SCRIPTURES: Luke 23:6-11.
It was his moment of decision. His response to the questions first posed by Pontius Pilate and then by Herod, the counterfeit King, would make all the difference. If he gave the responses they were looking for, he likely would be set free. But if he remained true to his mission and answered their questions honestly, he would set in motion a chain of events that would lead to: his scourging with a whip, a cruel crown made of thorns and ultimately the cross. How would he decide?
This biblical story that illustrates the historic and heroic actions of our Lord came to my mind this week when I received an email that contained Senator John McCain's remarks about a soldier named Mike. Mike was one of our heroes in the Vietnam War and part of his heroic service occurred during his long and painful time served as a Prisoner of War.
The physical and spiritual mission of his captors was clear. For Mike and all of the other POWs, their desire was to break their spirit and turn them against their country. But Mike wasn't about to let that happen. And so in a precise month-long process, he used a crude bamboo needle to create an American flag that he proudly wore on the inside of his shirt and which was used in a daily Pledge of Allegiance ceremony that the POW participated in.
One day in a surprise search, Mike's flag was discovered and his captors beat him without mercy for hours. Then they threw his battered body back into our cell as a message to all of the POWs. But Mike was a hero and so he decided what the message would be. For shortly after his return to the cell, under the dim light of a bulb in the corner of their cell, there sat Mike with his same crude bamboo needle, a piece of red cloth and another shirt. Yes, he had been beaten but he wasn't defeated!
Now friends, I would never want you or anyone else to be in such a horrible situation but we do live in a Good Friday World, a world where, like our Lord and Mike, we are tempted and ever encouraged to take the easy way out. To avoid physical or spiritual pain at any cost and at every level.
And so youth are encouraged to involve themselves in risky and wrong behavior so they can fit in to the in-crowd. That's not the way of a hero. And adults are encouraged to cheat on their taxes or at places of work to get ahead. But that's not the way of a hero either.
In truth, the details and situations are as unique as we are, but each of us in our own way not once, but often, in both dramatic, as well as quite ordinary ways, are encouraged to take that easy way out, but we can't do it. For you see, we are created in the image of a hero who could have avoided the cross but refused to sell out. And it is that same Christ who welcomes us to his Table this morning. And as we prepare to share in this Holy Supper, we know that we do so in remembrance of Him and his promise to be with us until the end of time.
This past Tuesday, a group from our Church was privileged to enjoy a concert by Lee Greenwood that was entitled, "A Salute to America." Ask any of those who attended. Every time someone from the stage mentioned our current troops or veterans, a huge roar and round of applause erupted on the Great Lawn. And I join gladly in honoring all of these heroes and heroines.
And I am proud that each Sunday we pray for all of our military, particularly John and Nick who are currently serving in our Armed Forces and Robert and Timothy who are currently in ROTC and may be serving in harm's way at a later date.
We pray for these heroes and all of the heroes of our Armed Forces and Uniformed Services and their families. But our prayers don't end with these heroes and heroines. They continue for all of us and truly for all people. That we might remember the presence of Christ in our lives and continue to walk in his path of righteousness at whatever the cost. For as the popular song puts it, "there is a hero within us all." And when we respond in faith and grace to the challenges and opportunities that make up our faith journey, then truly that hero within us is released to bless our lives, the lives of our loved ones and all who are effected by our faithful witness!
There is a popular Psalm that says: this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. It is also the day that our Lord encourages us to continue our faithful witness in every way possible. Let us rejoice and be glad in this day and our mission to reflect God's grace and peace in all of our decisions and actions. There is a hero or heroine within us.Let it out!
Pastor Stephen Giordano — August 6, 2006