Emerging from our Hiding Places

April 25, 2021 4 Easter, Year B The Rev. Mark Pendleton Christ Church, Exeter Emerging from our Hiding Places Like many of you, this past year has been, well, a year we will not soon forget. We buried Leslie's father Tom, who many of you got to know, back in in December. He was the head of the family and we are still adjusting to his absence. In many ways I have grown weary to referring to "this time" in my preaching. Yet it is hard to overlook. I appreciate the generosity that you have shown in growing with us as we have used new technologies to keep the community worshipping. I truly value those on staff who have made it all work: Maggie, Sally, Bruce, David, Darla and our unofficial staff member Joe DiPalermo. They have given their all and I hope that they also will find time and ways to renew in the weeks ahead. God has been at work to be sure. We have had a number of groups flourish meeting remotely. And today we gather for the last time via Zoom as we move to live streaming on our YouTube Channel next Sunday when Bishop Rob visits for confirmation. Let me say that I hope the change will not be too disruptive to you. You know that Episcopalians are people of tradition and ritual, so change does not always come easily. In fact, one of the most oft repeated expressions in our lexicon is: "but we've always done it this way!" With plans for in-person worship coming together next month, and with more of more folks being fully vaccinated, this is the season to venture out again and find ways to gather around an altar, pray, learn and reconnect with one another. I trust we will find our way with the same grace that we have seen over this past year. Speaking of confirmation, Sally and I will be presenting 14 young people to be confirmed on May 2. This has not been an easy year for young people. Remote, in-person, and hybrid learning have tested them and their parents and teachers. It has impacted our confirmation preparation as well, as we met largely by Zoom and had to forgo the weekend retreat that is often the heart of the experience. Last weekend we met with each confirmand to convey what we hoped they would experience when confirmed. Confirmation is a mature affirmation of our baptism. It is another beginning for them. I recall my confirmation at around the same age of 13 and to be honest I was not fully aware of the course or the impact of this sacramental rite. It was then, and is now, like planting seeds. God, always the sower, plants seeds in us and trusts that they will find good soil to flourish and grow. There is a progression in the words and images in this morning's two readings. In 1 John, we hear how the early believers remembered the life of Jesus. That is how the early church grew. They told stories. They perfected an ancient version of the modern "elevator speech" that challenges the speaker to distill a message down to 30 seconds or less. Earlier in the Easter season we heard Peter's elevator speech in Acts 2: "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know- this man, handed over to you... you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. Today and on every 4th Sunday of Easter, we are flooded with images and language connecting Jesus with shepherds and sheep. We hear his own distilled view of his mission. The 23rd Psalm: The Lord the is my Shepherd. From John's gospel (Ch. 10) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. In the Letter of John, these words remind us of what Jesus offered the world: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 1 John 3:16-24 What does it take to lay down one's life for another person? We hear stories often in the news of heroic sacrifice. Stories of firemen and firewomen rushing into burning buildings. With news that our nation's longest war in Afghanistan may be drawing to a close by September 11th -- 20 years after those tragic attacks -- we can only count to cost of life, limb and treasure over these two decades. The sacrifice of those who enlist and serve. I think of members of our police forces and highway patrols. I think of Officer Brian Sicknick who died in the attack on the Capital on January 6th and William Evans who died this month when a car crashed into barriers. We can name Officer Eric Talley, who died in the mass shooting in the grocery store in Boulder, Colorado this month. Every day good men and women serve not knowing when they we be asked to lay down their life. And yet our nation is facing a hinge moment with so many challenges. Matters of life and death, social justice, inequality, addiction and rampant gun violence. Many people of good faith are asking: Are there better laws and procedures and just consequences that can protect the lives of our populations of color who are routinely stopped and over-policed. We are hearing more or more stories of deadly traffic stops for minor infractions that can escalate quickly with tragic consequences. This is where my life experience alters my perspective and limits my view. When pulled over by the police, my greatest fear is the cost to my wallet if I were speeding. I do not fear my life. It is clear to those with eyes to see that too many black men do fear for their lives when stopped. Until this problem is addressed, innocent blood will be shed and many more lives shattered. Let us hear again John's words: How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 1 John 3 We are an Easter people who believe in hope. And yet how do we hope that anything will be different and change? Our nation, with so much to offer when we follow our better angels, remails afflicted and tormented when we are blind to the legacy and toll of slavery, conquest, and racism. Let us hear words of hope. The book that a number of us read throughout Lent was James Martin's Jesus: A Pilgrimage. He speaks of what it feels like when we are incapable of believing that God might have new life in store for us. When we say that there is no hope and get mired in despair. This is when we can turn to the Resurrection. When we can be reminded of the terrified disciples cowering behind closed doors. Martin writes: "we are not called to live in that room. We are called to emerge from our hiding places and to accompany Mary, weeping sometimes, searching always, and ultimately blinded by the dawn of Jesus' new life - surprised - delighted and moved to joy. We are called to believe what she has seen: he is risen." (Page. 415). To that may we say Amen and Alleluia. 1 John 3:16-24 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. John 10:11-18 Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father." 2