May 9, 2010 Sermon
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Easter 6 - C
John 14:23-29 Emmanuel, San Angelo
May 9, 2010 Allan Conkling
In the little Tennessee town where I went to seminary in the early years of the 1980's (way in the last century), I would walk pass each day past the home of the Bishop Girault Jones, the retired bishop of Louisiana and one-time chancellor of the University of the South. For those who have never been there, springtime in Tennessee is a delight to the senses. It is the season of crocus, of flowering dogwood, and everywhere the smell of Confederate Jasmine in the air. Bishop Jones lived on Running Knob Hollow Rd. He had there, attached to an arbor covered in Virginia creeper, and visible for all to see as they walked or rode past the home, a sign with the single word, "Meanwhile".
Bishop Jones was in his 80's then. He said the sign was to remind himself that he was living in the meanwhile between the already, and the not yet. He told a story of the old mountain man who, when asked if he had lived in the mountains all his life, gave the question a minute's thought and said, "Not yit."
When you talk to older folks they will often speak of living in the "Meanwhile". "Meanwhile" is when you can look backwards and look forwards at the same time. You can remember with vividness all the places you have been and all the things that you have done in life. But with equal clarity you can also see where you’re headed. The funny thing is every one of us lives their life in the "Meanwhile". We just don't always notice it. Not until we get older.
To me, Church
is one of those "meanwhile" places. You come here after being
out there all week. You know that within another
In the gospel reading this morning, Jesus was leaving his friends. Within a matter of hours he would be handed over to an angry mob. Jesus could see with crystal clarity where he had been and what had brought him to this time. Likewise he knew where he was headed. On the night before he was handed over to suffering and death our Lord spoke to his friends and said, to them--and to us--"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you." This was not the world's peace, not based on worldly perfection. These people knew the Roman world. Rome ruled the world with an iron hand, and brought peace but of a different kind. The "Pax Romana" it was called. This was "peace" by domination and conquest. It was peace by force when necessary. And peace through enslavement. But God's peace is different. It surpasses all understanding. God's peace it is based in love.
God's peace does not depend on external conditions; rather it comes as a result of the intentional directing of one’s inner life and one's heart to God. This peace comes not from anything that we do; rather it is a gift of the amazing grace of God. This grace works miracles in our lives. It builds us up and brings us to a place of internal stability; bringing with it meaning and purpose such as the world, and all the external "stuff" can never give. What’s more it is most profoundly experienced as we realize we are living in those moments we call the "meanwhile".
The Christian life does not offer a way of escape from the troubles of this life. Quite the contrary. One look at our Baptismal Covenant shows that as Christians, our calling is to daily roll up our sleeves, and to immerse ourselves in the muck and mire of life. Our call draws us beyond our selves and our wants, to a life of service to all persons no matter how great or small. Our call is to strive for justice and peace, and to respect not just every human being, but all of God's Creation.
Victory over the powers of death and destruction come as daily we stare death and destruction of God's creation square in the face. Yet all the while we have the knowledge and assurance that Christ is walking along side us in the "valley of the shadow of death". Christ guides us, teaches us, and reminds us of eternal life, which extends through all eternity for you and for me as we wait in the "meanwhile" for his second coming.
"Do not let you hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid..." All around the world awaits us. We see where we have come from, and know where we are headed. But "meanwhile" we are here. Go out that way, but first come forward this way to the altar of God. For it is here that you will find rest for your soul.
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Revised: 05/26/10