John 15:9-17, Easter 6B
5/10/15
The Reverend Roger Hungerford
I come to you in the name of our loving, life giving, liberating God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “As the Father loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love.” (John 15:9-10, NRSV)
The Right Reverend Michael Curry, one of the candidates for Presiding Bishop and who has greatly
influenced this sermon1, uses scripture like this to tell us that Jesus is calling us to craziness. He calls
us to abide in his love, to abide in God’s love.
God’s love is the love that sent his son to our world to be with us and then forgave us when he was
crucified. But in order for humanity, for us to be saved that crucifixion needed to happen. It was
God saying I love you so much, I want you to sacrifice my son so he can take away the sin of the
world and we can be reconciled. That’s crazy talk.
And his son while here on Earth spouts more crazy talk – love your neighbor as yourself, love as I
have loved, love your enemy. Don’t repay evil with evil or abuse with abuse. Don’t seek revenge.
Don’t hold a grudge. On the contrary repay evil and abuse with a blessing. Forgive those that hurt
you. That is more crazy talk.
Jesus says sell all you have, not some of it, not the stuff you are tired of, not the worn out stuff you
want to give away, Jesus says sell all you have and give the money to the poor. That is just crazy,
how are we supposed to pay bills and how are we to live our lives?
He told the disciples to feed the masses and they said we don’t have enough food or enough money.
Jesus said yes you do and he said he could feed 5000 plus people with five loaves of bread and two
fish. The disciples must have been thinking what kind of crazy talk is this?
Until Jesus does it.
Bishop Curry reminds us that “what the world calls wretched, Jesus call blessed. Blessed are the
poor. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the compassionate and merciful. Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for God’s justice that his righteousness might prevail. Blessed are you when
you are reviled and called crazy just because you loved someone like Jesus and tried to do something
good or forgave instead of seeking revenge. But you should be excited about being reviled - for that
is what was done to the prophets and the saints who were before you. Excited about being reviled
that is crazy talk.
Jesus says forget about pomp and circumstance and rank and privilege. Forget about fancy titles,
forget about Mr. President, or your royal highness, or CEO or The Reverend. The greatest of you
must be your servants. You must be willing to stoop so low you would be willing to wash each
other’s feet. Tell that to the Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls and you will be
identified as crazy.
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This sermon is based on, paraphrases and quotes from a sermon delivered by The Right Reverend Michael Curry at
the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church July 2012 that can be viewed at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJMKeyCWoQ
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John 15:9-17, Easter 6B
5/10/15
The Reverend Roger Hungerford
The rulers and authorities and a lot of people around Jesus thought he was crazy. Quite frankly what
Jesus called people to do is crazy for any age.
Jesus' family was so concerned that they went to get him. His family showed up at the house where
he was teaching a bunch of folks and want to take him away in order to get him under control. That
is precisely what the church has been doing for 2000 years, trying to get Jesus under control.
But Jesus’ craziness is uncontrollable. His family couldn't control it. His disciples couldn’t control it.
The church can't control it
And those who would follow in his footsteps, those who would be his disciples are called and
summoned and challenged to be just as crazy as Jesus.
We need some crazy Christians who will love like Jesus loved. Who are crazy enough to think they
can change the world and won’t listen to the naysayers. Who will forgive their enemies even those
who blow up bombs at races or shoot up movie theaters. Who are hopeful in all circumstances.
Who see a bright future emerging from the demonstrations that occurred in Ferguson and
Baltimore. Who believe in equality in all aspects of our culture and are praying for the judges on
Supreme Court. Who take seriously what Jesus said "this is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's
friends."
We need some crazy Christians right here who believe that our parish will eventually find our
promised land and will have a new home. Crazy Christians who believe that despite having small
numbers with few younger congregants we will thrive and endure and become a permanent presence
sharing Jesus’ love. Crazy Christians who believe that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and working
through us even when we are in the midst of the doldrums. Crazy Christians who look beyond
budgets and contributions and numbers, who aren’t afraid of work, who believe that we have a
calling to a ministry that will transform our community. Who are willing to confidently tell those
among us who are skeptical or condemning about the potential found in Christ’s love. Crazy
Christians who will pray for All Saints future at every opportunity they get, at meetings, at worship
services, during grace, who will pray not quietly, but boldly out loud.
Loving like Jesus is crazy, but it is how the world will know we are his disciples and how we will help
build the kingdom of heaven on earth. There is a promise in this morning's gospel reading for us to
hold on to. The promise that through love Christ’s joy will be in us and our joy will be
complete. Amen.
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