Means of Grace: Lamenting the Lone Ranger

Series: Means of Grace - ConferencingScripture: Matthew 16:13-19; 26:69-75Title: Strength in numbersWhen you hear this song (the opening trumpet of "William Tell Overture"), what do you think of? Well, if you’ve been to some Illinois football games, you might think of that. But most people probably think of something else. Whenever the bad guys were in town, plotting to steal the silver mine, or rob a bank, or swindle a widow, if you heard that trumpet, you knew that things were going to be okay. Because that music meant the Lone Ranger was riding into town. And the Lone Ranger would make things right.The Lone Ranger is an American icon, with his black mask, silver bullets, white horse and Indian companion, Tonto. It was the most popular show on the radio. There were also novels, comic books, TV shows and feature films. The Lone Ranger, whose closest friends were killed by the Clavendish gang, remained anonymous, always leaving townspeople wondering, "Who was that masked man?" The Lone Ranger was an American hero - the ideal.I actually remember Lone Ranger reruns on TV on Saturdays, but I don’t think they’ve been on TV for a long time. I can’t help but wonder if some young people even know who the Lone Ranger is. But even though people may not remember John Reid and his mask made of his brother’s vest, the idea of the Lone Ranger is still strong in our culture. The TV serial western has gone out of style, but the American hero has not changed much.Over the last few years comic book movies have had explosive popularity. Batman, another masked man driven by revenge, has had several movies of varying quality, the best being the latest version Batman Begins. Spiderman, an awkward teenager who finds that his powers make him no more sociable, is expecting his third movie out next summer. Superman Returns, who in the most recent movie still stands for "truth, justice, and all that stuff," was the blockbuster his of the summer. All of these characters have something in common - besides overwhelming box office appeal - they are all new versions of the Lone Ranger.They are all loners, looking from the outskirts of society. They all use their powers, either supernatural or not, to pursue wrongdoers, bring people to justice, and if there’s time - save and kiss the girl. But they are all isolated. They are all alienated from the rest of society. None of them have intimate relationships with anyone. They protect their identity, and guard their privacy. And for this, we admire them. We admire them for their power. We admire them for pursuing justice. We admire them for getting the bad guy, and I think we admire them because they do it on their own. We admire them for being alone because of all the scary things they face, the evil monsters and criminal masterminds, the scariest thing that any of us face is loneliness. So we admire them for standing up in the face of such terrible loneliness.We admire them because we know that if we were faced with the same loneliness, we might not be so strong. Our icons like Batman and the Lone Ranger, do it on their own. The Lone Ranger, as suggested by his moniker, was mostly alone. And being alone is not an easy place to be. Have you been lonely? Have you felt out of place? When you’re all by yourself it can be very difficult to be brave - and yet these heroes seem to exemplify bravery even in the midst of their loneliness - and that’s what makes them super above all of their powers.Loneliness, isolation, alienation, whatever you call it - is one of the most basic of human fears. No one wants to be alone. Yes, there are times when solitude and isolation can be healing. Sometimes it is nice to retreat and spend time in contemplation. That is partly why I like my bike rides so much. It can be refreshing and renewing to be alone for short period of time - but we must always come back to people that we care about - people we love. True loneliness is being away from anyone you care about and anyone that cares about you - that is why it is possible to be very lonely in a crowded place. Loneliness is not just separation from people - but separation from love. When someone is separated from love - from life giving love - then what often creeps in is fear. If someone is separated from love, then all they have left is fear.When you are surrounded with love, it is easy to be brave. Love is the source of all things. It is the source of God’s power. When we are surrounded in it, people can do amazing things. When we are without love, then all we have is fear and courage becomes impossible.Look at Peter. In Matthew’s gospel we read two very different stories about Peter. In the first, Peter is the Rock. Jesus is questioning his disciples, and asks them, "Who do you say that I am?" They sort of waver. Well, you’re a pretty good guy - you’re definately a prophet. A great prophet, kind of like John the Baptist - no, better - Jeremiah, or maybe Elijah... And it is Peter that stands up, firm in his conviction and says, "You are the messiah." There, among his friends, close to Jesus, Peter is empowered, and he is the first to claim that Jesus is the messiah - the Christ. Peter is the one that makes the leap.Jesus is not just some teacher. He is not just a good friend. He is not just some healer. All the disciples knew that Jesus was something special, that is why they followed him. But it was Peter who was able to declare "You are the Messiah," the annointed one of God. You are the one that we have been waiting for. You are the one who will establish the Reign of God. You are God’s chosen. There, among his friends Peter can be bold and declare something that no one else was able to declare.Then we fast forward a little bit. Now we find Peter at Jesus’s trial. He is in the courtyard of the high priest, he is cold and alone. He is warming himself by the fire. Remember, just a few hours ago Peter had been with Jesus in Gesthamane. He had Jesus had asked him to keep alert for him while Jesus prayed, and Peter could not stay awake. Then the guards came, and there was some chaos. Someone draws a sword and cuts off the ear of one of the Roman guards, but the disciples, Peter included, run away. One of the men that was following Jesus was in such a hurry that Matthew tells us that he ran away naked.So here is Peter, watching Jesus’s trial. He knows that things aren’t going well. The high priest is angry, ready almost to do the deed himself. The guards blindfolded Jesus, began to beat him and spit on him. And Peter is there, all alone watching this take place. While he is there a girl sees Peter and asks him, "Weren’t you with him too?" And Peter denies it. But the little girl is insistent, and this time she speaks up, and talks to some of the crowd, "This fellow is one of them." Again, he denied it. But now the others look at Peter, and they recognize him. Now he is truly alone as people begin to see who he is, "Surely, you are one of them." And Peter’s final response is "I don’t this man you’re talking about."Just a short time ago Peter had been with Jesus, with the disciples when he was the only one bold enough to declare, "You are the Messiah." Now, alone in the courtyard, Peter - the one who knew Jesus better than anyone else - the one who knew his true identity before anyone - declares, "I do not know this man."What changed? How could Peter be so different? What was different? He was alone. He was alienated. He was isolated. He was picked out of the crowd and left without any help or support. His savior was there being beaten and all he could think about was his own fate. He succumbed to the fear and saved his skin. But really, can you blame him? He was alone. I can’t help but wonder where the other disciples were. Apparently they were not brave enough to even come see what was happening. But Peter, the Rock, had wavered. He allowed the fear to overtake him - because he was alone.We admire our heroes because even though they are alone, they are able to be brave. Most people - even Peter - can’t be so brave when they are alone. That is why it is so important to gather together. We gather this morning to worship, but we also gather as a community to remind us that we are not alone.When we gather as a church we know that there are others like us. There are others with fears and doubts. There are others who are sick and in need of care. And at the same time when we gather we know that there are others who are brave. There are others who we can depend on, who can support us. And we gather not only as a local church, but as the United Methodist Church. The cross and flame is a symbol found around the world. We gather as a Vermillion River District, with help and resources from Pontiac and Bloomington and Kankakee. We gather as an Illinois Great Rivers Conference, with Springfield and Peoria and Mount Vernon and the Quad Cities. We gather as the United Methodist Church, with people across the world in all inhabited continents. As a people of faith we come here and we a part of something bigger than ourselves. Bigger than these walls. And we know that we are not alone - we do not need to be. There is no need for a Lone Ranger. Yes, we can admire our heroes - but we also feel a little sad for them., because we know that there is no need to be alone. We know that there is no need for the masks and the secret identity.We, like Peter, surrounded by his friends can declare "Jesus is the Messiah." When we are out in the world, and the little girl says, "Aren’t you one of them?" We can stand firm, knowing that we are not alone and declare, "Yes, I am. I know Jesus, and he is the Messiah. He is my source of life and grace."That is why gathering is so important. It teaches us that we are not alone. We draw strength from the community. We draw strength from each other. That is why it so important to continue to gather - not just on Sunday mornings. That is why we have Bible studies. That is why we have times of fellowship. That is why we have supper together. That is why I want to gather at the basketball court on Wednesday nights. That is why I want to gather in the fellowship hall around Bear games on Sunday afternoons. That is why we will celebrate Rally Day on September 10. We come here to be strengthened by the community - to feel God’s grace through one another. To feel God’s love through the warm smile and gentle embraces. To feel God’s acceptance with people who know we are all but sinners walking together on this journey. To be empowered by the family, so we can go out and live the way Jesus would have us live. That is why we come here, so we can go out there and not hide in the corner hoping no one will see.We come here so we can remember that we have strength, so when someone asks, "Aren’t you one of them?" We don’t have to be alone and fearful like Peter. We can stand firm and say, "Yes, I know Jesus." We come here so that we can feel the grace of God, and when darkness surrounds us we can say, "Yes, I know Jesus." We come here so that we can know the Kingdom of God, and when the world beats us down and looks like there is no hope, we can say, "Yes, I know Jesus." And if you can say that, even in the midst of darkness and despair. If you can say that, even in times of sickness. If you can say that, even in the dark and fearful times, then no darkness can overcome your light, no fear can overcome your hope, no death can overcome your life. Know that Jesus is the messiah. Know that Jesus is the chosen one of God. Know that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and declare it boldly as only one with strength in numbers can declare it. Amen.