Pentecost May 27th, 2012 ACTS 2:1-21 NRSV

Rev. Katy Halliburton

May 27^th, 2012

Pentecost

ACTS 2:1-21 NRSV

¹When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

⁵Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked,

“Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes ¹¹Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 

¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” ¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

“Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 

¹⁷  ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, 
     that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, 
          and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
     and your young men shall see visions, 
          and your old men shall dream dreams. 
¹⁸  Even upon my slaves, both men and women, 
          in those days I will pour out my Spirit; 
               and they shall prophesy. 
¹⁹  And I will show portents in the heaven above 
          and signs on the earth below, 
               blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 
²⁰  The sun shall be turned to darkness 
          and the moon to blood, 
               before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 
²¹  Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

***

The story of Pentecost is a wild one, with a violent rushing wind, and tongues of fire. The story of Pentecost is a miraculous one, with a prophecy fulfilled, and a people bewildered. The story Pentecost is a mysterious one with the illusive Holy Spirit, unseen like wind, yet testified to in action. Perhaps because Pentecost is wild, miraculous, and mysterious, we stalwart Presbyterians don’t give it much play.

Yet, I tell you, Pentecost deserves to be the third Sunday for the Christmas and Easter only crowd. Just as Christ came as a child and brought God to us, so too in Pentecost the Holy Spirit comes in wind and fire and brings God to us. It is an amazing story.

I imagine the crazy scene, wind blowing hard, picking up dust and dirt, people in the whirlwind their clothes flapping against them, tongues of fire resting upon them, yet instead of running for shelter they praise the power of God, dozens of languages are spoken, and all are understood. Peter explains the inhuman, we are not drunkards, but people on fire for God, the Holy Spirit was poured forth. Can you imagine this? Have you ever seen anything like it?

Maybe that’s why Pentecost isn’t as popular; it’s harder to imagine. Maybe we get the Advent wait for a baby, and the Christmas gift of his birth, better than we understand the birth of the church, and the gifts of the Spirit. Maybe we know all to well the dying expressed in Lent, and the hoped for rising remembered in Easter. Maybe tongues of fire are beyond our grasp. Maybe we have lost hope for our languages to be understood across countries, classes, and social boundaries. Maybe it is easier to look at the holidays in which Jesus Christ does the work, than to celebrate the holiday when we are called to return the favor. 

Celebrating Pentecost is like carrying the cross. Holding onto wind and flame are a little less tangible but the call is the same. We are to be blown by the Spirit’s wind, and imbued by the Spirit’s fire. We are to move with, and to radiate the Spirit of God.

Woman we shall prophesy, old men you shall dream dreams, young men you shall see visions. Slaves will speak prophecy, and sons and daughters also. Like the people in Jerusalem we are to speak in our own language, but our words are to cross all languages, classes, and social bounds. ‘How,’ you might ask? And it is a legitimate question as I suppose none of us have ever seen literal tongues of fire and besides the story seems so long ago. How do we speak in ways that cross boundaries? In his life Christ taught us a lot about how to do this, and the ancient Pentecost story also explains.

The Spirit sends the tongue, and the tongue praises God in its own language, and that language of praising God crosses all boundaries. When our language praises God it crosses all boundaries, and we know the Spirit is in us. Praising God is to hope for and testify to the things unseen. Living as a Pentecost people is to be in the midst of a whirlwind and instead of running to speak of the power of God.

In the midst of a hungry community this church speaks of the power of God through the language of Open Door Mornings, the Food Bank, and Learn and Grow to Go. This is celebrating Pentecost. In the midst of conflict between Israel and Palestine this church has a Bible Study praying for just resolution and peace. This is celebrating Pentecost. In the midst of the most unchurched state in the Union this church has new members joining, and baptisms. This is celebrating Pentecost. In the midst of a world where many children and especially girls cannot go to school, this church celebrates its teachers who teach across gender, and socio-economic boundaries. This is celebrating Pentecost. In a busy noisy world, the missional study group is attempting to hear the Word of the Lord and respond to its call. This is Pentecost. Where else do you see Pentecost in this church? Where else do you see Pentecost in the world? What is your language of praise? How else might we celebrate this holiday and praise God? How do we live as a Pentecost people?

May 13, 2012 1 JOHN 5:1-6 NRSV

May 13, 2012

1 JOHN 5:1-6 NRSV

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,

and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 

By this we know that we love the children of God,

when we love God and obey God’s commandments. 

For the love of God is this, that we obey God’s commandments.

And God’s commandments are not burdensome, 

for whatever is born of God conquers the world.

And this is the victory that conquers the world:

our faith. 

Who is it that conquers the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ,

not with the water only but with the water and the blood.

And the Spirit is the one that testifies,

for the Spirit is the truth.

***

Can you imagine the world conquered by love? Can you imagine every commandment followed always?

Can you imagine a world were God is always first, always praised, always revered?

Can you imagine a world with no false Gods of greed, or power, or hate, or self-hate?

Can you imagine a world where God’s name is never cursed?

Can you imagine a world that rested on the Sabbath, a world where Sunday was for worship, and an afternoon nap? How much better would Mondays be if Sunday was truly Sabbath?

Can you imagine a world where each of us truly honored our mother and father, a world where God is our Father and Mother, and we are God’s children, all brothers and sisters? Can you imagine if Mother’s Day celebrated the family of God gathered here?

Can you imagine a world where there was no killing, no murder, no war, not even self-defense, or for survival?

Can you imagine a world without adultery, without the temptation and without the pain of betrayal?

Can you imagine a world where no one steals, where everyone has enough and is content with enough?

Can you imagine a world without lies, without the need to lie, where truth and justice always prevails?

Can you imagine a world where we do not covet each other’s goods but instead give of our own?

Can you imagine a world conquered by love? Can you imagine every commandment followed always?

Would you believe me if I told you that time has already come, and is now? Would you believe me if I told you that time has already come, and is now?

That time has already come. Christ has already conquered the world with love and his commandments. Jesus loved God with all his heart and his soul and strength. Imagine the love in his baptism. Jesus came by the water, humble, and knowing his call. John baptized him, and a dove from heaven came down and God spoke, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” This is the love that conquered the world. This is the faith that conquered the world. The one who came by water conquered the world with love.

His love came through water and through blood. Jesus conquered the world with his blood. He asked God, to take the cup of blood from him, but Jesus followed God’s will.  He took the cup, and said, “This is my blood shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me. As often as you take this cup, and eat this bread, do this in remembrance of me.” This is the love that conquered the world. This is the faith that conquered the world. The one who came by blood conquered the world with love.

Come to water,

come to the table.

Children of God,

come.

Love one another,

as God first loved us.

For as we love one another in these sacraments our faith conquers the world.

Come to the water. Come to be baptized and to remember your baptism. Remember in these waters God claims us as God’s own. God knows every hair on our very heads. We are God’s children not only from birth to death, but from eternity to eternity. We are God’s children and made brothers and sisters in Christ. We are family. Just as God adopts us, we are adopted into the church of Christ, we are mothers and fathers, daughters, and sons. We are family. The Spirit descends on these waters and brings us truth. This is the love that conquers the world. In these waters our faith conquers the world.

Come to the table. Come to remember Christ. Come to the sacrament to remember the sacrifice. Come as you are, as God made you to be. Come from East and from West, come from North and from South. Come together in communion before God and with one another. Come to celebrate the joyful feast. Come to be fed. Come to proclaim Christ’s saving death until he comes again. Come and witness the Spirit of truth in the remembering of the cup. This is the love that conquers the world. In this blood our faith conquers the world.

The world has already been conquered by love, and in love our faith conquers it still. Come to the waters, come to the table. 

May 6, 2012 JOHN 15:1-8 NRSV

May 6, 2012

JOHN 15:1-8 NRSV

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the vinegrower. 

He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.

Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 

You have already been cleansed

 by the word that I have spoken to you. 

Abide in me as I abide in you.

 Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself

 unless it abides in the vine,

neither can you unless you abide in me. 

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,

because apart from me you can do nothing. 

Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers;

such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,

ask for whatever you wish,

 and it will be done for you. 

My Father is glorified by this,

 that you bear much fruit

and become my disciples.

***

How do we as a church bear fruit? The easy answer would be to abide in God, the true vine. The harder answer is what does abiding in God look like?

In getting to know this church I have heard of much fruit. I have heard of the fruit you bear in the way you care for one another. I have seen this as babies have been born, and friends have died. I saw this in a packed baby shower filled with generations of women passing and holding sleeping little ones. I saw this in a packed funeral with congregation members witnessing to a life in Christ. The branch of care is strong in this church, and bears much fruit. I have heard of the fruit of the mission programs of Open Door, and Learn and Grow to Go. I have seen Liz give high fives to kids on their way to school and those kids smile back. I have seen a hundred bags of food lined up and ready to feed hungry school kids. Liz and the volunteers’ passion for those programs has been a strong branch bearing much fruit. Another strong branch is the Woman’s Support Group. I have heard from many women it is place where they share their joys and sorrows. In response I have seen women visit other women and even bring them communion. I have seen these women put together a lively play to fill our fellowship hall with joy. The Women’s Support Group is a strong branch in this church. There are other strong branches in the church, I cannot list them all now, but I wonder which you think are the strongest? Which are closest to the true vine? Which would God the vine-grower prune to bear more fruit?

I have also gotten to hear you dream of fruit. You remember the branch of Youth Ministry that was once strong, and bore much fruit. You continue to ask for its strength, and I have watched the youth ministry branch be propped up again and again in order for it not to fall off completely. There are a handful of people tending to this branch, but if it is going to live, it will need more. I have also heard you dream of an international mission trip. This branch is just a sprout, but there is much interest surrounding it. The question is, does it have enough light to grow. A twig that is budding is the Sunday Night Women’s Bible Study, I have heard deep prayer requests shared, and also deep thanks for the community of women it brings together. It is a good and healthy little budding twig. Will we continue to let it grow in the light? Another new branch is the Missional Study Group which is really trying to do what this passage asks. It is trying to seek closeness to the vine, to Jesus Christ, and to ask what fruit might we as a church bear? How do we need to prune?

What I will tell you, as your pastor, is we need to prune. We have a lot of branches in our church, some of them are strong and give us life, some of them are week and unsustainable. Yet all of them need pruning in order to sustain the tree. Pruning is an ugly, painful process. If you have seen tress pruned they look empty and broken at first, but eventually they will make a beautiful tree that bears more fruit. Regular pruning is the only way to bear fruit. What I will tell you, as your pastor, is we need to prune. I heard recently that someone looked at mission statements of successful business; those with less than eight words were the most successful. Ours is seven separate sentences, which are mostly compound sentences. It leaves me wondering if we really know who we are, and who we want to be. Many people have come up and asked, ‘What is going to happen to the youth program, and the mission programs, since Liz resigned.’ That is not a question for your pastor. It is a question first for God, and second for you as a church. What is God calling us to do? What is God’s vision for those programs? What needs to be pruned and burned, and what needs to be pruned to bear more fruit? Do we have too many thin branches blocking the light to the branches closest to the vine? We list supporting 33 different missions on our website. Which missions is God asking us to prune to bear more fruit, and to prune to be burned and renew our soil?

Our mission statement also does not mention the Holy Spirit. It makes me wonder if we are taking enough time to listen to God’s purpose for us as a church? Are we seeking to abide in the vine, or are we trying to hold up an old tree? Is see a little of both, but it is hard without pruning to tell which is which.

I wonder if we are taking enough time to listen to God’s purpose for us as a church? Are we seeking to abide in the vine, or are we trying to hold up an old tree? Is see a little of both, but it is hard without pruning to tell which is which. We have to abide in the vine. We have to seek the vision of the vine-grower. What fruit does God imagine us to bear? What shape will we take to bear that fruit? What needs to be pruned? What branches need to be burned so that our soil will be renewed? The scripture tells us, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish and it will be done for you. Let us ask God, to help us see God’s vision for our church, that we might bear much fruit.

April 29, 2012 1 JOHN 3:16 -18 NRSV

April 29, 2012

1 JOHN 3:16 -18 NRSV

We know love by this,

that he laid down his life for us —

and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 

How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods

and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech,

but in truth and action. 

***

I don’t think this passage is about suffering, and I don’t think it’s about death. I think it’s about justice, and about life. 

It would be easy to hear the command that we lay down our lives for one another as a command to suffer and to die as Jesus did, but I don’t think Jesus came to earth for us to suffer and die. Jesus came to earth because we suffer and because we die. Jesus came to bring justice in the midst of our suffering, and love in the midst of death. Jesus came to show us how to live not to show us how to die. Jesus came to bring new life, but perhaps in order to bring new life he had to conquer death.

When we think of Jesus laying down his life, we think of the crucifixion. But the crucifixion is Jesus laying down his death. Jesus laying down his life happened throughout his life. Jesus laying down his life was Jesus living life for others. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, he turned over tables, he challenged those waiting to stone a woman, he befriended those of other cultures, he welcomed outcasts, he challenged the authorities. Any one of these things could have gotten Jesus killed, but in order to live for others, he faced death. I wonder if this is because death does not have a hold him.

Jesus lived as if he knew death was around the corner. Yet, he lived knowing death was not the final answer. Death was not the point. Life was the point. Laying down his life for others was the point. If Jesus been afraid of dying, what might he have not said or done? If Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been afraid of dying would Civil Rights look the same? If Nelson Mandela had been afraid of death what might not have learned? If Mother Theresa was afraid of death, who might not have been helped? If we too were not afraid of dying what might we do? If death were not the final answer how would we live? Would we be able to lay down our lives in service to another?

Would we willing to live for truth no matter the consequences? What would be our truth? Whose side would be stand beside? Who or what would we stand against? If we were not afraid of death what action would we take? Would we be willing to sell all of our worldly goods, and help brothers and sisters in need? How would we live if we knew we were going to die, and that death was already conquered?

As a hospital chaplain I saw many people who knew they were going to die. After an initial fear, many of them saw facing their death as a blessing. Like Jesus, they had the opportunity to live their life as they felt called. They reconciled with family, they spent time with loved ones, they helped others, they expressed their feelings, they were honest and truthful with themselves and those around them. They answered death with life, and life for others in truth and action. Those people who knew they were dying had the opportunity to live this scripture. How might we?

Many of us here are not facing immediate death. We know neither when it will come nor how. Yet, all of us here are facing life. All of us here are to live like Jesus. How do we lay down our lives for another? How do we share our goods? How do we help a brother or sister in need? How do we live like little children? How do we love in truth and action?

This passage is not about death. Death has been conquered. This passage is about life, and life anew. Let us love as Jesus did. Let us love with our lives laid down for one another. Amen

April 22, 2012 Earth Day Sunday GENESIS 1: 27 – 31, 2: 15 NRSV

April 22, 2012

Earth Day Sunday

GENESIS 1: 27 – 31, 2: 15 NRSV

Then God said,

“Let us make humankind in our image,

according to our likeness;

and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,

and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,

 and over all the wild animals of the earth,

and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 

So God created humankind in God’s image,

 in the image of God, God created them;

male and female God created them. 

God blessed them, and God said to them,

“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;

 and have dominion over the fish of the sea

and over the birds of the air

and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

God said,

“See, I have given you every plant yielding seed

that is upon the face of all the earth,

and every tree with seed in its fruit;

you shall have them for food. 

And to every beast of the earth,

and to every bird of the air,

and to everything that creeps on the earth,

everything that has the breath of life,

I have given every green plant for food.”

And it was so.

The Lord God took the man

 and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.

Luke 12: 48b – 56 NRSV

From everyone to whom much has been given,

much will be required;

and from one to whom much has been entrusted,

even more will be demanded.

 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth,

     and how I wish it were already kindled! 

I have a baptism with which to be baptized,

 and what stress I am under until it is completed! 

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division!

 From now on, five in one household will be divided,

three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
   and son against father,
mother against daughter
   and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
   and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

 Jesus also said to the crowds,

‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say,

“It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 

And when you see the south wind blowing, you say,

“There will be scorching heat;” and it happens. 

You hypocrites!

You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky,

but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

***

Easter has come, we rejoiced. At the top of my voice I proclaimed, “He Is Risen.” and you answered, “He Is Risen Indeed.” We are still in that Eastertide season, that season of proclaiming together, “Alleluia, Amen.”

In the church liturgical calendar, this Eastertide season lasts until Pentecost at the end of May, but lately, our church has felt a little more like the Ordinary Time after Pentecost. It has felt like each of us is trying to proclaim our individual Alleluias, and resisting the collective Amen.

We came together for Easter, but Easter is not the end of the story. I know you know that, because you are here, and you remember we do this every Sunday (not just twice a year). You are here because you know our life as Christians is not as easy as simply praising God. You know that to praise God is to serve God. You know that, “from everyone whom much has been given, much will be required.”  You know that the response to the grace of Easter is call of Pentecost. You know that the fire of the Holy Spirit has come to earth to be kindled. What you also know if you’ve tried to play with fire is it is hot, and sometimes burns.

If we are alight with the Holy Spirit, and burning with passion, it makes sense that sometimes our passions burn against each other. We are created unique, and we interpret different ways of serving the Lord with that fire.

As Christians we are given the responsibility of dominion over creation and the gifts of the Spirit.  Yet, in good faith wise people disagree on how to exercise that dominion. Even in families, even in the family of Christian denominations, even in the family of Presbyterians U.S.A., even in the family of this Presbyterian Church, wise people disagree. Wise people disagree. Families disagree.

The Scripture says, the house will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother in-law against daughter in-law, daughter in-law against mother in-law, generation against generation. Sometimes our divisions too seem to fall on generational lines, and it is debatable which generation is the wiser. Wise people disagree. Christians of sound faith disagree.

In today’s scripture, “Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you immediately say, “It’s going to rain,” and so it happens. You know how to interpret the earth and sky, but not the present time.” I can tell you it’s supposed to be in the low 80’s and sunshiny tomorrow, but predicting the mind of God is not that easy.  Maybe the mind of God is beyond our predictions. Maybe the mind of God lies in our ability to hear one another despite our differences. Maybe the Holy Spirit moves not through the passionate fire of predicting, but rather through the radiating warmth of hearing our differences in unity.

I am guessing this, because I have seen both in our church, and in our Presbytery. When the fire within people was predicting and condemning it seemed all too human. The human fire felt like troops picking up kindling and preparing for a bonfire. It made people fearful. Fire easily gets out of hand and it burns.

But in safety, watching and hearing a fire can be a really beautiful and even comforting. When each of the troops on fire with their passion for God met they told of what sparked their flames. Each individual told of their uniqueness, and their particular gifts of the Spirit, and I could see how each one was created in the image of God. Each told of their faith and I could hear the Easter story. Each told of their call, and I could hear the crackle of the fire of Pentecost. Each told of the great demands of which their call entrusted them. Not one interpretation, not one prediction, was exactly alike. Some interpretations even changed over the time of dialogue, but each one was wise and faithful.

Yet, it was not the words that warmed me to the bone. It was the silence of Christians caring to listen. It was the reaching out in Christian love after all had spoken at our session and presbytery meetings. It was a closing comment that our goal despite division was to remain pastoral. It was one opposing side offering help to another and that other side responding with a kiss on the check. It was calls, and texts, and visits of folks checking in across battlefields. In those moments I saw the tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit was a bellow of wind ignighting, imbuing its people with Holy Fire.

The Holy Spirit teaches us how to fight human fire, with Holy Fire. It teaches us to heal burns with the cool waters of baptism. It teaches us that in the breaking of bread we find true communion. The Holy Spirits takes us from Lent to Easter and from Easter to Pentecost, and from Pentecost into Ordinary Time. It is in that ordinary unexpected present time where the Spirit interprets God’s will and we live forth the call for which we were created. So listen in unity to our unique differences, for the Spirit is a rushing wind, it is a storm you can’t predict, yet if we can stop and hear one another the Spirit will blow us away.

April 15, 2012 Children of God Sunday PSALM 133:1-3 NRSV

April 15, 2012

Children of God Sunday

PSALM 133:1-3 NRSV

   How very good and pleasant it is
          when kindred live together in unity!
   It is like the precious oil on the head,
          running down upon the beard,
     on the beard of Aaron,
          running down over the collar of his robes.
   It is like the dew of Hermon,
          which falls on the mountains of Zion.
     For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
          life for evermore.

MATTHEW 19: 13 -15 NRSV

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

1 JOHN 1:1-8 & 2: 1- 2 NRSV

We declare to you what was from the beginning,

what we have heard,

what we have seen with our eyes,

what we have looked at and touched with our hands,

concerning the word of life — 

this life was revealed,

and we have seen it and testify to it,

and declare to you the eternal life

that was with the Father and was revealed to us —

we declare to you what we have seen and heard

so that you also may have fellowship with us;

and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 

If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 

but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

My little children,

I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

But if anyone does sin,

we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 

and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,

and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

***

It is Eastertide, the rolls are reversed. Your sermon is the short and to the point one. The children’s sermon is the one packed with meaning, and metaphor. We are to learn from them, rather than they from us. The rolls are revered, and that is the way Jesus would have it.

Listen to today’s lectionary psalm. It talks of living together unity. But the picture of unity is quite childlike. It describes unity like oil running down our hair sprayed heads, into our groomed beards, over our buttoned up collars, and preacher-ing robes. This image of unity, if you actually picture it, is not a serious act. It is like having an bucket of ice thrown over you by your team at the end of a game. Having something poured all over you is not a serious act. It is a silly celebratory act. I encourage us to live in unity, to be willing to pour liquid all over someone, and to have it poured all over us. Let us be willing to go to dunking booth, and to throw the ball in friendship. Let us play together in unity. Let us play like children, because it is Eastertide and the rolls are reversed, and that is the way Jesus would have it.

In the lectionary today, 1 John tells the little children not to sin. It assumes that they have not sinned. It assumes that we as adults have. The children are the most Christ-like, and we are to learn from them. The rolls are revered, and that is the way Jesus would have it.

In Matthew, Jesus welcomes the children, and instructs the adults that it is to the kids that the kingdom of heaven belongs. The children are the most Christ-like, and we are to learn from them.

Likewise, Matthew depicts, Jesus interacting with kids. If we are to be like Jesus, we too shall interact with kids. We too shall be the kind of adult that kids like. You know those adults. They are often the most childlike. They make silly faces, they play outside, and sometimes even inside, they sing silly songs and dance along, they speak simply and kindly, they shout with joy, and laugh whole bellied, especially at things like bathroom humor.  They notice and point out things that shine, and sparkle, and grow, and erupt, and bounce, and fly, and spin, and make loud noises, and move quickly, and move really slowly, and smell good, and taste sweet. These adults are the ones who can let go of the schedule, and take time to let a child lead them in a game. They are willing to get down on the kids level and play. The children came to Jesus. Would the children come to us? Are we an adult like Jesus? Are we willing to reverse the rolls? It is Eastertide, let us be childlike.

April 8, 2012 Easter 2012 John 20:1-18 NRSV

April 8, 2012

Easter 2012               

John 20:1-18 NRSV

Early on the first day of the week,

while it was still dark,

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb

and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 

So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,

and said to them,

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,

and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 

The two were running together,

but the other disciple outran Peter

and reached the tomb first. 

He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there,

but he did not go in. 

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.

He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 

and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head,

not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in,

and he saw and believed; 

for as yet they did not understand the scripture,

that he must rise from the dead.

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 

and she saw two angels in white,

sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying,

one at the head and the other at the feet.

They said to her,

“Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them,

“They have taken away my Lord,

and I do not know where they have laid him.” 

When she had said this,

she turned round and saw Jesus standing there,

but she did not know that it was Jesus. 

Jesus said to her,

“Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?”

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him,

and I will take him away.” 

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”

(which means Teacher). 

Jesus said to her,

“Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.

 But go to my brothers and say to them,

‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father,

 to my God and your God.’” 

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,

“I have seen the Lord”;

and she told them that he had said these things to her.

***

Rabbouni, Teacher, Lord Jesus, ~

Make us like Mary.

Let neither night,

nor darkness keep us

from honoring you.

On the first day of the week,

while it is still dark,

let us come to your tomb,

lead us to your sanctuary on this Easter morning.

Transform us from a people in the dark.

When we find the stone removed,

let us run,

to your disciples,

to the ones you love,

to the streets outside,

and the people inside still.

Let us bring them back,

to help us find your answer,

the answer told between stained glass walls,

and wooden pews,

the answer told between font, and table,

between pulpit, and congregation.

Let us come in search of your answer.

And after is all done,

and the world outside still does not make sense;

when we find those still hungry,

and still at war,

when we find those still angry,

and still hurting

on this your risen day;

when we are not surrounded by our loves ones –

when we are pain only you know,

let us be like Mary.

Let us stand sentinel at your tomb,

refusing to leave when others have already gone.

Let us wait and offer you our tears,

Let us wait and give our grief over to you.

Let us know nothing else

besides the wait for your answer.

Let Lent be our life,

until we can tell your Easter story,

until we can live in your light as an Easter people.

Let us look into your tomb,

let us look to the grief and pain you endured,

let us remember we are not alone in our pain and grief,

let us look into your tomb.

Let us peek back though the doors of your sanctuary,

and like Mary,

find angels where their once was brokenness.

Let us see the angel at the place where you feet had laid,

Let us see the angel in the steps of those who walk toward justice,

in those who shelter the poor and feed the hungry,

Let us see the angel who sits where your head once rested,

Let us see the angel in the simple welcome of strangers,

in the peacefulness of elders,

in the quiet of an early morning.

To those angels,

let us lament like Mary,

"They have taken away my Lord,

and I do not know where they have laid him." 

Let us know cry out,

let us know it is natural to misunderstand,

let us know you understand.

You understand our grieving pain and sorrow,

You understand what it is to be forsaken by the Lord we love,

you understand that forsaken is not the end of the story.

Help us to understand.

When we have cried out,

come to us,

like you came to Mary.

Ask us questions

not for your own answer

but to help us find your answer.

"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"

And when we are stuck in grief

and cannot solve your riddle,

ask us again.

"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"

And when we mistake you for the gardener,

call out our name,

call out our name.

In your familiar voice tell us

we are known by you,

and we are known deeply,

that you care deeply,

that you have not forsaken us.

Lord help us to hear you calling out our name.

Lord help us to hear you calling out our name,

in this sanctuary, in this city, in this world,

in our daily lives,

in the times when we are alone,

and in the times we are surrounded in chaos,

Lord help us hear you calling out our very own name.

And let us turn to you,

Let us know our only response to that call

is to turn around and turn to you,

to serve you, to honor you, to live for you,

and as you would have us live.

Let us respond to you calling our name

by imbuing us to call yours,

“Rabbouni, Teacher, Lord Jesus!”

“Rabbouni, Teacher, Lord Jesus!”

Let us remember what you have taught us.

Let us remember that we are yours.

Let us remember that you are Lord.

Let us listen still to your message.

Let us not hold on to you for ourselves,

for you came to this world for us all,

and for your Father, and our Father

for your God and our God,

You came to be one with us,

in all ways,

and you ascended to be with us

always.

Like Mary let us go to your loved ones,

and tell them the good news,

“We have seen the Lord!”

“We have seen the Lord!”

“We have seen the Lord!”