LIVING INTO THE RESURRECTION 4
Revelation 21:1-6; John 15:12-17
5th Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022
Pastor Ritva H Williams
Good morning and welcome to Episode 4 of Living into the Resurrection, my Eastertide sermon series featuring readings from Revelation. So far, we have met the Risen Christ as lord of all who loves us and frees us, and as the Lamb of God. We have learned about “lamb power” — self-giving love, forgiveness, solidarity, non-violent resistance and courage in the face of injustice. Lamb power is the source of life and salvation for every creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth. Last week we saw how Lamb power attracts a multitude beyond number, across borders and boundaries, singing praises to the Lamb.
Now many chapters in Revelation contain scenes of violence and destruction. Let me remind you that this book is not about predicting the future, but about revealing the truth that the empires and systems of this world operate out of fear and hate, greed and injustice, wrath and violence. The Lamb’s purpose is to lead us out of those attitudes, mindsets and lifestyles. Today we are treated to a vision of what God and the Lamb have in store for us.
As Professor Barbara Rossing writes,
What is striking in Revelation, in contrast to every other ancient text, is that this heavenly city of Jerusalem does not stay up in heaven but rather comes down from heaven to earth.
There is no rapture in the story of Revelation, no snatching of people off the earth up to heaven … it is God who is Raptured down to earth to take up residence and dwell with us — a Rapture in reverse:
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. God will dwell with
them as their God; they will be [God’s] people, and God’s very self will be with them” (Revelation 21:2-3).
The voice from the throne insists the holy city is descending now. The home of God is among human beings now. God is with us now, and always, wiping away our tears, comforting us in death, grief, and pain. The reality that we cannot see is that “the first things” — all the things in heaven and on earth that cause suffering — are passing away, and “all things are being make new.” This is both a reality check and good news.
The reality check: God never promises us an exemption from suffering. We all suffer. We deny it. We try to cover it up. We become cynical, negative, and bitter. Worst of all, we project our suffering on others. Unintentionally, and occasionally on purpose, we make those who are closest to us suffer: our families, neighbors, and co-workers; and it spreads like cancer until we are enmeshed in social systems and structures that produce and benefit from human suffering.
The good news is: it doesn’t have to be this way. The good news is that God dwells with us, embraces us, holds us close, and empowers us to live into and through our suffering with integrity. God dwells with us for the purpose of transforming our suffering, so that it won’t have the last word. The Resurrection of Christ — the story of Easter — is all about proclaiming the good news that suffering, grief, and death do not have the last word.
Hear the words of Jesus from this morning’s Gospel lesson, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The image of a vine and branches abiding in each other — points us in the direction of relationship. What kind of relationship?
Jesus tells his disciples, “You are my friends … not my slaves” (Greek: doulos; John 15:14-15). The master-slave relationship is built on unequal power. The master gives orders, the slave obeys. The master has the power of life and death over the slave. As the Lord of all, the Christ could very easily insist that we are his slaves and exercise his power over us. But Jesus does not choose that route. Instead he says, you are my friends.
For Jesus, friendship is a relationship based on love not power. He explains, “As he Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love (John 15:9); and pass it on: love one another as I have loved you; for there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (15:12-13). In John’s Gospel Jesus goes to his death voluntarily, as a sign of his friendship, love and solidarity with a broken and confused humanity.
Here are some takeaways for daily life:
The good news is that God is with us now, embracing us, and holding us close. Christ is with us grounding us like a vine giving life to its branches, giving us strength to face life’s challenges. In his death and resurrection, Christ shows us the power of love to transform suffering into new life. In his teaching Jesus points us to relationships of friendship as one the way God works in our lives for good.
So what about friendship?
Social scientists identify three basic components of friendship. (1) The relationship must be long-lasting, consisting of regular contact and sharing of knowledge about one another’s lives and interests. (2) The relationship must be positive, rooted in mutual respect and appreciation (perhaps even admiration and love), trust, concern and compassion. (3) The relationship must involve cooperation for the sake of one another’s well-being, a willingness to be there when the other is in need.
My prayer is that all of you have relationships like this. My prayer is that St. Stephen’s can be a community where authentic friendships flourish. My prayer is that St Stephen’s can become a life-giving friend to neighbors and strangers, even those suspicious or hostile. This last prayer calls for laying down our lives, not physically, but laying down what we believe about others, laying down prejudices that get in the way of friendship, laying down familiar beliefs or practices that get in the way of friendship with those who are different or on the margins of society. Building relationships is hard work, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, especially when our best efforts meet resistance or rejection, but know that Christ is with us now and always.
So let me offer up these two blessings written by Fr. John O’ Donahue.
A Blessing for Friendship:
May you be blessed with good friends, and learn to be a good friend to yourself, journeying to that place in your soul where there is love, warmth, and feeling. May this change you. May it transfigure what is negative, distant, or cold within your heart. May you be brought into real passion, kindness, and belonging. May you treasure your friends. May you to be good to them, be there for them and receive all the challenges, truths, and light you need. May you never be isolated. Amen.
A Blessing On Meeting a Stranger:
With respect and reverence that the unknown between us might flower into discovery
and lead us beyond the familiar field blind with the weed of weariness and the old walls of habit.
Amen.
