WE Are His Disciples

John 1:43-51

“Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.” Give us ears to hear Jesus calling, “Follow me.” Help us find ways to “Come and see.”

The calling of disciples is a mystery, something profound, sacred, and beyond complete human comprehension. It usually involves divine intervention in a person’s life and a deep personal transformation with significant changes in their beliefs, values, and behavior, and deepening of spiritual awareness and understanding

So we have to ask:

Who is called to be a disciple?

What qualities are required to be a disciple?

What is a calling? According to the Webster International Dictionary, ‘Calling’ is a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action, particularly when convinced of divine influence.

Calling disciples involves Jesus approaching individuals, often fishermen or other ordinary people, and inviting them to:

“Follow me,”

The people left their current occupations and families to become Jesus’ followers.

They heard a voice only their inner self could listen to. Once heard, the call redirects their lives. They had found meaning in following Jesus.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus never said to make disciples by taking them to church—or a Bible study group? Not that these activities aren’t an integral part of a disciple’s growth, but the calling is much more personal.

What makes us and others disciples of Jesus?

• People more concerned about individual souls than numbers to fill a church.
• People striving to be like Jesus rather than complaining, criticizing, and confronting from a distance.
• People willing to leave their comfort zone to teach instead of hiding behind four walls and waiting for someone to appear.
• People standing up for the gospel’s truth rather than caving when friends or family members exert pressure.
• People who know what the Bible says and say what the Bible teaches instead of giving personal opinions or quoting off-the-wall scholars.
• People praying without ceasing instead of constantly harping.
• People with open hearts and homes and Bibles rather than closed off to offering their time and presence.

Maybe they’re nowhere near you. So you have a great opportunity: become one of them. Learn how to become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Start from scratch. You and the Holy Spirit. You and the divine power of God. You and the gospel truth of Jesus that transforms lives and saves souls.

When Jesus returned to heaven after His resurrection, He left His followers explicit instructions for the people there with Him that day and for every follower of Jesus who would come after them. He said,

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).

God wants his people to go out into the world. The religious folk prefer clusters and cloisters, the safety of numbers where one can sway with the crowd and avoid risk in the work of the Kingdom.

Which am I?

Which are you?

The Kingdom begins with me. I, for one, am determined that it will not end with me.

Will you join me?

Jesus only has us to become disciples and encourage others to join us. Faith passes from person to person. Discipleship is simply helping people become better friends with God.

Jesus Himself used the concept of friendship to describe what He’s looking for from us in John 15:14-16:

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Jesus did not call exceptional, famous, or influential people to be his friends.

• He publicly endorsed Matthew – a despised tax collector who stole from his people.
• He commissioned a naked man possessed by demons as his first missionary.
• He entrusted a promiscuous Samaritan woman with his testimony.
• He held up a Roman centurion, the military enemy of the Jewish people, as an outstanding example of faith in Israel.
• He let Mary of Bethany – a woman- sit at his feet in the place of a man.
• He handpicked James and John – uneducated fishermen as his protégés.
• He selected Peter – a headstrong, unfaithful loudmouth to be the foundation for his church.
• He chose Paul – the murderer of the church, to proclaim his name to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel.

Over and again, Jesus picked the most unlikely characters to represent him—the least of these, the outsiders, the bottom of the food chain.

He calls each of us to become disciples, doing what we can to expand the teachings of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

So, I challenge you to reach out to just ONE person, carrying the message of the Love of God and salvation through Jesus. It isn’t that hard:

• Greet someone here who you do not know 
• Talk to someone at coffee hour and ask them to come again
• Ask your neighbor to go to a church function.

If you do, marvelous things can happen!

Remember the words of Saint Teresa of Ávila:

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.

Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.[1]

Will you commit yourself to becoming a disciple of Jesus?

Let us pray:

We come before you with a heart open to your guidance and a spirit eager to walk in the path of discipleship. Lord, we recognize the call to follow you, to be your disciple, and to grow in our faith each day.

Grant us the strength to leave behind our old ways and embrace Jesus’ teachings. Please help us to surrender our will to yours and to trust in your divine plan for our lives.

Fill us with the wisdom of your Word so that we may understand the depth of your love and the purpose you have for us as a disciple. May your Holy Spirit guide our steps and illuminate our understanding as we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Amen.

 

(Starts at 3:36–15:42)

Delivered at Ohio Living Westminster Thurber Tower and Westminster Terrace, Columbus, OH; 14 January 2024

 

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[1]      Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), No Hands But Ours

Lay, Ordained, and Orders Called to Him

Matthew 4:12-23

Many stories within the Bible are known as ‘call stories.’ A call story tells how God invites someone to become something new and unexpected. God calls this person to begin and not only begin but persist so that this new thing can occur.

One day Andrew, Simon, James, and John got up before the sun came up, walked down to the sea, and hurled nets into the water, anticipating a catch of fish. It was a day like every other day – it was dark and probably cool, and the nets were smelly and heavy. They were, after all, fishermen. They were doing what they did every day.

Jesus comes down to the seaside amid the water and nets and fresh fish, roughly hewn boats of wood, the rhythm of the waves. He stands on the bank watching these men throw out the nets and then haul them back in, loaded with fish. He looks at these men and, in a very commanding voice, announces:

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. (Matthew 4:19)

I imagine they looked at this man on shore as if he was a little crazy. He knew nothing about fishing – the idea that they could fish for humans!

Who is the crazy man, this itinerant preacher who calls them to ‘fish for people’? And where did he come from?

They were fishing near Bethsaida, an outpost of Palestine. This area was far removed from the country of Judea, part of Israel. What was this man doing there? And why had he come all this way from his home in Nazareth?

Jesus had come to the area around Capernaum, which is close to the Grand Trunk Road leading from Damascus to India, Afghanistan and China. Along the coast beside the Mediterranean Sea was the Via Mares, connecting Cairo to Asia Minor. This was the trade crossroads of the existing world. What better place for Jesus to escape to after the arrest of John the Baptist; here he could preach and teach to all sorts of people traveling through Galilee.

Jesus said to them:

Follow me and I will make you fish for people. (Matthew 4:19)

Why did he choose these men?

We know that Jesus did not read resumes before he calls people to be his disciples. He didn’t care what their history was. And as we now know, sometimes he didn’t always make the best decision on who he called. Simon, who became known as Peter, denied Jesus three times during his trials. James and John, often called the Sons of Thunder, think this calling will enthrone them in glory, quite the opposite of what Jesus taught. But Jesus called them, and despite their deficiencies, he still made them his partners. So, when he called, they left their old life, its security, and even their families; they may have been afraid, but not so afraid that their faith in Jesus does not lead them forward.

And why did they follow Jesus?

When Jesus called them, they must have felt the joy of the new world that Jesus was preaching. They were about to see miracles performed and illnesses cured. Jesus was going to show them a wonderful new world, touch everyone who heard him, and then make the ultimate sacrifice to bring about the new world.

If Jesus called this group of imperfect humans to be His fishers of men, why wouldn’t He call each of us to follow Him? Jesus comes to us and chooses us, and sends us out to do something new. Our discipleship means the same kind of new beginning; each of us are called to go to that edge of safety so we can bring people to Christ.

We Christians are called to be evangelists. . . to look for and bring people to Christ. We are called to say to others ‘Come and See’. But we can’t be fishers of people until Jesus has caught us. We need to ‘fish’ for others using our own personal experience as bait.

I remember giving a testimony at a church as part of the stewardship campaign about how the church and God had gotten me through a very rough time when my partner of 27 years was dying of cancer. After the service, a young man approached me and thanked me for my testimony. He seemed so depressed and sure that God hated him that he had been planning to go home and commit suicide.

Imagine how I felt at that moment. I certainly had not given the testimony with the intent of fishing for people. But with God’s help and direction, my little testimony was the bait that brought a young man back to God and salvation.

Religious Life Sunday

This is ‘Religious Life Sunday’ in the Episcopal Church. The General Convention in 2022, approved resolution, “Foundation of Religious Life Sunday,” to be held each year on the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany. This Sunday focuses efforts to tell all Episcopalians that residential monastic and dispersed Christian communities exist, who they are, and how to connect with them.

I remember the first time I saw some nuns at General Convention in 2003; I thought they were visiting Roman Catholics. By talking to them, I discovered that there are eighteen religious orders and eleven Christian communities in the Episcopal Church. They are the Episcopal Church’s ‘best-kept secret’. We have our Diocese’s Convent of the Transfiguration, located in Cincinnati and northern Ohio. Within the wider Anglican Communion, there are ninety orders.

What are the “religious” communities in The Episcopal Church?

Religious communities include monastic communities, whose members live together under a rule of life and under vows such as poverty, chastity, and obedience. “Religious Life” also includes dispersed Christian communities whose members are from all walks of life, have jobs, live in their own homes, some with families, and live under religious vows.

You or someone you know may have a vocation to religious life. Religious communities provide spiritual friendship and guidance, and our monastic communities offer retreats. You may want to establish a deeper relationship with one community by becoming an associate or oblate.

In addition, there are 92 missionaries from the Episcopal Church from 62 dioceses serving in 42 dioceses of the Anglican Communion throughout 36 countries. The Episcopal Church also supports 125 military chaplains worldwide, and The South American Missionary Society, Five Talents, African Palms, Anglican Frontiers, and the Daughters of the King.

These are people just like you and me, who have answered Jesus’ call to:

“Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)

Looking deeper into today’s gospel, what does Jesus do besides announce the Good News? In this story set in Capernaum by the sea, what are all the things Jesus does to shine God’s light in the darkness?

We hear of his teaching, proclaiming the Good News, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. That is, Jesus does more than just talk about it. He rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. The Good News is Word joined with action.

And he invites others to join him.

And look who he calls: He gathers a community of common laborers, the sick, the halt, and the lame, those who are tired, broken, and divided. He does not ask them what they believe. He does not seek out the most competent or the most educated. Jesus says,

Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19)

And all kinds of people do.

He is calling you and me.

Jesus says by his actions, “here is what the kingdom of God looks like.”

We might feel some dis-ease at the notion of immediately leaving work, family, and neighbors as Peter and Andrew and all the rest did. It seems as if Jesus is disrupting family structures and disturbing work and living patterns. But he does so not to destroy but to renew and make new! He gives new meaning to family, work, and lives.

Peter and Andrew did not cease being brothers, but they are brothers who do the will of God. James and John are not only children of Zebedee but children of God. All four leave their nets but do not stop fishing; they begin to fish for people!

Following Jesus, they become beacons of light, shining light through the darkness.

The Good News is that we, the spiritual heirs of Saints Peter, Andrew, James, and John, bring this light to hundreds of people every day in many ways. The even better news is that there is much, much more we can do to be so transformed ourselves that we change the world about us. It is, after all, Jesus who promises we will do more wondrous works than he did.

The Season of Epiphany reminds us that we, too, are the light of the world. And we are to let our lights shine, shine, shine like the Sun, the Son of God, who is coming into the world!

But how do we do that?

Think of one person you have a relationship with: it could be someone you love or someone that irritates or frustrates you. Now, take a moment to pray for them; believe that God is using you to make a difference in their lives.

You are now a ‘fisher of people’ – you have joined the ranks of those that Jesus first called on the banks of Galilee! You are caring for those whom God loves!

Let us go forth and ‘fish’!

Delivered at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH; 22 January 2023

The Election . . . and Then THIS!

Luke 21:5-19

“Joy to the world! No more election news coverage and political ads!” (Well, almost)

Maybe that isn’t the good news you were expecting to hear this morning, but isn’t it a relief to have a break from all the tv ads, telephone calls, texts, and emails? I don’t know about you, but the election process has left me feeling worn down and beaten. If nothing else, it has shown us that there is more division in this country than we might have realized and that we need to get better at listening to one another instead of talking at each other. I think we saw the results of something growing in our country for at least 15-20 years, maybe even longer.

Watching the reaction of people on Wednesday morning, I saw people who felt like the outcome of this election was ‘the end,’ or at least the beginning of the end, and people who were confident that all their greatest hopes and dreams were suddenly and magically realized.

This week, I’ve struggled with how we, as a community of faith, can come together and heal. Some of us are very excited; the candidate of their choice won, and are happy – we want to celebrate. Others are disappointed that their candidate lost; they want to mourn, are afraid, and aren’t feeling very celebratory.

Then, we come to this reading from Luke:

“Wars and revolutions, nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, earthquakes, famines, and pestilence … betrayal, hatred…” (Luke 21:10-11).

This is such a doggy downer! I want to throw my hands in the air. But when I stop worrying about how to navigate the post-election emotions with you, I realize that this passage in Luke comes just when we need it.

Luke 21:5-19 is a passage we’d all rather not hear. We want Jesus to say something else; a different set of predictions and promises. We want Jesus to say,

“Don’t worry about trials and persecutions, for I shall deliver you from them before they happen.”

We want Jesus to say,

“The world will be so impressed by the church, its accomplishments, and proclamations that they won’t dare harm you.”

We want the ecclesiastical equivalent of “Homeland Security” that will protect our borders from evildoers and offer us protection in the future. Instead, Jesus tells us we will suffer from the world’s hatred of us because of Him. But He will remain with us when it does.

As a deacon, I am challenged to try to help us all navigate through these experiences, and to recognize that God is active in everything that is going on today. God is present in the midst of fear and disappointment, as well as exuberance and joy. How can we all find hope together?

For those who preach, it isn’t hard to imagine a more challenging message. Deep down, we worry that if we preach this bluntly and boldly, some folks will leave our congregations to join up with those clappy-happy folks up the street who promise the theology of prosperity. Christians like “possibility thinking,” and by “possibility,” they most assuredly do not mean the possibility of getting persecuted to death!

This passage is an example of apocalyptic literature at its best: descriptions of wars, natural disasters, persecution, imprisonment, and even death.

But it’s not about the end of the world.

The word “apocalyptic” doesn’t refer to “end times” as we often think it does. It means revelation, specifically, God revealing himself to us directly and personally.

This scripture is not a passage about the end of the world. But we would like to know the ending. We want a timetable. And the disciples were like us; they wanted answers. So it isn’t surprising that when Jesus starts talking about the way things will be “at the end of the Age,” his disciples, and we, want to know

“When? How will we know? What will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”

So, on this Sunday after Tuesday, where do we go from here? I don’t think there are any easy answers. But as Christians, we have one calling above all others, to follow Jesus, so that’s where we begin. Look at how Jesus conducted himself throughout his ministry. He was building relationships with people. He was lifting the marginalized, eating with the tax collector, healing the sick, and forgiving the sinner. He was teaching great crowds of people, feeding the hungry, and sitting at dinner with the outcast. He was building relationships with people, and those people were building relationships with God. So what remains when it seems that our security has been stripped away? –

community,

relationships –

with God

and one another.

And it is these relationships that we, too, must strive for today and every day. Using the magnificent Temple of Solomon as an example, Jesus foretold its destruction – an indication that things would radically change – just as they did after His crucifixion.

We are told we will suffer as a follower of Jesus.

Your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will even betray you. They will kill some of you. Everyone will hate you because of my name (Luke 21:16-18)

there is no ‘land of milk and honey’ here.

The times were so terrible that even within families, the unity of the family broke down. It seems especially cruel, but parents will be betraying children, or children betraying parents, brothers, and sisters. This was a time of terrible turmoil in the community; it was a time when they needed to be uplifted, encouraged, and reminded that, yes, Jesus had been with them.

Jesus said to them and us,

“Do not be afraid.”

Jesus tells us not to be afraid 365 times in his teachings. He wanted us to believe this, and in Him.

Jesus is with us, we can have confidence and, in fact, remind ourselves

“I will be with you all days, even until the end of the world.”

In this time of division and divisiveness, our relationship with God must be our highest priority, and we must love others and build relationships with our fellow humans. When we put our highest allegiance to our idols of policy, party, or President, relationships break down.

God will always protect us; but there will be terrible suffering. Each of us has a choice to either stand firm and follow Jesus or turn away. But there is a consolation:

not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance, you gain eternal life. (Luke 21:19)

God is with us and will bring us through to a new life. That’s the promise.

Through our endurance, we will gain our lives. We need to renew our sense of being witnesses, being in the presence of, and achieving the peace and fullness of life that is the promise of Jesus.

So, we are faced with what may seem to be an impossible decision:

• Follow Jesus and suffer, maybe even lose our lives
• Go about our daily routine and possibly never get to the Kingdom

But Jesus says in the gospel,

“No one knows,”

when the end times come. We’re not to act as though it is imminent. We must go on living, following the teachings of Jesus, and feel assured that God will protect us.

Let us pray:

Dear God, remind us that in the challenges and struggles of the day, there are always opportunities to speak good words and do good things and thereby witness to our faith. Help me to ground my life in what endures: faith, hope, and love. Heal us with the warmth of your Love. Grant me compassion for all those struggling to live through catastrophic times, and remind us that you will be with us to help us to do just that. Amen

      Delivered at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH; 13 November 2022

Here We Are, Lord

Today’s scripture continues the great commissioning of the disciples which started with last week’s gospel reading. Jesus had been traveling through the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, healing the sick and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom. He quickly realized that there was much more work to be done than He could accomplish by himself – that He would need help. So He began to select his apostles. The word ‘apostle’ in Greek may be translated as ‘sent ones’. These apostles He selected followed Him, watched him preach and teach, heard his parables and tried to become prepared to help Jesus with his work – sort of like a ‘disciple school’. [They were now prepared to proclaim and spread the good news, just as Jesus had done.]

It is important to notice that Jesus called all sorts of people – you didn’t have to be as pure as driven snow. None of these men were born leaders, highly schooled, or well-positioned in the synagogue. And although Matthew does not tell us this, we also know from other scriptures that Jesus called women to be disciples. None of his followers had training to heal or preach before they met Jesus; none would have been considered persons headed for sainthood or martyrdom. But they dropped their nets, left their jobs and families and followed Jesus without looking back. What a motley crew they must have been. Scripture tells us that they didn’t even get along with each other; there was all kind of jockeying to be Jesus’ favorite. Some mothers even got into the act.

Let me remind you who they were:

Simon Peter, a fisherman, became the spokesperson for the group, although his impetuousness often got him in trouble. Although his faith always seemed to go from strong to doubt (remember he denied Jesus three times and almost drowned while trying to walk on water), Jesus called him ‘the rock’ on which the church would be founded. He spent his life after Jesus’ death evangelizing and eventually ended up in Rome and was crucified upside down for his faith.

Andrew, also was a fisherman and the brother of Peter, stopped following John the Baptist to join Jesus. Andrew was the one who introduced Peter to Jesus, letting him step into the limelight as the apostles taught and converted people. He spent his life bringing people to Jesus and like so many of Jesus’ followers he was killed because he preached the gospel. History suggests that he was crucified on a cross shaped like an ‘X’.

James was one of the fisherman sons of Zebedee who followed Jesus. He is often called ‘James the Greater’ to distinguish him from the other apostle James. He and his brother John were known as the ‘Sons of Thunder’ because of their loud voices and desire to punish anyone who slighted Jesus. James was the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred, killed with the sword on orders of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D.

John, the brother of James and also a fisherman, was called ‘the apostle that Jesus loved’. John obviously was one of Jesus’ favorites because he entrusted his mother, Mary, to him at his crucifixion. John is credited with writing the gospel of John, first, second and third John, and the book of Revelation. John continued to teach and preach against heresy until he died of old age, the only apostle who did not die for his faith.

Philip was one of the first apostles to be called, having left John the Baptist to follow Jesus. And he wasted no time calling others, like Nathanael, to do the same. Although little is known about him after the ascension of Christ, Bible historians believe Philip preached the gospel in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and died a martyr there at Hierapolis

Nathanael is thought to have been known as Bartholomew, who was introduced to Jesus by Philip and immediately recognized him as the Son of God. Although little is known about Bartholomew, legend has it that he preached in India and was crucified upside down.

Levi, who became the Apostle Matthew, was a customs official in Capernaum who taxed imports and exports based on his own judgment. The Jews hated him because he worked for Rome and betrayed his countrymen. But when Jesus said ‘follow me’, he did and became the author of the Gospel of Matthew. Legend has it that he traveled to Ethiopia and was martyred there.

Thomas, who we all know as ‘Doubting Thomas’ spread the gospel to the east after the death of Jesus and was martyred.

James the Less, son of Alphaeus, was called ‘the less’ to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee. He is the least known of all the apostles – he is only mentioned with all the other apostles in the Upper Room.

Simon the Zealot has almost no mention in scripture except in lists of the apostles. Sometimes he is referred to as ‘Simon the Canaanite’, as we heard in last week’s gospel. His life before following Jesus and after the resurrection is a mystery – the name ‘zealot’ may refer to his religious zeal or that he was a member of the Zealots, an assassin group during that period.

Thaddeus or Jude is another one of the unknown apostles, only referenced in a list of the apostles. Some biblical scholars think Thaddeus wrote the book of Jude. Church tradition says that he founded a church in Edessa and was crucified there.

Judas Iscariot is probably the most infamous apostle, and not for a good reason. We all know the story of his betrayal of Jesus, followed by his suicide. There is some theological thought that Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s plan, but that is for discussion at a later date.

So those were the apostles that Jesus called to follow and help him throughout his short life on earth – rather an ill-assorted crew, people from all walks of life. But what it says is that Jesus can, and does call all kinds of people to follow him – people that would normally never be friends or associates, but were brought together because of their belief in Jesus and his message.

How little did those disciples know what lay ahead for them. Their path would be fraught with discomfort, persecution and often painful death. Yet, so intense and amazing was this man Jesus and their attraction to him that they followed Him anyway.

The apostles were told to gather the ‘lost sheep’ into the fold. Sheep without a shepherd are a foolish lot; they will wander off and not be able to find their way home. There is absolutely nothing more pitiful than a group of sheep with no one to lead them. Jesus commissioned the apostles to bring these sheep back to the fold, and He clearly gave them the power to do so. In Matthew 10:19-20 Jesus told them:

“do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time”

Today, as then, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls all people to know and be part of the Kingdom of God. So throughout the ages He has sent, and today He sends, apostles, prophets, evangelists, priests, deacons and teachers to go forth and preach His word.

And YES, he even sends YOU and ME!!!!

Each and every one of us is called to be disciples for Jesus. The word ‘disciple’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘learner’. We are called to be disciples when those three handfuls of water are poured over our heads in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and we are brought into the family of Christ. We cannot escape – we dare not escape – that calling from the baptismal covenant. As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to proclaim the Gospel.

As Christians, we have a special responsibility to stop the church from becoming complacent and forgetting its commitment to God and God’s purpose in the face of struggles with changing demographics, budgets shortfalls, ecclesiastical protocols and Biblical interpretations. The church is, first and foremost, asked to build a community where one does not exist, or reinforce a community that is fractured. We are challenged to bring calmness and peace to the chaos of individuals’ souls and lives and to reach out and follow Jesus’ command to ‘feed my sheep’.

Just as the apostles were directed, we can learn to reach out to bring lost souls to the grace and salvation of Christ. As members of His body, it is up to us to do His work. And just as the apostles were varied and an unusual lot of people, so are we. Just as Jesus looked into their hearts and knew what they were capable of, so does he look into our hearts and knows us far better than we know ourselves.

Now, I expect some of you think that you can’t be shepherds to lost sheep, that you are not called to do the work of Jesus. We all have many excuses why we can’t be disciples for Christ:

• We don’t know what to do;
• There are ‘professionals’ to do this;
• “It’s not my job”;
• We don’t know what to say to people;
• We are not good enough Christians to witness to others;
• We are afraid.

So I ask you, how did YOU get to know the love and grace and salvation of God through Jesus???????

Didn’t someone gather YOU in like a lost sheep? Didn’t someone show you the grace of God and welcome you into the fold, regardless of who and what you are?

• Was it a pastor?
• A friend or family member?
• A stranger who gave you love or hope?

The love of Jesus comes to us through the eyes, hands and hearts of everyday people, just like you and me. We are all called to be shepherds, to love and guide each other in the path of Jesus.

A visionary from the fourteenth century, Saint Teresa of Avila, reminds us:

God has no hands but our hands, to do his work today;
God has no feet but our feet to lead others in his way;
God has no voice but our voice to tell others how he died;
And, God has no help but our help to lead them to His side.

You say you do not know what to do. God has equipped all with the tools necessary: Prayer!!

• Pray for open hearts, ready to hear the hope in God’s love
• Pray for the strength and courage to share that hope with others
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to work his power in the hearts of others.

The best evangelist is one who reaches those around them. Perhaps first learn to talk about your faith to fellow church members through study groups and witnessing. Through this you may then learn to talk about your faith to the disenfranchised and strangers. Most of all, be an example of the gospel message, then the needs, hurts and fears of the lost sheep will be made known to you.

Remember, God is love in this world!

This love is free and need not be earned and cannot be bought.

This love is complete and total, with no restrictions and no boundaries.

God sent His Son Jesus, to live as a man and die a most painful death as a man to teach us God’s love, to teach us that our ultimate fear – death – does not exist – Is not an end, but a beginning.

What good news indeed!
What great love!

This is the love that we can grow into and learn to give each other freely and without end.
We are reminded that we are all children of God. And no matter what happens to us, we will always be His children and He will always be there for us.

This, then, is our great commission: our great baptismal pledge, to live this love every day, to show it in every choice we make and to everyone we see. This is how we become his true disciples.

God will give us the tools,
God will give us the words,
God will give us the strength,
God will teach us.

A well-beloved mission song says:

(sung) Here I am Lord,
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.

Let us all become true disciples of Jesus, follow him and feed his sheep with love peace, forgiveness and joy!

Let us pray:

(sung) Here I am, Lord,
Here we are Lord,
Send the people of Saint John’s.

To do your work.
Amen.
 
 
Delivered at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Worthington and Parts Adjacent, Worthington, OH; 25 June 2017