Just Doing Jesus' Love John 14:15-21 Year B, 5 Easter, May 18, 2003  The Rev. William V. Livingston, Rector Church of the Resurrection, Starkville, Mississippi For the lucky among us who have been so blessed, in times of darkness, times we feel the most deserted and isolated, we can call upon memories of special moments and sage guidance from a wise loving mentor - a parent, grand-parent, teacher, or friend. These memories provide us assurance, and the advice received guide our steps through the darkened path before us. Today's Gospel offers a recalling of one of those special moments in which others receive such loving wisdom. Based on the recollections of those who sat at Jesus' feet as he bid them farewell, the author shares Jesus' final words with his disciples as he prepared them for his death and departure. However, if we grasp what Jesus says to them and what the author of John wants his readers to hear, Jesus assures them this was not the end, not for them, not for future generations of disciples, and not for us. In the future, it would not be merely their individual or collective memory of that evening together nor his words that would be with them to comfort them, but the ever present indwelling of what our NRSV translates as the "Advocate." Just as we probably do not first comprehend the sage and loving concern we receive from wise mentors, I doubt those gathered with Jesus comprehended much of what he shared with them. The times were too complicated: a triumphant donkey ride into Jerusalem, swelling crowds with some wanting to anoint and others execute him, concern for their own safety and future. While it probably didn't make any sense until much later, it was their future he addressed because he explained that the revelation of God in the incarnation does not end with Jesus' death. Not until they themselves experienced their own trials did they begin to comprehend they were not alone, they remained in relationship with Jesus. Not until the johannine community experienced their own trials and persecutions and began to realize they, too, were not alone but in relation with the risen Lord, did they comprehend that Jesus' farewell words were also addressed to them. It is most often in the darker times of life that people today still comprehend that these words were also spoken to them The disciples, we, remain in relationship through the indwelling of the Paraclete - what in our doctrinal language we call the Holy Spirit and probably the least understood of the trinitarian God we worship. While NRSV uses the term "Advocate", I want to stay with the original Greek term, "Paraclete", because nothing in English adequately translates it. Paraclete means one who exhorts and encourages, comforts and consoles, can be called upon for help, appeals on our behalf - such as a defense attorney. Jesus has been not just one of these things to his disciples but all of them, so the Spirit of truth - the Paraclete - will be also. Although the world will not know or see this Paraclete, still, the Praclete will dwell within them and all subsequent imitators of Jesus. Through this indwelling and by imitating him, those gathered with Jesus at this last shared meal, subsequent disciples, and we remain in relation with him and share in his love. Sometimes we need to be still and alone and find just the right place to sit to sense and receive this spirit Jesus says dwells with us and in us. And sometimes it will sweep us away with the force of a hurricane or tornado sending us where it wills, not where we will. It is simultaneously complex and simple: this Jesus' love for us, our loving Jesus, imitating Jesus, the indwelling of the Paraclete, living life to its fullest, being whole - fully human. All are complexly and simply the same thing. Eucharistic Prayer D, probably the least used, yet, the oldest of the eucharistic prayers , contains what is perhaps the most succinct description of this love of and for Jesus, and why Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit. "And that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all." By keeping his commandments and accepting the Paraclete, then, they, future disciples, and we do not need the earthly presence of Jesus to be in relation with him or God. They love him not by clinging to his earthly presence or to a cherished memory of him nor by retreating into their private experience of him. Rather, they can continue to love Jesus by doing his works and by keeping his commandments. When they move outside their own private experience of Jesus, when they live what he has taught them and demonstrated in Jesus' own life, then they will find themselves once again in his love. It's really that simple and that complex. Complex because we want to understand it in earthly terms and because it requires a lot of us. Commandments are interesting things. They are at once both internal and external. Perhaps my 23 years in public mental health administration has warped me, but I have developed both an acute suspicion of and disdain for bureaucratic behavior. And I find most of us bring such bureaucratic behavior into the church and into our relation with God. Our training as bureaucrats, as 21st century Pharisees, conditions us to avoid this commandment to love and to want policies and procedures, regulations, ones clear enough that I determine what I can get away with and what's the least I have to do. Let's see, God, all I have to do is love as Jesus loved. Okay let's see. How many people do I have to love? Who do I get to exclude? How much do I have love them? Let's see if I can find a verse that allows me to not love this person, to tell me I really don't have to fully invest my all in God's love. Let's see; in calculating what I give back to God from the abundance I have received, is that before or after taxes, and can't I count those used clothes I gave to the Salvation Army and those 2 year-old cans of beets I gave to the food pantry at their original purchase price? Isn't it enough if I get to church 2 - 3 times a month and drop an extra $10 in the offering plate if I feel especially guilty about hurting a neighbor in some way, a questionable business deal, a cruel comment to my spouse, not listening to my child when I was needed. If it costs me too much, isn't there an off-shore tax shelter I can use? Fortunately or unfortunately, we don't worship a bureaucratic Jesus, but, as I have said before, we worship the Nike Jesus - the just do it Jesus. No where in today's Gospel - no where in any of the Gospels will we find a Jesus procedural manual. Jesus left no operational procedures, no lists of dos and don'ts but only one command, "Love as I have loved." And, how did Jesus love? He held nothing back. Everything about him was living out the love of God for the world. From the beginning to the end, we find a Jesus who just does it and who says that we just do it. Will it be hard. Yes, at least some of the time. Will we make mistakes? You bet. But, which is better, to make mistakes or never try because we are still trying to figure out the procedures manual when we die? You know, God has a great sense of humor. You see, God has created the world in such a way that all human needs can be satisfied, however, in a peculiar way. The gifts you need God gives to someone else. The gifts you are given are meant for others. The Christian community can live only by the sharing of these gifts. The church at its best is a community that lives by this kind of sharing, exercising generosity not only within its own circle, but toward outsiders as well. If we'll let them, each of our texts today remind us that while with our eyes we may behold a world broken, evil and dying (and ourselves with it), through faith we behold the resurrection victory beyond the cross. The real power for living and loving is in the cross of Jesus, who steps into our darkness and despair and frees us to step into the darkness and despair of the world. What all of Scripture is urging us to accept is that now is the only time we have to position ourselves to feel the breath of the Paraclete. Now is the time to prepare ourselves to be blown by the winds, winds more powerful than any we have ever experienced in this world. We have only here and now to complete Jesus' work in the world and to sanctify everyone and everything in this world. Not some, not many, not a lot, but all. The world, everyone and everything waits to see what we will do, being not at all interested in what we have to say or what we believe, but what we will allow the spirit to move us to do, here and now. And once again, the Nike Jesus says, "Just do it!"