Easter 2 A Sermon: “Peace be with you”

John 20:19-31

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

²⁴But Thomas (who was called the Twin^c), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe^d that Jesus is the Messiah,^ethe Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

 Sermon    “Peace be with you.”

The automatic reply is and also with you.  We say it without much thought.  It is like greeting each other on the street… “Hi how are you.” “Good and you.” “Fine.”  It is a way of beginning a conversation…but it often lacks sincerity.  In fact quite often we are not concerned about the other’s welfare at all.  Similar to how we greet each other on the street during Jesus’ time, “Shalom…or Peace be with you”…was how people greeted each other…every time they met.

        Today the greeting Shalom is different for Jesus…it is as it is meant to be…a serious desire for true Peace for his disciples.  They have locked themselves into a room…hiding from the authorities… They are afraid…that their close friendship with Jesus… will mean they are the next ones… to be crucified just like him.  They had expected a very different out come… Even though Jesus had talked about his death…they were sure that once in Jerusalem…he would use his power to subdue the city.  Instead his powerful speeches and stories had only made the leaders of Jerusalem angry…angry enough to convict him and ultimately crucify him.  Some of the disciples if not all… may be asking themselves; “Why did we get involved with Jesus…when it would have been safer to continued fishing?”  To the disciples who are afraid for their personal security Jesus says; “Shalom. Peace be with you.”

        Not only are the disciples concerned about what the authorities may do…the are also remembering their actions of the past few days.  When Jesus was arrested they scattered and abandoned him to face trial alone.  Lurking out side of the court…Peter three times denied that he even knew Jesus.  Imagine the guilt they must feel standing in his presence.  Imagine the guilt and lack of peace in their hearts…knowing how they failed Jesus.  We can just hear them chastising themselves saying; “We should not have run away…or we should have trusted Jesus… or we should have died with him.” Or maybe they are worried that Jesus may punish them for their unfaithfulness.  To their surprise he greets them with the familiar greeting…but with a deep sincere meaning; “Peace be with you.”

        Jesus doesn’t say it just once and drop it… Rather just in case they missed the true meaning of his first greeting Jesus repeats it; “Shalom. Peace be with you.”  For his disciples his greeting intends that their lives will be filled with peace…free from fear…free from guilt…  It is Jesus’ desire that no matter what dangers they face that they are able to face them with peaceful hearts. 

        People in our world today are in similar circumstances to the situation of the disciples.  All through North Africaand Middle Eastern countries people have been living under authoritarian dictators.  For many years citizens have attempted to survive without making waves or bringing attention to themselves.  Similar to the disciples… in fear they have hidden behind closed doors… Similar to the disciples…they have abandoned fellow citizens who have been jailed…tortured… or killed.  Similar to Peter…in fear they have watched and have denied their associations with neighbor…they have denied their true feelings about the authorities.  They have been silent not saying the words that could land them in jail…where torture or even death is a reality.  

On the surface these countries have appeared to be moderately peaceful.  Because of harsh consequences crime statistics seem lower than usual.  They also seem peaceful because no one dares disagree or criticize the government.  However, within the hearts of the people there is no true peace. 

We don’t need to go to distant places to know that not all hearts are at peace.  Among us and between us very often peace is not obvious.  Sometimes we are far from being peaceful.  When we disagree…when we want our way… when we think we are right and others are wrong… we feel we must destroy the reputations or tear them down.  I think of the attack ads… which all parties participating in our federal election are using to discredit the other parties.  After so viciously attacking each other on the campaign trail… they are surprised when they cannot be civil and agree with each other to formulate policy and programs for all Canadian citizens.

But closer to home yet…very often within our own hearts we are struggling to find peace.  We refuse to find peace between ourselves and someone who has hurt us… When we are hurt we find it difficult to be the one to offer a word of forgiveness.  Or maybe more so we are struggling over having hurt someone else… Like the disciples… we worrying that the other person will never forgive us…  We lock up our hearts so we don’t have to forgive…or we lock them so we don’t have to swallow the disappointment when the other refuses to forgive.

Today Jesus expresses God’s peace for everyone from every circumstance who is not living in true peace.  God’s peace is for everyone who is being oppressed by those who ought to be carefully guarding their interests and their safety.  God’s peace is for everyone who has betrayed, abandoned, or denied a relationship.  God’s peace is for everyone who is weighed down by guilt…in whatever form it takes.  God’s peace is even for everyone such as Thomas who rejects and refuses the peace which is offered.  God’s peace is for everyone in whatever situation.

Today as much as he wants true peace…Jesus does not impose it.  However, Jesus makes the first move toward true peace…showing the disciples first his own truly peaceful heart.  Knowing the facts…he still wishes them God’s peace.  He breathes the breath of God’s Spirit into them to open their hearts to God’s peace.  Again Jesus continues making moves toward peace… For Jesus true peace begins with forgiveness.  He says; “If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven…and if you refuse to forgive they are not forgiven.”  True forgiveness begins the process toward true peace.  While refusing forgiveness does not lead to true peace.  Through his story we have seen Jesus living according to this statement… During his earthly ministry he has proclaimed the good news of God’s forgiveness.  The people… who in his society have committed unforgivable sins… are welcome and eat at the same table with Jesus.  Not only are they forgiven by Jesus…they also become his closest followers… They find peace in their hearts knowing that when every other Holy person has rejected them because of their sins…Jesus has forgiven them.

For Jesus forgiveness and true peace is not good news for just his disciples or just for us.  Rather it is for the whole world.  So he breathes God’s Holy Spirit on to each of us and he sends us out just as he has been sent by the Father.  He instructs us to do what he does…to be the ones who make the first move… toward true peace.  We are encouraged to do as Jesus does “Forgive the sins of any… so they will be forgiven.”

So let us do as Jesus does.  Let us desire true peace.  Let the breath of God fill us…and be sent out as Jesus is sent.  And let us proclaim the good news of forgiveness… and let God’s peace and forgiveness begin with us.  Amen

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Palm/Passion Sunday A Readings

Jesus enters Jerusalem according to Matthew 21:1-11

1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately. ” 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Passion according to Matthew 26:14-27:66

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

 17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

 20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

 VU 132      Bitter was the night                      Verses 3 & 4

 26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to theMount of Olives.

 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

VU 133      Go to Dark Gethsemane  Verse 1

 47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

 57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'” 62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”

 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

 VU 132 Bitter was the night   Verses 1 to 3

3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

 15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

 VU 133 Go to dark Gethsemane   verse 2

24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.'” 44 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

 VU 133 Go to Dark Gethsemane   vs 3

 45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.  Matthew 26:14-27:1-66 (NRSV)

 VU 132 Bitter was the night   Verses 6&7

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Lent 5 A Sermon

John 11:1-45

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ^2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. ^3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus,^a “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” ^4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ^5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, ^6 after having heard that Lazarus^b was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.                                                           ^7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” ^8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” ^9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. ^10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” ^11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” ^12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” ^13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. ^14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ^15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” ^16 Thomas, who was called the Twin,^c said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”                                                ^17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus^d had already been in the tomb four days. ^18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles^e away, ^19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ^20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ^21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ^22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” ^23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ^24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ^25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.^f Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ^26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ^27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,^g the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”                                     ^28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ^29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. ^30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ^31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ^32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” ^33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. ^34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” ^35 Jesus began to weep. ^36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” ^37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”                   ^38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ^39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” ^40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” ^41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. ^42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” ^43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ^44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”                                                                    ^45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Conversation

A few things have always bothered me about this story… I wonder if the same things have bothered anyone else.

Jesus delays

Lazarus dies even though Jesus says that his sickness won’t lead to his death

Sermon: “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died!”

Sylvia and I have 5 wonderful grandchildren.  Three of them are older and have full vocabularies and are able understand instructions very well.  As an observing grandparent…I watch how each child reacts to their parent’s commands… Of course when we visit their homes…the excitement of having us… causes changes in their usual routines… When their mothers tell them that it is bed time…they all know what the desired response ought to be.  All three children respond to this information quite differently… One will immediately begin negotiating for more time… Another will immediately become angry and makes a face… stamps a foot… and refuses to budge.  But a most interesting response comes from the third one… On hearing any instructions such as: “Its bed time… Or Time to eat.”  This one who is normally very talkative and responsive… suddenly becomes very quiet.  This one immediately begins concentrating very quietly but diligently on playing with toys… It is as if this one has become suddenly deaf and is unable to hear. 

Today Jesus reminds me of each grandchild… in one way or another.  On hearing about Lazarus’ illness Jesus reacts similarly to them.  I see him not wanting to do what he is expected…and giving a list of reasons…or renegotiating a different time.  I see Jesus stubbornly refusing to go to Bethany…only going when he is ready…and on his own terms… I see Jesus suddenly become very quiet almost like he is not hearing or not accepting what he has heard. 

At best Jesus’ reaction to the news of Lazarus’ illness is confusing… both to us and to his disciples… At first he makes light of it… saying that his illness won’t lead to his death.  But two days later he says that Lazarus is sleeping…However when the disciples suggest he will wake… Jesus bluntly says; “Lazarus is dead.”  During the time until he arrives at Bethany…Jesus seems unconcern and shows little or no emotion over the illness of Lazarus… However, once he is on the scene… and is drawn into the grief of Mary and Martha… Jesus becomes disturbed and is deeply moved.  He is moved to weeping for his friend.  And we wonder; “If he knew what he was going to do…why is he weeping?” 

We could go on wondering about many more questions that this story raises.  However, this is not the purpose of the story… Worrying about why Jesus did or didn’t do this or worrying why he said that… is not the purpose of this story.  When we worry and wonder…we become like the skeptical crowd which always seems to appear…the crowd which asks; “Could not he who opens the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”  Pushing the question farther one could ask; “Could Jesus not also keep any one of us from dying… or what about people who are good Christians…why do they die?”  Taken right to its very limit we wonder whether it is possible to avoid death all together.  And we asks; “What about Lazarus…did Jesus raise him…only to die again at a later date?”

The stark facts are that we cannot avoid death…we cannot avoid it…just because we are good Christian people.  We cannot avoid it because we are friends of Jesus… Death comes to everyone…the moment we are conceived we begin our journey toward it.  If we preoccupy ourselves with it… the journey can be a dark and gloomy…where we stumble around in the darkness…from one catastrophe to another…always afraid of a dark future.

But today Jesus offers a different alternative for us… a joyful journey to an ultimate destination… which full of light.  Jesus…who is God in the flesh…comes to live among us.  Jesus loves us before we know who he is.  He loves us with such a deep love that we will never understand…even to the point of weeping for us.  Today risking his own death…he comes to Bethany…to the home of Mary and Martha.  Knowing that the religious authorities… are watching his every move… hoping to pin something on him…Jesus still comes.  Knowing…that invoking God’s power… will likely lead to his death…Jesus still comes.  Jesus offers and risks his own life for Lazarus.  And we know the rest of the story… Ultimately Jesus the Son of God dies…of his own free will… But his death is for more than just the friends of his day… His death is for the world…for all people from all time… He dies even for each of us… giving us life eternal… into a future of joy and contentment. 

As Jesus tells Martha with the words; “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.” …we are also challenged to believe in God’s loving desire to give us life.  We are challenged to see our lives closely connected to our God…and where our future is bright and full of light. 

For much of history…many people have always assumed that Jesus was only talking about physical life and death…thinking Jesus was referring of our physical life and death.  According to them…we must suffer miserable existence on earth…but after death we will be rewarded with a place in heaven…where things will be better…where there will finally be joy and contentment.  Sometimes because we really believe this to be true…we refuse help…to those who need it.  People living comfortable lives have preached this salvation message to the poor and the suffering… telling that they will be going to a better place after they die. On occasion we may toss a little charity their way… hoping our generosity will be noticed by God.

Today for Jesus the salvation story is much greater… then what happens after we die.  Jesus assures us that salvation begins while we are alive…  It begins with love.  This is no ordinary love… It is God’s sacrificing love for the world.  It is God’s love for every part of God’s creation down to the smallest detail.  God shows us this love by sending Jesus the only Son of God into the world… With considerable risk to his own personal safety…Jesus goes to Bethany.  There he restores Lazarus’ life.  In the verses which follow today’s reading the sacrificing love of Jesus becomes even more evident.  Those who oppose Jesus gather to discuss ways to eliminate him.

The purpose of Jesus risking his own personal safety …was not nearly so much about what Jesus does for Lazarus.  Rather it is about the people who are gathered in that place.  Jesus does this amazing thing so that people may come to believe…  He desires them to believe in God’s great love…for the world.  And as the story goes… some certainly do believe.  Believing though is not for some future time after we die… it is immediate.  It is God’s desire that salvation be our experience each and every day.  Salvation is living well trusting and believing in God…. Salvation is also dying well…trusting and believing in God’s love for us.  

So let us trust and believe in God’s salvation for us and let it begin today…and let us put our future is in God’s hands…living and dying well…as God desires for us.   Thanks be to God.  Amen

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Lent 4 A Sermon: Now I See!

John 9:1-41:  Jesus heals the Blind Man 

Note: Because this is a very long reading I have not included it before the sermon.

Sermon: Now I See!

        “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?”

        The situation in which this blind man finds himself…is somewhat different than we expect for a person who is blind in our country.  While in the eyes of many they have a disability…most blind people in Canada are able to work and become productive contributors to our society.  We marvel at their competence…how they handle money…make crafts or are sometimes are great musicians…like Stevie Wonder.  And in our world if a blind person is unable to support them self…we have social programs that keep them from having to beg.    

        A second point of difference is that in his world God is responsible for everything that happens to people…both good things and bad… God blesses with good things…and God punishes with bad things… Since his blindness is a condition was laid on him by God…as God’s judgment… Everyone even the disciples assumed that the man was blind because of sin… either the sin of his parents or his own sin.  Therefore, he was receiving what he deserved from God.  This places the blind man in a very difficult position… To help him too much …even giving him money for his begging…would be going against the will of God.  The practice of shunning…the deficient…the crippled…the handicapped and the blind in his world is normal.  Is this another ancient world story… in which Jesus shows his compassion …for a poor beggar forgotten, ridiculed… and shunned by prominent members of his community.… We like the story about how Jesus cares…we like how in comparison to him…the Pharisees and temple priests appear mean and uncaring.  But it just seems to be too distant to be our story…but is it?

        A scattering of news stories from this past weeks have some real similarities to this story… This week the city of Saskatoon is becoming concern about its image for people who come shopping.  City Hall is examining ways to clean up its image…and is looking at the harsher penalties other cities like Winnipeg and Regina are imposing on panhandlers… they determined make it more difficult to beg on their city streets.  Fines will be levied and if they are not paid they will be sent to jail.

Earlier in the week, it was announce that one of the temporary homeless shelters in Regina was closing on March 31^st, because of lack of funding.  It sheltered 25-30 people for the four coldest months of the winter.  The users were mostly single moms who were no longer unable find affordable housing…as rents continue their dramatic rise… almost doubling in the last three years.

There are also two other shocking but similar stories about forgotten people.  The first is about the brutal death in a Winnipeg Nursing Home… in which one dementia patient killed another…  Last fall while he was waiting for a space in a facility…the perpetrator had violently injured his wife… Rather than putting him in jail… because of his health diagnoses authorities put him into the Alzheimer’s Care facility…where the tragic incident happened. 

Finally… instead of sending them for treatment people…people suffering from paranoid schizophrenia… are very often sent to prison… because most treatment facilities have been closed or have no spaces for new patients. 

People’s responses to these news items…have been varied… Sometimes there has been sympathy…but more often there is contempt for those who are begging on the streets…they are ridiculed…considered lazy and do not contribute to our society.  Everyone has a horror story about an encounter with a persistent panhandler… who just would not take “NO” for an answer.

Often the plight of the homeless is minimized…with suggestions that they should have done something about it years before…they should have bought when prices were low… they should have got an education …they should have married well…and so on.

Finally we want the mentally ill put away…anywhere… where we can’t see them…and where we don’t have to see or think about them.  Calling people lazy, or poor managers or physically removing people from our sight and our minds is called self imposed blindness.  We see only what we wish to see.

When talking about people in these situations we sound like the disciples…wondering who should be blamed.  The questions follow one after another.  Is it because their parents never taught them how to work?  Is it because they made bad choices when they were young?  We like the fault to belong to the people found in their situations. 

It is at this point that we might become almost like the Pharisees.  The blind man has been sitting beside the temple begging for many years…and neighbors who have passed by… recognize him… Those who sit along side and beg recognize him.  But the Pharisees…who enter the temple daily for prayer…don’t know him…and have not seen him.  They who consider themselves holy…have never given the blind man one penny.  They may complain about the riff-raff out on the street…they may even want them moved away from the temple…out of sight out of mind.  But they have never looked into the face of the blind man… wondering about his life…what it means to be born blind…where blindness is God’s harsh judgment… what its like being a hungry beggar…in a place where holy people refuse help …what it is like being labeled a sinner…and being driven out of the house of God.

But Jesus enters into this blind beggar’s world and looks directly into his eyes and loves him…Through this encounter the blind man sees.  He sees with a clarity that the physically sighted cannot see.  He sees that rather than being God’s negative judgment…his blindness reveals God’s true work.  God’s work sends Jesus into the world for judgment…But Jesus’ judgment is not a judgment which is meant to punish.  Instead Jesus’ judgment reveals a love God who only wants healing.  But more importantly…Jesus’ judgment is that people who do not see may see… What Jesus is asking is that we open our hearts that we are able to SEE the world through his eyes… Jesus’ judgment calls us to see…to look under the surface asking: “What is it like to beg…in a place where you are despised by hard working people?  What is it like being homeless…in a place where prosperity denies it should happen?  What is it like in prison…because there is no place available to treat your health condition?”  After opening our eyes…Jesus calls us to become part of the healing of our world.

Let us open our hearts that our eyes may also be opened.  Let us see what we wish not to see… And let us participate as we can in the work of our God.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

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