9th Sunday of Pentecost

George shares about his experience on the Mexico Love Journey of 2023 at St. John's

Hear how Hope Built Up from others...

Sermon for today

Jesus said: “Have you understood all this?”
They answered, “Yes.”

This is hilarious.
Really? They really understood all that? Because I sure didn’t!
Once again: We find Jesus saying some pretty weird stuff.
Some stuff that initially makes no sense to us.
And I doubt that it made much sense to the disciples either.
But who would want to look like a moron in front of Jesus?

And yet: We all sometimes do.
Like the disciples: We often don’t get it—but we pretend like we do.
We often miss the point.
We rarely fully understand what Jesus is trying to say—and what Jesus is trying to
do.

Our own understanding of the Kingdom of heaven sometimes gets in the way.
We look for—hope for—amazing fantastical things.
We expect Incredible—mind blowing results.
And sometimes: these expectations cause us to miss the small glimpses of the
Kingdom right in front of our eyes.

While amazing, fantastical, incredible things are indeed good--

And indeed a part of God’s work--
We must not lose sight of the small humble realities that are also a part of the
Kingdom of God.
Those things which begin quite small.
Like Jesus—The Son of God--
Born in a humble stable.
The Savior of the world--
Born quite poor.

Jesus reminds us of these small, humble beginnings of the Kingdom--
Which may take many years to grow.

Some of you have heard be talk about a monastic community in France called
Taize.
I’ve been there a number of times,
And it’s a place where the humble vision f the Kingdom of God is deeply present.

The founder of the community: Brother Roger--
Understood this vision of the Kingdom--
As he gave his life in small ways—which grew to unbelievable results--
But he did not expect these results--
And he did not see many of them before his death.

Taize began quite small.

In a tiny village in France—Brother Roger at age 25 set out to form a community
of Brothers:
Who would live together in a life of prayer.

In the wake of World War II—He provided a place of safety--
For wandering travelers, for seekers, for those who may catch a small glimpse of
God’s love.

Seven Brothers made their first life commitment to the Taize Community.
Quite humble, small beginnings.

Now: there are over 100 brothers in the monastic community:
And these brothers welcome hundreads (to sometimes THOUSANDS) of young
people (from all across the world) to their monastery every week.
The monastery has become a pilgrimage sight for young people:
To enter into the brothers prayerful and rhythmic life.

What began with seven young men on Easter Sunday in 1949--
grew into unimaginable numbers today.

But it is not just about the numbers--
Brother Roger understood that a small seed—a pinch of yeast—is all that you
need.
And the story of Taize became proof that small beginnings can produce
tremendous possibilities--
That a small lump of yeast can influence the whole dough.

And yet: Brother Roger did not need immediate results.
He did not lose heart when his hopes or visions were not quickly fulfilled.
Or when the realities of the Kingdom of God appeared quite different than those
he imagined.
In fact: Brother Roger did not originally intend for Taize to be a place of pilgrimage
for young people.
He never intended to welcome thousands from across the world every week.

But when his small pinch of yeast mixed with the dough to create such a reality--
He let go of his own original expectations.

Brother Roger often said: Let us keep moving forward--
Trusting that God will bear fruits of the Kingdom.
And God does.
And It’s stunning to me--
That thousands of young people from all across the globe--
Would travel to a monastery.

Thousands—Every week. Praying.
And this success is due to a humble beginning.
Brother Roger—and the brothers to this day--
Let go of their own expectations.
And place their confidence in God.

They do not claim to have all the answers.
They do not claim to be the only way.
They do not claim to have understood everything.

Instead—they welcome everyone. Of Every kind.
Americans, South Africans, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Argentinians, Germans.
They welcome Christians, Agnostics, Seekers, and Questioners.

Because they truly believe: As Paul says in his letter to the Romans--
That Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
And that’s not just about you and me.
But everyone.
Nothing.
Nothing can separate ANYONE from the love of God.

“For I am convinced” Says Paul:
“That neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, or anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
No matter who we are.
No matter where we’ve been.
Nothing.

Brother Roger lived this Kingdom reality.
He knew that his life was not merely about himself.
That his community was not about his own expectations.
But about the most simple, humble reality--
Simply sharing God’s love with others.

And he has taught us that a small humble beginning is enough.
A tiny seed is enough.
A pinch of yeast is enough.

And with patience, and Joy--
We can let go of our own expectations.
Let go of our own understanding of what the Kingdom of God would or should
look like.
Let go of our own understanding of what our Church should look like.
And trust with Confidence in God’s love--
God’s love which no one—can ever be separated from.

Amen.