Do you believe in the Church? (Part 2) - Rev Allister Lane
READINGS: JOHN 13:34-35 AND EPHESIANS 1:3-14
Sermon on 11 July 2021
We are celebrating Matariki in New Zealand at the moment. Like me, you’ve probably noticed this celebration is gaining momentum. My family and I went and watched the fireworks last night.
It’s interesting to consider what connections there are with our own Christian tradition.[1]
Matariki is a time for remembering those with whom we are connected, near and far; living and the dead. And this is an experience that is part of the Christian tradition. We recognise the spiritual connection we have with all of the people in God’s Church.
Last week, as we started this series on ‘The Church’, we were reminded about the special bond we feel with other believers – even when they may be very different from us.
We also have a special (and mysterious) connection with those believers who have died. Our Christian tradition calls this the ‘Communion of Saints’, and it is the spiritual union we have with all believers – living and dead – in recognition that the life we have (through the resurrection of Jesus) is more real than our physical death.
But, as we did last week, I want us to think more about our lives right now. What does it mean to live as the Church? What is this community of believers about? What kind of experience are we invited to be part of?
I deliberately kept today’s Gospel reading short, to allow us to clearly hear the specific words Jesus has for how we are to live as a community.
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
This has to be one of the most recognisable parts of Jesus’ teaching, doesn’t it? But is it really a new commandment?
Firstly, Jesus has already taught a lot about loving others.[2]
Secondly, the teaching of the Hebrew scriptures (the Bible Jesus knew) is clear about the importance of love.[3]
So when Jesus says “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” This teaching is not all that new.
But there IS a new part in what Jesus is teaching; a RADICAL new aspect.
It’s what Jesus says next:
Just as I have loved you…
How does Jesus love…? Well, he’s just given them a radical demonstration! His commandment to love as he does, comes after Jesus washed the disciple’s’ feet.
How does Jesus love…?
…selflessly
…fully
…unashamedly
…in humility
…as one who serves others.
This love Jesus shares makes a community; where we get to participate in this love.[4]
I was thinking about an image for this. And what came to mind was a ship.
From early on in the Christian tradition, the Church has been described as a ship. A ship of believers, where people find belonging and love.
The Love Boat (do you remember the corny 80’s sitcom?)
Love, exciting and new/
Come aboard, we're expecting you….
But wait… maybe you’re thinking: that’s a bit too cute… a bit ‘cosy’. Or, maybe you’re thinking: wow, that’s a really high standard Jesus sets!
Loving one another is hard to live out. We know life can be stormy! A
s we said last week – we are very different from one another. Is it realistic to expect that to follow Jesus, we have to love one another? In her book Inspired, Rachel Held Evans says this:
No one lives in general – not even Christ or his church. The Christian life isn’t about intellectual assent to a set of propositions, but about following Jesus in the context of actual marriages, actual communities, actual churches, actual political differences, actual budget meetings, actual cultural changes, actual racial tensions, actual theological disagreements.
Like it or not, you can’t be a Christian on your own.
Following Jesus is a group activity, and from the beginning, it’s been a messy one; it’s been an incarnated one. The reason the Bible includes so many seemingly irrelevant details about … women covering their heads and Cretans being liars and Jews and Gentiles sharing meals together is because, believe it or not, God cares about that stuff – because God cares about us.[5]
When we know how much God cares about us, this helps us accept one another.
What kind of love is greater than our differences? God loves us so much He was willing to die for us. When Jesus says “love one another just as I have loved you” – he’s not setting up an unattainable goal, but inviting us to really know the kind love he has brought into our lives.
We are able to experience this kind of love for ourselves (– come aboard!) The Apostle Paul says, in today’s reading from Ephesians, that we are adopted as God’s children through Jesus Christ (v5) and have been marked with the [common] seal of the Holy Spirit (v13)
We are family who are able to experience a spiritual communion with God and one another. We care about each others’ needs.
We weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. (Romans 12:15)
Let me conclude with something practical…(for those who like something to hold onto) When we eat together we are doing something profound to enact the love of God together.
We do this well at St John’s. We share meals together (Congregational lunches, Souper Sundays…) And, of course, the meal that is at the centre of the Church community is Holy Communion.
Have a think: who have you shared a meal with at Church who you might not have, apart from being the Church together…? Someone who is different from you; different age, ethnicity, how much money they have, they speak a different language…
What a blessing sharing meals is. It can teach us so much. Maybe you could invite someone to share a meal with you in your home…? As a practical way of being the Church.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Amen.
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[1] For example, I shared in this week’s email that Matariki is mentioned in the Bible. Did you know that? The special cluster of stars that appear in our skies at this time of Matariki is also called Pleiades, and in the Old Testament book of Amos, it is written: “The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, …the Lord is his name.” (Amos 5:8)
[2] And not just loving your friends: “love your enemies” Jesus says, “and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)
[3] In Deuteronomy there are famous words – called the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) And in Leviticus “you shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18b)
[4] Although we are asked to participate, Jesus is the one who creates it. We recognise this in our St John’s Mission Statement: “God gathers us to worship and grow our faith so we can live and share Christ’s hope for our world.” We don’t create this community – God gathers us.
[5] Rachel Held Evans Inspired, p206.