As we continue to draw from John’s first epistle, it’s hard not to read it as a love letter of sorts. Written to a church that was suffering many pains and sorrows, John comforts the heart of the reader by making God’s love visible and tangible.
The Apostle doesn’t stop there. This letter is also encourages and instructs the church of the task at hand. Which is to be the many faces of God. And the reason behind that is this: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
It’s safe to say John doesn’t mince words. With elegant concision, he tells the church what God is so we know what God is not.
Despite what many have come to believe in our world today God is love, not hate. God is peace, not war. God is for us, not against us. God is something to be in awe of, not afraid of. God is love. Like I said last week, this isn’t an emotional feeling John is talking about, but a redemptive action that God takes for us and all of creation (c.f. 1 John 3:18). John is also very purposeful in describing God’s love, using a particular word repeatedly. He doesn’t use the Greek word “eros” which is a kind of physical love. Nor does he use “philos” which is like friendship or fellowship kind of love. Instead, John chose to use an old colorless, rarely used Greek word called “agape” which the young church grabbed hold of and gave it a rich meaning. Agape is a self-sacrificing love that gives without expecting anything in return. It’s an unconditional, infinite kind of love that resides in the very heart of God’s grace. Agape perfectly encapsulates redemptive love like that which was made manifest in Jesus whom God sent to us “so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9b) God is agape. Jesus died for us as an act of agape. So if this is the action God took out of great love for us, what does that say about the way we are called to live? God is love. And calls us to be the same. For the only way we will truly know God in the most authentic sense is by allowing divine love to flow through us. This is how God becomes visible and tangible and meaningful in the world. Love begins with God and continues through Christ, who passes it along to us to share with everyone around us. If we say we love God, then love must be the action we take. For those who abide in God must also abide in God’s love (c.f. 1 John 4:12-16) Love has many faces. You, me, and everyone in the space between. Just as Jesus was the visible presence of agape, we can be the same through acts of compassion, mercy, kindness, and grace. Whenever we sit with someone who is going through a hard time, we become the face of God’s love. The same is true whenever we open our heart or hands to someone in need. Or stand up to injustices, or forgive someone. When we lift a person up who people have put down or offer help and healing to those the world has hurt and harmed, God is revealed through us. John said it like this, “No one has ever seen God but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12) To know the God of love, then, is to live agape like Jesus did when he gave himself away freely and liberally to everyone he met. As Brennan Manning argued in his wonderful book The Ragamuffin Gospel, “God is love. Jesus is God. If Jesus stopped loving, he would stop being God.” So let me say it again, love has many faces. Some are black, some are white. Some wear red hats, others blue ties. Some live across the street, others in a country you’d struggle to find on a map. But towards each person we must make love our highest priority if for no other reason than to open the eyes of the world to see the face of God when it might otherwise feel absent. Like we learned last week, we can’t make that happen with words and speech. Only in truth and action which is agape, the unconditional, all-inclusive love of God. This is the single most important message the church is called to proclaim. We are the Body of Christ. Or so we are supposed to be. Because here’s the thing: we can’t love God and hate our neighbor at the same time. Love and hate do not mix. It’s that simple. John couldn’t have been any more clear in his letter when he writes, “those who do not love their brother and sister whom they can see, cannot love God who they cannot see.” Or to say it differently, we can’t call ourselves Christians and continue to promote wars that kill people and destroy communities. We can’t allow injustice and poverty to hamper anyone from thriving. As Christ showed with his own life, God was willing to risk it all for agape. But are we willing to do the same? Love has many faces, but it also has many challenges. It is a risky endeavor. One that asks us to become visible and vulnerable. Many of us have been hurt by love in the past. We’ve had our hearts broken or taken advantage of. The wounds cut deep, I get that. I’ve been there. But like John writes, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18a). If God is love, then anyone made in God’s image can embrace, share, and thrive in agape. Through Christ Jesus, God’s love came to us in the flesh to show us what that means. With the Holy Spirit that has been given to us, agape flows through us so we can fearlessly and faithfully embrace our call: to love God, love others, and serve both. To quote Curry one last time, “The way of love will show us the right thing to do, every single time. It is our moral and spiritual grounding – and a place of rest – amid the chaos that is often part of life. It’s how we stay decent in indecent times.” Agape doesn’t require us to be perfect or worthy. Just willing. As God’s love was made perfect in Jesus, so too has Jesus made you perfect, completely worthy in spite of your flaws. God loves you as you are, not as you should be. Jesus showed the world how God loves beyond fidelity and infidelity, beyond worthiness and unworthiness, in our state of grace and in our state of disgrace. Whatever you have done or left undone, it’s impossible for God not to love you! God is love. And you are loved…no matter what. The world is starving for this good news. There are too many broken hearts and darkened souls among us. They have allowed hatred and fear to dictate the conversation. Violence and greed have become acceptable norms. Jesus calls out into the world to share the gospel by being the very face of it. He sends us to bring the good news to life in all the ways we live into our belovedness. So why are we still sitting here? From love we were made in the image of God. And for love we are sent to be the face of God in this sacred space we call Anamesa. Love is the way. Love is the reason. Love is our purpose. Our highest priority. Love has many faces. But is one of them yours? Work Cited Bartlett, David L. And Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word Year B, vol. 2. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Curry, Michael. Love is the Way. (New York: Penguin, 2020). Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. (New York: Random House, 1990).
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Furthermore, ravens, who excel as problem solvers, demonstrate Jesus’s call for us to approach life’s challenges with love and empathy, looking out for one another despite differences.
Ravens also have a crazy memory and keen sense of facial recognition. Remembering people who are kind to them and who aren’t. Similarly, Jesus promises to remember acts of kindness and injustice, especially when it comes “the least of these.” Moreover, ravens possess remarkable communication skills, reminiscent of Jesus’s commission for His followers to go and spread the good news to everyone everywhere. Yes, their early morning cries can be a nuisance, and their scavenging habits may seem thoughtless, but perhaps that’s how they make a joyful noise unto the Lord and trust God for their daily bread. This echoes the sentiment of St Francis, who frequently preached to the birds, to remind them of their inherent worth. He said, “Do you realize that by your very existence, you are inherently giving glory to God? So just be who you are.” I think we all could use this reminder. And a great place to start is by following the example of the raven by making our home in the cross of Christ.
Looking back now, I realized how right he was. He wasn’t trying to set me up for failure. He was simply reminding me to keep the gospel message simple so everyone could understand. Other than talking about God and Jesus, every message really does boil down to just a few things: love, grace, forgiveness, and service.
There have been weeks when I’ve had trouble finding new ways to speak about these things. Yet, the more time I spend in Anamesa, the more I realize there’s no point in talking the talk, if I’m not going to walk the walk. I have to embody God’s love and live it out in every aspect of my life. As difficult as that can be, I have to live it out in every space, every day, over and over and over again. So, I might sound repetitive… because that’s the point. The more we live out our faith, the more natural it becomes to be faithful to God’s loving grace and forgiveness. And to become a servant of Christ, who inspired John to write this letter to a young and struggling church. It’s a beautiful masterpiece on God’s love. A simple blueprint on how to let God’s love manifest through us. Today, John offers us this: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 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 deed and truth. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. - 1 John 3:16-24a -
Again, this letter is credited to John the Apostle, who was a fisherman by trade. Given his profession and the area from which he came, John probably wasn’t very educated. Yet, he possessed a deep understanding of Jesus’ teaching, which helped him produce an even deeper theology for us to unpack.
While John writes of grace, forgiveness, and service - his entire message is grounded in one thing: God’s redemptive love made manifest in the world through Jesus Christ. For John, redemptive love is the highest form of love out there because it has the power to both redeem us and transform us. Being close to Jesus, John saw how love can help people. It can heal us, lift us up, and liberate us when nothing else will. Which is exactly why I make love the centerpiece of every message, even if it means repeating myself over and over again. But we can’t just talk about love inside church; we got to go out in the world and live it as if it’s the most amazing thing ever created. If the words of our heart don’t match the actions of our hands, then what good is that love? In our reading today, John reminds us of three things. First, God’s love isn’t an emotional feeling but an action. It’s the kind of action that sets everything else into motion. We know God loves us by the things God does for us. As John states, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” God’s love is sacrificial. It’s an action that proves just how far God is willing to go for us. Second, the love that God has given us through Christ Jesus ought to be the same love we offer - in the many ways “we lay down our lives for one another.” Does this mean taking a bullet for someone? Yes, love could mean that. But it doesn’t have to be so dangerous or heroic either. Some of the best ways we can show love is through ordinary, everyday acts of kindness. The effort you give to prepare a meal for someone. The way you share the road with strangers on your way to work. Or how you handle a struggling student, or a temperamental employee. Like Jesus taught us with his own life, when we put others first, or make time for them, we lay down our lives. Third, this can’t be done with word or speech. But with truth and action. John said, “when you see a brother or sister in need, have pity and help them.” It’s truly that simple. So why do we struggle to embrace it? This is a great challenge for both the church and her congregation. When we close our hearts to others, we close our hearts to God. Denying a person’s plea for mercy or grace is the same as denying Christ himself. When we shut people out, or toss them aside, or ignore them altogether we are doing the same to God who dwells in all of us. To say we love God is admirable and commendable, but it doesn’t mean jack if we don’t show the same to one another. How can we claim to love God if we can’t even “like” the people who look or vote differently than us? To believe in Christ means to believe Christ saves us by making us like Himself. If we are going to claim Christ’s name, then our heart must be the same as his in all the ways we love God, love others, and serve both. And so it is, in his name, we must make love great again. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an emphatic charge for all of us. “Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness before God.” Jesus said it like this when he spoke directly on divine judgement. “What you do to the least of these, you also do to me.” This has nothing to do about having the right belief or doctrine. It’s not even about having faith in him per se, but how we live out our faith like he did - sharing our heart and resources with those in need. We aren’t judged by the size of our church or the number of souls we win over for God. But Jesus made it abundantly clear that we’ll be judged on how many lives we feed and clothe and care for. John inspires the church to practice real love the way Christ Jesus showed us. This is the only way we will know we’re living truly in God’s reality. As we traverse the sacred space between heart and hands, we are called to act – especially towards the poor and marginalized. We must elevate poverty, stand up against the injustices, and walk humbly so all people can thrive in God’s Kingdom. The words of our heart must build bridges, not walls; embrace peace, not war; offer forgiveness and hospitality, hope and care to all people, especially the least of these our brothers and sisters. As children of God, we possess all the power of Christ to make love great again. So what’s stopping us? That old minister was right, there are only a few things we can talk about. But there are endless ways to be the heart and hands of Christ, offering God’s love to those in need. This will take great patience towards ourselves and others. And be very repetitive in our actions and loving gestures. But remember, it’s in practicing God’s love with one another that Christ comes alive in our communities, bringing healing and transformation to whatever space we’re in. So, my challenge to you this week is simply this: go make love great again. Whether it is with a spouse or partner, your child or co-worker, a neighbor or stranger, a friend or foe go and make God’s love manifest through you in the greatest ways you are able. Go and be so bold and generous with your heart, that you can’t help but feel the power of Christ pulsate through your hands. The more you do it, the easier it is to offer grace to those who need it, forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it, mercy to those who ask for it, and patience to those who lack it. More importantly, with God’s love leading the way you can serve one another as if you’re serving Christ himself. Just as we know God loves us by the things God does for us, may others come to know their place in God’s heart by the way we share our heart with them. Work Cited: Adapted from The Luck of Us All. March 17, 2019 (accessed on 04/19/2024). Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word, Year B, Vol. 2. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children,let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called Children of God, and that is who we are.”
Could there be a greater declaration in scripture? God chose to love and adopt us, and to make us heirs to an incredible inheritance. It has nothing to do with having the right family name or the right social status. Only that we exist. Now, I was born a Macdonald – the last of four distinctively different children. I didn’t choose this family, or the order of which I came. None of us do. But I did get to choose to be a part of someone else’s. I distinctly remember the day I ask Kathleen’s father for his blessing to marry her. He said, “It would be an honor to call you my son.” This was a choice we both made. For him to become my father and I his son. I count my blessings that I got to belong to these two loving families. Both set a great foundation for us to start a family of our own. Some of us are blood related. Others are joined through marriage, adoption, foster care, or tribe. But John reveals a new kind of family. One where God has redefined and reclassified us all with a new birth certificate and a new name: Children of God. Whether you’re an only child or one-of-nine like Kathleen, it was out of deep, unconditional love that God divinely made you a part of this heavenly family. Of course, it’s one thing to know we are loved by God. But, as Josh Scott writes, “It is something totally different to trust and internalize those words, to allow them to shape our way of seeing ourselves, our neighbor, and our enemy.” Jesus told his followers to love one another as God has loved them. Love, he said, will be the way that the world will know we belong to him (c.f. John 13:34-35). And it’s in the ways we love that we make Christ visible to those around us. By putting love into action, real spiritual growth and transformation begin to shape us into something new. In his book Barking at the Choir, Father Greg Boyle tells the story of an ex-gang member who, at the age of seven, watched his mom pack up a suitcase and walk out the door. He never saw her again. After surviving two years on the streets, he was put into the system. Not long after that, a local gang adopted him as one of their own. After serving time , the young man entered a work release program at Homeboy Industries; a place started by Fr. Boyle to help gang-members get a second chance. Having been adopted into a community built upon unconditional love and acceptance, this once violent offender no longer identified with abandonment or hatred, but as a beloved child of God. He no longer lived in the shadows of violence and retaliation, but in the light of God’s love and peace. Whether you are married with children, a single parent or have never known the excruciating pains of childbirth, we all know what it’s like to be a child. Just the same, no one can escape being shaped by the environment that we were born into. It doesn’t seem fair that some get a good, safe, loving space to thrive in while others get everything but that. Although every childhood is different, every child is the same to God. Deeply loved and divinely made. We are God’s children. And as such, we ought to act like children. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). He’s not talking about throwing temper tantrums or eating paste. He’s saying adopt a beginner’s mindset, like a child who is full of wonder and questions. Research has shown that children are better at adapting to a newness of life. They are quick to embody the spirit of freedom that often fades with maturity. And they are more willing to be loved, often gravitating towards good relationships where that love can thrive. No wonder we should be like them. With that said, even children have moments where their sense of self-worth and belonging are challenged and questioned. But as John’s words of hope and assurance remind us it doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from, we are heirs of God’s name and have all the treasures of God’s kingdom in our possession. This gift, or our inherent value, isn’t based on performance or perfection. God loves us unconditionally simply because we exist. But here’s the thing, we exist for a purpose. Even if God’s love doesn’t come with terms or conditions there is an expectation that we live out our inheritance in the manor by which it was given to us with steadfast and unwavering love. We are God’s children now, and it’s time to start acting as such. Just as Jesus gave of himself with sacrificial love, so too must we be willing to do the same in all the ways we love God, love others, and serve both. I know how demanding and challenging this can be especially in our self-consuming, self-serving world. But if Christ’s church isn’t going to do his work, who will? In its most basic terms, to be followers of Christ means to continue what he began as the incarnation of God’s love. This is not to say we won’t grapple with temptation and sin, or endure the guilt and shame that often comes with it. It just means we have to make a conscious choice to belong to this heavenly family, abiding in Christ as he abides in God. For “Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.” That is God’s will for us. As long as the world walks away from God, the world will remain blind. It lacks the faith, or trust, that God loves them unconditionally. Sadly, it’s a lack of faith and trust that keeps others from recognizing or understanding their inherent worth, muchless ours. As history has demonstrated, this often leads to rejection, alienation, and even violent hostility. Being a part of God’s family doesn’t mean we won’t suffer or experience hardships in life. Hell, not even Jesus could escape it. Let’s not forget John wrote this letter of encouragement to a young church experiencing persecution and internal strife. He reminds them of the life beyond this temporal realm where we experience full communion with God for eternity. That’s why it’s called the good news! As Michael Toy notes, “When we find ourselves longing for better days, when we find ourselves in the bleak despair that the world is marred beyond all repair, there is yet hope.” Our faith, our trust clings to this truth that in Christ, God came to be with us to name us and claim us. With Christ, we are the beloved. God’s children. And through Christ, God has given the world the eternal treasures of heaven. Our job is to be like Christ, the incarnate presence of God’s redeeming and unwavering love. When our focus is on emulating him, we are less likely to be tempted or stray from God. When we embrace God’s will like he did, we can overcome hardships like he did. When we walk as he walked, love as he loved, serve as he served, we become one with him and with God. Divine heirs of a truly divine gift. We are God’s beloved, deeply loved and divinely made. Go now and live as such. Works Cited Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word, Year B, Vol. 2. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008. Boyle, Gregory. Barking at the Choir: The Power of Radical Kindship. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. Scott, Josh. Sunday’s Coming, April 14, 2024 (accessed 04.11.2024). www.christiancentury.org Toy, Michael. Another Way. April 8, 2024 (accessed 04.12.2024). www.episcopalchurch.org
If Jesus actually ushered in the kingdom of heaven, why would anyone cheer for its demise? Yes, I want to see sin disappear. I’d love to have a political system that rules with love and promotes peace and justice. But until then, God needs us here.
Instead of being dismayed that you didn’t get raptured, be grateful you still have time to make a difference. “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36)
Like a heavy cloud pressing down, it steals our light, and robs us of hope and joy. Sometimes it causes us to question or doubt our faith, and often leaves us feeling as if God has just left us to fumble in the darkness.
Tomorrow we will witness a total eclipse, where darkness will momentarily overtake the light. It’s a beautiful reminder that even when it seems like the light has vanished in our life—it’s simply obscured. The light is there. It’s always been there, shining since the beginning of time. No matter how thick any darkness may seem, I hope you are able to remember that it can never extinguish the light. This is what the Apostle John had to say about it in his First Epistle, 1 John 1:1-2:2 ....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.
If you were to ask me, I believe this wonderful epistle speaks directly to anyone’s heart, offering hope and solace in a time of darkness.
Penned in the late first century, John’s words have echoed throughout the ages as he encourages a young, Christian community to live in the light of Christ. And to do so faithfully amidst the persecution and internal strife they were facing. Today, churches across America going through a dark period. People no longer look to us as a beacon of light or a safe harbor to find rest. We mourn as churches shutter due to lack of member support. While others split and divide themselves apart for one political extreme or another. Yet, as the shadows of despair threaten to engulf us, John urges us onward. And does so on the basis of this one foundational truth, “God is light, and in God, there is no darkness at all.” He reminds us that when we walk in that light, with God and with one another, our joy will be complete. So you can see how this is an ongoing journey one that will take us to all different places and emotional states. The best way to navigate this trip is ride shotgun in God’s bright presence. Again, I know from experience how quickly we can lose sight of God’s light, especially when the dark shadows of doubt and fear and depression surround us. And again, when we find ourselves in those places, our first instinct is often to believe God has left us on the side of the road. But just as the sun doesn’t actually disappear in an eclipse, God doesn’t disappear simply because it’s too dark to see. The sun shines, even when it’s night time. So too does God’s love radiate throughout Anamesa, always finding a way into every dark space we find ourselves in. This past Wednesday, I had to take the dog out for her walk earlier than usual because a storm was rapidly approaching. Overhead dark clouds had already swallowed the entire sky. Yet somewhere in that gloomy canopy there was a little crack, enough for a beam of sunlight to sneak through. As the wind kicked up and the rain began to fall, a heavenly ray of light sliced open the sky and shone upon the earth below a beacon of light that brought a sense of peace and calm to my soul. It reminded me of something Lenard Cohen famously said. “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” In other words, the things that break us actually open us to being with God. There will be storms in life that will beat us down and crack us open. Yet in those times of despair God is with us - piercing the darkness to bring comfort and joy. Even if we’ve given up on God or lost our faith, God continues to pursue us with steadfast love and faithfulness. God does this if for no other reason but to be in relationship with us and to make our joy complete. Which is why John encourages us to walk in the light. A good place to start is right here, in Anamesa, and being part of a loving community who will help you cultivate a deeper relationship with God through prayer, meditation, and the study of Scripture. As I have found in my own life, whenever I spend time in God’s presence my heart gets filled with God’s abundant light and love. So much so that it begins to spill out all over the place. I mention this because sometimes you’re not the one suffering. Sometimes you’re not in need of God’s light, but the one God has called to radiate it - to shine brightly so others can find hope in the midst of despair. Jesus told his disciples, “You are the light of the world.” He went on to explain that this light shouldn’t be hidden, but set out in the open where it can illuminate the entire room. Each one of us is a candle, flickering in the night. At first it might not seem like we’re doing much. But as the flame dances and casts its warm glow, our light begins to dispel the shadows and illuminate the entire space. Whether or not you know it, God’s light is already inside you. It’s part of your divine DNA that was given to all of creation from the get go. As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians, “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord, you are light.” Paul, like John, encourages this church to “Live as children of the light - for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph. 5:8-9). Like Richard Rohr said, “Anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light.” (c.f. Eph 5:13–14). When we walk in God’s light we become part of its radiance. As children of the light, Jesus tells us to shine brightly before others, “so that they may see your good works and give glory to God who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). So let us go out and shine brightly through acts of compassion, mercy and forgiveness. Let us go and be the light that guides others through the storms, and into the safe harbor of Christ whose own light redeems us and returns us to the light of God’s love. As John wrote, "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" (1 John 2:1b-2). When we embrace and live into the light of Christ, our actions, attitudes, and words reflect his love and grace to those around us. We become beacons of hope and an agent of change in a world desperate for the goodness his light brings. With every act of kindness, compassion, and mercy we offer His light shines brighter and brighter. Every time we welcome someone in love, or listen to their confessions without judgment we radiate His light further and further until we fill in the space between with God’s glory. So let us not hold back from shining brightly, my friends. Let us embrace our role as bearers of the light, and be intentional about sharing God's love with everyone we meet. As we do, may our lives become a living testimony to the goodness and glory of God, now and forever.
We should know that they were never uttered by the women when they reached the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body for eternal rest. They were never said by Peter and John after they raced to Jesus’ grave only to find him gone. Neither the angel nor Jesus himself spoke these words when they appeared to Mary.
Yet, we say them - in some form or another - because they encompass our entire faith in one easy to remember statement. Saying them is one thing. Believing them is another. But making them a part of our everyday life…and that’s when things get a bit prickly. Good Morning and welcome to Easter at Anamesa. Our reading comes from Mark 16:1-8. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Today we welcome Easter with joyous celebration. But tomorrow we will awake with cautious hesitation hoping not to get tricked as I have so often been on April first. It’s apropos, don’t you think, that Easter and April Fool’s Day are right next to each other this year. After all, isn’t Easter God’s greatest joke on the world that killed Christ?
I’m not sure Mary or the others found humor in God’s little prank. Certainly none of them were laughing on the way to the tomb. They definitely weren’t when they saw that the stone had been moved. That was no laughing matter. The religious and political leaders had conspired with each other to have the tomb officially sealed shut to ensure no funny business happened. Everyone knew whoever broke the official seal would be found liable of treason and death. Imagine getting arrested for playing a practical joke. The Whoopie Cushion industry would be forced out of business. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Mark finds room to add a little comic relief. In the tomb is a young man dressed in a white robe. We assume he’s an angel – and not some guy who got lost on the way to the steam room. His greeting seems straight out of the Halo Handbook where rule one states, “When coming in contact with human beings, be sure to remind them not to be afraid, otherwise they might freak out.” I don’t know about you, but I find that funny. Think about it. You’re still in shock from witnessing your friend’s execution when you find his tomb has been tampered with. His body is missing. And some guy in a bath robe says, “Do not be afraid.” If you’re not supposed to be afraid in a situation like this then what should you do? Laugh? The women were terrified and ran away. And for good reason. As Barbara Brown Taylor muses, “Once a human being goes into the ground, that is that. You do not wait around for the person to reappear so you can pick up where you left off - at least not this side of the grave. You say good-bye; pay your respects; and go on with your life as best you can.” Nowhere in their wildest imaginations did these women expect Jesus to jump out from behind the rock and shout, “April Fools.” They knew his death was real. There was nothing humorous about it. To be fair, his resurrection wasn’t a joke either. It was something greater. It was the fulfillment of God's plan and promise to the world. And the assurance of our own salvation. To borrow from Richard Rohr, it’s “God’s pledge and guarantee of what God will do with all our crucifixions.” Easter isn’t just about the resurrection of Christ, but how his risen life shapes ours. According to Paul, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, we too might live in the newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). And this raises a difficult question we all must ask ourselves. How will I live in this newness with a resurrected mind, with a Christ like heart? Christ has died. Christ has risen. And Christ will come again. How will we make Christ come alive, again and again, in Anamesa? Whatever happened in the space between the cross and Easter morning only God and Jesus know. But one thing is for certain, when God breathed new life into his lungs, our Lord didn’t just sit there. He arose from his tomb and went out into the world. In one gospel account, he met Mary in the garden. In another, he walked home with two disciples. And in another, he cooked breakfast on the beach for all of them. Jesus appeared to his friends not only to comfort them but commissioned them out into the world, to proclaim what God had done. And to show the world what God is doing in them, with them, and through them. This tells me that we’re not supposed to sit around doing nothing. It’s one thing to profess our faith with words, but those words have no power if we cannot abide by them faithfully in all that we do. Just as Jesus arose…so too must we Arise with him! Easter is our invitation into a new way of living fully and faithfully for Christ, and with Christ through acts of love, justice, and compassion. And yet, here we sit. Unsure of what to say. Or afraid of what people might think or do if we start talking about God to them. It’s easy to profess our faith in the safe confines of church, but sharing it publicly is where we often draw the line. I’ve confessed before I don’t always let people know I’m a minister because I don’t want them thinking I’m some religious nut. And I certainly don’t want to be lumped in with those hypocrites who weaponize Jesus’ words but refuses to live by them. Yet still, I don’t let that stop me from inviting someone to church. Or sharing this message on my Facebook page. Christ came to us in the flesh to redeem and return us back to God…and the world killed him. So I can see why you might be afraid. But to those who did kill Christ, the joke’s on them. He has risen. He is alive. And we are too. I can say with great confidence that everyone here, and all who are watching, are breathing. Which means each and every one of us has the power to rise up to roll back the stone and go out into the world to share the good news and to bear the good fruit of the Spirit by being kind, helpful, hopeful in all circumstances. Yes, there’s a good chance you’ll get heckled or made fun of. But should that deter you from embodying the joy of Christ’s victory? Easter stands as the pinnacle moment, showcasing the greatest prank God played on death itself. The world may ridicule us and laugh us, but God will always have the last laugh – transforming our tragedy into triumph, despair into hope, and death into everlasting life. Here’s the thing I hope you remember. We’re not merely spectators of this cosmic joke. We are integral parts of the punch line. We are the resurrected people, called to continue what Jesus began. His destiny is our destiny. His life work has been passed on to us. St. Teresa reminds us that, “Christ has no body but yours.” You might not have the right words, but you have the hands of Christ to bless the world. You might not have the right church doctrine or a degree under your belt, but you have his feet to walk and do good. You have his mouth to demand justice and equality for all people. You have his eyes to see others in need. And his heart of compassion to do something about it. From the having the same divine DNA to the same Holy Spirit, you possess everything Jesus had to usher in the kingdom of heaven right now. So, Arise! Roll away the stone and leave your dark tomb. Go out into the world carrying the hope of resurrection everywhere you go. You might not be able to convince someone with words, but they will be watching what you do. As a wise man once taught me, “No one has ever been beaten into heaven. But all have been shown the way.” We respond to this Divine Comedy by becoming living testimonies to the transformative power of the resurrection to a world in desperate need of hope and redemption. Easter was not a one-and-done event. It’s been God’s plan from the beginning of time – transforming a galaxy of dead stars into a universe of living planets. It is a continual process of renewal and rebirth – the cycle of life that happens every day throughout all of creation. And we are a part of it. Easter is a living reality that shapes our lives today. It has the power to transform enemies into friends, sinners into saints. As we move out into the world, let us embrace our role in God's cosmic joke with humility and gratitude, privileged to be a part of this divine plan for redemption. Let us Arise with Christ every day, in every space we enter, bringing with us the joy and wonder of Easter, to the glory of God almighty, who pulled a fast one on death, so that we may live. Work Cited: Rohr, Richard. Immortal Diamond. (Jossey-Bass: 2013) pp.83-90. Taylor, Barbara Brown. Home By Another Way. (Crowley: 1999). “This wasn’t supposed to end this way.” Such a simple sentence that can be applied to countless experiences in my life. From getting the flu on the day I graduated high school to signing divorce papers in between takes of a commercial I was shooting, to standing in the cold rain as I said goodbye to my trusty car of 22 years none of which were supposed to end the way they did.
I imagine it was the same for the Apostles as they locked themselves away in fear after witnessing the execution of their friend and teacher. I’m sure they all mumbled quietly under their breath, “This wasn’t supposed to end this way.” Yet, according to Jesus, this was exactly how it was supposed to end. He had given them many clues and warnings about what was about to happen. Still, in their shock, they’d just have to sit there wondering why it ended the way it did. As we wait for Easter morning, we know there’s more to the story. What looked like the end of Jesus’ life and ministry would actually be something wonderful and new. As Paul wrote, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” It has lost it sting. God has proven victorious yet again! So, it’s not supposed to end this way because Jesus’ story will never end. Instead, it continues into all eternity. And “thanks be to God, who gives victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” so too do we. Happy Easter!
The book “The Last Lecture,” chronicles his final lesson given to his students. It wasn’t about dying as much as it was about living. It focused on persevering and overcoming obstacles. It encouraged them to enable their dreams and dreams of others. And the importance of seizing every moment because this time is all that we have guaranteed. His story and his message is reminiscent of another teacher whose life is chronicled in the Bible. On his last night on earth, Jesus reclined with his students and friends for the Passover meal. It was there, around that table, he gave his Farewell Discourse. We get a version of this story in all four gospels. John’s is by far the longest version. In the few chapters John dedicates to this night, we find a great message on how to live life, and to live it in the rightness of God. Tucked throughout are important instructions on how to live a humble life in service of God and others. And we even get a new commandment. This is where we get the name Maundy, for Maundy Thursday. It comes from the Latin word “mandatum” which means commandment. And it refers to the new commandment Jesus gives his disciples, which is to “love one another as I have loved you.” This love will be the mark of the new Way, one built upon the way of Jesus which is the Way and Will of God. Moreover, love will be the way others will identify you, that they will come to know and trust that you are a follower of Christ. And as he is about to demonstrate, Jesus shows us how this love is made manifest in us: Now before the festival of the 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. The devil had already decided that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. Like I said, all four gospels give an account of this last meal. Each one share similar details. Someone will betray Jesus. Peter will deny knowing him. A meal will be enjoyed, commemorating the Passover. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke give the words of institution over the bread and wine that Jesus blesses, John is the only one who offers us this particular last lesson of Jesus who knows he only has this moment left, and he uses it to teach the Apostles about what it will take to continue his ministry when he’s gone. There in a stranger’s humble home our Lord and King removed his royal cloak and became a lowly servant; bending down to wash the dirty feet of his traveling companions. With nothing more than basin of water and a simple towel, Christ held their tired, aching feet, and began to wash each one of them clean. Through this intimate, yet humbling, gesture Jesus shows us what it means to Love God, Love Others, and Serve Both. In short, it requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to move beyond our comfort zone, and to give fully and fearlessly of our self for the sake of others. Around this table, Jesus guides us towards a new way of living life abundantly in God’s love. Through his example of self-giving, Jesus invites us into an intimate relationship with him. No longer are we to think of ourselves as simple followers. We are friends and companions with him and with one another. Together we are called to share mutual love, living out the will of God. After this humbling gesture, Jesus gives them the last commandment: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” To be a friend of Christ, to bear the name Christian, means we are called to walk in love in the midst of a broken and wounded world. And to share his Divine love in all our interactions and relationships. By this humble action we are able to use this time wisely, professing God’s glory in every space we find ourselves. At this table Jesus reminds his followers that they will not be left alone to figure it all out. He offers them this promise and assurance: “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. With the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives, we can pursue acts of love and faith. We can persevere through acts of humility and service. With the Holy Spirit as our advocate, we can live a life in remembrance of the legacy that Christ Jesus left for us.
This entrance, although subversive, was not to make a political stance like I had argued. Or an affront to the people in power at the Temple of which he rode towards. Instead, this story teaches us an important lesson on how to live our life in a way that honors God and others.
But I had been so caught up in sounding smart that I overlooked the humility of Jesus that I was supposed to embody when he called me to deny myself and pick up my own cross. As we will see from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, this act of self-emptying (or kenosis as it’s called in the Greek) reveals the depth of Christ's love for all humanity. If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.
This passage seems like an unlikely reading for Palm Sunday. But with a closer look, we see a sober reminder of the suffering and humility Jesus will come to face in the days ahead.
Sure, Paul skips over the triumphant entry where Jesus was hailed by the crowds as the long-awaited Messiah. And doesn’t mention the palm branches or the shouts of “Hosanna!” But he does speak to Jesus’ humility. The kind of which our Lord demonstrated on that first Palm Sunday. Instead of riding a majestic steed as a conquering warrior, Jesus, the King of kings, chose to come as a humble servant riding a humble colt. This is the kind of humility that Paul wants us to emulate when he wrote, “Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” Or, as the NIV has it, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Imagine how our lives would be if we all shared the same humility or mindset as Christ, who willingly set aside his own agenda and even gave Himself up to the point of death as an expression of his love for God and for us. Imagine possessing such a mind, or love for that matter. I bet most of us, if given the choice, would rather be the one impressing people, riding on a mighty steed, bathing in applause and accolades. But again, that stands in sharp contrast to what Jesus told us to deny ourselves. This past Wednesday, I did a little experiment. For one whole day I tried to have the same mindset and attitude of Jesus. I set out to put others above myself. To be inclusive. To love unconditionally. And if I’m being honest, the results were dismal. It was easy to smile at people, offering a silent blessing or prayer as I did. But it was hard to not covet that beautiful Mercedes-Benz. Or set aside my jealousy because someone had the salary to afford one. It was difficult to practice patience without harboring judgment. Heck, I couldn’t even wash the dishes without feeling resentful to my own kids for leaving their dirty cups and bowls in the sink. So much for loving God, loving others, and serving both. But as I have learned through all my many Lenten fasts and feasts, I believe our failures can be a strength if only because they can keep us focused on why we are feasting and fasting in the first place - to grow closer and closer to God by being more and more like Christ. It was my inability to have the mind of Christ that kept my thoughts returning to him. And the longer our thoughts are focused on what Jesus would do, the more our mind begins to see and act like his. The same is true about our heart. This silly experiment taught me a few invaluable lessons. First, adopting the mind of Christ involves recognizing our own limitations and inadequacies and embracing our humility. Jesus demonstrated profound humility throughout his life, prioritizing service over self-promotion. Like Paul pointed out, Jesus willingly submitted himself to God’s will. He emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and became humbled and obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. He did all this to show us how to serve others with great humility and love. Throughout the gospels we read how Jesus honored his love for God and others by consistently putting aside his own comfort and convenience for the sake of everyone else. Some of us might think that’s a little co-dependent and not very healthy for our self-worth. But Jesus turns that assumption upside down. Think about all those times when Jesus just wanted to rest or needed to be alone with God, but people kept bringing the sick and dying to him to be healed. In each account, he set aside his personal needs because he had compassion for them (c.f. Mt 14:13-14). Adopting the mind of Christ also requires us to cultivate a heart of compassion – especially for those who need our help. We must love others genuinely, without prejudice or discrimination, seeking their best interests above our own. This includes forgiving someone who has wronged you, prioritizing reconciliation, and making peace no matter the cost. As Jesus demonstrated with his own flesh and blood, we must submit to God's will and trust God’s sovereignty so completely, even when it’s too difficult, inconvenient, or could get us killed. Ultimately, embodying the mind of Christ involves allowing God’s love and grace to shape and mold us into the image of Christ, the very Word of God made manifest for all to see. Which is hard to do when you make yourself more important than the other. During my attempt to embrace the mind of Christ, I was trying to make a left hand turn before the red light. But the woman in front of me was on her phone and not paying attention. I had somewhere to get to and so I lost my patience and honked at her. This caused her not only to flip me off, but to run the red light straight into traffic endangering herself and the cars who had the right of way. Now here’s God at work. As I continued my journey, and still stewing from that experience, I found myself behind a car with a bumper sticker that read, “Practice Humility. Talk Less. Do More.” I couldn’t help but rephrase that to say: “Practice Christlikeness. Honk less. Love more.” I think that’s what sharing the same mind of Christ is about. As we go out into the world, Christ calls us to let go of our ego and embrace a posture of humility and compassion so he can shine through each one of us. This is just one of the ways God brings redemption and salvation into the world. You might not believe you are capable or good enough for God to work through you. But that’s your ego talking you out of doing the necessary work of adopting a cruciform mind. But let’s be real. It’s really not that hard to be nice. Anyone can adopt a mindset of kindness and generosity through simple acts like smiling, or holding the door open for someone, or giving a compliment. And you can build upon that kindness by being generous with your time or resources. Volunteer at a local shelter or food bank. Donate to the church or some’s GoFundMe page. Pretty soon, you might find yourself helping a neighbor. Or sitting with someone going through a difficult time; providing a compassionate ear with empathy instead of judgment. Again, the more we practice adopting a mind of Christ, the closer we get to perfect it. Before you know it, you will find yourself letting go of old grudges and resentments; extending grace liberally as needed. Jesus gave us his life to help us to see the inherent worth of every individual, to welcome everyone and care for them as beloved children of God. The way to do this is to just get ourselves out of the way and let God do what God does best through us. As we move into Holy Week, observing the movements of Jesus and his friends, Paul offers us a perspective that the Apostles didn’t have at the time. He encouraged the church to keep their eye on the cross, where Jesus emptied himself of all that he was, to show the world just how far God is willing to go to love and save us. Jesus’ followers might not have realized it at the time. And who could blame them. The cross still seems foolish to many of us today. But like Paul stated in his beautiful exhortation, Jesus’ story does not end at the cross. His glory and kingship continues through Easter and beyond! As we journey through Holy Week, reflecting on the humility and triumph of Palm Sunday, may we strive to embrace the cruciform mind of Christ, who by his death and resurrection, we have been granted eternal life. Therefore, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God Almighty. |
Ian MacdonaldAn ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. "that they all might be one" ~John 17:21“Prius vita quam doctrina.”
~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) * “Life is more important than doctrine.”
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