May 1, 2005
John 14:15-21
Ten Suggestions for Christian Nurture
9 a.m. Mikell Chapel
Cathedral of St. Philip.
The Rev. William R. Payton, Priest Associate
At its heart, this morning’s Gospel is about the most important relationship we will ever have. Jesus demonstrates a deep emotional tenderness towards the Twelve and to us, promising a continued presence which will be more intimate than even physical presence. Clearly our part in the relationship Jesus offers is based on living into his commandments. The only commandment we know that Jesus gave us is the law of love. To love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength….the implied love of self. And, to love others as we love ourselves. Once again, our religion is all about relationships. Like any and all relationships, the relationship between Jesus and us is either cultivated or neglected. It is either growing or decaying. As Kahlil Gibran said, “If love is no always growing it is always dying.” One or the other but not both. So, I wonder how you and I can keep our relationship with Jesus alive, nourished, and stimulated so that it practically effects us.
A common, often justified criticism of sermons, I’m speaking inclusively, is that they lack specificity. When the sermon is finished, you still haven’t a clue about what to do next. On the preacher’s side, someone has said that stirring an average congregation to activity is like the ease of stirring week-old oatmeal. With all that in mind, this morning I want to offer you 10 brief suggestions which describes some practical activity which can nourish our relationships with God, with ourselves and each other. Don’t try to jot them down, I’ll see that they are available in the usual way.
The First Suggestion: In an intentional and sincere way, daily, turn your life over to the care and protection of God, asking for the empowerment to do what God has given you to do. The heart of all spirituality is the practice of intentional self-surrender and utter dependence on God.
Second: Read something from the Bible daily, even one single verse is fine. Do this in a planned or unplanned way, its up to you. As the commercial says, “Just do it”. Develop the habit of choosing one of the words you have read, take that word with you in your mind, recall it often until the next reading, and let it remind you of God’s presence.
Third: Go to church weekly. Forget being the Church without going to church. Has anyone ever come into a deep Christian commitment watching Sunday TV and reading the newspaper?
Fourth: Forgive whoever has offended you, regardless of the quality of his or her repentance, even none. Resentment or un-forgiveness is a blight none of us can afford to carry with us. It is an impenetrable impediment to a nurturing relationship with God, our selves, and each other.
Five: Give more money than you think you can, with no thought of the way it is going to be spent or how you are going to be re-paid. Remember the root word of “miserable” is “miser”. You cannot out give God.
Six: Tell someone you love that you love them. Nothing fancy, just plain and simple, three words will do it. And it matters that the words are said so they can be heard. Remember that clairvoyance is a rare and unreliable gift.
Seven: Pray for specific people you dislike, that God’s blessing will shower upon them with abundance. This is a good way to get unhooked from your favorite enemy and your favorite bad feeling.
Eight: Say “no” to something you fell angry or depressed after doing and say “yes” to something you feel happy about after doing. Forget if its “religious” or not. Sullen saints almost always produce sour wine.
Nine: Allow any portion of the day, however serious, to be interrupted by something funny. Jesus was identified as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, but he hardly suffered from terminal seriousness. I think it was GK Chesterson who reminded us that angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly.
Ten: Discover at least seven ways to play that cost less than $10.00. This may send credit card people and shopping mall retailers into apoplexy, but it is possible and fun to do. If you realize your cleverness has saved you money, consider giving it away to a good cause.
That’s the list of Ten Suggestions.
Let me hasten to say that this list is not original with me accept for a few additions. It could have come from one of those “Chicken Soup” books. I found it in my collection of sermon stuff, and it is simply passed along without credit of authorship. I’m reasonable sure that I can count on you not to be slavish about adopting them into your routine. But, try them on, take one or two of them up occasionally and see if they fit your need for spiritual nurture. I am very available to be with you as the Spirit invites us deeper into our shared life with God.
Jesus is a person of joy. Later in the next chapter of John, Jesus says, “I have spoken this to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.” Being in an active relationship requires attentiveness and intention. The relationship Jesus offers us is full of joy, not half empty or even half full, but abundantly running over and spilling out everywhere. What a sacred mess!
One of my favorite theologians of the last century, Teilhard de Chardin remarked, “The most infallible sign of the presence of God is joy”. Teilhard, was right.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Comments? Contact Bill Payton at: BPayton@stphilipscathedral.org