Who's in charge? (sermon from Sunday, July 7, 2020)

Scripture reading (Matthew 28:16-20) 

The ending to the Gospel of Matthew sounds like one of those “this-is-the-end-of-the-beginning, because today-is-the-beginning-of-the-rest-of-your-life” kind of stories.

It’s been 40 days since Jesus was killed, buried, and then raised from the dead by God.  The risen Jesus has appeared a number of times to his followers, helping them to believe that he is raised, and to believe that his way of life and of death actually is the way that will change the world and transform their lives.

Now he plans to see them one more time, and he has told them – in good spiritual-story tradition – to meet him on a hillside, where they like he will find themselves between heaven and Earth, at one and the same time open to God and connected to the world.

The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted…

[...interesting that the early church that wrote the Gospels was not afraid of doubt and even disbelief among its members … somehow that it's not an impediment to discipleship and to being part of the community of Christ in the world.]

… Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection

Who’s in charge here?

The last week or so a little picture – is it a meme? – has been making the rounds on Facebook, and it came my way from one of our members.

  

In it two men are walking in a sunlit garden.  We see them from behind, and in the balloons above their heads we read what they say to one another from under their protective sun-hats.  “Ya know,” one says to the other, “I’d like to ask God why he allows terrible things like hate, racism, war, famine and homelessness.”  Good question. To which the other replies, “I’ve always thought God was asking us that same question.”

Really!?   Who is in charge here?

Is it us?  Or God?

Either way, for good reason some people find it hard to put much faith in either one as being able to bring about what we’re invited to believe in and to live towards, which is the coming of the kingdom of God, and the healing of the world. 

But might it be, like it usually is, that it's not a matter of either/or – either us or God, but a matter of both/and – both God and us, us and God in covenantal relationship?  And with the relationship of the two as the key to the whole thing.

Usually the answer – if it’s to an important question, is not in just one or the other of the binaries that we always seem to set up – between you and me, us and them, right and wrong, us and God – but in a third thing, which is the relationship between the two.  In the ongoing covenantal commitment of one to the other.  In the communion of the two.  In the co-mingling of that which we try to hold apart.  In the dwelling-together of that which we think should be separate, and the indwelling of one in the other regardless of how different they seem to be.

And does that make a difference to what we believe, what we look for, and how we live towards it?

***

In the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus prepares to ascend from Earth to heaven and prepares his disciples for the life they are called to, he says, “All authority has been given me in heaven and on Earth.  So go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; teach them to do all I have commanded you.  And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

At times we have interpreted this to mean Jesus is now in charge, elevated to the throne and wearing the crown of God. 

That he is now set up as the one who is the answer, with the power to make it all right, fix whatever’s wrong, and by magic or divine fiat (however we imagine it to work) to take responsibility and in some ways take us off  the hook.

But is that what Jesus is saying?  Does that even sound like the Jesus of the Gospels?  Is that how after walking with him for three years those first disciples would have understood what he was telling them?

Or is what he is saying more along the lines of “God has now affirmed my way – the way I have shown you of community-gathering and community-creation – to be the way of true life for the all the world”?

Of “I call you now to call others as I called you to the ways of forgiveness and reconciliation, of compassion and love for others no matter how ‘other’ they are”?

Of “you now are to invite others to see and to celebrate as you do, the fullness of God and of holy life above and around and within you all”? 

And of “as you lift up and empower the disempowered, and cast down and humble the haughty as you have seen me do, I will be with you and the kingdom of God will be among you over and over again, to the end of the age”?

All of which makes God’s kingdom sound a lot more like invitation than institution, like something to live steadily towards rather than a steady state set up once and for all.

***

What are the signs of hope that lift our spirits these days, and that we’re happy to share with others as good news in the midst of the uncertainty and anxiety?  The markers of true life and the glimpses of God’s kingdom on Earth that give us something to live towards?

In the midst of the pandemic and in the face of COVID-19 isn’t it over and over again the little instances of compassion, the expressions of creative good-will to strangers, the gestures and actions of self-giving care for one another – especially the most vulnerable among us?

And in the midst of the protests, against the framework of systemic racism we all are schooled in, is it just anger or is it also human hope and divine dignity we hear expressed in the “Black Lives Matter” voices?

In the news of disorder in the streets, isn’t it stories of protesters talking with police and the police listening to them, that encourage us?  Pictures of police chiefs, National Guardsmen and military personnel breaking formation on the street to take a knee in memory of George Floyd.  Twenty-one seconds of silence exercised by our prime minister, and the words of the Governor of Minnesota when he says there is no pride or comfort in knowing his state is ranked among the top ten states in standard of living and second only to Hawaii for happiness among its citizens, when being able to share in those things depends on the colour of your skin not being black.

“All authority is given me in heaven and on Earth,” Jesus says.  “Go, show them how to be.  Help them all share in the fullness and love of God that you see above and in and for all things and all people.  And when you do, I will be with you in and keep you going well to the end of the age.”

***

So what can we do?  Where can, and do we start? 

We start where we are, don’t we?  The same as anyone anytime, including Jesus of Nazareth.

We believe in the incarnation, and learn to see the presence, the purpose and the call of God not just somewhere else and in someone else, but wherever we are and right in us. 

Right where we are with whatever is given to us, is the place to reach out, to show compassion, to break down barriers, and to live with and for others as though we are community together until it’s true. 

It might mean some study groups in the fall – maybe sooner, around some of these issues and how we and God come together in them.  It also means taking action and living out what we can right now in the way of God’s love at work in  the world, among us and through us.

Today is Case for Kids Sunday – the first Sunday in June, the day of the year we usually go for a nice walk down at Bayfront Park to raise money to support Wesley Urban Ministries’ programs for children, youth and families at risk and in need in the city. 

Because of the pandemic we can’t do it this year.  But so what?  Does that stop us from being God’s people and being the answer we are called to be together?  Not likely. 

Barb M has put together some information about Case for Kids this year, and how we can be part of it.  Please see the letter by going to  https://fiftyunitedchurch.org/ and clicking on the Case for Kids link on the home page.