Sacred Highway

Learning the name of the spiritual street we grow up on

12/11/2017

Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

        One of the first things a child learns is the name of the street he or she lives on. I still remember the name of my home street, called “Dellwood Drive” in southwest Little Rock, that’s where I grew up. Can you remember the name of the street you grew up on? Now, why is it important to know that street’s name? Well, because if you get lost one day, one of the first things the police officer who finds you will ask is, “What street do you live on?” That way, they can get you back home safely. You should always remember the name of the street you live on so you never get lost.

        In the first reading today, the prophet Isaiah also talks about “God’s Sacred Highway,” which is where all God’s people live, their home street, you might say. Listen to how lovely this road is. Isaiah writes: “A good road will be there, and it will be called, ‘God’s sacred highway.’ It will be for God’s people; no one unfit to worship God will walk on that road. And no fools can travel on that road. No lions or other wild animals will come near that road; only those the Lord has saved will travel there.” Do you know what road Isaiah is talking about? Well, he’s actually talking about a “spiritual street” where God’s people walk because that’s their home street, and that’s where they live. Boys and girls, I want you to think of this center aisle of this church as that main street of God’s sacred highway. When we walk down this street, we come to our spiritual home and we receive God’s blessings.

          Now, I want to see if you can guess two very important times when people walk down this spiritual street to get God’s blessings. First, I need two volunteers: a girl from first grade and a girl from sixth grade. The first grader will carry a basket with flower petals and toss them out, while the sixth grader will don this veil and carry these flowers while she walks behind her. When does someone walk down this spiritual street to get God’s blessing doing those things? It’s when they get married! That’s why we don’t get married on the beach or in a barn. God’s sacred highway is the spiritual street inside the church. Sadly, some people walk down the wrong roads in life.

          The second time we walk this spiritual street is when we’re actually carried down this street. I need some more volunteers: a second grader and six boys from fifth grade. The second grader will lie on this table and we’ll place a white cloth over him and the six boys will stand, three on either side, and roll him up the center aisle. When we get to the center aisle the priest uses incense to show that the soul is going up to heaven, just like the incense goes up to heaven. When does someone get carried down this spiritual street for the last time? That’s is at our funeral. It’s always so sad to me when people die and they don’t have a funeral in a church. They missed the turn to get on God’s sacred highway.

          Boys and girls, it’s important to know the name of the street you live on, so if you get lost, you can find your way home. But it’s also important to remember the name of the spiritual street where you grow up, namely, God’s sacred highway, here in this church. Why? Well, because it’s very easy to get lost in life, because you forget who you are, and where you came from and where you’re going.  But when someone finds you and asks you where you live, you’ll be able to say: “My home street is God’s sacred highway,” and you will return to church.

 Praised be Jesus Christ!