Abide

Charlotte Collins Reed

Christ Church Episcopal

August 26, 2018

16 Proper B

          Several months ago, we had a technology meltdown in the church office.  For some unknown reason, the phone and internet were out and our computers were not working.  Kathy Garber, our parish administrator, put in a call to our tech support and we spent the morning cleaning out old file drawers.  We found lots of treasures that morning, including a service bulletin from the dedication of this church on January 18, 1995.  From the bulletin, I can tell that the music was spectacular.  The processional hymn was “Lift High the Cross,” which was elected this parish’s number one favorite hymn in our voting this summer.  The prayers were deeply moving.  The baptismal font, lectern, and pulpit were dedicated and the altar was consecrated.  There were five communion hymns, so I’m guessing the church was packed.  I can only imagine how glorious the celebration was as this beautiful space was offered to God.

          This morning, we hear about the glorious dedication of another place of worship, the temple in Jerusalem.  The year was likely around 960 BC.  Solomon has built this temple as a house for God.  The temple is large and ornate-a fitting home for the God who led the people out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land.  We watch as the priests of the temple place the Ark of the Covenant in the inner sanctuary, the most holy place in the Temple.  The Ark of the Covenant contained the tablets on which the 10 commandments were written and were thought to contain the very presence of God.  Once the priests come out of the inner sanctuary, the whole temple fills with a cloud as the glory of God fills the temple. A pillar of cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness and protected them as they entered the promised land.  That cloud signified the presence of God with them.  Now that same cloud fills the Temple.  Finally, Solomon prays that God will hear the prayers of all people who pray in the Temple, so that all people might know God and fear God.

But even in the midst of the dedication of this great temple, Solomon asks "But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house I have built."  Even as Solomon dedicates the elaborate, ornate Temple, he knows that God will not actually live there.  The God who has wandered with God's people is not likely to be confined in a temple.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  John's gospel, from which we hear this morning, tells us that, in Jesus, the very God who wandered through the wilderness with God's people and led them into the Promised Land has chosen to dwell among us, wander with us, if you will, on earth.  The gospel begins with the words "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."  A few verses later we are told that "the Word became flesh and dwelled among us, full of grace and truth."  This morning, we hear Jesus say "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them."  The Word has not only become flesh, the Word invites us to abide or dwell in him and he in us.  And many of his disciples understandably say "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?"

On the day this church was consecrated, the Sr. Warden, who, according to the service bulletin was Gretchen Green, prayed this prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, make this a temple of your presence and a house of prayer.  Be always near us when we seek you in this place. Draw us to you, when we come alone and when we come with others, to find comfort and wisdom, to be supported and strengthened, to rejoice and give thanks.  May it be here, Lord Christ, that we are made one with you and with one another, so that our lives are sustained and sanctified for your service.”  We come to this holy place to seek comfort and wisdom, for support and strength, and to rejoice and give thanks.  We do this so that our lives are sustained and sanctified for Jesus’ service.  And Jesus is to be found in the world around us, wandering among all people and in all places.  So we are called to take that comfort, strength, joy and gratitude out into the world.  We live together as a people of faith here, so that we know how to live as people of faith in the world.  We encounter Jesus in the bread and wine here, which teaches us to recognize and experience Jesus where ever we break bread.  In this holy place, we learn how to abide in Jesus and let Jesus abide in us.  When the disciples say, "This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?" Jesus doesn't say "No, it's not."  He says, "Does this offend you?"  Abiding in Jesus is hard, because abiding in Jesus demands that we see the world as Jesus sees and follow where Jesus goes.  The gospels tell us that Jesus went, not just to the synagogue, but to the cities, villages, and remote places where people were sick, hungry, or in any need or trouble. 

          Jesus answers Solomon's question "But will God indeed dwell on earth?" with the words "Abide in me and I in you."  We respond to Jesus' promise to abide in us and his call to abide in him with the words of our baptismal covenant as we promise to seek and serve Christ in all people, to work for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human person.  These promises are difficult but holy work, requiring God’s comfort and wisdom, support and strength, along with much joy and gratitude.  But through that work, nourished in this place, the world will experience our belief that Jesus is the holy one of God.  

                                                                                      Amen.