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St. Charles Episcopal Church - Saint Charles, IL

The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Easter 5 RCL – Year C

Sunday, May 2, 2010 - Baptism of Sylvia Caron Cherney

Acts 11:1-18 – Psalm 148 – Revelation 21:1-6 – John 13:31-35

Rev. William R. Nesbit, Jr.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.

 Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

Today is love day; the day when we remember the new commandment given to us by Christ, to love one another. This is different from the summary of the law that Christ has revealed earlier in his ministry. This is more than love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. It sounds so simple – Love one another. The tricky part is in the definition – Love just as I have loved you. Not tolerate. Not include. Not like. Love. These words are spoken by Jesus to his disciples on their last night together. Did he know that his imminent departure would shatter this chosen band? Did he know that the church he was founding would also shatter into so many splinters over the coming years? Did he know that even in individual congregations dissension would be an ever present reality? Did he know that Love is the only true way through this mess? What do you think? I think so! But only if our love is true; true to the mind of Christ. We must love as Christ loves us, for in that love we will see the face of Christ. But how do we do this? To talk about love is a lot like talking about music; mostly a waste of time. So much more can be accomplished by doing. Trying, failing, learning, and trying again. But since it is sermon time, I do have a few things to say and a few exercises for us to try.

There is a spiritual discipline that I learned many years ago from Brother Joseph Kilikevice called darchan. Darchan is the ancient technique of holy gazing that some biblical scholars say Jesus used with great regularity, and to singular effectiveness. Have you noticed how often the bible says that Jesus looked at, or gazed at someone before speaking to them? It happens often when Jesus is speaking with his disciples. He is doing more than just looking. Darchan is all about seeing with the eyes of God. Looking at someone and seeing them as they really are, with all their good points and bad points, and seeing them as a creation of God, and loving them the way God does. Without any qualifications. Darchan is the way a mother looks at her infant. It is a powerful experience, and it can be unsettling to receive. Try it sometime with someone you know, but warn them first. Or better yet, try it with someone you don’t know. In this case, try it when their not looking and aren’t likely to do so. Like I said, it is unsettling to receive. We don’t want to scare people. Gaze at someone and take in all the little things that make them who they are. Appreciate the special work of God’s love that they are. Know that God loves them as a mother loves a child, no matter what they do. If they succeed or fail. If they are rich or poor. No matter what. Feel that love enrich your gaze and yourself as well. Know that you too are a special work of God’s love.

I remember when I first learned this discipline I was practicing with a group of about 40 people standing in a circle. As I gazed around I was struck by the wide variety of shapes and sizes, the wonderful diversity of God’s creation. And the extravagance. I had one of those “Ah hah!” moments. I thought, “This must be what it feels like for a baby when they are born.” As all these people, one after another, looked at me with this gentle/oppressive, tender/frightening countenance I felt both safe and loved, vulnerable and exposed all at the same time. I felt in the presence of God. And I felt like I was part of a community like I never have before. I commend darchan to you, but I warn you as well. You will be changed. We won’t be trying darchan today, but you might want to add it to the exercise I will share with you at the end of the sermon. First though, I would like to share some words about love. The words are wonderful words; They are love poems, but love of a different kind. Love of God’s kind.

The first is a poem by Leigh Hunt that I first recall hearing at bed time as a small boy. [Abou Ben Adhem]

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold:--Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said,‘What writest thou?’ -- The vision raised its head, And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, ‘The names of those who love the Lord.’‘And is mine one?’ said Abou. ‘Nay, not so,’Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerly still; and said, ‘I pray thee then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.’The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

The second poem I received later in life. It is a poem by George Herbert. [Love III]

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, If I lacked anything. A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here: Love said, You shall be he. I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear, I cannot look on thee. Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,Who made the eyes but I? Truth Lord, but I have marr’d them: Let my shame Go where it doth deserve. And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? My dear, then I will serve.You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat: So I did sit and eat.

In both these poems, the poets have tried to capture the essence, or at least a piece, of God’s persistent sacrificial love for us. It is in this love that we see how we are to love one another, and what we are to model for the rest of the world. It is how we will be known. By the world, and by God. And now our exercise. This is an exercise I shared many years ago, and someone came up to me a few weeks ago and told me what an impression it had made on her at the time, so I thought it might be nice to try it again.At a House of Bishops meeting many years ago, Bernard Malango, the Archbishop of Central Africa who was visiting the US, shared with our Bishops how they pass the peace in his country. He said, “the custom is to take the hand of the person next to you, to look in that person’s eyes and say, “I love the face of Christ I see.” Today, I would like us to try this during the peace today. I know this is a little more intimate than we are used to, but I think we’re up to it. Remember, there are three parts and all of them are important. Take the hand, look in the eyes, (remember what I said about darchan) and say, “I love the face of Christ I see.” As you look into the faces of those around you, recall all the faces of those, both living and dead, who have been icons of love for you in the past, look for the face of Christ shining through all those faces, and know again in your heart, the depth and breadth of God’s love for you.

See you at the peace! Amen.