(Joshua 24:1-2a & 14-25, Ps. 34:15-22; Ephesians 5:21-33, John 6:60-69)

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

note: Ken carried the Gospel book out to the middle of the main aisle, read the Gospel, and then left the Gospel book on a stand in the middle of the aisle.

For those of you who have worshiped at other liturgical churches ... churches with lots of symbolism ... you have seen a gospel procession before. Usually it involves acolytes, Deacons, candles, sometimes incense.

The symbolism of the gospel procession is fairly strong. It is meant to indicate the gospel .. the good news being brought into the midst of the people.

There are a two primary reasons I don't use a gospel procession often. First, our Prayer Book actually discourages it. The Prayer Book emphasizes that nothing should occur between the reading of the Gospel and the sermon. The intention is to keep the preacher focused on the scripture. If the congregation still has the gospel ringing in their ears when the sermon starts it is much more difficult to go off in a different direction!

So those churches who sing the last couple verses of a hymn after the Gospel reading and before the sermon are actually violating the Prayer Book ... both letter and spirit. (Please do not tell my colleagues I said that !!) In fact, and musicians HATE this concept ... those hymn verses are simply traveling music to allow the clergy to get back up front!

But without the music the situation is even worse ... in my opinion. Then the congregation just stands there watching the priest or deacon walk back to the front. It is a little like being at a play which is interrupted so the stage hands can change the set. Seldom does that work well. Seldom does that NOT interfere with the flow of the play ... or worship service.

But the mechanical issues aside there is a strong symbolic issue that bothers me. Yes, the Gospel procession brings the scripture into the midst of the people ... but it then promptly takes it away! The Gospel book is carried away. Its as if the congregation is allowed a glimpse of the Good News -- but nothing more.

I know! Probably no one else has even noticed that symbolism! But it bothers me. That's why today I left the Gospel book in the midst of the congregation ... to symbolize its availability to all.

And I argue, that is exactly what Jesus' life, and especially this season of the Epiphany is all about.

This logic will take a moment to build, and you may end up disagreeing -- which is fine! I just think it is important for us to reflect on the "why" and the "what". "What" did it all mean and "why" was it done?

Let's begin with the central question: Did Jesus' life, death, and resurrection change things in a fundamental way? If so, in what way?

Avoid the knee jerk answer to that question and consider what is being asked ... is there a fundamental difference between God's relationship with people who lived before Jesus, and those who live now?

I believe the answer is a good rabbinic: "yes and no". Yes, there is a fundamental difference but it is both less and more than we might think. .... Yeah, I know, that's as clear as mud! Let's see if I can make it worse.

I firmly believe that people who lived before Jesus had the opportunity to have a complete relationship with God. It was possible. 2,000 years ago God did not wake up from a nap and notice He had been avoiding the people! God was active, involved and loving then as well as now.

BUT, Jesus made that opportunity easier to take advantage of. ... Before someone storms out thinking I said Jesus is not important, give me a moment to finish the thought.

Jesus took the good news of God's love for all the world and processed it ... carried it into the midst of the people. Today we heard Peter teach that God shows no partiality ... God loves all the people of the world.

Without Jesus we do not have the complete message. We have a partial message ... but not the complete message.

God had attempted to teach the message before Jesus and in doing so introduced Jesus' ministry. I think this may be my favorite introduction from Isaiah. "Here is my chosen, my beloved, in whom I am delighted" ... In Luke we heard: "You are my Son, my beloved in whom I am well pleased". .... The linkage is clear.

When Isaiah continues to explain or introduce we hear about bringing justice into the world. We hear about helping those with problems.

Most importantly we hear about being sent as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.

A covenant is like a contract but different in that a covenant is enforced by mutual agreement rather than legal courts. A covenant is a promise - but a promise which will not be broken. The best name for the two parts of scripture is "the old and new covenant" ... the old and new promises ... understandings between God and people.

With Jesus things did change. No question.

The key point is that this change is about our individual relationship with God ... AND our relationship with other people. Isaiah was speaking, not just to or about Jesus, but to and about the people of Israel. To and about the people of God ... to and about us.

The good news Jesus brings into the midst of the people is that our relationship with God has changed .... AND ... we are to take that change into the rest of the world. Our relationship with other people also has, and must change.

The former things have come to pass, and new things God now declares. God tells you about these things before they happen.

The old covenant has not been thrown out but fulfilled, and in some ways expanded by the new covenant as expressed in Jesus Christ. PART of that new covenant, I believe, is an expanded role for human beings ... for us. We are to take the new relationship ... the new covenant into the world. We are to carry it as we carry any part of ourselves.

If we go into the world as musician ... or a carpenter ... or a plumber ... or a teacher ... or a nurse ... or a mother ... or any combination thereof, we bring all that into the world and it affects who we are and how we behave.

Jesus tells us to bring into the world the knowledge that we are in relationship ... in a covenant with God ... and therefore should act in a new way.

.... If no one notices we have changed ... have we actually changed? And if we have not changed, how can we claim to have grown as God's children? If we have not changed, it seems to me, we are either claiming we have already achieved perfection or decided it is not worth the effort. ..... Neither choice agrees with either the old covenant or the new covenant.

God says we hear about these new things before they actually occur. So we are not being told we must have achieved them already. BUT, we should ask if we are moving in that direction. We need not be disappointed when we do not achieve perfection, but we should wonder about our progress.

And I do believe this is about both us as individuals, and us as a community ... a society ... a nation in the scriptural language. Have we has individuals and as a nation been living up to the new covenant as expressed in the old covenant book of Isaiah? .... Have we changed ourselves and the world in ways that will be noticeable? And obviously I mean "noticeable" in the sense that Isaiah speaks - justice for all, care for those in need, concern for those in trouble.

Here's another bit of tricky logic so hear me out .... I believe that God is a wonderful, loving, gracious God. More importantly, I believe God is the most important part of our lives. We tend to downplay and even ignore God most of the time .... be honest now ! .... But God still is what people seek, even if they are not aware of it.

Most people recognize there is something incomplete in their lives ... something missing even if they are not sure what exactly is missing. It is God.

There is an old story, like a parable, that after creation the angels came to God and said: "You created these human beings with free will. They will desert you!" ... God smiled and said: "Yes, but I also created them incomplete. They will return because only I can complete them."

I believe that. ... So, if we as individuals or as a group have changed in ways that are noticeable, have been living more closely into the new covenant, then other people will notice and be attracted to us. They will notice our relationship with God and want what we have .... and more. People are seeking to notice.

If on the other hand people do not notice a difference and are not attracted to us, that raises a serious question about us ... not them, but us.

The question could be stated: "are we a covenant to the people? A light to the nations? Are we carrying the good news into the midst of the people?"

AMEN