The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 13th, 2007click here for past entriesLoving God, you make us members of your household through our baptism into Christ and continually teach us through the Holy Spirit. May we continue to learn and to grow our whole life through and find our peace in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the secular world, today is Mother's Day, and in the church, today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. For some, Mother's Day is a day filled with grief and sadness. For others, it is a day filled with thankfulness and love. Some mothers will be sad because they do not hear from their children. Some will be amazed by the love that they receive today. Some people will be sad because their mothers are no longer with them. Others will enjoy the opportunity for family get-togethers. Some will be filled with longing because they have never known a loving and nurturing mother. Others will be thankful for the blessings that they have received through their mothers.
There is no "one size fits all" message for Mother's Day. However, honouring our mothers is never out of place, and is even commanded in the Scriptures! And so we do honour the mothers among us today, and we are thankful for the love and care that mothers give to their children. At the same time, we remember today that we are members of the family of God. Whatever experiences we may have in our own families, we are members together of the household of God.
Among the earliest disciples of Jesus, there were many who had left behind their homes and families in order to follow Jesus. Jesus assured those disciples that in this age they would receive many more brothers and sisters, parents and children (Mk. 10:28-30; Lk. 18:28-30). In other words, they would be part of the household of God. And so, those of you who are children and youth - you have many parents and mentors who are gathered here today. And those of you who are adults - you have many children who are part of this family. God's vision for us is far bigger than just the people who are biologically related to us! And so, today is a good opportunity to reflect a little bit upon what exactly God's household is supposed to look like.
A good place to start in this reflection is with Lydia, who presided over the first house church in Philippi. Her household became a model and a gathering place for the family of God. In the first place, Lydia hears the good news about Jesus and believes in him. However, it is not just Lydia who becomes a member of the family of God, but her entire household with her. Lydia passes on the faith to whatever dependants she has living with her, as well as to the servants that are part of her household. Those living with Lydia share the faith with her and are baptized with her. In the same way, we are to pass on the faith - both to those in our own households and to those in the family of God who are still growing and maturing in the faith.
In the second place, Lydia becomes for us a model of hospitality. She opens her home to Paul and his companions and urges them to stay with her while they are teaching and preaching in Philippi. She also opens her home to all those who come to believe in Jesus. Her home becomes a safe and welcoming place for those who follow Jesus to gather and to pray and to worship together. Once again, this is a model for the household of God. In this household, not only are we to be hospitable to those who share our faith in Jesus Christ, but also to those who come seeking God and want to learn about the faith.
Indeed, the household of God is always to be a place of learning! Now, in households where children are being raised, it is the parents who are most often the teachers and the examples for their children. However, in today's gospel we hear about the mysterious paraclete - translated as the Advocate, the Helper, the Counsellor -- in other words, the Holy Spirit - who will teach us and remind us of Jesus' word. Since Jesus himself is no longer physically with us to teach us, his Spirit has been sent to teach us until Jesus returns.
And how, exactly, does the Holy Spirit do this? - First and foremost through Word and Sacrament. When we gather together for worship, the Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures, through the music, through the spoken Word, and through the bread and the wine at the Lord's Supper. The Spirit also speaks to us through times of prayer, through studying the Scriptures, through other believers and through the Christian community as a whole. As followers of Jesus, we are never finished learning. All of us are still "growing up" into Christ!
In fact, we are only finished growing once we have been perfected in love. If you still have trouble loving your neighbour as yourself and loving one another as Jesus has first loved you, then God isn't finished with you yet! There's still more to learn! That's why the Spirit was sent to teach us, and that's why the gospel repeats over and over again the commandment to love.
Today's gospel, too, reminds us of the love that is to be found in the household of God. Loving Jesus and keeping his word are not optional, and they go together. We're not talking here about obeying the rules because we have to or because we're afraid of what will happen if we don't. Rather, we're talking about living based on love for Jesus and holding dear what he has taught us. This is the freedom that we have as Christians - a loving response to a gracious God. And, it's the Holy Spirit who helps us to do this and to continue to learn and to grow.
As we continue to grow in love, both for God and for one another, the household of God becomes a place where God is, indeed, right here. Today's gospel talks about Jesus and his Father making their home with those who love Jesus and hold his word dear. Other passages talk about the Holy Spirit doing the same thing. They're just all moving in with us - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - right here, whether we recognize God's presence or not.
In fact, the troubled hearts and the fear that are mentioned in today's gospel result directly from believing Jesus to be absent. He wasn't going to be absent, really - just present in a different way. And it would be in that presence that the followers of Jesus would find peace.
Surely Jesus was well aware that his followers would not be immune to fear or to troubled hearts. There are many things in this world that can trouble us and fill us with fear. Yet, the gospel would not speak to us about the gift of the peace of Christ unless it would, in fact, be given. Now, as a gift, there is no foolproof formula where we can say, "Do this, and you will have peace." However, the things that lead to peace are revealed in the Scriptures.
First and foremost is to abide in God's presence. Rest in God's love. Spend quiet prayer time, giving all troubles to God and receiving God's Spirit and God's love. It is through loving God and through spending time becoming aware of God's presence and spending time in prayer that the gift of peace will come.
And so, what are we left with in this snapshot of the household of God? We have a household where the faith is shared and passed on to all who come near, with those who are more mature in the faith helping those who are new believers to learn and to grow. We have a household that is marked by hospitality - welcoming both believers and those who seek to know God. We have a household that is taught by the Holy Spirit - the paraclete - the Helper - who reminds us of the word of Jesus. We have a household that is permeated by love, as we seek together to live in love for God and for one another. And finally, we have a household where God is present - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and in that presence, and in God's love, the gift of peace is given.
Our own family experiences and situations take many different forms. However, in this family we are taught by the one who loves us and who gave his life for ours. In this family we are all loved equally and are given the inheritance of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Easter 6(C) John 14:23-29
May 13, 2005 Acts 16:9-15
St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore
? 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved
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