May 25, 2003

Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 15:9-17

 “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”

You never close your eyes anymore
When I kiss your lips.
And there's no tenderness like before
In your fingertips.
You're trying hard not to show it,.
But baby, baby I know it...

You've lost that lovin' feeling
Whoa, that lovin' feeling
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Now it's gone...gone...gone...wooooooh.

    We really get to the heart and soul of the song when we get to this line:

Baby, baby, I get down on my knees for you.
If you would only love me
Like you used to do, yeah.
We had a love...a love...
A love you don't find everyday.
So don't...don't...don't...don't let it slip away.

     Jesus was righteous…he could have been one of the Righteous Brothers!  I at least think he would have known where they were headed with this song.  It’s a song about love slipping away and someone wanting desperately to get it back.  This was his greatest concern for his disciples as time was running short in the days just before the end of his earthly life.  He would give them the support of his Holy Spirit, but still, things wouldn’t be the same as they had been.  He wouldn’t be there in the flesh to walk with them, to explain things to them, to show them the way.  In the short time he had left, he had to tell them just what they needed to know to carry on the work he had begun.  So, he commanded them to love.  He implored them to not let it slip away.  “Abide in my love“, he said, “Live in my love.  Let it be for you a way of life.  Then you will have joy that is complete.  Then, you will bear the good fruit in your life that God wants.” 

     And so that there wouldn’t be any confusion about this, he told them exactly what he meant when he spoke of love: “No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  This wasn’t just about lovin’ feelings, it was about loving actions, even the ultimate act of love, the giving of one’s life for the sake of another.  Of course, he went on to prove he meant what he said, giving his life on a cross for them, for us.

     On Memorial Day we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their friends.  No matter what our political leanings might be or our feelings about the issue of war, we pause this weekend to appreciate those who followed their convictions to the point of giving their lives for what they believed in.  We are humbled by their sacrifice, the price they paid in the hope of making the world a better place.

     We still haven’t had the “war to end all wars” and it is tragic that lives are still lost to human conflict, but this is the imperfect world we have to deal with.  Even so, there are those in the midst of this human struggle who demonstrate the sincerity of their convictions and the depth of their love without regard for themselves.  On Memorial Day weekend we may think mostly of soldiers who made personal sacrifices, but we can see selfless giving elsewhere, too - like in the brother who donates a kidney, in a devoted public servant who goes the extra mile, in the needy parent who goes without so their children can eat, in the friend who sits by the bed of the one they love through endless hours of illness.  We see such sacrifice in those who freely give of personal resources for some good cause without counting the cost, who give their time, give up their personal agendas, throw their hearts and souls into bearing good fruit when they’d much rather be eating it instead.  We see it all the time in this imperfect world if we just look for it.  Today we do just that, hopefully, and celebrate it, too.

     I think it’s in personal sacrifice that we catch a glimpse of Christ in our world.  This is the love he commanded of his followers.  This is the love he implores us to hold fast to, to not let slip away.  This is the love he assures us will bring us joy that is complete.

     On Tuesday, I will officiate at the funeral of an old friend, Jean Blake.  I mentioned her name in prayer during worship last week because I knew she was near the end of her life and was anxious about dying.  Jean may have been anxious, but she had nothing to fear for she didn’t let the love of Christ slip away from her life.  Her entire life seemed to be a gift to others.  She never had much in terms of material things.  She was, in fact, that needy parent who often went without food so her children could eat.  And when her children were grown and went through heartaches and trials in their lives, she always kept the door open to them.  When I visited her during her struggle with cancer, the house was always overrun with kids - her grown kids, their babies, neighborhood kids.  At times we could hardly have a conversation because of all the commotion in her house.  She never complained about it.  Even as her energies were consumed with her personal illness, she kept the door open, the refrigerator filled and the coffee on.  I thank God for Jean Blake.  Through her unconditional love for others, she showed me Christ.  What a privilege it has been to be included in her life.

     Perhaps you feel you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling, the willingness to freely give yourself for someone else, even for the Lord.  Perhaps you‘ve been hurt, had your heart trampled and now, for whatever reason, have turned more inward than outward.  Christ’s love is still there for you and it is still unconditional.  The door is open to you.  The refrigerator is full and the coffee is on.  You can always come home to the Savior’s love.  He gave his life for you.  He offers forgiveness, inner peace and renewed strength for life’s struggles so that you may bear good fruit, so that your life can become a gift.