7 Easter C (Mother’s Day) May 12, 2013
Luther Memorial Church Seattle, WA
The Rev. Julie G. Hutson
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The ELCA is always trying to keep its pastors healthy, which is a good thing. Too often, we stop caring for ourselves in the midst of caring for others. (Vicar Inge, are you listening?) Recently, pastors in our synod were given a Fit Bit to help us with our efforts toward healthier living. Fit Bit seems like such a harmless, even a cute little name. This is mine, right here. I wear it all the time and it actually keeps track of whether or not I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I had something like that growing up, only it was called a little brother.
Anyway, this Fit Bit records the number of steps I take each day and if I don’t reach ten thousand it chastises me just a bit. It also records whether or not I am taking the stairs or if my exercise merely involves pressing the elevator buttons. In addition, it tracks how many calories I am burning. At night, it can measure how I am sleeping. Then once a day or so I log onto the computer to get the bad news. I need to walk more and eat better and get more sleep.
Now, in case, like me, you are thinking that it’s all about the negative, know that the Fit Bit dashboard also offers all sorts of positive advice for how I can improve my overall health. Sadly, none of it involves staying up late at night reading my favorite book and eating an ice cream sandwich.
Throughout the Easter season we have been focusing on the Scripture readings from Revelation in our preaching. You’ve heard both Vicar Inge and I say that Revelation is NOT about some being “raptured” at the end of days while others are left behind with their Fit Bits.
Rather, the author of Revelation, John of Patmos, writes about what is wrong with the Roman imperial system of the day. This was a system that operated with a predatory economy. This was a system that used and abused people for its own good. This was a system where the oppressed and outcast were disposable. At times, it can seem hard to tell whether we are reading from the book of Revelation or whether we are reading from current headlines.
And Revelation doesn’t mince words. We understand clearly that an economic system that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer is not in line with God’s plan. We understand that those who have much are expected, no they are commanded, to care for those who do not. This isn’t socialism…this is Christianity!
Revelation makes its point with graphic images and powerful metaphors in case we don’t get the full picture. It’s a tough book to read, especially for me, as a middle class, Fit Bit wearing American.
It can be very tempting to say that those people….those homeless women and children from Mary’s Place or the folks who sleep behind the KFC on Aurora, or those girls and women who walk that same street night after night, or those senior citizens who have to choose between their medication and buying food….it can be very tempting to say that they are not our problem. And they are not. They are our sisters and brothers.
I think that the reason that we’ve not been able to move beyond the Left Behind theory of Revelation is because we then find ourselves staring into the eyes of this cultural diagnosis. Just like my Fit Bit tells me when I have failed to walk enough for optimal health, the book of Revelation tells us when society has failed to live into the desire that God has for all of Creation.
My uneasy partnership with my Fit Bit is not my first attempt at physical fitness. In my first call I had a parishioner who owned the local gym. She is an amazing young woman, and passionate about the health and well being of her patrons. And needless to say, since I was her pastor, she knew whether or not I was actually using my gym membership. So I was pretty faithful because Melissa was there keeping track of my work-outs. But you know, if I knew that Melissa was out of town? I could ease up just a bit.
In today’s reading from Revelation Jesus says that he is coming soon. Now that 2000 years have passed, perhaps the Church no longer feels any urgency toward living as though Jesus could return at any moment. How would we live if we thought that at any time Jesus would return? Would we do anything any differently? How would we be repaid by the Alpha and Omega,the descendant of David, the bright morning star?
Sisters and brothers, be assured of this. We would not be repaid as we deserve. Instead, we would be repaid with the invitation to come and drink of the water of life, not because we deserve it, but because it is a gift. We would be invited by the Spirit and by the inhabitants of the Kingdom of God with a lavish invitation….Come. Come to the water, all who are thirsty. Come. We would be…no….we are held in the love of God, which is beyond our ability to imagine. It is so wide and so vast and so deep that it encompasses all of Creation and springs forth when we try to tamp it down. Like trees of life growing strong and springs of water gushing forth.
And our response says John of Patmos, is to turn and offer that invitation to others. To also say Come. To our neighbors…Come. To the friends we know and those we do not know. Come. To those who have hurt us and those who have helped us. Come. To those with little and to those with much. Come.
When we offer that invitation, we are Christ’s presence in the world. We are pointing the way to the waters, waiting to wash all clean, and to the table, where the meal is prepared and waiting…Come.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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