Keep On Keepin' On

“Keep On Keepin’ On”
Luke 24:44-53
Sunday June 5, 2011 – Ascension Sunday

Luke’s story this morning describes one of the most difficult events in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples.

After spending years together in ministry, working side-by-side, becoming friends, and seeing each other through some pretty rough times, it’s over and Jesus is leaving.

He gives them a few last-minute encouraging words and then he’s gone.

Yet, Luke tells us that the disciples, “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”

Certainly it was not joy at seeing Jesus go away;
rather, it was joy at the task that Jesus laid out for them.

He promised them they would have everything they needed to continue their ministry.

He blessed them and told them to keep on keepin’ on.

Let us pray…

Lord, we are eager to receive your blessing today.

Show us the plans you have for the future of our ministries;
help us to see that you have given us everything we need to go forward.

Lead us in our meditation on your words this morning and send us out with great joy.
In Jesus’ name…Amen

In the closing section of Luke’s gospel we find a touching and important farewell scene between Jesus and his disciples.

It is touching because of the obvious emotion that is so artfully expressed in Luke’s writing.

It is important because of the teaching Jesus provides even at the end of his time here.

First, Jesus reminds us that he is the fulfillment of all that is written in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms…

“Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”

He claims the title, “Messiah.”

And he commissions his followers to continue telling his story, first to the Chosen and then to the whole world.

Luke tells us that the disciples worshipped Jesus, returned to Jerusalem with joy, and spent time continually in the Temple.

Not only is this the first time that “worship” is mentioned in relation to Jesus, but it is also a powerful reminder that Jesus’ mission was to reconcile ALL God’s people – Chosen and Gentile – to God.

This was never about starting a new movement to replace the Jewish faith…

It was always about:

Bringing the Jews back into faithful relationship with God;

AND, opening the faith to ALL people who want to come to God, regardless of race or national origin.

For the first century disciples, worshipping the resurrected Christ while continuing to bless God in the Temple made perfect sense…

The one God of Israel – Yahweh – was manifest in the person of Jesus and promised in the coming Holy Spirit.

There is no conflict at all in this mighty God of Creation.

So, as Jesus leaves his faithful followers, he tells them  to keep on keepin’ on and keep the mission and ministry alive.

It seems no accident that the Lectionary text for this particular Sunday includes this poignant farewell scene.

Certainly, I would never presume to compare our story to the gospel, but there are a couple things I want us to take from today’s text.

First of all, we are going away because God has called us to a new phase in our ministry.

We have said from the beginning that we came here at God’s call and would stay until God decided to send us someplace else.

This has never been about us; it has always been about what God wants for the church.

Second, and ultimately, we leave with joy and send you forward with that same joy…

Together we have done a lot in five short years…

The joy of this work is important to us and it is found in the hope that you will continue the work into the future and that you will have great joy in doing the work.

As we have said, this is not “Good-bye;” it is only, “See ya later!”

We leave you in good hands and bless you for a joyful future in ministry…
Keep on keepin’ on!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen…So long, farewell!

God's Mirror

“God’s Mirror”
John 14:1-14
Sunday May 22, 2011 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

In the sequel to his book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” Lewis Carroll sends Alice on a new adventure, “Through the Looking Glass.”

In this tale Alice discovers that she can step through a large mirror in her living room and into an alternative world where things are very different from what she expects.

One of the key features of this new world is that it seems to be a mirror image of reality.

She sees lots of opposites and time appears to run in reverse.

Alice finds a book of poetry, called “Jabberwocky,” that is written backwards and can only be understood when she holds it up to the mirror.

To be sure, Lewis Carroll’s writing is the stuff of childhood fantasy and far-fetched fiction.

What intrigues me about this story is this book that requires a mirror to be read.

I’ve always thought of mirrors as being simple reflections of what we put in front of them; this story causes us to think of this particular mirror as a tool for clarity.

Alice cannot understand this poetry without the aid of the mirror…She can’t really see without the mirror

In John’s gospel this morning Jesus tells his Disciples that they can see God by looking at him.

Jesus offers himself as a looking glass through which we can all see the Living God and begin to understand God’s promises.

Let us pray…

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be truly pleasing to you,

O Lord, we pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

John 14 is part of a larger farewell discourse that goes through Chapter 16.

This is Jesus’ last chance to sum up his message – kind of like a teacher’s last review before the final exam…

In these two chapters Jesus has to cover a lot of material very quickly and hope that his students retain it…

It’s a pretty daunting task.

Think about what leads up to this scene:

·         They’ve all gathered in the Upper Room for supper;

·         Jesus blesses bread and wine and calls it his body and blood;

·         He stoops down and washes their feet;

·         He predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial;

·         Then he tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

·         Is he kidding?

It’s no wonder the boys are a little confused and have questions.

We are all pretty familiar with this gospel text…

We’ve heard it preached many times in many different settings…

We often hear the first part of this text at memorial services…

We talked about this text just two weeks ago in our discussion of Thomas…

It’s always about questions and promises; it’s always about salvation.

These are great themes to study, but they are not the only themes in the text.

That is why I brought Alice’s looking glass into the conversation this morning…

One of the themes that stands out to me today is the idea that seeing Jesus allows us to see the Father…

In the Old Testament we are constantly reminded that no one can ever see the face of God and live to tell about it.

All of the ancient biblical patriarchs are given glimpses of God’s awesome power,
but none of them ever actually gets to see God face-to-face.

Yet, here in John’s gospel, Jesus says that, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

On the one hand, this could be frightening when you remember the ancient warning that no one can see God and live…

On the other hand, you might view this as a whole new revelation of God that is an improvement on the ancient original…

Jesus says, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

In a very real sense Jesus is the mirror that allows us to understand the mystery of God much like Alice’s mirror allowed her to understand Jabberwocky…

But, Jesus is not simply a reflection of God’s glory; he is a looking glass through which we can actually see God’s glory and live to tell about it.

Jesus is not just God’s Mirror; he is a divine lens through which the fullness of God is visible to us…Jesus is both human and God at the same time.

Now, put this together with the rest of what Jesus says here…

Jesus tells the Disciples that the words he speaks are God’s words…

He says that it is God who does the work through him…

Then he says that those who believe in him will go on to do even greater things
in his name…

And he says that all of this is done for the glory of God.

Think about what that means for us…

If everyone who believes in Jesus is in a relationship with him,
then that relationship allows us to know Jesus…

If everyone who knows Jesus knows the Father also,
then we know God because of our relationship with Jesus…

And, if Jesus’ followers are all going to be given the power to do even greater things in his name, then we are part of that legacy of doing for the glory of God.

If Jesus is God’s mirror – the looking glass through which God is made visible,
then we are mirrors of Jesus and through us God is visible today.

Think about it – isn’t that really what Jesus is saying here this morning?

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and,
in fact will do greater works than these…”

That is a huge responsibility!

When we claim to be Christians, we take on the responsibility of being God’s mirrors in the world…

And it is not enough to be mere reflections of God; we are literally looking glasses through which people look to get a glimpse of God…

The question then becomes: What do people see when they look at us?

Our friends, our family, our neighbors and co-workers – They know who we say we are…

When they look at us, however, do they see who we profess to be?

Are we doing works in the name of Jesus for God’s glory?

Are we holding up a looking glass that points toward Jesus Christ?

Do the people in our lives recognize the Lord within and through us?

Or, do they go away wanting us to show them the Father, because they
missed seeing him in our lives?

Mirrors can be tricky things…

They can offer sharp, clear reflections of the objects in front of them…

Or they can distort images into something ugly, like a fun house mirror…

Mirrors can help us to see ourselves more clearly and recognize what others see
when they look at us…

I think Jesus plays several roles as God’s mirror…

He reflects the image of God in which we are all created…

He provides a looking glass through which we can see the face of God and
live to tell about it…

And he helps us to see ourselves more clearly so we can know how others see us.

As God’s mirror, Jesus is both a blessing to us and a challenge for us.

If we are to be faithful followers of Christ we must be willing to walk through the looking glass and become what God wants us to be…

We must also provide a way for others to see God through us so that they can come to know him as we do…

And we must be willing to look honestly at our reflection to see ourselves as God sees us and as other people see us so that we will always be aware of the reflection we are sending out into the world.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen

Who Cares Best for Us?

“Who Cares Best for Us?”
John 10:1-10
Sunday May 15, 2011

New testament Professor Sarah Henrich tells the story of a preacher who spent quite some time in Africa where he was able to hear John’s gospel story in a very down to earth context.

He told how the people of the village knew each other’s sheep the way we might know one another’s children.

As he sat with a group in the village, a person would stop by and ask: “Have you seen my sheep so-and-so,” identifying his own sheep by name.

Throughout the dark night he heard villagers calling out names.

“They are calling their sheep,” one of the villagers told the preacher.
“They will find each other.”

This concept of village life in a place small enough and close enough where folks know which sheep are theirs and which belong to someone else; where sheep themselves know to whom they belong…This was as familiar to Jesus as it is unfamiliar to us.

In John’s gospel Jesus tries to describe the connection between himself and his followers using images that don’t touch our hearts and minds as vividly as they would have touched his original hearers.

The pastoral images of Psalm 23 are familiar to us, but I wonder how well we actually relate to those images in any meaningful way.

Luke’s story from Acts describes a community of believers where everyone is cared for, everyone is included, and everyone shares in God’s abundant life.

The Lectionary readings today offer us a wonderful opportunity to try to reclaim the rich images understood by the ancients and bring them into a context we can better appreciate.

Let us pray…

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

O Lord, we find comfort and quiet in you…We ask you now to quiet our souls and lead us to the still waters of your Word.

In Jesus’ name we pray…Amen

Today’s text really has two parts…

In verses 1-5 Jesus identifies himself as the true shepherd…

But, it appears that his listeners don’t understand the image so he tries again…

In verses 7-10 Jesus describes himself as the gate into the sheepfold…

This echoes “The Way” image from John 14:6 and reminds us of belief in Jesus taught in John 3:16 as the only way to salvation…

Like the villagers in our African missionary story, the people in Jesus’ time placed a high value on their sheep and knew them well.

The shepherds lived with the flock and probably didn’t need brands to identify the animals they watched day and night.

The first century shepherd could never imagine the industrial agriculture of our time that makes Jesus’ imagery seem odd to us.

So what do we make of the two images Jesus presents?

First we hear about the true shepherd…

Then he talks about being the gateway into the sheepfold…

Not being familiar with first century sheep farming makes it hard for me
to relate to these images.

Maybe we can find ways to visualize this in terms more relevant to us.

If we think about the task of herding sheep or cattle or any other group of animals,
we can understand that the task is really two-fold…

First, you need to gather the group together and get them headed in the right direction, then you need to get out in front of the group and show them the way to where it is you want them to go.

Teachers might be familiar with the task of getting a classroom full of kids into line and then leading them down the hall to the lunch room and the playground.

I think this is the image that Jesus presents about himself…

His first task was to gather God’s people together…bring them into the sheepfold

We’ve talked about this before…

Jesus proclaimed reconciliation to God, not a whole new movement…

His intent was to bring God’s people back into relationship with God; it was their resistance that resulted in the followers of Christ becoming a separate group.

And so Jesus called his people by name to gather them together.

His next task was to go ahead of the flock and lead them…

What’s interesting here is that this flock is not as dumb as the sheep we have encountered in previous stories…

This flock will not follow a stranger; they hear the master’s voice and recognize it; they are smart enough to know who they are supposed to follow…

In this story the sheep have a choice and they understand the choice…

Maybe this is why some of the people listening to Jesus had a hard time understanding the story…They couldn’t visualize sheep with free will…

Another challenge was to follow the path that Jesus was leading them along…

This was a path of difficulty, persecution, and certain death…

When Jesus realizes that some people aren’t getting what he’s talking about he turns to a different sort of image…

In some ways this image is also difficult for us to understand…

Jesus as “The Gate” – What is he talking about?

Aren’t gates meant to keep some people in and other people out?

Isn’t a gate kind of an exclusionary image? I thought Jesus was about including everyone.

Maybe some of you can relate to a different kind of understanding of “gate” if we put it into more contemporary terms…

If you own a computer and use it for email or to access the Internet or to even share files within your workplace, that computer is connected to some sort of GATE…

Technically, this piece of equipment is called a GATEWAY…

The gateway serves two very important functions…

First, it protects your computer from unwanted intruders who may try to hack their way into your computer and steal your stuff…

Secondly, it opens up a world of possibilities and opportunities that are only available when your computer connects to the information superhighway.

As the Gate, Jesus offers us protection and guidance, but he also introduces us to a whole world of wonderful possibilities and opportunities for abundant living.

This gate is not a harbinger of exclusivity; it is an invitation to inclusiveness and adventure…

Jesus says that we can use him as the gateway and be assured of salvation;
the implication is that other gateways are not so safe or certain.

Techno-nerds might call this the Name Brand vs. the “knock-off”.

If you have spent any time on a computer, surfing the web or fielding unwanted emails, you know there are plenty of dangers lurking out there…

No matter how up-to-date your anti-virus software may be, you can still get hit with some pretty nasty stuff out there in cyber-space.

Successfully navigating all this cyber-junk depends on how you deal with the threats you encounter and how good your equipment is at warning you of danger.

As we read Scripture we learn very quickly that Jesus does not promise us an easy road with no obstacles, potholes, or viruses…

We also learn that we are constantly presented with choices and we often choose badly…

What Jesus does promise is that he will stand with us in the midst of whatever mess we get ourselves into and he will help us figure out what to do about it.

I think the point that Jesus is trying to make today is this…

There are lots of people and many false gods who will pretend to care for us…

There are a whole range of experiences out there that compete for our affection…

Jesus wants us to be cautious and ask this very important question:
“Who cares best for us?”

Is it the temporary idol of the latest thing that makes us feel good, OR
is it the eternal God who created us?

Who really cares best for us?

I think the answer is clear…

Jesus who stands with us in our mess; who runs a periodic virus scan on us; who gathers us in and then leads us out; the One who gave his very life for us…He is the One who cares best for us and He is the One we should follow.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen

Credo

“CREDO”
Psalm 117; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 1 Peter 2:9-12
Sunday May 8, 2011
Confirmation Sunday

The dictionary says that the word “credo” is a Latin word that means: “any formal or authorized statement of beliefs, principles, or opinions”

For the students in our confirmation class “credo” is also the name of the curriculum they are using to prepare themselves for confirmation.

Most of us can easily make the connection from this Latin word to the familiar territory of The Apostle’s Creed and The Nicene Creed.

We are what is known as “a creedal church” – that is, we have a clear statement of what we believe so there should be no confusion about what United Methodists profess.

It is important for all of us to understand why we make our Affirmation of Faith every Sunday.

It reminds us of who we are as Christians and what the foundations of our faith really are.

It challenges us to re-affirm who is supposed to be in control of our lives.

It is a form of praise and prayer offered to God.

Not long ago someone asked me why we don’t always say The Apostle’s Creed…

My answer is that there are several options available to us to profess our faith and I like to change things up to keep us on our toes…

We get in the habit of repeating the same words over and over again and we forget what we’re really saying…

Changing the Affirmation of Faith from time to time forces us to pay attention to what we are saying.

Since this morning we will celebrate the confirmation of four of our youth, I think it is important for us to remind ourselves of what it means to confirm our faith…

What does it mean to offer our Credo to God?

Let us pray…

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be truly pleasing to you,
O Lord, we pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

In the United Methodist Church CONFIRMATION is a rite where baptized individuals recognize the work of God's grace as well as an embrace of being a disciple.

It is the first public affirmation of the grace of God in one's Baptism and the acknowledgment of one's acceptance of that grace by faith.

In some respects, it is like “Believer’s Baptism” celebrated in other denominations.

Confirmation in the United Methodist Church is a sacred occasion.

It is a testimony to personal Christian experience.

Confirmation represents a maturity of faith that allows the youth to claim the baptismal vows made by family on their behalf during infant baptism.

During the confirmation service, young people claim their love of God through Jesus Christ in their life as they become fully participating members of the church.

In other words, the confirmand is taking responsibility for living as a member of the body of Christ and for fulfilling God's purposes.

During the service of Confirmation the entire congregation will be asked to re-affirm our faith…

Just as Baptism should always be celebrated as a congregational event, so Confirmation is a celebration of the life of the church and is shared by the whole church.

As we all prepare to profess our faith together, let us take a moment to remember what those very familiar words really mean to us…

The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(*catholic means “universal”)

First of all, it is important to understand that the creed is based in Scripture…

When Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:19 he says:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the names of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

This command was used as a teaching tool by the early followers of Christ and it evolved over the next 700 years until it became the creed we know today.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…

First, we profess our belief that the world did not always exist…Rather, it was created by God who has always existed. There was nothing before God, nothing that has not been created by God, and God will be for all eternity.

Here we confess our faith in a spiritual being bigger than anything we can imagine and more powerful than anything we can know.

God is the singular being who was, is, and always will be; the one whose existence does not depend on our belief; the one who created us simply to love.

I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord…

Second, we believe that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, that He was born of the Virgin Mary, died on the Cross and rose from the dead, and that He will return on the last day to judge the living and the dead.

As the early church developed there were many false teachings being passed around.

This section of the creed was designed to clear up any confusion and counter any heresy about who Jesus really was and the role he played as the Messiah.

It was particularly important that believers understand that Jesus was truly and fully human AND that he was fully and truly God.

I believe in the Holy Spirit…

We believe that Christ sent His Holy Spirit, who is the soul of the Church which Christ founded, and that through the Church we receive all the graces we need to reach the eternal life for which we were made.

This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to the Disciples…

It is fundamental to the miracle of Pentecost…

It is foundational to our understanding of God’s continued presence with us…

It is also the final piece of the Holy Trinity that helps us to understand One God manifest in Three Persons.

I believe in the holy catholic* church…

This has been a tough stumbling block for Protestant Christians for centuries, and yet it is firmly based in apostolic faith and church tradition…

First we need to understand that the Apostle’s Creed is considered an ecumenical creed used by many churches outside the Roman Catholic Church…It simply states beliefs that are foundational for all Christians…

Second we need to understand that the word “Catholic” comes from a Greek word that means “of the whole” – In other words, the words “catholic church” only refer to the whole, universal body of Christian churches, regardless of their denominational title…

The church in Rome has no more claim on the title “catholic” than Lays can claim “potato” as only their chip…There is ONLY ONE CHURCH – the church that professes belief in Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity…
In that regard all Christians belong to the one holy catholic church – the one universal church, the Body of Christ…

I believe in the communion of saints…

This terminology has also provided a sticking point for some…

Does this mean we believe in and worship “the saints” like the Roman church?

No…It is actually a beautiful concept that all Christians should embrace…

This is the belief that all believers are connected to one another…Those who have gone before us, those are still with us, and those who are yet to come…This is the “communion of saints” who comprise The Body of Christ.

This communion is an unbroken connection that transcends time and unites us with every other believer.

Belief in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting isn’t so complicated...

Most of us have no real problem understanding that God forgives our sins when we come to him filled with confession and repentance…

We all share the belief that Jesus will return one day to raise up all those who die as believers and that we will all spend eternity together in the presence of God.

So, there you have it – this is what we really mean when we recite The Apostle’s Creed.

It was so important to the early followers of Christ and it became part of their regular worship liturgy…

In those early days most people were illiterate and they relied on memory to pass on the important things in life…Their faith was memorized and repeated every time they gathered for worship, just like The Lord’s Prayer was.

In this way, The Creed became an important part of their devotion to God.

It was not and is not a simple recitation of what we profess to believe…

It was and always will be a vital part of our worship…Credo – I believe.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen

Body of Proof

“Body of Proof”
John 20:19-31
Sunday, May 1, 2011 – Second Sunday of Easter

Apparently, one of the hottest new shows on television this season is an ABC drama called: “Body of Proof.”

It deals with the efforts of a Philadelphia medical examiner to discover the truth about every case that comes across her gurney.

She is tenacious in her pursuit of every possible clue and is often the first one to solve every challenging murder case that stumps the police detectives.

Her slogan is: “The body is the proof.”

In the familiar gospel story we read today, we hear the disciple Thomas demand proof of Jesus’ resurrection before he will believe it.

For Thomas, the body is the proof of the claims the others make.

For this reason, Thomas has been branded as “doubting” for 2,000 years.

Tradition makes this a negative characteristic and tries to cast Thomas in unfavorable light.

I suggest this morning that Thomas has gotten a bad rap.

Let us pray…

            Lord, we come this morning to be illuminated by your Word.
Help us to see and hear the lessons you have for us today.
Guide us in our meditation and lead us to a deeper understanding of our relationship with you…in Jesus’ name we pray…Amen.

In our Bible study group last Monday evening we watched a video about the lives of the 12 Apostles…

Thomas was discussed in a very different way from what we are accustomed to…

In short, the video said we have been very unfair in our assessment of Thomas and his apparent lack of faith.

Consider this:

We have always heard “doubting” Thomas and assumed that’s what the Bible says…It is not.

The Greek word used in the text is “apistos,” which means “unbelieving.”

So, this is not a story about doubt as if Thomas thinks his friends are pulling his leg.

This is a story about Thomas’ relationship with Jesus…a relationship shattered by the crucifixion.

In John’s gospel, “believing” is the same thing as saying, “I abide in you and you abide in me.”

Believing isn’t about reciting a creed; it’s about a close personal relationship with Jesus.

Second, nowhere else in the gospel is Thomas portrayed as someone weak of faith.

Remember the story in Chapter 11 when Jesus declares his intention to return from Galilee to Judea where he will face certain death…

The disciples were afraid and urged Jesus to reconsider…

It was Thomas who said: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

This doesn’t sound like a man who would then come to doubt his faith in Jesus Christ.

Maybe a better way of looking at it is to think of Thomas as a realist…

Kind of like someone with a terminal disease who has accepted his fate might react to reports of some new miracle cure…

Thomas has a healthy bit of skepticism.

Finally, is Thomas asking for anything the other disciples haven’t already received?

Think about it…Jesus appeared to the other disciples behind locked doors the week before…Thomas just happened to be absent.

We don’t know why he wasn’t there…He may have had a legitimate reason…

Sick friend, kid’s soccer practice, dinner with Mom…Who knows?

The point is, all the other disciples saw Jesus, saw his wounds, and then they believed.

All Thomas wants is the same thing they’ve already gotten – The Body of Proof.

So why has the Church been so hard on Thomas for 2,000 years?

Perhaps we have misunderstood the nature of faith itself…

Do we assume that the more faith we have the fewer questions we will ask?

I don’t think this is the correct viewpoint.

The Bible offers us a different picture of faith.

Scripture shows us that faith and doubt are actually intertwined more than we realize…

Faith, after all, is not knowledge or certainty…

Paul told the Hebrews that faith “is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

I believe that the more we learn about our relationship with God, the more we want to know…

In other words, the more we know the more questions we have.

This is not doubt or a lack of faith; it is love and a desire to grow closer to God.

Questions are not bad things.

I think the great lesson of this story comes out of Jesus’ words at the end of the scene…

(V 29) Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Jesus does not rebuke Thomas; he is no better or worse than any of the Apostles…

They all believed in the Resurrection only after they saw Jesus in the flesh.

We must not single Thomas out for unfair criticism – they were all in the same boat.

Jesus’ words in this scene are really a blessing for us and the generations of believers who have come to know Jesus never having seen him.

If we can re-visit the story today from this perspective, we can see that Thomas is not an unfaithful disciple, rather he is a model disciple – a model we can emulate…

Thomas shows us how to become a disciple…

He looks at it realistically and counts the cost…

When he decides to follow Jesus his eyes are open and he knows what he is getting himself into…

He doesn’t merely believe, he boldly confesses:
“my Lord,” – a title reserved for Caesar;
“and my God,” – the highest praise given to Jesus in the New Testament

What we need to hear in this story is that believing in Jesus and becoming his disciple is not about accepting someone else’s experience of the Risen Christ…

It is about each one of us having our own personal encounter with Christ – the Word made Flesh…God with us, dwelling among us…

This kind of encounter requires that we ask questions and find the right answers…

Doubt – honest questioning – is not the enemy of faith; it is an essential ingredient of faith…

Seeking to know the truth is not skepticism, it is an asset to vibrant faith…

We must be free to bring our questions and our insights into our Christian lives …

We must feel safe to voice our skepticism and our trust as we sit around the table…

This is the Christian conversation; it is the healthy dialogue that strengthens and deepens our faith – this is how we prepare ourselves to be faithful disciples in a world that often doesn’t believe anything it cannot see, touch, taste, or smell.

As time passes and we get further and further from the actual events described in the gospels it becomes easier for the skeptics to make their case.

We live in a culture where people still doubt the United States space program and the facts of space flight, moon landings, and space exploration.

We live in a world where some people can deny the Holocaust and find a sizable group of people who believe them.

Every day we hear new conspiracy theories, denials of global climate change, and people who ignore the facts placed before them in certified government documents.

Is it any wonder that so many people have a hard time believing that two thousand years ago a young carpenter from a little town in Palestine worked miracles, died on a cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to be ruler over everything?

It really doesn’t surprise me in the least bit.

Just as those first disciples demand and received their Body of Proof – the resurrected Body of Christ, our world is seeking the same kind of proof…

That’s where we come in – WE are the Body of Proof…

WE are the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood…

We put ourselves out there every day and let others put their fingers in our wounds and their hands in our sides…

In the midst of their pain and suffering and grief, we walk with our brothers and sisters in the world and show them that Christ is standing with them no matter what.

Imagine what a difference we can make when we can help the skeptics begin to recognize Jesus without having seen him…When all they can see is US – The Body of Christ…

If we are to follow the splendid example of Thomas we must be prepared to boldly confess our faith as he did and stand up as the Body of Proof in a world that desperately wants and needs something in which to have faith.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen

Easter is an Earthquake

“Easter is an Earthquake”
Matthew 28:1-10
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter Sunday

I’ve never experienced an earthquake first-hand.

I’ve read about them and seen their aftermath on the TV news.

The recent stories about the devastation in Japan 

certainly show us how horrible these events can be.

But, unless you have actually lived through a major earthquake, I wonder if you can really understand what it’s like.

If you lived in Oklahoma in 1952 you may recall the “Great El Reno Quake” of April 9^th that year…

Measuring 5.5, this quake was felt in seven states…

Chimneys were knocked off homes, plate glass windows were shattered, and damage amounted to several thousand dollars – according to the US Geological Survey.

Pretty minor stuff compared to the big ones that measure 8 or 9 and level entire cities

I imagine that rebuilding after a major earthquake would be a pretty daunting task…

It seems to me that a major quake might change the landscape so completely that you could never really put things back the way they were…

My guess is that the people and communities affected by major quakes like Japan, Indonesia, and parts of California would find that everything has changed so much that there is no way to back to the way things were.

V2: “And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.”

Suddenly the world is changed forever because of one survivable earthquake that moved a single big stone and rendered a few Roman soldiers speechless.

Suddenly, nothing will ever be the same as it was and we can never go back.

Let us pray…

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, Almighty God, my strength and my Redeemer.

Amen.

Matthew’s gospel is the only one to mention this sudden earthquake…

Mark, Luke, and John are content to tell us that the stone was rolled away and leave us to speculate as to how it happened.

There may be a danger in leaving this to our imaginations because there’s no telling what we might dream up…

Maybe Jesus was abducted by aliens!

Matthew doesn’t want us to wonder…

He wants us to be absolutely sure that this was a deliberate act of God designed to show everyone that the tomb was empty BEFORE the stone moved.

God raised Jesus from the dead and God didn’t need to move the stone out of the way.

The only reason the stone needs to be moved is so that we can see inside and testify that the tomb is empty.

It isn’t necessary for us to know HOW it happened, only THAT it happened.

So Matthew gives us an earthquake…

He leaves no doubt about the message here…

First, the women FEEL the message…

Then they SEE the message and the messenger – Angelos in Greek – the angel of the Lord, a divine messenger…

Finally, they HEAR the message:
“Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.”

This message becomes a never-ending after shock – “Go and tell.”

We don’t get to hear the conversation between the women and the other disciples…

Matthew tells us that, while they’re on their way, Jesus appears to them and repeats the angel’s command to, “Go and tell the disciples.”

I’m not quite sure why this appearance is needed here…the women were pretty convinced as it was…

Maybe this confirmation is used to add drama to the scene or credence to the angel’s words…

Whatever the reason, the women apparently do go tell the others what happened because later in the story they all travel to Galilee and meet up with the resurrected Jesus there.

It looks like Matthew’s version of the story is really about that first announcement that becomes a continuous chain of announcements with one messenger repeating the message to the next, down through the ages:
“Do not be afraid; he has been raised from the dead, just as he said.”

New Testament professor Donald Juel, reflecting on the Resurrection stories, wrote:
“None of the Gospels can really end the story of Jesus. The whole point is that it continues…and that its significance continues.”

Easter is an earthquake because it shifts things so much and changes everything so significantly that its message results in endless aftershocks…

This is a story that is “to be continued” in you, and in me, and in every life that is ever touched by the power of the good news that, “He is risen, just as he said.”

The history of the world literally pivots during this sudden earthquake and there is no way to ever go back to the way things were before.

Under “frequently asked questions” on the US Geological Survey website someone asks:
“Will California eventually fall off into the ocean?”

You’ve heard the old joke: “I’ve got ocean-front property for sale in Arizona.”

The short answer is: “NO.”

It seems that the way the tectonic plates line up along the San Andreas Fault cause the Pacific Plate to shift slightly northwest with respect to the rest of North America.

This is happening roughly at the rate your fingernails grow – pretty slowly.

Earthquakes are caused as the plates stick and slip past each other from time to time.

So, since the plates are moving horizontally past one another, California is not going to fall into the ocean.

However, Los Angeles and San Francisco will one day be next door neighbors!

Like the earth’s crust, Jesus is full of surprises.

The world’s uneasiness in the presence of the Risen Lord is fully justified.

He will not be bound by the traditions that define human life;
even death could not hold him for long.

The end of the Gospel story really only marks the beginning of the story – the beginning of the Good News that Jesus, the one who challenges us to give up our lives so that we might live, becomes the source of our life in the midst of an earthquake.

It is only fitting that this story cannot contain Jesus any more than the tomb could contain Jesus.

Jesus is not bound by the end of any story told by human beings…

Jesus continues into the future that God has planned for Creation…

In the meantime, there is only The Word, the Bread and Cup, and the promise that we do not need to be afraid…

Easter is an earthquake…

As disciples and witnesses for Jesus, we are the aftershocks…

We must go and tell…

We must expect to see him just as he said…

We must trust that one day God will finish the story, just as he promised…

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen

Upside Down Picture

“Upside Down Picture”
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday offers us two important stories that warrant our attention…

First, we associate this night with The Last Supper…

Celebrated for centuries as the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, The Last Supper is probably the event most often commemorated on Holy Thursday.

Second, this night tells the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet…

This act of humble service comes with a new commandment as Jesus tells his followers to love one another in the same way he has loved them.

Both of these stories run contrary to what the disciples expect and present a picture of the Messiah that seems to be upside down.

I read an article the other day by an artist discussing his approach to his paintings. He says:

“When I've spent a zillion hours looking at one of my paintings, I turn it upside down, and suddenly I see things that weren't there before. If the perspective doesn't work, I suddenly see why; if someone's head is too big or a hand too awkward, I suddenly notice it. If it's a good composition, it looks good upside down or right side up. It's a great trick to shake up my vision, show me things I didn’t see before and even to reassure myself that it's good.”

It’s amazing how, when you look at something from a different perspective you often notice things that you hadn’t seen before.

Turning a picture upside down, looking at it from a different angle, or even putting in a different location in the room can suddenly reveal new ways of appreciating your artwork; it may even change your opinion of whether the painting suits your taste.

I wonder if that is what Jesus had in mind when he turned things upside down for his disciples…

Was he deliberately trying to force them to see things from a different perspective?

Was he revealing a new way of looking at God’s Messiah?

John begins the second half of his gospel here in Chapter 13…

For the next five chapters John prepares us for the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

Key to understanding John’s account is found in the first words of this section: 

“Now before the festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

You see, the meal that John describes is not the Passover meal…

John’s gospel is designed to have Jesus die on the Day of Preparation for the Passover…
in fact, in John’s account Jesus dies at the exact moment when the Passover lambs are sacrificed…For John this is vital symbolism.

In John’s account this night is not about a new Passover meal, it is about a new commandment and a new way of looking at Jesus’ relationship with his disciples that is shaped by the example he sets.

John’s gospel tells us two very important things…

First, Jesus is in control of the situation…

John doesn’t see the Passion as a tragedy; he sees it as the fulfillment and climax of the earthly mission of God’s Divine Messiah.

Second, Jesus’ actions and his mission are based in absolute, unconditional love.

We hear this love expressed in the words:
“having loved his own…he loved them to the end.”

John offers us an incredible story…

It is at once beautiful and terrifying; it is inviting and confusing;
it is not what we – not what anyone – expects to see…

This picture of Jesus is upside down and we don’t know what to do with it.

Salvation comes through God’s presence in a hostile world where Jesus’ death on the cross is not a tragedy – it is a moment of triumph and glory!

God’s grace is revealed in suffering…

God’s power is displayed in apparent weakness…

Glory is disguised as humiliation…

Jesus reveals a God who shows up where we least expect to find God in ways that we simply aren’t prepared to recognize.

God comes to redeem us in the midst of our misunderstanding.

No wonder Peter resists Jesus’ efforts to wash his feet – he doesn’t understand how The Messiah could come in the midst of humiliation and servitude.

Jesus tells him – and us – that we must revise our expectations, re-orient our perspective, and receive God hidden in humility.

If we are to be disciples of this Jesus we must embrace this upside down view of God,
of grace, of salvation, and of service…

We must let Jesus cleanse us so that we might cleanse others…

We must realize that our status as disciples doesn’t come from power; it comes from servitude as modeled by Jesus himself.

The question for us tonight is: Can we do it?

Can we see the grace of God embodied in the form of a man hanging on a cross?

Can we step into this upside down picture Jesus offers us of discipleship
and abundant life?

Can we live a life that is gained not by grabbing but by releasing; not by hoarding,
but by giving; not by ruling but by serving others as we have been served?

On Sunday I said that this Holy Week journey was not for the faint of heart…

It isn’t easy for us to walk beside Jesus on the road to Calvary and give absolutely everything in His Name…

It isn’t easy for us to see how a life of discipleship fits into a culture where giving is not the first inclination for most people…

It isn’t east to understand how different God’s perspective is from our own when it comes to living a life that follows the example of the only perfect human in history…

But, then, Jesus never told us it would be easy to be his disciple.

Tonight we hear a promise in the gospel…

A promise that we are, in fact, those whom Jesus has called and, if we follow his story to the end, we will be redeemed to new life in this world and the next.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Amen