What Do You Believe - John 14 - Easter 6A

What do you believe

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66

Opening Prayer

Question - ( maybe more.)  First, What do you believe ?

What is sacred to you? You who sit in the pews, who listen to the words, who read texts, who volunteer and hold a hand to your heart, what is sacred to you?

What do these words and scripture mean to you ? 

This impacts many parts of our lives because it is the core to why we celebrate or punish or shame.

Jesus is leaving the disciples, reflects on his ministry, and offers this advice. (I may go away but the advocate, the spirit, will be here to help you with all your questions and needs.)

People have questioned if I was saying or doing the correct things. The answer is the question I posed. 

When I speak and preach, I tell you that I preach from the truth of the Bible and what Jesus says.  The question for you and what you witness is “what do you believe in all of this?”

I can tell you this and you can read it for yourselves, but the most honest question ever, (not just believing) what does this truly do for you? Why do you care?

Why come to church to hear this voice? What compels you to listen to the words? 

Are you searching for answers, relief or new ideas - not that ancient scriptures offer much “new”. There is difference in this message, in what Jesus says, in what Tony says, that moves. 

A guy like me can offer the sun the moon and the stars. I can offer keys to kingdoms and realms. I can draw paths and destinations. I can offer you things I do to lose weight, care for skin, and what my favorite shows are. Ultimately, the question roots in what you believe. Corollary to that is why and follows with what do you do with that?

In this age of flowing streams of information, this is something we ought to consider over and over because in that stream is a lot of disinformation, plenty of untruth, advertising, “clickbait”, disguise of intentions, and just plain bad. What holds you to truth and life has to be more than just “clickbait” but how we treat the world, each other and how we treat ourselves.

When people, and especially politicians, tell you something is rigged or fake, people will believe that as well whether it is true or not. There is something about “rigged” systems and dishonest institutions in that they reflect some of our lingering worries and, sometimes, fringe thoughts about how the world works. In our public discourse these days, suddenly, the back of mind becomes the forefront of public conversation because someone says the emperor has no clothes, or is old and senile. 

For folks of “vintage” age, we might think about that a little more because what does that say about us and what we think? Are we too old to have good thinking and ideas?  When did the bus stop and leave us by the road? 

When did it begin? People want to criticize the youth similarly as not smart or know enough, but they have ideas and they have experiences. They have their own experiences and beliefs as well. 

Why does age even determine whether a person’s ideas and mindset is relevant or believable? 

Really, that is a lot of judgment being tossed around (not “truth”). Instead, it is disguise for sinister intentions. For people who want to hide what they do or want todo, they pass off concerns about issues that have no bearing upon you or I - while at the same time, inflicting danger and vices onto the world. By the time folks notice it, whole communities are destroyed and shattered, lives are torn apart, and real, unnecessary pain is inflicted. 

We have awful images and lessons in history of this. If America doesn’t change, we will repeat these lessons - incidentally, ones that people are trying to take out of history books. (That is one reason I like reading the Bible because it offers lessons of good and bad without polish.)

Again, what do you believe and why? When people tell you X or Y, do you just blindly take it as truth or do you hold to a standard - perhaps a real standard like Jesus? Unlike people in this world, Jesus does not lie to you - does not hold you to false claims or “fake news.”  

Jesus gives you a path to truth and life and way. Jesus does not sell you what you don’t need or market some false claim.  Jesus gives you truth and a way to live. You don’t need to see Jesus, but you can feel in your bones the truth.

The way of the world and the entire cosmos is difficult and sometimes treacherous, but I submit to you, that with Jesus by your side, you have a chance to wade through the murky and the unknown. You have a chance to find a bit solace and healing in that murky -because why - Jesus. That is so much better than tearing other people down or destroying communities. 

Look for the Spirit and you will find everything that you need - with the truth there with you. With Jesus’s spirit, your Advocate, you can feel the difference and know there is truth and there is peace.

Thus, when folks make loud claims and wild distortions, be not afraid to speak up or simply walk away.  False claims don’t need audiences. False prophets don’t need more money. False snake-oil-salespeople don’t need any more business. Question them and hold them accountable - question me as well. I submit they need God’s truth to set them free. 

Beloved, listen to the truth in your heart. Listen and believe because Jesus’s words are truth and life. Believe in your heart, in your bones, because these words do matter. You matter! No other can make this truth and no one can do it better.

That Beloved is…

Thanks be to God

The Way - John 14 - Easter 5A

The Way

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon John 14: 1-14, Psalm 31, Acts 7: 55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10

Opening Prayer

We land this Easter morning in John in the farewell discord.

I really enjoy the mystic and poetic way that John is given to us. “I am in the One and the One is in me.” But Thomas asks an important question, one that I am sure others have as well. “How can we know the way?”

John 14 is well known, and we see folks hanging verses from it around homes and on bumpers. 

“I am the way, the truth and the life…” 

What does this really mean though?

In John, Jesus uses this reflective “I am” no less than 7 times (like last week). This hails back to Exodus when Moses meets God, and Moses asks God, “who are you?” The response is, “I am.”

We will get back to more about this, but what does this mean ? Maybe the question is better what does it mean to you? Why is it important to consider that?

Lets look at this “way” that Jesus refers.

In my study of many different traditions, I witness strong parallels with Asian concepts of “the way,” especially Taoist ideas but also others like Buddhists.

Of the Tao, the way (the tao) is something that is true but cannot be described and does not have shape. Yet, the way is “gateway to all understanding.”

Buddhists call it the “Eightfold path” that arises out of the noble truths having “right” view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. This path leads to a state of Enlightenment.

Similarly, Jesus calls to us a path to truth and life. Jesus sets forth a way to that truth by letting mystery be mystery and be free from desire where speech, intention, views, efforts, and mindfulness of ourselves, our community, our church and of God. Jesus is pathway to truth of God and the truth of Jesus.  

So yes there is a path for us. There is a way. That involves our faith, how we live, how we treat each other, how we care for ourselves in what we do and say.

We hear the lessons every week, and read them to learn aspects of that living. The question is whether we take that with us beyond the pews into our daily lives and into the community.  

Too often people put these famous verses on walls, but forget to heed the lessons in our own lives of which Jesus teaches us.

We don’t leave the lessons in the books, in the pews or bumper stickers, but we live out the lessons as followers and disciples of the Risen Christ. When you do, you will feel mystic properties of this lesson. You may feel the cosmic breath of God with you and in you, guiding you.

So take the lessons from the teaches of many traditions that lead us to true life, to God.

Further, we can read this as “[God] is the way, the truth and the life.” It starts with me, and the words: “I am.”

That is important to understand. Words and faith are meaningless if we don’t live and breath the lessons we are given here. 

Yes it starts with me - with you - yes you. 

Right your mind, right your action, lean into your faith, and live as one with God. Live in the possible of God with your neighbors in community. 

Be the catalyst for change that we need, and let it start with you, with me as a smile, a bit of hope, a speck of faith as a mustard seed. Then, I submit to you, I, in my meager corner of the universe, I can find purpose in that speck, that seed, and I can grow into something so much more. 

From there, let it grow and grow.

Let go of desire, let go of hate, let go of troubles, let go of pain. Even when all hope is gone from those around us, like Stephen in Acts. Once you do this, no matter how horrible life can be, you will find something in that truth for you - you can find peace that you surely need.

Beloved, you have all that you need right here in this very moment. Lean into the breath of God, and let the mystery carry you away from desire. Let the mystery be one with you. Feel the truth revealed to your heart.

Let God be your refuge, your fortress and “grow into your salvation.”

Beloved, this is not complicated, but very tangible and ready for you to welcome into your own hearts and minds. When you do, when you let that spirit be your way, then everything is truly possible and there is no need for want. 

That Beloved is Heaven on Earth.

That Beloved is 

Thanks Be to God

I Am the Gate - John 10 Easter 4A

I am the gate

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon John 10: 1-10, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2: 19-25, Acts 2: 42-47

Opening Prayer

The gate is a curious symbol for Jesus.  Like my yard gate it, it swings in and out of the yard.  Thus a gate is a path between something and another. Going to somewhere and coming from somewhere. The question is where are you ? Which direction are you going?

At its simplest, it is a start and an end to something.  From this point, you take steps either into where you need to go (should go) or you stay where you are. On Good Shepherd Sunday, we believe that Jesus is guiding us and holding open this gate to something more than we can possibly imagine.  

We believe that whatever ails us in our lives today is enough to take the step with Jesus into the new, the promise, the forever of God with Jesus. 

So what or who holds you back?

What is it that you leave behind? What worries you about the next step?

Why do we hold so dear that which we would leave behind that we cannot, or will not, take the leap of faith with Jesus?

What is it that we turn to drugs, alcohol and violence instead of faith?

Jesus offers us so much in our world and the afterlife, but we question and doubt.  I can understand these because people want proof and they want assurances. Then if that doubt and question are what holds you back, your faith is tired and broken.

Maybe instead, that is when you lean into your faith, lean into the words that Jesus proclaims and find yourself taking that next step into the promise, into the life with Christ.

Doubt and question are part of faith so long as they don’t stop us or hide the truth.  We don’t have all the answers and we don’t know everything. That is the most truth I can give you. Thus, faith in that promise is understanding that and understanding that there is an answer to those questions and doubts.

That answer can be found here in Jesus and proclamation of victory. The resurrection of life from certain failure and doom and misery. In this Christ, we have life that we need and all the answers that we couldn’t imagine on our own. 

So yes, Jesus is a gate, and the shepherd calls to us to be with us near the still waters and restores our souls when we need it the most. For when Jesus was tortured and murdered, Jesus was knew that faith in God was most needed, and because God was going to see him through to still waters of new life. 

Even in those moments, Jesus held true and bore violence so that we might have new life with him because “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Then together, we are more than our wounds, our miseries, our political divide, our social anxiety. Together, we can believe and walk together through the gate with similar doubts and questions but with faith that that is the true promise that has been given to us. We are healed. That, like Acts 2, is when we break bread and are a community with people because we, together, believe in the purpose and the life that has been given to us is not just some fairy tale or fantasy.  

This life, that Jesus gives, is real and waiting for us to walk through that gate of acceptance, that gate to the promise where no one is turned away or denied - to a promised land of deliverance and restoration despite all of our failures and doubts.

This gate is for those who hear the words and follow as the sheep of the Shepherd. As farmers will tell you, sheep know their voice and respond to the words they speak. In the same way, Jesus is calling you to come to the gate. This gate is for you.

Where are you and which direction are you going? Take the step into the promise of Jesus. Take the step into resurrection and new life. 

Beloved, Jesus is calling. The questions for you: will you respond and will you go to that gate and be saved?

Beloved, that is possible, that faith is possible because …

Thanks Be to God.

When Will You Believe - Easter 3A

When will you believe

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Luke 24:13-35, Psalm 114, 1 Peter 1: 17-23

Opening prayer

There are times in our lives when we journey with someone and have conversations. Or even, when I walk with Reno, we get the chance to be in our environment and consider points. 

Then you notice things along the path and trail like blooms of spring, birds in the tree, other people walking and talking and riding. I also see the garbage that has been dumped in the stream next to our trail. How so much lands there and even clothes like that infamous missing sock from someone’s laundry room. I have often thought it would be good to organize our youth to help clean those areas - to get sense of what happens when we disregard our environment.and the mess that it causes. 

When I was in high school, I had a paper route that included the whole town. When I would finish, I would walk into the local cafe (the kind that served plate-sized pancakes) and sit with the fellows having coffee. The conversations ranged from politics to weather and farming. Never did I see someone get to rattled or annoyed. It was a joy to start the day with such conversations.

Back to our lesson, these fellas walking and having a conversation. A person joins them. “What are you talking about?” Then the two give testimony, “Where have you  been that you haven’t heard about the great Jesus, what we hoped he would be, what he preached and how he was betrayed and murdered??”

What happens in this story is people on a journey, conversation, teaching, dinner and recognition. Some of the best parts of scripture are the conversations like the woman at the well in John or the conversation between Martha, Mary and Jesus. 

What happens in these discussions? News, learning, sharing and ultimately caring. After all, these two invite Jesus to be with them after this great discussion to stay with them for dinner. “Its getting dark, come eat and stay  with us.” 

All the while, there must be some curiosity of who this “stranger” is but nonetheless a welcome is extended. When they sit and have supper, Jesus does something familiar - blessing and breaking the bread with them. Then eyes open, mouths drops, and “wow”!

They have told what they believed and hopes of Jesus to find that Jesus was right there the whole time. How astounding and awesome that would be? 

That raises great questions for us today “When will you believe?” When will you realize that Jesus has been and will be there with you. 

This is a moment of clarity for the two and a discovery at the same time. In this conversation, they reveal what they know and hope. In the dialog, they learn. (That is something sorely missing in our lives today, an honest conversation between folks about what we believe and hope in order that we might together share and learn. 

Yes, this is a moment of clarity that is uninhibited by distraction or ego even. Moments of clarity, moments of truth, of realization are powerful but these are not elusive.

Every time we share Eucharist, we have opportunities to meet and be with Jesus. Every time you have a meal, you go for a walk, have a conversation, or just be. These are moments of clarity and learning and sharing. Even by oneself, these moments are of sharing because what you share with the world is what you share with God. If you can share with God in the solitary moments, then you can share with others in the breath of conversations.

Jesus appears and has conversations with these people. Yet, they do not recognize until something familiar breaks the dissonance and curiosity: they break bread.  That is the power of the Eucharist because we, here, meet Jesus when we bless and break bread together.

We have moments many times in our lives to take notice of who and what is around us.  We have moments where understanding can happen and recognition of what has happened and what we need to do. These are tremendously powerful moments because they are not pretend but honest-to-goodness needed coming to terms with something or someone - even God.

Just think of one, and you may even experience that today where you need to come to terms. Day of reckoning, as it were, does not have to have to be scary but an invitation, a welcome, to something so much more. If you are missing someone, start with a conversation. If you are wanting connection, start with a conversation. If you are needing something, perhaps, start with a conversation. 

Maybe you are having a difficult time believing or you have doubts, sounds like perfect times for a walk, a journey, or to have a conversation. 

Additionally, the familiar can be all that we need and (might be needed to start the conversation.) When I have visited folks in nursing homes or on the streets, one way to bring focus is to talk about familiar, a picture, music, a touch or breaking bread. Even in the midst of dementia, people can recognize familiar. Then conversations take off.

The conversations are just as important as the recognition too. They are journeys to and about the recognition: where we learn and share with each other. That is where we take time to listen to each other and learn what makes each other tick - what you and I believe. These are not one-sided lectures. They are dialogs allowing each other to express ideas, hopes and knowledge so that, together, we learn learn from each other. When we do, we experience the presence of grace and spirit among and with us. 

When you recognize that, like the Eucharist meal with Jesus, when you understand in your heart that dimension, so much more is possible to you.  Then for those moments, you have glimpses of the holy promise and all that is meant to be. For those moments, feel the love that is truly given and poured out to you. Beloved, feel the power of the spirit lift you. 

Then you too can and will say I have witnessed the living Christ. You too can say that I have learned and shared with Christ. Let us today share and learn together. Lets have a plate of pancake with coffee and have a conversation too.

That Beloved is…

Thanks be to God. 

Magnificent Miracles - Matthew 28 - Easter 1A

Magnificent Miracles

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Matthew 28:1-10, Psalm 118

Opening prayer

It is a beautiful and bright sunshine. Lets wind the clock a short bit. The passion brought us the story of the anguish and tumult that Jesus endured before fateful silence. Yet in the darkness, we saw light - light to remind us that God’s power (God’s love) prevails over violence and anguish. God showed us a path to victory.  

Why? Because you and I are worthy. 

Now. Today is Easter - Hallelujah! Today is marked with miracle because this day itself is miracle - a magnificent miracle. Discovery at the tomb, leads to confusion and gives way to recognition.

Why do miracles happen? Why do people try to explain them away as some farce that ought to be forgotten? 

We could do that and lose a moment of teaching reduced to happenstance.

We could sit and argue over why miracles happen. Doing so, we forget that miracles do happen. 

A colleague of mine once said to me, everyday he wakes is a miracle. Yes this day is itself a miracle.

As a martial arts instructor, I have witnessed a miracles as well like when a young girl who discovered she can break a board with her bare feet. Or how a parent and child grew a bond together as they rose in ranks.

For years, an acquaintance and I did not see eye to eye. Then one day, we sat down and started talking; we learned about each other.  We remembered history and we still had doubts, but it was perhaps a miracle that we spoke after so much between us. 

Miracles contain blessings and discoveries not anticipated - some good news. If we explain them away, we lose what is truly there.

Still some miracles contain contributions. That means you don’t experience it alone. We contribute with effort and prayer, and then let faith guide the next step because all things are possible with the help of God.

How do we explain the runner crossing the marathon finish line that years before doctors said she wasn’t going to walk, how a martial artist became master instructor after blowing both knees. How do we explain cancer that goes into remission? 

Our Gospels says Jesus does the ultimate - victory over death. The discovery at the tomb wasn’t some farce, but recognition of victory over the gruesome and brutal torture. This miracle contains blessings.

This miracle was not just for one to escape death but gift for us to find life through Christ. 

Through this gift, we have the blessing of freedom and the gift of life through this spirit. All of this is possible through God.

Yes there are miracles that contain our agency through training, discipline and skill, but maybe, a miracle is that we didn’t give up hope and faith; didn’t give up on the possible. Why because all things are possible with who?? 

Maybe, we have help along the way. You don’t have to walk alone. You are part of something bigger. Let God help you learn what is possible.

Miracles are lessons that with hope and faith, we persevere. They’re lessons that reveal God’s love and work in our lives - that we don’t do this alone - because we cannot. We need each other and we need God. That is why we come to church.

People like to say otherwise (e.g. No one helps me; I can do it all myself). A little idolatrous don’t you think? To think you have all that you need and all the answers, please write a book because people want to learn from you. 

Whether healing from injury, repairing friendships, surviving and recovering from a tornado, building a church, or simply raising a family, miracles don’t happen/grow on their own. They require care, effort and faith. Will there be mistakes? Probably. Perfection? Perfectly yours. Thank God, because all things are possible… 

In the darkest days and nights, when things are not going the way we feel they should, that is when we need strength to persevere. That is when we can reach deep and find that miracle of Jesus, the life in Christ, helping to build that strength - setting purpose and path before us. 

We may not understand the wisdom or see the end game, but wisdom of the divine is there. We go forward with God’s blessing and assurance that there is possible. 

Miracles are blessings because we believed the possible and prayed. We have hope; all is not lost. We believe there is a mystery that lifts us in greater purpose than we can imagine. That, my friends, is for you and for me today. We are set free through Christ’s victory to free us from the chains of sin. Why? Because all things

Finally, our task then is to share what we learn and what is possible with others. Like Mary witnessing so long ago shared the good news with the others. 

Our neighbors around us need that just as much as you do.

We are called to grow in miracle love of God and of neighbor - called to witness and to be a blessing for those around us. To show others that through God all things…

So share your smile, prosperity, helping hand, comforting arms and listening ears. Let the light shine upon you and be gracious to you. Let that light flow - be a miracle (a blessing) to others that God has been for you.

Through the Easter magnificent miracle, we are set free to live in freedom together with our neighbors in Christ’s life of love. 

This Easter Christ is risen indeed hallelujah!

Beloved that is.

Thanks be to God!