Making Disciples…
That is what Jesus did… that is what Jesus asked the disciples and his followers to do… that is what Jesus asks of us. It is a tall task…it is a small task… it is a joyful task…it is an arduous task….it is a life long journey
So what is the recipe? A little bit of joy…a touch of faith… a sprinkle of tragedy…some humour… a supportive mom and dad…or just lot’s of luck?
There is no one magic or distinct formula or way of doing it…it is way of being …lead by example… stepping up to the plate…taking responsibility for self and others…holding and living into the joy and success of others…holding each other when we struggle…
How do we or might we shape or invite someone to become a disciple, a believer, a follower of the Jesus way? I suggest that it is no more difficult or simple than moving in the world with a joyful, thankful heart…moving, walking, being, as if you are in conversation with Jesus each moment of your day… for then we will mind our manners, hold our tongue, show empathy and compassion for others, stand up for silenced voices and demand that every man woman and child be treated as equals before the law and before God…for this is the Jesus way… the way of the followers of The Christ, the son of man, the Saviour of the world.
It means being a beacon of light for those around you. It means insisting that the light of Christ is a source of healing, love and care. That Jesus can and does offer healing to all those in need…to all who open their hearts and lift the veil.
In our first reading we here the iconic words of genesis…we hear the beginning of the beginning….it unfolds for us the power and majesty of our creator God. These words also affirm the abundance with which humankind has been blessed…the geography upon which we live, the air and water that sustain us….
The unifying force in our Trinitarian theology is also described and laid before us. Father Son and Holy Spirit…Creator God, Christ among us and the Spirit that binds us. It is important for us not to get caught by specific, literal language. These texts stretch across the centuries for good reason… they have something to offer every age. The language in Genesis does not justify in our world attitudes of injustice or inequality based on race or gender. U urge you to bring you life experience to these texts and discover where your journey intersects with them. How they lift you up and inspire and move you. Like a great concert heard by many, each every person will have a different lived experience of the music; influenced by our life’s journey, family experience, the very country into which we have been born or chosen to live.
We are human, we have much in common, we have many differences…however the path laid before us, upon which we are invited to journey with Christ is one that invites us to be one, united in Spirit, inspired by the teachings of Christ and the prophets before him, caretakers of creation. And when we stray from this path, we often discover the world to be overwhelming, unfair and unjust.
We discover that power over other people has become a goal and virtue…this is not the way of Jesus… The strong quiet voice, calling for peace and reconciliations, calling us to listen to one another, calling us to seek out a consensus as to how we can be together instead of dominance: care and compassion, empathy and heart…
For when we open our ears with our heart..when we open our eyes with our heart.. when we open our minds with our heart….those around us will feel the power of spirit, hear the message of Jesus in our voice and recognize that we are but caretakers of God’s great and amazing creation…
Then we are making disciples…for we are leading by example… we are letting spirit reach through us to others…we are leading others to the edge of the path, that they might set a foot upon it and discover a new way of travelling in the world…The way that disciples of Jesus: care, compassion, empathy and love… echoing a call of justice and equality for all.. for that is the Jesus Way. Amen