Courage
Daniel 6:1-28
(Begin with “Daddy’s Day At School”)
Although our lectionary readings for today focus on the theme of marriage and family, I’ve decided to respond to a request I received last Sunday from the “Wish List” cards to prepare and deliver a sermon about courage.
When I reflect on the theme of courage, many images come pouring into my thoughts.
So many images came pouring in that it was difficult to decide which “story” of courage was the most important.
I decided that they were all important, and since we are in a worship setting, I’ll begin with the Biblical images first.
Daniel in the Lion’s Den is probably a familiar image.
To recall the story, Daniel was appointed to rule along with 2 other administrators over 120 governors throughout King Darius’ kingdom.
Daniel distinguished himself by his exceptional qualities, so the king planned to put him in control of the entire region.
But the other governors were jealous of the king’s decision.
They tried to find some dirt about Daniel, but could find none.
Daniel was without corruption and was without negligence.
He was totally trustworthy.
So the governors finally said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."
6. So the administrators and the governors went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever!
7. The royal administrators, prefects, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
8. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
9. So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
12. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
13. Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."
14. When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15. Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
16. So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
17. A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
18. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.
20. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21. Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!
22. My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23. The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24. At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly!
26. "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
27. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28. So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
What a great story of courage.
Daniel was not afraid to continue to pray and honor God no matter what the circumstances were.
Trust is part of courage.
Daniel trusted God completely.
He put his fate into God’s hands and God did not fail him.
To me, that is an example of the utmost courage.
To be able to put your life entirely into God’s hands.
Many of us want to be in control of our lives and our destiny.
Many people fear handing their lives over to God.
And so, for me, trusting God is a true act of courage.
For me, Mother Teresa was the epitome of courage.
She gave of her own life so willingly, doing without fame, fortune, or pride.
Her focus was on helping those who were less fortunate than herself.
She was so totally devoted to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ, that she continually put other people’s needs before her very own.
She was known as the angel of mercy.
She was also known as the missionary of compassion.
When I went to a website in her honor to find a little history about her, I found out how she felt about family and life.
Indeed God works in strange ways.
Regardless of how you feel about abortion, here is a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
“Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign. I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even his life to love us. So the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love - that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. "
Her story brought compassion to my heart because she stood in the same place as Daniel.
She stood up for what she believed in, even if it was against popular opinion.
God works in mysterious ways.
Even though I did not intend to prepare a sermon on marriage, the message of love in marriage is brought to the forefront in the message of a missionary who left a legacy of love.
It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in.
It takes courage to be a Christian.
The third person who came to my mind as I thought about courage was Perpetua.
Sts. Felicitas and Perpetua were martyrs who suffered at Carthage March 7, in the year 203 together with three companions, Revocatus, Saturus, and Saturninus. The details of the martyrdom of these five confessors in the North African Church have reached us through a genuine, contemporary description, one of the most affecting accounts of the glorious warfare of Christian martyrdom in ancient times. By a rescript of Septimus Severus (193-211) all imperial subjects were forbidden under severe penalties to become Christians. In consequence of this decree, five catechumens at Carthage were seized and cast into prison, viz. Vibia Perpetua, a young married lady of noble birth; the slave Felicitas, and her fellow-slave Revocatus, also Saturninus and Secundulus.
After their arrest, and before they were led away to prison, the five catechumens were baptized. The sufferings of the prison life, the attempts of Perpetua’s father to induce her to apostatize, the vicissitudes of the martyrs before their execution, the visions of Saturus and Perpetua in their dungeons, were all faithfully committed to writing by the last two. Shortly after the death of the martyrs a zealous Christian added to this document an account of their execution. The darkness of their prison and the oppressive atmosphere seemed frightful to Perpetua, whose terror was increased by anxiety for her young child. Perpetua’s mother also, and her brother, yet a catechumen, visited them. Her mother brought in her arms to Perpetua her little son, whom she was permitted to nurse and retain in prison with her. A vision, in which she saw herself ascending a ladder leading to green meadows, where a flock of sheep was browsing, assured her of her approaching martyrdom.
A few days later Perpetua’s father, hearing a rumour that the trial of the imprisoned Christians would soon take place, again visited their dungeon and besought her by everything dear to her not to put this disgrace on her name; but Perpetua remained steadfast to her Faith. The next day the trial of the six confessors took place.
The Christians were then condemned to be torn to pieces by wild beasts, for which they gave thanks to God.
In a vision Perpetua saw her brother Dinocrates, who had died at the early age of seven, at first seeming to be sorrowful and in pain, but shortly thereafter happy and healthy.
Another apparition, in which she saw herself fighting with a savage Ethiopian, whom she conquered, made it clear to her that she would not have to do battle with wild beasts but with the Devil.
Saturus, who also wrote down his visions, saw himself and Perpetua transported by four angels, towards the East to a beautiful garden, where they met four other North African Christians who had suffered martyrdom during the same persecution.
Felicitas, who at the time of her incarceration was with child (in the eighth month), was apprehensive that she would not be permitted to suffer martyrdom at the same time as the others, since the law forbade the execution of pregnant women. Happily, two days before the games she gave birth to a daughter, who was adopted by a Christian woman.
On 7 March, the five confessors were led into the amphitheatre.
At the demand of the pagan mob they were first scourged; then a boar, a bear, and a leopard, were set at the men, and a wild cow at the women.
Wounded by the wild animals, they gave each other the kiss of peace and were then put to the sword.
I cannot continue this message without bringing to light the name of Jesus Christ, who’s courage led Him to be nailed to a cross.
Sometimes, courage means trusting in something higher than yourself.
As we celebrate the inclusion of confessed Christians into our flock, let us be reminded of the company of Saints who have gone before us, with courage and faith.
As we celebrate Holy Communion together, we will celebrate the courage of Jesus Christ, as He suffered on the cross, before being raised into Glory.
May God be glorified by our hearing and our understanding.
Amen.
