http://www.joeciardiello.com/
Proverbs 10:7-12; Ephesians 4:1-16
The
mega-hit song “Let It Go” has been flowing through music speakers everywhere
since last year. It’s from the
soundtrack of the highest grossing animated movie of all time, “Frozen.” Much credit for this is due to the power
vocals of its singer, Idina Menzel. She’s
also very famous for originating the role of the verdant faced witch Elphaba in
the Broadway show “Wicked.” But before
either of these, back in 1996, she starred in the musical “Rent.” Her role was as one among many struggling Alphabet
City performance artists trying to survive life and love in New York City under
the shadow of opportunistic real estate developers and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The
most famous song from this circle of friendship centered story is called
“Seasons of Love.” The lyrics start out
this way (feel free to say or sing along if you know them!) –
“Five
hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so
dear. Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you
measure, measure a year?” The cast
answers by resolutely declaring, “How about love? Measure in love. Remember the love. Share love.
Give love. Spread love. Love is a gift from above. Measure your life in love.”
One
of the reasons I never grow tired of hearing and enjoying this song is
precisely because in a toe-tapping, sing-out-loud way it does remind me … and
all who experience it … not to measure life first and foremost by such things
as our fears, frustrations and failures.
I think it’s a fairly natural tendency for
most of us to measure incorrectly. Instead
of joyfully accounting for the cream rising to the top, we can swiftly settle
into the sludge at the bottom.
Acknowledging
the heavy reality of sin and sludge can be healthy, but we must have faith
enough to not let it numb us to the resurrection love of our Lord that is
graciously alive within us. This is what
to first and foremost measure your life by.
Do so in fully honest one on one relationships, in the company of genuinely
caring community, and in awe of God’s beautifully diverse creation. As the song “Seasons of Love” preaches, love
is best measured in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, in
inches, in miles, in laughter and in strife.
Had I written it, I would have given the song a different title. I would have called it “Stewards of Love.”
Attending
to the life-transforming love of God in Jesus Christ so freely given to us all
is our daily calling. The Scriptures
are supremely clear about how God commands us to be faithful stewards of this through
every season and situation.
In
the big picture – what I like to regard as the panoramic view of God’s will for
this world, avid photographer that I am -- this is the fully embodied love that
fulfills the promises found all across the pages of the Old Testament. It rescues and redeems all of humanity from
the consequences of constant rebellion against our Creator. It thrives through the Holy Spirit, restoring
our broken relationships with God, with one another, with all of Creation. It’s the steadfast love that strives to make
all realities on earth reflect how it is in heaven. It’s the loving measure by which God judges
us, forgives us, and frees us to follow the paths of holy righteousness all our
lives long.
In
the small picture, the Polaroid view, we experience the amazing grace of this love
through our daily relationships and in our specific contexts. It’s
mingling with us right now. I invite you
to view this very moment through its lens!
To
help us see and interpret our Lord’s love, especially during tough times, we
have the faithful counsel of countless others.
Who has most witnessed to and
interpreted this gift in your life? Take
a moment to silently thank God for them for helping to inform and form your
faith journey as a disciple and apostle – as a student and as a witness -- of Jesus.
All
of us have available the timeless words of the Bible to empower and equip us in
how to practically live out Christ’s holy love.
This is one very anchoring reason for gathering here each week to listen
for ancient yet relevant voices, to relate to their wisdom and stories. Measuring our lives in this way is wise in the
way of Proverbs.
It
blesses us by preserving memories.
It
secures that our walk of faith is one of integrity. It rebukes trouble and steadies us on the
path of life.
If
you are seeking quite a perfect Christian devotional, turn to the Book of
Ephesians. Most Bible scholars believe that this was written by the Apostle
Paul about 30 years after Jesus’ resurrection.
He is believed to have been imprisoned for the faith in Rome at the
time. Yet by the grace of God and
through his faith, Paul didn’t settle into the sludge of his being
persecuted. He counted it as
privilege. Unlike his other letters,
however, these are not words of “argument or controversy or rebuke.” These are instead the language of “lyrical
prayer.”[i] To my hearing, it certainly is a wonderful
love poem that gathers all things in the love of Jesus our Lord. This doesn’t mean it avoids acknowledging
discord in the world and in the church, but it steadfastly affirms a day will
come when everything is united in Christ.
Paul reminds us to therefore live “with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making
every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Each of us is given grace according to the
measure of Christ’s gift of life-transforming, sin-rescuing love. When we focus on gathering up this grace
together, we boldly find ourselves witnessing in all kinds of ways to the
eternal truth that “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called
to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
Each
and every one of us has the spiritual gifts and other resources to be a vital
part -- to be stewards -- in building up the Body of Christ in love.
We
honor this reality in a particularly special way when we thank our Lord for the
service of our military veterans.
Robin, choir members, Elder Ella Rue and I will do so here at 2 p.m.
today along with the worship leadership of colleagues from Fairmount United
Methodist, Califon United Methodist, Lower Valley Presbyterian, and the
Catholic Community of St. John Neumann.
This time of worship will also raise awareness of the 52 Reasons to Love
a Vet project that directly supports the care of our local veterans through a
partnership with Hunterdon Medical Center.
One
of the pieces of artwork for this very worthy project is here this
morning. It’s by the illustrator Joe
Ciardiello (chee-arr-dello) whose
portrait work you’ve seen in The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine,
The New York Times, American Express and more.
Joe has also played drums here in our sanctuary as part of the Kane
Trio. Take a look at Joe’s contribution to the deck of
cards available for purchase in support of the 52 Reasons project. I’m
not going to speak for him about why he rendered this artwork in this way. But
the imagery of a heart-shaped holes through a soldier’s head and chest evokes three
thoughts for me. It leads me to be grateful for soldiers who
gave their hearts – the center of their very being – for the sake of our
freedoms. It also leads me to ask if
returning veterans ever question if they are loved and appreciated for their
service. And lastly, it inspires me to
have faith in Jesus Christ, who I trust fills all the empty spaces within God’s
children. For me, our Lord is the Ace
of Hearts whose self-sacrifice and resurrection is the ultimate peace for every
inner and worldly conflict.
There
are 1, 440 minutes in each day. I
figure we’ve used about 640 of them so far today. How will you measure the remaining
time? Measure in love. Christ’s love.
Amen.
1 comment:
Thank you Pastor Rich, I will.
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