Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 13, 2012

John 15: 9-17

 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out upon the Gentiles. 

Every time the verb Aastound@ or the noun Aastonishment@ shows up in scripture, pay close attention, because chances are there is an example of God acting in our lives as God wants, not as we want God to act.

The Church is but a few days old, yet the congregants are already complaining among themselves, conspiring to send a letter to their equivalent of the bishop and standing committee, complaining that even the gentiles B yes the gentiles, can you believe such a thing? B have accepted the word of God.

We can almost hear them saying, "Who is that person sitting in my pew?"

And "I am all for inclusion, as long as we don't lower our standards."

And "We shouldn't have to print the worship aid just because it's easier for people who don't know how to use the hymnal!"

We are not the hosts at God's table; we are guests ourselves.

We aren't called to welcome as much as to act like we have been welcomed ourselves into the grace of God.

We don't forgive the sins of others; we testify that our sins have been forgiven.

We are all beggars hungry for the bread of God, telling the other beggars where the bread may be found.

Jesus made it all quite simple: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Too many Christians believe that we are called simply to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and that when we achieve that belief, it somehow separates us from those who don't.

We fall into the sin of believing that we are clean, and those who don't believe are unclean.

But as the philosopher Kierkegaard observed, "Christianity is not a doctrine to be taught, but a life to be lived."

Are we called to believe in resurrection, and teach it as doctrine, or are we called to practice resurrection in the life that we live?   

Jesus instructs that we are to practice resurrection when he says, "Love one another as I have loved you."

We go astray when the Risen Christ is worshiped but not followed.

To love one another is a call to action, modeled on Jesus' love for the disciples.

For the people with whom we are called to share the Good News of the resurrection, their future in the faith is often dependent on our ability to practice resurrection and not just preach it.

To practice resurrection with the very substance of our lives will be a constant expansion of our capacity to love.

 Jesus said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for his friends."

Take a moment and look around.

Who is not here?

There are so many, but they will not come to us.

We must go to them, not in arrogance, but in humility.

We must go with a love that shows resurrection to be substantive and life‑giving, not as a doctrine.

We must show a love so sacrificial, charitable, welcoming, and abundant that it reveals that we would give our very life so that they would receive that transforming love imparted by the resurrection.

Many will say, "I can't go so far as giving my life."

Let us then say, "We believe in the resurrection," and testify to that belief with what our earthly lives reveal about our faith in God.

When the worship ends, the service begins.

Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you.

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."

So let us ask God for what we need and go, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.