Being part of St. James has become more of a major commitment than it was.
It’s not just showing up on Sunday and getting your bread and wine, maybe some inspiring words, some uplifting music, some good fellowship and food, and perhaps some kind of ministry in which to participate. And then being nicely re-charged for another week out in the world…wherever, whatever we do.
Now being part of St. James is even more than ever like being part of a big family
that has a reunion every week—Not in someone’s home, with everything you need right at hand, like before—but in a rented hall. More and more have to pitch in to get us all set up to be together, to make Holy Space in a room that was intended for commercial, secular use. And, after we’ve gathered, many have to help to make sure things are all back in place and taken away until next time.
It’s like a big family too in that the members are all going many different directions. They are interested in different things, and passionate about all kinds of things. Some are growing, changing, taking off into deeper faith journeys and new, energetic missions and ministries. Others, having “been there and done that,” just need to rest and be nurtured themselves —for once.
And like in a family, when things get complicated…financially, insurance-wise, legally, and emotionally…the members have to step-up-to-the-plate and sometime deal with things they’re not trained to do. Sometimes they have to ask for expert help.
It’s also like being part of a big family that’s in the process—a long process—
of making some very big decisions. And, like a family, each person has their own ideas
about what needs to happen. Everyone knows what we decide really matters, and it will impact many generations to come. Being part of St. James today is harder than we thought. Certainly it’s harder than I thought it would be when I came as your rector in December 2007.
Now, we don’t know their reasons, but John’s Gospel today tells us,
“Many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.”
Following Jesus was harder than they’d thought. More of a commitment
than they’d bargained for. You can here Jesus’ hurt and insecurity and a plaintive note when he asks the 12 Disciples, “Do you also wish to go away?”
(Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, John, Judas, Thomas, James, John, Matthew, Bartholomew and Simon…are you in?)
I know we can be tempted right now to try to find an easier way to follow Jesus
than being members of St. James. My fervent hope is that we, like the 12, will hang in there, as we have done for this past year. I hope we, like the 12, will stay and follow Him through this challenging, amazing time.
How are we going to do this? As I told you before, there was no class in seminary called, “What to do if the wall falls-101”, but I think we can take a cue from Ephesians.
We can “put on the whole armor of God.” When we first hear this word, “armor,”
we might think of physical weapons and military garb. At a psychological level,
we might think of “steeling ourselves” for what’s ahead, and so we don’t let things into us very deeply. We hope to avoid getting hurt or being “eaten alive.” We imagine putting on a thick armor, a tough coat, over our hearts.
But in Ephesians, this “Whole Armor of God” seems to be a very different thing
from either the physical, military armor or the psychological steeling armor.
Let’s look at what makes up God’s armor, and let’s think about how
this can help us at St. James through this difficult time.
The center of God’s Armor is TRUTH. That’s “the belt.” For over a year now,
we’ve been in the process of collecting the “facts,” the “truth” about the condition
of our building, In addition, the leadership of this parish has been committed to telling you the Truth about what is going on.
At a different, relational level, it behooves us to speak the “truth” in community
about our thoughts and feelings. We need to be open to what each other is thinking and feeling. In our sharing and listening to each other’s TRUTH, I believe God will show us the way forward.
Next and close to the heart is the Breastplate of Righteousness. Righteousness is right relationship with God, each other, and ourselves. Certainly this is at the heart. It is
core to us as a Christian community. In our time on the road, we’re learning more and more,“The Church is the people, not the building.” So the relationships among the people need to be right…righteous. I believe right relationship is our Breastplate, and if
we work at keeping our relationships right, our hearts will be protected.
Then when all kinds of negative voices and pressures seem to come at us
like a barrage of arrows, we’ll have the Shield of Faith: Knowing that God is with us,
that we’re not alone, that love is stronger than death, and that Jesus came so that we can have abundant life. With FAITH we can ward off the negativity and the pressure,
and eventually come out unscathed.
On our heads, the Helmet of Salvation: The promises of Jesus that we share in his life & resurrection. This can give us tremendous COURAGE because Jesus has already done everything for us.
In our hands is the Sword of the Spirit. We don’t need to fight armed with anything but God’s Spirit and word.
And finally there are those SHOES. “Put on whatever will make you ready to
proclaim the gospel of peace.” This is what we’re ultimately about: Proclaiming the Gospel. It’s a Gospel not of military war or of closing our hearts to one another.
It’s a Gospel of reconciliation and peace. This is why we are here as God’s Church.
If we remember this at St. James, we’ll figure out what shoes to wear, and we will serve God’s Church well. Then when Jesus plaintively asks us, “Do you also wish to go away?” we’ll put on that Belt of Truth and say passionately, “No, Jesus, we’re in.”
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment