May 2, 2021 – Easter 5B

Have you ever worked for someone, a boss or a manager who fired a lot of people? Did you ever work with someone who just couldn’t keep a secretary, or lost staff a lot because of the way they treated people? When I read this text with the sense that Jesus “fires anyone who does not bear fruit” — I just get the image of a boss who doesn’t like people —- or cannot get along with people. Is this your image of G-d? Is this what you think of Jesus? Is this the G-d you turn too when you need lifted up? I mean, really, the G-d they are talking about in 1 John, whom the writer says: “love is from G-d, everyone who loves is born of G-d and know G-d. G-d is love. If we love one another, G-d lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. Those who say they love G-d and hates their brothers and sisters are liars.”

No where do I hear anything like “G-d will love you if you bear fruit” or “When you show G-d all of the things you have done to prove your love, G-d will love you.” Instead we hear verses like “For G-d so loved the world (first) that G-d gave the world the Son….”

So, let me ask you again, what lifts you up? Is church uplifting for you? Is humor, a long run, a bike ride, or a long walk on the beach with your sweetheart uplifting? Is playing a round of golf, watching the Hershey Bears, rooting for the Capitols or the Flyers or the Penguins uplifting to you? What about spending time with G-d in prayer? Is that uplifting? What about writing down your thoughts about your faith — serving on a committee — donating your time or resources? Are you having trouble finding something uplifting about your faith? Are you afraid that G-d will forget about you, cut you off, or already has abandoned you? I am here to tell you that G-d does not cut us off. Instead of cutting us off when we are fruitless, G-d lifts us up to enable us to become fruit-bearing Christians again. G-d first intervened in our lives through our baptisms – and G-d continues to intervene in our lives to remind us that G-d loves us beyond all measure. Remember the story of Joseph – Joseph who when he was at his lowest, he did not think G-d abandoned him — instead G-d lifted him up in each of his situations so G-d could turn to good what man had meant for evil.

As Lutherans, we believe that we are rich in blessings — blessings that have nothing to do with money, or wealth, or property, or possessions. We are rich in love, mercy and Grace through Jesus Christ. And those who have an abundance are called to share out of their abundance — and even those who have less, are also called to share out of their abundance — because abundance is not just about how much money we have….amen? Abundance comes in the fruits of the spirit with which we have been blessed — as Galatians 5  says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control….those who belong to Christ Jesus…live by the Spirit, so let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26) When Luther was at his lowest, he would tell himself “I am baptized. I am baptized.” It reminded him that he was a beloved, chosen child of G-d.

And this is what lifts me up.

Pastor Dave