St. Matthew’s
May 17, 2009
John 15:9-17
Rev. Kathleen Cullen

Someone who is a friend and the concept of friendship are not something that is new to us. It is so familiar that we may lose the real meaning and significance of “a friend”.

There are many definitions of a friend –

…the child who describes a friend as someone who know all about you and likes you anyway.

There is a thread of truth in that!

Then there is the story of the 2 friends who go hunting. Suddenly they are confronted by a grizzly bear. One of them starts to frantically put on his sneakers. And the other anxiously says, “Why are you putting on your sneakers? Don’t you know you can’t out run a grizzly bear?” His friend responds – “I don’t have to outrun a grizzly, I just have to out run you!” Definition of a friend?? – not so much!

Then there is the story of Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball's color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

Now we’re getting warmer.

In the Gospel last Sunday Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and the branches. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. This is a wonderful and powerful image. Without Jesus we can do nothing. As real and as true as this image is, it may come across as somewhat mechanical or impersonal.

In our Gospel reading this morning, Jesus references the image of the vine and the branches and takes the image to a new level when he tells us, “As the Father has loved me so I have loved you; abide in my love.”

Jesus tells us, “I no longer call you servants but I call you friends.”

The word “friend” in Greek is philos and is from the Greek verb phileo which means “to love”. John uses 2 Greek verbs for love interchangeably – phileo and agape which means God’s unconditional love.

Our English word “friend” falls short of conveying the foundational love that the Gospel speaks of.

Jesus is calling his disciples – those gathered around him and calling us today – “friends - you who are loved”.

The love of Jesus for all is of the same nature as the love between Jesus and His Father. We are caught up in the most deeply personal relationship. We are loved by God with the love that exists between the Persons of the Trinity. God’s love is all about relationship.

Our relationship with God in Jesus Christ is the greatest and most profound gift we have been given. That relationship begins in Baptism which we will witness today and in doing so reaffirm our own Baptismal vows.

Just as this child called to baptism today, we did not choose this relationship, we did not earn it. Jesus tells us, “You did not choose me but I chose YOU. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…”

The fruit that will last are those acts of love that will bear witness to the abiding presence and union with God. The fruit that will last is the love we show others in small acts of kindness and in work for justice, peace, and freedom from oppression

We are given the commandment to love one another. Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” That’s very hard to do. If we’re honest we have to acknowledge that there are people in this life that we will never warm up to. But Jesus doesn’t say LIKE one another, Jesus says LOVE one another.

When Jesus says, “This is my commandment….” He is not saying this is the #1 rule now go ahead and figure out how to do it. When Jesus gives a command he also gives within that command the power to do it. The friendship of God in Christ pours forth the Holy Spirit. God’s friendship is transforming and it is powerful. Our growing and going deeper in our relationship with God is a lifelong process.

Jesus stands with his arm around our shoulder – each one of us – stands with us in every challenge, every heartache, every joy, every season of our life – and he says –

My friend, walk with me, lean on me, open to the power of the Holy Spirit. Know that I love you. In my friendship you will find complete joy.

Amen