15th Sunday after Pentecost

In the early chapters of Genesis, God says to Abraham: “I will bless you, so that
you may be a blessing to others.

The first way that this blessing is known:
For most of us, in our human experience,
is in the embrace shared by a parent and child.
Can anything fill one’s heart more completely than an earnest exchange of hugs
with those just learning to offer them?

Little children are so intent in their first expressions of physical affection,
To be the recipient of such a hug just opens your heart.
Unconditionally.

But who is giving this blessing?
And Who is receiving the blessing in this exchange?

Perhaps it doesn’t really matter.

Because Real Love received is love that is shared.
And it’s as simple and profound as that.

As we grow and discover love in all its intimacy,

What a miraculous experience it can be!

As the heartbeat quickens,
The imagination anticipates even a passing encounter with the beloved:
The sound of their voice,
A smile crossing their face,
As they recognize your presence, or a casual touch.

For this:
Our hearts were made.
For this:
Our Love received is love that is shared.

Love received:
Is love to be shared.

The writer of the epistle of James builds on this.
And so does Jesus himself in today’s gospel.

The point that both James and Jesus are trying to make:
Is that:
Religious practices can get as complicated as interpersonal relationships.

Over time, we can become more concerned about “performing” the practices:

Going “through the motions”
And we may find ourselves further and further from the original fervor:
The original passion:
The longing we have for our beloveds.
When love received, is love shared.

When the Pharisees ask Jesus: “Why do you let your disciples eat without washing
their hands as the law requires?”

Jesus basically replies:
WHO CARES?
You are hypocrites if you only worry about clean hands, when you don’t even
have clean hearts!
When your hearts aren’t in it!
When your heart isn’t yearning to be delighted by God’s beloved embrace!
When your heart isn’t craving to give and receive love from others.

It’s what’s inside:
In the human heart: that matters.
It’s what comes from inside:
From the center of our hearts:
That will transform and quicken the heartbeat of our lives,
And the lives of those we encounter.

It’s what’s in our hearts:

That mirrors the call to the beloved:
That mirrors Gods love for each of us:
As the desperately beloved of God.

And the rest of it doesn’t matter all that much:
Unless it also nourishes that love dwelling in our hearts:
Unless it also kindles that fire of passion and longing:
Turning it into love shared.

Many many years ago,
When I was recently ordained:
I used to do a church service,
Once a month,
In a nursing home in DeSmet South Dakota.
You might know DeSmet South Dakota, from the Little House on the prairie
books!

Once a month,
We would worship in the nursing homes little chapel.

There were usually 3 people there. Five on a big day.
(Like… when my dad came to visit me and I brought him to work with me!)

And sometimes, in this little chapel:
I would remember to light the candles on the altar.

But more often than not, I would forget.

But I ALWAYS wore a stole.

And on one particular Sunday:
I was half way through the Eucharistic prayer:
At that part where Jesus says, “do this in remembrance of me”
And I realized:
I didn’t even have on a stole.
I didn’t even bring one.
I totally forgot.

At first, I was stressed out about it.
But then:
I realized:
It absolutely didn’t matter.
Not one bit.

Because what mattered:
Was what was in our hearts:
To be gathered together,
To worship the living God.

It didn’t matter if the candles were lit,

Or the priest was wearing the appropriate vestments,
Or the people responded with the right words
Or that we went through the motions.
Or that the disciples washed their hands.

What mattered was our LONGING.
Our desire:
But our longing:
The murmur in the center of our very being:
To be united to the God who calls us beloved.
To be united to each other:
Who we see as beloved:
Where love received is love shared.

What really matters is to love the beloved even when they seem un-loveable.
That’s what God does.

What really matters is to remember and notice:
The stirring in the heart:
For God:
And for the human family:

Just as we felt when our child took her first breath:
Or the moment of a first kiss with a beloved.

Or laying eyes on God’s created beaty.

But here’s the thing:
We hear a lot about love.
About how God is love.
About how God loves us.
And all of that is true.

Because the Gospel:
The story of Jesus:
Is indeed a love story:
A love story that is not yet over.
A love story, waiting to be finished.

God’s story: Is a love story that each of us will play a part in finishing:
If we are to remember those early murmurings:
Those early longings for the beloved.
The heart quickening thought of a first love.

To not merely go through the motions:
But to keep the fervor:
Knowing that God ALWAYS does.
Always calls us beloved.

Amen.