John 15: 9-17
Most of us, I think, would agree that words are important. What we say and how we say what we say matters, right? Words are important. Our words, in any situation, at any given time, reflecting a piece of who we are. Our words express our beliefs – our thoughts on this or that… of what we value in life and what we don’t… of what is important to us and what is not… They express our emotions – on how we feel amidst life’s many ups and downs and for the people that walk with us through it all. They shape our identity, and too, how people identify with us. Words are important… What we say and how we say what we say matters…
What we say to our children defines who we are as parents and influences who they will be as adults. What we say to our spouse – how we express our feelings for them, how we speak to them when we’re fighting – not only says something about who we are as a partner, but too, how we view them as one. We could say the same about our various other relationships – those with our friends, our neighbors, people here at church.
On this subject of Language Arts, our dear Dr. Luther once said; “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write”. Words, spoken or in ink (or typed), are important. They can change the world… At the very least, someone’s world…
And if we stop to think about it, adding to the importance of our words is the moment at hand. Context matters. There are those moments when words are especially important. When we ask that special someone to marry us. When our children head off for their first date. When we drop them off at college. When we’ve messed up with a friend and had to ask for forgiveness. For those of us who have sat by the bedside of someone we love as death draws near, trying to say it all without nearly enough time… listening, in their attempts to utter their final words to you in their final breaths. “Take care of your mother.” “I’m proud of you and the person you have become.” “Forgive me.” “Keep the faith.” “Remember who you are and whose you are.” “Remember how much I love you.” Words are important.
As we enter into this weekend’s gospel, we pick up from last weeks, as Jesus continues his farewell discourse – as he offers some of his final words to his disciples before going to the cross. And Jesus? Knowing far too well the fate that awaits him – that his time with them is coming to a close – he speaks of love… of his hope, that in his absence, his disciples would live a life of love as he has with them…
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
With these words from Jesus, today is all about love. Though truthfully, by Jesus making love his greatest commandment for those who seek to follow him, it isn’t just today, but every day, that should be all about love. And Jesus is clear – this love he commands, requires everything. Not only words, but actions. It requires sacrifice. Constant sacrifice. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. To love God is to love our fellow humans, even if it comes to giving one’s life.
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you… that you love one another as I have loved you…”
In a recent article from the American Psychological Association, decades of medical research are brought together to better understand the effects that love has on our physical and mental health – on our mind and body. The results – that love is a basic need for our wellbeing… is a biological necessity… We need love in order to be well. Not just romantic love – the love we have for our spouse – but too, the love that Jesus calls for – love of friends… love of neighbor…
We could argue that the word love, has fallen on hard times. That love, in today’s world, is far more about simple emotional pleasures than it is about compassion, care, and commitment. And while the easiest response to this is to blame Hallmark and their famous Christmastime movies, the truth of it is, we all have had our part in the downfall. Too often making the things of love some sort of conditional phrase instead of a way of life. “If you really love me, you’ll…” “I love you, but…” “I love my neighbor, except for… though not…” Not often enough loving what is truly important…
But as Jesus often does when it comes to the ways of the world – Jesus has different thoughts on the subject. For Jesus, when it comes to love, it’s far from simple. It isn’t about us or our emotions, our wants or desires. It’s about the friend before us – whether we would consider them a friend or not. It is love through the lens of the cross. The love that pulls us out of ourselves for our neighbor in need. The love that is unconditional. That we are to extend to all at all cost. No exceptions. Not buts or if onlys.
Along with Jesus’ disciples, we are invited into this journey of love. The journey will be long. It will be hard. It will take sacrifice. It will have ups and downs and joys and sorrows.
We will be challenged to love others along the way – even those we don’t feel like loving. We will be challenged to empty ourselves – even when we think there is no more left to give. We will suffer loss, but we will also gain, because we have been chosen by Christ, appointed to go and bear fruit, and loved in ways we can only begin to imagine.
So, go forth and bear the fruit of love. Abide in it. Love with your words – recognizing just how important they are. Love through your deeds – for they might just change the world. Love God. Love the person before you – friend, neighbor, and enemy alike. And when the things of love get tough, look to the cross – the beating heart of Christ – and remember just how much it is that God loves you. Amen.
~Pastor Andrew Geib
Sermons at St. James Gettysburg 