In the name of our Risen and Ascended Lord – Jesus Christ.
There’s a book I read earlier this year called How God Became King which was a good read about the message and context of the Gospel. That title though is what is of interest this evening – how God became King. Yes, God has always been King, but we didn’t always know that and recognize it. At the Ascension, we have a glimpse into the fullness of just how exactly it is that God in Christ became king.
This morning, we come to the conclusion of the sermon series on Revelation in the season of Easter. Yes, Easter does have one more Sunday in it, but I’m not going to be here next Sunday. You all know that it’s been a long two years. Public school teachers and hospital physicians and nurses have borne the brunt of this pandemic, but it hasn’t been a walk in the park for clergy and church program staff either. Due to the uncertainty caused by the Omicron surge back in January, I decided, again, to delay taking a sabbatical for another year. But I know that I need some rest. I had planned to go to a monastery for some quiet time; apparently, a lot of people had that same idea because it was all booked up. So I’ll be taking the train up to Washington on Saturday to spend a day in prayer at the Cathedral, to visit the African American Museum, to visit friends, and to worship next Sunday at the first church I served. I mention all of this because some of you have told me that you hope that I’m taking care of myself and getting some rest. Truly, I appreciate your care and concern for me. So all this is to say, I am looking forward to some rest and today’s sermon will wrap up the series on Revelation.
In the name of the One who is Alpha and
Omega, our Way, our Truth, and our Life: Jesus Christ. Amen.
Here’s a riddle: a father and his son are in a horrible car accident and the father died at the scene. The son is rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The surgeon enters the operating room, sees the patient on the table and says “I can’t operate – that boy is my son.” How is this possible? According to rigorous research at Boston University, only about 15 percent of people figure it out the first time they hear this riddle. The answer is quite obvious and simple: the surgeon is the boy’s mother. Also, nearly identical results are found when the scenario is changed to a mother and daughter being in the accident and a nurse saying “That girl is my daughter” with the nurse being the father. And, of course, children of same-sex couples would likewise be overlooked as possible answers to the riddle. This riddle is often used in racial equity workshops to demonstrate how bias clouds our judgment and makes us miss the obvious. When it comes to considering the topic presented to us in today’s text from Revelation we are similarly confused.
The Good Shepherd is a beloved image for many Christians. Some of the earliest depictions of Jesus found in shrines and catacombs are as a shepherd. For Jews, the shepherd was a regal figure who followed in the line of Rachel, Moses, and David. Here at St. Luke’s the Good Shepherd stained glass window in the Baptistry has welcomed generations into this sacred space, beckoning them into the green pastures of God’s gracious love. Personally, this image of Jesus is one I cherish. At home, I have a prayer desk where I pray Morning and Evening Prayer each day and on the shelf, I have an icon of the Good Shepherd. It’s no accident that Psalm 23 is one of the most treasured and memorized passages of Scripture – it assures us of God’s comforting presence with us in all times and places.
The top two grossing movies so far this year are “The Batman” and “Spider-Man.” We love the idea of the superhero. Whether it’s James Bond, Xena Warrior Princess, or Luke Skywalker, the idea resonates with us – that we are helpless and we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves, and so we need someone who is better equipped, or divinely appointed, or uniquely gifted to help us. As we continue this sermon series in Easter on Revelation, we are introduced today to the superhero of Scripture: the Lamb.
