Let it Go

Sermon – Matthew 16:21-28

Let it Go

by Pr. Paul Cannon

Grace and Peace from God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

At the risk of sounding a little bit like the Disney movie “Frozen” I want to inform you all that today’s sermon is about letting go.  But where Princess Elsa is singing about letting her inner awesomeness out, I am going to be talking about letting go of our own lives. So you can breathe a sigh of relief - I will not be singing the song “Let it Go” for you all.

The truth is, we all have trouble letting go.  I had a little kid in my office this past week, and he was eyeing the bowl of candy that I always leave on my desk.  He turned to his mom and asked if he could have one.  She looked at me, and sort of gave me the “no-candy-for-him” look and calmly explained that it wasn’t his.

Well that didn’t make him very happy.  So when the mother asked her son to help clean up the toys he was playing with, he scrunched up his face and balled up his hands at his side and said, “No!  I’m not cleaning up.”

Cleaning up the toys had nothing to do with the candy of course - it was just his way of venting frustration.  He couldn’t let go of his disappointment in losing out on the chance at a nougaty piece of chocolate delight!  You’d be disappointed too I’m sure.

Though we can laugh at a child’s antics, in reality, most of us don’t act much different when it comes to our own disappointments, frustrations and anger.  We have a hard time letting go.  We scrunch up our faces, and clench our fists, until the anger spills out of us in ways that had nothing to do with our original injury.

We have to learn to let go, and while it sounds easy in theory, in practice it’s incredibly difficult.  We are not wired to do it.  When we’re angry, or when we’ve been hurt or when we’re afraid, every instinct we have tells us to hold on tight - because holding on to those feelings gives us the illusion of control. The tighter we hang on - the more control we feel we have over our lives.

The problem is, life tends to get in the way and disturb our illusion of being in control.  A loved one is diagnosed with cancer; an earthquake shakes up the very ground we walk on; a company decides they need to make cutbacks - and you are on the list.  

Life is a constant barrage of stuff happening that reminds us how little control we really have.  When all this stuff gets thrown at us, we want to grab hold and hang on for dear life.  

It’s exactly how Peter reacts when Jesus tells him that he has to die and then be raised three days later.   And so he too tries to take control. Peter turns to Jesus and says “God forbid it Lord. This must never happen to you.”  He doesn’t want to lose control.  He doesn’t want to lose his Rabbi.

We know the end of Jesus story, so it’s easy for us to pick on Peter for not being faithful, but in real life, we react like Peter all the time - we try to control situations beyond our grasp.

And so Jesus’ words to Peter could also be addressed to all of us. He tells Peter to deny himself and take up the cross, quote, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Or to put in the terms we’ve been using today, Those who hang on to this life will lose it, and those who let go for the sake of Jesus, will find it.

Let go of everything - let go of your anger, let go of your need to be in control, let go of yourself for Jesus’ sake - and you will find life.

But what does that mean and how do we do it?  

In our reading from Romans today, Paul is going to list some ways that we let go. “Bless those who persecute you...live in harmony...associate with the lowly...do not repay evil for evil...if your enemies are hungry feed them…if they are thirsty give them something to drink.”

It’s hard, but it happens all around us.

We’ve all seen what’s unfolded in Ferguson, Missouri over the last few weeks.  An unarmed teenager named Michael Brown was shot dead by the police after a confrontation, causing community and civil unrest there --even riots.

In spite of the chaos and sometimes violent protests, there was, in the midst of it all, another reaction that reminds me of what Paul is talking about.

Folks held candle-light vigils, and walked down the street with their arms up.  We saw youth groups praying on the streets and people of different races, religions and creeds walking in solidarity with one another. Even the victim’s family was calling for peace.

That’s what letting go looks like. Letting go of our anger - our need for vengeance.

And so Paul sums up this section by saying, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Giving into anger is understandable.  We all do it.  But when we see examples of folks overcoming it, and trying to create goodness and light in the midst of dark places - that is the work of God.

Overcome evil with good.  It’s a radical idea in an eye-for-an-eye kind of world.   Yet Paul insists that when our instinct is to hang onto animosity, instead we ought to hold fast to what is good - to let go of your anger and replace it with something greater.  

Instead of seeking revenge, seek to be a servant.  If somebody hurts you, pray for them.  If they’re hungry, feed them.  If they’re thirsty, give them something to drink.

Evil can be overcome with good.  We say this with confidence, knowing that Christ has already overcome all evil with the ultimate act of love on the cross.

Everything we do, is merely a reflection of what’s already been accomplished. And so, as Paul said, we cling to what is good - we cling to Christ - and let go of everything else.  And in this, we find life.

Thanks be to God.

Amen