Less Talk, More Love
This is one of the best, most overlooked lines in the Bible. A bunch of Greeks approach a few of the disciples, undoubtedly curious and hoping to catch a glimpse of this rabble-rousing, charismatic guru. I can relate.
Everyone gets stale in practice, and churches are no exception. As a pastor and preacher I know I slip and stray, at times offering weak tea in sermon form. It feels too easy to succumb to the temptation of talking about Jesus or God while failing to deliver true Divine Love. Most of us do not want to simply learn facts or hear pithy quotes. We want a genuine experience of godly love, acceptance, joy, and healing. At least I do. I want to be shown Jesus, to know him as he fully knows and accepts me.
About 25 years ago, I started my ordained ministry at First Church in Fairfield, and I was struck early on by my discovery in the chapel of the church a brass plaque on the pulpit. Imagine this with me: you're freshly ordained, just starting out in ministry, hoping to have a positive impact on the people with whom you serve - hoping to avoid screwing up. Your opportunity to preach comes up. You prepare a message, ready your robe, eat a good breakfast, and arrive early to the chapel to make sure all is in order. Folks won't arrive for a bit, so you take your spot behind the pulpit with your manuscript and get ready to practice, to loosen your nerves in the empty space. Something shiny catches your eye - just under the Bible. You look down. You freeze. Aforementioned small brass plaque rests there, offering a quote. Yes, the quote above.
It reads: "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Gulp.
Initially a request from the hopeful crowd in John's Gospel, now you understand that it is a charge for you as the preacher from the congregation. Your mission, accepted or otherwise, is to bring God's Love more fully to life. Clearly, I have not forgotten this (even if I stumble at times in my efforts to deliver).
Of course this is not solely the task of the preacher. It is not the responsibility of any pastor to deliver God's love. That's why the Church exists. As noted above, we can fall short of this when we get distracted by building upkeep or other aspects of maintenance or when we slide into ruts of complacency because, well, that's the way we have always done things. In too many instances, churches have hurt people by saying one thing and doing just the opposite. For those times and places where we have given lip service to inclusion and love for all - and behaved in hateful and oppressive ways, I hope for mercy and work for justice. Such divisive and judgmental practices and policies need to be driven out of church for good. Indeed, the reaction of Jesus in the Gospel story sheds some helpful light on this.
He explains to the crowd of curious newcomers that his plan is - in not so many words - to be glorified by dying. He elaborates, offering as he often does a metaphor from agriculture: the grain of wheat only bears good fruit when it gives way, when it falls to the earth and becomes something nourishing and abundant.
Much change is afoot these days in churches, and while I join others in grief over what has gone away, I live in profound hope that what emerges is delicious and fulfilling. I pray that we continue traditions that are truly sacred, offering grace and comfort. At the same time I trust that we will branch out ever more and forge collaborations with people and groups striving to make the world more just, peaceful, and beautiful. I seek an antidote or healing balm for church wounds old and new, and I commit more than ever to bringing about a global Church that is inclusive and welcoming for all. More than anything, I seek to engage in less talking about God's goodness, focusing on making Holy Love more real.
Brass plaque image from brassbells.com.
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