Sermon: Fifth Sunday of Easter
I am a fan of Star Trek; both TV and the movies. I was very happy that last year a new Star Trek Movie came out; saw it the very first weekend and I'm sure I will see it again and again on DVD. One thing that has always intrigued me on Star Trek is the "beam me up, Scotty" thing. Wouldn't that be wonderful to be able to get transported wherever you needed to go in the blink of an eye? (It sure would have made these last 3 years in seminary much easier—I could have just called my husband and said, "Beam me back to Cincinnati, Honey", and there I would be!) A close corollary to this is their ability to time travel, something that played a prominent role in this most recent movie. It would be a wonderful way to learn about history first-hand: as long as you didn't alter the space/time continuum and thereby change the very history you are trying to learn! Star Trek has always gotten my imagination going—I suppose I could say, "Boldly going …where no one has gone before."
In our Gospel reading today we are doing a bit of time traveling with Jesus and the disciples. Though we are celebrating the resurrection, our reading takes us back to the events of the last supper and Jesus' final discourse to the disciples in John's Gospel. Jesus' words here occur at the very height of the drama of the evening. In the middle of the meal, Jesus has just washed the disciples' feet. And the "disciples" in John's Gospel really mean all of us who follow Jesus, the whole community, not just the "Twelve" or the leaders of the community: Jesus is talking to us seated right here at St. Barnabas. Jesus has just demonstrated by his example that true discipleship, truly being a follower of Jesus, means hospitality and service, which is what foot washing meant in Jesus' day. At the end of this very caring and intimate scene, Jesus begins talking about one of his disciple's betrayal. And as our Gospel begins today with the words, "When he had gone out …" The "he" that just stormed out of the room is Judas! So the scene we walk in on is the moment of high drama when the music comes up, loud cymbal crashes are heard and everyone is looking at Jesus to see what he will say next. Something like the high tension of battle in a Star Trek movie! Will Jesus say, "Beam me up Father!"
And so Jesus begins telling his followers of his impending departure; and that they cannot come where he is going. He begins his last words to his disciples, to us; telling us what we need to know to follow him and walk in his ways. But there is more than that; it is his description of what we need to know to carry on his work and how to carry on a relationship with God the Father; a relationship like the one that he has. We are now to be included in that relationship: but without Jesus we won't know how.
What does he tell us to do? He tells us to "love one another." As a matter of fact, he tells us 3 times: "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." Do you think maybe Jesus thought we would have trouble getting it, so he had to say it 3 times? I think so! And yet 2000 years later it almost sounds trite. But it is the #1 message in all of John's Gospel—the whole Gospel reduced to one command! Love one another!
Jesus is inviting the disciples—us; you and me—into a relationship with him and with God the Father. Jesus is giving us an imperative, in the face of his own impending death, which he knew full well, and in the aftermath of Judas leaving to betray him. He tells us that what is of utmost importance, the way that we will know if we are truly doing what he asks of us, is that we have love for one another: Love one another. He calls this his new commandment and we can also say his only commandment—that we should love one another. And he wants it to be in both word and deed.
Now there are a thousand things that Jesus could have told us was the most important thing for us to do. He could have told us to "resist sin" or he could have said "pray daily" but he didn't. He told us to love one another. Now this is a simple and a complicated thing. Simple, because every moment of every day we can usually tell what the loving thing is to do in most situations; at least after a little reflection. It's complicated, because doing it is another matter all together. Very often we know the loving thing to do, but we are too tired, too busy, too self absorbed or just plain too lazy to do it. It can sometimes be much easier to love your enemies, who may be a world away, than to love the person in the same pew, or in the next cubicle or even in our own household! But Jesus is very clear—he says it three times for God's sake—that this is the measure of discipleship—that we love one another. So much so that other people will recognize us as Jesus' followers—right here, right now.
This is something we can do. How do I know that? I know it because Jesus tells us so. We can do this, "with God's help" as we say in the Baptismal promises. Jesus in his resurrected life is still with us, the Spirit is still with us, no Star Trek time travel is needed here. They unite us to God who makes it possible for us to do, "infinitely more than we can ask or imagine." The Spirit of Jesus is already with us and will always be with us—we are assured of this in our Baptism, we are "sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own for ever" –sealed with the Spirit who will help us to accomplish this life of love, in word and deed. The Spirit of God urges us on to love in both word and deed.
Secondly, I know we can do this because we are already doing it; we already love one another. For some of us it is what keeps us coming back week after week. We see that love in action right here at St. Barnabas. And this week, when you go about your day, I want to ask you to notice those acts of love—oh, you don't have to make a big deal about it, but just look around for love in action. Everything from the simple act of holding the door for someone counts, all the way to caring for someone in need, the sick or the broken hearted. A kind word, an unexpected surprise—see how many acts of love are already occurring in your world, your family and here at St. Barnabas.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Let us right here at St. Barnabas be disciples more and more each day. Let no one come into our doors unnoticed and unwelcomed. Let it be so obvious that they can say of us the words of our reading from the Book of Revelation, "See, the home of God is among mortals."
But not just within these doors. Jesus meant us to carry this message of love in word and works to the world. Let us be known as those who bring this message to a world in need of so much—physically, and spiritually—a world that still begs for Jesus' presence—and we are the ones he has sent to accomplish the work he was able to do when he walked among us. We are called to continue his work of love: in building Habitat Homes, at Findlay Street, in Northside, in donating our time, talent and treasure. Jesus has shown us that in giving what we have and who we are—we find the true meaning of life—unity with God.
And so, as we continue on our voyage on the Star Ship Barnabas (?), caught in our own time and space, let us "boldly go where no one has gone before." Well, maybe we need to revise that—"let us boldly go where Jesus has gone before." Let us live the love of God daily, at our work, in our homes and also here in church—as they say on Star Trek, Jesus says to us—"Make it so!"
