February 28: Journeying as The Holy Priesthood

1 Peter 2: 2-10
As we continue our Lenten Journey this morning, I want to think about stones. There are so many different kinds of stones and rocks on this planet. I don’t know about you but I tend to take most of those for granted. The diamonds and sapphires catch my eye but the limestone, granite, and sandstone don’t really hold my interest. All of them are important for something, however, and in Ancient Egypt there were certain stones that were used for architecture; there were other stones that were used in crafts, jewelry and for decoration; and there were particular stones that were used for the creation of tools. Each stone had unique qualities that made it appropriate for its intended function. The utilitarian stone, flint, was made into hammers, drills, and knife blades. Gemstones such as lapis, garnet, and topaz were used to adorn the headdresses of kings and queens as well as to decorate their royal belongings. Sandstone and limestone were used to build brick to create the massive pyramids that the Ancient Egyptians are known for. Temples and statues were also made of this kind of stone and we can see that this material has stood the test of time. These structures were erected over 5,000 years ago and still stand in the Nile Crescent to be visited by geologists, scientists, and tourists alike.
The Ancient Egyptians weren’t the only ones who knew about stone however. In our epistle lesson this morning, St. Peter talks to the early Christians about being “living stones,” stones that are built into a spiritual house or temple. He is talking about that rock that is used for architectural purposes, as opposed to ornamental gems or stone that is formed into tools. This stone has to be sturdy and able to stand up to the weather. Peter’s focus is purely on building, and not just the construction of any old building- but a spiritual building- a holy building, dedicated to the Lord. Just as Christ is the cornerstone of the building—and recall that without the cornerstone the building lacks strength, form, integrity—that we are built into that same building with Christ. Notice that Peter doesn’t say “build yourselves into a spiritual house. . .” No, this is a passive verb--- allow yourselves to be built into. . . a spiritual house. You can’t make this happen, but simply have to let God do the work. God is the master architect. God is the project manager. Just like stones cannot make themselves, or set themselves into place—so we as living stones cannot build ourselves into this holy temple.
So, how does this happen for us? Pardon the change of metaphors here, but Peter begins this chapter instructing the Christians to be like newborn babies, who long for spiritual milk. Newborn babies can’t eat a filet mignon or a baked potato. Newborn babies must have pure milk or infant formula, if you will. So too, as Christians we have to have the pure milk of the gospel before we can even consider having what Luther called “the wine.” The pure milk of the gospel is that most basic message for us who believe. . . that Jesus Christ came and lived among us and died for our sake and rose again from the dead. There’s nothing we can do to save ourselves but we simply cling to the love of Christ and his mercy and grace in our lives. Until we can truly drink of this milk, we cannot move on in our spiritual journey. We must be strengthened and nurtured and fed by this rich, nutritious, life sustaining milk of the holy Gospel- which reminds us that God did this, we do not and cannot do this for ourselves. If the message that we cling to and stake our lives of faith on are anything other than this pure gospel, then that milk is sour milk and not pure spiritual milk.
As we get stronger in our faith we then become ready for the wine and Luther reminds us that the wine is the cross- the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. As we grow into this holy spiritual house, as we are formed into living stones, we become stronger in our faith and God then calls us to the cross. But that doesn’t happen until we have ingested enough milk to make us strong! As we are strengthened in Christ, we are formed into these living, breathing, serving, loving, stones. A builder wouldn’t use stone that doesn’t have the properties of good, solid construction material. That would be a foolish builder who is just asking for the building to collapse. But a wise builder uses materials that stand the test of time- like the Ancient Egyptians using limestone and sandstone for the construction of those massive pyramids. As those living stones we are formed into the structure of the holy house and we are supported by the chief cornerstone which is Christ in whom we put our faith and trust. As that holy house we work together to keep the building strong and sturdy; we pray for one another, we accommodate one another, we become one with each other as those bricks become one house.
Now we get to the why of this holy house. . . Peter tells the Christians it is so that they can be formed into a holy priesthood. A priest needs a temple to work in, right? Now we have the temple- that’s the collection of the living stones formed into a holy house- and so next comes the priest. What is the function of the priest in ancient Jewish religion? To offer the sacrifices to God. With Christ’s death and resurrection, however, the need for those blood sacrifices is over. Christ is the Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No longer do you and I have to slaughter lambs or goats or bulls on the altar of the Lord. Now something new happens—now everything is spiritual. This priesthood, that we are all a part of, is about serving God and our neighbor in love. These are our spiritual sacrifices as those who are a part of the holy priesthood. The house is built of living stones and those same stones become holy priests—inside a building? No! In the world that God loves.
Perhaps you are sitting there with furrowed brow thinking to yourself, “I’m not a priest, I’m not a pastor, I’m just me- a computer programmer, a stay at home mom, a retired person.” But remember how Martin Luther interpreted these words from 1 Peter, that with Christ there is no hierarchy of faith. All those who are baptized become part of this holy priesthood of all believers. The mark of that priesthood is the sign of the cross made at our baptism—it consists of all those who call themselves Christians, who put away “malice, guile, hypocrisy, hatred, etc. who are like newborn babes and drink the unadulterated milk.” (The pure milk!) No Christian is more important than any other; no job or vocation has a higher status in the kingdom of God than another; the call to ordained ministry is not a “higher” calling than the call to be a father or mother, the call to be a teacher or nurse, the call to be a farmer or laborer. Christ has given each of us everything that belongs to him, even his own body and blood! Because we are the holy priesthood we are sent into the world to proclaim Christ and him crucified and risen; we are called to pray for one another fervently, constantly, and faithfully; and we are to live out our baptism in a sacrificial life. In the weeks to come I will talk further about these three parts of the office of the holy priesthood.
For today then, let us embrace this calling to be the holy priesthood of believers. Let us embrace the reality that we are formed by Christ into living stones, made into a holy temple, for the sake of Jesus. As you go out into the ebb and flow of your daily lives, remember that you are called. Called to be helpful, called to care, called to serve others and love others, called to work faithfully at whatever it is you do each day, and all of that we do for God. Notice Christ along the way. Pay attention to Christ who is with you on your journey. He has given you everything you need and accompanies you every step of the way. Amen.