6 Easter - May 17, 2009

Easter 6-B May 17, 2009
Acts 10: 44-48; 1John 5: 1-6; John 15: 9-17
Marie Butterbaugh

I will change your name, you shall no longer be called wounded outcast lonely or afraid. I will change your name your new name shall be joyfulness, confidence, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God one who seeks my face.

Joyfulness, confidence, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face. After experiencing the shattering collapse of a hoped for private adoption, Tim and I arrived at Camp McDowell, in Jasper Alabama for our Cursillo weekend, not knowing what to expect. What we did know was this, friends who love us are entrusting us to God’s care. They told us we would have a wonderful experience, dropped us off suitcases in hand and said they would return that Sunday to pick us up. As Greg and Doll Bennett drove away that evening, inside I cried out, “Whoa come back! Don’t leave us!”

I am reminded of that time at Cursillo, as I read today’s gospel passage. I reflect once again upon what it means to be called a friend of God? John’s gospel offers new insights into this question by drawing us into Jesus’ farewell discourse. John brings us into that upper room with Jesus and his disciples, as they share their last meal together. In these intimate moments, Jesus gives a final commandment; His followers are to love one another.

Knowing that His earthly life is drawing to a close, in this somber setting Jesus calls His disciples friends. He no longer calls them servants, they are friends. The servant, even the servant of the most kindhearted and considerate master does what is commanded out of sheer necessity. There is always a reserved detachment a gap of social status between them. This night Jesus calls His disciples friends. As friends they share in His love. They have become co-laborers with Him. Jesus has revealed to them all that the Father has revealed to Him, withholding nothing. Jesus now calls us friends as you and I share in His love.

In the beauty of those Alabama foothills together with thirty relative strangers that weekend, I came to understand what it means to have your name changed and what it means to be a friend of God. Sitting among the Cursillista at Camp McDowell, Tim and I sing these words. Wounded, outcast, lonely and afraid, I will change your name. I waited silently and wondered if God would really change my name?

I have come to understand that being a friend of God means following His commandment to love. It is not always an easy commandment to keep. It means loving those who are seemingly not so easy to love. There are times when this isn’t quite so easy as it appears. There are times when I know that I miss the proverbial boat in keeping Jesus’ commandment. Maybe you find this kind of love challenging too. With God’s help you and I can continue and strive to be more loving each day.

God’s love for us is made manifest in our love for Jesus and our love for one another. “Just like my Father loves me,” says Jesus, “I love you.” Abide in this love. Abiding in God’s love means standing in God’s love, firmly grounding ourselves in the one in whom we live and move and have our being. It means facing the trials and tribulations of this life, secure in the knowledge that God’s life giving spirit abides in us. God’s life giving spirit surrounds us and empowers us as we endure the sufferings and experience the joys of this earthly life. It means resting in the love of God, resting in the promise of life everlasting.

As friends of God, you and I are charged to live a life of obedient love. For Jesus love and obedience to His Father’s will were deeply intertwined. The obedient love that Jesus exhibits throughout His life leads Him to go about preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God, to heal the sick, to eat with the undesirables of His day. The obedient love of Jesus causes Him to say, “Father your will not mine be done.” Jesus demonstrates this obedient love as He laid down His life on Calvary’s hill and takes it up again that first Easter morning.

Jesus gives His disciples this commandment. “Love each other,” exhorts Jesus, “like I love you, like God loves you.” This obedience; however, is not a burden. The writer of 1st John today tells us that, “the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” Following God’s commandment to love brings a sense of purpose and joy to our lives. It is an outgrowth and outpouring of God’s love for us. It is an obedience that liberates and frees us to be fully the people that God has created us to be. It is life giving. God loves each of us and our love for God flows through us to those all around us and as that love flows you and I become friends of God.

Being a friend of God entails a call to responsibility and action. You and I are called to reach out to those in need. In today’s world many are longing to have their names changed by God. They live wounded lives in a wounded world. People are living under the bonds of economic oppression, violence and unimaginable degradation. Even you and I at times can feel outcast, lonely and afraid. Adrift and over powered by the events of daily life.

God stands with you and me. God stands with us. With God’s help you and I become agents of change and healing in the lives of our neighbor, our friends, our families. We can strive to be a better spouse, a better parent. You and I can set aside time to slowly step by step bring about God’s kingdom here and now by seeing the face of Christ in each person we meet.

With God’s help we can become agents of change in this world. As we strive to feed the hungry, give of ourselves to those who are in need, and volunteer in the various and wonderful ministries opportunities available to us at ECR, you and I reach out our hands in love to those who are least like us, demonstrating the same self sacrificial love that Jesus models for us. As God’s love flow through us, you and I become friends of God.

Jesus shares His joy and love with us so that you and I may share His love and joy with others. Jesus shares His joy and love with us so that you and I can know what true love and joy is.

Walking down the hill that leads to the out door chapel at Camp McDowell the last of the m&m’s and chocolate chip cookies have been eaten. The weekend ends but the experience of new life is just beginning. Thirty tired, teary eyed and rejuvenated Cursillista sing this song together for a final time. I Will Change Your Name. Our names, our hearts, like Abram, Sari and Jacob of old were changed forever. We will now and forever be called friends of God. With joy, thanksgiving, and hope Tim and I return to live in the world of kronos time, mans time from the world of kairos time, God’s time. With joy, thanksgiving, and hope Tim and I serve among you bearing witness to God’s love for each of His beloved children.

God speaks these words into the heart of each believer. I will change your name, you shall no longer be called wounded outcast lonely or afraid. I will change your name your new name shall be joyfulness, confidence, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God one who seeks my face.

Thanks be to God.

© 2009, Marie Butterbaugh