& i wonder what became of you

sunlight over me no matter what i do

A sermon on the brilliantly subtle intro of 1 Peter:

What makes you, you?

I know. That’s a big question. There are many things that contribute to who you are. Aren’t there? Nevertheless, I’d like us to try to answer. What makes you, you? 

And I’ll talk a little to give you some time to think. First of all, keep in mind that you can use the range of this question as an advantage. You don’t have to drill down to just one thing. You can come up with multiple answers! For instance, and because it’s only fair, I’d say what makes me, me, is that I’m curious. AND I’m judgmental. 

I don’t like to admit that last part. But I am. And it drives me up the wall! I don’t like that I’m judgmental!

Believe me, this frame of mind often boomerangs around on me. And when that happens, I become the one judged. It’s no fun. And if you suffer from the same affliction, I don’t need to tell you how unpleasant it is. Do I?

Plus, being judgmental doesn’t serve my curiosity! And it’s my curiosity that I like! And curiosity gets its vim and vigor from being open-minded! Obviously, a judgmental attitude is anything but! However, whether I like it or not, there it is. Part of what makes me, me, are these two characters that are at odds with each other. 

But what about you? What makes you, you? Go ahead and try to answer the question with those sitting around you. And remember, you’re free! 

You don’t have to play. And you can be vague. But you can also take this as an opportunity to get to know someone else a little better. And maybe even come to understand yourself a little bit better, too. It’s up to you.

What makes you, you? And, as always, look around. If you see someone who happens to be sitting by themselves, invite them to play along. 

And if you’re invited, it’s ok to say “no, thank you.” And if that’s the answer you get, you don’t have to take it personally. Just smile back, say “ok,” and let them know they can jump in later if they want. Easy-peasy!

Enough stalling! What makes you, you? Go ahead and share your answers with one another.

…Ok. Let’s bring it in. Thank you for playing along. Did anyone have any breakthroughs? 

How many of you had conflicting characteristics? Ok. How many of you learned something new about yourself? Ok. How many of you learned something new about someone else? Ok. 

What about this: how many of you had to bite your tongue while a friend or family member misrepresented themselves?!? Ok. We can be pretty oblivious about ourselves. Can’t we?

How about this: Did anyone answer the question differently? 

The question was wide open. Wasn’t it? Yes, I led you down a particular path with my answer. But that doesn’t mean you had to follow!

You didn’t have to answer with attributes. You could have named some event in your life that made you, you. Or you could have answered with a person. Or you could have answered with your family history. Or biology. Why, you could have pulled out the safe Sunday school answer and said God is what makes you, you!

Did anyone answer the question differently?

It really is a big question! Isn’t it? And honestly, not a one answer totally captures what makes you, you. You can’t just pin down who you are.

I have a theory for why this is, too. And it’s not mine. It comes to us from today’s Scripture. The reason we can’t definitively say what makes us, us, is twofold. First of all, we’re not a static thing. And more importantly, it’s not for us to say who we are!

We don’t define ourselves! No, it’s the other way ‘round! We are defined. Our identity is what others say we are!

You are who your country defines you as. You are who your neighbors define you as. You are who your friends define you as. You are who your family defines you as. And this is because, deep down, you are who God defines you! You are who God defines you.

…Ok. Let’s get into it! The first thing to say is, this is not philosophical! Truth be told, you already have plenty of hands-on experience with this. Many of you know you didn’t become who you are in any meaningful way until someone else called it out of you. 

For instance, you didn’t become a mother or father until your child called you one. And this didn’t happen just once, either. Did it? No, first, it began without words. It started with cries. But then, it continued each and every time that other person called you mother or father. 

However, as we all know, this is not a fixed identity. What I mean is, one of the most painful rifts in a family is when a child refuses to call their mother, father, brother, or sister as such. When that happens, part of you effectively ceases to be that person. 

That is why deaths are so hard. It’s not just the person who dies. So does a part of us. The part of us that was defined by the person who died dies with the deceased. Doesn’t it?

But that brings us to the peril of this fact of our identity. Frankly, it can be a little scary to let others define us. Can’t it? Often, it seems safer just to shore up our own identity ourselves. 

And I will grant you, the prospect is tempting. Heck, I fall prey to it way more often than I wish I did. Come to think of it, that tendency is probably connected to my being judgmental.

But the bigger problem with trying to define ourselves is that it doesn’t really work! Insisting you are the one who determines who you are is a surefire way to never really being anyone at all! First of all, you will see everyone else as nothing more than a threat! And secondly, all you will have to define yourself is yourself! You will become the ouroboros, that snake that eats its own tail!

…What seems like the safe route is really the most treacherous one! It’s how you cut yourself off from life itself! And should you go down that route, you will have died hundreds of deaths before you are buried. When your final day arrives, there will be nothing left for you to say who you were, and nobody will be left to tell you, either. It’s tragic.

In fact, the word for being our own maker is autonomy. It’s a popular word. You may have heard it bandied about. To be autonomous is to be the one who defines yourself.

But the etymology of this word is instructive. Autonomy comes from two different Greek words: “auto” and “nomos.” And you already know what “auto” means. Auto means self. As in, “auto-matic.” If something is “automatic,” it works all by itself.

And “nomos” means law. Honestly, I can’t think of any English words with “nomos" in it. But trust me. “Nomos” means law. And if you don’t believe me, well, rude! But I did bring my Greek dictionary to prove it if you inveterate sinners can’t bring yourself to take my word!

Anyway, to be autonomous is to be a law unto yourself! Think about that! To be autonomous is to be a set of rules for yourself! How dreary!

We think if we can just define ourselves, we will be free. However, the opposite is true! When we seek to define ourselves, we imprison ourselves! To really be alive is to be open to what others have to say about you!

And yes, that can be risky. And I would be lying if I told you no one can misuse this fact of your existence. Nevertheless, the greater risk to who you are is playing it so safe that you refuse to open yourself up to others. Doing so amounts to closing yourself off from all that gives life.

…That’s what the author of today’s Scripture aims to cure you of, too! The first recipients of this letter, like us, lived in a culture where they were constantly told they had to make something out of themselves. The elder at St. Peter’s, though, wants you to know you’re not doomed to that dead-end existence. Instead, in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God has broken the silence on you! 

Now, you are no longer defined by yourself! No, now you are defined by what the Triune God has to say about you! And do you want to know what God says? Well, quit trying to answer! Instead, just listen! 

Listen: You are defined by the Word God spoken over you here. You are defined by words like, “You are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” You are defined by words like, “His body given for you and His blood shed for you.” You are defined by words like, “your sins are forgiven.”

You are not what you accomplish or fail to accomplish. And you’re not defined by your past or your resolve to make a better future, either. No, you’re defined by God’s love for you! God says, “You’re mine!” God says, “You’re a keeper.” 

And do you want to know why God says this? No reason! God just likes the thought of you! As far as God’s concerned, the party would be incomplete without you! And so, over and over again, out of a great and never-ending enteral love, God speaks your name!

God says ________. God says ________. God says ________. ''

…You no longer have to define yourself! No, now you can just rest in who God has spoken out of you! And you can rest in this identity, come what may, too! God is so set upon saying your name in love that God says this all the way unto even the grave! 

When Christ is laid in the tomb, God forever ratifies this word on you. Not even Death itself could get Christ the Son to stop saying your name! And when God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raises this Jesus Christ from the dead, God gives your identity staying power! Now, like Mary on that first Easter, when you hear the resurrected Son speak your name, you, too, will recognize the sound of your shepherd’s voice and follow him into the forever green pastures of paradise!

And you should know this is true for your loved ones who have followed Jesus, the Good Shepherd home, too. That’s why it didn’t sound altogether correct when I said part of our identity ceases when a loved one dies. In Christ, that tie that binds survives! And no matter what, we continue to be the friend, parent, child, or spouse of the deceased!

As Augustine said when he reflected on the death of a friend—and remember, Augustine is saying this as a prayer: “Now he lives in Abraham’s bosom—whatever’s meant by the word “bosom:’ my friend, my sweet friend, but your adoptive son, lives there. What other place could there be for a soul like that? He lives there, in the place he asked so many questions about—asked me a joke of a person who didn’t know a thing about it.

Now he doesn’t put his ear to my lips; instead, he puts his lips to the spirit of your spring, and he drinks all he can hold, wisdom in proportion to his thirst for it, in an ecstasy without end. And I don’t think he gets so drunk he forgets about me—since you, Master, whom he’s guzzling, remember us.”

…That’s enough. Isn’t it? More than enough, even. But God is so gracious, so very gracious that God has more in store! Now, God invites you into the discussion!

That’s all prayer is! Isn’t it? God is so committed to you that God welcomes you into the conversation about you and who you are! God is open to you, God takes your input into consideration!

And still, there is more! In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you, too, can carry on this conversation with others! Now you can say words like “I’m sorry. Forgive me.” Or, “I forgive you.” Or, “I love you.” Or, “I love you too.”

In Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, these words are more than words. They’re true. And they truly give life, too! And not just for others, either! No, you, too, will catch the rhythm of that sacred thrum of the heartbeat of your own life as you speak these words!

And that’s exactly what we’re going to do! We’re going to take up our part of the conversation! We’re going to answer God’s word of love with a hearty song of praise! Sound good?

I thought so. Our Hymn of the Day is all about where God meets us with this word of love week in and week out. Our Hymn of the Day is hymn number 522, As We Gather at Your Table! Hymn 522, As We Gather at Your Table. Let’s sing!