People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Even Them, Always ~ 6th Sunday of Easter '18 Yr B

For Sunday, May 6, 2018, 6^th Sunday of Easter, Year B, Readings: Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out, even on the Gentiles...Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" [Acts 10:45, 46b-47]

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things...He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God... In righteousness shall he judge the world, and the peoples with equity. [Ps 98:1, 4, 10]

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child…For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments…for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory…our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [1 John 5:1, 3a, 4-5]

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love...This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you...And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last... [John 15:9, 12, 16b]

THREE YEARS AGO, that is, in 2015, I wrote the following:

How intrusive is this [Gospel] message against the backdrop of mistrust, hatred of "the other," and the seemingly endless and rampant violence across the world and even into our very local communities? Them vs Us, You vs Me, This is Mine, is the "old song" that never tires of repeating. And the "circumcised believers...were astounded" that the Holy Spirit was given "even to the Gentiles." Peter was clear that the water of baptism cannot be withheld from even those who are different because they "have received the Holy Spirit just as we have..." And Jesus was even more clear: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Is there any room for negotiation here? Those people are doing terrible things so how can Jesus possibly expect us to love them? Well, whether or not he expects it is irrelevant, he commands it. IF we believe in Jesus, then we must bear the fruit of God's love to all people, in all places, and every one is included.

It's more than disheartening to realize that things, three years later, are now exponentially worse on so many levels especially in issues of race, religion, and politics - talk about lions and tigers and bears, oh my! – not to mention dragons and snakes and skunks. Yet there are some seeds of hope grounded in love, amidst the anger, frustration, and despair, that are rising up, beginning to flower, and showing great potential to bear sweet and sustaining fruit for sharing. I have to stop often to remember that Jesus didn't require us to "like" anyone, only love them. We are to seek not only Jesus but ourselves in another. "Oh, really," you say, "nothing of Jesus or me is found in THAT person." Look harder and listen more closely. What you and I think and feel - and say? - about them may very well be what they think and feel and say about us. We are likely to uncomfortably discover that we're not so very different after all. Maybe those others can be slightly easier to love now?

Still, there's no magic here. Our loving of them does not require - nor will it often result in - reciprocation. The dangers, fears, and tensions of the world will not suddenly evaporate because we are loving people. Yes, there is evil intent that no amount of love or understanding will resolve. Therein, my friends, lies the way of faith in community as we listen, hear, and remember the Gospel message together. We can work as a team to learn and practice how to love even those others through the experience of intentional relationship. After all, even in a loving family, not everyone is happy with everyone all the time, but we work through it because of the love. And sometimes we have to let go of the things we don’t like about someone in order to sustain the relationship. It’s hard and often unrewarding work – that is, here, in this life. But we are promised much more than a rose garden for following Christ’s commandment. This life is short though it can feel endless when we encounter very demanding, difficult, and desperate days – and people. Feeling supported in the trials of faith, we can come to believe that working to act in, through, and by love always - as best we can - will get us to always and eternal love.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, as You chose us to be bearers of the fruit of Your eternal love, lift us from the shadows of doubt and awaken our souls to follow Your Commandments to love one another, and to fully abide in You.

God of Mercy and Faithfulness

RESPONSE: Grow us in faith to act always with love

~ Christ Jesus, Born of God, grant us such consciousness of our gifts from the Spirit, that we hold ourselves and those who govern throughout this planet, this country, and this community, accountable; acting always to uphold Your standards of righteousness and equity, on behalf of all people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

God of Mercy and Faithfulness