May 5, 2024 – Easter 6B

“While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.” Acts 10:44-48

Do you know what the world’s record is for the longest sermon ever preached? The longest sermon ever preached was by a Unitarian preacher who preached for 60 hours and 31 minutes. I guess you could say it all in that length of time. Now, the shortest sermon I have ever heard of was delivered by a Catholic priest, on Father’s Day, where he stood up in front of the congregation, true story, and said these words:  “Trust the Father”. I would only improve on that sermon by adding one word: “Trust the Father’s love”. Could it really all be said with those four words?  It can if we know that the Father’s love comes to us through Christ. A pastor once preached these words:

“To experience love, to receive love and to give love, is to have the spirit of Christ’s love inside you.”

Our text today is about love, and Jesus’ commandment that we are to “love one another as I have loved you” But Jesus goes further than just being a loved child – raising us up to a closer relationship – one of friend.

“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends…” 

You see, a servant is one who is called into the king’s chambers to go fetch this, or go and do that. The servant is called and then dismissed. The friend of the king however is someone who is a close intimate friend. They are called to come to the king’s side and to stay – to talk intimate matters – to be there to help with problems more so that the staff – or the servants. So when Jesus lifts up his disciples (including you and me) we are lifted up to a closer relationship than just another follower. We are lifted up to be more than just our understanding of casual friend.  We are the one’s who are loved by G-d called to be at G-d’s side in an intimate relationship. G-d chose to love us first, to claim us as G-d’s own, to love us so much that G-d sent Jesus Christ to this world to live, love and die for us.  Thus, our identity was forever changed in the waters of our baptisms, where G-d claimed us as G-d’s own, because G-d first loved us. 

Don’t we find it hard to love ourselves most of the time? We seem to live in a society that continues to remind us of our inadequacies, of our failures, of our weaknesses. With this kind of information thrown in our faces all of the time, how could we love ourselves? But you see, being able to love ourselves begins with looking into the mirror and seeing a “loved child of G-d”. And how does G-d love us? G-d’s love for us is defined by the love between the Father and the Son – between G-d and G-d’s Son Jesus Christ. Their love is an abiding love – an enduring love – a dwelling love – a continuing love – a relational love.  It is a love that we are invited to share and participate in – to dwell within – each and every day. 

Pastor Dave