Sermon 6th May 2007 - Easter 5
John 13. 31-35; Acts 11:1-18
St Mellitus Church Hanwell
The gospel that we have heard this morning was also part of the gospel reading for Maundy Thursday and I preached that evening in my parish in Perivale. So when I was preparing for this service and to come here to St Mellitus, I thought – that’s handy I’ve already got a sermon on this that the people of Hanwell won’t have heard so perhaps I can use it and make life a bit easier.
But when I went back to it I realised that what I said on that Thursday evening was seen through the eyes of people travelling through Holy Week. We had not yet experienced Christ’s crucifixion or resurrection. Today we are 5 Sundays down the line from Easter Day and we are looking back as it were with knowledge of the empty tomb and perhaps a little more understanding of what Jesus was trying to tell his disciples and us of what lay ahead for him.
So I put that talk back in the file and thought again!
‘Little children’ says Jesus speaking to his disciples as teachers often did to their classes. There is not much time left and so much he wants them to know. They are already astounded and confused by the fact that their master, their teacher, their lord, has taken on the role of a slave and washed their feet. Actions often speak louder than words and Jesus needed his disciples to see the kind of love that he is speaking about. ‘I give you a new commandment – that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.’
The first part is not actually a new commandment is it? It is a fundamental part of the Jewish law – Leviticus 19 v.17 – you shall love your neighbour as yourself. Throughout the Old Testament we read how difficult the people of Israel found that law and how many times God forgave them and tried to bring them back.
Here on this dark evening with his followers around a supper table, the one whom God has sent in a supreme act of love for his people, is trying to explain what he needs of them. Jesus knows that only this small band can ensure that his death will not be like so many sacrifices in the past, a focus for all the ills and injustices of the community, and then when the sacrifice is made and the victim killed, everyone can go back to their lives thinking the problem is solved. This only confirms Satan in his role of disrupter, divider and agitator. We know that at the moment of crucifixion almost everyone deserted Jesus – even some of the disciples went away distraught and guilty at their own part in the spectacle.
At supper that night Peter, full of confusion, yet determined to be part of this expression of love, begs Jesus to wash him all over. We can look back and know how short a time it took for Peter to deny all knowledge of the man he has sworn to give his life for. And we love Peter don’t we because he is so like us – full of promises and good intentions.
And what of Judas, invaded by Satan and persuaded to betray all the love that has been shown to him. Jesus washes his feet too – did that act of love confound Satan? Christ’s love is completely devoid of greed acquisition, material wealth or status. What Satan offers is no match for the riches to be found in the love God so freely gives. Did Judas sense this just before he left the room and did those coins weigh heavy in his pocket?
The disciples, like us, are not very good at loving one another. And that is only the first part of the commandment. The part that makes it new is the second sentence ‘Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’ Jesus needed his disciples to understand how different he was from other people, how much more profound was the love of God expressed through his Son than any ordinary human affection.
Jesus demonstrates throughout his ministry that love and forgiveness go hand in hand; love and forgiveness bring people together. Jesus loves the weak, the sinner, the marginalised, the criminal, the rejected. Jesus shows that love is stronger than hate – love loosens the shackles of hate. On this night Jesus also has to be sure that his disciples know that his love is stronger even than death. Love will ensure life beyond the grave.
Somehow the disciples have to be sufficiently strong in their love and belief to be ready for Easter Day. They are the eye witnesses who will be responsible for taking Christ’s sacrificial love out into the world and they have to have the courage to believe and be transformed themselves.
So that ‘everyone will know you are my disciples.’
Jesus understands Peter’s confusion and doubt and loves him because of it. Loves him enough to trust him with the foundation of his church. Jesus also loves Judas and forgives his weakness and betrayal. Jesus love knows no boundaries, his grace and forgiveness will never be exhausted. We too know that we are loved in this way no matter how often we stray, how often we are tempted, or how often we feel we can’t believe.
I heard a story of Mother Teresa recently. She was giving a radio interview in America and she was asked if there was anything people might do to help her mission. The interviewer was obviously expecting an appeal for funds towards such a worthy cause.
Mother Teresa replied ‘Yes there is something you who are listening can do. Go out, find somebody that nobody else loves and love them.’
And that’s the nub isn’t it? It is relatively easy to love those nearest and dearest to us. It is much, much harder to love those we do not naturally respond to. When I first went to work in Wormwood Scrubs jail as a chaplain I think I was like most people – very glad that all those bad people were behind bars and someone else’s responsibility. Yet after only a few weeks of visiting the men and listening to their stories my perceptions changed and it was very seldom that I could not find something to love within each one of them. This love that Jesus shows for all those on the margins opens up the possibility of transformation, of changing and living life in a different way. Living life Jesus’ way. Baptising several prisoners was an incredibly moving experience. We always ask just before the water is poured on them ‘Is this your faith’ and I shall never forget Albert saying ‘Oh yes!!! Being loved gives you self-respect, gives you dignity and worth. Demonstrating love makes you humble and aware of others. Loving and being loved makes you vulnerable and yet makes you free. Jesus new commandment should be before us every day.
The psalmist sums it up
…the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear enlightening the eyes… more to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold.’
Can I give you a bit of homework? Bit of a cheek, but at least you know I won’t be back next week to check up on you.
Will you take ‘Just as I have loved you’ as your prayer for the coming week and apply it to all that you do – in your work, your family, your social life, your church activities. If we do this perhaps we will get an idea of how far we are living out that new commandment and whether everyone knows we are Jesus’ disciples because we love one another.
Amen