October 9, 2005 Readings: Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:4-13; Matthew 22:1-14   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith A New Identity Did you hear that right? This fellow who did not know that he would be going to a wedding banquet as thrown out because he did not have the right clothing? That hardly seems fair and it does not sound like something Jesus would do. It does not sound like the faith I practice-a faith that is has as a central tenet the belief in radical welcoming of all. This reading from Matthew's gospel is not meant to be taking literally. Like much of scripture, it was written to teach and instruct using images and stories that would have timeless words of wisdom for us-not like a rulebook but as God's love story with God's people. It was written at a time when the image of putting on new clothes was often used to describe those who had converted to Christianity. The idea being that a noticeable change had taken place-a new identity had formed. A new Christian identity...where does that come from? What is that like? How can we bring our identity as Christians into our everyday life? Knowing a few things about God and who we are as God's beloved changes everything. If you have grown up knowing that God created you, redeemed you, and sustains you-if you have always known that, you are truly blessed. You started out dressed in the clothes of Christ-you have grown and changed those clothes a few times finding your style-the right fit. Many people do not know that the grace of God is free, and spend their lives seeking justification in all the wrong ways. We are encouraged to seek freedom and love and safety in things, or people, or other people's expectations-everything, from cars to cups of coffee, is sold to us based less on the intrinsic merit of the item and more on our desires. But when a person starts to know that the deepest mystery of life-the love of God-he or she is changed, and that person's identity as a Christian starts to form. We speak of God as creator, redeemer and sustainer. When we read the Bible with that in mind, its stories become our stories-we find ourselves, our true selves, in the images and the metaphors. We find our identity not in what we can achieve or possess, but in God. That makes all the difference-it makes it possible to rejoice in the Lord always-knowing that the Lord is near in the good times and in the bad. As St. Paul put it, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." God's peace will guard us. What a powerful word-guard-protect us from all that can bring us down or distract us from the call of God, from the claim that God has on our lives. Hearing the 23rd Psalm from time to time in the modern language can help us to hear new messages in verses that many of us know so well. Hear the claim of God on our lives as expressed by the psalmist. The Lord is my shepherd-not maybe if I'm good enough, etc., but is now and because of that I will not be in want. This is a psalm about the fullness of life that we have in God right now, today, and forever. He makes me lie down in green pastures-it is God desire that you and I have times of peace and plenty; those still waters can be hard to find, but God will lead us to them. God revives us and guides us and is with us. These are words of faith written by one who experienced the goodness and mercy of God. We can start to see how finding one's life in God brings on a change in a person like that of changing clothes. So that when one finds oneself at the feast set by God, certainly one would be changed by the experience. We are gathered here today to share in the feast set by God. We are all welcome not because of who be are but because of who God is. It is here in the community of faith that many begin to experience the abundance of God. It is here that through baptism infants and those of all ages are clothed with the garment of God's love and marked as Christ's own forever. Through God, we share in a new identity, now and forever. Amen.