This is the fourth week of a message series for the Easter Season called
“Ground-breaking”. It is a unique series for us because of its double meaning.
First, later this month we are actually going to be breaking ground on a
1500sq. ft expansion which is part of our Generations campaign. This new space
on to the front of our Church will connect and complete our campus and provide
us with additional space for groups, activities and our growing Family of
Faith. (See the drawings in Parish Centre). Second - we are in the Season which
celebrates the most ground breaking event in history – Easter.
A ground breaking describes
something that has never been seen or done or even thought of before - its
pioneering. Usually is surprises and shocks and maybe shapes culture or
redefines the way people live or work. Something ground breaking changes
stuff....and certainly Easter was that..... it changed things.... it was
groundbreaking - the impact is still being felt today
This first week we look at
that heart of the ground-breaking of the Resurrection is the fact of its a new
vision - one of Mercy. In our
second week we took a look at Fear and how we can overcome up due to the
Resurrection of Jesus by making three things a part of our life – the call to “feed,
tend, go” Last week we looked at what it takes to be a ground breaking Church.
This week we are invited to ask ourselves if we are willing to “stand up?”
Pope Paul VI spoke so beautifully that "If you want peace, work for
justice". I believe the two are intimately related. Why do I fight with my
neighbour over our property line? I feel it is not right (unjust). Why does one
nation enter into war with another? Because they are encroaching on our
territory (not just).
We have all experienced peace personally, and also the lack of it. This
may have been in relation to a family member of friend; a co-worker, boss or
employee; or a classmate, teacher or student. Perhaps today we are not proud of
the way we related to them at that time. Perhaps we felt they were unjust in
their words, actions or decisions. That lack of personal peace perhaps even
spilled over into the wider family or group of friends, the office staff, or
the school. Before we knew it, things were exaggerated and people were not
talking to each other, avoiding each other, and 'camps' were being formed for
or against 'the enemy'. Sound familiar?
The Ground
breaking Message of the Resurrection is not only Mercy, It is not only that
Fear has no power when we love the Lord and Feed, Tend and Go, but the ground
breaking message of the resurrection is also that we must be a Church that
constantly invites and invests. But also a Church, a people of faith who are
willing to stand up for what is just and true and right – as defined by the
Lord.
The Gospel of today inspires joy and confidence. God is with us! First
of all, he assures us that he is sending us the Holy Spirit that will lead and
guide us, encourage us and challenge us, as we live out our life in Christ.
Indeed, we need not be "troubled or afraid". The Spirit will
"teach" and "remind" us, so we are never abandoned or 'left
to our own resources'. Then, Jesus promises us peace, HIS PEACE. He is
promising His very self to us. How intimate this giving of Himself for us.
Although He is going to the Father, we are definitely not alone or abandoned.
If we love Him "and keep His word" we can achieve the peace of
Christ. If we follow Him faithfully that peace will not only sustain us, but
will encourage and call others to the peace of Christ.
The
Church of today - the groundbreaking Church - must be one that willing to stand
up. The Bishops of Canada are asking us to be ground breaking in our voice
toward a new Federal Government bill which would seek to put at risk sacredness
and dignity of human life - it would make euthanasia legal and further would
compel Christian health care providers to undertake actions which are contrary
to their moral code for some of the most aged, disabled and infirmed in our
society. We have a moment to speak up and sample letters which you can write to
the Minister of Health are available at the Small Group Desk in our Parish
Centre. This is a threat to our moral fabric as a society and we are encouraged
to make our voice and the voice of the Cross heard on this issue
In the Gospel Jesus promises us peace - HIS PEACE. Connected to His peace - is His truth - the
two can not be separated from each other. Jesus makes a distinction between His
peace, and the peace of the world when He says, "Not as the world gives do
I give it to you". There is real peace, and then there is pseudo-peace.
The pseudo-peace lasts a short time, usually hastily or frustratingly agreed
upon just to 'get it over with', or 'to move on'. Pseudo-peace is a peace we
can put up with, in the short run of things. However, true peace endures.
True peace is built on two important principles: love and truth. This
peace is animated by love, introduces love, preserves love, and celebrates
love. This calls for sincerity and integrity in the hearts of both parties
(groups, nations, etc.). This peace does not know 'winners' and 'losers', but
only brothers and sisters in Christ, seeking the well-being of each other.
Sacrifices must be made in relation to this peace, each 'giving in' to a
certain extent. True peace also demands the truth.
What is right and good is right and good, and what is wrong and bad is
wrong and bad. Christian peace will not allow sin to dominate or control.
Rather, dialogue and agreement (or disagreement) must be based on the truth as
revealed by God and taught by moral authority. It is not a 'relative' truth, or
what is the fashion, or the 'thing' this year. As people of God, we seek His
peace, recognizing the call to love (and His great love for us), and embracing
God's truth. When we embrace and proclaim - and stand up for Christ - we are
instruments of His peace. When His peace and His truth are seen in our lives -
well - its ground breaking!