Sermon by The Very Rev Chris Yaw, 4/7/2024, Easter 2
Centering Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
May your will be done,
through me.
Who is your doppelganger?
In other words, what famous celebrity, athlete, movie star, do people sometimes say you resemble?
If you're like me, it's Barney Fife!
Okay, I have gotten Will Ferrell,
And Bill Clinton, but because of my dating life...
How you and I are recognized comes to mind this morning as we dive into the first of many post-resurrection appearances by Jesus- this one, being that well known appearance to the disciples and Thomas, whose first name we all know, is Doubting...
And when we look at the text we see Jesus makes himself known to these first disciples who were hidden behind locked doors, and whom he appeared, somewhat mysteriously in their midst, he makes himself known in three ways,
This is Jesus' resurrected identity!
As we spoke about on Easter, the invitation of this season is for you and me to adopt this identity, the very things that made him known, to be the very same things that make us known!
Which is one reason we come to church- we want to be like him!
Why?
Because it's a better way to live!
You and I are carrying some heavy weight this morning:
Over Gaza and Ukraine
Our nation and its incessant division and uncertainty
Our health, finances, and relationships,
We know Jesus had no shortage of his own worries either, what with saving the whole world, past, present, and future and all...
And his identity helped him not only endure the changes and chances of life, but address them, and bring about that new world of Shalom, for which all of our hearts yearn.
So our sermon today is called 'You Look Like Him!'
Because you do - And we can do so, even more!
Because that's why we're here.
The more we knit our identity into his, and his attributes of peace, sacrifice, and spiritual connection, the better we become at finding our own places of comfort, renewal, and service for others.
Yes, you look like him!
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Earlier this week I was invited to hear a liberal academic, who lives in Israel, give a speech in West Bloomfield.
As divided as the Jewish/American culture is over the strategy taken around Gaza, he did an amazing job of keeping the crowd interested and challenged.
And towards the end of his talk, he was asked if he had any wishes for Israel, if he could wave a magic wand and make something substantial materialize.
He said the first thing he would do is to make Israel publicly proclaim, and back it up with actions, their care and concern for those who are suffering in Gaza.
He said the world needs to know that Israel cares - Cares about its opponents -
Cares about peace.
The speaker made a substantial differentiation between the kind of fighting that Hamas does and the kind of fighting that the Israeli Defense Force does.
And one of those differentiating factors is Israel's treatment of the enemy, which he does not feel Israel has fully articulated or fully embodied.
And he said, this is really harming the cause.
If Israel were to be better known for compassion, care, and most importantly, a dedication to peace, as a part of their military strategy, he says world opinion might be different.
And we get it - Because too often, we do the same thing.
For a myriad of reasons, we get distracted and lose sight of what is at the heart of our ministry, indeed the ministry of Jesus, which is to bring peace.
Shalom comes from the Hebrew word shalom which means complete.
Ultimate peace and with-it true happiness, emerges from the harmony of all the elements of our lives and of existence in one, complete picture, reflected in the greeting that captures it all: Shalom.
In our Gospel today Jesus bid his disciples 'Shalom' - not once, but three times.
His wish for you and me and the ministries we've been given - is that they would all embody peace.
In what ways do we embody that?
In what ways do we practice our vocations as peacemakers?
How is God challenging us to bring peace to a difficult area of our lives?
How are we being asked to 'turn the other cheek'- to forgive someone - to help reconcile divided factions?
Jesus' wish for you and me is to embody and spread peace - something we all get, and all have: How might we embrace, embody, and impart that upon others?
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We bought a new, used car this week!
After 17 years and 221,000 miles!
The old Mercury Milan was ready to go -
The rear brakes were 'thump, thump, thumping' -
And water had begun dripping on the driver whenever it rained or snowed - and this was *not a convertible...
So, what car to get?
I polled the family.
My daughter!
She said she liked the other car we have - Because whenever I arrive in the after-school pick-up line, she can tell it's me because of the badge on the front grill of the car.
And could we please get a similar car - with the same badge - so she can easily recognize us?
And so we did.
We want her to be able to easily identify us!
How are we identified?
This is an Easter question -
Because, in appearing to the 12 disciples in today's Gospel -
After wishing them peace, Jesus showed them his hands and his side -
Because he was easily recognized by his wounds -
He was easily recognized by the badges of his sacrifice and self-giving.
What are the badges that identify us?
I'm looking around at a congregation filled with these badges of identity.
Yes, you look like him!
The selfless lifestyles you've chosen -
Ones that allow you to give to charity - and those in need -
You have chosen to live like those early disciples we heard described in our first reading:
When they all sold their homes and property and pooled the funds in order to help those with less! "Oh how good and how pleasant it is for the brothers and sisters to dwell together!"
The scripture says that by doing so, no one was in need!
Everyone had enough.
The problem with this world is that no one thinks they have enough.
And the gift of Jesus is that he is enough.
In giving, we get!
In sacrifice, we find God does suffice!
And we are known by the badge of God's selflessness!
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Years ago, when I had just graduated from college, and was wondering what kind of career to pursue, I had dinner with my parents.
Also, at the table, was one of their friends, who worked in television news.
She asked me about my interests, about the kind of things I liked to do, and she made the suggestion: why don't you pursue television news?
This started a long conversation about the business, the training, how to get into it, etc.
After all, I had been a marketing major, who was a church nerd!
Although I worked in radio in college, I had never reported the news.
This conversation stayed with me, so that the following year, when I found myself working in marketing in Colorado, but on the side looking for something else to stay busy with, I happened upon a part-time job at a radio station.
I fell in love with that job, and soon stopped working marketing, and started reporting the news on the radio!
This is when I returned to Michigan and ran into that same woman, who applauded my transition to radio news, but encouraged me to try television!
This, again, was something I had never done, but based on her encouragement, I made a demo tape, while back in Colorado, at a cable station, and I started sending it out.
Eventually, thanks to her encouragement, I got hired at a tiny TV station in Cadillac, Michigan. I would work in television news for 15 years, ending up in Los Angeles, and winning an Emmy award along the way.
I wonder if any of this would have been possible if my friend hadn't encouraged me?
When we look at Jesus gifts to his disciples, those of peace and selflessness, we see that Jesus breathed upon them, giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It's as if Jesus exuded this ability, to breathe life and goodness upon others!
I wonder if the gift of the Holy Spirit is encouragement?
I wonder, if it's something that you and I have, by virtue of our baptisms, our confirmations, our new births, is the gift of encouragement?
If the holy spirit is anything, it is this gift of power, that moves us out into the world, with positivity, and hope!
I wonder if the gift of the Holy Spirit, that we bring to other people, is this gift of encouragement, possibility, and life!
Again, I see that gift in everyone in front of me!
Yes, you look like him!
The gift of the holy spirit that God has given to you allows us to encourage other people!
It allows us to be ambitious!
To strive for reconciliation and redemption!
And to be heart of God's answer to the world's problems,
Because without hope, what would ever get done?
So the Holy Spirit has been breathed into us!
How are we breathing it into others?
Who, do we know, needs encouragement?
Who around us needs hope and light?
Who do we need to breathe upon to give them that life-giving force of Hope?
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And so we return to the Doppelganger question -
And what famous person people confuse us with -
Let it be Jesus!
Let our greatest identity be our identity with him!
And oh yes, you look like him!
You look like Jesus;
Go forth my friends - and may the whole world mistake us for the one who sends us!
Amen.