“Can I Get a Witness?” – Sermon on 4/22/2012

April 22, 2012
Scripture: Luke 24: 36-48
Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Sermon: Can I Get a Witness?
By: Rev. Doreen Oughton

In seminary, one of my favorite classes was Christian Theology. It was a core class, and everyone in the divinity program had to take it. The professor assigned us to small groups that met three times over the semester to share thoughts and questions about the rich material presented in the class. My group consisted of me, James – an Episcopalian, and Ellie and Jeannette who were Unitarian Universalist. I remember our discussion of the theories of salvation – how Jesus saved us by his death and resurrection. Ellie and Jeannette didn’t give much credo to any of the theories because they held the belief that we have not, in fact, been saved. They look around the world and see violence and hatred and suffering and oppression and poverty and they wonder how anyone can think that Jesus’ sacrifice made a difference. I didn’t agree with them, but I also didn’t know how to respond to their arguments. I didn’t know how to articulate my thought that they were both right and wrong, the world was and is the same and yet profoundly changed.
I thought about this as I was reading today’s text, which is so similar to last week’s. The followers of Jesus are gathered together and suddenly Jesus is standing among them. Today’s scripture doesn’t say whether they were inside or out, but last week the story had them in a locked room, and Jesus did not enter or depart through the door. This is different, yes?, that Jesus can appear and disappear. Is he a Spirit of some sort, a ghost? In other resurrection appearances he is not recognized by those closest to him until something happens – bread is broken, a name is spoken, a cast net comes in loaded with fish – and then his friends know him and rejoice. But the scripture also is painstaking in revealing that Jesus is not a ghost, not a spirit, but flesh and blood – wounded flesh no less. He can be touched, he can be held, he not only blesses and breaks bread, but eats. This is the very same body that lived among them, and that was crucified and entombed. Jesus himself, post-resurrection, is both the same and profoundly changed. And the disciples themselves, struggling still with their doubt and fear were the same, and letting their hearts be lifted with joy, profoundly changed.
It’s such a paradox, isn’t it? And I love what the scripture says next. While Jesus is standing right there with them, he says to them, “These are the words I spoke while I was still with you.” He is saying that the way he is with them now is different from the way he was with them before the crucifixion. And what does he do after his return? He greets them with peace, he reminds them of what was said in the scriptures, the Hebrew scriptures, he opens their minds to understand them, and he sends them forth to spread the good news of repentance and forgiveness. This is not so different from what he did before his death – he proclaimed peace, he studied the scripture, he commissioned his followers to go out to heal and preach and cast out evil in his name. It is the same, and yet something is profoundly different.
And the disciples knew it. The book of Acts talks about what happens next, after Jesus’ resurrection, after he stopped making any bodily appearances, and the change in these disciples is amazing. All that struggle with doubt and fear, gone! They face the worst possible persecution, several being put to death. But the persecution doesn’t stop them, doesn’t frighten them. They become true followers of Christ in their commitment to bringing the good news of God’s love, the message of the gift of repentance, the freeing forgiveness that is for everyone. They spread that message no matter what. And they spread it with confidence and with joy. The Holy Spirit, the peace of Christ was surely with them.
I’ll bet that if the disciples had a chance to look back and reflect on their expectations or hopes about the changes that would happen, they would never have pictured it the way it turned out. When they followed Jesus, when they came to know him as the Messiah, I’ll bet they were anticipating a dramatic change. He was the one who proclaimed that God’s kingdom had come near. And if God’s kingdom had come near, then it was only a matter of time before Caesar’s kingdom would be no more. If God’s kingdom would come, then, as the prayer says, God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. And the earth would be profoundly changed, wouldn’t it? It couldn’t possibly look the same. Given how little did change – Rome remained in charge, the Temple was destroyed, the violence and oppression continued – it’s amazing that the disciples witnessed so effectively. It’s amazing that people didn’t laugh in their faces.
Does everyone know the story of Beauty and the Beast? Something that has been made ugly is transformed back to its original beauty by true love’s kiss. At the end, anyone could see that the handsome prince was worthy of Belle’s love. Does everyone know who Susan Boyle is? Talent show competitor, frumpy woman in her 40’s competing with young hotties. She steps out to a mocking crowd, skeptical judges, and within three notes of her song, the atmosphere has completely changed. Her voice is amazing, and she is transformed in the eyes of the crowd. They are gasping with amazement, overcome with emotion. She is the same as she has always been, but the witness is profoundly different. Those who were jaded, judgmental, and critical are now open-hearted. Their eyes and ears have been re-made for wonder.
Now does anyone know the story of Shrek and Fiona? It was an animated film that took some fairy tale themes – damsel in distress, an ogre, a hero, and sort of tossed them together in surprising ways. Fiona is a beautiful princess locked in a tower in need of rescue. The rescuer, Shrek, however, is not a handsome prince, but an ogre. And he is rescuing her not so he can marry her himself, but as part of a bargain so he can be rid of the fairy tale cuties that have invaded his precious, private swamp. Spoiler alert – unbeknownst to all, Fiona is under a curse that turns her from a beautiful woman into an ogre at sunset. The curse can only be broken by true love’s kiss, which will return her to love’s true form. The plot twists and turns, and finally Fiona and Shrek, who are in love, kiss, and the blinding white light and special effects let us know that the curse has been broken, and Fiona is in love’s true form. The surprise is that she is in the form she thought was the curse – love’s true form, for Fiona, is an ogre. And she is beautiful. What she’s hoped for both has and has not come to pass. What’s changed is her heart. What changed for the audience at the talent show was their understanding, their hearts. And that is profound.
In today’s reading Jesus says, “repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in all nations.” Repentance means a turning of one’s heart. Jesus came to save the world, but not in any of the ways we would have thought of. He saved by changing hearts. And you know that anything Jesus says to the disciples he says to us. You are witnesses of these things, he says. You have seen me heal, heard me preach, can understand the scriptures in a new way, through me. You are the ones to gasp with surprise over the truth that no matter how much the same things look, everything is profoundly different. We, as witnesses, are called to carry this good news to all nations.
Has your heart been changed by Jesus Christ? Could you, do you, witness to that? Now the idea of giving witness may make you cringe. You might picture knocking on someone’s door and asking “Have you been saved?” You might recall times you have been accosted in the street by people eager to convert you or save you by trying to force their truth down your throat. That’s not what I’m talking about. Many people witness to the change in their hearts just by the way they live and interact with people. They forgive easily, they avoid criticism of others, they serve people in need, they make small or large gestures of kindness and consideration. Now there are many non-believers who live this way also. My classmates Ellie and Jeannette certainly did. So I don’t mean to imply in any way that only Christians are good people. For me though, there is a cohesiveness and sustained sense of hope that comes through grounding these things in the example of Christ.
Another way to witness is to actively trust God. Like the disciples in today’s story, you let your heart be lifted in joy even as you struggle with fear and doubt. You give even if you’re not sure how can afford to, trusting that God does provide if given a chance. And then, yes, there is witnessing that involves actual speaking, verbal sharing about how your heart has been changed by faith. There are ways to do it that are not pushy or judgmental, but are inviting and intriguing. One of the blessings of my work is that I get to hear such witness. I get to ask people in bible study or church meetings to share about blessings. I am friends with other clergy who aren’t shy about talking about their faith. I’ve heard lots of stories in seminary about how people came to be called to ministry. But even before I went to church as an adult, I remember a few times when people shared with me about their faith and I was so touched. I could feel my heart turning through their sharing. I hungered for such witness, and I bless those who provided it to me.
I’m going to ask you to take a few minutes right now to witness. Find a partner, someone who is not a family member. Get up and move if you need to. Choir and Bob, feel free to come down and get a partner, or stay where you are and talk to each other, whatever you prefer. Decide who will speak first. We are going to start with something simple. Take a minute and think to yourself about something you would like to share about a hobby or activity that brings you pleasure. Tell what it is, and what it does for you. Go…. And now the second person share on the same topic.
(Share about what part of the worship service is your favorite and why)
Okay now I want you to take a moment and think about something you’d like to share about how God is working in your life or in the world. Switch order from previous.
That’s it. You have witnessed. If you find over the next week or so that what you heard from your partner affected you in some way, make note of that. I know I continue to be affected by people’s sharing. I draw on it for hope and strength. My hope is that through this practice, you might notice situations in your day to day life where your sharing might make a difference for someone else, and you might feel more comfortable and confident in speaking. You are witnesses to and of God’s love. Believe it, live it. May it be so.