What’s in a Name? Onesiphorus - A Sermon for Sunday October 20th 2024
SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1:1-18, 2:8-13
A reading from 2 Timothy.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me —may the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW p. 205)
The assembly stands to welcome the gospel.
Alleluia! Lord and Savior: open now your saving word.
Let it burn like fire within us; speak until our hearts are stirred.
Alleluia! Lord, we sing for the good news that you bring.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:35-45
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
On the way to Jerusalem the disciples ask Jesus to grant them seats of honor. Jesus responds by announcing that he and his followers will “rule” through self-giving service.
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON (ELW p. 206)
The assembly is seated.
Intentional Affirmation of Advent Ministries,
we affirm that God is at work in the world,
and by God’s grace,
that includes us here at Advent.
We focus today on food, feeding, fellowship ministries.
And it is a long list of ministries that involve food!
Fellowship after worship
Potlucks
Confirmation class lunches
City-Wide Confirmation events
Vacation Bible School lunches
Sunday School lunch
Pancake breakfasts
Joy group
Wings & Beer
Women’s potluck
Ladies Advent dinner
Men’s coffee & breakfast
Games Nights
Small group ministry
Stewardship suppers
Quilting group Christmas potluck
Food bank
Food donations to St. Stephen’s
Wednesday Community Suppers with Shepherd of the Hills
Funerals
Blessing Bags
I’m sure I missed some,
and the most important one,
We are fed by Christ’s real presence
at the Lord’s Table in Holy Communion.
There is no denying the connection between faith and food.
Jesus’ first sign in John’s gospel:
turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana.
When Jesus sent the Apostles
to the towns and villages
he instructed them to eat what is set before you.
After Jesus rose from the dead,
he served breakfast on the beach.
Not only is God found in the offering of hospitality,
but also in receiving hospitality.
I’d like to invite you into a time of conversation.
Form groups of 3-4 people,
and for folks online, If you’re comfortable,
I invite you to turn on your camera and unmute
for a conversation with those online
or with those in your home.
For the next couple minutes
share in small groups
Describe a memorable time for you
in which food and faith met.
Share an example of an Advent feeding or fellowship ministry
that matters to you,
or how you experienced God in that ministry.
Or share a time in which God provided for you
in your own time of need.
After conversation
Invite you to keep the conversation going,
keep sharing your stories of God’s work.
This is the power of the Gospel:
it is free,
it is alive,
it is unchained.
As we move into the “What’s in a Name” preaching series,
We don’t always know how great an impact
doing faith will have.
When we join God’s work,
when we continue the ministry of Jesus Christ,
in ways big or small,
indeed God does more than we could ever
ask or imagine.
Abigail intervened to save her clan from destruction.
Little did she know she would end up
shaping the moral character of the future king.
Vashti offered a faithful no,
refusing to show her beauty when bid to do so.
Little did she know her defiance paved the way
for the future queen to save the Jewish people
from destruction.
Today we meet Onesiphorus.
Little did he know the impact
that his own ministry would have.
His faith is a Matthew 10 faith.
We heard of the brothers, James and John,
asking for places of honour.
Jesus offered a reframing,
the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve.
Who ever wants to be great,
must be last of all,
servant of all.
Onesiphorus did not search for the place of honour,
he searched instead for someone to serve.
His faith is a Matthew 25 faith.
“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
Onesiphorus visited the Apostle Paul in prison,
and in so doing,
Onesiphorus visited Jesus.
Keep in mind prison in ancient times
isn’t quite like our prison system.
Prisoners were often held before trial,
and once a verdict was issued,
prisoners might be executed,
or beaten
or exiled.
In Acts 24, for example,
Paul was imprisoned for two years,
which was abnormal,
but the governor allegedly wanted a bribe to release him.
Prison conditions were bad.
It was likely very dark,
no windows.
Prisoners would be chained,
shackled feet or neck,
or bound in wooden stocks.
The term “chained” became synonymous
with being imprisoned.
Overcrowding,
bad air circulation
lack of hygienic facilities,
rats, vermin.
Food would be poor quality or withheld altogether.
It makes our prisons sound like 3 star resorts.
What’s in a name?
Onesiphorus means “One who brings profit”
and this is true for St. Paul,
who profited, so to speak,
by Onesiphorus.
Onesiphorus met Paul in Ephesus,
and they met again in Rome where Paul was imprisoned.
Onesiphorus visited Paul repeatedly.
He searched the jails until he found Paul, chained.
We read that he refreshed Paul’s body and spirit,
reading between the lines,
Onesiphorus took Jesus’ words seriously,
he probably brought clean clothes
fresh water to drink and to bathe,
and of course, food.
You couldn’t expect the ancient prison complex
to take care of Paul in this way,
but Onesiphorus did.
Most important for Paul,
Onesiphorus was not ashamed of his chains.
he was not embarrassed by Paul’s imprisonment.
Maybe that’s the greatest gift he offered,
accepting Paul for who Paul is,
and that included his chains.
You may have noticed Paul writing
about life in the jail,
and neither was he ashamed of his chains.
For Paul,
his chains were a reminder
of his greater purpose.
“I suffer hardship,
even to the point of being chained like a criminal.
but the Word of God is not chained.
Therefore I endure everything
for the sake of the elect,
so that they may also obtain the salvation
that is in Christ Jesus.”
Would Paul have made this proclamation
without Onesiphorus?
Onesiphorus,
through hospitality,
through food and water and clothes
through visits and prayers
made prison a little more endurable for Paul.
In times of challenge,
transitions
conflicts,
difficulties,
Small acts of kindness
are never small.
Anna Carter Florence writes,
“For Onesiphorus,
it might have been the most natural thing in the world
to be unashamed and unembarrassed
by Paul’s predicament.
Maybe he thought it no big deal,
no great sacrifice,
to visit Paul in prison
and bring him a few comforts from home.
But for Paul, it was a very big deal indeed,
and one he always remembered.
Small acts of kindness can refresh a spirit,
inspire an apostle,
and summon forth the Word of God - unchained”
A challenge and an affirmation
on this Feeding and Fellowship celebration day:
Go and do likewise.
Take Matthew 25 seriously,
trust that when we feed the hungry
clothe the naked
give water to the thirsty,
visit the prisoner,
welcome the stranger
we serve not only that person
but we serve Christ himself.
These small acts of kindness
are never small.
You, Advent, God has been at work in you
in and through the small acts of kindness
that are never small.
Take Matthew 10 seriously,
we look not for our own places of honour,
but to honour people,
to be servant of all.
You, Advent, have been God’s servant.
So to you who adds an extra measure
of love and chocolate chips to your potluck dish;
to you who bring Holy Communion
to people who cannot attend worship,
To you who bring a lunch to confirmation class
to you who put on the coffee,
or invite the faithful for wings and beer
To the Turkish-Islamic friends
who fed our youth with grains and relationship,
To you who flip pancakes and rotate hot dogs,
and to you who make grief a touch more endurable
with your funeral hospitality,
And to you who may go unnoticed,
but find a way to feed;
God is at work in and through you,
and in and through your food.
And to you all,
to those who feed others,
and those who are hungry,
to those who might get embarrassed or ashamed,
to you:
God will not let you go hungry.
You are God’s beloved child,
claimed in the waters of baptism,
God notices you,
God has not abandoned you.
You have a place at the Lord’s table,
the Bread of Life is waiting for you here.
May God continue to feed us,
that we might join God’s work of feeding the world.
May God give us courage for small acts of kindness,
trusting that no kind act is really small.
May God’s work in us
bear greater fruits
than we could ever ask or imagine.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
