GOOD AND PERFECT GIFTS

Homily for the 4th Sunday after Easter

The Rev. Marq Toombs+ Curate

The Collect. Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Epistle. James 1:17-21; The Gospel. John 16:5-15

Gifts are hard to give, and hard to receive.

What makes a gift good and perfect? Is it the gift itself or the giver? Is it the thought that counts or the thing?

Is a gift good and perfect because it’s something wanted and wished for, or because someone wanted you to have something you didn’t even know you wanted or needed?

Take a moment to think about the most special gifts you have ever received from family and friends. Why are they so special to you?

In most cases, it is probably not because of the retail value or material quality of the gift. It’s likely the personal-emotional connection you have to the giver.

In other words, it’s the sacramental union between you, the gift, and the giver. The gift is a surface level sign of the deeper level love that holds you close and engrafts your hearts together.

Now take a moment to think about the most special gifts you have received from the Father of lights. What makes his gifts so special? So good and perfect? Is it the nature, character, or virtue of the gift? Something better for you than you could ever wish or imagine for yourself?

The answer is all of the above, because all divine gifts are special, good, and perfect, by virtue of their source who is Holy God. He knows you better than you know yourself. And he knows what you need before you ask!

According to the Epistle and Gospel readings for today, the Heavenly Gift-Giver is unlike us earthly gift-givers. He is not shifty or shady; he is steady and stable. He gives gifts with no strings attached and with no ulterior motives. His gifts are always true, good, and beautiful. Practical yet personal; Useful yet not utilitarian; Spiritual yet material and physical; Heavenly yet earthly.

The Father of lights is the supreme Gift-Giver. What are some of the gifts he has given? Among the countless and priceless gifts we could list out, here are four that arise out of the Epistle and Gospel.

1. The first gift is the word of truth in the Law and the Gospel.
   The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. The Law is the thing which God commands. The gospel is God’s promise to forgive the sins of all who fall short of his glory and to forge a new heart and spirit in them.

2. The second gift is Regeneration by the Spirit and word of God.
   The Gift-Giver gives us the gift of new birth into a new family. He brings us out of darkness and death into his life and light. In our Father’s love we experience a real change of heart and transformation of life.

3. The third gift is Jesus Christ. The Father gives his Son as the sacrifice for our sins and the Savior of our bodies and souls. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” as the Savior of all who turn away from sin and self — and who trust in Jesus as the one and only Savior of the world. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving the Father’s love for you.

4. The fourth gift is the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of Life. This Gift proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is our Paraclete. The one who calls us and walks beside us. As our Counselor, he convicts us of sins; he converts our hearts; he conforms us to the image of Jesus Christ; he conducts us to walk in the word of truth. As our Comforter he helps us re-form our ‘unruly wills and affections’ and transform them according to the love and light of the Father.

So, what shall we do with all these good and perfect gifts? How can we experience the true joys they are meant to give us?

Not by taking them for granted. Not by treating them as cheap trinkets and disposable things.

To experience the true joys of God’s gifts we must treasure them in our heart, mind, soul, and body.

And we must be transformed by them in our life so that we become true images of God.

Since the Father is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, kind, forgiving, and fair-minded, we should enjoy his gifts in such a way that we become like him towards each other – and towards our neighbors, our friends, and even our enemies.

Since Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life we should use his gifts for us to become like him. That means “laying apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness” (KJV). That’s just a fancy way to say “throw all sinister vices and cancerous evils in the garbage” (adapted from The Message). In other words, clean up your life and get rid of all the unnecessary silliness that nudges you away from Jesus. If you need help with this, and you do need help — as do I, come see one of your priests for confession and for counsel.

Since the Comforter is the Spirit of truth, we should allow his gifts to take root and grow up and bear fruit in our life. Like the Spirit, we should speak the truth in love: to comfort each other with grace; to console each other in grief; to counsel each other in the grit and grind of life.

Now we come to the Crux of the Matter.

One of the most precious gifts the Father has given you is the gift of standing at a crossroads and deciding what you will do with the time and life that God has given you.

You have been given the gift of choosing the way of grace or the way of nature.

You have the gift of choosing each moment of every day good or evil, wisdom or folly, righteousness or sin, life or death, heaven or hell, salvation or condemnation.

Now I urge you with all your heart to choose life – and keep choosing life – that you may live in the light and love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit both now and forever!

Love the thing that God commands in his word;
and long for the promise that God covenants in the Word made flesh.

Remember: every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights. All these gifts are given to show us that there is a sacramental union between you and the Father of lights, between you and the Savior of the world, between you and the Spirit of truth.

And it is my hope and prayer that you come to see with your eyes, and feel with your heart, and hold with your hands, and taste with your lips, and experience with your soul all the gifts of God for you in Jesus Christ.

That starts with your receiving the gift of baptism and the water of new birth and the work of the Holy Spirit that cleanses you body and soul.

That continues with the gift of the Eucharist and the partaking of the consecrated bread and wine and participating in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

If you or your children have not yet received baptism with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy, let’s get together and talk about it.

If you or your baptized children are not yet partaking of communion, or if you feel unsure about if and when you should do so, let’s get together and talk about it.

My little children, I want you to know that all these gifts are for you and your children in Jesus Christ.

As we turn our attention to the Liturgy of the Table and prepare to partake of Holy Communion remember this:

The Father loves you,

Jesus is on your side,

The Spirit is for you,

God is relentless in his pursuit of you.

Here, at this altar, the Father shows us his deep and abiding love in his Son Jesus Christ.

Here, at this table, the Savior serves us the comfort food and drink of our salvation by his Spirit.

In Holy Communion, true joys are found in the sharing of the gifts of God with the people of God.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen