Advocate - John 14 - Easter 6A

Advocate

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon John 14:15-21, Psalm 66, 1 Peter 3:13-22

May the words of my mouth and meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight... Amen.

Continuing in Eastertide and in the Final Discourse of John, Jesus tells us how to be  and that we will not be alone on our journey. 

Jesus tells us to keep his commandments and chief among them is “Love.”

To love God and to love each other; to embody that love. Out of love, we get justice. We get grace. We get presence. We get an Advocate; all of this for you and for me.

Pentecost is in a couple weeks where we see the Advocate not just be with the disciples, but they will be filled with the “Spirit of truth”, abundantly and overflowing. So too, are we!

If we are love and filled with the Spirit, then we might, as we read in Peter, be “eager to do what is good,” and to not be intimidated by “doing what is right.” 

Yet, we have to be mindful of "clobber" passages like these in 1 Peter 3:13-22 that have long been used to justify imperial domination and male-dominated households. Or worse, some will use it to justify people to be made subservient or to stay in bad relationships for the wrong reasons. Passages like these have erroneously been used to oppress, to hate, to exclude or simply be privileged jerks. 

We no longer live like Romans or Plato because I hope we have grown wiser over the centuries.

Yes, we know people can be jerks and they will use texts like these to justify bad actions while characterizing such as “godly” (Even though such is far from good.) They will use it to determine who has access to “good.”

Access to good = privilege. 

I, as a queer/bi person, have been at the receiving end of such poor behavior, and that was part of reasons why I stepped away from the church for a time.

People have the right to think and believe what they will, but people cannot claim to do good, to be good, when it is at the expense of (or hurting) our neighbors and the marginalized. 

People do not get to dictate what is Christian from only a privileged, outdated, or enforced perspective, especially when that does not align with what Jesus teaches.

What is good? What is “doing what is right”? 

That might be considered contextual from those in power or those who abuse power, but we know where we have a true definition. We don’t need privilege or status to access this.

That can be found in the teachings of Jesus here: to love. That is everything and is the simple honest truth. 

Love.

Jesus taught to love our neighbors and our enemies - no provisos or exceptions for what they believe, who they love, what part of the world they live or if they wrong us.

Simple but not easy.

Jesus didn’t walk around shouting hysterics at people or demeaning people. Jesus didn’t advocate women to lose rights. Jesus did not beat people or reject them, even when they betrayed him.

Jesus did call out and criticize abuse of power and oppressive social systems. 

Jesus teaches us to be peacemakers, to be pure in heart, to comfort, and to give up material riches - to let go of ego and status. Jesus teaches us to be the salt of the Earth.

Jesus did hang out with prostitutes and women of all stripes. (It should also be noted the first to witness the resurrection are women. ) 

Jesus healed the hurting and walked with the marginalized. Jesus ate supper with sinners.

Why did do these? The answer is “love” because that is what God wants most. That “salt of the earth” is founded in love.

Power, abuse, hostility, hate and oppression are part of the broken world and a result of material evils. They are fundamentally opposite of what Jesus teaches.

Therefore, anyone who spouts off that they deserve dignified treatment on account of religion or social status just because of some distorted position of privilege, they miss the real point. They are missing the truth because they dismiss the fundamental principle that Jesus teaches. 

Love because “the first will be last and the last will be first.” Where do you land?

Everyone has access to love, access to Jesus’s love. Everyone can embody that love, and when we do that, we can truly call ourselves as disciples of Christ. 

Therefore as I mentioned before, I am is reflexive and helps us to witness the spirit of God working in us. That spirit is teaching us love and how to embody that love.

Let us, together, be great examples of that Love and be advocates for others to find love in them as well. 

Amen

Awakening - John 14 - Easter 5A

Awakening 

Tony E Hansen

Reflection based upon John 14: 1-14, Acts 7:55-60

May the words my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight …

We start off May with baskets of goodies and chilly mornings that delay parts of the garden. That along with a wedding between couple friends. A little respite from life’s dealings.

I personally have been dealing with bits of stress. Not like Saint Stephen’s experience - but stress and yes I still pray.

When you have stuff just working and then the premises underneath change, this causes a fair amount rework and feels like a house of cards.

The result is confusion and tendency towards apathy - throwing up hands.  There is a feeling of “not important” because my work depends upon those ahead of me. There are important details in play that are being decided and handed out without collaboration or consultation. 

Not that everything should be a meeting. I rather enjoy peace of just working and figuring out things. Yet, when you are constantly churning to correct for changes, (latest card to collapse…) it's time to pause until there is a proper way. 

The situation impacts more than just progress on potential outcomes. It creeps into the rest of life. 

Plenty of questions. Why do I feel like the-last-to-know or even an after-thought rather than something closer to the decision? Am I worthy? Am in the right place? What am I doing? Why do I feel so alone? 

Maybe you’ve been in this position… maybe the current world feels chaotic like that?

We partially think what that path is and what kind of dreams people have shared. So we work to build the components of that path and dream. I want to hold onto that dream - walk a good path (not just for me but for those around me and especially my kids.)

Thankfully, we read the Gospel of John - some respite from all of life’s dealings.

This Gospel has some beautiful mysticism and the teachings of the final discourse showcase that. There are 7 of the “I-am” statements, and this one “I am the way the truth and the life…” invites us to something profound and uniquely intimate.

Jesus, in saying “I-am” invokes Exodus of YHWH to Moses question of who are you, that response something like “I am who I am” - simply “I am.”

For most of my life, especially as a youth, I would look up in the sky somewhere abstract and talk to God as someone off and aloof even. That God was somewhere but I not knowing exactly where - that Heaven was some place above us.

Now that we see images from the reverse thanks to flights like Artemis and Apollo, where is Heaven exactly? Where is God?

The universe shows us spectacular display of constellations, clouds, galaxies, comets as many cosmic array of wonder.

Then, I am just this speck on a planet in a wide universe in a wide expanse of time. Why am I here - at this moment - in this place?

That is a massive consideration and also quite humbling. For some, it is draws to despair and hopeless because the enormity of it all and my tiny part starts to feel less than consequential.

That is one of the reasons Jesus says “I am…” bread, the light, the door (gate), the good shepherd, the resurrection, the way, and the vine. “I am” the food, the opening and protection, the guide and protector, the new life and new beginning, the path and the journey and the connection to all. 

The way and the path is important here because the destination is not the point, but rather what we do and who we are - rather who I am. 

A foundation of what Jesus says is in these proclamations as paths for us.  “I am the way” then is invitation to a journey and purpose. 

Why and why do I care about that?

For all that expanse around us, there is something fundamental here. For all of the places we look for God and all of the ways we may communicate with the Divine, Jesus reminds us that Divine, the Spirit, is much much closer.

Jesus (and John the Baptist) call out “the kingdom is near,” that God is near. The Spirit is near. What does that mean?

Jesus reminds us - YHWH as “I am.” Jesus invites us to discover the living Spirit living right inside - each and everyone of us. (John 14:11). 

What is the first thing Jesus does when appearing to the disciples, "Peace be with you." 

Other religions of the world share some notion of this. Understanding this is waking up: An awakening. 

That changes the way we think about things; the way we interact with others and the world large. Because, when you consider the Spirit much closer to you and within… Suddenly, God is no longer abstract and aloof but tangible, right here and within. I have access.

The words “I am” become an amazing consideration and not just identity - and maybe a bit scary. What am I supposed to do with Spirit inside?

When you really consider this, everything you do and think suddenly has identity and purpose beyond a singular ‘me’. I am part of (and important to) a wider existence. I don’t think in terms of selfish or even resenting. No matter what happens to me or around me, I can have peace. I can be peace. 

That does not exclude people because of their proximity of birth and life circumstances are no where near John's Gospel. The Divine invites us to connect with strangers because they are part of God's love just the same.  

The world and the universe are not just large constructs but immaculate beings and marvelous progress growing together. “I am” invites us to see and listen to the Spirit living within - feeding, protecting, enlightening, calling to us, giving direction and life, and yes connecting us to everyone and the whole cosmos.

(Similar to how Paul describes the community as a body with many parts. 1 Corinthians 12) 

When I think about it like this, John’s Gospel opens up completely. Wars and violence are totally unnecessary because one does not fight with another child of the Divine. One does not hurt parts of the body. 

I am not saying we are each walking Divine, but we are parts and connected to that Divine. 

We may not agree on everything or see things the same way. We may not have the same skillsets. 

I may not be able to do all the things that God can. I can however live God’s peace and love in my being. I can talk to God anytime I want. Then, Church is there to help us understand how to connect well with the Spirit.

When we witness the Spirit near us and within, we understand the Gospel as a way of being - part of a wonderful journey with purpose. We don’t have to worry because we have identity, we have connection and thus, purpose - a God-given purpose.

World stress goes away. 

We can breathe. 

I breathe. 

I have peace. 

I am peace.

Peace.

Thanks Be to God.

Amen

Dinner with Jesus - Luke 24 - Easter 3A

Dinner with Jesus 

Tony E Hansen 

Sermon based upon Luke 24:13-35. Psalm 116, Acts: 2:14,36-41

Opening prayer:

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable to you O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen !

There are many shows we see where a "boss" will go into their place of business - incognito mode. The attempt then is, theoretically, to observe how the people work and how they treat customers. Some might argue this as a sinister plot to pick on people. That may be but lets give benefit of the doubt. 

Do we treat people differently because we know them or don’t? Do we treat them differently because they dress a certain way or talk in my accent versus some other dialect or whole other language? 

What happens when people are observed versus just going about our work day? 

When we knew “corporate” was coming to the store, we run around doing the flight of bumble bee to clean everything, face product and make sure everyone was saying the correct things. e.g. You know you can use your store card to get rewards and cash back on that purchase??

What happens when these visits are unannounced?

This raises more questions. 

Do we treat people differently because we know they worship differently or don’t believe? What if they exhibit all that Jesus teaches us? Jealous maybe? What if they, like the Pope, preach the lessons of the Gospel about peace, love of neighbor, love thy enemies, and forgiveness?  Will we listen? How about dinner? 

In our lesson today, a couple guys are walking along when another person joins them. They are talking all about what has happened to Jesus “…a prophet mighty in deed and word before God…” and how women reported seeing him alive. 

They, being hospitable, invite this person to dinner to realize this is “that guy!” What a moment that has to be! The Boss has come to observe and teach again! 

You know their questions involve, “Did we measure up? How did we not know?”

Good thing this wasn’t at the pearly gates. no? What happens then?

What would you do if you realized you were having dinner with Jesus? 

I think that is part of what I see happen when I go on routes with UBFM.  

When you hand a meal to someone on the street and they just light up with joy - that someone even saw them, let alone give them food. For a brief moment, we have dinner with Christ because you see Christ there - bringing us together in place and sometimes prayer. 

That burrito may seem plain to us, but it sure tastes awesome when given with radical love and hospitality. 

We don’t know the circumstances of how people get there and what they have been doing to get out of there. They often share that. That person is there no less and they are deserving of love, hospitality and grace just as much as anyone.  AND they will show you a vision of Christ - if you let the Spirit work.

That is why we call experiences like this as, “God moments.” 

Yes people of all different beliefs serving people in the community without judgement. Some may just be doing required community service. Some may do it for this reason or that, but the volunteer, along with their heart, is in the right place at the right time for an experience.

God happens, Christ appears, the Spirit shows up -> and in ways that aren’t announced or planned, but the divine shows where there is space for grace and love to exist.  We don’t even know what they believe or don’t but the Spirit guides us and welcomes us into the presence.

That is why the Gospel message is pretty direct and simple but is not easy. Following Jesus is simple to say but not easy to do. 

How do we act and think or choose words when we think God is not watching?

We don’t need just UBFM time or Sunday morning for God to happen because God doesn’t keep schedules like that. 

We are to be love, grace, hope and forgiveness to all and everyday of our lives (and every hour). That Beloved, is why following Jesus is not easy!

The Gospel doesn’t ask us to do easy things and go with the herd.  It doesn’t ask to take the tally of socially viable or if you align with some litmus test for being conservative or liberal.  Nor is it a virtual vending machine or transaction.

The Gospel is the truth and requires us to look deep into ourselves first to find the love of God inside us and also to witness that love in the people around us - regardless if we like them or if they have done right to us.

If we question whether someone should have a weapon (or even bigger weapon). That is moot when the people complaining are using pretty big ones themselves. That sounds more like a bully and not exhibiting what Christ teaches. 

Perhaps instead of throwing punches, we sit and talk to see what we do together. Let the Spirit work to help find space for the divine in our lives rather than looking for blame - or a fight.

If we let the Spirit guide us and calm our fears, there would not be worry nor blame. There would not be questions of faith and grace because we would be the example of Christ to those who need to see it - especially to those we think might be hostile to us. 

Beloved, the Boss has come to visit, wants to know what we have learned and if we express the Gospel of love. The Boss invites us to dinner, what will you say? What will you do? 

Thanks be to God! Amen!