Sermon: Maranatha!

 

B, do you remember what was sitting on the lounge table during first communion instruction?
Little Jesus, along with the bread and cup…
and that summarizes everything I’m about to tell you
—Jesus shows up!

            Today when we read the very end of the Book of Revelation there is a refrain
—Come Lord Jesus
—the Early Church adopted a phrase in Jesus’ own language—Aramaic—to say this, “Maranatha!”

            And the good news is that Jesus does indeed show up,
he is present for us!

            That’s what sacraments are all about
—that’s what Baptism is all about,
that’s what the Eucharist—Holy Communion—is all about!
Jesus shows up!

Prayer

 

            What is a sacrament?

-Sacraments are a means of grace—that is, a place where God is fully present with us
—Jesus shows up!
Jesus responds to our “Maranatha!” with, “Here I am.”

-Sacraments are commanded by Christ,
“Do this in remembrance of me,”
“Go and Baptize!”

-Sacraments are a promise, attached to a physical thing
—Water, Bread & Wine…

The physicality of it all is so very important…
there are enough things in this world that threaten suffering and hate and fear
—it is an excellent thing that God offers us something equally concrete as a sign of his love!

Just look at all those things that happened to Paul and Silas
-capture and being roughed up,
-rods and earthquakes,
-self-harm and imprisonment (heck of a day for them)
thank God there are things just as physical that remind us of God’s love! Thank God for the Sacraments.

 

            S your Baptism is a sacrament!

            Jesus shows up in your “Maranatha!”
You are united with him in his Baptism!
You are part of his body, the whole church, in your Baptism!

            He gives you a promise!
S you are known and beloved,
S you belong and are sent out into the world to be his disciple,
witnessing, pointing, to this love into which you are enwrapped!

            In the water of baptism, you are washed in the Water of Life!
Like that jailer and his whole household who we read about,
you are surrounded by belief and baptized,
adopted into God’s family!

 

            B this Holy Communion is a sacrament!

            “Maranatha!” And here he is! Jesus shows up for you!

Jesus shows up in memory
—remember his last meal!
The one where he said “this is my body, this is my blood!”

Jesus shows up in anticipation
—that great heavenly banquet when all the saints meet face to face
and all is made right!

Jesus is present as the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End
—and also present with us today,
“Given for you!”
“Shed for you!”

            God is of course present everywhere,
but promises uniquely to be here in the meal
—Jesus’ body and blood for you!
B, for you!
And that assurance, here he is, in bread and wine,
opens our eyes and we see the world differently!
No longer a blasé “Sure God is everywhere.”
Instead “Wow!
God is EVERYWHERE!”

            This meal slakes the thirst of our soul and fills the hunger of our spirit
—a meal of mercy uniting us with Christ and to one another.
It is a meal that holds us fast and allows us to become what Jesus prayed,
“completely one, so that the world may know Christ and his love!”

 

            In bread and wine,
in baptismal water
—all accompanied by God’s promises,
Jesus enters into our “Maranatha!”
Today, S and B,
In Baptism and in First Communion,
Jesus shows up for you! Amen!