May 8, 2016 - Seventh Sunday of Easter - Instruction / Prayer / Discipline / Desire - Mother's Day

First verses of today's Gospel - John 17:20 -23: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me"

Jesus is praying for you and me here.  Martin Luther's question, "What does that mean?" immediately comes to my mind.

Pastor Michelle began today's sermon with a Meister Eckhart quote - "We are all meant to be mothers of God... for God is always needing to be born".  For her this meant we should be like Mary, willing to say yes to what God is stirring us do.

I feel there is another question, "How is God's stirring accomplished?" Will God stir us by regarding this prayer of Jesus as an instruction or command? Is this invitation to be acted on as an imposed discipline or as a deep-felt devotion or both?

In our Adult Ed several we are keeping a prayer journal.  This May 8, 2016 might be seen as a discipline or devotion.  I know many people who are strongly motivated by discipline and duty.  The accomplishment of something you would not have naturally done can be inspirational.

Duty and discipline, however, remain weaker motivators for me. For years being "forced" into attending weekly worship, as an example,  stifled any desire or delight to attend. When I thought it was strictly my duty or when I forced myself to attend, the reason for continuing became cloudy for me.  My thoughts turned to the benefits or rewards I may receive as a result of my willpower.

Fortunately God also stirs us through desire, devotion, delight, and mystery.  Personally, my energy and outlook changes when these are my heart's motivators.

The Gathering Hymn today was God is Here.  The line that jumped out for me today was "May we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share". The hymn lays bare something about worship that is both a strength and weakness.  When we proclaim reverently "God is here!" in this place of worship and in our meeting, it is easy to ignore the truth of God being everywhere, not just in this place.

Both before and after the service a song that profoundly connects, albeit indirectly, to Gospel lesson for me is R.E.M.'s Country Feedback. 

Country Feedback presents a vision together with life's detritus (meaningless rubble or scraps).  In the end the singer repeats over and over "It's crazy what you could've had - I need this, I need this".  Jesus prays for our Christian unity - a glorious vision, both profound and overwhelming.  And yes, it is over-the-top crazy the Christian unity that is offered to us through this prayer.  Is it essential to us?  Do we need this?  Or is saying "I need this" referring only to the irresistible excuse.  Deep with us is there another need or perspective we cannot overcome that  prevents us from ever reaching the vision?

How better to end than to sigh "Oh Life," and understand "This film is on".