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SERMONS

The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 9, 2004

There is an ancient tradition about the last days of St. John the Evangelist. He is said to have lived to a great age. Toward the end of his life he became very frail and had to be carried to meetings of the faithful. There, because of his great weakness, he was unable to teach or preach for long. At every gathering he would simply repeat the words, "Little children, love one another."

The members of the community eventually grew weary of hearing the same words over and over. So finally they asked him why he never said anything else. St. John answered, "If you will do this, it is enough."

Today's gospel takes us back to the final evening of Jesus' earthly ministry. He and the disciples are gathered at table for what Jesus knows will be their last meal together. Judas has just left to betray him.

It is time for him to draw everything together. It is time for him to give his band of followers his final word. "I am giving you a new commandment," he says. "Love one another."

This is the summation of his teaching over the three years that he has been with them. This is the final word that he leaves with them. "Love one another."

Love is the distinguishing characteristic of Christianity. It is the central rule for those who would follow Jesus. "Love one another." As another John, the mystic St. John of the Cross, wrote fifteen hundred years later, "When the evening of this life comes, we shall be judged on love."

Last Thursday evening Frances and I drove up to Canton to be present as Melanie Dickson Lemburg was ordained a deacon. David Johnson preached at the service and spoke of Melanie's grandfather, who had been a Methodist minister in Mississippi during the difficult times of the 1960's, and a steady witness to the reconciling love of God for all persons.

David's comments had a particular poignancy and meaning for me, given the difficult times we as a parish have moved into this past week. This is a time of trial, a time that will test this community. In talking about that time and about the steadfast witness of Mr. Dickson to God's love during that time, David mentioned another servant of Christ from that era, Bishop Duncan Gray, Sr. And he reminded us of Bishop Gray's words to the church in this diocese in those days: "These times were made for us, and we were made for these times."

Brothers and Sisters, Bishop Gray's words hold true for us today: "This time was made for us and we were made for this time." We are the body of Christ-you are the body of Christ, chosen by God and called by God for this hour. God has not abandoned us; God will not abandon us. God is with us and God will lead us through these challenges to new life.

In such anxious times it is important to keep things simple, to come back to the basics. Today Jesus and John the Evangelist and John of the Cross remind us of what is most basic for our lives as Christians, love for one another.

Let me suggest to you three concrete ways in which we can demonstrate our love:

First, be present in the life of the community. In times of loss there can be a tendency to withdraw, to isolate ourselves. To the extent that you are able, resist that urge. We need one another. This community needs you, each of you. We need your presence; we need your counsel; we need your prayers.

Second, be gentle with one another. Bishop Paul Marshall of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, refers to this as the ministry of cutting slack. In times of change and loss people say and do things that they would never say or do under other circumstances. Be slow to react; be slow to take offense.

And third, assume good intentions. Never ascribe to malice what can be ascribed to stupidity. If someone says or does something that is insulting or offensive, please do not assume that it was done deliberately with evil intent. Consider that it might have been a bad mistake. Ask questions. Seek to understand.

As our Bishop Gray said to us Tuesday evening, this is a healthy and resilient community. We have great gifts and resources available to us. We have strong, committed, and faithful leadership. And we have our Lord, who loves us and is with us and will never, never let us go.

David closed his sermon Thursday by reminding us of Paul's words to the church in Corinth-a church which had its share of difficulties.

We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Brothers and Sisters, God is not through with us yet.

Love one another.

If we will do this, it will be enough.

David Christian
The Chapel of the Cross
Madison, Mississippi

Acts 13.44-52
Revelation 19.1,4-9
John 13.31-35