But when that made him question my intelligence. I quoted some 13th century German mystic theology from Meister Eckhart who said, “We are all called to be mothers of God, for God is always waiting to be born.”
Then, when that didn’t work, I did what I knew best and began to preach. And this is the sum of what I said, “You and me, male and female alike, are called to carry in our bodies the very life of God. It’s our job to give birth to God’s incarnate love in all that we do.” It goes without saying, Sean doesn’t ask me these kinds of anymore questions anymore. But I stand by my words. We should all be moms. In our reading today, Jesus begets a new kind of motherhood and new kind of family; one where kinship isn’t based on DNA, but it is tied to one particular bloodline. Here's what John had to say (John 19:25-27).
Mother’s Day is one of those holidays’ ministers try to avoid because it can bring up a whole gamut of emotions. Some joyful. Some painful. For every woman being celebrated by their children today, there is another who is barren, longing for a life within her own womb. For every mother honored for her kindness and generosity, there is another whose children are coping with the abuse and pain there mom inflicted upon them. For those who are excited to see mom in person today, there’s someone whose wishes they could pick up the phone to call theirs for a recipe or to hear her reassuring voice one more time. Some moms show up for their child, no matter the need. And others who have given up theirs for one reason or another. Whether you like your mom or not, or had a good relationship or a painful one, you are here today because of her. Of course, the Bible is filled with all kinds of mothers. There’s Eve, the mother of life. Sarah, the mother of the covenant. Jochebed, the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam taught us that sometimes we have to take risks for God and our faith. Or Naomi - who adopted her daughter in law Ruth. By bringing her into Israel’s bloodline Naomi reminds us that God belongs to everyone. There’s also Bathsheba, who was forced into motherhood through rape. After losing that child, she will give birth to Solomon, a great king whose bloodline the Messiah would come from. Her story reminds us that Jesus comes from human messiness and not just for it. And of course, the most famous of all mothers is Mary. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Mary, but I believe she was only a young girl when God entrusted her to carry and care for the savior of the world. Mary is the one who gives Jesus his first taste of life and love. She teaches him how to serve and care for the world in all the ways she cares for him. Watching her son be murdered, she experiences a pain greater than childbirth; a pain anyone any one of us can experience. Including John, the beloved disciple, who is with Mary. As he witnesses his teacher and friend suffering an agonizing death, John realizes, perhaps for the first time, the true cost of discipleship. And the depth of what it means to lay down one’s life for the other. In his final act of love, Jesus redefines motherhood and discipleship. He tells his mother, “Woman, here is your son,” and to John he says, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, John took Mary into his home and cared for her. With one divine blessing a new kind of family is born. The church, the new body of Christ, conceived out of God’s incarnate love, comes into being. Together, his followers will share a new bloodline, and a new kind of DNA one that still remains alive and active right here, in this sacred space we call Anamesa. With the blood of Christ pumping through its veins, and the Spirit of God filling its lungs the church takes on a life of its own and moves out into the world to continue what Jesus began in the many ways we give life to his love to a world that is still suffering and hurting…like Mary was on that horrible day. Like we recently learned, faith isn’t only what we believe, but what we’re willing to do to comfort and care for all of God’s children. It’s in the many ways we love God, love others, and serve both that Christ comes alive in us and through us. Which is why we’re called to be mothers of God, because God is always in need of being born. The way we go about doing this is just as diverse as the kinds of mothers out there. For every person who shows up with a snack, a tissue, a compassionate ear, or a lesson to learn, this day is for you. To everyone who shows up every day wearing the hats of an EMT, a gourmet chef, a chauffeur, maid, or mathematician; to those in the NICU and ICUs of life watching over us and keeping us safe – today is your day, and we honor you with our love. To all the ones who show up to cheer us on and lift us up when we’re down, to those who are willing to be there when perhaps our own family can’t or won’t; to the ones who are always ready to open their homes and hearts us as if we were their own – today is your day, and we honor you with our love. To all the mothers, male and female alike, whose hands cradle us, whose hearts love us, whose eyes watch over us, whose ears listen to us – today is your day. To anyone who stands up for what is right, demanding justice and leading us towards the way of peace, we honor you for showing up and showing us what incarnate love looks like. You are the ones who give birth to God’s sustaining love, power, and presence in the world. You are the ones who carry Christ. With each act of love, you allow him to form and take shape within your womb, and to bring him safely into being. “We are all called to be mothers of God for God is always waiting to be born.” From his cross, Jesus unites us all, and calls us into a new kind family. One where, like Mary, we are mothers and children at the same time. But we are also called to be disciples like John, who will risk it all for the sake of bearing the love of God. From his cross Jesus makes us a part of his bloodline - brothers and sisters, mothers, and fathers, bearing the love of God inside us. So, let’s be moms and lets carry God’s love to full term. Work cited Adapted from an original sermon, Mother’s Needed, (on May 8, 2016) and For Mothers Like Us (May 9, 2021). Special Thanks to Rev. Wendy Van Tassell, who originally co-wrote parts of this sermon with me.
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As such, God invites us to share this love with our brothers and sisters. In this short but profound epistle, John reminds us that love is the way of God. And to live in God’s world is to live by God’s rules…which is love.
Why does this matter? Well, as the famous refrain from an old gospel song goes, "They'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love." This song, which was written by Peter Scholtes, hit the Christian campfire circle in 1966 at the height of one of the most chaotic periods of U.S. history. It perfectly encapsulates the Civil Rights Movement of which it got its inspiration. And it seems to have a great grasp on the words and worldview of John's letter. All three invite anyone who chooses to follow Christ to set themselves apart from the ways of the world by embracing the way of love. Which is God. Now, as he begins to conclude his letter, John narrows our focus on the relationship between this love and our faith. And what that means to us to live out our faith, as children of God, in a world hungry for meaning and purpose. This is what we find in 1 John 5:1-5. 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 his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his 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 who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Once again, John comes out swinging; boldly declaring, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
I think it’s safe to say, the Christian church was built upon this foundational truth. It is the bedrock of our faith, upon which our relationship with God exists. By this faithful proclamation we become children of God, brothers and sisters to each other, and with Jesus himself. The author of the book of Hebrews defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). But as someone once pointed out to me, this could also apply to gravity. You don’t see it, but you can put your faith and hope in it because so far, it has consistently proven to be reliable and trustworthy. I’m not in total agreement with this scriptural definition because I believe we can hope and rely on God’s assurance because we can see faith in action every day. Or at least we should be able to see it, in anyone who chooses to follow Jesus for “They will know we are Christians by our love.” We all have faith in something. A rock climber has faith in his ropes and carabiners. A patient has faith in her surgeon’s skill set. Hopefully my wife has faith in her spouse. Christian faith is different than that. It’s an action that sets God’s love into motion, expressing God’s love in everyday life. Faith works with and through love to produce tangible evidence of its existence in a person’s life (c.f. Gal 5:6). And that evidence is intimately tied, according to John, to the relationship between God’s love and God’s Son. Faith is a deep abiding love that is inseparable to believing Jesus is the Messiah, the perfect embodiment of God’s love and salvation for humanity. Love is the ultimate expression of our faith. They are one and the same. The two cannot be separated. Just as God’s faith in us is revealed by God’s love for us, so too must we bear witness to our faith in the way we love each other. Love gives faith power and meaning. John saw this with Jesus. He witnessed the transformative power of love in the healings where our Lord declared, “your faith has made you well.” John believed without a doubt that Jesus was and is the begotten Son of God because he saw what sharing God’s love can do for humanity. Yet, he knew it’s not enough to speak about our faith, we must also show it with truth and action. As the Apostle James put it, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Faith is love in action. Love that reveals who Jesus is - the Christ, the begotten Son, God’s love incarnate. So, to say we have faith is unless we do something with it. There’s an old illustration that kind of puts this into perspective. Imagine watching a tightrope walker push a wheelbarrow on the rope over Niagara Falls. After watching him skillfully move back and forth a few times, he asks for a volunteer to sit in the wheelbarrow to be pushed across the falls. Now, you may believe that he could do that successfully. But you aren’t exercising faith until you get in the wheelbarrow. Faith is love in action that not only puts trust in God but also sets God’s love into motion in the way we relate to God and one another. It only comes alive when we get in the wheelbarrow and actually do what Jesus asks of us - to love God, love others and serve both. The world will know we are Christians by our love. But like John reminds us, “we will know we are children of God, when we love God and obey what God commands” (1 John 5:3). This was one of the most fundamental points of Jesus’ teachings. As Richard Rohr recently noted, “Jesus was entirely single-hearted. His life was all about doing the will of the One who sent him, the One he loved above all.” God wants our obedience, a visible sign our faith. As daunting as that sounds, this need not be burdensome to us. According to Jesus, if we love God and each other then all the commandments will fall into place. As we prepare ourselves to go out into the world let us remember that declaring faith in Christ is more than merely believing he’s God’s begotten child. It means we must also emulate the Son faithfully - embodying his love, grace, and truth; reflecting his light and his character; embracing all people regardless of their race, gender or status. We must give of ourselves so freely and completely, even if it means laying down our lives to do so. John reassures us that when our faith is grounded and centered on God’s Son, then God’s love becomes our source of strength and resilience to overcome the world that world encourages us to pursue our own desires and to seek personal gain and gratification at any cost. But Jesus teaches us to love God and others selflessly, placing their needs above our own no matter the cost. While the world values material wealth, status, and power, Jesus prioritizes spiritual riches, humility, and sacrificial love. The world thrives on division and alienation, promoting individualism and competition. But Jesus draws us together in a holy communion of unity and acceptance, as supporting members of God's family. While the world can only offer us temporary satisfaction and fleeting pleasures, Jesus gives eternal hope and purpose. Although John’s letter was written to comfort a hurting church, it is also a letter of encouragement for us all. By following the way of Jesus faithfully and embracing the way of love freely we will know we abide in him. And God abides in us. We are God’s beloved children. Love is a birthright of faith. And faith is how we will testify to the truth of Jesus Christ throughout Anamesa. As we go out into the world, navigating the space between faith and faithlessness, may the world “know we are Christians by our love, by our love.” For our love is His love. Begotten of God. As John so boldly declared, God is love. And thanks be to Christ Jesus, so are we. Work Cited Bartlett, David L. And Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word Year B, vol. 2. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Rohr, Richard. Daily Meditation April 28, 2024 (accessed on May 4, 2024)
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).
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! |
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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