January 18, 2009 at Saint Mark in Norman, OK
1 Samuel 3:3-10 + Psalm 40 + 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20 + John 1:35-42
The most fundamental question in life opens the Gospel of John: “What are you looking for?” “Security.” some would say, and that’s not a wrong aim, it’s just a low aim. Anyone with a few years on them knows only too well how fragile that can be. “A career” others might say. Power, Prominence, Respect, an opportunity to do work they believe they are capable of doing. Again, not a bad aim, and it might even be high aim if it is motivated by a real desire to be of service rather than simply by personal ambition. “Peace” some might say; peace with themselves, peace with God, peace with others. Those however who are to become disciples of Jesus are not looking for any of those things. They want to know where he is “staying.”
Now they are not asking for his address. They want to know his home. This is not that silly question we often use to start up a conversation with strangers: “Where’re you from?” To begin with, they knew perfectly well where he is from. Word was out about him. It’s a small place. They all know where everyone is from, and in those days one’s speech always revealed where someone was from. Those who would become disciples of Jesus want to know something more than a passing casual conversation is going to reveal.
They want to know where he stays. They want to know what this place is that makes him so grounded, wise, and steady. They want to know what he knows which is why they call him “rabbi.” They want to know where he gets all of this, and he says to anyone willing to ask: “Come and See”. What he shows them in John’s Gospel is a wedding feast in Cana with water and wine, a Healing at Bethesda’s pool, a Feeding of Multitudes with broken bread that gives life, a Shepherd like no other that seeks the lost and becomes himself gate, a guest who calls a dead friend back to life, and finally they see an empty tomb.
What he shows those will come to see these things is the difference between a miracle and a sign. Anyone can see a miracle. Late this past week, we all heard the news reports of a “Miracle on the Hudson” as a plane load of people stepped off a sinking plane into waiting boats. Disciples of Jesus see more than miracles. They see signs and, in those signs, they see where Jesus stays. They see the coming of the Kingdom and the Reign of God. They see in Cana the power of Christ’s presence and what happens when we do what he asks as Mary instructs on that occasion. They see at a pool of water what can happen when one is lifted into it.
They see a bread that leaves no one hungry when broken and shared:
but more than that miracle, they see a sign of Heaven’s feast in the Eucharist.
They see that Shepherd who seeks, who finds, who calls, and knows each one by name.
They in Lazarus more than a miracle.
They see a sign of the power of this man’s command.
They see more than a stone rolled away. They see a promise kept for a faithful servant.
What are we looking for in this church?
What are we looking for day in and day out in our homes, marriages, and friendships?
What do we want to see? or Who do we want to see?
As you let this Gospel settle into your hearts and minds,
do not miss two little but important details in its telling.
Jesus turns to them.
He is the one who takes the initiative.
He meets them half way.
He is looking for them as well.
And then, don’t miss that small detail reporting that it was 4:00 in the afternoon.
It’s late, late in the day, getting toward the end. Another day will soon begin.
Maybe it’s time for us to begin to wonder what God is looking for.
That you are here in this place at this hour must raise not just the question of what you are looking for, but what God is looking for in us.
I do not think God is looking for miracles nearly as much
as God might be looking for signs:
signs of our faith, of our hope, of our love.
Or perhaps, just any sign at all that we are listening and ready to come and see.