Sermon - Easter 6

Sermon – Easter 6
John 14:23-29
May 9, 2010
“Thy city be our city”

Cities. We’ve been reading about some particular cities in the news lately. New York City. In that city… there was a bomb scare, renewed fears of terrorism, a reminder of the wars being waged as we speak. We’ve read about the cities along the Gulf Coast. In these cities… the environment, marine life, fisher’s livelihood, is all at risk because of a massive oil spill. Juarez, Mexico. In that city… ground zero for a brutal drug war, residents live in constant fear, augmented by economic strife. Athens, Greece. In that city… Economic woes and cuts in programs have spurred massive protests.
I’ve lived in various cities, in Iowa (Iowa has cities too) and in Chicago, and now Long Beach and greater LA. Each city has it’s own issues, character and politics. In this city, the unemployment rate is exceptionally high, program cuts have been exceptionally brutal, and not to mention ongoing issues of crime.

In the midst of the chaos that is happening in all these cities, in our own city… We read about another city in our reading from Revelations: We get a view from a mountain, a view of the “holy city Jerusalem coming down from heaven”
In this city… there is no Temple. God’s presence is not restricted to the Temple, but now God’s presence is everywhere. In this city… all will dwell eternally in God’s presence.
In this city… there is no need for the sun or moon, for “the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
In this city… the nations and kings, instead of being engaged in wars and oppression, they will walk by the light of the Lord. These kings who earlier in Revelations 19:19 were against the Lord, now enter into this city.
In this city… no need to lock the gates, put bars on doors. No reason for fear of thieves, because there are none. In this city… There is no sound of car alarms and sirens. There is no need for police in this city. In this city… there no drug wars, no bullets flying through public spaces; no acts of terrorism, no fears of bombs.
In this city… there are no fears of a market crash, of the Dow falling, of losing one’s job.
In this city… nothing unclean will enter.

In this city… there is a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, that runs through the middle of the city.
In this city… there is no shortage of water, no need to pump it in from far away; there are no oil spills, no pollution.
In this city… on either side of the is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month. There are no hungry in this city, all have enough to eat.
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. There is no sickness, no disease. No premium hikes on insurance in this city.
In this city… there is nothing accursed.
In this city… God and the lamb will be in the throne; his servants will worship him (imagine what that worship sounds like).
Here is the most amazing thing of all: In this city… We will see the Lord’s face (it used to be that you could see the Lord’s face and live). Wow, imagine what that looks like. We dwell in the fullness of the presence of God in this city. The Lord’s name will be stamped on our foreheads.

In this city… there is PEACE.
It is the peace Jesus talks about in today’s gospel, he says: “my peace I leave to you, my peace I give you.” When Jesus appeared to his disciples he said, “peace be with you.”
This city is a vivid image of the Kingdom or Reign of God. But the Kingdom of God is not just in a future sense, but in the here and now. Every week we pray “thy Kingdom come.” Lord, may it be that your city be manifested in this city! May your way be our way. Lord, use us in this city, that it would be your city.
The city we read about in Revelations is God’s dream for our cities … that this peace would be realized in our midst.
As you look at Long Beach and look around at the city, imagine… not having to lock your door, not having to fear. Imagine no violence, no sickness, no hunger, no struggle, no strife. Imagine a river of the water of life rushing through the city, a huge tree of life sprouting fruit and leaves of healing for all. Imagine, no darkness, the glory of God lighting every corner. Imagine…
O Lord, Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Thy city be our city. Amen.