Sermon for March 21, 2021 Fifth in Lent “The Days Are Coming”
I would like to start with a story I heard told by Benjamin Zander. He recalls a conversation with a holocaust survivor ‘My brother and I were forced onto a train, I looked down and noticed he was not wearing his shoes, where are your shoes, why can’t you be more careful, do I have to do everything for you. Later that day she learned that her brother had died. She was horrified at his death and the deaths of her parents and thousands of others but she was disappointed at herself that the last words she spoke to her brother were angry words. She vowed that; “I will never say anything that couldn’t stand as the last words I ever say to someone”’
As we move into the last week of Lent and Holy Week, we are going to hear last words of Jesus. The Gospel lesson from John today starts to prepare the disciples and us to hear words that are difficult and ones we would just as soon not hear.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into ground and dies…
Those who love their life will lose it…
Now my soul is troubled…
Abba, save me from this hour…
An angel has spoken…
Now is the judgement of this world…
And as the weeks unfold and we move to Easter the last words become more focused and intense. The teaching from Jesus is both personally profound and a harsh word to empire and systems.
We are called to cultivate a style that supports life; the life of ourselves, others and creation. I wonder what would happen to our speech if we viewed each conversation as though it might be the last? I suspect that our words and by association our actions may be gentler and kinder.
Have you noticed this past year that the air is cleaner? I saw pictures that showed a dozen of the most polluted cities in the world, one was taken in January 2020 the other in December 2020, the difference was astounding. I know we miss cruise ships in Saint John but from a care of creation perspective one ship creates more air pollution in 5 hours that every car driving in SJ in a 24-hour period. We hear of systemic racism in many institutions and a huge reluctance to tackle the issue. We experience systems that promote aggression and oppression and call it progress.
When Jesus says “Now is the judgement of this world, now the ruler of this world will be driven out” he is talking about systems that oppress people or creation in any way. Indeed, when Jesus talks of a new kingdom he is referring to the heart and soul of humans but the next logical step is that as our hearts and souls are re-born with compassion and love that translates into every part of our life. It reminds us that we are followers of Jesus…Christian…every day. If you have been transformed by Jesus’ love then it matters not if you are artist or mason, plumber of politician, minister or collector of refuse what you do matters, how you treat others matters, the policy you make matters. Then, one person at a time, systems will begin to change.
For me Lent is that time of intentional, profound introspection, a time to look closely at me, to open myself to the gaze of Jesus and to notice where it is that I need some remodeling. It is my version of forty days in the wilderness and it will prepare me for the days to come. I and we are going to be forced to make a decision; will we run and hide, will we be caught up in the crowd shouting crucify him, will we stand and witness the agony of the cross. In Jesus day these decisions were fraught with danger and for the 21st century Christian they are no less dangerous.
We will hear the last words of Jesus in the coming weeks and many of them will be difficult to hear. We will, in any day say last words whether we know it or not. I like the commitment of the holocaust survivor who vowed to ‘never say anything that could not stand as the last word I ever spoke to someone’.