September 10, 2017
Roger Lynn
(click here for the audio for this sermon)
Sixteen years ago tomorrow we watched a scene of unimaginable violence and destruction unfold before us. Two enormous towers in New York collapsed into a pile of rubble. A hole was punched into the side of the Pentagon. And a plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Approximately 3,000 people died in the attacks. Countless more have died in the years since then in the various wars which have been waged in response. And a shadow of fear has fallen over our nation and our world that at times threatens to engulf us completely.
In the wake of such overwhelming devastation, darkness and fear, we who seek to be people of faith are left to ponder the question of how best to respond. Because we live in a complex and complicated world such a response will not be simple and it will not be easy. But because we follow Jesus in our quest to live faithfully there are certain basic qualities which must be included in any response we make.
Several years ago, when I was serving as their Transitional Pastor, the folks at Country Homes Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) developed a new identity statement - “Following Christ into God’s Future with Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Arms.” It is not our identity statement, but it easily could be. I believe it captures and gives voice to much of what we are called to do and who we are called to be in this often frightening world in which we live. Let’s take a few minutes to examine some of what it means to live into such an identity.
It begins by reminding us that we are “following Christ.” We don’t have to do it on our own. Indeed, we cannot. In the example of Jesus’ life and the inspiration of his teachings we find a model for our own living – a roadmap for our own journey. And one of the central themes which we see profoundly and prominently illustrated in his life is love – love for God, love for neighbor, love for self. It is love which is unconditional and without limits. It is love which forms the basis for everything we do. Following Christ means always asking the question, “What is the loving response in this situation?” It means always striving to more fully embody love in the world.
Next we are reminded that in following Christ we are going somewhere - “into God’s future.” Our faith is forward looking. We can learn from the past but we must always endeavor to avoid getting stuck there. And the future into which we are moving is shaped and defined by the active and ongoing presence of God. That means it is a future which must include the qualities we have come to associate with God’s sacred presence – love, grace, forgiveness, compassion, trust, joy, peace, understanding. If the future into which we find ourselves moving does not embody these qualities then we must engage in active reflection on how to change course in order for our living to become more fully aligned with God’s gracious desire for us and for the world.
Following Christ into God’s future requires that we adopt a particular posture. We are called to live with “open hearts.” There are so many ways in which living in this world encourages us to close down rather than open up. In the years since the tragic events of 9/11 fear has run rampant. Fear looks down instead of up, backwards instead of forward, inward instead of outward. We are tempted to close off our hearts lest we be hurt. If we don’t let anyone in then they can’t cause us pain. But such an approach to living isn’t really living at all, and it certainly isn’t following Christ. Jesus’ life was spent responding to fear and hate and violence with love and peace and compassion. He did not turn away and he did not lash out in retaliation, even in the face of his own death. He modeled “open-heartedness” for us and invites us to make it the cornerstone of our own living. Does it leave us vulnerable? Absolutely! Does it open the door for amazing, transforming, healing ways of experiencing life in this world? Absolutely!
And we are invited to follow Christ into God’s future not only with open hearts but also with “open minds.” As human beings we have the remarkable gift of being able to process our experiences in the world with thoughtful and intelligent reflection. We have the ability to explore a variety of ways of understanding circumstances and events. When we allow our minds to be open with curiosity then vast expanses of life stretch out before us just waiting to enhance our living.
Finally we are invited to bring our open hearts and open minds into connection and community with the world as we adopt a posture of “open arms.” The future into which God is calling us is shaped and defined by active, life-affirming, life-transforming love. And that love is made manifest in us and through us when we allow it to guide our own loving activities in the world. We spread our arms in welcome - in compassion - in acceptance – in love. Teresa of Avila put it this way in the 16th century:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
In this post-9/11 world in which we live there is so much darkness and fear which threatens to overwhelm us. May God’s light illuminate the darkness as we make manifest God’s transforming and healing love. May we choose to be God’s faithful people who follow Christ into God’s future with open hearts, open minds and open arms. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment