Sermon – Matthew 16
Sermon Preached by The Rev’d Timothy Sherwell on Sunday 30 August, 2026
Christian Mystic Thomas Merton said “man cannot enter deeply into God, unless he first loses himself.”
Our focus today is on verse 25 of Matthew’s Gospel.
“Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
In other words, a move away from self-reliance and becoming more God reliant.
1. Faith Development
If we are serious about growing in faith, the first step in the spiritual journey is to realise that complete self reliance excludes God.
Self-reliance goes hand in hand with the illusion of control.
We think we are in control of our lives, when in reality we are not in control of much at all.
If we let go of self-reliance, we will need some sort of serious spiritual practice to connect us to God reliance.
We cannot be God’s people, and we cannot do God’s work, unless we are in relationship with God through prayer contemplation and imagination. Jesuit Priest Kevin O’Brien says: “that which is in our heart, will drive our hands and our feet.”
2. Mental Health
Mental health is talked about a great deal these days.
Michael Dambrun writing for The National Library of Medicine tell us that selflessness is related to authentic durable happiness.
Studies from the National Institute of Health in Maryland in the US teach us about the biomechanics of the Mesolimbic System.
When we live charitably (or altruistically) then we are living outside of our own head.
We are living selflessly and giving something to the needs of others.
Altruism causes a release of dopamine oxytocin and endorphins.
It creates a feeling of connection.
The physical benefits are lower blood pressure and a more relaxed vagus nerve which means less stress.
There were also suggestions that older people who volunteer and are more focussed on the community around them tend to live longer lives.
So Jesus was onto something.
He nailed it (no pun intended).
Selfless people are happier and healthier, and may even live longer lives.
3. Community and Culture
When we give up what “we” want for the sake of the kingdom of God, we release a quiet but formidable force.
In my first parish I had a dear old friend Patricia, and she once said to me; “Tim, in my day we did not have counsellors and psychologists, we had friends and neighbours.”
There is a great deal of truth in what she said.
Communities flourish when their constituents are selfless and care for one another.
Selfless people make fantastic communities, and those communities tend to produce better happier people.
4. In summary
The action of moving away from self-reliance towards God reliance requires serious prayer and contemplation.
It requires humility and an openness.
God reliance is a place beyond pride, and beyond the ego.
But doing so brings purpose and authentic durable happiness.
It builds healthier communities and subsequently healthier individuals.
As we go about our week, lets look for opportunities to practice.
Small things are best because small things are more likely to get done, and the sum of small things are a significant difference.
Thomas Merton was right; “A man cannot enter deeply into God unless he first loses himself.”