Rector's Sermon - Sunday, November 23, 2003

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14	132:7-10	Revelation 1:4b-8	John 18:33-37

    This Sunday is the conclusion of the church's liturgical year. The lessons and hymns usually look forward to the completion of Jesus' mission and the final reconciliation among all people. Global peace and harmony is at last permanently established. The evil powers that corrupt and destroy humanity are decisively conquered for good. Yet most of the images and metaphors are curiously out of sync with us. References to kingdoms, royalty and imperial majesty do not imply freedom and release from sin, but oppression and degradation. While a strong monarchy in a time long past and in a very different societal structure might have been the best way to ensure a lasting peace and tranquility over a large area and population, for us, it implies unrest and a future struggle for liberation. We need a new and, as yet, unarticulated vocabulary to talk about God's victory over the world's ills and afflictions.

Yet perhaps this day is to show how very out of sync the world often operates compared with the way God calls us to live. The conversation between Pilate and Jesus shows how profound the misunderstanding is. Pilate cannot fathom anything Jesus is saying. It is as if Jesus is speaking an unknown foreign language. Moreover, looking in on the trial, Pilate, the all powerful governor and judge, is weak and wavering, while Jesus the unprotected and helpless defendant appears strong and resolute.

    At the same time, the real trial is taking place outside in a dim courtyard between Peter and those who accuse him of being a disciple. Peter utterly fails, but afterwards, upon remembering Jesus' words, understands and receives forgiveness. In a sense, Peter is released a free man and is able to begin again.

    On the other hand, there seem to be no signs of victory in Jesus' last hours on this earth. It is late in the day. The two thieves and Jesus are exhausted and near death. One thief gasps, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." It was likely the last thing he said. Jesus turns and says, “Today, you will be with me in God's new commonwealth." Even today you will know that God is working to restore humanity, today signs of God's plan of reconciliation and restoration will be shown.

    It is natural to dream that finally Jesus will vindicate the long- suffering people of faith and that at last people will understand and respect each other. However, before we get too carried away in planning the victory parade and building an arch of triumph, the irony, paradoxes and the contradictions of all the images provide us with a great gift of balance. This day always seems to return us to reality, rather than fanciful visions similar to the world's dangerous delusions of grandeur.

    We all know the sales pitch: "There is no better time than now to buy a car. Trust me, don't delay and come on down" Well, in regard to being witnesses of the resurrection and ambassadors of the Gospel, it's true. God wishes to work with us right now. The good news of the Gospel record is that God enlists even cowards, hypocrites, and failures today and puts them to work. The story of Jesus' disciples is not the story of heroes who, when they thought that they were ready and when they felt the time was right, became witnesses of the living Christ in the world. Rather the Holy Spirit came upon them and proclaimed, “Today God's healing begins in you; today God wants you to know of the forgiveness of sins; to live in the power of the resurrection, knowing that death doesn't have the last word; and that God's love is the final word. Go likewise today and tell others that God's redemption is here working among us.”

    Shortly we will be offering our gifts and pledges to God's mission. In part, we will answer for ourselves what Jesus means to us. We will be declaring to others that we part of God's people and we are willing to be identified as one of them. On the last day of the liturgical year, we have the opportunity to accept God's invitation to live as disciples in a new age. Trust the Gospel: There is absolutely, unconditionally, and positively, no better time for this than today.

    And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.