Easter 5 – May 6, 2007

Jesus concludes our reading for this Sunday (John 13:31-35) with these words: ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love onther another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Love has many different meanings these days.  Yet, to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, ‘as I have loved you’ is pretty specific.  To me, it means seeing each other as a child of God, loved, forgiven, and promised new life.  It means listening to each other, working with each other to understand what the Good News means for our lives and for our life together.  Loving one another includes speaking God’s love in our speech and in our actions so those outside the community also receive the news of God’s grace.  It further entails asking God for guidance as we encounter obstacles which shut out this love, either within ourselves or within society.  It means dying to ourselves, so that other might see God’s glory.

This is a lifelong journey.  But God’s love for us revealed in Jesus is also.  Let’s get loving!

Easter 4 – April 29, 2007

According to Jesus in our reading from John this Sunday, we are either sheep or unsheep.

Those who are sheep believe in Jesus as being sent by the Father, and follow the voice of Jesus. It’s especially cool to be sheep, because Jesus promises them eternal life and protection from all enemies.

On the other hand, unsheep aren’t cool. They don’t believe Jesus is the Messsiah.  They don’t recognize the signs that they have been given.  The gifts promised to the sheep are also for them. However, they won’t receive them because they won’t follow. 

It all sounds so either/or,  blessed/cursed,  in/out.  Yet, looking back over my own life of faith I can see that at certain times I’m a sheep, while at other moments, I’m an unsheep.  It isn’t always easy in this chaotic world to recognize the presence of God, to hear the Messiah’s voice.  It might not be easy to follow where the Christ seeks to lead. 

And yet, Jesus says even at these moments, he’s calling to us.  He’s inviting us to stop what we’re doing, and to listen for the voice.  When we do so, and hear it, I believe we hear that we are indeed sheep, loved by God, called to follow.  The Shepherd doesn’t give up as easily on us as we do on ourselves.    While we feel like unsheep, Jesus sees beneath the surface, and finds who we really are. Jesus continues to say to the sheep, and to all those wondering whether they are one or not:  ‘The peace of Christ be with you all’.

Easter 3 – April 22, 2007

At the beginning of this week’s Gospel reading (John 21:1-19), Peter tells some of the other disciples, ‘I’m going fishing’.   Peter has seen the risen Christ, but now it appears that he is going back to his old occupation, fishing.     Perhaps it’s only to do something while waiting for Jesus to visit again.  Or pehaps, he’s thinking of giving up being a disciple.  After his denial of Jesus the night of his arrest, he doesn’t feel worthy. He is going back to the ordinary, what is known, what is productive. 

Following Jesus, even in this day, is not always something that comes easily.  There can be moments in our lives of faith when like Peter we become unsure of what might happen next, wonder whether we’ve made a mistake, or don’t know whether we are good enough to follow.

Jesus doesn’t leave Peter out on the lake.  Instead, he comes to him, has breakfast with him, and invites him once more to follow.  Jesus forgives him, and calls him to feed his sheep, the believers who will come later. 

If Jesus called us and invited us to have a coffee at Robins or Tim Hortons, what would he have to say to us about following him? ‘Feed my sheep!’

Easter 2 – April 15, 2007

 I like Thomas (John 20:19-31)!  He’s not afraid to say to the other disciples that he can’t believe that Jesus has come back from the dead.  He needs proof that this has happened.  He needs to see Jesus. 

Notice that the other disciples are quiet — they either don’t what to say or are still trying to take every thing in.   So Jesus comes back, and enters into dialogue with Tomas.  The disciple comes to believe, at least for this moment.

Well, there have been lots of times in my own life of faith that I’ve wanted to ask God to show me.   I want to know why people suffer, why God doesn’t heal everyone, why Christians can’t get along with each and so on.    The good news for all of us is that  God continues enter in conversation, helping us along the way, holding us up. 

“You are my God, and I will thank you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good, God’s mecry endures forever.” (Psalm 118.28f) 

Easter Sunday – April 8, 2007

The Gospel according to John (20:1-18) tells us that Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning.  She is there likely to mourn, to think about all that has happened, and to meet with other followers of Jesus who also go there.   Instead of this, however, she receives a horrible shock — the Lord’s body is missing.  Two disciples confirm her discovery, and go away, defeated.  It is all over.

Mary, however, stays, to weep.  Nothing is making any sense.  Even when two angels speak to her, she doesn’t understand what has happened.  Her weeping intensifies.  Only when the ‘gardener’ comes to her, does Mary understand the good news.  She gives praise to her Teacher, and obeys his command to be the first witness of his resurrection.  She does so, proclaiming to the rest of the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!’, and everything else that he had taught. 

The weeks around Easter are full of eggs, chocolate, bunnies, special meals, cards, and time off.  All these things are wonderful in themselves.  However, they do not tell us what  Easter is.  Easter is Jesus coming to us and saying our name.  Easter comes when the risen Christ invites us to hear the story of Good Friday and of the Resurrection.  Easter comes when our Saviour offers us a call to share this good news with the world.   Easter happens whenever we celebrate this good news in community.

May the truly delicious sweetness of the Easter story come to each of us this year.