Do You Hear What I Hear?

 

Why do you come to church?

 

Wouldn't it often be easier to stay away? Here in the Lower Mainland many people do. If you stayed away from this gathering, if you refused to truly enter into this community, you would probably have fewer commitments, responsibilities for your life. There might even be less personal awareness of the needs of others – physically, emotionally and spiritually. I mean if we aren't reminded, we may soon forget. So why not, just stay in bed, have an extra leisurely cup of coffee, watch TV, get in an extra round of golf when there are fewer players on the course, catch that "special" game on TV?

 

I have been privileged to visit with many people, people both inside and outside of the institutional church. During those visits I have heard many different reasons why people rarely or never come to worship. Some say that the church's message is irrelevant. That all we Christians talk about is the future, with little awareness or application to the present. When that's true, I tend to agree with them. I would stay away from church too – if that's all the church is doing.

 

Others boldly state that all or at least the vast majority of people attending church are hypocritical. These people point out that Christians advocate one thing – perhaps loving one's enemies or generous giving –but then actually do the opposite – literally hate their enemies and hoard their stuff. I must admit: often this criticism is justified. We in the church are sinners. We need God's forgiveness. We need the power of God to become different. But I suspect – that so do the people who don't come to church.

 

Another reason that I hear for people not attending worship is that they are tired from the prior week's activities. They need time to rest on Sunday or Saturday or whenever it is that worship occurs. I know that people are tired. Many people work 50 or 60 hours a week or even more. Then they come home to family responsibilities. Many are not only tired – but absolutely exhausted, in need of a regular and complete Sabbath (rest). (Pause)

 

But you are here today. And I am glad that you are here! Yet, I want to ask you, "Why do you come to church?" Why did you get up and make your way to this place today? This is an important question.

 

Once again there are texts from the Bible that are read in our gathering. Do you hear them, now?

 

In John's Gospel, Jesus is reported to say this: "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me". (John 10:27) This is an incredible statement!  Here Jesus employs the image of sheep for those people who trust him. Such people, Jesus says, "hear my voice". Nor is his voice heard in some distant way, the way we might hear elevator music, or airport announcements that aren't for us. No! Instead, Jesus' voice is heard by all who trust him in a personal, meaning filled way. It's as if someone dear to us, reaches out to touch our arm or our hand, or embraces us when we are hurting or hugs us when we are overcome by joy. When such people speak our name, their voice grasps our attention and WE HEAR THEM! 

 

So Christ says to us, in the reading of the Gospel, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them." Wonder about this. Christ speaks to us in a way that affects us, in a way that assures us that He is with us and for us.

 

Indeed Christ knows all who hear him. Such knowledge isn't some kind of cognitive, distant knowing – the way that I know that Gordon Campbell is the leader of the provincial Liberal party and the premier of this province, or that 1 + 1 = 2, or that there is water in Australia. Rather, Christ knowing us, is the way that my wife knows me. She knows what I really like to eat and drink and how I like to eat and drink those things. She knows that if we are alone I will dip my spoon right into the ice cream pail again and again and again. She also knows what I don't like, what I will avoid at all costs unless she really wants me to come – things like Craft fairs. She can also read the expressions on my face the way that no other human being can. She knows when I want to leave a place right now without even so much as a word being uttered. She also knows my hopes and dreams, my successes and failures – and how I live with them or attempt to deny them.

 

Now Christ knows all who will hear him in this wa y, but in an even deeper way. Christ even knows what I am thinking all the time. This is an in depth knowing.

 

We may not wish to be known in this way. There may be some things that we hope others will never know about us.  When others truly know us, we are vulnerable towards them.

 

But what if, that one who knows us so deeply, loves us even still more deeply? What then? You see, Christ knows us fully – and still chooses to love us deeply, unconditionally. This is life-bringing, wonderful!

 

So, please know this. There are at least 2 profound aspects to our relationship with Christ. We can hear Christ speaking to us. We can hear his voice, recognize that it is He who is calling us, wanting to guide and direct us. And he knows us!

 

But that's not the end of our relationship with God, not all there is to who God in Christ is calling us to be and become. There is also a third part of this statement in John's gospel. Listen for it. "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME!"

Yes, they follow me – that is Christ. To follow someone means to trust them – to go where they go – to be led where they lead us.

 

So, where does Christ go?

 

In John's Gospel Jesus spends a fair bit of His time with those who are hurting, those who are lonely, those who are sick, those who are dying. If we are to follow Jesus (notice the plural of that "we") we will sick to follow His lead.

 

There are many who are hurting – physically, emotionally, spiritually. There are many whom we have met, whom we will meet who are lonely. They may not have ever had anyone love them unconditionally – and so may not know that God in Christ loves them.

 

Jesus, the Christ, invites us to look around, beyond ourselves. Some have open wounds, struggles we can see almost immediately. Others have deep wounds, wounds that are just as deeply hidden. All need to be cared for, heard, felt and loved. As we listen to Christ's voice we may receive healing and direction ourselves, insight and strength. Together, we can do so much more, than alone. In Christ the sum of the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts.

 

We need to see also that many are dying. The dying may be physical, emotional and or spiritual. Christ cares about the totality of people and creation. The letter to the Colossians speaks of the groaning of the entire creation.

 

I wonder – are we listening for Christ's voice in the midst of all the other voices demanding our attention? Hearing his voice we will be assured that we are loved. He is the Good Shepherd. Hearing his voice we are enabled to receive and live with reality – experiencing new life, receiving forgiveness, direction and hope. Our tendency to be obsessed and worried about ourselves can be let go. Hearing Christ's voice we know that we are not alone. We can follow him.

 

So, why do you come to church? We must answer that question ourselves. I often come because I need to hear again and again the voice of Christ. I need to be reminded that I am loved by God – that the entire world is loved by god. I need to be shown again and again that death and evil will not win the battle. I also come to church because I need to be in the company of those who like me are sometimes hypocrites, yes sinners, but who are seeking to be honest about that and acknowledged it. And I also need to be with those people who from time to time, sometimes even we are not consciously paying attention hear the voice of Christ and get the irresistible urge to follow him.

 

Christ is speaking to us. May we hear His voice. By god's grace may we follow Him. God knows our world needs to receive the love of Chris, the love we are being given each and ever day. Hearing Jesus' voice we can confess in word and deed, that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!