Prepare ye, the way of the Lord
Prepare ye, the way of the Lord”

This is a song from the musical Godspell, which is John the Baptist foretelling the birth of Jesus.  Some people thought John was the One, yet he knew he was not.  The story of John’s birth is accounted for in all of the Gospels yet in today’s readings we read the story according to Luke:

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel. (1:55-67, 80)

We can see a foretelling of John, even though John is not specifically stated in the first reading from Isaiah (49:1-6), so this is definitely a very important part of history for humanity.  What we need to keep in mind is that if there had not been John the Baptist, there would have been no foretelling of Jesus coming to this world.  This all is rather obvious for us.  But how does this really apply to us today other than understanding the Scripture?

John was a herald, a messenger in his own way; trying to help others understand who was to come.  We as Christians today are called to do the same thing, yet help others understand that Jesus will return.  As much as some folks try to use a fear tactic of damnation to bring others to Christ, that really isn’t our purpose.  Our purpose is to show love, the love of Christ through our actions and faith.  We are to be heralds and messengers, and share the Good News!

Did you ever have one of those days?  You know, one of THOSE days when you were tired, when you had had enuf, when you just wanted a break?  When you wanted to get away?  Me, too.  And apparently Jesus and the disciples had them on occasion.  In the Gospel reading for today, we find that Jesus wanted to ‘cross over to the other side’ of the Sea, so that he could have some time alone, away from the crowds, and with his disciples for some quality time, I would imagine.  The disciples were all for it, and away they went.  Jesus needed a break.  He gets in the boat, and goes to sleep.

And then it stormed…..  Not just your average run of the mill storm, but a STORM…..at sea even.  Thunder.  BOOM!  Lightening.  FLASH!  Waves so high over the little boat that it was tossed about.  CRASH!  And to top it off, the boat started filling up with water.  SLOSH…..Sink?  And Jesus slept on.  And on.  And on.

And then it happened.  The disciples, those stalwart fishermen, panicked; so much so that they wanted Jesus to panic, too.  So, they woke him.

Now, I dunno about Jesus, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t have a Keurig on that boat, but anyone who knows me well, knows, that no matter what, one does NOT speak to the Bishop when he first wakes up until after his (at least) second cup of coffee.  Can you not see Jesus?  He throws the blanket off and says, WHAT?

The disciples point out the storm, Jesus’s eyes focus, and then he gets it.  He understands what all the fuss is about…..and then, like so many of us, he says,

“Really?”

I can just imagine him rolling his eyes.  He quiets the storm, grumbles, and goes back to sleep…..and the disciples are tripped!

This past week, we have had a storm…a dreadful, dangerous, haunting storm.  And we are still in the midst of that storm.  This past week, the thunder of gunshots rang out at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.  This week, there have been torrents, waves of tears.  This week there have been flashes of anger. This week, we have, many of us, felt that we were in danger of sinking.  This week we have, all of us, felt the sense of being overwhelmed: with sadness; with grief; with disbelief; with horror.  I am certain that this week there are those who wondered if God slept.

This week, we have seen evidence, proof, that God does not sleep.  That God is very much awake, and involved, in our lives.  This week we have seen the families of those martyred in Charleston demonstrate to the world what Love is all about:  Forgiveness. Charity.  Good will.  Reaching out. Love.  When we heard the victims’ families say to the young man who killed their family members things like, “I forgive you.”  “We will pray for you,” we know that we have seen Christ in action.  This week we have seen countless thousands come together to support each other, regardless of race, religion, creed, or any of the other differences that often divide us.  This week we have seen, we pray, the beginning of the end of this storm of racial divide.

This storm is far from over.  FAR from over.  Before this storm ends, hearts will have to change, attitudes will have to change, laws, rules, regulations, the government, will have to change, society will have to change.  And before any of that can happen, WE will have to change.  We will, all of us, have to examine ourselves carefully, and honestly, to find the roots of our prejudice, our fears of those who are ‘other’ than ourselves.  We will have to look with new eyes at all of those with whom we come into contact, ALL of them, EVERY ONE of them, and strive to find the Jesus in each of them.  The Jesus in us must reach out to the Jesus in our brothers and sisters, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, ability or disability, or any of the other million and one things we use to denigrate, disgrace, and damn our brothers and sisters.

Like the disciples, we will be afraid.  Sometimes we may even panic.  But I can assure you that, like the disciples, we can go to Jesus.  And when we do, he will say to us, “Peace.  Be still.”  And in the calm and quiet that results from our trust in Him, we will be able, with full hearts, learn to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Amen.

In Arlington National Cemetery, there is a tomb; a beautiful tomb, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. In this tomb lie the remains of soldiers who were not able to be identified after their deaths from America’s wars since the 1st World War. Britain, Australia, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Serbia, and a host of other countries also honor their unknown warriors. Those who lie in repose have no known names, no known family, no known history, but they are celebrated for what they did, for what they represent. They gave their all.

In the church, we don’t necessarily have a “Tomb of the Unknowns” but we do have a Feast Day to honor our unknown heroes. That day is, of course, 1 November, The Solemnity of All Saints, in honor of all the saints, known and unknown.

Now you’re saying to me, what in the world does All Saints Day have to do with the last Sunday in Eastertide???? Well, let’s think about that for a minute. In the first reading of the Scriptures appointed for today, from the first chapter of Acts, we learn that a new Apostle is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. It would seem that there were two choices for the job. Matthias and Judas Barsabbas. Both of these men had been with Jesus FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN JESUS WAS BAPTIZED. What? There were more than the 12 original disciples? We tend to forget that, don’t we? In Luke 10: 1-24, we are told that Jesus sent out 70 men, 2 by 2 into every place that he was planning on going.

Church tradition holds that both of these men were 2 of that 70.

In the first sentence of our readings today, we learn that Peter was speaking to 120 folks.

Now, granted, you can ask just about anyone who knows me, and they will tell you that I’m pretty inept when it comes to math, but I DO know that 70 minus 2 is 68, and 120 – 2 is 118. Which leads me to ask, “Who are these people? Who are these 118 people who figured so prominently in spreading the Gospel? Who are these 118 people who were so devoted to Jesus that they risked imprisonment, some of them death; who risked losing everything to hang out in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection because Jesus told them to be there and to wait?”

Let’s think about that for a minute. We can whittle that number down some more…… Acts 1:13-15 says, “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” So there are a few of them. And then, we would expect that those mentioned in Acts 6:5 had been among the 70 and the 120 (Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas), also Barnabas. These were men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

Women were also identified to be among the 120. The wives of the apostles were there (1 Cor. 9:5 “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”). Each of the wives was a devout believer in Christ. Part of the number of women would be those mentioned in Luke 8:1-3. “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” See also Matt. 27:55-56; Luke 23:49,55. We would expect that the sisters of Jesus were also believers by this time, as His brothers had become.

Jesus brothers, had not been believers before the Crucifixion (John 7:3-5). Now they were firm in their faith and devotion to Him. These were: James, Joses, Simon, Judas (Matt. 13:55-56). James the Just was the leader of the Jerusalem Church in Acts 15:13. He is called an apostle in Gal. 1:19, although not one of the Twelve. James was the author of the Book of James. Judas was the author of the Book of Jude.

So….that leaves us with how many folks we don’t know? I lost count, I hate math, and it really doesn’t matter does it? What DOES matter is that we don’t know who, exactly, all of these people were. What we DO know, is what they did.

These were they who supported the Apostles. These were they who were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. These were they who worked so diligently, some to the point of sacrificing their lives, to spread the message of the Gospel. These were they who were on fire for Christ. These were they to whom we look to be, or we should look to be, examples.

Who were they? Their names don’t matter. They lived 2000 years ago and they are lost to us. In 2000 years, in 100 years, most of our names will be lost. But what matters is what won’t be lost. What matters is what we do and say and proclaim, so that those who come after us will know, will experience, will be able to live, the truth and the joy of the Gospel.

My dear friends, we do not live in a vacuum. Everything that we do, everything that we say, has an effect on someone. And that someone has an effect on someone else. We see this everyday of our lives. You hear of things ‘going viral’ on the internet. Someone had to start it. Some ONE posted something that was liked….and liked….and shared and shared and shared. Is this not what those 120 people in the upper room did? Is this not what we are called to do?

In your everyday life, how often do you reference Christ? Now, I’m not talking about quoting Scripture. I’m talking about demonstrating who Christ is, showing the world Christ’s love, his Salvation? What is it that you do, or say, or write, or post, that will touch someone in a way you never imagined? I dare say you will never know. BUT, we all of us need to remember that we DO touch lives, lives we don’t even know exist. We touch lives that are unknown to us. We are touched by people who are unknown to us.
Besides those 100+ folks in the upper room, besides us, how many others have there been? How many saints? How many martyrs? How many unnamed, unwritten about people have left us with the legacy of Our Lord? Revelations 7 tells us: “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” The unnamed disciples.

I plan on being in that ‘great multitude.’ I plan on being one of those “unnamed disciples.” Won’t you join me? Won’t you work to spread the love, the message, the salvation of our Lord and Savior? Amen.

Why is it so hard now a days to practice the main point in Jesus’ teaching.  Recent events such as the riots in Baltimore and Ferguson show how far we are from living up to the standard Christ has set for us. Racial intolerance, homophobia, and general dislike of other people permeate our society today.  So called Christians such as the Westboro Baptist Church will picket fallen military personnel’s funerals and had even planned to picket the funeral of nine Amish children who were killed in a fire in Pennsylvania.  How can this be Christianity? These actions go against all Christ has taught us and exemplified in his life.

Is this love, is this following Christ’s teaching? In today’s gospel Christ says “ This is my commandment : Love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this.”  It sounds pretty simple doesn’t it?  Christ’s commandment to us was love each other unconditionally as he loves us unconditionally.  We may personally not like some of the things others do,  but Christ implores us to love them and forgive them.

As true Christians we must enlighten people to the fact that Christ loves unconditionally.  There is no “ I love you only if….” or “I love you only if you do this….” it is simply I love you and I accept you for who you are flaws and all because I myself am flawed.  We can practice this in our daily lives by being more tolerant towards what we do not understand and by forgiving others short comings as we hope they will forgive them in us.

Just by showing kindness, acceptance, and love towards people of all religions and faiths we are helping to improve ourselves and truly practice what Christ teaches.

If we are truly to be disciples of Christ this would seem obvious wouldn’t it?  To love one another with the purity and passion Christ has for us is the ultimate ideal.  It takes much more emotional effort to hate and misunderstand then to love and accept.  Love breeds love, hate breeds hate.  Will we always be able to live up this ideal?  Probably not, for we are human and not infallible like Christ was.  All we can do is try to hold ourselves to Christ’s commandment and strive to succeed at all times.

Christ has chosen us to go forth and practice the love He has for us upon other people.  By doing this we are tending a garden and by nurturing and loving this garden as He did we can insure that Christ’s message of love is spread and practiced throughout the world. “ This I command you : love one another.”

And in the words of Paul McCartney and John Lennon “ All you need is love!”

John 15: 9-17     Jesus said to his disciples:  “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.  This is my commandment: love one another as I love 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 no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.  It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”

Late spring has come to the beach and Scott has planted a garden of sorts.  Because our soil is mostly non-existent and mostly sand, he is doing the ‘container gardening thing.’  He has planted cucumbers, and squash (two kinds), and tomatoes (4 kinds).  He has managed to put together a trellis system so that all of these vining plants can grow, and grow, and grow.  He feeds, fertilizes, and waters, and really pays attention to these plants.  Why?  Why go through all that trouble?

So these plants can produce fruit.  The goal of the garden is the fruit.

And so it is with God.  Did you know that God is a farmer?

Jesus said to his disciples:  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.  You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.  Remain in me, as I remain in you.  Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither;  people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.  By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

God has planted people. We are his garden, and he wants to produce fruit. You and I were created by God for a purpose—to produce fruit for God. But what kind of fruit is God looking for? He is looking for obedience, righteousness, worship, and glory from his creation. But if we are God’s garden, and if we are created to produce fruit for him, we arrive at a fundamental question: How can we be sure that God is pleased with our fruit?

Each and every religion has a different way of answering that question. What will it take for us to be acceptable to God? Do we need to follow a strict set of rules and regulations? Do we need to perform certain sacrifices and rituals? What do we do with the nagging feeling that we do not measure up?

Let’s talk about that.

In verse 1 of our reading today, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” Did you notice the “the” in there? Jesus did not say, “I am like a vine.” He is not just comparing himself to a vine. He is the vine. Similarly, he doesn’t say, “I am a vine,” as though there were many vines, and he is just one of them. No, Jesus says, “I am the vine,” the one and only vine.

But that is not all. Instead of simply saying, “I am the vine,” he says, “I am the true vine.” But what does that mean? How can a vine be true? The word true is the whole point. We then ask the question: If Jesus is the true vine, who or what is the untrue vine?

In today’s world, there are many “untrue vines:”  money, popularity, power.  All of these produce fruit.  But is it fruit that matters?

Jesus is the vine, and He said that we are the branches. In verse 5 Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” Jesus makes it clear that there are two different kinds of branches: fruitful branches and unfruitful branches.

Which one are you? Are you a fruitful branch? Do you produce what is pleasing to God? Or are you an unfruitful branch? How can you be sure of which one you are? This passage tells us there is only one difference between the two. Fruitful branches abide in the vine. Verses 5 and 6 explain this clearly:

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

So the secret of the fruitful branches is that they abide in Jesus. What does it mean to abide? Abide basically means “to remain,” “to stay put,” “to linger in one place,”  “to dwell,” “to stay connected.”  The most important thing for a branch to do is to stay connected to the vine. Only a branch that receives life-giving sap from the vine will live and bear fruit.

And so it is with us.  Are you connected to Jesus?  Picture a lamp.   What is the purpose of a lamp?  What is the “fruit” of the lamp?  Light.  What has to happen before that lamp can work?   It has to have a bulb.  It has to be turned on.  It has to be connected to a power source.  And you say to me, Bishop, what does this have to do with vines?  Let me tell you.  The bulb of the lamp is our soul, our faith.   We have to turn on our faith by prayer and study….but does that shed any light? Not if the lamp isn’t plugged in it doesn’t.  In order for the lamp to work properly, or at all, it must be plugged in to the power source.  Like us.  We must be “plugged in” to Jesus.  Before we can bear any fruit at all, we must be connected to Jesus.  He must be our Power, our Strength, our Source.

And what, exactly, is our fruit to be?  We are told in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Chapter 5, verses 22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a Christian.  And so, what is it that our Christ expects of us?  He was pretty specific about it.  In Matthew 22: 36-40, Jesus says, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

How can you, how DO you, show the world Christ’s love?  How do you show the world that our Christ IS love?  DO you produce fruit?  What kind of branch are you?

Father God, You are indeed the Supreme Gardener.  We ask that you tend to us, nurture us, help us to grow and to bear fruit for You, that the world might see your love, and that we may bring others to the Light of your Salvation.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.