Sometimes it takes change

Ah, change. I have heard there are some people who like change. I even believe it. But I have met many, many people who are quite open and direct about how they hate change. And yet, change seems both inevitable and worthwhile. Journalist and author Gail Sheehy said, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”

I can imagine some of you reading this saying, “Yes, Barry, that’s all fine and good but what does it have to do with today’s Lectionary texts?” ¹ In some ways it doesn’t really relate but it is a good reminder that no matter how resistant to change we might be, we are probably going to have to live through some of change.

One of the things I hope you take away from today’s sermon is that we have to change if we want to become more and more like Jesus. In today’s epistle lesson Paul says, “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) Being transformed is change. Being transformed may not be nice, it might even be unpleasant or painful, but if we want to become the people were created to be so we can do the things we are called to do we will experience change.

As always, let me know what you think as you are inclined and able.

“Sometimes it takes change” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

1. I frequently imagine folks asking me questions about what I have written or said. This is not an unusual experience. ↩︎