"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, 

“The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.

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,

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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