This past Sunday I preached about our need to remember that we are salt and light in the world; that we embody the distinctive nature of those who follow Jesus (at least I hope we do). The other passage I almost preached on from this past Sunday’s lectionary was the lesson from Isaiah. There is quite a bit of overlap with the Gospel in some ways. In that reading, the prophet laid out all the things God’s people needed to do: offer food to the hungry, house the homeless, cloth the naked, satisfy the needs of the afflicted, etc. This would allow the nation of Israel and its people to be restored, “like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.” The prophet added, “you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”

We’ve discussed the brokenness of this world; it has been the subject of the blessing at the end of every service I’ve presided over from Advent One through this past Sunday. I’ve had a lot of requests to share that blessing because so many have found it inspirational (spoiler: it’s included below). When we put all of this together, we understand the distinctive (compared to the world at large) qualities of Christians who follow Jesus and what that looks like. It’s not hard to understand. Hard to live?  Sure, but there should be no doubt that we understand it clearly.  The brokenness of the world, the places where there are breaches in our bonds and relationships and communities that need to be repaired, will be repaired with the salt and light of the Body of Christ. We are the ones who will do it; no one is going to do it for us. It takes intention and bravery and faith. If not us, then who?  

It seems to some that things are breaking more and more every day. “What are we to do”, I hear people ask. The answer? Follow Jesus’ way of love. It’s not a complicated concept – not really.  But it does take effort. It’s not a new idea for Christians or in our tradition. We need to apply it anew every day, however. Below are some words of challenge and invitation; words to remind us who and whose we are; words to assure us and words to serve as blueprints for the building of God’s kingdom. As we pray in the prayer book, “Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life…”

“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” - Matthew 22:37-40

Celebrant:

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

People:

I will, with God's help.

Celebrant:

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

People

I will, with God's help.”

- BCP p. 305

“…what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  - Micah 6-8

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” -  Romans 2:12 

“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light [of Christ] that is you.”   - L.R. Knost

“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” - Colossians 3:13-14

“Go forth into the world in peace;

be of good courage;               

hold fast that which is good;             

render to no one evil for evil;

strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;

help the afflicted; honor everyone;

love and serve the Lord,

rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit…”  

- Traditional Blessing

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves… for it is written…“if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink…” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  - Romans 12:9-21

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  - John 13:34-35

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”  - Matthew 5:43-47

I’m not saying we can live this out and mend all the brokenness without a lot of effort. On the contrary, the Christian life is just that - a lifelong endeavor. At the same time, we can’t shrug our shoulders and raise our hands in defeat about the state of things in this world. We know what is right and good when we see it and hear it, and we know the opposite as well. We don’t get to choose if we are kingdom-builders, not if we’ve already chosen to follow Jesus. The work should sound familiar.  …And with God’s help it will become familiar, too.

Tom+

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  – Prayer attributed to St. Francis BCP p. 833

Photo Credit: Salt, free, via Pixaby.com.  “Brokeness”, watch parts, by Col_adamson via flickr.com.