God's Home With Us

The World now tells us it is not enough that we succeed the other side must also fail.

In today’s Gospel lesson we find Jesus the night before he died, teaching his disciples. That night he gave them one final masters level teaching that would encourage them to carry on their sacred mission long after his death, resurrection, and ascension. In the midst of this discourse, Jesus’ followers asked some of the most powerful questions that we in the Church still rely upon in moments of doubt, denial, and death. Thomas’ curiosity about the path to the Father led to Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Philip’s desire to see the Father led Jesus to promise the gift of the Holy Spirit. And, Judas (not Iscariot)’s question—well, what did it give us? Remember this in not the Judas who handed over Jesus to be put to death, but a guy with the same name. It might be nice to know what this Judas asked in the first place, but the folks who crafted our Reading Cycle failed to give it to us.

So if we go back to right before today’s Gospel lesson, Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” On the surface this question seems innocuous enough—we might think there’s nothing outlandish in it. And yet, in this question Judas (not Iscariot) revealed a subtle sort of sinfulness that laid within him (and us), and it was there in this question about how Jesus revealed himself to this group of disciples and not the world. This is the sort of query that falls into a category I call “the humble brag.” Do you know what I mean by this term?

Let me give you a few examples of humble brags. It is like someone posting a poll to social media wondering, “Which of my Rolexes should I wear today?” or telling one’s friends how enlightened one is because “I meditated today!” or even publicly patting oneself on the back after completing some charitable act. Back in the Gospel according to John, Judas (not Iscariot) asked his question essentially wondering, “Why are we so awesome that you came to us? Why did you choose us over them?” So before we even get to Jesus’ response, we are off to a disheartening start.


Maybe this is why Jesus didn’t answer the question being asked. Perhaps this is why the formers of the Lectionary decided to omit Judas’ inquiry altogether—making the start of today’s lesson sort of clunky. Even with these shortcomings stated, if there is ever a time we need to dig into the secret arrogance and either/or combativeness hidden within this Judas’ question, it is right now.
We need to hear the egotism of this question because we live in a world of artificial distinctions, my group vs. your group, a world that is black or white, gay or straight, male or female, Pro-life or Pro-choice, Republican or Democrat, “Who’s in?” and “Who’s out?”

Judas (not Iscariot) beat us to the proverbial punch 2,000 years ago, but make no mistake, we all too often ask the same type questions of Jesus. Maybe we don’t say them out loud, but we think, “Jesus, how is it that you revealed yourself to us Episcopalians, but not the Baptists?” “Jesus, how is it that you revealed yourself to us on this side of the abortion issue, but not the ones on the other side?” “Jesus, how is it that you gave us the summer off from Church to go to the lake, the beach, or the baseball field, but you didn’t do the same for the Presbyterians across the street?” More simply put, “Jesus, aren’t we just so awesome that we’re your favorites?” The trouble is not only that we live in a defensive, divided, and discordant world—it’s that we are so well convinced that our side is on the right side of whatever divide is the topic of debate for the talking heads today. We would rather be right than be kind 11 times out of 10, or perhaps it is worse than that. Let me give you an illustration to help make my point.

Back in 1997 Leo Cullum, New Yorker cartoonist, depicted two dogs in suits sitting at a bar with a martini and a beer in front of them. The caption beneath read: “It’s not enough that we succeed. Cats must also fail.” This is what it’s come to—not just our success, but someone else’s failure at the same time. We’ve raised the question from “Jesus, why’d you choose us instead of the world?” to “Jesus, we know we’re awesome, but tell us how terrible those miserable sinners are!” It’s not even really a question anymore is it? And, as I imagine the next 526 days until the 2020 Election I cannot see a path to healing that emerges from the echo chambers of social media or the silos of cable news stations. So what do we do? How do we go on as people and politicians argue issues of climate change, health care, reproductive justice, immigration, basic human rights, and which lives matter? How do we keep going when in our own homes we feel divided struggling with transition, mental health, divorce, a suddenly empty nest, losing a job, or a legion of other challenges? Well, what did Jesus say when Judas (not Iscariot) asked his question?

In not so many words Jesus responded, “My Father and I will come not just to a few but to all who love me and keep my word. And not only this, we will not just come to them, but we will make our home with them.” What a beautiful phrase! God will make a home with those who keep God’s word. But, what do we mean by keeping God’s Word? Good question, I’m glad you asked. Let’s talk about God’s Word in two ways:

First, back in the opening of John’s Gospel account, we heard about the Word. “Through [the Word] all things were made. Not one thing came into being without the Word.” Everything exists because of God’s Word. And, I don’t think that’s something that happened in the past. At this very second, everything is being created! We are being made. We are being formed in God’s image. God continuously participates in the expansive moment of Creation. Every second of every day of every life in this universe is crafted by God. And the way that transpires is through the Word, the Christ. So, first we are made through, even out of God’s Word—sounds like it’s natural for us to have God make a home with us.

And, second, there’s another aspect of keeping God’s word. In this final teaching, this last pep talk that Jesus gave to his disciples he was building to an ultimate point. His new commandment for his followers. This Word was simply put by Jesus: Love one another. Love each other, like I loved you. Love each other by emptying yourselves into one another. Love each other like I loved Creation into being. Love each other to the point of foot washing, to the extent of being betrayed, and even as far as laying down your life for one another.

So, as we face all this divisiveness around us it’s helpful to remember that the person whom opposes you, that pig-headed one that doesn’t agree with your opinion… Well, that arrogant jerk is made in God’s image too. That selfish piece of... work is a child of God. And, as soon as we think we have it figured out about who’s on our team and how God’s definitely on our side, that’s the moment when God usually has some way of surprising us to say, “Guess what?! I’m making my home with that group as well because I make my home where people love each other, as I loved you.”

[Sigh] Ugh. This can feel so infuriating, right? Wouldn’t it be easier if Jesus just told us we were right and we didn’t have to change? But, he doesn’t! I think that’s why Jesus responded to Judas (not Iscariot) the way he did. Right when this Judas thought he had it figured out—right when he had to be thinking, “I’m doing so much better than that other Judas”—Jesus told him, I’m bringing peace in a way you do not expect that is not possible through the world’s means and I’m asking you to believe in me even when you can’t see the path forward. And, that is the gift that Christ offers to us as well: not assurance that it will all work out like we want it to work out, nor that our team will win it all, nor even that the downtrodden underdogs will pull the upset in this lifetime… BUT, rather when we love others as Jesus loved us, then God’s home will be with us no matter what happens.

God wants to make God’s home with us. Jesus tells us all it takes is us keeping his word to love one another. And, while that may not be the response from Jesus we want, it is the answer that brings us home to God.