GOSPEL MESSAGE & RECORDING
In the Pauline Epistle today, taken from Hebrews chapter 4, the Apostle talks to us about how Jesus is the high priest, who once and for all died for our sins because he being man and God at the same time was able to experience our weakness; and therefore, he can sympathize with our weaknesses. Like us, He was able to experience temptation, but would not fall into it because he was without sin. Because since he is God, he cannot sin. Again, in chapter 5 of Hebrews, which was read today as well, the Apostle speaks to us about how the high priest offers sacrifices in the Altar as a propitiation for sins, for those of the Jewish community and for himself. The high priest does this because he demonstrates that he also bears the same weaknesses as his countrymen. Specific mention is made of Aaron, who was the first high priest of Israel. St. Paul is demonstrating that Christ is ultimately the great high priest, who like the other priests of Israel offers sacrifice, not as something tangible, like that of animals, but through prayer in the heavens to God the Father.
Here, in this sermon, I want to show how God is able to relate to our weaknesses and sins. Furthermore, I want to do that by looking at the life of Aaron, who was mentioned today, not at random, but for an intentional purpose, to show that even though Aaron failed miserably, God still used him.
Aaron was the first high priest. But it was not a perfect road that Aaron traveled where God would call him to be high priest. Aaron was the brother of Moses. He assisted Moses in delivering the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. After Moses and Aaron guided the Hebrew people out of Egypt, they were at the base of Mt. Sinai. Moses delivered the 10 Commandments to them but had to go back to receive more instruction from God. Moses said he would be gone for 40 days. During this time the Hebrew people lost their patients and started to urge Aaron to make a golden calf. Eventually, they did. And Aaron complied. When Moses descended from the mountain, he was displeased. He ordered that all those who were involved in the worship of the calf would die; however, Aaron’s life was spared.
Aaron is an example of someone that God showed mercy to, despite his sins. In a way, God did this for a specific reason. That is, Aaron was going to be the high priest for the Hebrew people; and thus, he would be able to relate with the weaknesses of the people that he would serve. In other words, God could NOT use a “prefect” type of person to be high priest because he would NOT be able to sympathize with the weakness of the people. Similarly, Jesus Christ was able to sympathize with us because he himself became a man. He knew our weaknesses and therefore was able to pray for us to God the Father with understanding and sympathy. I want to explain this further by making a few points.
God uses imperfect people to do His work: you and I have been used by God, or are being used by God, to do his work in this parish and in our Church. Remember, that when we do our work, in whatever form or means that is, we are serving and helping people that are imperfect like us. He is using us because we would be able to understand the imperfection of others.
If God uses imperfect people, we will make mistakes: we are all human. If that is the case, then we will make mistakes. There are egregious sins, that if committed by clergy, or anyone for that matter, it would mean our removal from position or leadership. That God-willing will never happen. But on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis, in the general sense, there are mistakes that we will make. This is indicative of everyone. So, we need to have mercy on others, just as we would want them to have mercy on us.
Don’t abuse God’s mercy: sure, we are imperfect; and sure, God uses us despite our weaknesses and even our sin problem, but that is not a license to sin more and abuse the mercy that God has showered on our lives. God showers His mercy on everyone, but if we abuse it, we might find ourselves dealing with the anger of God. Further, if we do abuse it, we will have to deal with the consequences of our actions.