Are You Codependant Or A Coworker?

2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-13

I would like to ask you a question as we begin today. Answer this question. Who are you? When you think about your life, identify the top five adjectives, which would describe who you are. I will give a moment to brainstorm.

The title of this sermon is, “Are you a coworker or a codependent?” Most of the time when I have people do this exercise, the standard identifiers pop up. I am a father, mother. I am a brother, sister, husband. I am a wife. Very rarely does the identifier Christian come to people’s mind. This morning as we read the very first verse in our 2 Corinthians text, we see the Apostle making a bold statement. “We then as workers together with Him…” Even though this letter was directed to people almost 2000 years ago in a land far far away, we can apply it to ourselves today. The Apostle is assuming that we as Christians are colaborers with Christ. This morning we are going to examine this text. We will ask the question: “What does it mean to be a coworker with Christ?”

To be a coworker with Christ means that I have a mission. But what does the term coworker mean? We all have idea what coworker means. It is a person who works along side of us. We work together to accomplish a mission.

We are to be coworkers with Christ, not codependent. What is a codependent? Well, it has many meanings. The one I want to focus on this morning is the idea that someone else determines my identity, including society. In essence, this morning I am asking you and me: Who tells you who you are, Christ or the society you live in? If you are serious about being a coworker with Christ, we must allow Christ to tell us who we are.

If we are coworkers, this implies that there is a mission. What is the mission? When we think of the mission of Christianity, what comes to mind? To many, it is the great commission. Do you remember Jesus’ words? Go therefore into all the world, teach, baptize, lay hands on the sick. These are indeed important, Jesus commanded us to do these holy acts. But I think there is an even greater command. Do you remember the disciples asking Jesus what the greatest commandment was? He answered, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. This I believe is really the great commandment. This is our mission. We are to become tools to be used by God. We are to love as He loves. That is one reason why we rehearse the Summary of the Law at every Mass.

To be a coworker with Christ means that I must act.

The Scripture tells us plainly: Now, is the acceptable time; see now is the day of salvation!

Mike Yacelli in the Wittenburg Door tells this story. Once there was a little boy who ever since he could remember wanted to be a fireman….Deep in his heart there was a longing to someday be able to help people; to save people from the ravaging grasp of a fire….Growing up never changed his mind….Then the big day arrived. He as accepted to one of the best firemen academies in the country….As graduation approached, he realized that the long-awaited moment was within reach. He graduated. Because he had done so well in school, one of his professors suggested that he travel to Europe and study under one of the greatest fireman theorists of all time. Once again, graduation loomed before him. He thought about that boy hood desire to actually put out fires and help people in distress. It was then that he was offered a position to teach at one of the most respected schools in the country. He accepted. And for twenty-five years, he taught with honors and received recognition worldwide. He died last year and when they read his memoirs they came across a strange passage written while on his deathbed: “I lie here today reviewing my life. I still remember my dream, my passion to be a fireman. More than anything else I wanted to put out fires…but I realized something today. I have never put out a single fire.

Imagine coming to the end of your life and remembering that you never told another person about the never-ending love of Jesus. Imagine coming to the end of your life and realizing that you had always heard about Jesus’ love and compassion, you had never truly experienced it.

Jesus invites us in our Epistle Lesson to be co-workers with Him in working in the Kingdom of God. St Paul tells us that today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to volunteer and be a co worker with Christ. I can’t think of a better Lenten offering to Jesus and His Church than to serve Him a little more in His Kingdom outpost named St Timothy’s Church.