Dear friends, I am looking for feedback on this draft of my sermon for Sunday, May 6, 2018. Comments on here, on my facebook (Emily Morisette), or as an email are welcome. Thank you in advance, and blessings to you.
Preface:
May the words I speak be only truth, and may that truth; let them express the
love of God for everyone.
I
hate admitting that I hadn’t been to church in almost a month until last Sunday…
but “coming back” felt like God was speaking directly to me to welcome me back,
especially in the readings of scripture.
And then this Sunday’s readings brought last week’s readings into even
more vivid light than they had been.
This
week I was struck by today’s first reading, when Peter says that it makes no
sense to deny Baptism – inclusion into this union – to anyone who has received
the spirit. It makes no sense to deny
anyone: welcome. We welcome you here in love because we can’t
imagine it any other way.
Last
week we read from the first book of John.
The first sentence of the reading is: “Beloved, let us love one another
because love is from God; everyone who knows love is born of God and knows
God.” So begins descriptions of love and
its importance to and of and in God.
Twice in the reading we are called “Beloved.”
Beloved. Not a term you use for just anyone. A word for someone incredibly special. What more perfect emulation of God’s love
could be there by assuring people – strangers! – that they are not only loved,
but Beloved.
This
week John continues by saying “we know that we love the children of God when we
love God and obey His commandments.” Now
let’s look at the Gospel today: “this is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you. No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” More love!
And this time, we are told that God’s commandment is to love one
another. Go back to earlier, when John
said, “we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his
commandments.” This time John tells us
that obeying God’s commandments is how we show love to God’s children. And God tells us that his commandment is to
love one another. Love comes full
circle. Love God, love one another, and
be loved.
In
theory it sounds easy. Of course we love
God. We’re all gathered here by our own
choice to celebrate our love for God.
Our choice shows our love for God in here, in this building. I bet you all know what I’m going to say, but
I’m going to say it anyway, or should I hand it off to Deacon Barbara, who reminds us every Sunday?
Let
us turn toward the door where our journey truly begins!
Our
journey is pretty clear after the last two weeks’ readings: love one another. We’ve heard it all before. We know how to do this; I’m sure we can
recite at least a hundred ways if we all put our heads together.
But
here’s the sticking point. We have to
actually DO IT. Doing it is the hard
part. We need to ask ourselves what
keeps us from doing this? Are we too
tired? Too angry? Too confused?
Too “busy” in our own affairs that we forget about others (we’ve all
been there)?
Let’s
stop being too “whatever.” Let’s start
small: I’m going to resolve to do at least one extra kind thing every day this
week. What will everyone do? Will we let the Spirit move us into bringing
God’s love out of the doors of this church?
Will we structure and schedule things to make sure we do them so that we
can get used to it and make it a habit?
Will we continue doing what we have always been doing? What will we do to live in God’s love, and
what will happen because of it? It is up
to us.
Amen.
d