Sermon for January 22, 2015 ~ 11:00 HE 1
Feast Day of Vincent,
Deacon of Saragossa, and Martyr, 304
The Rev. Vicki K. Hesse
St. Philip’s In The Hills Parish,
Tucson, AZ
For online access to the readings click here
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| Image courtesy Pixabay |
I speak to you in the name of One God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Today is the Feast Day of Vincent,
Deacon of Saragossa and Martyr in 304.
He
has been called the “protomartyr” of Spain –
meaning he was the first martyr in Spain.
meaning he was the first martyr in Spain.
What
do you know about him?
Very
little is known about his life, other than:
·
His
name, his order of ministry and the place and time of his martyrdom, in Spain.
·
Born
and raised in Huesca, northern Spain, and ordained by Bishop Valerius, of
Saragossa.
·
Early
in the 4th century, all Christians were under persecution by Roman
emperors Diocletian and Maximian.
·
The
Governor of Spain had Valerius and Vincent arrested and imprisioned in
Valencia.
·
One
legend recounts that Valerius had a speech impediment and so Vincent became the
preacher on his behalf.
·
When
they were arrested,
they were challenged to renounce their faith.
·
It
is said that amid threats of torture and death, Vincent said to his bishop, “Father,
if you order me, I will speak.”
·
Valerius
is said to have replied, “Son, as I committed you to dispense the word of God,
so I now charge you to answer in vindication of the faith which we defend.”
·
The
young deacon then told the governor that he and his bishop had no intention of
betraying the true God.
·
The
vehemence and enthusiasm of Vincent’s defense showed no caution in his defiance
of the judges, and
·
The
Governor’s fury was increased by this exuberance in Christian witness.
·
Valerius
was exiled, but the angry Governor ordered that Vincent be tortured.
This
legend brings up for me
the
scripture that exhorts us to
“…
in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.
Always
be ready to make your defense
to
anyone who demands from you
an
accounting for the hope that is in you;”[1]
Upon
hearing this,
I
sometimes think that
someone
shoulda told me in advance
that
it would be so hard to account for my faith.
Although
the Baptismal Covenant
offers
us a chance
to
renounce Satan the powers of evil in the world
even
as we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
it’s
not so direct as
“you
must be able
to
make an accounting for your faith.”
Instead, the covenant asks,
“Will
you proclaim by word and example
the
Good News of God in Christ?”
which
is a little different question.
So
today, Vincent invites us to reflect
on this question:
when
you consider your faith,
have you created
a well thought-out answer?
If
the opportunity is presented
for you to share your faith,
will you speak or will you remain silent?
Our gospel lesson today says it
just as directly:
“…everyone who acknowledges me
before others,
the Son of Man also will acknowledge
before the angels of God;
but whoever denies me
before others will be denied
before the angels of God.”
If it is difficult to account for your
faith,
you are not alone.
And we are called to do so, which is
why God gives us the inner strength to do so
or at least be
prepared to do so.
Has
it ever happened to you
that
you have been confronted to explain
the
“reason for the hope that is in you”?
When
in seminary,
I
was advised that
when
looking for a field education site
where
I would work for a year,
it
was a good idea to ask
the
rector of the candidate church,
“what
is your gospel?”
The
answers I heard allowed me to gain a sense of this church community’s desire
and ability to account for their faith.
I
think this question is similar to what Vincent asks us today: what is the Good News
that
you hold in your heart
that
guides your inner spiritual life
from
which your outer life and values arise?
Today’s
good news is that
God
grants us the courage to proclaim our faith
in
whatever form it is at this time –
and
further, that we are not to worry about
“how”
we are to defend ourselves,
as
the gospel says,
“… for the Holy Spirit
will teach you
at
that very hour what you ought to say..."
Just
as Vincent was upheld by God
in
the face of threats and torments,
God
strengthened him
and
strengthens us today
to
endure adversity with our steadfast faith.
How
do we do that? Through the Holy Spirit. Through listening with the ear of the
heart.
Through
noticing the gifts and graces and blessings that are all around us.
Through
mistakes and forgiveness and trying again and again.
Through
our community, gathered here, in prayer and humble confession.
Amen
