The Third Sunday after the Epiphany; January 22, 2006 Readings: Jeremiah 3:21-4:2; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 7:17-23; Mark 1:14-20.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith A New Vision of Freedom God gives us a new vision. God gives us a new vision of who we are and who we can be. When God is our vision; we can see clearly. We can see ourselves more clearly and we can see life with new eyes. To see as God sees, that was Paul's concern in his words to the Corinthians that we hear today. Paul stated that the external things were of little significance for those who were starting a new life in Christ. First he talked about circumcision, which was an important part of being a Jewish male. Every Jewish male was circumcised on the eight day after his birth to mark him as Jewish-as in relationship with the one God. So for the Jewish male who became a follower of Christ, what should he do about that external mark? Paul said not to worry about it. The external marking was not important. Much more important was the state of one's heart. And the issue had a flipside. What about the Gentile, the non-Jewish male who wanted to follow Jesus? Would he have to be circumcised before he could be a Christian? Again, Paul said no. What matters is on the inside. What mattered was what God had done in the flesh for us. Not what we do with our flesh. What good news this is-that everyone can be in right relationship to God no matter what his or her situation in life. Now, of course the uncircumcised male could have done something about that, but Paul says, remain in the condition in which you were called. But many people were living amid circumstances over which they had little control, such as slaves. Even if the circumstance of being a slave does not change, Paul says not to worry because that person has freedom in Christ-belonging to no one except God. In the history of the church, sometimes such biblical passages have been used to argue that people should not seek to change their situation. That is not so. God came to us, to be with us as one of us so that we could have fullness of life. Slaves should be free from bondage-and there are still slaves in the world today. God seeks to relieve people who suffer because of life's circumstances. However, sometimes we are in difficult situations that are not going to change anytime soon. Paul is clear that our external situation cannot separate us from God. The slave is a free person belonging to the Lord. You and I are free people because we belong to God. Others can believe that they have control over us, but it is not true. And for those who were free, not slaves in Paul's time, when called to be followers of Jesus, they were then ‘slaves' of Christ. This is the kind of total commitment that comes about not because of threat or control but because of love. The idea being that the free person now makes decisions based on a bond, a connection with Jesus that is so powerful one is totally given over to it as if one were a slave to Christ. Then Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were bought with a price and not to become slaves of human masters. What a waste that would be, right? God has given us freedom in knowing that we are justified in Christ-that our lives have meaning and are so precious in the eyes of God. What a waste it would be to try and prove our worth to the world by becoming a slave to the world. There are the obvious ways that we become slaves to ‘human masters.' Drug use, the abuse of alcohol, and inappropriate relationships are obvious examples. ‘Human masters' can, however, be subtle and difficult to notice at first. I think of the intense anxiety I used to have about achieving and being the best at whatever I did. As I was trying to finish my Ph.D. dissertation, that stress nearly destroyed my confidence and my ability to finish the project. I was a slave to an idea of success that was being presented to me by my environment. Can you think of a time or ways in which you felt trapped by circumstances? Who or what have been or tried to be the masters of your life? Paul was concerned about the new Christians in Corinth. He wanted them to know that freedom was theirs, not because of anything they could do but because of what Jesus had done. He wanted them to know that the externals of life where not important, but rather what God was doing within them. For those in terrible situations, such as the slaves, Paul let them know that their station in life was not an impediment for having freedom in Christ. The world is a different place now. Our concerns are different and our masters are different. But we too can hear those words of Paul's and give thanks. God loves you and me. Jesus brings us freedom no matter what our situation. We are all equal before God and worthy of all the best in life. But even when life is not the best, we have access to peace and hope and love. Amen.