Living The Word


This sermon can be listened to here

Gate Pa –  6th Sunday in Easter- Year C - 2019
Readings:
Psalm -                        Psalm 67
First Reading -            Acts 16:9-15 
Second Reading -       Rev 21:10, 22-22:5
Gospel -                   John 14:23-29

What I want to say:
I want to explore what is Jesus word – to ask how we hear this word, what it says to us and how we keep it.
For me this word is loving unity, where the Holy Spirit works to join us to each other and indwelling God in mutual love. This word invites us into the deep love between God the Father and Jesus out of which Jesus lives and continues to teach through the Holy Spirit 

What I want to happen:
live lives of peace 

The Sermon

     1.     Introduction:

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14: 23)
wow
passage part of Jesus last speech
-         really important words
-         define who Jesus is
-         legacy
raises questions for me ->
What is Jesus word?
How do we hear this word?
What does it say to us?
and how do we keep it?
-         neighbours

     2.     Context

-         end of what many think are first “last words”
-         Next 3 chapters added later
operates at several levels
level of those in story
-         trapped between hopeless grief
-         disbelief at forces evil that gathering around them
-         fear what all this means for them
-         these strange words of hope
also written in context of and for a community nearly all of whom had had no face to face encounter with Christ
-         under so much pressure
-         still experience risen Christ as alive among them
-         these words are promise of what they are experiencing
-         written through Holy Spirit so that they are reminded of all that Jesus said
speak to us
what do we hear when we hear these words
      Ü discussion/ plenary

     3.     Words of Loving Unity

This word invites us into the deep love that exists between God the Father and Jesus out of which Jesus lives and continues to teach through the Holy Spirit
-         immersed in it
-         shaped by it
For me this word is loving unity,
tragically too often used divide
where the Holy Spirit works to join us to each other in mutual love.
-         humility
-         respect,
-         generosity,
-         compassion,
-         hospitality,
-         grace,
-         hope,
-         justice
-         life
      Ü summarise in word Jesus used – peace
-         shalom
-         wholeness and completion
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”

     4.     Communal Thing

really important aspect this word is that it invites to be in community with each other
in community we experience this word
hear this word
live this word
our deep need companionship with people is met
as community centred on this loving unity
join in ongoing story of incarnation
Love becoming flesh and living among us
“we will come to them and make our home with them.”
one people read quoted African proverb
“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”
live the word when we put energy into building this community

     5.     Hope

Lastly this is a word of hope
“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
so much that could cause us to lose hope in world today
ageing churches
-         all issues that come with that
climate change – young people reminded us again on Friday
For me this word invites me to live in hope despite the evidence
-         we are not abandoned
-         Spirit of God dwells in us
-         works through us
rather than despair
-         self preservation
-         animosity
invited to live instead in hope
-         companionship
-         generosity
will not always be easy
the story of Jesus went from incarnation to crucifixion, to resurrection, to ascension, to Spirit of God dwelling in us
invited into the same story.

what do you think
how do you respond to any of this
what next?

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