“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” How has that worked for you? Have you ever caught yourself saying, “how many times do I have to tell you to follow the rules?” It could be running in the house; it could be breaking curfew; it could be not getting homework done. When we say, “how many times do I have to tell you something,” we mean, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. We think that when those who we love the most fail to obey, somehow, they love us less. It isn’t true, but it feels that way for many of us. I know I feel that way sometimes.
When Jesus says to his disciples, which includes us; if you love me, you will keep my commandments, what is he saying? Does Jesus really mean it? Some of you may be familiar with what Saint Paul says in Romans 5:20-21. “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Is Paul suggesting commandments cause us to sin? Paul continues after that, to make sure we understand that a life in Christ is a life dead to sin. So, what commandments does Jesus give us that we must obey?
The Commandments Jesus gave us are not the numerous laws we find in the Old Testament, like keeping kosher, and the need for circumcision. I give thanks right now to God for relaxing those laws. In the very next chapter in John’s account that we read today Jesus gives the disciples the commandment he expects them to follow as he washes their feet. Jesus says to them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The other two commandments Jesus gives us we find in the synoptic Gospels, first that we celebrate the Eucharist, because he says, “do this” at the last supper. The final commandment Jesus gives us is found in the last words of Matthew’s account, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Three commandments from Jesus; Love as he loves us, go baptize everyone you can and celebrate the Eucharist to remember him. I’d say we at Redeemer have done a pretty good job following these commandments, but there is always room for improvement, isn’t there? Our newly christened Priest-In-Charge, Fr. Wilson, dropped a blockbuster on the staff on Tuesday morning. He has set a vision for Redeemer, and given the readings today, and the obligation Jesus places on us in the Gospel I thought it appropriate to share it with everyone. The vision at Redeemer is for us to add three thousand new members to our flock. He has not given us a timetable yet, and given his adverse reaction to details, I doubt he will. Still, we must be ever approaching that number.
How do we add three thousand new members? Today, Saint Paul, in Acts does something quite amazing. Somehow, Paul merges precisely the commandment Jesus gives us in John’s account, with Fr. Wilson’s vision for Redeemer. Paul is in Athens, Greece, not Georgia, and his spirit is provoked, because he sees the city was full of idols. Paul is in a place that makes his skin crawl, makes him sick, it provokes his spirit. He then preaches in the synagogue and is approached by Greek philosophers. Keep in mind their way of life makes Paul sick. He wants nothing to do with them. They invite Paul to preach at the Areopagus, and Paul accepts the invitation. What we read today in Acts, was most of Paul’s sermon preached to these pagans who provoked his spirit to anger. Paul, in this sermon, obeys Christ’s commandment to love those who are listening, as Jesus loves us. Paul does not tell them why they are wrong, why they are evil, why they are dumb, or that they are devil worshippers. He preaches from the positive, like a mother feeding a newborn baby who can only handle breast milk. Paul is giving these potential new converts to the way, just what they can digest.
What were the results? Some mocked Paul, but others, asked to hear more, and some joined him, and he baptized them. The way we grow the kingdom is by loving people enough to meet them where they are, just like Jesus does for each of us, every day. If we expect to live into growing Redeemer by three thousand people, this is the method we must use. If we love Jesus, we must keep his commandments; we must love others as he loves us. That means dying to self, and combining patience, bold action and trusting that Jesus will give us the words we need when we need them. The next time you feel upset because someone has broken one of your commandments, remember how many times you have broken the commandment of Jesus. Remember also, that however low you may have sunk, Jesus went there and met you and pulled you out. Are you willing to do that for another? Are we ready to meet people where they are, and gently, and lovingly raise them as our own? I believe we can, and I hope you do, too
Sermon preached by the Rev. Christian M. Wood
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
6th Sunday of Easter
17 May 2020
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