Sermon: June 04, 2023
Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
The emotions the disciples experienced; the confusion, the doubt, and the questions are no different than what we experience as we actively embrace the relationship of the Trinity and are given the same commission of taking God’s love to all people. For the disciples, the world was a scary and dangerous place with paganistic beliefs that opposed God’s love. Sadly, there are still things in this world that oppose God’s love.
For example, the month of June is known as Pride Month. It is a month dedicated to the celebration of the LGBTQ community and acknowledges the abuse and discrimination suffered by our siblings in Christ. It’s been a long and difficult fight for recognition and equality, which continues today. In 1969, which for many of us wasn’t too long ago, in many states, it was illegal to serve alcohol to someone who was gay or for gay people to show affection or even to dance together. Unfortunately, as it was then, today, some people have weaponized the bible and their religious denominations in support of states that are now passing laws once again targeting the LGBTQ community. It is to social issues like this we are to carry God’s love and speak out against those that demean and belittle our siblings in Christ. It’s part of the commission we are given and part of the promise we make to God.
Last week, on Pentecost, we renewed our Baptismal Covenant with God. With God’s help, we promised to seek and serve Christ in all people, to love one another, and to treat all people with respect and dignity, no matter what. By taking God’s love to the world, we fulfill the great commission and actively participate in the flow of love of the Trinity.
Taking God’s love into the world can be challenging because some people are so certain in their beliefs that they are closed off to any other possibility. Yet this is the world we are to go to and demonstrate God’s love, grace, and mercy even when someone may not want to hear. Jesus realizes the difficulty of his ministry, so he promises to always be with us.
The Great Commission isn’t anything Jesus wasn’t willing to do himself. Jesus actively confronted prejudices that infected society; he gave the example of the good Samaritan, he healed Romans and gentiles, he demonstrated love to all who were oppressed and marginalized, even to the point of challenging those in authority. As Jesus’ disciples, we are to follow his example of sharing God’s love by confronting the hatred and prejudices that infect our society.
We counteract the infection by faithfully living out our baptismal covenant through our words and actions of seeking and serving Christ in all people and loving our neighbors as ourselves. And also by striving for justice and peace among all people and respecting the dignity of every human being.
By carrying out Jesus’ commission with a loving and forgiving heart, we will, with God’s help, begin to break down barriers and divisions and build bridges of understanding and compassion in our communities seeking justice and equality for all humanity, inviting all people to experience and share in the healing love of God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
