Hearing a call in the here and now
Gate Pa – Easter 3 2013
Readings:
First
Reading: Acts 9:1-6,
(7-20)
Psalm: 30
Epistle: Rev
5:11-14
Gospel: John
21:1-19
What I want to say:
Jesus physical resurrection
is a sure sign that God is in the business of redeeming this world, and is not
just interested in what happens later
that means we have to be
interested in God’s work of redeeming, recreating, resurrecting this world,
bringing it from death to life
God is compassionate, and
invites us as far as we are able to go, for now, but keeps on inviting us to go
further
What I want to happen:
people to feel encouraged and hopeful
people to think about/pray about how they see this death
thing and how they look for or don’t look for God’s work of redeeming,
recreating, resurrecting this world, bringing it from death to life
people to remember and gain hope in God who is compassionate,
and invites us as far as we are able to go, for now, but keeps on inviting us
to go further
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Jan funeral
fellow Franciscan
slightly
crazy
seen in funeral
with ship casket person
someone who
lived out Franciscan way well
especially around simplicity and poverty
have
to admit made me feel little inadequate in light of that.
during
funeral deacon leading service said couple times
body
gone, spirit lives on
I understand said to provide comfort
and hope
wondered what story resurrection Christ – centre this season
around – says to that?
that’s what want focus on this morning.
2. Greek and Hebrew world views
Physical resurrection clearly important both to the Gospel
writers and Paul
– all whom
make big thing of it
one reasons for that is difference between Greek and Hebrew
world and attitudes to physical and spiritual realities.
explore
Hebrew – all
one, intertwined
could
not differentiate
one
reasons why there was not difference between sacred and secular
all
part of God’s creation
Greek – very
different view
clear
distinction between physical and spiritual reality
usually seen as Physical bad, spirit
good
–
shaped so much Christian thinking
a lot Christian spirituality is born
out of attitude
shapes
a lot of our thinking today
we
see it at work in those words comfort offered at funeral
question then is what is problem with this world view?
why did gospel writers work at presenting understanding of
resurrection that did not fit with this world view?
why did Paul, great evangelist to Greek speaking Gentiles
work so hard to counter this world view?
why am I even talking about it when it is so prevalent today?
3. I can’t wait to go to heaven
common consequence separation physical and spiritual world is
that our focus becomes life here after
it becomes all about whether or not going to heaven
that’s all
-
go to heaven – if saved
-
all go to heaven
leads to attitude of not need to worry about this world
just step on way
not need pay any attention to or worry about this world and
all problems poverty, hunger, disease, injustice
as long as have eternal life in spiritual world then ignore
it all.
Paul and John – both whom wrote “Greek” audiences – not want
bar of attitude
Late last year heard Paul’s passionate defence belief in
physical resurrection
– seemed
like nonsense to Greek hearers
John, constant themes we meet is that eternal life starts
now,
in nitty
gritty of everyday life,
not sweet by
and by,
resurrection
stories play important role in establishing that.
4. Resurrection story 3 in John
explore gospel story
Peter seems given up – returned home
normal
life
wonder how
much racked by guilt over denial Christ three times despite pledge
fact he like
others stayed well away crucifixion – in case they ended up on cross too
There is Jesus – only not really recognise him
maybe a
buyer for their fish
takes a while for penny drop
when does
response is
at first old Peter
unthinking
impulsive
story when re-enacted this lake karapiro?
notice what Jesus does
as he did in
another story where gave thanks for bread and fish
fed 5000 men and unknown number of others
physically
present Jesus feeds them
he meets their physical needs
doesn’t
point them to life after death
points them
to life now
and included
their catch, their resources in it.
5. Peter
Peter here is strong, in control
But when
Jesus begins to talk to him he hesitates
a lot discussion about Greek John uses here
first two times Jesus asks if Peter loves him – John uses agape
– thought be total love
and Peter’s response is phileos – interpreted as freindship
is that significant?
some yes, some no.
I suggest it is
Pre crucifixion Peter was bold and rash and impulsive
still is in some ways
faced with this question
hesitates
last time swore undying commitment, loyalty and love he
failed
isn’t loyalty question
implied in this is what has already
been acted out
Jesus in his actions and in question is saying I love you
(agape) do you love me?
in that is forgiveness
I know you
denied me
deserted me
hid in
locked room
but still I
love you
what do you say Peter
do you love me still?
Peter cannot go that far
So third time Jesus uses phileos.
which is as
far as Peter (and to be honest most of us) can go
and then promises that this will change
strong independent Peter will one day
give all that away and die on his own cross in Rome
One day Peter will respond with agape
I find that a really hopeful story
not that want
die on cross
but that despite my feeble responses to Jesus invitation
responses
that led me to feel slightly intimidated by my friend Jan who seemed so much
more Franciscan than me
despite that, Jesus continues to invite me,
and meets me
exactly where I am
but will
lead me on into that agape love
love I am
still unable to love with yet.
6. The here and now
after each question Jesus tells Peter to feed his lambs/sheep
just as he had fed them
easy to read this as spiritual feeding (as disciples seem to
do later in Acts)
this is not just spiritual feeding (which Greek reading might
give)
this is real feeding
Jesus has just fed them with bread and fish
clear that what he means is
if you are
to be the leader of this group
feed them,
look after them, and make sure they have all they need to live
just as I
have done with you.
which I think means I should have you around for dinner every
night.
7. Conclusion
today’s gospel reading offers me both and invitation and hope
invitation is to see the physical resurrection is important
no matter
how hard I struggle with it as a concept
it is important because it declares Gods concern and promise
is for here and now not just for sweet by and by
is a sure sign that God is in
the business of redeeming this world, and is not just interested in what
happens later
God is concerned about this world and all problems
problems
poverty, hunger, disease, injustice
that means we have to be
interested in God’s work of redeeming, recreating, resurrecting this world,
bringing it from death to life
got to admit that feels very
very daunting
lots times feel like I don’t
love God enough
lots times I do not pay attention to God’s redeeming work
too busy trying to do things
under my nose in this parish and in my life
times when people like friend
Jan make feel inadequate
live
out this gospel life so much better than me
In today’s reading I am
offered hope
Jesus met Peter where Peter was
in
all his grief, doubt, hesitation.
in this story Jesus meets me
in all my grief at my failings, all my doubt, all my hesitation
in this story Jesus meets us
in our grief at all our failings, all our doubts, all our hesitations
this story declares that God
is compassionate,
and invites us as far as we are able to go, for now, but
keeps on inviting us to go further
I wonder how you respond to any of
this
do we look for life beyond grave,
or look now for eternal life in God’s work of redeeming, recreating, resurrecting this world,
bringing it from death to life?
Where is risen Jesus in all this, and what are we being
invited to as we walk beyond Easter and live resurrected lives?
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