Sunday, May 7, 2023
/The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:1-10; John 14: 1-14
The Rev. Jeff Bohanski
It’s May! Like most Mays, all I can think of is, come on June! We are in the midst of testing season at school. Individual testing of first graders is not easy when grades are due, and papers need to be graded. Our air went out last week, but thankfully it was an easy fix. Next week is STAAR Math. The children are tired and looking forward to summer. I know they hear their parents making summer plans and they can’t wait to start those plans. Some days it feels as if I’m living in the middle of a hurricane. This is where I am today when I hear these readings. I’m guessing you may have your own list of issues you are dealing with.
Yet, in all this, I find strength, direction, and refreshment in today’s readings.
In Acts we heard as Stephen looked up, he declared “Look, I see he havens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” In my mind’s eye I can see Stephen keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus as he was being stoned. I believe that’s how he was inspired to say, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, do not hold this sin against them.” By the way, did you notice that these words of Stephen were very like the ones Jesus said on the cross.
This image of Stephen keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus gives me help and strength this May.
As I keep my eyes on Jesus, I find myself pondering who Jesus is. So, I look to the Scriptures.
In John’s Gospel we heard a few moments ago, the story takes place not after the resurrection, but at the Last Supper, that night before he died. In it we hear Jesus telling his disciples “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” As a Christian I believe this and strive to live this.
Unfortunately, for a very long time, and even today, these words have been misused to instill hate or to declare war on those who do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, or who were not of our same denomination or religion or those who had no faith at all. But I don’t think these words of Jesus were meant divide. I believe these words were not intended to be divisive but to be directions of how to build this new kingdom of his. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
At the beginning of this same Gospel, we hear Jesus telling his disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. These words lead me to believe Jesus is a lover of all peoples because he goes to create dwellings for us. People in dwellings have relationship with one another. So, it makes sense that Jesus wants us to be in relationship with one another, not in division.
In the chapter before this morning’s Gospel, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. In the story, Judas, his betrayer, is among those whose feet were washed that night. Jesus is the servant of all. I believe we are all directed to serve Jesus in all humanity and in all God’s creation.
In the readings for Morning Prayer this week we read about Jesus healing the centurion’s servant. In the story, Jesus naturally responded in love to a person in need. He asked no questions asked about his background, sexual orientation, gender identification or religion or age. He simply responded. Soon after, Jesus, in the same reading, raised the widow’s son at Nain because he simply had compassion for her. Keep your fixed eyes on the loving, compassionate Jesus.
As of late, I have noticed that the world seems to be moving faster than ever. I am getting more and more emails from stores that want me to buy things. Last week alone I had over two hundred emails from stores wanting more of my business. Google sends me more notices every day. I’ve noticed traffic has gotten heavier and people are going faster. It feels like just yesterday was 2013, the year Victor and I finally were able to get legally married. Now suddenly, ten years have gone by. Where has the time gone? It seems to me if the world wants to keep us busy. Perhaps it’s to divert our eyes from Jesus.
Today, in the midst of our issues, our busy lives, I invite us all to stop for a moment and look to Jesus. Look to Jesus, the one who wants to dwell with us and we with him. Jesus the servant, so that we may serve him as he dwells with others. Jesus the compassionate one, so that we may have compassion for ourselves and those we encounter. I invite us all here today to live the way, the truth, and the life of an inclusive Jesus. Amen.