Back in the
day, tonight we would be gathering to draw straws. That’s right we would have a drawing of
straws to determine who would make up the 12th position as a
disciple- soon to be Apostle. The pool
to be chosen from are witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, have been followers a
long time; they know the stories, can recount the tales, can bear witness to
healings, have memorized Jesus’ sayings, have walked with Jesus and experienced
being in his presence. The person drawing the shortest straw would take their
place as one of the 12.
For one of
these must become a witness with us of his resurrection. Then they cast lots,
and the lot fell to …
To one of
you.
To those
of you who are here tonight to be ordained, or installed …are you sure you wish
to transition into these rolls? To be
chosen, to draw the short straw?
Of the 12
Apostles:
Andrew and
Peter were crucified; Philip was impaled on iron hooks and hung upside down; Thomas
faced death by spears; Matthew was beheaded; Bartholomew was flayed and burned
alive; James faced death by sword; Thaddeus and James the Just were clubbed to
death; Simon the Zealot- killed at the
hand of the governor of Syria; and Matthais was stoned. (not that kind of stoned). The only disciple not to die a martyr’s death
was John, but, he faced no picnic – as he was thrown into boiling oil and then exiled
to an island.
To those
of you who are here tonight to be ordained, collated, or installed …are you
sure you wish to transition into these rolls?
To be a witness of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection: in Word,
service, sacrament, in the undertaking of the office to be given to you?
Despite the
short-lives being lived by the followers of Jesus (it was not just the 12
Apostles who were killed and became martyrs), the followers of Jesus quickly
grew in number, on some occasions by the thousands. It was not long before ministry spread beyond
the hands and mouths of the Apostles. 12
was simply not enough. There was organizing to be done for service ministries,
a chain of leadership to provide a definitive voice, and farther corners of the
earth to go and share the Good News.
Ordinands,
soon to be Archdeacons and Canons, are you not relieved that tonight we will
not be drawing straws? Can you imagine
12 Apostles, -just 12-, leading the Diocese of NS and PEI? Thanks be to God,
the church has grown into a fuller expression than the Gospel remaining in the
hands of 12. The Gospel is in your
hands, and words, and deeds; the Gospel is also in the hands, and words, and
deeds of all who have gathered here tonight.
In those, as the appointed Psalm describes, who fear the Lord; who stand
by their oath even to their hurt;… they shall never be moved.
This is quite
a day- St. Matthais Day – to enter into new ministry. It is sobering to be
reminded of early martyrs and the commitment required to be witnesses to the
ends of the earth, for faith to not be moved, even to their own hurt. Sobering --- within the last 20 years Christian
colleagues, …described in a google search as six-courageous modern-day martyrs
- Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, Sr. Leonella
Sgorbati, Annalena Tornelli, Fathers Andrea Santoro, Jacques Hamel, and Ragheed
Ganni, ---- were shot or had their throats slit, because they would not
convert, they continued to preach the Gospel, to act in mercy, and would not
denounce faith in Jesus. These are 6 of 1000s who have been killed for
following Jesus. Will this be expected of you?
Of any of us?
Perhaps this
evening you expected the proclaimed word to be one that was more celebratory,
warm and fuzzy… after all this night recognises the efforts of many, lots of theological
education, years of ministry, the discernment of calls, lifetimes of being on a
journey, and seeking-finding. Yes, it is a day to celebrate; but, the focus is
the promises being made, the commitment of your hearts, the acceptance of the
responsibility you will carry amongst God’s people.
Now, lest this
be the last time a Lutheran is asked to preach for such an occasion, let me momentarily
shift gears and share with you a story…that at least for now does not end in
martyrdom.
Open upon a
time there was a little girl who loved life.
She grew up in a quaint little town, went to a charming village church,
and spent a lot of time exploring God’s creation. The pastor of the village church was a big
man, with a big heart. He always had time to stop and talk. One morning, returning with her mother from
the post office, they met the pastor. He
was out in front of the parsonage where the street was lined with big old oak
trees.
It was fall
and the trees were covered in beautiful foliage. The little girl though thought the trees
looked sad; seeing that the trees were losing their leaves and dying. The pastor knelt down and explained to the
girl how seasons change; and how what dies in autumn, looks dead in winter,
will rise again to new life in the spring.
It was time to wait and see what God would do come spring.
That day the
pastor gave the little girl a few small acorns, telling her how the oak trees
had grown from acorns, just like these. The acorns were to remind the girl that
God will work; for now, wait.
The acorns
went on a shelf in the girl’s bedroom. Every
so often they would catch her eye, and she remembered the conversation with the
pastor and his promise of a surprise come spring.
In the spring,
once again coming back from the post office, the pastor and girl met. Not only had the oak trees sprouted leaves,
the pastor lifted the girl on his shoulders so that she could have a bird’s eye
view of a nest full of blue robin’s eggs. The little girl was thrilled and full
of a sense of awe. The Creator had done
an amazing thing.
This is the
story is the story I share on my first Sunday in a new parish.
I tell the
story because for me it encapsulates ministry and what it is to be a faithful
follower who bears fruit. The story is told as a metaphor for the relationship
I wish to nurture in the congregation.
It is about growing together and bearing fruit – it is starting as a
seed. It is becoming branches of the
vine, a flourishing forest.
I do not know
if I would be here today, if it were not for those who witnessed to me of the
life and death and resurrection of Jesus; witnesses like Pastor Skinner.
For forty years
I have kept the acorns, they remind me of my commitment to the ministry to
which I am called. They remind me that
once upon a time, a pastor took the time to get excited and show me something
new. He marvelled at God’s work in the
world. He recognized me by kneeling to face me – eye to eye; in this, and in
the serious conversation of what happens to trees, he taught me about life and
death and resurrection. Pastor Skinner took the time to share with me the
mystery of God. Through wonder and love.
Two acorns sit
on my bookshelf, in plain view, witnessing to the Gospel story I have to share;
reminding me to nurture life, to share the gospel, to grow, and most importantly
to love.
The story did
not end in martyrdom…but it might have.
The story did
not end in martyrdom…but it could have.
The story did
not end in martyrdom…but it does.
Being a
follower of Jesus, being grafted into the Vine; bearing fruit – bearing
responsibility; takes its toll. We all
know Christians, clerics, wardens, perhaps even ourselves, for whom following
Jesus has taken a toll. How many suffer --- cynicism, hardening of the heart,
nervous breakdowns, anxiety, loss of faith, defamation of character, verbal attacks,
bullying, shunning... all for bearing witness, showing mercy, and loving? It
doesn’t happen all at once, martyrdom.
It is a little piece of the person at a time that is killed. This is Canada.
If we were to
go to other places in the world, what we do as followers, like sitting here
tonight together in a sacred place offering praise, setting aside leaders, this
act might/could/would have us killed.
And here we
sit. None of us have left.
I doubt very
much that we would leave, even if our lives were under a more eminent fear of
death at the hands of those who would wish us to deny the God whom we have
chosen to serve.
I believe this
to be true because there are a myriad of stories – your stories- that are
similar to my experience of Jesus through the hands of Pastor Skinner. Pastor Skinner was a witness to these things –
I experienced resurrection, grace, unconditional love. You have too, from those
who bear fruit – giving of themselves, martyrdom a piece at a time. The experience of Jesus has impressed our
hearts to great extent; we have been filled to overflowing with a magnitude of
awe and wonder, and ultimate mercy ---we remain followers of Jesus, willingly,
defiantly, feet planted firmly – even to our own hurt.
I had a church
history professor who once said, that the
church is being the church when it is being persecuted. At other times we
are just playing with the responsibilities we have been given.
Tonight, our
celebrations are rooted in the Vine, the heart of the matter. Where we, all of
us are committing to bear fruit by being the presence of God to people- all
people- through the ministries to which we have been called. Having experienced
Jesus from faithful witnesses, we not only tell of the experience, we bounteously
minister in word, deed, sacrament, and given responsibility ----to the ends of
the earth and beyond.
All of you
tonight, and especially to soon-to-be Deacons Jackie, Lorraine, Michael;
And soon-to be
Archdeacons Sue and Paul; Canons Keirsten, Reg, Neale, Lynn; Jesus says to you:
You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you
to go and bear fruit –fruit that will last.
----To the ends of the earth
Thanks be to
God. Amen.
