Guaranteed revitalization and permanent waves of grace

Good morning, St. Andrew's, Emporia.

We’ve come to the great curtain call – the glorious encore of the drama we began together this week.  Sin and violence and death do not have the final word in the end.... neither over Jesus, nor over us.  This morning we proclaim that Christ is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!

[open with humorous story of the “hare spray”]

Amusing? Sure.  And also instructive.  We’ll come back to this tale shortly.

Welcome to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.  How wonderful to have you with us this morning.  Who is here this morning?

[welcome newcomers with my own story of coming back to ‘church’ on an Easter morning thirteen years ago]

In the humorous tale of the “hare spray”, we hear about someone going off track, hurting, and in pain and fear.  We hear about others discerning his situation and offering hope… in faith and love offering him benefit of a gift of living words that they were given… and watching in joy as life returns where once only death was seen.

Not long after his resurrection, the disciples have come to see Jesus and he gives them ‘the great commission’ to go make disciples of every one, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  (Matthew 28:16-19).

And, they did!  The disciples made it their life work to share the good news of the resurrection and all that it meant to people’s lives individually and collectively as well as to baptize believers into the body of Christ – cleansing them from sin and celebrating the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  …and here we are this morning, proof of Christ’s legacy through the faithful labor of those who have gone before us, with God’s help.

What we will be part of today – if we see with our hearts – celebrating the gift of new life through baptism of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit in the word we read is guaranteed to revitalize and ensure a permanent promise of salvation to those who believe.

We are about to continue the great story – opening another page in the family album - sharing the good news and inviting someone new into the family of God in Christ’s name, as we baptize young Hudson LeGrande Kline in the name of the blessed Trinity.

As some of you know, originally this sacramental ritual act was done after a period of very intentional preparation in which the candidates for baptism had spent much time in conversation and education with other believers so that they understood what they were receiving, becoming part of, and had responsibility to share.

Because Hudson is too young to fully understand the implications of this initiation and willfully take upon himself the promises and commitments of membership in Christ’s church, his parents are entering this covenant on his behalf, and they will invite godparents to also share in the responsibilities of educating him in the Christian faith and life.

We, too, are participating in this sacramental initiation.  We who witness the vows being taken are promising to support the Kline’s in their life in Christ.

And we will, with them, renew our own baptismal promises – reminding ourselves and each other of the covenant we’ve entered and our commitments therein.

We’re each invited to evaluate ourselves in the resurrected light of Christ this morning as we say again what we have committed to do in Christ’s name.  Beyond agreeing that we believe certain creedal statements, we’re renewing our promises to:

Continue teaching and educating, through words and actions, about the good news of God in Christ.

Continue in prayerful and celebratory fellowship with each other

Resist evil and strive for justice and peace.

Respect the dignity of every human being and seek to serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbors at least as much as we love ourselves.

And, when we fall short of these things – when we sin – to turn ourselves around (repent) and return to centering our motives and aspirations in Jesus Christ.

Then, in my prayer after the baptism, to help us fulfill these promises, you will hear me ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to give us four things:

1.  courage and will to persevere 

2. inquiring and discerning hearts

3. spirit to know and to love God

4. joy and wonder in all God’s works

Courage and will to persevere… Isn’t this a constant call in through the stories in the scriptures?  Certainly, we’ve heard it again in this morning’s lesson from Isaiah 65:17-25.  Likely written after the Israelites have returned from exile, but while many are still discouraged because of slow progress in the promised land, the prophet’s words are meant to be encouraging.  God promises new life and prosperity in which past trouble will be forgotten, labor will not be in vain, and heaven and earth will again be in accord according to God’s great desire for us.  We can probably each think of someone right now who needs words of encouragement to bolster their will to persevere.  We are called to pull over when we notice someone in that condition and pull out our ‘hare spray’ and read the living words of promise to them.

Inquiring and discerning hearts… Paul and Peter are both exemplars of godly inquiry and heart-filled discernment.  They each carefully considered what they had seen and experienced and then discerned that they must change their ways and encourage others to also open their eyes to see a new reality – a new kingdom come through Jesus Christ through which we are all radically free to be ourselves while also enjoying loving and charitable fellowship with each other in his name.  In this morning’s lesson from Acts 10:34-43, we here Peter proclaiming good news across a cultural / tribal boundary to a non-Jew / Roman centurion and his family.  Peter has discerned that non-Jews didn’t need to convert and follow Jewish laws and customs in order to participate in the new kingdom come.  He is now convinced that since there is only one God, that God must be God of ALL people.  As Peter has carefully examined the evidence and has discerned to overcome his own prejudices in order to invite everyone to share the same meal, we too are called to search our hearts and discern what keeps us from connecting with others and feasting with them at a common table.

Spirit to know and to love God…  In this collection of love letters called the Bible, we hear stories of followers having their eyes opened to see and recognize the resurrected Jesus.  As we hear this morning, Mary sees him outside the tomb, first as a gardener and then as her Lord when he speaks her name (John 20:11-18).  Later in the day, two disciples on the road to Emmaus offer hospitality to a stranger who opens the scriptures to them – they see Jesus when he then breaks bread with them (Luke 24:13-35).  A week later, Thomas, who doubts because he hasn’t yet had a personal encounter with the resurrected Christ, is gently confronted with the evidence he needs to know this is Jesus resurrected, he then proclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29).  We know that eventually, hundreds, then thousands, then millions and more come to know and love God through the faithful actions of other believers who speak boldly about the gifts of grace afforded through resurrected Jesus Christ.  Having heard these stories, we are to keep our hearts, minds, and eyes open for Christ in our midst.  He’s told us how to know him – in acts of loving and serving those in need.

Joy and wonder in all God’s works…  Writer Nora Gallagher talks about spending less time talking about what we believe or don’t believe, and more time “practicing resurrection.”  I’ve read that she has said, “When I think about the resurrection now, I not only wonder about what happened to Jesus. I ponder what happened to his disciples. Something happened to them, too. They went into hiding after the crucifixion, but after the resurrection appearances, they walked back out into the world. They became braver and stronger; they visited strangers, and healed the sick. It was not just what they saw when they saw Jesus, or how they saw it, but what was set free in them….”  This morning, recall how God has brought wonder into your life. Imagine how God will bring wonder into the life of little Hudson in his years ahead.  Offer praises of joy for these God-given wonders in your prayers and in our singing.

During his earthly ministry, the disciples relied on Jesus as the teacher and prophet and healer.  After this resurrection, he equipped them to carry on the work of his cause – inspiring them with faith and hope and gifting to them the Holy Spirit to help them love each other as he has loved them.  They became the teachers, preachers, prophets, and healers in his name.  These roles have now been passed to us through our baptism.

If you’re wondering where to start this Easter season, consider telling your co-workers, friends, and family what a joy it was this morning to participate in initiating a new life into the body of Christ and to renew our promises the live as Christians with our church family and in our community here in Emporia.  Some people might ignore you or just politely smile and go back to what they were doing.  A few, however, might inquire more about what you’ve said.  Praise God in that moment (at least in your own heart)!  Then, lovingly and gently walk with them in their questions, sharing parts of your own story of faith that might relate to what they’re wondering, focusing them on hope in God making all things new and right through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and offering to pray with them in love for the Holy Spirit’s continued guidance.  Heck, maybe even invite them to ‘come and see’ – invite them to come with you to something here at St. Andrew’s – assure them that there’s always room for new folk at our family table.

May fear and guilt in our lives be replaced with new courage and conviction to share the good news of resurrection and reconciliation possible through Jesus Christ.

May we stop to help those on road sides who are in need – confidently pulling out our ‘hare spray’, reading the living Word with faith that it will revitalize and hope that in in following the instructions with love, and with God’s help, we ensure a lasting wave of peace and joy.

Let us pray.  Living Lord, whose love displaced the gravity of stone; you’ve entrusted your disciples, who love you beyond death, with news of the resurrection: we praise you for the open gospel which ends where Easter faith begins.  Accept our occasional fear and disbelief and take us into this new world led by the risen Son, helping us see your love in us and others anew, granting us the wisdom and confidence to speak through our own amazement so that others who need to hear the good news can be resurrected with us, through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the [formerly] dead.  Amen.  Alleluia!

(adapted from a prayer by Steven Shakespeare in Prayers for an Inclusive Church. Church Publishing: New York)