One Love - John 17:1-11

This morning's sermon is about the mystery of oneness - What does Jesus mean when he desires that disciples be one as he and the Father are one? What would a world of oneness look like? What would it be like to be one? Often times our first tendency as human being towards a vision of one ness is to wish that everyone saw the world like each of us do. If everyone could see things my way; then the world would be just right... That would be making ourselves God. That is far from the mark of Jesus' vision. What would it be like to be one? And it's certainly not a world in which everyone is the same.... What would it look like? Dream with me for a moment.... What: Politicians that don't bicker to gain power and ideological favor? can you picture that? There may be Republicans and Democrats, but they don't put each other down, and slice and dice one another up: rather with different perspectives, say, "We are Americans, let's work to provide adequate health care for the people..." We're americans, let's figure out how to get our country out of debt and create a more equitable system. What: We are one so We don't need a wall across our souther boarder... We are one so we don't escape regulations to make cheaper stuff... We are one so we don't drop bombs on people... that they May be one, as we are one Can we even conceive it? we have a long way to go: Part of what many perceive as our difficulty in realizing this vision of Jesus is that we operate out of what is called a dualistic mind. Or a binary mind. We easily see differences. And out of these differences, we easily conceive separation. Cookie monster sang merrily to many of us growing up or he sang it to your children growing up.... : "One of these things is not like the other.." One of these things does not belong" Children are complimented by how well they can tell things apart. This is a cat (Meow) and this is a dog... (woof!) very good!! And so the dualistic mind forms....and our binary brain creates our separated world. thinking patterns distinguish, and we learn to put labels on things, Jesus' words, Do not judge has also been translated Do not label. In our binary minds we are able to distinguish ourselves, and we understand ourselves by thinking about ourselves in terms of our own characteristics. WHo am I? I am a cancer, a christian, a minister, an anglo, a man, a father. And as I distinguish myself, I formulate an understanding of me. The dualistic mind easily sees opposites: black white, hispanic anglo, male female, right wrong, Christian Muslim Heaven hell red blue red or green us them, U.S. them Pay attention today to how many times you say something is good or bad. or that you like one thing but don't like another. Or that is right and this other things is wrong. what do those words even mean? But Jesus says: Protect them, ....so that they may be one, as we are one. As the father is in me, I am in you, Abide in my love. IN our world, we share one planet...that could be an easy mark of oneness. We live off of it's resources, and where it is polluted in one area, other areas are affected. This week I enjoyed participating in a tour at Los Alamos National Lab. One of the presentations given to our group was on Climate Change:. Yes, our planet is warming, and no prediction says that this will result in anything positive for our future...but our appetite for energy is not yet satisfied.... And, of course, the rest of the world wants to consume as much energy as we do in this country.... so a Billion Chinese are building one Coal Fired Power Plant a week. One a week...and the contamination goes up up up, into the atmosphere, the wind blows it east across the ocean, and then it comes down down down in polluted rain and a compromised ozone layer over North America. And what are we going to do: Pressure them? Sanction them? HOw many billions do we owe? Threaten not to buy from them? Ha! back to the lazy boy, change the channel to another mind numbing program, and turn on the air conditioning cause it's getting hot in here! .... But I digress: The global climate is a drastic issue that demonstrates more than anything else how connected we are. that they May be one, as we are one. Even in our church we are struggling with differences. Members...and friends...and visitors. Old timers, new comers...separation Spanish, Anglo..., Immigrant, Native born...not necessarily including Bruce. And Jerome.. Sherl...Shin....Where do you fit in? Maybe there is an "other" category...o thank goodness! division...even when the intention is to unify.... We are one in the spirit we are one in the Lord. Can we sing this song with integrity? Even when we invite someone to church (something all of us do, right?) or to some activity: we may say, please join us. And by doing so there is a distinction made. There is a subject (you) and an object (us). I am an insider, you are an outsider, And we struggle to even think how to phrase things differently. Protect them....so that they may be one as we are one. We are even divided selves: Am I a good person or a bad person? Am I a lovable person or someone who cannot be loved? Do people like me or not? Am I worthy or unworthy? What does it mean that God so loved the world? Protect them, so that they may be one, as we are one. How do we begin the conversion? How does the transformation take place? So that we can live into a world of oneness? See a world with NonDual awareness. a Unitive consciousness. - - No separation. No separation between humans and God: . What is the greatest commandment? "Love the Lord your God:" There is no separation between God and humans. It's all one. There is mutual abiding. God abide in us and we abide in God. The vine is part of the branch and the branch is part of the vine. This is love No separation between humans and humans: Love your neighbor as yourself. Not love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Which is sometimes taken to mean : I have to love me first before I love my neighbor. there is not an "as much as." Love as yourself. The same. Your neighbor is you. There are not two people in competition. One seeking to better herself at the price of the other or to extend charity to the other. The free flow of love is between people who seem themselves as one. No separation. The fulfillment of Jesus prayer begins with disciples It is not up to Obama to unify this country. It is up to disciples And anyone who in humility follows Jesus in the Way can live into Jesus vision for oneness... this is what Jesus calls us to when he calls us to repentance. when he calls us to conversion. when he beckons us Jesus's ministry was one of compassion, love, and empathy. When we are able to live humbly with compassion, empathy, and love...one of the unique and most defining characteristics humans are capable of, we become one: Protect them so that they may be one, as we are one: One of the key aspects to unity, is the radical understanding of divine protection. Jesus prays, Father, protect them. Protect them. God's protection gives us the confidence to view the world as one. It is when we attempt to protect ourselves that we have to put up walls, and draw lines, and make distinctions, and, litigate policies in our best interest, even if it is harmful toward others and the environment. Protect them. Trusting in God's provision, and trusting in God's love. Protect them, so that disciples can be one, one with each other, one with God. This is not protection from death. This is protection from falling into the trap of isolation and difference because of fear. Protect them so that they may be one, as we are one This week, Erik and Barbara sense that they are one with sisters and brothers in Colombia who will be fasting this week praying the US and Colombian governments may agree upon a more just trade policy, as the one currently in place has led to displacement, violence, and unrest They may be one as we are one : I love the powerful scene in the movie Gandhi, the factions motivated by among other things, religious differences, divide into separate nation-states Pakistan and India. And when Gandhi attempts to cross the new boarder he is stopped and asked about his religion: Gandhi boldly says, ''I am a Muslim and a Hindu and a Christian and a Jew and so are all of you.'' We are one: Last night, we ate at a little hole in the wall mexican joint. When another couple came in with a child Ruby's age, Ruby's eyes lighted up. and after a bit of hesitant interaction She and the other child begin to play, It was easy to see the differences: One had short blond hair, the other long brown hair. One had blue eyes, the other brown. One wore a pink shirt the other a white shirt One was born to immigrant parents, the other to parents whose family has lived in the US for generations.... One was deaf and one could hear. Their language was play, and run, and squat, and the downward dog yoga pose And when it was time to go home they said goodbye and hugged, and when we were in the car, Ruby cried, Quiero a la nina. I want to play with the girl. Trusting children can be our best teachers. Protect them, so that they may be one, as we are one. Let us begin to see the oneness that exists between us all. TUrn to someone sitting near you and say....we are one... Amen. May it be so. 

Jn17-Pray for us Jesus

“Pray for us Jesus” - John 17:6-19 WPC, Santa Fe May 24, 2009

Summer,Summer, Summer time (singing). School’s out for summer (singing):
Sodo you practically have your bags packed? Ready to get somewhere, anywhere, a long way from here? Family Vacation? Getting away from it all, Turning off your cell phone, your tv, and the news, and disconnecting completely. How many of you experience stress? When are those times when life becomes unbearable: difficult people, disappointments, bad news; and we just need a break and to get away: Beam me up Scotty. Travel agents, the tourist industry, and the real estate business know this “need”; and spend millions to lure us to travel to exotic destinations.

Surely this dream of escape was a temptation for the early Christian community. They were a fledgling group that had been inspired by Christ to live a new kind of way…But then came some rejection and persecution. Strange looks from people in the neighborhood as they were walking down the street singing some praise songs. “Oh just be quiet will all of that Jesus nonsense!” Some got kicked out of the neighborhood gathering places--synagogues. And it wouldn’t be tool long before some would lose their life defending their faith. It would have been easy for this early community to want to escape, to just go to a separate place and tell memories and stories about Jesus and leave it all behind.

But Jesus, before he goes away, prays this prayer found in John 17. It is often called the priestly prayer. Jesus’ prayer for the people. It is a prayer of Jesus just after the last supper that he has had with his disciples and just before he is Crucified. and taken away from them. This is not the easiest passage in the Bible; and one can get lost in some of the wording: but at the heart this is
a beautiful prayer that Jesus prays—he prayed it for disciples then…he prays it for disciples now, in every time and place, this is Jesus prayer for those who are his.

Before we dive right into the prayer I want to point out that the prayer opens and closes with two very important things: First, it opens with what is essentially Jesus mission. (mission impossible theme song) Did you hear those words? What was Jesus mission and purpose at it’s core?

This passage says, To make God’s name known. What do you think this means? To
make the name known that is is love. The name that is forgiveness. The Name that is mercy. This is the good news that Jesus came to bring. And now he is going. And before he goes, toward the end of the prayer Jesus says, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

IN John, Jesus has a strange relationship with the world; it is unique to this gospel. Kind of a love hate relationship. Disciples are from the world and to remain in the world, but they do not belong to the world; instead they are sent to the world. Have you heard it said that Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world? What is it about the world?

What should our relationship with the world be? Are we supposed to reject the world? You know, claim that the world corrupts, and keeps us from being holy. Send our kids to Christian schools and not let them read Harry Potter, or participate in Halloween activities. How many of you weren’t allowed to play cards or dance years ago? These things were pagan. Are we to reject the world totally, withdraw? Not participate in institutions? in Politics?

Another problem is that sometimes we too readily accept how the world is…the status quo…must be the way God wants things. Sure there is injustice and oppression, and war and famine, but what can I do? Eat, drink and be merry? Who then is doing the work of making God’s name be known if we accept the world for what it is?

Just as I was sent into the world, so I am sending my disciples. As attractive as it might be to want to escape from the world, or embrace the world for what it is, if we are to fulfill this mission disciples must be living, acting, and doing in the world, but we do not belong to the world.

Jesus knows that this relationship to the world for disciples is not an easy one to figure out. So let’s look at what he asks for? At what he prays in John 17? Does he pray that we can get anything and everything we want? Does he pray that we will be healthy wealthy and wise?

In this prayer, Jesus prays for three things: did anyone catch them?
1. Jesus prays for protection
2. Jesus prays that the disciples may be sanctified in the truth.
3. Jesus prays that disciples may have his joy complete in themselves.
And it is in these three things that we gain better insight about our relation to the world.

First,knowing that disciples are sent into the world Jesus prays for protection. Kind of like a prayer for safety. But is seems that Jesus isn’t necessarily praying that no ailments will come our way, and this isn’t a prayer for safe travel. It’s a prayer of protection in our relationships. Protection so that disciples may be one as he and the Holy Father are one; and he prays for protection from the evil one. Somehow, the health and wellbeing of our relationships are what is vital to this ministry disciples are commissioned to do. When we can demonstrate love for one another it is when we best proclaim the loving name of God. When there is unity, there is peace. Now unity does not mean uniformity: I don’t think this means that we all think alike, believe necessarily the same things, and dress the same way. But we can show unity in our diversity. Like when we ordain people in our church who are very different from one another, those ordained as elders or deacons promise to work toward the peace, unity and purity of the church. And the evil one would want nothing more than to tear those relationships apart and keep us from this purpose. For us to experience brokenness and separation in relationships. Families torn apart, churches split. To hurt one another. To lie, steal, or cheat to get ahead. To deceive each other and ourselves. The evil one is most effective when we are not loving: and John says we have to love. Love isn’t easy. There is the day-to-day grind that leaves us tired and frustrated and we can get on one another’s nerves; misunderstand one another; and betray one another. There is suffering and evil; and the evil one wants nothing more than for us to carry a lot of bitterness and hatred in our hearts toward others. Jesus is still praying for protection so that we might be one so that we might carry out the mission of making God’s name be known in the world.

But if we go into the world might we become corrupted by the world?

This leads to another aspect of this prayer: Sanctify them in the truth, Jesus prays. The world is so attractive with all its glam and glitter. What if the greed that is found in the world makes me
greedy? The world is so sly, so me focused what if I just start looking out for me? I want to be the next American Idol..or at least the next Westminster Idol. Jesus prays in this prayer that disciples would be sanctified in the truth: your word is truth. Knowing the lures and temptations in the world, to seek fame and fortune, to have fun all the time, and to not worry about other people’s problems, with all of the different ideas in the world that don’t seem to fit with ideas of God; Jesus prays that disciples would be made holy.

But how do we become sanctified in truth? A few weeks ago, Sander van Doorn (aka the colonel) and I went camping; and he told me a little more about how he became an evolutionary biologist. He grew up in a church community where anything that smacked of evolution was
suspect: This was not Christian the young Sander was told. But Sander enjoyed studying biology; but in order to try and be a good Christian he avoided those classes that got into evolution, or just kind of closed his eyes and ears when they talked about it. But, he went off to university, and continued to walk this tight-rope until he could no longer simply avoid the issue. So instead he took it head on, is evolution contradictory to my faith, and to the Bible or not? And he concluded that it was not, and in fact now sees how God is using him to help bring understanding between biblical faith and science. The prayer of Jesus: sanctify them in the truth.

Sanctify: that we would become God like, through mediation on God’s word and seeking after God in our lives, even as we are in the world. And this is done not on our own, but as we gather in community and share our experiences with each other.

And the final thing I want to mention about Jesus prayer is that he prays that his joy would be made complete in the disciples themselves. What do you think gave Jesus joy? I’m sure he loved hanging out around the fire late at night with his friends. I’m sure he enjoyed a good harvest party when the occasion would arise. But what seems to have given him the most joy is fulfilling the mission for which he had come. IT is when we fulfill Jesus mission of making God’s name be know that we experience this joy of Christ.

Have any of you ever seen a life transformed because a word of love was spoken to places where there had been hatred and brokenness. A word of forgiveness where there had been bitterness and mistrust. A word of mercy where there had been guilt and pride? Have you seen a life
that was spinning out of control or full of destruction and hate, be transformed into a life of love? Is there a greater joy than this transformation.

Trasie told me about one of her clients who was depressed lonely and decided that he was ready to kill himself. But before he did he went up to the plaza one last time, and there he found, “a bum”. This “bum” told him about God’s love and told him about a program that could help him. And the young man changed his mind, and is on the road to recovery.

It is when we make God’s name known, and share good news with others, that we find great joy in life...immeasurable joy. When we pass the peace to someone who is lonely, give a hug to someone who is ill, speak a word of love to someone who feels rejected; in this hurting world we can experience God’s grace.

Where are you going this summer? Maybe you’ve got a great vacation lined up…a nice get away. Well, enjoy, it but the world that is so full of pain and hurt is waiting for our return. That we might go into the world this summer, and be his hands and feet, that we might make the loving name of God known to everyone we meet, that we not fear those we encounter but come before them in love, so that Christ’s joy may be made complete in us and throughout the world.

Close: Teresa of Avila said "Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands
but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which the
compassion of Christ looks out on a hurting world, yours are the feet
with which he goes about doing good; yours are the hands with which
he is to bless now." Amen