SETTING THE CONTEXT

We are still in the season of Easter so we continue to hear the stories of Jesus’ appearances after his resurrection. Some scholars call this the First Breakfast as opposed to the Last Supper. Some of the disciples went home to Galilee after the puzzling news of Mary that Jesus was alive and then the startling appearance of Jesus himself. I don’t know about you but when things get really crazy and confusing, I like to go back to something familiar, something I can hold on to while I think through the craziness. Peter went back to fishing something he had probably done his whole life. That night the disciples caught nothing and then a man appears on the beach and tells them to cast their nets once again. They took in a huge haul of fish and then they recognized him, Jesus!

Read John 21:9-17

There had been some problems in worship at the church in Corinth. Paul addressed them over several chapters in the letter we are about to read. One issue was the some of the congregants were placing an inordinate amount of emphasis and pride on showy displays of spirituality. Paul wanted to bring these disorderly and self-centered worship practices under control so that the church as a whole was built up.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

THE SERMON

In this third appearance after Jesus’ resurrection, he reminds the disciples that he is the source of life, the giver of abundant gifts and the provider of sustaining nourishment. When the disciples tried to fish alone they got nothing; when Jesus’ helped they got quite a haul. Then Jesus once again provides the Scriptural foundation for our many Methodist potlucks and our tendency to provide food at nearly every occasion, he invites the disciples to eat and meet “Come and have breakfast.” After breakfast, Jesus gives his final message of the Gospel. These abundant gifts that Christ gives, the sustaining nourishment he provides is not meant to be horded, but it is to be shared and used for God’s purposes.

Earlier in John’s Gospel, Peter boasted about his willingness to lay down his life for Jesus but when push came to shove during the Passion, Peter failed, he denied Jesus three times. It would be natural for Peter to expect rejection or condemnation from Jesus for his failure, but instead he got a commission and a new start. Isn’t that just like Jesus? Doesn’t that show us once again a compassionate God who helps us overcome our failures and gives second chances to become a new creation? This reminds me of one of my favorite sayings, (now some people may say it’s a cliché, but I like it so I’ll call it a saying) “God doesn’t ask us to be perfect, God asks us to be willing.” “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.” The message is clear to Peter and to all disciples of all time and places; we are to continue the work of Christ in the world. We are to continue to care for others as the Good Shepherd cared for and cares for us.

In order to fulfill Jesus’ command to serve, God gives us through the Holy Spirit gifts to use for God’s purposes. We call these spiritual gifts. The Greek word that Paul uses for these gifts is charismata. Charis means grace, so another translation could be grace gifts. We are given grace gifts. To use Dan Dick’s description from his book, Equipped for Every Good Work, grace gifts are “God-given empowerment to make a meaningful difference in the world through the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit.”ⁱ Paul uses this very specific word, charismata to emphasize that this empowerment, these abilities are gifts from our gracious God. These gifts are not meant to help us feel superior to others or to show off how much better we are than others, no, as Eugene Boring and Fred Craddock say, “The gifts of the Spirit are not for individualistic enjoyment or display, but for strengthening and equipping the church for its mission.”ⁱⁱ

The other day I ran into a former parishioner. He said,”Do you remember what you did for me on such and such a date at a certain hospital that was the best thing that ever happened to me, that changed my life?” The truth was it had been a long time and I couldn’t remember, so I weakly replied, “no”. He said, “That was the day you gave me a Stephen Minster. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t tell you how it changed my life. I’m thinking about moving, but I won’t go to a church that doesn’t have Stephen Ministry.” (Stephen Ministers are trained Christians who walk with a person through times of transition or difficulty. We have a very active Stephen Ministry here.) I felt really good that he had such a transforming experience, but it was the Stephen Minister who had grace gifts of compassion, servanthood, and healing. It was the Stephen Minister who developed those gifts through Stephen Ministry and offered them in the name of Christ. It was a compassionate Christian who made a significant difference in the life of this man. Grace gifts come in many forms, but they have the same Spirit.

I know another man with the grace gift of generosity. Every week he goes into his rose garden during the blooming season and he cuts a rose for every woman in the church. On Sundays, he stands at the back of the church with the pastor and gives every woman or girl a rose with a smile and a kind word as they leave church. He’s done this for years and years. One year while I was his pastor, I asked him to give a personal witness one Sunday about giving because he was also a tither which means he gave 1/10 of his income to the ministries of the church. One of our college students was home for the weekend and after the service she told me that his witness spoke to her deeply and challenged and helped her to become a more giving Christian. Grace gifts come in many forms, but they have the same Spirit.

I thought of two people in particular who have the grace gift of leadership. One is an elderly woman who is feisty and sassy even in her 90’s. The other is a man who is gentle, warm and funny. Even though they are very different in temperament and style, both of these people led their churches to greater service through their grace gift of leadership. Grace gifts are expressed in many ways, but they have the same Spirit.

We are each given different grace gifts through the Spirit so that together we can feed and tend those enfolded in Jesus’ saving love. You notice no one gets all the gifts. God created us to need one another. God created us to be community. And no one should boast because these are gifts given to us. As Paul said, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

I invite you to think about your grace gifts this week. Ask people close to you what grace gifts they see in you. Do you have the gift of speaking God’s wisdom? Do you have the gifts of generosity, compassion or leadership? The list in today’s reading is just a beginning of God’s abundant grace gifts. If you need more ideas, look up

1 Corinthians 12:28-13:3, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4:10-11, but don’t limit the Spirit. Remember that a grace gift, a spiritual gift is a “God-given empowerment to make a meaningful difference in the world through the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit.” Grace gifts aren’t just those gifts Paul listed in his letters; those lists were to illustrate the idea not to be the exclusive exhaustive list. I don’t think the Spirit would want to be limited. For example, I know a couple of people who have the grace gift of humor. They have certainly ministered to me through their gift and have built up the churches to which they belong.

As you share in the Eucharist, did you notice that the word charis appears in Eucharist as well? Eucharist means thanksgiving and isn’t gratitude a recognition of grace? Eucharist is the grace gift of communion with Jesus Christ; it is that very special gift given to all people, as you share that gift remember that Jesus continues to be the source of life, the giver of abundant gifts and the provider of sustaining nourishment so that we can feed and tend in his name. As the hymn we are about to sing says, “Many gifts, one Spirit, one love known in many ways.” Let us share our grace gifts so that one love is made known and known and known. Amen.

Sermon delived by Rev. Nancy Cushman on May 2, 2009.