October 24, 2004; The 21th Sunday after Pentecost Readings: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14; Psalm 84:1-6.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith Keeping the Faith From the second letter to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul wrote these words in prison as he prepared for death, or members of his community wrote the words as they reflected upon Paul’s life and ministry. Scholars debate the authorship, but either way, the words are true to Paul. "I have kept the faith." In this letter we get a sense of how Paul remained faithful. We hear about grace experienced in a difficult situation. We’ve been reading the Second Letter to Timothy during the last several weeks. We’ve heard about the community, the ministry, and now we hear Paul’s farewell. Even in the context of his physical end, Paul rejoices in the truth. He rejoices in the truth of God’s word that cannot be bond as he is bond. He rejoices in the community of faith that will continue in the ministry. He sees his life as an offering that will nourish others. We are ones nourished by Paul’s ministry. What can we glean from second Timothy that will help us keep the faith? What does it mean to keep the faith, for you and for me? Keeping the faith requires us to live always with God’s truth in mind. God’s truth for you may have some very particular implications. I cannot begin to know the totality God’s truth for you. But together we can reflect on some general truths that provide the foundation for our personal truth. Paul understood his life to be part of something much greater than himself. Sometimes that is a hard pill to swallow. Why? Knowing that life is much greater than us does require some humility. Of course, we say, I know that my life is part of something greater. In theory we know, but in practice we can forget. That’s what the Pharisee in today’s gospel forgot. He forgot that his life was equally in need of God’s mercy as that of the tax collector. While humility can at times be challenging, the grace of knowing our place in the whole is enormous. We like Paul, we members of the body of Christ. We are part of a community that will live on after our earthly ministry is done. Our lives are contributing to God’s vision for our world. When we pray, when we worship, when live the gospel by caring for others, our actions are part of God’s dream for the world. Things will pass away. God’s truth lives on. Our lives are bound to that truth. Paul had that sense of eternal life; it started for him in Christian community. By knowing Jesus, and continuing to know him through his body, the community, Paul understood the eternal significance of his life. Church has gotten to be such a normal thing in the US. We in Virginia are a religious group. A particularly high percentage of the Winchester population is Christian. It is not hard to find a church in our area. Maybe the ease of finding a church and going to one causes many to lose an appreciation for the amazing fact of Christian community. Probably because I did not grow up in a church, I continue to be amazed by the fact of our fellowship. I am so thankful to God that I am Christian and for this community of faith. Paul knew the importance of the fellowship. It put his life in a life-giving context. It gave him passion to share the good news of grace with others. Keeping the faith, for Paul, had much to do with proclaiming the message. Last week, we heard these words from Second Timothy: "proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching... endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully (4:1-5)." Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable. Last year, when I came to be your priest, the time was not favorable for proclaiming the message. The community was dealing with a difficult transition and our numbers were down. The time was not favorable but we were persistent nonetheless. Why? Because we need to tell people about God’s great love for them. That message cannot wait just because the time might seem unfavorable. In God’s time, it is always the right time to trust and understand our lives in the context of God’s grace. God’s grace cannot be limited. God’s grace will not be bound. So we were persistent and we saw the fruits of the Spirit come forth—abundantly. We baptized two adults last year and a large number of young people. And a few babies as well—we still do that too! Our congregation has doubled in size in one year. And don’t you get the feeling this is just the beginning? Evangelism has gotten a bad name in some ways. Certain segments of the Evangelical world seem to be so angry and exclusionary. Paul kept the faith by being an evangelist, and he directed the community to carry on. To do the work of an evangelist is to tell others about this love we share because God loved us first. It is to tell others about the hope we share, because God believes in us. It is to show others our faith through our words and deeds whether the time is favorable or not. Paul directs the followers of Jesus to live out their ministry fully. By so doing we keep the faith. Our world is changed for the better and God’s kingdom comes to be known. Thanks be to God. Amen.