Stamped with the Image
by the
Reverend Dr. Byron E. Shafer
(Rutgers, October 17, 1999; 29th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A;
Children's Sabbath; CROP Walk; Baptism of Benjamin Anthony Reggio)
Matthew 19:13–15 (NT, p. 21); Matthew
22:15–22 (NT, p. 25)
Lincoln,
Jefferson, FDR, Washington—
these are the former heads of state
hose images are stamped on the coins we use.
But
the coin Jesus was handed bore the image of Tiberius Caesar,
the living Emperor of Rome,
and coupled with his image were the words, "Tiberius Caesar,
august son of the divine Augustus, high priest."
And
Jesus said to those seeking to entrap him by their question,
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's"
Now,
it's clear in this story
what it is that's stamped with the image of Caesar
and what it is, therefore, that's to be given to Caesar—
all those coins of the realm, money!
And it's clear from the teachings of the
scripture studied and
held sacred both by Jesus and by those putting him to this test—
it's clear from scripture what it is that bears the image of God
and what it is, therefore, that's to be given to God—
no mere coin, but one's whole self,
the totality of one's mind and heart and will and soul,
for it's not money but rather the human person
that's stamped with the image of God.
Recall,
please, the very first chapter of the first book of the Bible.
There, in Genesis, in creating the heavens and the earth,
" God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image,
according to our likeness.'
So in the image of God [God] created them " (Genesis 1:26–27)
Yes,
it is our very selves that Jesus tells us to give to God.
And it's this that we've done this morning—in celebrating
the sacrament of baptism and in remembering our own baptisms.
In our celebration of this sacrament,
we've acknowledged who we are and whose we are,
that we are, by creation and rebirth, God's children,
that "In life and in death, we belong to God.,"
and that "nothing in life or in death
can separate us from the love of God"
[A
Brief Statement of Faith—Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), lines 1, 78–79]
For
we are God's image.
We
and every person,
every
child of God, whatever our age—
adult,
youth, youngster, infant, baby—
we
are God's image.
Now,
in Jesus's time, the adults were not at all persuaded
that babies, infants, youngsters, and youths
bear the full imprint of God's image.
In those days, children were to be neither seen nor heard,
for they were regarded as not yet fully "persons."
But
Jesus changed all that! For Jesus
recognized
that the image of God is fully present in children,
as well as grown-up alike.
Thus, we see Jesus, in this morning's First Lesson,
going against his disciples' wishes and expectations
by creating for the young "images-of-God" who are brought
to him what might be called "a children's sabbath,"
a time when they became the focus of his attention,
a time when they, rather than the adults, received
the laying on of his hands in blessing and prayer.
And
as a result of Jesus's own extraordinary welcoming
of infants and children,
we Presbyterians, along with most other Christians, have come
to offer baptism not only to adults but to children as well.
This
weekend—this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—
is a time designated for Childrens' Sabbaths.
It's a period observed in many parts of our country
by Christians, Jews, Muslims, and persons of other faiths,
by more than 200 denominations + religious organizations.
And for us, today's sabbath is a time to recall
that all of God's people—including children—
have been stamped with the image of God
and have been called to display God's glory.
As
Elinor Bowles explained to us earlier in this service,
the primary organizer of this weekend of Children's Sabbaths is
the Children's Defense Fund,
and they have urged peoples of faith to take
a strong, active role in helping children to display God's glory
by providing for children a Healthy Start, a Head Start,
a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start.
So
I want to share with you this morning
news of several actions that Rutgers Church is taking
in order to fulfill this responsibility of ours.
Under
the leadership of Virginia Roberts-Richbourgh, Holly Nedelka,
Kate Dunn, Christine Gorman, and our Christian Ed. Committee,
we have over the past several years greatly enhanced
the Head Start, the Safe Start, and the Moral Start
that we offer both through our weekday Child's Play program
for preschool children and their parents
+ through our greatly expanded Sunday School program,
whose class for 3-to-5-yr.-olds is bursting at the seams.
And
under the leadership of Stephanie Alston, Rodney Fuller,
Elinor Bowles, the RYTAP Committee, and the P&SJ Network,
we have instituted over the past several years a Theater Arts
outreach program for youths aged 12 through 17, which,
in any given semester, helps some 15 or more young people
to develop skills in communications and group relations.
And
now, we are poised for our next great leap forward in helping
to burnish the image of God that's stamped on people of every age.
Today's order of service carries, on page 13,
the notice of a new full-time position that we're seeking to fill—
a Director of Educational Ministries to begin next May or June,
a full-time worker to continue building up our Sunday School,
to co-ordinate all of our programs for children and youth,
and to help create exciting new ministries, such as
a "Christian" Head Start program for preschool children
and an after-school program for school-aged children—
both of these for youngsters
of all races + socio-economic classes.
Our DEM will also help to create programs
for adults, including senior citizens.
And
there's more good news!
The Session has authorized a second new full-time position as well—
a Co-ordinator of an innovative Body and Spirit Program
to be based in our gymnasium, located right below this sanctuary,
and to begin sometime during the winter or spring of 2000.
This new full-time staff person, in consultation with the DEM,
will launch programs integrating body, mind, and spirit
for all age groups, from preschoolers through senior citizens.
Activities will include, but not be limited to, yoga, tai chi'i,
labyrinth walking, + age-appropriate sports and exercise.
& I pledge to you that the programs for children + youth
that we develop will offer them a Healthy Start,
a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start,
and a Moral Start.
An
early theologian of the church, Irenaeus (c. 125–c. 202), once proclaimed:
"The glory of God is a [person] fully alive!"
For Irenaeus saw such a person as a vital, vivid image of God.
On this children's sabbath and in the spirit of Irenaeus,
I declare to you our congregation's firm commitment not only
to his statement but to this similar statement as well:
"The glory of God is a child fully alive."
For that child, too, is stamped
with the image of God.
Let
us pray:
Glorious
God, each and every child, each and every person, is stamped
with Your image.
Grant
that, in recognition of this truth, we may give to
You our self—the totality of our mind, heart, will and soul.
And
grant that by giving You our self we may come in all our actions
and ministries to honor the image of You in others and to nurture their
display
of Your glory.
In
the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
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