The Last Sermon

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Year B Revised Common Lectionary
Acts 4:5-12, John 10:11-18

[Signed facing the congregation.] Please sit. [Motion them to sit, if they don't.]

[Signed facing away from the congregation.] May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O God, our strength and our redeemer.

[Facing the congregation.] Did you understand what I said? Well of course not, I had my back to you. Let me try again.

[Signed facing the congregation.] May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O God, our strength and our redeemer.

Did you understand it that time? Probably not, unless you know ASL, American Sign Language.

Pido disculpas a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que hablan español. Un semestre de español en la universidad no es suficiente para hablar mi sermón en ambos idiomas.

Those of you who speak only English probably didn’t understand that either. I was apologizing to our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters because one semester of college Spanish isn’t enough for me to preach in both languages.

So here’s what I was saying at the beginning [signed and spoken]: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O God, our strength and our redeemer.

See how quickly something so familiar can become so incomprehensible? And by preaching primarily in one language, many members of the congregation will not fully understand what I’m saying this morning. This breaks a pretty clear rule about communication within a community. Being in a community means communicating clearly with one another so that everyone understands. Fortunately, this community has members that are bilingual, and a good number of folks who manage to talk WITH each other in simple words and phrases of both languages. These folks are practicing community. They are welcoming each other into deeper community.

Unfortunately, welcome isn’t a word we’ve used very much here lately. Saying farewell is something Grace Church has become accustomed to over the last few years. In many ways it has become our focus. And the focus of those on the periphery of the community. Have you noticed? Any time there's a hint that the parish may be closing, the pews are filled with folks who come to say goodbye.

And this month has been particularly painful with the departure of Betty and Abbott White, beloved members of this community for over 50 years. Of Shane and Clara Marcus, who shared their many gifts with us for the past year. And now me. At least as many people I know in the Betania part of the community have left us in the last year or so as well. In many ways, it has been a long goodbye.

In many ways, that is what the Easter Season is, Jesus’ long goodbye. After the shock of his death, the community he left behind is just beginning the grieving process when Jesus reappears among them. He consoles them. He encourages them. He teaches them. And while we watch Jesus through these 50 days in the Gospel readings, we also see his followers taking their first steps as a resurrection community in the first chapters of Acts. They go out to spread the good news. They teach, preach, heal, and encourage. AND they welcome new members. Their community is experiencing new and exciting things.

It is a season of both and. Jesus is present, and he is leaving. His followers are grieving, and they are engaging the world in new ways.

You, too are entering a season of both and. People are present, and they are leaving. You are grieving, and yet new and exciting things are on the horizon for you. Of course, things start to fall into place just as I leave. So look at this season as a new beginning, just as those of us who are leaving are also experiencing new beginnings.

So as I take my leave, I want to leave you with three things. First, to encourage you to listen to your leaders and learn from them the many ways to communicate with one another. And I’m not just talking about Lois, Jose, and Sally. Your lay leaders, both of Grace and Betania, are also showing you many things. Learn to communicate in ways that build relationships and trust, both of which help create a stronger community. Second, as you grieve, take advantage of the new opportunities coming your way. Go out and preach the good news. Teach, preach, heal, and encourage. AND welcome new people into the community.

Lastly, I leave you with a blessing.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24–26)