I'm referring to my comments on the subject, not on the assembly itself. Anyone who reads this blog likely already knows that the ELCA in August voted to allow congregations who choose to bless and publicly acknowledge same-gender, monogamous, publicly-accountable relationships and to call similar clergy if they so choose.
There have been many wonderful, creative, inspiring things written on the subject, as well as comments motivated by fear, malice and just some pure stupidity. I'll hope to err closer to the former. Here's my sermon at Central, preached the Sunday after the assembly vote. The sermon, from August 23, 2009, is based on the lectionary from that week, John 6:56-69, where Jesus says some hard words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Some turn away from following him; the road is just too hard. Jesus asks if others want to leave. Peter responds, in words we know from liturgy: "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
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In our text today, those who hear Jesus speak of eating his flesh and drinking his blood have difficulty with his teaching. This is a continuation of last week’s text. Remember? These phrases of flesh eating and blood drinking were particularly offensive to the Jews and, since they lived before the days of Holy Communion, they were not just offended but downright confused. Our text today tell us, a la Paul Harvey, The Rest of the Story.
After Jesus finishes his disturbing sermon, those assembled grumble and say: “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” The Greek here is skleros logos, a hard word, who can akouo, hear, it? A hard word. Jesus speaks a hard word. Or, perhaps, using the beginning of John’s Gospel (the Word was God and the Word was with God), maybe Jesus is the hard word. Either way, we disciples are left to deal with a hard word.
We are not strangers to hard words. Jesus has quite a few. Sell all you have and give it to the poor, pray for those who persecute you, love your enemies, forgive, follow me and, perhaps the hardest: love one another.
We are not strangers to hard words in our lives as well. Some represent life’s challenges (I’m going to issue a citation, you didn’t make the team, I think you’re an alcoholic) and some are very bad news (the cancer has returned, we’re getting a divorce, he died.) For some this week, the bad news was: It’s time for school!
I also want to address a couple of news items that were, for some, a hard word. Sometimes, a hard word for one might be good word for another. For example, Mayor Dan Sullivan vetoed an anti-discrimination act for the municipality of Anchorage. In the same week, our ELCA Churchwide Assembly met in Minneapolis and took the first steps toward recognizing same-gender, committed, life-long, publicly accountable relationships. Hard words? I want to note that no matter what side of the debate you find yourself, these words are still hard because as Christians we are mandated to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter how wrong we think they are. More on that later.
Back to Jesus and our gospel story. Note what happens after Jesus speaks these hard words to those gathered at the synagogue in Capernaum. Some grumble. Jesus acknowledges that not all believe and that one will betray him. And then it happens: many disciples turned back and did not follow him any longer.
Why did they turn back? They had seen many signs, miracles like the feeding of the 5000, Jesus walking on water and the healing of the sick. Did Jesus words get too tough for them? Was he asking for too much of a commitment? Were those disciples just bored? Was it too inconvenient for them? Why did they turn back?
Notice Jesus’ reaction to their departure. He does not condemn them for leaving. He does not beg those remaining to stay steadfast. He does not back down from a hard word. He simply asks if anyone else would like to go away. Peter speaks up first. I can almost hear him singing the words: “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter adds: “We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
It’s another example of the upside-down, topsy-turvy nature of the Gospel, like the last becoming first and a king who gets crucified. The hard word is the word of eternal life.
But for some it’s too much. The word is too hard, the cost is too high. And for us? Do we shy from the hard words of Jesus? Would we prefer a Jesus of lambs and rainbows instead of one that asks us to risk loving the stranger or give of our time, talents and possessions? Do we sometimes turn away from the tough parts of Christianity, rather than remaining by Jesus’ side?
Yes. But, of course, our shortcomings are never the end of the story. It’s not our story anyway. It’s God’s, of course.
And God’s story, when we can muster it, looks something like this (point to the altar). God’s story has something to do about coming to the table (at Holy Communion) and then staying at the table with each other, even while hard words are spoken and even when we don’t agree. God’s story also has something to do with wrapping us in boundless love and mercy as we struggle love each other.
Earlier I mentioned the words spoken and decisions made at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly regarding same-sex monogamous relationships. I want to be clear. You are all welcome to agree or disagree with anything the Churchwide office says. It is not the core of what we believe. The message of Jesus Christ, born, crucified and dead will always be the most important Word. So, you can still stay at the table, even if the word is hard. You need not turn away.
I want to be clear on this point, too. There is life in hard words. There is life in staying in relationship and conversation with each other. There is life in loving your neighbor even if you don’t agree with him. There is always life in choosing love over hatred or judgment or fear of something that is different from you.
I want to end not with Churchwide business but with you. Where is the hard word for you? What is the hard word for Central? Who is God inviting us to love? How is Jesus asking us to follow? May we hear the words, remain close to Jesus and stay at the table with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
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