Love Each Other - It is as easy and hard as that.

This sermon can be listened to here

Easter 5 – Year C 2022

Readings:
First Reading:              Acts 11:1-18     
Psalm:                         Psalm: 148
Second Reading:        Rev 21:1-6      
Gospel:                        John 13:31-35

What I want to say:
Explore the story of John 13 to see how crunchy “love each other”.
explore examples of Henare Wiremu Taratoa and Heni Te Kiri Karamu as examples of the risk of loving as Christ loves

    What I want to happen:
People to consider as hear this simple command today
-          how and who are we invited to love as we are loved
-          how might we live that out?

                                              The Sermon  

     1.     Introduction: 

“Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.       This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
I wonder what we think this means?
There are lots of really nice images about this on the internet,
-         rural scenes
-         skies 
-         surf
lovely!
Easy?
A couple of questions spring to mind
-         what is this love Jesus is talking about?
-         and who are we to love?
I offer this little reflection 

2.    Context  

Here is Jesus,
with his disciples one last time
Do they know this?
Do they know it is the last time?
They know people in high places want him dead
They knew returning to Jerusalem was dangerous
Thomas said that they would return with him
to die with him.
He gathers them for a meal
He washes their feet 
             even Peter’s
            even Judas’
“If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet,
  you too must wash each other’s feet.
  I have given you an example:
  Just as I have done, you also must do.” (John 13:14, CEB)
He tells them that one of them will betray him
the one he gives the dipped bread to.
He feeds Judas,
who leaves
goes to begin the steady walk to Golgotha
goes into the night
goes knowing that even his feet were washed.
It is time to be glorified
            on a cross
            showing the depth of God’s love
            for you
            for this world
I give you a new commandment: 
Love each other.
Just as I have loved you,
so you also must love each other
washing each other’s feet
even when they betray you
even when they deny they are your follower
even when they say they are no friend
even then
wash their feet
feed them
just as I have restored
healed
forgiven
offered life in all its fullness
just like that
love each other
when all seems lost
when the pain is too great
love each other.
Not because you have to
not because I tell you to
Love each other
because you are loved
just as I am held in love
so you are held
so are we all held.

3.    Some stories of what that looks like

What does that look like?
this loving each other like Jesus loves.
We are surrounded by stories of outrageous love. ###
Just over 2 weeks ago we remembered
Puhirake’s reluctance to be drawn into war
Taratoa who with others
wrote the rules engagement.
They took off the outer robe of animosity,
laid aside their outrage at an invading army,
the need to win at all costs
If fighting is unavoidable
we limit it to here
to this field of battle
limit how many brothers and sisters would be included
limit the deaths.
Taratoa and Heni
took off the outer robe of violence,
laid aside their animosity and ihi
            their need to stay safe
and washed the feet of their enemy
of those sent to take their land
risked their lives
giving water to their brothers
they had just been fighting.
They loved each other
because they were loved
because they were all held in love.
 

4.    Invitation

As we hear this simple command today

“Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

-                     what stands out

-           how and who are we invited to love as we are loved

-           how might we live that out?