Sermon - May 20, 2012

7th Sunday of Easter - Year B                                                                                       

John 17:6-19           

                                                      A Prayer for the Church

We pray for our loved ones and we pray for world peace.  We pray for favorable weather and we pray for victories in baseball games.  We pray for those who have died and we pray for those who have given birth.  We pray.  We implore God to hear our cries and we ask God to care for and uphold those whom we name in our prayers. 

Jesus also prays.  He prays to The Father, asking the Father to care for and uphold those whom he names.  Toward the end, he will pray for those who persecute him.  He will also pray that the cup which he has been given might be taken from him.  Those prayers come later in the story; when crisis is at hand, and we would expect a person to pray. 

But Jesus’ prayer life was well established long before he arrives at those urgent moments.  And in those “non-crisis” moments, what Jesus prays for is us.  He prays for those who were and who would become a part of the Church.  

John 17 is often referred to as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.  It is his plea to The Father that those who follow might not be divided, might not be lost, might be filled with his joy; and might be sanctified in his grace.  Jesus prays for the Church.  And in his prayer he identifies those characteristics which make us more than a voluntary association of individuals.  He speaks to that which makes us The Church - his bride. 

Jesus prays: protect them … that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Being “one” is very important for the body of Christ.  Being one, means that we do not disregard how our thoughts and actions affect others.  Being one means we share a common destiny and more importantly that we realize this and act accordingly.  Being one means seeing ourselves as part of an organism – which when separated dies; rather than as a part in a machine which can be removed and replaced by another – sometimes increasing the machine’s efficiency.  We are one; not individually one, but one with those who share this common identity. 

Christians are not independent agents, free to have our own personal relationship with God while ignoring those around us.  There may be theological differences; and preferences for one worship style as opposed to another may lead us to gather in differing buildings on Sunday mornings. But Christians, followers of Christ, are to be “one”, united in our common calling and united in our devotion to Christ. 

Jesus finishes his prayer, goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and is crucified.  But he rises from the grave and he ascends on high.  In these acts, he makes us one.  It is no longer a hope, expressed by a departing Rabbi.  It is an acknowledgement of what God has done.  We are one.  And even when we discuss issues which have the potential to divide, we must remain one.

Jesus continues to pray.  He says to the Father, While I was with them, I protected them in your name ... I guarded them, and not one of them was lost.  Jesus prays that the disciples may never become lost; that they will never venture too far outside the protective realm of the Church.  Jesus asks God to protect them and prevent them from being lured into false teaching or improper living. 

I can’t remember anyone, in my 29 years of ministry, who came to me to tell me that they had decided that they are going to fall away from the church.  Folks don’t report, or display an intentional turning away from the Church and the community of faith.  They may leave one congregation to join another (an act which challenges our “oneness,” but they don’t usually report deciding to stop coming.)  Rarely do persons “leave” - instead they simply become "lost."  A new schedule, a different job, additional respon­sibilities, moving into a new house or buying a place on the lake, enroll­ing the kids in soccer/baseball/gymnastics -  these are the reasons why folks find themselves separated from the church.  New habits form; old preferences change – and as a result folks simply come less, then care less and eventually the cease to think of this as a place where they belong.  They become "lost." 

Remember the image Jesus uses, as he looks over Jerusalem and speaks of his desire to gather its inhabitants.  He speaks of a mother hen who gathers her brood under her wings.  Jesus' prayer is that those whom God has called will forever nestle, as baby chicks, under the protective wing of a loving mother hen.  There, God will protect us and prevent us from ever becoming lost. 

A third petition which Jesus offers is for those who rest in God's care to be filled with joy.  Jesus prays:  "I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves."  You will notice that he does not pray for their happiness - he prays that joy may be made complete in them. 

In his last published book, Joseph Sittler writes of the difference between joy and happiness.  Sittler points out that happiness is dependent upon the ups and downs of our life.  Happiness is very fragile and easily taken from us.  We are happy when life treats us fair, when we accomplish that which we set out to do, when our friends do not disappoint us.  Should things not go well, should our plans be thwarted - we are no longer "happy".  A very fragile and delicate thing - this happiness. 

Joy is quite different.  Joy is the confidence that our lives have meaning and purpose, regardless of whether happiness is a part of our day.  Even when we are overcome by adversity, boxed in by demands, frustrat­ed with our own ignorance - even so, we can still be filled with Joy.  Joy has a permanence.  It is long lasting, it is not easily de­stroyed.

Jesus’ final petition is for sanctification.  Jesus prays that those who follow him might be sanctif(ied...) in the truth.  Falsehood abounds in our world.  It is attractive, enticing, and alluring.  More often than not, it is that which is false which catches our eye or causes us to pause.  Remaining sanctified in the truth is a diffi­cult thing.

"Truth," in the manner which Jesus speaks, differs from the way we might use the word.  Truth is not simply that which is true or that which can be proven.  Nor is it some fundamental ideal.  Truth, in the New Testament sense, is that which is in accordance with the hope and promise of God.  The Truth is God's hope for our lives, God's desire for us.  It is God's prayer offered within our own lives.  Jesus prays that the disciples might be sanctified in truth; that in truth they might be dedicated to the service of God and God's people.  To live in the truth is to live in the very heart of God.  

We will continue to pray for the newborns.  We will always offer our prayers for the sick and ill.  At no time will we cease to pray for those who are in distress or those who are in harm’s way.  We will pray for the lost and lonely.  We will pray for the broken hearted.  But as with Christ, so too must we pray for the Church, for the communion of Saints who bear his mission and proclaim God’s Word.  We pray for oneness; we pray that no one might become lost; we pray for joy; and we pray for sanctification in the Truth. 

This Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.  Thus it also becomes our prayer.

Amen.

Devotion - May 3 - Last offering for the Year

As he was facing his own imminent death, my beloved seminary professor (Joe Sittler) mused that while he didn't know exactly what to expect, God had been so good to him throughout his life that he trusted that whatever came after death would be wonderful also.  I have always drawn great comfort from his insight and the wisdom of his words.

 

We don't know what resurrected life will be like.  There are passing references in the Bible, some conflicting, some ambivalent.  All those comments by well wishers that heaven is more of the best of what we enjoy now arise out of piety, not solid Biblical exegesis.

We don't know.  But God has been so good in giving us all this that we look forward to whatevef it will be, with great anticipation.

The semester is coming to an end.  Cars are already packed for many and residence halls as well as apartments are emptying out.  For some, it is a summer break.  For others it is graduation.  

What will come next?

In all honesty, we don't know, exactly. 

But the time we have had together is been so good.  The time we have had together has been a gift from God.  It is God's Word and God's presence which has brought us together and held us together.  God has been gracious in providing all this for us.  And, so, we will embrace what comes next knowing that it too is a gift from God and trusting that it will be good.  Very good.

God go with you - for the summer, into your careers.  God be with you, along with the assurance of each other's prayers.  Thank you for sharing yourself this year and may the blessing you have been return as a blessing upon you.  We will regather in August and begin the celebration of the new thing which God will do among us then.

Devotion - Wednesday, May 2

The appointed Epistle for this day is I Thessalonians 2:1-12.  Paul writes to this young church of his love for them.  He refers to the time he spent among them.

He pulled his own weight while there - so as not to be burden upon others.  "For you remember our labor and toil, brethren;  we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God."  Paul didn't pop in, and just tell the stories of Jesus; he lived them and he lived life among those with whom he shared this amazing Good News.

He cared for them, "like a nurse taking care of her children."  He goes on to say, "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."

Remember our talk last Wednesday - about Christian Community?  This is another marker of what it means to be part of a community of Christ.  We share not only the information, but our very lives.  We integrate our future with the futures of those around us.  We share not only the gospel of God, but our very selves. 

Over lunch yesterday, a first year student expressed anxiety about an upcoming final in one of those 1-0-something overview/intro courses.  A graduating student acknowledged their plans to be in the LCM Lounge, studying after our student exam meal.  "Bring your notes and I will see if I can help."  This is a horribly busy week for all of us - but amid our stress and work, we continue to remember Christ's call to share "our own selves."

There are lots of people in the world trying to tell me what I need to know (according to them.)  Those who impact my life are those who not only speak to me, but labor along side me to build a life and craft a future - a future in which all of us are lifted up.

Having "become very dear to us," we love our brothers and sisters and we look out for them and lighten their load and share with them what we know and our very lives.

Devotion - Tuesday, May 1

I want to apologize again for leaving you all last night.  Exam Week Dinners are often interrupted by another group of which I am a part.  I left you last night in order to participate in an end-of-the-year gathering for our Campus Ministers' Association members.

This was a particularly important gathering.  We gathered to say good-bye to four colleagues.  Changes will happen over the summer in the staffing of the Episcopal Ministry, the Unitarian Fellowship, and both staff persons at the Roman Catholic Parish.  As you say your good-byes to classmates, realize I am saying good-bye to my friends and peers.  It was important for me to be with them last night.  Even if it meant being away from you.

 

There is another reason why it was important to be with them, and it directly involves you.  When you finally complete your exams and load your car and drive away from Clemson, you will find yourself in need of a community of faith.  I will make sure to share with you the ELCA congregations in the places you are moving to, but in some instances there won't be one close by or the one that is there isn't as good a fit for you as would be the Presbyterian congregation or the Baptist Fellowship.  You will need to find a place where you can hear God's Word and where God can speak to you.

I value my involvement with the other Clemson Campus Ministers because it is a constant reminder that God is active among a wide variety of liturgical styles and theological formulations.  And, as your campus pastor, I want to be able to speak of how God is moving among the United Church of Christ or within the Methodist churches.  Doing so prepares the way for you to live your life as a Christian, regardless of whether you remain attached to a Lutheran ministry.

Desiderius Erasmus was a 16th Century philosopher.  In his day, the divisions between denominations were only beginning to emerge.  The issue which challenged the Church were divisions along emerging lines of nationality.  He wrote, "Why should an Englishman as an Englishman bear ill will to a Frenchman and not rather good will as a man to a man and a Christian to a Christian?  How can anything as frivolous as a name outweigh the ties of nature and bonds of Christianity?  The Rhine separates the French from the German but it cannot divide the Christian from the Christian."

The Church of Jesus Christ has become way too fractured.  How can we be the "city set upon the hill" if we are citizens divided among ourselves?

I will be back at dinner tonight.  I hope to see you there.  And I pray that last night's activities will have made me better prepared to assist you in finding a spiritual home in the villages and towns to which you are now moving.  God is active in the world;  God is active in many places;  find the place where that activity pulls you in and equips you to assist in the proclamation of our oneness in Christ Jesus.