Year B Easter 3 WED 2021 You Gotta Try This

 Year B Easter 3 WEDNESDAY, 21 April 2021

Video Service from St. James the Less Episcopal, Ashland, VA

“You Gotta Try This”

Collect: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 John 5:1-12

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Luke 4:38-44

After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

My family has a funny habit. Yours probably does, too. When we go out and try something new, if it is good, we make all the yummy sounds. If it is really good, we share bites with each other. And usually with the words, “You have got to try this!” Often while a spoon or fork is approaching their mouths. When something is that good, I know for me, I have to share it. I have to let someone else know. The savor is twice as fine when it is shared.

Some things are just too good not to share. And sometimes things are so good, they have to move on. And that is what we see here today. 

Peter took Jesus home. He was so beloved by Peter, he took Jesus home to his mother-in-law, little did he realize that Jesus would end up healing her. 

The demons knew a good thing when they saw it. They declared that Jesus was “the Son of God.” He had to silence them. 

Then when he tried to be alone, to get away and recharge his batteries, those who became enamored with him tried to bring him back to heal and teach, he had to decline. He could not set down roots. He had so little time to pull things together, so little time to make the idea of the Kingdom of God reality. He was too good to stay.

I wish Jesus were here today. We could use some healing. Yesterday’s news out of Minneapolis was huge. After the largest protest movement in history, yes history, we see a verdict many hoped for and many did not expect. Some call it justice. Others do not. 

With the law enforcement folks I have spoken with, they have shared how no training could have taught the officer to do that, especially for that length of time. I know that many of my African-American brothers and sisters feel a sense of relief and hope, and I thank God for that. I know I thanked God for the decision given. But I also know that we need Jesus’ healing all the more, and the divisions are deep.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, the Psalmist tells us. I pray for that for all God’s children. I want us all to drink deep and be able to say, “You have got to try this!” with all the benefits and opportunities this land yields. May it be so. Amen