevant.

In terms of how of Christianity is portrayed in our culture we might as well be those disciples in Matthew’s gospel battered by the waves, far from land, with the wind against us.  Two surveys in 2023 ( international social survey program and non religion in a complex future project) noted that numbers of Christians in Canada have dropped to 44 percent and those reporting no religion have jumped to 35%.  At first glance this is extremely discouraging, our numbers are dropping and dropping fast…but that also means a couple of really encouraging things.

 Firstly, it means that those who are attending church and those who profess their faith, really do mean it.  There is no social pressure to attend church, often the contrary!  Secondly, with the upcoming generations there is an openness and ignorance about Christianity.  The information comes from online and for many younger people there is a healthy suspicion of what is presented through news and media…watch out from those AI bots!

All of this means that the time is ripe for some good, honest evangelism.  More people have never met a devoted Christian and some especially younger people are unbiased and curious.  Last week I was having lunch at Boston Pizza and reading a book of preaching and taking notes.  My server inquired about what I was reading and I told her that I was a priest and I was working, reading up on how preaching and faith were expressed through the history of Black Spiritual songs.Her eyes widened and she actually leaned in, that’s so cool! She said.  You’re a priest? Yep I said, and part of my job is to learn about diverse ways of expressing the Christian faith.  She left hesitantly repeating how interesting that was.  This is not the first time I’ve had that reaction when speaking about my faith and being a priest.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

The world may seem or even be battered by waves and surrounding us with chaos, but Christ always presents opportunities for us to “take heart”.  In fact, I don’t think that it is a bad thing to be adrift in the waves…it is scary no doubt.  We are certainly out of our comfort zone, but I believe that is just where Jesus wants us to be. 

If we look at the beginning of our gospel reading today there is a nuance that I bet we missed, scripture say “he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side”  Jesus MADE the disciples get into the boat…the disciples had fishermen among them and likely could tell if a storm was brewing, yet they were send regardless.  The word MADE is also translated forced, or even compelled with violence. 

This was not a suggestion…storm or no storm…they were to go out into the midst of it.  Not only to go, but not to be afraid…but even to step out of the boat, out of safety towards Christ.  All of this sounds petrifying.  After all, we are not all Peter’s,  some of us are the disciple holding hard to the side of the boat looking at Peter like he’s lost his mind.  We do not get out of a boat during a storm…that’s risky, downright dangerous…no matter how much faith we have. 

Some of us are simply not made for the risk, not made to be evangelist right?  Indeed many of us were taught that religion was not a polite topic of conversation…it only leads to fights.  And yet we know Christ’s hand is always there to steady us in the storm…so, why do we fear the word and act of evangelism? 

We know that there is need.  We know that Christianity has a poor reputation and that that reputation is not the truth of our faith.   So why should we not speak out for Jesus?  Why not proclaim our faith?  Why not? I’m betting it’s good old fashion anxiety and self doubt…the same that has plagued the faithful since the beginning of faith.

God calls on Moses and he answers here I am! Send Aaron.   Moses had a stutter.  Timothy was too young.  Joseph was hated by his brothers as we read today…and yet they still managed. We can too.

If the perception of Christianity is erroneous if what we see and hear does not match what Christ taught…we are duty bound to correct that. 

But as Paul asks “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?”

 There is no special training needed.  There is no need to ascend into heaven or descend into the abyss to find the right words.  "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"  You look at what you believe in your heart and you speak it with your mouth,  no master of divinity needed.  No need for fancy words or inspiring sermons…just faith and truth and love.  The scripture says, in Joel, in Romans, that they Lord will pour out his Spirit in those days and “no one who believes in him will be put to shame”.          

The majority of the disciples, prophets and saints in the bible were everyday, regular people, they were not inherently better than others…God gave them what they needed.  The words.  The confidence.  The opportunities. We are all called to preach God’s salvation to the ends of the earth …and it is sorely needed.  The grace. The hope. The love of Christ. 

That is a message that is desperately needed.  And we are all called to be preachers of the Word…evangelists.  In less intimidating words…to tell what we believe.  It doesn’t have to be on street corners or with sandwich boards, but in those daily conversations.  In the times someone asks how you can keep having hope in the midst of this chaos.  In the reasons you cannot go out Sunday morning.  In your response to the daily news.

“Jesus speaks to you and says. “take heart, I AM, do not be afraid.”

“But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?  And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?

When you leave this service, when you wade into the waters of this world, know that you are Apostles of Christ…that you are sent…to speak aloud the faith that is within you. 

As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"