Easter 3C

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

As a church we have recently celebrated Holy Week and Easter Day - the suffering and death of Jesus - followed by the resurrection.  

As Easter continues we reflect on the words and actions of the risen Jesus in the gospels and the book of Acts. 

In John’s gospel Jesus appears to the disciples again - and he has a conversation with Peter - in which he instructs him to feed his lambs. 

In Acts - Jesus appears to Paul and to Ananias - the passage gives us a glimpse of Paul’s call as Jesus relates it to Ananias “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

*  *  *

Finally - we read the book of Revelation - a mysterious book that tries to put into words some mysteries that are beyond our grasp - some poetry of heaven…  (If you’re a reader of Revelation and it confuses you - remember that human words will never describe the beauty of a heavenly God - and we have to be content with mystery.)

But let me just offer you this glimpse from 5:13: 

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

Close your eyes and imagine that scene for a moment:  All of creation in harmony - birds, people, politicians, street sweepers, worms, fish, elephants singing praise to God with one harmonious and beautiful voice… - a picture of beautiful harmony.

Revelation paints a picture of the goal - the final reality… human words paint a frail picture of it - but they give you some idea…

(Pretending that the person next to you has never tasted chocolate - try to describe chocolate to them… - 30 seconds - and you’re not allowed to use the words chocolate or chocolaty - because they’ve never tasted it.) 

If you can’t find words to describe chocolate - think how John must have struggled to describe something as wonderful as heaven.

*  *  *

So what has this got to do with Peter and Paul’s calling? 

Jesus tells Peter to feed the lambs, and he tells Ananias about what Paul will do:  He will take his name / his message / what he stands for to the Gentiles and Kings and all the People of Israel (9:15).

Just before the wonderful picture that we read in Revelation the creatures in heaven sing:  “…you were slain and with your blood you purchased people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God…” (5:9-10)

People from everywhere are priests to serve God…

That’s us.  Not us as in the ordained people, or lay people that stand up here and preach from week to week - not some special class - but every one of us; priests - making God’s presence in the world; real.

*  *  *

So we turn to the call of Peter.  (John 21:1-19)

He and the other disciples have already seen the resurrected Jesus…

Jesus appeared to them in the upper room - when it was locked; he breathed his spirit on them and he said to them: “As the Father has sent me so I send you.” (20:21)

A week later - in spite of the fact that they have been sent - they’re up there again; and Jesus appears again.

The third time he finds them fishing.

I love disciples - they’re an example to the church, and an example we have followed ever since:  God says to us Go!

And we stay.

God says Go!  We say Amen Hallelujah, wonderful - beautiful - I can hear the angels singing in heaven.

And we stay.

Jesus lives with them, teaches them, dies in front of their eyes - rises again and says: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you…”

And they go fishing.

(After 2000 years if Jesus could work with them, by his grace, he can also work with us.)

*  *  *

Peter - like us - is a bit slow to get what Jesus is saying; or maybe he’s a bit scared to do what Jesus has called him to do.

So having reminded the disciples who he is - and he is quite graceful - they haven’t caught any fish - but he helps them to find some…

Jesus has a conversation with Peter:

Do you love me?
Yes.

Feed my sheep.

Do you love me?
Yes.

Shepherd my sheep.

Do you love me?
Yes.

Feed my sheep.

*  *  *

His conversation is a call to Peter and a call to all of us…  If Jesus said to any of us:  “Do you love me?”

And we said: “Yes, you know that I love you.”

I think we all know that his next words (to us as they were to Peter) would also be:  “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus’ call to us - as people who trust in the reality of the resurrection; Christian people, is to carry on doing what he began.  To work as priests and partners with God towards this amazing reality of which we read in the book of Revelation.  A world in such harmony that every creature in the universe bows down to worship the risen Jesus.

*  *  *

As we hear that challenge to us - “if you love me you will feed my sheep” - we feel a bit uncomfortable don’t we.  We would rather it was Peter’s job.

But its not - it is each of ours - we are a kingdom of priests.

And sheep feeding is not a matter of throwing them a few bunches of grass - like I do with my dogs in the morning - I fill their bowls and they eat.

Feeding sheep - means to graze them, to shepherd them - to go with them to the field where they eat - it means (among other things) to protect them from any harm that might come their way - to care for them if they get sick.

Jesus call is a tall order! 

It is a call to getting involved in the lives of those people whom Jesus might call “my sheep” and the Jesus I know has a very big flock - wider than we imagine. 

For Peter, this job of continuing Jesus’ ministry is actually going to be very difficult - the gospel account suggests that following Jesus might eventually result in Peter’s own execution by crucifixion.

*  *  *

The passage from Acts speaks about Paul (who’s also known as Saul)’s conversion - and his call - a call to work for the good of the very people he was at that moment out to kill.

Paul is a leading Pharisee - he is extremely faithful to God!  He is in fact so faithful to God that he is carrying out the letter of the law (Lev 24) that demands that blasphemers be put to death.  (7:58 - 8:3)

But Jesus in his mercy jumped in - he appears to him in a light from heaven on the road to Damascus and asks “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

Paul is blinded - he is sent to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias who in spite of his initial prejudice (Saul was famous for persecuting Christians) welcomes him as a brother and baptises him and sends him on his way to becoming a great evangelist to the Gentiles.

What I love about Paul’s call is the absolute about turn.  From being someone who deliberately persecutes Hebrew and Gentile Christians - he is called into a completely unfamiliar world; a world against which he is greatly prejudiced.

And he goes forward and does a wonderful job of shepherding God’s people a world completely different from what he is used to.

Because of his faithfulness - which is a result of Jesus faithfulness - we hear that singing which John writes about in Revelation - “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing.”

*  *  *

Paul is called, Peter is called - the world is slowly transformed - by God with the help of people.

How are we Christians called to live as a result of Easter faith - as a result of our real belief in the resurrection?

*  *  *

For me it was finding the courage to candidate and begin the journey towards becoming an ordained minister.

For Peter it was about realising that he was called to Shepherd Christ’s sheep.

For Paul it was about going to the gentiles to share the gospel with them.

Although God calls us in love - just about every calling will demand some sacrifice in achieving it - Jesus lets Ananias know that Paul will suffer in his calling.  Jesus tells Peter that he will also suffer a bit - but ultimately its about following God…

And the end - is that picture in Revelation of a world praising God in harmony.

*  *  *

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by helping to wash the dishes at home.

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by helping to mow your sick or elderly neighbour’s lawn (you might suffer a bit) but when they ask you why -  you can say: “Because I believe in the resurrection, and I hope for a world in which every creature worships God in harmony.”

Perhaps God is calling you to be a good shepherd by changing the way you treat your wife or your family.

Perhaps God is calling you - like he called Paul - to go out and show his love to people you previously didn’t like at all.  Calling you to break down your long held beliefs and help him to extend his love beyond the boundaries which you have set for him.

I don’t know where God is calling you… but I think you might have some idea.

And I pray that by the Holy Spirit we might hear that call whispered to us - and we will not be afraid to act - because we hope for a world in which every creature worships God in harmony.

When we listen - and we obey - then I truly believe we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in this Place.

Amen.

Easter 2C - Faith isn't suspending disbelief

Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31

 

In medieval times (the time of people like Copernicus and Galileo) if you asked someone why they believed what they believed about anything their typical answer would quite simply be: “The authorities.”

Meaning the Bible, the Pope, the Priest.  If you asked them the next question: “How do you know that they are the authorities?”

The answer would be: “Never ask that question.”

*  *  *

Somewhere between the 15^th and 18^th Centuries a great shift happened in the way people thought about the world.  Scientists - like Copernicus dared to confront the “authorities” of their day with questions about whether the earth moved around the sun - or the sun around the earth.

In an age when the world was thought to be flat (and at the centre of the universe) Copernicus said it revolved around the sun - and Galileo followed suit.

The Church of the day was unhappy with this idea; scripture - in their eyes seemed to dictate that the sun moved round the earth - as Psalm 93:1 (and other verses seemed to suggest) “The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.” And other poetic passages suggest.

People like Augustine and Copernicus challenged “The authorities.”  And soon the way people thought changed extensively.

*  *  *

Today we live in a very different world.  We are taught to question everything - and believe nothing without first testing and trying it - and forming our own personal opinion.

*  *  *

John’s gospel (in which we read our passage this morning) is written as an encouragement to the community of early Christians to whom he writes, an encouragement to them to question - and ultimately come to faith.

In verse 31 of Chapter 20 as we read today he states the purpose of this whole book: ‘these have been written down that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through faith in him you may have life.’

John’s hope is that readers of his gospel will be convinced that Jesus is the Messiah - the Son of God.  The revelation to the world of who God is.

And that in believing they will have life in abundance. As John describes it in John 10:10.

When John calls us to have faith - the faith that he calls us to is that of believing that Jesus is the Messiah - the Son of God.

The difficult thing that John is calling us to do - The crux (if you like) especially in this age - is the question of faith.

*  *  *

Now ‘faith’ as a word has a mixed reputation…  It is used in ways that confuse us:  (And I’ll have to apologise in advance for my own cynicism).

When we think of a faith healer we often think of someone who fakes miraculous healings and takes people’s money.  (And it does happen.)

Sometimes when we think of having a lot of faith - we mean that someone is completely out of touch with what we know as reality.

Sometimes we think of faith - as a kind of mind power - Urigela bending spoons.  Concentrating so hard that we believe something and it happens.

Some of us have painful associations - thinking people we know haven’t been healed or cured because we think that they - or we - didn’t have enough faith.

Sometimes we think that having faith means we have to put our brains in the baskets along with our collection.

*  *  *

In John’s gospel faith is not about that sort of thing; its not about convincing yourself to believe - against the odds. 

It is about trust.

Simply trusting that Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of God.  (God in the Flesh)  And accepting the implications of that wonderful claim.

*  *  *

In the 21^st Century we don’t just believe stuff… we Google it to see if it’s true (that’s for those of you who have the internet).

We research things beginning to end.  We have learnt (wisely) not to trust what medieval people called the authorities - we flick between E News and SABC 3 to see how differently the news is presented by government and the privatized media.

We search through our Bibles when the preacher says something that sounds a bit strange…

Nothing gets passed us.

*  *  *

Thomas’s encounter with Jesus in the upper room is a message to us from John that the God we serve - revealed to us in Jesus is OK with a bit of doubt…

In him we live and move and have our being - his existence is not dependant on our faith - ours is rather dependent on his. 

(It reminds me of a story of a Russian priest who confessed to his wise bishop:  “I’m not sure if I believe in God anymore” - and his Bishop replied “Don’t worry - God still believes in you.”)

*  *  *

The encounter with Thomas in the upper room reminds us that faith does not mean convincing yourself to believe something even if you don’t think it’s true.

Faith means that you trust in God - in a reasonable way - and that trust leads to a response.

*  *  *

In John’s gospel Jesus disciples are locked up in a room because they are afraid of the people who disagree about Jesus’ being the Messiah.  (They arrested, beat and murdered Jesus - what will they do to his followers?)

In a locked room - paralysed by fear - John tells us that the risen Jesus appears to them - having died three days earlier - and shows them his hands and his side…  He says to them: “Peace be with you, As the Father has sent me, so I send you” - he breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit.”

He then gives them the authority to do what got him into so much trouble - forgive sins… and to go about proclaiming this forgiveness (in the reading from Acts we see them getting in trouble because of their faith).

*  *  *

As soon as the disciples see the risen Jesus (and as a consequence have faith) he sends them out into the world to do his work.

*  *  *

Thomas doesn’t accept the disciple’s reports - he demands proof.

In Thomas’ doubt, Jesus has mercy and appears to him - allows Thomas to touch him - And Thomas’ response is in his simple words:  “My Lord - and my God!”

Simple words, but words that are so incredibly heavy with meaning.

My Lord (A title of authority) - means that Thomas makes himself obedient to Jesus - willing to do what Jesus has taught him to do.

My God - means he recognises that Jesus really is the revelation of God in the world.

*  *  *

Jesus comments that those who trust him - without needing proof will be happier than those who need proof. 

But he does accept and reach out to Thomas in spite of his lack of faith.

*  *  *

Too many of us have come to believe that an encounter with the living God is somehow conditional - coming to us if we think or do the right things… (If we concentrate hard and suspend all our doubts like Urigella - God will answer our prayers.)

Jesus comes to Thomas in spite of his doubts.  And I know that Jesus will also come to us in spite of our doubts.

*  *  *

I invite you to grow your trust in Jesus - by bringing your doubts. 

I also invite you - as you trust in Jesus to go beyond intellectual into the practical - to learn to live as a faithful disciple of Jesus.

When our faith is authentic - and not pretend - when it leads us to a response - then I believe we will be bringers of the Kingdom of God.

Easter - Year C - Mary makes herself a disciple...

 

Early in the morning - cold - dark quiet… a few sounds from households as people begin to stir.

*  *  *

Two days ago Jesus was crucified.

Mary Magdalene - Jesus’ friend - a female disciple, saw it all happen; and she had remained, to the end.

She came face to face with the ugliest side of humanity; saw it with her own eyes.  The brutal murder of someone that she loved.

And there was nothing she could do to stop it... to cry out to the people to stop what they were doing would have achieved nothing.

Crying out against a frenzied crowd would probably result in her own death.

She could only watch - helpless - from a distance.

*  *  *

I imagine that she - and the other disciples - were absolutely destroyed by the events of the week.

If they had slept at all they would have woken up in a cold sweat - nightmares of the events playing back in their minds.

*  *  *

Mary and the disciples had been on a rollercoaster journey.  Jesus - a miracle worker, a teacher, someone who had lived great hope and filled his disciples with similar hope was dead.

*  *  *

What hope he had spoken of seemed in vain…

His ideas, about turning the other cheek, blessing the poor, accepting the rejected… all seemed like pie in the sky.

This dreamlike journey which Jesus had taken them on had come to an abrupt end.  It seemed as if there was no hope left.

*  *  *

A preacher (Sarah Dylan Beuer) spoke of a member of her congregation who had a smirk on his face during her sermons.  He grinned at her when he shook her hand at the end of each service.

One day she asked him why he always grinned - his reply was that she always spoke about heaven - not this earth.  There’s no way you could end poverty - stop war - find a cure for AIDS - stop political corruption in this one…

He found her sermons amusing - hopeful - yet unrealistic.

*  *  *

And I guess that would be a description of Christianity if there were no Easter.

Amusing - hopeful - yet unrealistic...

For Mary on that frightening Easter morning - Jesus teaching must have seemed hopeless and unrealistic…

Jesus was not an easy Rabbi to follow; he had called his disciples to give a lot up in order to follow him… their sources of income, the homes that they knew, their status in the community…

Their religious cleanness - he put them in contact with all sorts of people they shouldn’t have touched or spoken to - he took them to parts of the country no self respecting Israelite would go.

The stigma of following Jesus is so great that even Mary Magdalene (although we don’t know it for sure) has often been branded as a prostitute.

And the disciples main source of hope, the man who spoke with authority - who challenged the status quo, who opened up their eyes to a totally different idea of what God was like - and inspired them to be more than they were - the one who inspired them to believe that the world could be a better place for everyone - was gone.

*  *  *

Without hope Mary goes to the tomb.

Jesus is gone.  The stone is rolled away.

She calls the disciples - they too see the body is gone.

Mary stays at the tomb - weeping - this is too much - it was enough to torment him, punish him, kill him - but to desecrate his grave too?

*  *  *

On that dark morning, without hope, Mary Magdalene - through her tears - was the first person to see what God was doing in the universe that morning.

She saw someone she thought was the gardener - but when he spoke to her - called her by name - she knew...

It was Jesus.

*  *  *

The hope he had spoken of - the ideas that he had proclaimed weren’t just hopeful, amusing, yet unrealistic…

They were real.

She turned to him and said “Rabboni!”

Which the gospel tells us - is the Hebrew word for teacher.

Rabboni - the title a disciple uses for the one they are discipled to.

Rabboni - which means that she (as his student) will submit to his authority - obey his teaching - and do as he does.

Mary’s word of hope in a broken world.

*  *  *

Jesus instructs Mary to go to the disciples and tell them what he has said - he is returning to the Father - “my Father and their Father, my God and their God.”

Mary becomes the first preacher of the resurrection.

The rest - as they say is history.

*  *  *

We are people of little faith - we wonder if Jesus rose, if this all means anything to us… philosophers and theologians argue - did Jesus rise again?

Doing some research into the matter - the strongest argument that I have come across is this:  The disciples, at great risk to themselves carried on preaching Jesus message - some of them dying because of their faith in him… and the record of history is quite clear about what they suffered.

*  *  *

I ask you - this Easter morning - in faith - in response to the resurrection of Jesus - to make yourself a disciple, as Mary did… to call Jesus Rabboni - my teacher and my master.

*  *  *

I invite you to join this bunch of disciples here as we figure out together what it means to follow Jesus in Paarl / Franschhoek today.

*  *  *

Someone has said: “We are called to be Easter Christians in a Good Friday world.”

I believe that when we commit to being Jesus’ disciples - to live as he has taught as to live, we will begin to see the Kingdom of God in this place.

Amen.