May 6, 2007 Sermon
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Easter 5 - C
May 6, 2007 Allan Conkling
One of the great and climactic moments of the entire Bible occurs this morning in the reading from the Gospel of John. The setting is the upper room, at the table of the Last Supper, [8:00:] “in the night in which he was betrayed…” [10:30:] “On the night he was handed over to suffering and death.” After supper with them, after he had washed their feet, Jesus speaks his final words, three full chapters according to John. This is his valedictory address to his disciples, preparing them for the hours and days ahead. John, the master story teller makes the sad, ironic association of Jesus’ crucifixion and his glorification, of light and night in juxtaposition: Judas goes out into darkness, while the light of the world shines forth. In this moment Jesus sets out the bottom line for those who would follow the quest for the kingdom of God.
I guess I am kind of sensitive to the term “the bottom line” this week. Yesterday and all day Friday Kelly, Bob, and I attended a workshop in Lubbock for clergy, active and retired, for clergy spouses and clergy widows on planning for the future. Preparing for retirement, managing finances, estate planning, even planning for your funeral—all these things are part of the life of stewardship, and are essential to be ready for the inevitable when it comes. Of course so much of the workshop focused on the bottom line: the steps one needs to do right now to increase it, and make sure it stays secure in the years ahead.
In the same way and with a similar sense of urgency, Jesus sets out the bottom line for his followers:
“Little children, I am with you only a little longer. [Therefore,] I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
Notice that Jesus does not suggest this, or advise it or commend it…he commands it. Frightened glances must have flashed around the table as the disciples began to grasp what would be their new bottom line. Following this Lord in this path would be costly.
I confess that I hate finances! The prospect of being disciplined now in order to meet my needs and those of my family in the future is like pulling teeth! And yet it needs to be done—it has to be done. Clergy just like everyone else have to watch their money. Just saying, “God provides” is not enough. God requires that we take an active part in our life. So it is whether it’s the bottom line of finances or the bottom line of the Gospel, we have our work cut out for us.
Throughout Judeo-Christian history, from the time of the Old Testament, the people of God have been part of God’s economy: “Be Holy as I am Holy” says the Lord. And this is the Bottom Line according to God [see the O.T. reading]:
From your abundance you are to help those who have less.
You are to be honest and upright in all of your dealings at home, at work and at school.
You must not defraud, or lie, or steal—which is not simply about taking things- but you must not in any way diminish the worth of your neighbor.
You must act with fairness and justice and mercy, caring for all of God’s creation: Strong or weak, rich or poor, irrespective of class, color, gender or any other “qualification”; and,
You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself…for all that that statement means.
Later on followers of Jesus ran into immediate conflict with this new “bottom line” as we see in the Acts reading. To make a long story short, Paul was rejected by many as he told about Christ and what this commitment would mean. Yet there were others…those who were ready to listen, who wanted to learn; those who would accept the challenge of seeing the world in a different way. Two thousand years later the invitation is the same for us today: God calls us to examine our lives and bring “our lives, our selves, our service” into a positive relationship with God. That’s what we mean when we say every week:
“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name, through Christ our Lord.”
I am not naďve! This is the hardest task we will ever undertake. Pencils and paper, and excel spread sheets can’t begin to factor this bottom line! As Christians, we profess that our very existence finds its ultimate meaning and purpose in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to look beyond our selves, beyond the walls of this church, beyond all boundaries, and envision an end result of personal, spiritual, social change, here now; “…on earth as it is in heaven.”
The call of the Christian life is not the easiest road or the path of least resistance. Like Simon Peter and the others, we often mistakenly think that we have reached spiritual maturity, only to make a run for the door when the going gets tough. But costly love demands this quality of life: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
That is the bottom line.
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Quotes taken from Selected Sermons, 4/24/1983
Copyright © 2003 Emmanuel Episcopal Church. All rights reserved.
Revised: 05/22/07