January 19: Sermon for Second Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 49:1-7;  1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42; Psalm 40:1-12

“Behold the Lamb of God!”

A great listener

A healer

A person of deep prayer

One who feeds the hungry

One who helps those without water to quench their thirst

Drawing in the marginalized

Welcoming in strangers

Blessing, teaching, and forming children

Walking the road with others

Breaking bread with sinners

Patient

Loving

Forgiving

Filled with Grace.

Who am I describing? 

I am describing you---all of you---this Intercession Family—the Living Body of Christ.

Now, you may be thinking: Wait a minute!  I’m not a healer.  And hey, he’s not very patient, and frankly, she doesn’t listen very well.  True.  We all have our shortcomings.  We all fall short.  None of us possesses this entire list of attributes, but together we possess the characteristics of Jesus—the gifts of Jesus---all so we can accomplish the ongoing ministry of Jesus.  As St. Paul reminds the church of Corinth—and us today—“For in every way you have been enriched in him……so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift….”

The “you” in this passage is in 2^nd person plural---all y’all---because it is together, as the church, as the Body of Christ that we have everything that is needed to continue the redeeming and sanctifying ministry of Jesus.

Today’s Gospel follows the Baptism of Jesus—which we celebrated last week.  And what follows Baptism?  Ministry.  Today we see Jesus prepare to live out his ministry on earth.  So, what does Jesus do first?  He invites others to join him.  “Come and see,” Jesus says.  “Come and see.”

Here is our first charge as well.  Like John the Baptist, we are to notice God, and God’s working, in our midst and then proclaim it---pointing others to what God is doing among us.  We do not need to threaten or coerce; no need to intimidate, woo, or wheedle---we are simply to see God in our presence and then to share God with those we meet.  Invite others to know---through our words, our actions, our presence---the experience of God.

All so that those with whom we share God can then share God with others.  John shares with Andrew who shares with Peter….and we know what happened next, right?  The Church was born.  Because church isn’t a building.  If this beautiful and sacred space burned to the ground---the Church of the Intercession would still exist.  Because we are the Church of the Intercession.  This building is a beautiful gift to us and to the community as a place to meet God---but in itself, it isn’t the church.  Jesus didn’t call and gather buildings and meeting places; Jesus called and gathered people---disciples---to continue his ministry in the world.

Jesus called and gathered people into community because community shapes us.  Because community makes us who we are and strengthens us for our work.  Our faith community is where we practice living our faith.  Here we are strengthened through sacrament, study and service. This doesn’t change the fact that living in community is messy.  And challenging.  But it is by these very challenges that we are re-formed and re-shaped into the Body of Christ.

When the going gets tough or we get annoyed or offended or bothered by living in community---this isn’t the time to walk away.  Instead, it is the time to reflect and consider what is going on within us.  What is the Holy Spirit calling us to change or turn from?  What is the Holy Spirit calling us to turn to or to begin? When living in community gets messy and becomes difficult, our human nature tells us to distance ourselves.  Our divine nature, on the other hand--the imago dei within us-- would have us stay and do the hard work of reconciliation, so that transformation can happen.

This is the season of Epiphany---of revelation.  The revelation of God to the world.  It begins in Christmas, the incarnation, God made flesh.  And it continues as we reveal Emmanuel---God with us---to the world.  Christmas doesn’t end---it continues as we reveal to the world this God who loves us with steadfast grace and mercy by loving one another with steadfast grace and mercy .

Howard Thurman, an influential African American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader, wrote a poem entitled “The Mood of Christmas.” It goes like this:

"When the song of the angels is stilled,


When the star in the sky is gone,


When the kings and princes are home,


When the shepherds are back with their flock,


The work of Christmas begins:


To find the lost,


To heal the broken,


To feed the hungry,


To release the prisoner,


To rebuild the nations,


To bring peace among people,


To make music in the heart."

My friends, we are named; we are formed; we are called to become servants.  Servants of God.

What will our invitation be, Intercession family?  How will we notice God in our midst?  How will we point to God’s redeeming work in the world?  How will we share God’s love and mercy?  And most importantly, how will we invite others---and their gifts---into this Body of Christ which gathers in this sacred space?  Let’s not wait for them to come to us.  Let’s go and find them.  And bring them home.  Because we are all rightful heirs to God’s kingdom. 

During this season of God’s work being revealed through the ministry of Jesus, let us see God, share God, and invite others to know God.  Let us be the living members of the Body of Christ.