Them, too?

John 15:9–17 NRSV

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “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. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Acts 10:44–48 NRSV

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Let us pray.

Story

Our sermon lesson begins, “While Peter was still speaking.” We have entered a conversation in progress when something unexpected happens.

The Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

I didn’t ask if you were Jewish or not.

I didn’t ask about your occupation, social status, your education, or what neighborhood you came from.

I didn’t care about how you dressed, or what dialect you spoke.

I simply chose you and chose to love you.

I chose to love you and all your idiosyncracies. I invited you to consider a different kind of community.

I chose to love you and to share my life with you— a life like none you had ever known;

a life with a different focus

a life of shared power and promise with nothing withheld; no favoritism

a life-giving life;

I chose to love you and show you a soul-satisfying life.

I chose to love you in a way that left your heart burning and your spirit yearning for deeper, longer-lasting connection.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Love one another. Love those close to your heart. Love those who need you. This is the love of mothers, fathers, the love of family members. Jesus extended his deep family love to everyone who would listen.

There was no boundary of blood, no distancing distinction. Jesus simply loved. In fact as God is love and Jesus came as God incarnate, Jesus is the embodiment of love.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” v

Jesus took on vulnerable human form, opened himself to the hurt and harm of human beings.

He did not go around telling everyone, “I love you”. Instead he lived love. He loved others, wanted for others the fruitfulness he had, the relationship he had with God the Father.

“No words, no matter how eloquently and enthusiastically uttered, can replace the expressiveness of action. Indeed, words become true when they are lived and they become untrue when living them is neglected.” ~Howard Thurman

Love one another. Love one another as Christ loves you. And yes, as you are thinking about who,

consider the strained relationships

consider the ones pushed out or left out of your circle of care

consider the least, lost, and last

consider the hungry, homeless, the migrant or immigrant;

the distant child, the rebellious teenager

consider the one you just don’t understand or the one dismiss as undeserving

Them, too? Yes, them too.

The Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. To anyone who will listen to the voice of Christ, the Spirit is available. To anyone who will abide in Christ, regardless of history, heritage, or habits, Christ has laid his life down, living the truth of his words.

To any who are willing to listen to the word of God, the Holy Spirit is granted and these words of Christ ring true:

“You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

To the outsiders looking in and asking, “Them, too?”, Jesus says, “Yes, them, too.”

To the insiders looking out and asking, Them, too?”, Jesus says, “Yes, them, too!”

This is the church, here is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.

Jesus would say: People of my church, you are my sequel. Open your doors and go out and love all people.

Yes, them, too!