Dear Friends, Neighbors and Members of St. Cyprian's,
Tonight, we gather to engage the story of Jesus' last meal with his closest followers. The gospel of John tells us he insisted on washing the disciples feet and then he gave them a new commandment "that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." The text suggests that Jesus anticipated, or hoped that "everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." This gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves as a faith community and as individuals --- how do people know that we are really earnest followers of Jesus? Is it by how hip, loud, intelligently and confidently we describe our faith or is it by how well we together embody the teachings and love of Jesus ? A mentor of mine once gave me a great question to ask "if you were arrested for being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" The poem below from Mary Oliver reminds us that even in our failures to do what Jesus asks, we are part of the story. One of the things this week is about is becoming aware of how this ancient story lives on in our time and place. How are we betraying Jesus, failing to love, forgive, stay awake, and speak up in the face of injustice? Are we willing to stay with Jesus, even though this may cost us more than we ever imagined? Gethsemane The grass never sleeps. Or the roses. Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning. Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept. The cricket has such splendid fringe on its feet, and it sings, have you noticed, with its whole body, and heaven knows if it ever sleeps. Jesus said, wait with me. And maybe the stars did, maybe the wind wound itself into a silver tree, and didn't move, maybe the lake far away, where once he walked as on a blue pavement, lay still and waited, wild awake. Oh the dear bodies, slumped and eye-shut, that could not keep that vigil, how they must have wept, so utterly human, knowing this too must be part of the story.
Mary Oliver (from Thirst)
See you soon at Turk & Lyon.
Peace,
Will
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church
415-987-3029
turkandlyon@gmail.com
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