Interior designers often say the right lamp can set the mood of an entire room. But its impact depends greatly on the lightbulb it holds. If the light is too bright, it can overwhelm the space. If it’s too dim, it can hide the aesthetic beauty of the overall design. Whether it’s for design or utility, Jesus asks, what good is a light if it’s not turned on or covered up?
 
Now there are basically three kinds of light: natural, artificial, and spiritual.
 
Natural light is the physical source of all life. It was the first thing God did to interrupt the chaos of darkness. This light is essential to our existence. Unless we are some weird kind of fungus, we can’t live without it.

The sheer miracle of photosynthesis is important to the plant who absorbs the sunlight and turn it into a form of energy. We get that energy either directly by eating plants, or indirectly by eating something else that eats those plants.
 
Natural light has the ability to penetrate the ground to give life to dead seeds. And it can bend and bounce across the universe to illuminate our side of the world long after we’ve turned away from the sun.
 
Then there’s artificial light, like lightbulbs or candles. Unlike natural light, artificial light is only useful if and when someone turns it on. 
 
Flip the switch on a flashlight, and you can see your way out of a dark cave or through a dense forest at night. The beacon of a lighthouse can lead ships safely to shore. And as Sean knows…a basic bright lightbulb can help us navigate words in a book, and expose dangers hidden in the dark.
 
Artificial light can also change the way we see things. Take for example black light. It can make colors literally glow in the dark. And its ultraviolet rays expose stuff we would have gone unnoticed. Like dandruff or lint on a shirt. Police use black lights in crime scenes. And doctors use them to heal acne, kill fungus, and detect melanomas. But again, none of that can happen if their light is hidden or off.
 
The same is true about our spiritual light. This is an inner light we all possess. A different kind of light that helps us see and understand the difference between good and bad, the metaphorical bright and dark side of our inner being.
 
Spiritual light helps illuminate the positive - which comes in handy when we’re stuck in those dark places of negativity, depression, fear, anxiety, and grief. Spiritual light has the power to radiate peace, calm, and hope to others when everything seems dark and chaotic.
 
You might remember President George H.W. Bush used the phrase "a thousand points of light" to describe the power of volunteerism and community service. He encouraged individuals and communities to connect their light with one another to make a bigger impact. Like Christmas tree lights, when we are connected together, we can shine more brightly and do better as we guide more people to the safety of God’s glory.
 
Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” He is saying this about you, about me, and about us as part of his holy Body. Shine your light. Do not hide it.

​But to shine brightly as God intended for us means we have to be plugged in. And not just to any source of energy, but the powerful, life-giving current of the One who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
 
God gave us this spiritual light so we can shine brightly. But also, so we will remain connected to our divine source, where we draw what we need to do what we are called to do. To walk in the light and love of Christ. And radiate his life in all that we do, illuminating those dark and cavernous places we find ourselves in.
 
Whether your light is bright and bold, or a gentle glow, what good is it if it’s hidden and not seen? A lamp’s sole purpose is to illuminate the room. Back then, the typical household could only afford to keep one or two lamps burning. Its position in the room was key to its effectiveness.

 
I have sat in plenty of dark rooms with only a small tea candle burning. Although it’s rarely enough light to read a book by, eventually its beams overtake the darkness, shining just enough for to see my way around.

In the same way, if a small flame can illuminate an entire room, then imagine what your spiritual light can do to brighten up someone’s life. Jesus calls us, “the light of the world.” We were made to shine as brightly as that first light which appear with such a big bang that it forever changed the darkness.
 
When I was little, I sang “This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine.” Then I grew up and put that light away with the rest of my childhood. I clothed and covered my faith with things that would help me blend in. Like a plant left in a closet, my faith began to wither, as I began to absorb the darkness and all the pain and suffering it brought me.
 
In his book Tattoo’s On The Heart, Greg Boyle describes a conversation he had with a young man struggling with the darkness of shame and self-worth. Boyle writes, “You think you’re in a dark room, and the only thing left to do is to hunker down and live in the darkness. But the door is wide open, and all you have to do is turn the knob and walk out. Or, even better, reach out and flip on the light switch.”
 
Maybe you are in a dark closet. Maybe you are not seeing or feeling that inner light within you. Check your connection. Are you plugged to the right source? And if you are, and still feeling this way, then maybe you need to flip on the switch, and allow God’s love and grace surge through you. When we’re plugged into Christ’s light, we find our light. And can shine with the power of God’s love that flows through us like a sacred and holy circuit.  
Jesus is not telling us to go start a fire, or to burn bigger and brighter than others. He’s simply telling us to plug into his way. Then put yourself in a place where your light can be the most effective. He wants you to take an inventory of anything that hides your light and keeps you from shining like a city on a hill.
 
What are the baskets in your life that are hiding your light? Is it fear, shame, guilt?  Maybe it’s pettiness, jealousy, gossip? Perhaps you’re holding onto some past resentment? Or anger, stubbornness, or pride? These are not qualities that radiate the light of Christ in you. They only obscure it. And stop you from revealing God’s glory.
 
I want to leave you with a quote Martin Luther King who said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

As small or dim as that light might seem – you are always enough for God to overcome all the darkness of the world. Same is true about your love. When we join our light and love to others, we can shine brighter. And overcome the darkness of hatred, bigotry, injustice, and violence.
 
So join me and let’s flood Anamesa with the light of so much love, that we can be seen from space. Together, let us illuminate with such intense brightness that heaven and earth will be one, and there will be no more need for sun or moon.
 
Let us plug in and harness the light of Christ together. And with one voice we will sing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
 
 
Work Cited
Adapted from a sermon series, Questioning Jesus: What Good Is A Light If It’s Not Plugged In?” (June 9, 2019)
Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year A, Vol 1. [Westminster John Knox: 2010].
Boyle, Greg. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Free Press, 2010.
Jeffers-Schori, Katherine. Shine As The Light Of The World For God’s Glory. [episcopalchurch.org : Dec. 16, 2008] (Accessed on June 6, 2019.)

In front of me was a young couple. The guy put on a brave face for his date who, in all her petite glory, shared my fear of heights. Having carefully navigated the first part of the course, she and I found ourselves together on a rather small platform of this particular “adventure.”

The only way to get to the next set of stress tests was to strap ourselves to a very thin rope and jump to the ground below. This was something the young lady was not willing to do. There we were, the two of us standing on a tiny platform facing our fear of heights and discerning our willingness to trust a piece of rope no thicker than a clothesline.
 
On the ground her boyfriend made all sorts of promises to coax her and calm her fears. I did my best to help this frightened stranger, but next to pushing her off…I had nothing. Fear had gotten the best of her. And me.

Long story short, she eventually closed her eyes and jumped. She floated gently into her boyfriend’s awaiting arms where she began to sob. It was a beautiful and heartwarming reunion.
 
But here’s the kicker, I was next. And there were no arms waiting for me down there. Nothing but the hard, cold ground - with its sticks and rocks taunting me. Instead of gentle coaxing, all I got were my kids yelling at me to keep moving. I won’t tell you all the mean things they said, or how long I stood there, but I too eventually took that great leap. 

​Just before my feet touched the ground, a great surge of life welled up in me. Which produced the right amount of adrenaline and excitement to take on the next set of challenges. 
 
Such is the world of faith. It can either scare you. Or fill you with life.

Of all the questions Jesus asks, “Where is your faith? Why do you doubt?” are the ones I have trouble answering. I have lacked faith because I have doubted it.

I can identify with this story because I have also spent time on a boat, with Jesus, spiritually speaking. And like the disciples, I too have faced my fair share of storms - literal and metaphorical.
 
Now the first thing I want to point out is it’s Jesus who pushes the Twelve out into the water. Since most of them were sailors, couldn’t they tell a massive storm was brewing? And if Jesus knew, then why would he endanger them like that?
 
Another thing worth pointing out is that the Hebrew word for water is mayim, which comes from the root word meaning ‘chaos.’ So, why does Jesus push his disciples out into the chaos? Is he testing their faith? Or flexing on them? Or maybe Jesus is simply trying to remind his students that their mission isn’t always going to be smooth sailing.

As most of us already know, doubt and faith will inevitably cross paths. Like high pressure and low pressures clashing over the Midwest, when the two collide, a spiritual storm will brew.
 
According to both stories, Jesus not only overcomes the storms we face, but he also uses our faith to strengthen us so that we too can overcome the chaos. Jesus knows that sometimes we will find ourselves on a platform high above our comfort zone and we will have to jump. This will take some kind of faith, be it big or small, we got to exercise and strengthen it to face whatever lies ahead.
 
The Hebrew word for faith is emunah, a verb that literally means, “to take firm action.” This is the kind of faith Jesus builds in us because he knows what he’s asking of us will require doing things we might think are scary or impossible. Like loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable, being peacemakers as the waves begin to churn and swell.
 
Faith is active, not passive. It does not sit in the boat, shivering and afraid. Instead, it leaps boldly off a rickety platform into the wild, raging waters of life where Jesus is there to meet us.

​We have to work out our faith in small steps, every day until it becomes a natural part of who we are. We can face the challenges we meet in the world, not just fearlessly, but faithfully.
 ​

Look, Peter hesitates and doubts. It’s a natural response for any sane human. He also questions Jesus, and that’s ok too. Whatever he is feeling or facing, Peter still accepts the challenge. And does the unimaginable.
 
Faith can scare you, or it can transform and empower you strengthening you do to what you never thought was possible.
 
Here’s the thing, we will eventually face that moment in life where we find ourselves on the edge. Some of us will jump fearlessly. But most of us will jump reluctantly, and with great doubt. That is nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed by. What’s important is that every step you take leads you closer to God - who is with you always.
 
In their doubt and fear, the disciples are able to see Jesus for who he truly is. The incarnate, presence of God among us. The one even nature bows down to. Sometimes it takes a massive storm, or dumpster fire, to see who Jesus is and how he can calm our fear and the chaos around us.

With each little step of faith we take towards him, our faith begins to build muscle memory. God knows we will need that muscle if we are going to live out our faith, faithfully…in Christ’s likeness.
 
Again, let’s look at Peter, who is always too quick to respond. Peter accepts this crazy invitation with what little faith he has and takes that first terrifying step towards Jesus. He keeps his eye on his teacher the whole time.

As the wind slaps him in the face, and the raging waters begin to pull him down, Peter’s first response isn’t fear, but faith. His muscle memory kicked in and he instinctively cries out, “Lord save me.” And immediately Jesus is there. Despite his inability to ever get it right, Peter knows who Jesus is, and his natural response is to rely on him.
 
Faith might scare you. But it will always save you.
 
That’s what I think we need to remember as we walk out into Anamesa, as the presence of Christ’s love and purpose. Jesus isn’t calling us into perfection. He’s just asking us to be faithful. Like Peter, the more we practice our faith, by stepping out on that ledge of life, the more our faith becomes instinctive – our go to response.
 
Ernest Campbell wrote, “We must be willing to step out of the security of the boat and head into the troubled waters of the world to proclaim the love, mercy, and justice of God that we find in Jesus Christ.”

By following Jesus’ lead, we too can calm the storms of life and show the world how to love God, love others, and serve both. By taking this brave first step, we can move from having weak faith to possessing the kind of spiritual strength that Jesus says can: move mountains, heal the sick, cast out demons, forgive sins, and love those who hate us. 
 
So do not worry if your faith scares you or trips you up from time-to-time. Do not give up. Weather the storm. Keep moving building your spiritual strength. Keep doing the hard work of the Kingdom and bear the good fruit of your faithfulness. 
 
If you do, you too will discover the impossible is, in fact, very much possible.
 
 
 
Works Cited
A revisited adaptation of  Questioning Jesus: Why Do You Doubt? Where’s Your Faith? (June 2, 2019)
Bartlett, David, and ed. Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting On The Word; Year A, vol. 3. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.

When we find ourselves in such spaces like that it's good to remember Jesus calls us together in unity and peace. And often does so using to the table of fellowship and the bridge there. 
 
Jesus invites us to bring what we have, knowing we all have something to offer. And that’s God’s love. Today as we look at another question Jesus asks, we will see what is possible when people come together to share what our Lord our God has given to us, and what Christ himself has blessed.
 
Read: Mark 6:33-44

It’s been said that the first Christians remembered Jesus, not in death, but with food.

In the early church every meal was sacred and holy because of stories like this one, which is the only miracle story besides the resurrection to appear in all four gospels. Which means there’s probably more to than what meets the eye.
 
Although Mark doesn’t say it, we assume the people who come to see Jesus are hungry because the disciples have some concerns - primarily, how are they going to feed everyone?  I have seen many of church potlucks and dinner parties where that seemed to be an issue. And yet, it wasn’t. With some simple math, there’s always enough to go around.
 
But they are in the middle of nowhere, it’s late, and time is running out to help. When the disciples mention this to Jesus, he simply says, “You feed them.” As they comically rummage through their pockets looking for anything to help, they tell Jesus, “We don’t have much”

Looking at them sternly, Jesus asks, “What do you have?” It is a quick count. Five loaves. Two fish. Not nearly enough to satiate their own hunger, muchless a crowd this big.
 
The Twelve stare at their teacher. Jesus knows the look on their faces, and what they’re trying to convey. It was the same look his mom gave him at a wedding in Cana, when the disciples watched Jesus turn giant vats of ordinary water into the most extraordinary wine.

They also witnessed him heal the blind, cast out demons, and even raise a guy from the dead. To feed this amount of people, on what little they had, would take a miracle like that.

If anyone could make a meal fall from the sky, at this place … and that hour, it would be this guy.

Isn’t that what the people were there for? To see Jesus do something amazing? But I don’t think this story is so much about what Jesus can do. I think it’s about what we can do. How a little bit of God’s love can make ordinary people like us, do extraordinary things like this.
 
At Anamesa we affirm God is love. We believe Jesus is the perfect definition of what God’s love is and looks like. To follow the Way of Jesus, is less about watching what he can do, and more about doing what he does.

Jesus opens the eyes of our heart so that we can see others the God sees us. And make the extraordinary happen in all the ways Jesus did - loving God, loving others, and serving both. This is the way of Jesus. The way of love. The way of giving of oneself for one another.
 
Notice Jesus sees this crowd and has compassion for them. He stops what he’s doing to be with them, and to care for their needs knowing they are hungry. And not just for food. They’re hungry for love. They’re hungry for justice. They’re hungry for peace and reconciliation. They are hungry for God.
 
If you look closely at this story, you will notice no one is demanding to be fed. They didn’t come for actual bread. They came for the one who said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again” (John 6:35).

Jesus gives us what we cannot give ourselves. He feeds our spiritual hunger. And nourishes our souls. Yet, Jesus doesn’t feed our physical hunger. Instead, he entrusts his followers to do that for him.
 
Jesus tells his disciples to put their faith to work. He knows what we have, and what we can do. He tells the guys, “Don’t look at me like that. You go and give them something to eat.”

I think that’s the point of this story. We are called to go and be the miracles in the world that reveal God’s glory.

How does knowing that Jesus has called you to do the work, change the way you hear his question? “What do you have?” What’s in your heart, in your life, in your faith, or wallet, that you can give to help others?

You might believe you don’t have much. That’s what the disciples thought. They saw what little resources they had and believed it was impossible to meet the needs of all those people. But Jesus gave them the imperative, “go and see.”
 
I invite you to do the same. Go and see within yourself and you’ll discover how Jesus can take whatever you have, and in blessing it can turn it into something greater than what you started with. Jesus can bless the smallest amount of love, and multiply it so there is enough for everyone, and then some.
 
Following Jesus is about following the One of Blessed Abundance. “Wherever Jesus is,” wrote Henri Nouwen, “there is not only life, but life to the full.”

​Jesus always gives us more than we ask for. And he wants us to do the same. To give away our love as liberally and extravagantly as he has given to us. The things we hold onto will always diminish. But what we give away will always multiply. (Nouwen)
 
Love begets love, which begets more love. God’s kingdom is one of abundance. A kingdom where everyone is blessed. Everyone is love. Everyone is forgiven. In abundance. There is more than enough of God’s grace for everyone. No one will never be left without.
 
Jesus says, go and see what God has put in your heart. Take inventory and you will discover you have more than enough to forgive those who have hurt you or betrayed your trust.

​With God’s love inside you, you have more than you need to reconcile and repair a friendship. Or stand for what you believe in without diminishing or harming others.
 
When we allow God’s love to be made manifest in us, we become not just miracle workers but the miracles itself.
 
In this story the real miracle happens when the crowd sees what the disciples do. They watch them offer all that they have. I think this inspires others to share whatever they brought. A little bread, a few fish, some olives, figs, and wine. Those who had something, shared with those who had nothing.
 
The early church brought this miracle story to life every time they gathered. They trusted God’s abundant love in such a way that they could pool all their resources so “no one was without.” Talk about faith in action.
 
Here’s what we should remember as we go out in the world today. Jesus takes what we have and blesses it with his own flesh and blood. And he sends us to do the same, knowing whenever we share God’s love miracles will happen.
 
Love will grow. Lives will change. Souls will be fed. Ordinary things will become extraordinary.
 
Whether it’s a little or a lot, it will always be enough for God to bless the world with abundance.
 
 
 
Work Cited:
Bartlett, David L and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 3 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2011) pp. 308-313.
Claiborne, Shane. The Irresistible Revolution. Living As An Ordinary Radical. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) pp. 154-167.
Held-Evens, Rachel. Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church. (Nashville: Nelson Books, 2015) pp. 125-133.
Nouwen, Henri J. Following Jesus: Finding our way home in an age of anxiety. (New York: Image, Trade, 2019) pp. 40-42.

Still, having said that with the utmost sincerity of my heart, I admit even I felt some lingering anxiety about how this election might impact my family and our growing church. Then something amazing happened. God disrupted the fear and worry.
 
After the service, our in-person congregation at Anamesa West gathered around the dining table for our monthly communion celebration. it used to be the standard fare. A loaf of bread, and a cup of grape juice. But recently we have been shaking things up. We have been gathering around our dining room table to share this meal. And on the table are little hor d'oeuvres to nosh on during and after the celebration.  Small gifts we ask all who are able to bring and share with one another.

On top of that, instead of it being me leading the ritual, we all gather around the table and those who are able participate in the readings and blessings and prayers that I have printed out on a piece of paper. One member will read the words of institution. Another will read the words of assurance. And others will follow suit around the table to read the invitation to the meal, the prayer of consecration, and then the blessing of the bread and cup.

Last Sunday I watched how we came together, members of both political parties, to share this most sacred and holy meal in unity and peace. Even as some asked God for the American people to vote wisely for the sake of our country and others voted to keep their rights they feared would be taken from them, we all came together in prayer and harmony.

There were no rolling eyes, no side glances and smerks, no clinched jaws holding back their opinion. Just love. Just unity in that love. And peace. The kind that comes from being one body and one spirit - with Christ as the head. But that is not the amazing part. We have worked hard to get to know one another. We've learn how to trust and love each other. And we have put in the time, struggled and fallen and gotten back up again, leaned hard on what little faith we have to take the words of Jesus to heart. And to live them out as best as we can, even if it is just once a week and only in this small community.

As we were nibbling on the meal, I saw the paper with the communion liturgy on it nestled among the plates of figs and dates, cheeses and crackers, and breads and dips. It sat there like one of the meals. Only no one was reaching for it. Like a salsa that was too hot for everyone taste, those words just quietly and patiently rested and waited. Reminding me there was one final task that needed to be finished before we could begin our usual post-service discussion —the  prayer of thanksgiving.

The paper was in front of A, a young mother who had her two-year-old daughter E sitting on her lap. It only seemed natural to ask her. Which she happily agreed. And invited her daughter to join her. For weeks now she had been telling us of her daughter's ability to read. But I will confess, I took that as an attentive parent doing some well-deserved bragging. So, imagine my surprise when A picked up the paper and E began to read from it. She read each word with great confidence and clarity, with her mother only helping on bigger words like “covenant” and “abundance.”

As I watched her index finger of her left hand move over each word I had put on the page, I noticed in her right hand E was nervously squeezing a handful of communion bread that she had ripped off the loaf right before her mother asked her to read. I watched in amazement as she held tightly to the body of Christ for reassurance while offering the prayer of thanks for the entire church.In that moment, my heart was filled with hope.

Nevermind, a child of her age reading. She was praying for us! And had faith enough to know who to trust and cling on to in times like this. She faced her performance anxiety and nervousness with great confidence because she held tightly to Jesus who said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger. And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35).

In that moment the tension and worry that I had been clinging onto began to dissipate as I slowly unclenched my anxious fist. And opened them back up to Christ. Evelyn reminded me of the simple truth, that no matter the challenges our country may face, the church will continue moving forward. All we have to do, as both individuals and a Jesus loving community, is to cling to Christ, whose light and love will always guide us through darkest nights and fiercest storms.

Jesus says, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). That kingdom, Jesus says, is right here, in this space between life and death. He calls us to approach the world with humble and trusting hearts, like children. To let go of the fear and worry and hatred ad judgement, and cling to him. 

In Jesus, like Evelyn reminds us, we have all the words we need to give us hope, strength and all we need to build bridges across the chasms that divided us. And we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to be peacemakers and love givers. We have no reason to worry about tomorrow, but to be present with him and one another today. Yes, in that presence we are called to work for justice and mercy, but we are called to do that with humility and servitude. "For whoever wishes to be first in the Kingdom," says Jesus, "must become a servant to all" (Mark 10:44).
 
As we look ahead to the new church season and embrace the theme Building Community in the Space Between, let us hold fast to the truth that God’s table is big enough for all—where we can gather as one, strengthened by Christ’s love, ready to embrace whatever lies ahead with courage and hope.

When his brother, Jack came into my office to ask if I’d officiate Jay’s funeral, I was hesitant. You see, the two were known to have their dirty hands in all sorts of unscrupulous businesses. Sensing my hesitation, Jack offered to pay me a little extra to do the service as long as I would say some nice things about his brother.
 
Again, knowing the kind of lifestyles these brothers led, I apologized and said, “I wouldn’t be able to honor such a request.” After some back and forth, Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a giant wad of cash. He pushed the money towards me and said, “All I’m asking is you say my brother was a saint.”
 
Needless to say, I was offended. But in order to make a long story short, I stood at the pulpit on the day of the funeral and said, “Jay wasn’t a Christian man. He and his family are not God-fearing people. In fact, calling them moral and upright would be an insult to the words.”
 
At this point, I could see Jack’s face turning red and his jaw clinching as tight as his fist. I continued, “I don’t know if Jay even owned a Bible or was ever baptized. And I’m pretty sure he did not understand what it meant to love your neighbor. But I can say this... Jay was a saint compared to his brother Jack.”
 
As you can see, I survived… so we could gather today and talk about two other brothers by the name of James and John, who worked up a scheme to get something from Jesus which seemed a bit unscrupulous to the other disciples.

You got to love their hutzpah. I mean, to ask the Son of God to “do whatever they asked of him” is pretty ballsy. Of course, Jesus loves their shamelessness and replies, “What exactly do you want me to do for you?”
 
Now take second to think about how you would answer. This is a golden opportunity to get whatever you wanted from Jesus. What would you ask for?
 
Security? Healing from an ailment? Maybe more faith. Or to turn the water into wine, or rocks into sandwiches. But that’s not what the brothers want. They ask to sit next to Jesus in Heaven – the seat of power in any kingdom. This makes the other disciples mad at their audacity.
 
Not Jesus. He loves them and tolerates their foolishness. And entertains their desire with a follow up question. “Are you able?” 
 
This is a question I think Jesus could ask anyone of us. To be willing is one thing. But to be able is a whole other level of commitment.
 
Most of us might be willing to call ourselves Christians. But are we able to actually live like Christ?

​We might be willing to love God, love others, and serve both. But are we able to love everyone, including those who are hard to love? Are we able to serve them when it’s inconvenient or when it costs us something?
 
We might be willing. But are we able? I don’t think we are. And that’s okay.

​According to the story, Jesus is willing to grant them their request. But even he’s unable to do it. It’s not his choice to make. It’s God’s. This had me thinking, perhaps Jesus is not asking about their ability. Maybe he wants to find out if they’re committed to continuing his work.
 
After all, he asks it on the heels of revealing to them what’s about to happen once they reach Jerusalem. He said, “the Son of Man will be handed over and condemned to death; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again” (Mark 10:33-34).
 
We know how the story unfolds, and the good news it brings, but are any one of us able to drink from that cup that Jesus will have to drink from?
 
James and John are probably too quick to answer. They don’t hesitate. Or take time to blink. They just shout out, “We are able.” Which makes me wonder if they understood what Jesus was asking.  Did they know the risk involved? The cost of their discipleship? I think they did.

 
You see, James and John - along with the others - had been following Jesus for a while. They’d already spent time in the mission field - faced adversity, and threats. They knew what people were capable of doing to one another. Perhaps that’s why they made the request in the first place.
 
If I were in their shoes, I’d want to sit next to Jesus too. Not for power or prestige, but because being close to Jesus is the safest place to be when the world attacks. If they’re going to do what he does, then they need to be as close to God as possible. And so do we. Because Jesus is inviting us to be part of something bigger—the Kingdom of God where love is the only weapon we are called to carry.

The brothers believed they are able to do that. But I don’t think they are. Because none of us are. Only God is truly able to go distance. All we can do is hold on.

With that said, I do believe that if we’re willing God is more than able to grant us what we need to get the job done.
 
So, let me ask you:
 
Are you willing to do the work of Christ today?
 
Are you willing to help someone who's been hurt?
 
Are you willing to stay up all night to comfort a friend going through a tough time?
 
Are you willing to be the voice of reason, justice, and equality for all?
 
Are you willing to be the presence of Christ in the world, even if it goes against your best interest or political point of view?
 
God knows our abilities. But who among us is willing to trust like Jesus, who emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the point of death - even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8)
 
Jesus calls us to let go of our fears, to pick up our cross, and follow him to be his heart and hands everywhere we go. I believe we can do it, not because we are able but because God is. I believe we can face whatever comes, knowing that Jesus walks before us, and God’s Spirit empowers us. Like Paul wrote, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).
 
We can put our faith on the line and live a kingdom life, because we don’t rely on our ability but God’s. With Jesus leading the way, we can build bridges instead of walls. And with God’s Spirit in us, can be the antidote to a system of division and injustice.

We can love our neighbors, forgive each other, and give our time and resources for the sake of community. We can let go of our fears, set aside our ego and be faithful to Jesus’ mission.
 
If we are willing, we will be able because God is more than willing and able to work through us.
 
Jesus asks a simple question, one that is difficult to answer honestly. And yet, he calls us all to respond. What will be your answer?
 
Will you come to his table?
 
Will you eat of his bread?
 
And drink from his cup?
 
If you are willing. Then you will be able.
 

 
 
 
Works Cited
Adapted from a previous sermon Are You Able (August 25, 2019).
Bartlett, David. L., Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word: Year B. Vol. 4. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. p. 189-91.