Now and Then

“Now and Then”

The Rev. Jen Van Zandt

May 22, 2022

Preface:

In keeping with last week’s Music Sunday’s theme of light, which was wonderfully depicted and explored, (again, thank you all for such a wonderful 15th anniversary celebration), today’s text, which is one of the lectionary texts, is particularly timely given the on-going heartbreak in the Ukraine, the rumblings of pending conflict between China and Taiwan, the deep, seemingly endless divisions between Israel and Palestine, nuclear threats from North Korean and the growing divisions in our nation where racial bifurcations are harkening back to the 1950’s and 60’s. To add to that the murder of 10 (more) innocent people in Buffalo this week is sadly just the latest evidence that we are in deep need of LIGHT to overcome darkness and for God’s restorative powers to intervene and overcome evil, In all its forms.

We seem to be in a time and place where darkness feels like it’s picking up speed and overshadowing the goodness and light that we once regularly enjoyed. We are all yearning for comfort and hope and fulfillment of God’s promises. SO…let’s take a break from all that weighs so heavily on us and be reminded again what awaits us through the eyes of John of Patmos, in the book of Revelation.

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So this reading, even though it's a little obscure, is rarely explored. In fact, very little of the book of Revelation is even in the lectionary. Presbyterians also tend to stay away from the apocalyptic scriptures, in the books of Daniel and Revelation, because they're really, really complicated.

I remember that bumper sticker I saw about 20 years ago and it said, “In case of Rapture, car will be unmanned.” We don't tend to talk a whole lot about the Rapture, but I think, as I said in my preface, we are very much in need a hopeful vision. And the anthem that the choir sang, was perfect. God IS our hope for years to come. And this vision in the book of Revelation is exactly what we need. It's extremely hope-filled, because it's a vision of a completely new world in which God will not only dwell with us; but, as it says back in verse 3 in chapter 21, the home of God will be among mortals. There will be so much light, that there will be no need even for sun and moon. So we better start taking in all the sunrises and sunsets we can until this goes away! There will be such sufficient light that we'll be able to conduct all of our affairs. There will be so much light there'll be no need to have security. The city will be safe and all the dwellers will be safe. People of other nations can come in without fear, harm or division. Diversity and unity will have a perfect balance. And everyone will live in harmony.

God's presence will be palpable and obvious, not only in the temple, but everywhere. Remember the Jews felt that God's presence was only in their temple. So when their temple was destroyed, they were devastated and they didn't know where God could be found again. John’s vision describes that God's presence will be palpable and obvious everywhere. There will even be no need for temples and churches, because every place--not just the church, not just the temple--will be sacred. Wow. What a vision!

The book of Revelation was thought to be written in late first century, somewhere around 90 in the Common Era. This is when the Greco-Roman rule was a great threat to Jewish Christians. Yet, even power at this point in the book of Revelation will be converted. There will no longer be “power over other”. But power that is used to give and sustain life. Why? Because, not only will God's presence be made known, but we'll also be able to see God's face. We know from Deuteronomy, the book of Numbers and in First John, it is thought that if we ever saw God's face, we would not survive. But John of Patmos says that when God does come to dwell with us, we'll be able to see God face to face—a lot like what we think about when we go to our great reward in heaven. To see God's face and live, even now… wouldn't that be a joy, even for a second?

In John’s vision, even our deepest longings will be fulfilled. All the secrets desires that we have of our hearts for ourselves, for our family, for our friends, for our neighbors and even the people that we don't get along with. All will be well. Nations will not be pitted against one another, but will be healed. No one will feel threatened or insecure. The gates will remain open at all times. People are free to come in and be accepted in love, no matter who they are. Everyone will walk in God's light and offer up their gifts freely to God with both hands, not one hand and the other.

I've had a number of people say to me in counseling and in conversations over the last six to eight months, “I'm not sure I want to be here any longer.” And I don't mean the church. I mean on the planet. We're seeing things that we never thought we would see again. We're seeing things we never thought we would ever see. We're experiencing pain and frustration and worry and heartache in ways that we thought were well behind us. So this vision that John paints for us is something that I want to encourage us to live into more of the time, because life is difficult! It's particularly difficult right now and we pray that God will bring fullness into being sooner than later but it may not be in our lifetime.

So what do we do? Well, obviously, we have choices. We can sit and wish we are no longer here. We can sit and wonder and worry and complain and bicker. Or we can sit and wait for God to come. And, in the meantime, be part of that healing; be part of that light; be part of that hope; be part of that joy; be part of what God wills for all of us.

I found it very interesting and shocking that the shooter in Buffalo did not take his own life. Most, as you know, most mass shooters end up killing themselves as well which tells me that that shooter still thinks that he's in the right. I know that grieves your hearts like it does mine and I know that it grieves God's heart deeply. But the fact of the matter is, friends, although we would probably never ever do anything like that or even consider it, there are hostilities in our hearts too. There are things where we put dividing lines when we should be creating bridges. There are places in which we have to get rid of those things that are standing in the way of God's light, God's goodness, God's joy and God's healing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, “Being a Christian is not for the faint of heart.” It calls us to a higher level of being, a higher level of language, a higher level of giving, a higher level of understanding, of listening to the other and the stranger even when we don't understand where they're coming from. It also happens in small things like not giving a nasty look as you drive by the car who's been holding up the line on the highway. Or getting irritated, because the person in front of you has 29 items and you've just got the one. Or the child who is just too cranky and too tired to behave. (Or your spouse). There are ways in which we can bring God's light consciously now. There are ways in which we can be and connect with the other that brings God's light and God's joy here on the planet.

It's always easy to love those that we love. What God calls us to do is to bring God's love and light to those who are hard to love; those who are prickly; those who are even hostile to us and the people that we love; to love those that don't understand us and those that feel that they are in the right and have a corner on the truth. What God calls us to do is not easy. But until God brings us to the all in all, we can either choose to continue to be upset and bitter or we can seek to bring light in the smallest and the largest of ways.

This week was a very difficult week in the life of this church. We've had so many who have had some really serious issues--health issues--and they need our voices. They need our hope. They need our joy. They need our prayers. People are hurting on the inside, as well as on the outside. And as the prayers have focused on all day today, our goal is not to close the door on those we don't understand or don't like, but to actually reach out and start a conversation. Just be kind and gentle even when they're on our last nerve.

There are things that we can do to bring healing. You may have read about Chef Darian Bryan who is a Buffalo-based caterer. His heart is broken, because that Tops supermarket is where he shops and almost brought his children to that supermarket that day before he dropped them off at daycare. It's the only supermarket within reach for the African-American population. And, now that it's closed, they can't get fresh fruit. They can't get fresh vegetables. And so they're suffering again from not being able to eat proper and healthy foods.

As a chef, Darion Bryan has also done a lot of catering including for the Buffalo Bills, so he called upon his friends at the Bills and asked if they'd lend him a hand. He created a pop-up restaurant in Buffalo to sell food and to give away meals and to raise money for those who are in deep, deep fear and grief. He said “folks are hurting and food is love”. It brings people together. The Buffalo Bills have served thousands of meals over this last week and he's raised up to twenty thousand dollars. And I'm sure it will grow and continue to give strength and healing to those who are broken and in fear of their own lives. He and the Buffalo Bills are bringing light to overcome the darkness.

We don't have to do things that big, but I suggest that we all spend time… just a little time today trying to get rid of some of the hostility and the anger that's in our own hearts and bring kindness to everything and to everyone.

Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is only thing that ever has.” We are a small group of concerned Christians that want God's presence to be palpable and to be aware, not only for others, but for ourselves. And I think one way to do that is to not get so hung up in the hatred and the defending of our position, but to build bridges and wait for the light to come, even bit by bit. May it be so. Amen.