Sermon Preached By Rev. Patti M. Smith - 6/4/2000

Psalm I; Acts 1:15-17; 21-26

It had been about seven weeks since Jesus was raised from the dead. The eleven apostles, with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, his brothers, and often the small band of followers, met together regularly to remember, perhaps to plan, but especially to pray. The eleven, as well as other believers, must have spoken often about the things Jesus had said and done during the years they had spent with him.

They had witnessed Jesus healing the sick. They had heard and seen how he accepted the unacceptable. They had been puzzled by some of his actions. Actions such as: allowing time for children, being aware of a touch in a crowd, restoring sick and broken people to wholeness, giving the societal rejects another chance, offering forgiveness, and giving instructions to go and sin no more. They must also have remembered with some shame how they often got in the way of Jesus' plan, and yet he corrected their mistakes with firm, yet gentle words of love. He was always teaching, by word and example, what it meant to belong to God. Perhaps they recalled the power Jesus held over the winds and the waves when they were terrified of drowning in the sea.

There had been such a whirlwind of events over these last few weeks. First the astonishing news of Jesus' resurrection. Then his appearance on the road to Emmais and again when Thomas was present. As the apostles met with him on the Mount of Olives, he said to them, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power and will witness to me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Then he was taken up to heaven as they watched, and a cloud hid him from their sight. This event took place just days before we meet the apostles in today's scripture reading from the Book of Acts.

When they traveled about the region with Jesus, they were twelve in number. Now, since the betrayal of Judas, they were eleven. They needed to choose a replacement, but who would be chosen? What criteria would they follow? It must be someone who had been with Jesus from the beginning. Someone who was loyal to Jesus, who believed him to the promised messiah. Who understood that the kingdom of which he spoke was not of this world. Someone who had understanding of the message Jesus lived and preached. Two candidates were presented and the lot fell to Matthias.

It is now many years later, but the question remains new. Who will be chosen as witness to Jesus' message of love and acceptance to all the peoples of the earth? Who will now be filled with the Holy Spirit? Who will bind the wounds and work for a just society for all people. What are the marks of a disciple of Jesus? What is it God wants us to be and do and say?

This week I received help in answering this question from two somewhat surprising and unlikely sources. About mid-week, I was talking with James Young, St. Matthew's long-time custodian. I have high respect for James' wisdom and often speak with him about things I am doing, especially when I am preparing something that is not in my regular routine—like preaching. He said to me, "God doesn't want people who pray loud or call attention to their own greatness, but people who have God's love in their heart."

The next day, as I was driving on I-97 from home to church, I heard on public radio an interview with a man who teaches courses on manners at the university level. This in itself was a big surprise! What he said sounded like it could have come from Jesus himself. It went something like this: The effect of good manners, especially kindness, has a double benefit. First, when you perform an act of kindness it gives joy and pleasure to the recipient in real time. Second, it gives a message that you are a kind person. One who can be trusted to behave with kindness in the future. If you give up your seat on an airplane so a couple can sit together, it is not only a gesture of kindness but instills trust that you will be a helpful and compassionate person again even in the case of an emergency.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be kind, compassionate, loving people all the time. God, through prevenient grace, that unconditional love with is ours even before we are aware of it, is continually claiming us as God's own and calling us into relationship through Jesus Christ. When we fall short of our call, God continually offers forgiveness and brings us back into right relationship. God's Spirit lives inside us continually sustaining us in God's love. This is the free gift offered to us without price.

Who will be chosen? You are God's own. You are chosen. This is the day to reclaim God's gift.