"4 o'clock in the afternoon" Sermon for Sunday 15 January 2017
Sermon for Sunday 15 January 2017
2 Epiphany
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem
The Rev. Carrie Ballenger Smith
Grace and peace to you from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Earlier this
week, I ventured into my apartment’s crawlspace, retrieved the empty box marked
“Christmas”, and then began the work of putting Jesus out of sight and out of
mind until next year.
At least,
that’s what it felt like! I have a growing collection of nativity sets from
around the world, which means at Christmastime the baby Jesus is literally “God
with us” in every room of the house. So each time I wrap the Holy Family in
tissue paper and bubble wrap, nestling Jesus in the box between Mary and Joseph
and the camels for the next eleven months, I feel a little sad to see him go. It
makes me think of how, when I was very small, I would feel guilty when my
family went on vacation, because my stuffed animals would be left all alone! I just
knew they preferred me to stay with
them. I can remember apologizing to my collection of bears and bunnies and
kittens, saying, “I’ll be right back! I won’t forget you, I promise!”
Dear
friends, our Christmas celebrations are over. Even here in Jerusalem, Christmas
is 2/3rds over! The church’s tree has disappeared, and the baby
Jesus is packed away and out of sight. But the Messiah is with us still! The
Lamb of God is walking among us! And in this morning’s Gospel lesson, John the
Baptist will not let us forget him.
One day, when
John sees Jesus walking by, he declares, to no one in particular, “Here is the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” And the next day, this time
standing with two disciples when Jesus walks by, John exclaims again, “Look,
here is the Lamb of God!” As we learned during Advent, John is the voice crying
out in the wilderness—or in this case, crying out on the side of road—always preparing
the way of the Lord and always pointing the people to Christ.
And John’s
roadside testimony worked very well, because his two disciples immediately left
him and started following Jesus. As it is written,
It was about
four o’clock in the afternoon.”
Friends, as
usual, I have so many questions about this Gospel story. There are so many
details I wish I knew: Where was Jesus going? Why is John always lurking on the
side of the road spying on him? And how is it that two disciples had nothing
better to do but take off following a guy they just saw?
But one
thing I never wondered—at all—is what
time of day this all took place. And yet, here it is: It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
The Gospel
writer felt it was important that we have this detail: It was four o’clock. Late
afternoon. After lunch. Not quite suppertime, but soon to be dark, depending on
the time of year.
When you
show up at someone’s house at four o’clock in the afternoon for a visit, the
host will surely offer you something to eat after your journey. And if you’ve
had something to eat, someone will definitely bring you coffee. And if you’ve
stayed for coffee, chances are now it’s nearly night. And if it’s nearly
nighttime—and if you are living in 1st Century Palestine, without
the benefit of a car or an evening bus to take you home—then you are likely staying
for supper.
If you’re
staying for supper, then you’re probably staying the night.
And if you’ve
remained with Jesus and his disciples for coffee, supper, conversation, and
sleep, then perhaps, after breakfast, you will join Jesus on his next daily walk.
Which makes
you a follower. Which makes you a disciple.
Which means,
in other words, four o’clock in the afternoon is decision time.
Four o’clock
in the afternoon is the time to consider: Are you here for a moment, or are you
here for the evening? Jesus says “Come and see”—and it’s not so the curious can
have a 15-minute tour of the house and then be on their way. When the Lamb of
God calls us to follow, when the Messiah invites us to walk with him, he
invites us also to stay. Jesus invites us for supper. He invites for conversation.
He invites us to take a part in his Gospel mission.
Jesus
invites us to stay for the long haul!
I’ve been
thinking a lot about the decision to stay with Jesus for the long haul as we
begin this new year. 2017 carries much meaning here in Israel and Palestine. This
year we are marking fifty years of the occupation of the Palestinian
Territories, and one hundred years since the Balfour Declaration—the letter from
Britain which established in Palestine a home for the Jewish people, and which
is seen as a key moment in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It’s
difficult to comprehend the magnitude of suffering on all sides that has
occurred here since 1917 or even since 1967. It’s equally difficult to
comprehend the steadfastness (or “sumud” as it is called in Arabic) of the
voices for peace, for justice, for reconciliation and living together that have
continued to rise up in this place in those many years. I often wonder: Would I
have the faith and the courage to continue the work of peace and reconciliation
for so many decades? I have been here just 2.5 years, and already the cycle of
violence, of failed peace initiatives, and of unreliable international
involvement often takes a toll on my passion and my resolve.
I am in awe of
those who are in it for the long haul—the Palestinians and Israelis and faithful
allies of conscience who refuse to be silenced. Those who refuse to lose hope. Those
who do not turn around and go home, even when it’s four o’clock in the afternoon,
and even when the sun seems to be setting on the chances for peace with
justice.
I am in awe
of those who stay.
I am in awe
of nurses who stay with dying patients, long after their shifts have ended.
I am in awe
of mothers and fathers and teachers who advocate for children, when others have
simply written them off.
I am in awe
of rabbis who protect Palestinian farmers harvesting olives,
And of Palestinianfirefighters who protect Israeli homes from raging fires.
I am in awe
of the last doctors in Aleppo.
I am in awe
of all those who choose to stay—those who continue to feed the hungry, to serve
the poor, to combat racism, to teach non-violence, to subvert the patriarchy,
and to amplify the voices of the ignored and overlooked—for the entire
communion of saints who have chosen discipleship, even knowing the way of Jesus
is the Way of the Cross.
Dear sisters
and brothers in Christ, today we find ourselves at a time in history when followers
of Jesus are being asked, not only if we will follow, but if we will stay. We are at a critical juncture. This is a moment of
decision. It is four o’clock in the
afternoon! Are we drinking the next cup of coffee? Are we staying for
supper? Are we listening for what Jesus has called us to do at this time? Are we
in this for the long haul?
Or will we
decide that other commitments, other offers, other prophets, other paths are
calling us away from where Jesus is staying?
We may remember
how, on the night when he was betrayed, waiting in the garden before his arrest
and crucifixion, Jesus also begged his followers to stay, saying, “remain here,
and stay awake with me.” (Matthew 26:38)
Stay with
me! Remain here with me! I believe this is the call we are hearing, not only
from Jesus, but also from our neighbors today! Across the globe, from Syria to
Cairo, from fearful neighborhoods in the United States to the demolished neighborhoods
of East Jerusalem, our neighbors are begging us to stay.
Our sisters
and brothers, fellow human beings and children of God, are asking us, inviting
us, begging us to stay with Jesus and on his path of peace, of justice, of
liberation, of equality, of love.
Yes, it’s
already 4 o clock in the afternoon.
Yes, night
is falling.
There are
other places to eat. There are other places to stay. There are other, easier paths
we could take.
But along
with Andrew and Simon Peter and Mary Magdalene and the others, we will stay
with Jesus.
We will stay
with him, for we have seen that he is the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
We will stay
with Jesus, for his love for us leads all the way to the cross.
We will stay
with Jesus, for even death cannot keep him from us.
 |
| The light shines in the darkness... At the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris December 2016 |
We will stay
with Jesus, for as it is written: “Lo, I will be with you always, even unto the
end of the age”. In great love, Jesus stays with us, remains with us, in, with
and under the bread and the wine, through water and the Word, and wherever two
or three are gathered in his name.
Dear sisters
and brothers in Christ, it may seem the sun is setting on the hope for peace
with justice in this land. It may seem the night is covering the earth and difficult
days are coming for the nations of the world. But hear again the Good News:
The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it! Jesus, Lamb
of God, light of the world and all the nations, invites us to come and see
where he is staying.
And lo, here
we are, with him! At the table. At the water’s edge. At the foot of the cross.
And we shall not be moved. Amen.
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