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.