Easter 2 April 29, 1984

GO! - BE WHAT YOU ARE - THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

The Reverend Alex Thomas, St. Mary's (Highlands), Edmonton, Alberta

Introduction

The late Carlyle Marney , a Carolina preacher and writer, liked to talk about his dog, a big Irish Setter. He said that the dog knew three things: he knew where his food pan was, he knew that rattle of the car keys, and he seemed to know the word "GO". One particular day the dog was asleep under the dining room table while a neighbor was visiting. The neighbor got up and said , "Well, its time for me to go. The dog heard the word "go" and came roaring from under the table, turned the corner, hit the freshly waxed kitchen floor, spun around twice and skidded into the furniture, knocked over three chairs and went through the screen door backwards on three legs. All because he heard the magic word "GO".

We actually use the word "GO" quite a bit. I was at the hockey game the other night. Everyone was yelling "Go Oilers Go", or "Here we go Oilers Here we Go" for it is a common expression these days. At another time it was "Go West young man" ."Go for the Gold". Weve all heard the expression "Go fly and kite". "Go fight city hall". "Go tell it on the mountain". "Go home".

"Go" was an important word for Jesus. "Go and sin no more." He used it to send forth people that he had helped, "Go thou and do likewise". "Go preach the Kingdom of God". His famous 'send off' to his disciples as he prepared to leave them : "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , to the end of time".

*

In today's Gospel that we read We have Jesus telling his disciples to Go. He says,"Peace to you, As the Father has sent me, So I send you." Your'e not going to stay here mourning over my death. You can't stay here just thinking about what I said and did. YOU HAVE TO ACT ON IT. Do you really believe in me? Do you really believe in my message? So you really believe that I am the Messiah who came to bring Peace. Peace means Shalom. Shalom means a world in which there is well being, health, harmony,, justice, unity, freedom, equity, community among all people. That's the vision that I left with you. Do you think that its worth working for with everything that you have and are? Living for? Dying for? Do you really believe it. Then, GO".

Ive very fond of that story of the man who was preparing to push his wheelbarrow on a tight wire over Niagara Falls. Every day he would practice on a wire in the back yard. Every day his neighbor George would watch him. He stumbled and fell a few times at first, but as the days moved into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, he could do it perfectly every time. Came the day! He took his wheelbarrow to the Falls and had the wire strung across. He was ready to start. He looked up and saw his neighbor George standing right in front. He says, "George, do you think I can do this." George says "Yes" . "Do you really think I can do this"? "Yes, I've seen you do it many times in your back yard" ."Do you BELIEVE THAT I CAN DO IT?" "YES, I BELIEVE". "THEN, COME WITH ME. GET INTO THE WHEELBARROW"

*

If we say we believe something, we have to act on it. Jesus is saying to these men gathered in this house. If you are really my disciples, I'm sending you out. He made sure to show them his hands and his feet to make sure they understood that the resurrected Lord was the crucified Lord. His way and his belief is definitely not always popular.

They knew the world was pretty hostile. The doors of the house they were in were shut, and probably locked for fear of the Jews. There was no pretending that they were not in danger out there. Two weeks ago, the Bishop at a Confirmation service in Sherwood Park reminded the candidates and the congregation that when you believe and witness to Jesus Christ conflict with the powers that be can be dangerous. He reminded them of Bishop Lumum who died because he opposed Adi Amin. He talked of another friend of his, who was under continual surveillance in another country, because as a Christian he opposed the corruption of power in the present Government. It's interesting that at the present time (in the 80s) in the Soviet Union they do grant religious freedom and churches are allowed to exist. BUT ONLY SO LONG AS THEY DO NOT ENGAGE IN MISSIONARY ACTIVITY. They realize that it is alright in its fossilized state. But when the people get hold of this "sent out" idea, then it will grow and spread in such a way that no Government can contain it.

Jesus was aware of that of course. He had the nail prints in his hands and feet to prove it. That is why when he sent them out to carry the message of reconciliation and forgiveness he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. It was the same breath that lifted Adam to life in the beginning of time. It was the same breath that gave life to the valley of Dry bones in Ezekiels vision. It was the same breath of life that the disciples needed if they were going to be sent out to act on their belief. It was a good thing that they caught the "sent out" idea and went out with his Spirit. We now have in our Bible the ACTS of the Apostles. Its highly significant that it is the ACTS of the Apostles, not just the thoughts of the Apostles, or the words of the Apostles, or the ideas of the Apostles.

And the big difference between experiencing the risen Lord in our lives as a subjective experience, being caught by his vision of Shalom, and being able to pass it on to others, is His breathing into us the Spirit.

*

We who are baptized and acknowledge the Spirit in our lives are the ones who are "SENT OUT" . That's the nature of our faith. If we havent grasped that "sent out" idea, we are not being true to ourselves as the Church. The church doesn't just have a mission. The church IS Mission. Mission is our very life. If it is not the mark of our life together, we are not actively being the church. What has been impressed on us as a people we have to express. One can say that our religion "really sends us" . There was a great dismissal in the QuAppelle liturgy that I always liked: Go in peace, love and serve the Lord, rejoice in His Holy Spirit, and be what you are, the Church in the world.

In a book called BUILDING GODS PEOPLE by Episcopal priest by the name of John Westerhoff (the book is actually on the whole area of Stewardship he tells a story of a Lutheran pastor friend of his visiting a church ne the Mexican border. When he arrived he was told that Israel was to be baptized. He decided to go across the border to find a baptismal gift. He fell in love with a pair of sandals, but they were for an adult and Israel was an infant. Saleswoman said that it didn't matter, for Israel would grow into them. Israel slept through the ceremony, but his parents seemed to understand that Baptism was a pilgrimage. A few months later he returned to learn that Lisa, Isreals cousin, was to be baptized. Back across the border he went to get a gift for Lisa. This time he fell in love with a pair of booties but they were for a two month old, and Lisa was ten months old. The saleswoman said, it wouldn't matter to Lisa, because they could be hung on the wall to remind her of her baptism. At last he understood the meaning of Baptism. It was living between the booties and the sandals. Baptism is something we remember. It is also something we grow into. We are all on a pilgrimage with Lisa and Israel. We are all learning the meaning and the implications of our baptism. It is always something we are growing into.

We are learning that we are the ones that are "SENT OUT" and we have a belief , a faith, a way of life to share. We hear that in the Gospel today, it should almost be like Carlyle Marneys dog. We should be on our way half way across the kitchen floor and sliding backwards out the door.

Its a natural impulse to share something good with another person Movie, good stare, restaurant, political candidate, theory, experience ---you cannot help tell people about them.

What about the risen Christ and his Peace, his vision of SHALOM?

Is there something you can share?

Is there something you want to share ?

Is there something you cannot help but share?

What does "SENT OUT" mean to you?