“We Are Family” (Romans 8:12-17)

Beyond Roberto Clemente, I am not much of a Pittsburgh Pirate fan, but in 1979 they were a tough not to noticed.  That was the year that the Pirates struggled through the season . . . constantly coming from behind to win games.  They even came back from a three games to one deficit to win the World Series four games to three against beloved Baltimore Orioles.  It was bad enough to sit there and watch my Orioles have the championship snatched away by the Pirates, but having to sit there and listen to that blasted song they chose as their rallying anthem was even harder to take.  We Are Family--that disco hit by Sister Sledge--just about killed me every time it was played!

Surely you remember that glorious earworm:

We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

First of all, I dislike disco . . . for me it was a constant reminder of my two left feet and my inability to dance.  Second of all, it was the rallying call of the Pirates as they did the impossible and beat my Orioles.  Yet, I have to give the ‘79 Pirates their due . . . in the end they came together like a family and won it all.

That is what family does . . . despite differences and disagreements, family comes together for the well-being of the whole.  Family watches out for one another . . . family takes care of each other . . . family has each other’s back.

In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, she writes: “You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family . . .”  Family we are stuck with because we are related to; and, as such, we can’t run away from our responsibilities.  After all, to quote those disco queens--Sister Sledge, “We are family!”

In our scripture reading this morning, the Apostle Paul makes a reference to this idea of family . . . the family of God.  In this reference he tells us that we are the sons and daughters of God . . . adopted . . . specifically chosen by God to be the children of God.  The apostle writes: “And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies that we are God’s children.”  In other words, all of God’s creation--all of humanity--is family.  You and I . . . everyone we encounter . . . are brothers and sisters.  And, because we are there are serious implications of what it means to be family.

It means that we are invested in the wellbeing of the family . . . that we are working towards what is best for each and every member of the family . . . that we have each other’s back.  Throwing it back to that second part of Jesus’ call to each of us, we are to love others as we love ourselves when it comes to being family.

Earlier, when I shared the quote from Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, I didn’t share the whole quote.  The quote goes on to say: “You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, an’ they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge ‘em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t.”  I think Ms. Lee sort of wraps it all up and hits us with a two-by-four with the second half of that quote . . . family is more than a label we apply to a group of people.  Family is family through thick and thin, and how we relate to that family shows the world a whole lot about ourselves . . . after all, we are family.

Maybe I am seeing this idea of family too simplistically.  Maybe family is more complicated than I see it.  Yet, once we take away all the pontificating and rationalizing of what it means to be family, family really comes down to how we relate and treat one another . . . how we love one another.  In the end, I am pretty certain that that is the way that Jesus would view family.


Which throws us back to the second half of Harper Lee’s quote . . . whether we like it or not, to ignore our family makes us look pretty silly in the eyes of our family, the world, and especially God.  We are family . . . each and every one of us.  We are family . . . those individuals we encounter on a daily basis.  We are family . . . those people who live on the other side of the world.  We are family because we have been chosen . . . we have been created . . . and, we have been called by God to be brothers and sisters.  There is no denying that fact.

The Apostle Paul also points this out in his understanding of family.  The rest of the apostle’s quote quote goes like this: “And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”   With Jesus as the example we see how family is . . . we see what it means to be family . . . how to relate and treat one another as sibling in God’s family.  It has its high points, and it has its low points . . . but through it all we remain family.  We get it all . . . the good and the bad.

I am fairly certain that Harper Lee did not come up with the axiom about us not being able to pick our family . . . I think that was around a long time before she ever wrote her book.  When it comes to family, you get what you get.  When it comes to God’s family there can be no denying that we are told in the scriptures that we are the children of God . . . each of us created in the image of God . . . chosen.  We do not have any say in the makeup of this holy family.  It just is what it is.  And, despite it all, that is what we have been given to work with.  To deny our family would sure make us look silly in the eyes of others and especially in the eyes of God.

The ‘79 Pirates didn’t quite use the Sister Sledge song as it was written.  They changed the lyrics slightly when they added a word to the original song to include everyone.  They sang:

We are family
I got all my brothers and sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

Through the Spirit’s presence we are reminded that we are family . . . each and every one of us . . . throughout the world.  We are brothers and sisters.  Together . . . when we work towards the well-being of each and every one of us . . . nothing can stop us from realizing our potential as the children of God.  In doing this we become the family of God . . . we realize the Kingdom of God.  Whether or not it is disco, we should heed the words of Sister Sledge when they sing out:

We are family
I got all my brothers and sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

Yeah, get up everybody and sing . . . the Spirit calls us to family.  Amen.

“Rattle Me Bones” (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

I imagine that the latest school shooting at Santa Fe High School near Galveston, Texas caught your attention on Friday.  I know that it caught my attention.  Ten people were shot and killed.  It was unnerving . . . unnerving as it seems that these school shootings are coming more and more often into the news.  It was the second school shooting that week . . . the tenth shooting since the February 14th shooting that took place in Parkland, Florida . . . and it is 220th shooting since the Columbine High School shooting in April of 1999.  There have been 16 school shootings in 2018 and we are not even halfway through the year.  Such reality rattles me bones.

And, it ought to be rattling all our bones.

Rattles me bones is slang for when something or someone upsets you in such a manner that you cannot contain yourself.  It is something that shakes you to the core of who you are as a person . . . something that upsets the apple cart . . . makes you see things differently . . .  something that makes you want to change.  With the shooting on Friday, something within me was rattled . . . there is something wrong, something wrong with our society . . . with humanity that such random violence is happening day after day in the world that you and I live in.  It is unnerving . . . it rattles me bones.

I think someone or something is knocking on the door of my soul . . . attempting to get my attention.  I have a pretty good idea of who or what it might be . . . it is the Spirit.  The Spirit of God is knocking the door of my soul . . . rattling the handle . . . wanting my attention.  Wanting to turn my attention to how far it seems that we . . . as the children of God . . . are drifting away from that love that draws us to God and one another.  Drifting away from Jesus’ command to love one another . . . God’s desire.  I think that the Spirit is trying to rattle me bones.

And, that is okay.  That is the task of the Holy Spirit . . . to rattle a few bones.  It is also okay because I am not the first to be rattled by the Spirit’s movement.  In our reading this morning, the prophet Ezekiel shares a dream with the exiled people of Israel.  In that dream God points him to a valley that is strewn with bones from a huge battle . . . bones, dry bones, for as far as the eyes can see.  Then God asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  Ezekiel feigns ignorance to the Lord’s question.  To which God tells Ezekiel to do as he is told and watch . . .

Well, Ezekiel does as he is told.  He begins to prophesy to those dry bones . . . and soon “there was a noise, a rattling sound,and the bones came together, bone to bone . . . tendons and flesh appeared . . . skin covered them.”  But there was no life in any of it.  So, God told him to keep prophesying, and as he was doing this the Lord spoke: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”  The winds blew and life entered the bodies of what once were nothing but piles of dry bones.

Now all of this was to let Ezekiel know that God would revive, restore, and bring new life into the exiled children of God . . . a message of hope that he was to share with the children of God.  In the rattling of bones there was a sign of hope . . . a sign of new life . . . new beginnings.  The Spirit would move among them.  God tells them: “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live . . .”

Of course we know this came to be . . . we have the book that tells the story.  We know that God brings to life those who are exiled . . . returns them to their homeland . . . blesses them, once again, as God’s children.  We also know that it worked . . . it worked for a little while before they slipped back into old habits.

Old habits are hard to kick.  The children of God were still struggling with old habits when we get to the story of Jesus.  Jesus comes along to let the people know that they are still not getting it right . . . still not living up to what God desires.  He also comes to show them the way . . . a better way.  Through the words that he preaches and teaches, Jesus extols the people to a better way.  Through the way that he lives his life and the actions that he takes, he shows the people a better way.  He tries . . . but, remember, old habits are tough to break.

In the end it doesn’t seem as if he succeeds . . . in the end it seems as that which he hopes to change ends up killing him.  Yet his words echo through the people in their fear and silence . . . believe!  Believe!  Believe that life can come to dry bones.  Believe because the Spirit will bring life!  Believe!

Which brings us to today.  The story of today is found in the second chapter of the Book of Acts . . . the Day of Pentecost.  The day in which the wind blew through the believers . . . blowing and rattling their bones.  The writer tells us: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting . . . all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:2-4)  They were rattled.  In their rattling there was a change . . . a new way of seeing things . . . a new understanding . . . there was new life.

That is the task of the Holy Spirit . . . to rattle me bones.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit to shake the faithful to the roots of their faith . . . to challenge their understanding of what it means to be faithful . . . to prod them in how they live their lives in the love of God and for one another.  It is the role of the Holy Spirit to upset us and prod us towards change . . . towards changing our lives in how we love God and one another.  That is what the Holy Spirit does . . . it rattles me bones.  It does this for all of God’s children . . . for you and for me.

Sometimes it is a swift and powerful move that knocks us down . . . sort of like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus; but, more often than not, it is a more subtle way that just wears on us.  Like, school shootings . . . each and every time there is a school shooting . . . 220--at least ten a year--since 1999.  Each one rattles our bones . . . unnerves us . . . upsets us.  The Spirit is knocking . . . are we answering the door?

The Spirit moves around us and through us to bring us closer to God’s will . . . to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with God and with one another.  The Spirit’s presence in our lives is not to provide us with a warm feeling; no, it is to prompt us . . . to prod us . . . towards living our lives as Jesus lived his.  The Spirit moves us to action.  The action of love.  God knows we need more action towards love.

On this day of Pentecost we are reminded of the power of the Spirit within our lives.  I know that we have all felt the Spirit’s presence in our lives.  In those moments when we are shook in the news of the world around us . . . in those moments when we witness that which upsets us . . . in those moments when we know that this is not the way God wants or intends for life to be played out.  Sometimes the Spirit is going to kick in the door to our souls, but more often than not the Spirit is going to keep gently knocking until we let it in to change us.

On this Pentecost Day, may the Spirit move among us . . . may it whisper or maybe even shout in our ears . . . may it open our hearts to its prodding . . . and, may it move us to live our lives more and more like Jesus each and every day.  May we listen to the Spirit in our lives for we are a people blessed.  Amen.

“Community for Unity” (John 17:6-19)

Most historians would say that there have only been two times in our nation’s history that we have pulled together to be united.  The first time was on December 7th, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.  It was the “date that will live in infamy” stated President Franklin D. Roosevelt as he called the nation together for one cause . . . one purpose.  It was the day that drew our nation into the Second World War.  For the next four years, the United States was united against the Axis powers.

The second time that our nation came together was again a surprise event . . . a terrorist attack on the New York City’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  The date was September 11th, 2011.  For a brief moment, as a nation, we rallied together and became one nation as we mounted a war on terror.

Most of us may not remember how our nation rallied together in the face of the attack on Pearl Harbor because we were either not born yet, or we were too young.  That is not case when it comes to what we call 9/11.  We can all remember that fateful day when our nation fell victim to a terrorist attack.  We can remember when we heard the news . . . watching the video footage on our televisions . . . and, the heroic efforts to find survivors through all the wreckage.  And, we can remember how our nation came together as one nation.  Before and after those times . . . well, we have rarely been a unified nation as we like to think of ourselves as being . . . we have not been “one nation under God.”  No we have been pretty divisive.  The times that we are presently living demonstrate that quite plainly.

I don’t want us to think about the divisiveness . . . no, what I want us to focus on--as brief as those moments were--are those two times in which we did come together as one nation . . . one people . . . in unity.  Think about how much was accomplished as we came together . . . how we worked together for a common cause.  Think about how that felt . . . how it felt to be united as one . . . caring for one another, respecting one another . . . able to set aside our differences to work together to achieve one purpose.  Remember how good it felt?  Remember how proud we were that we had finally come together even if it was only for a brief moment in time?

There is power and safety in coming together . . . in uniting.

Jesus understood this.

In our reading this morning, Jesus has come to understand the power in unity.  In our reading we have the opportunity to eavesdrop on Jesus as he ends his teaching from the last meal he has with his disciples before being arrested, tried, and crucified.  It is a three-part prayer.  In the first part, he prays for himself; in the third part, he prays for all believers; but it is in the second part that we have the privilege to hear his prayer for his disciples.  In this prayer he seeks God’s protection for his disciples, just as God as protected him.  Protection that comes from being one with each other . . . God and Jesus, Jesus and his disciples, and the disciples together.  Jesus prays: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.”

Up until this point, Jesus had been the protector of the disciples.  He is the one who watched over them and kept them out of harm’s way.  Like a big brother to a bunch of younger siblings, Jesus took care of them.  And, now the time had come when he would no longer be able to be that protector; thus, he calls upon God to protect them through their oneness together . . . oneness that comes from their love of Jesus, his call to love, and a desire to bring God’s Kingdom to fruition.  Their protection would come from their unity as one . . . the followers of Jesus.

We, too, are Jesus’ disciples . . . the followers of Jesus.  This prayer is also for us.  We are called upon to recognize the power, strength, and potential of being united. 

Our unity comes from community.  I like to tell people that “community” is a combination of two words--common unity.  It is our common unity . . . those things that we have in common with each other . . . that bring us together as a community.  It is those truths which hold us together.  As the followers of Jesus we recognize our createdness as unique children in the image of God.  We recognise that God is God and we are not.  We recognize our mutual love for Jesus . . . his call to work together in the world, for a world we love.  This is what binds us together . . . that makes us one . . . that brings unity.  Together we are safe . . . we are protected . . . we are community.

That is what Jesus wants.  Unfortunately that is not what the world wants.  Jesus knows this and acknowledges it in his prayer: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”   Jesus recognizes this irony as he prays for their protection.  He also knows that this is the world in which the disciples must play out their call to follow him.  He pleads for God to keep them safe and that safety comes in being unified as a community of followers.

Because of this we have to admit . . . even as the “church” . . . that body of followers, we have not done well at being unified.  There are days when I think that the body of Christ . . . the community of followers . . . is as divided and divisive as the world we are living in.  Because we are divided and divisive, we do not feel safe . . . do not feel protected . . . within the fellowship of followers or out in the world.  As the followers of Jesus we are not united . . . we are not one.  Too often we focus on our differences, and not enough our on commonality.  We rather argue than set aside our differences and work for restoring the family of God . . . of loving God completely and one another.

But, that is okay.  As I have said many, many times . . . God is patient, understanding, and especially forgiving.  Because God is patient, understanding, and forgiving, we are to keep on trying to get it right . . . to work toward unity . . . to be community.  Thus we should work on emphasizing that which we have in common.  Through those truths we hold in common we work towards the unified goal of loving God and one another.  We do not ignore our difference, but instead we sit down with one another and talk so that we can come to an understanding.  We work together to love God . . . to love one another . . . and, to restore the family of God . . . to restore the Kingdom as God desires.  In doing this we become united . . . we become community.  We are called by Jesus to keep trying until we get it right . . . over and over again.


Yes, we remember how it felt to be united after 9/11.  It was an indescribable feeling . . . one filled with great pride, joy, and possibilities.  I have longed for such a feeling most of my life, as I imagine many of you have too.  I have often thought that if we could get all of God’s children--by this I mean all the people of the world--to set aside all of their differences and focus on what we all have in common . . . well, I have dreamed that in that very moment when we become united in our commonality that we would realize the Kingdom of God . . . we would be one . . . we would be community.

That was Jesus’ prayer . . . that is our prayer.  We are blessed through the tie that binds us all.  Jesus showed us the way.  Amen.

“Chosen” (John 15:9-17)

The summer before my freshman year in high school I decided I would try out for the baseball team.  I felt like I was a decent baseball player.  So I grabbed my glove and headed over to the tryouts.  For about two hours the coaches ran all the potential players through various drills of fielding, hitting, and throwing the ball.  I did okay, but I could see that I was towards the bottom when it came to skills . . . the very bottom in my estimation.  But after running through the drills the coaches brought everyone in to talk to us.  They explained that there were two more boys trying out than there were slots  on the team . . . they would have to cut two people, and they would let us know the next day.

Well, I may not be Brooks Robinson or Cal Ripken, Jr., but I’m not stupid either.  As everyone was heading for home, I walked up to a coach and said that I’d save him some trouble . . . I quit.  Now you would have thought that the coach would have put his arm around my shoulder and consoled me . . . but, no.  Instead a smile crossed his face and he thanked me from having to make a painful call. 

I never enjoyed the way that teams were chosen in P.E. classes or among the neighborhood kids . . . you know the way . . . you choose sides.  Two people would take turns picking from the rest of the kids.  And, you know that the idea is to win, so you pick the best kids first and avoid the ones who weren’t so good.  Then in the end there was always an argument who got the last kid . . . the kid no one wanted.  I was usually towards the bottom of the choices for a long time . . . it doesn’t do much for one’s self-esteem.  Someone always got hurt . . . someone always got left out . . . someone always got the message that he or she was not wanted.

Life is like that in all things.  We must make choices regarding who we will play with . . . who we will work with . . . who we will hang out with . . . who we are compatible with.  We make choices of who is in and who is out.  Who we want on our team.  And, we have all been on both ends of the stick.  We know what it feels like to be on the winning team . . . and, what it feels like to be on the losing team.  We know what it feels like to be wanted . . . and, what it feels like to be rejected.  That is just the way life is in the world that we live.

Thank goodness that is not the way it is with Jesus.  WIth Jesus it is totally the opposite . . . he has chosen us . . . all of us.  In our reading this morning he is addressing his disciples shortly before the whole ordeal of his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death take place.  He is having a “heart-to-heart” conversation with them.  In this conversation he tells them, “You did not choose me, but I chose you . . .”  Think about the men he chose to be his disciples . . . think about how they would act in the last couple of days of Jesus’ ministry . . . think about how they would deny him, run away from him and hide, and even betray him.  Jesus knew their strengths and their weaknesses.  Jesus knew what they would do.  And, yet, he chose them . . . he picked them to be on his team.

And, he chooses us . . . all of us . . . each and every individual create in God’s own image.  He has chosen all the people of the world to be on God’s team . . . for God desires for the whole team to be one . . . one family reunited and together . . . just as we are with all of our strengths and weaknesses.  God wants us all and Jesus demonstrates it through the words that he speaks and the life that he lives . . . he chooses us all.

In a like manner, he expects us to do likewise in the lives that we live.

Jesus tells his disciples--and us: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Because we have been chosen, we are to become the choosers who emulate the example of Jesus in our own lives.  We are to go out into the world and chose to love others . . . others who are not like us . . . others who we would not want on our team . . . others we would typically reject.  We are to go out and love others . . . all the others of the world.  To love them and to welcome them back into the family . . . the family of God.

It is a choice to be made.

That is the ironic thing about it all.  Even though we have been chosen, the choice is still up to us as to whether or not we want to be a part of the team . . . to be a part of the family.  It is our choice . . . our choice as to whether or not we will take our rightful place in the family of God, and whether or not we will do as Jesus as done for us . . . to love us in spite of ourselves.

It is tough to get out of the mindset of the world and into the mindset of Jesus.  The world tells us that it is the survival of the fittest . . . that it is “us against them” . . . that there have to be winners and losers . . . that there are those people who are just not worth the time and the effort.  Jesus tells us, “This is my command: Love each other.”  Jesus chose to love the disciples even in their cowardice . . . their betrayal . . . their denial.  He chose them to be a part of the family . . . a part of the team.  They were still God’s children.   Yet the stress of our world pulls us back and forth between choosing the world’s way and Jesus’ way.

It always seems to come down to choices.

God demonstrates God’s choice through Jesus.  Jesus’ way was love . . . love for others.  Not a simple mouthing of the phrase of “I love you”, but in the willingness to love another to the point of giving one’s life for another.  As far as Jesus and God were concerned, everyone was on the team . . . everyone!  And, because everyone is on the team, everyone is to be loved.  They are to be loved just as we love ourselves . . . treated just as we would treat ourselves.  Jesus calls us to choose . . . to choose love . . . the greatest of all commandments . . . the greatest testament of faith.

In the world in which we live . . . with the standards we have grown up with . . . and, with the attitude that there is a pecking order in life . . . it is tough to live up to this call of Jesus to choose to live our lives in love.  I must admit that there are days when it is difficult to choose love, and to especially love those situations and people who I think make my life miserable.  There are days I just assume to use some timely sign language to let people know exactly how I feel.  Thankfully, God is patient . . . God is understanding . . . and, God is always rooting for me to get it right. 

Why?


Because God chose me . . . welcomed me on God’s team . . . welcomed me into the family, despite myself.  Because God loves me.  Jesus tells this to his disciples in our reading this morning . . . demonstrates it with his life . . . and, calls upon those who he has chosen to do likewise.  “This is my command: Love each other.”

Don’t give up on yourself . . . God believes in you!  You can do it!  Together all of us are the family of God . . . all of us.  We have all been chosen.  Amen.