Scripture – Galatians 6:1-10
This is the second sermon in a series entitled, “What Really Matters: Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic”. During the pandemic we discovered what we thought really mattered in life did not matter as much as we thought. Sporting events, entertainment events, restaurants, and shopping did not matter as much as we thought.
In just learning how to survive to see another day as hundreds of thousands were dying around us, we discovered that Faith Matters. People prayed who had never prayed before. People heard, watched, and viewed church worship services on their phones, televisions, tablets, laptops, and computers.
We discovered that faith matters because by faith the writer of the letter to the Hebrews told his first century believers that the elders and saints of the old covenant obtained a good report. “Faith Matters,” he told them, because by faith their ancestors were able to understand with their spirits what they could not understand with their minds. By faith the writer told them that faith matters because by faith their ancestors pleased God. Faith matters because it matters to God he said because it is impossible to please God without faith.
Another thing we discovered during the pandemic is that family matters. Suzanna Schrobsdorff, editor-at -large at Time Magazine in her article entitled, “A Post Pandemic Bucket List,” says that she didn’t fully grasp what it meant to be alive till she saw the life [breath] leave a person she loved. When someone dies she said the air changes, you feel the absence, the goneness of an electrical current that you didn’t realize was there.
At the top of most post pandemic bucket lists is the reconnection with family. Travel restrictions, restrictions on social gatherings, and pandemic protocols have heighten our awareness of human need for interaction and physical affections. Things that were once normal were forbidden because of the pandemic. Holiday travel, dinners, physical gatherings, weddings, proms, graduations, hugs and kisses which were once normal but have been forbidden because of the pandemic has heighten our awareness that family matters.
When an 86 year old grandmother was asked what was the first thing she was going to do when the pandemic was over, she said that she was going to hug her grandchildren, because family matters.
The pandemic postponed the Toyoko 2020 Olympics til July and August, 2021. Because of the pandemic restrictions on travel and Olympic pandemic protocols, family members of the Olympians were not able to accompany them to the games. The television coverage of the games as you might expect were quite different this year.
As opposed to family members being in Toyoko they remained home in the United States and held watch parties with family and close friends. As the Olympians competed in their particular event in Toyoko, Japan, the network flashed shots of their families watch parties here in the United States.
As Sunisa Lee won the Women’s Gymnastic Gold Medal for the All-Around competition her family watched in St. Paul, MN. As Jade Carey won the Women’s Gymnastic Gold Medal for Women’s Floor Exercise, her family watched in Phoenix, AZ. As Katie Ledecky won Women’s Swimming Gold Medals in the 800 and 1500 meter freestyle, her family watched in Washington D.C. As Lydia Jacoby won the Women’s Swimming Gold Medal in the 100 meter butterfly, her family watched in Anchorage, AK.
As Caeleb Dressel won Men’s Swimming Gold Medals in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle, the 100 meter butterfly, and the 4×100 medley, his family watched in Green Cove Spring, FL. As April Ross and Alix Klineman won the Women’s Gold Medal in Beach Volleyball, their families watched here in Costa Mesa and Manhattan Beach, CA. After their victories, each said to their families who were watching at home that they did it for them because family matters.
Paul in his letter to the churches of Galatia exhorts these first century believers with a similar sentiment that family matters. As believers in Jesus Christ he tells them that they are members of the family of faith and because family matters they must share each other’s burdens (V.2). In doing so he says they obey or fulfill the law of Christ (VV.3-6).
That was the resounding theme that echoed throughout the Olympics as one Olympian after another told how their families shared the burdens of their Olympic journey. How they shared the sacrifice of time, and training, and resources for them to fulfill their dream. Taking them to practice, buying equipment, paying for lessons and coaching, and even moving to other cities for the training they needed to become an Olympian.
That’s not just the Olympians story, that’s our story as well. That’s how we survived to see another day during this pandemic. We shared each other’s burden. We helped family members to get food. We helped them to find the resources they needed to survive the pandemic. We talked them off the ledges of anxiety, and loneliness, and aloneness, and depression. We were the shoulders that they leaned on, and cried on, when loved ones transitioned on. We were the ones that prayed on when words alone would not do. Because family matters, we must share each other’s burdens.
Then Paul tells these believers that because family matters, they must live for more than themselves. In Verse 3ff he tells them that if they think they are too important to help somebody else they are fooling themselves (V.3). He goes on to tell them that there is no need to compare themselves to others, rather just to do what they can do and to be responsible for what they do (VV.4-5). Because God is a just God, they will reap what they sow. If they live only for themselves they will live a life that leds to decay, destruction, and death (V.8). But if they live lives that includes others they would please the Spirit and reap from the Spirit life everlasting (V.8b).
Lastly, Paul tells these believers that because family matters, they must never get tired of doing good. Be not weary in well doing he says in Verse 9ff for in due season and at the right time they will reap a harvest of blessings if they faint not.
Simone Biles the gymnast from Spring, TX was the face of the 2020 Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team. Considered by many to be the best American gymnast ever with 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, she qualified for the finals in all four artistic gymnastic events; the balance beam, the vault, the floor and the all-around exercises.
Prior to the finals in three of the events, she withdrew from competition to focus on her “mental well-being”. She was experiencing a phenomenal called the “twisties” where there is a temporary loss of air balance awareness.
For withdrawing from the competition some called her a quitter and others called her a disgrace to America. The right-wing media took the opportunity to scandalize her name. In spite of the criticism, she remained on the sidelines as her Olympic family competed. She cheered them on, and encouraged them on, and supported them on every step of the way to the team Silver Medal.
God She was there to cheer, encourage and support Sunisa Lee as she won the Gold Medal in the Women’s All-Around event. She was there to cheer, encourage, and support Jade Casey as she won the Gold Medal in the Floor Exercise (an opportunity she would not have had if Biles had not withdrawn). By the time they came to the Balance Beam finals though not at her best, she was well enough to complete and won the Bronze Medal.
Many of you have felt like that with family. Doing all you can for them but the moment you have to focus on your own well-being, you are talked about, and scandalized, and called everything but a child of God. If that has been you during this pandemic, then you are precisely who this message is for. Never get tired of doing good. Never get tired of extending yourself for others.
Never give up on your family. Even though they talk about you, even though they scandalize your name, even though they misunderstand you, keep on doing good. For in due season and at the right you will reap a harvest of blessings.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen!
The Rev. Dr. Kelvin Calloway is the senior pastor of Bethel AME Church in Los Angeles.
