Easter 6
1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21

Dear friends in Christ,

I read a testimony by a pastor, Dr. Arthur Caliandro, that he wrote about how God used a young man on the maintenance staff of his church to help him through a small mini-crisis of faith he was experiencing. As you may be aware, it is not uncommon for Latino families to give their little boys the name of Jesus. And, of course, they call them Jesús, which was this custodian’s name. One night Dr. Caliandro finished a meeting in the church and went to his office to retrieve his coat. When he got there, the lights were on and the door was open, which was unusual. He noticed that someone had painted the door, and on the side of the wall by the door there was a note written which said this: “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” It was signed, “Jesus.” Dr. Caliandro smiled. He was amused by that. “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” Signed, “Jesus.” As Caliandro went on home, he realized there was a message for him in that little note. In his little faith crisis, when his faith had dulled and he was wondering if God was really present, he needed to keep the door open and once again to reconnect with God.

We are nearing the end of the Easter season in the church year. As I have been reading the lessons each week it has struck me that I don’t ever remember there being such a stark contrast between the words of hope and promise we’ve heard each Sunday, and the depressing and fearful words we’ve heard the rest of the week. This past week I was watching the Today show one morning and they were talking about an article someone had written about why, because of the high food costs, now might be the time to start stockpiling food. The cost of gas has risen 50 cents a gallon from the beginning of Easter 6 weeks ago. Housing prices continue to tumble. O, and by the way, are you aware that the cost of stamps are increasing again on May 12th? Not much good news coming at us during the week.

But, in contrast, listen to these words from Peter and John today. “Do not fear, what they fear.” “Do not be intimidated.” “Who will harm you?” “I will give you another advocate.” “”I will not leave you orphaned.” “You in me, I in you.” “The hope that is in you.” Those are words of hope and promise that jump right out at you as we read the texts. That’s why the words of scripture are so important, to provide another way of understanding. That’s why we share a message and gather for worship each week, to be reminded there is another way, a sharp contrast from what we hear elsewhere.

As I thought about all the troubles we’ve been hearing about these weeks, I decided it was time to look at it from a spiritual point of view. I think that’s what pastors, in particular, are called to do. I want to explore with you this morning the spiritual question, “What might God be trying to teach us during these trying economic times, that everyone is now feeling?” And I want to suggest, as Pastor Caliandro learned from “Jesus,” that we not close the door on what God can do.

As I think about the current economic crisis from a spiritual point of view, there are at least three questions that I need to ask. These are three questions that perhaps God is asking all of us to consider, as we’re feeling the anxiety of our times.

The first is, “What do I really need and value?” What’s truly important? When everything is going good, we don’t even think about this. Why would we? Life is good! We’ve got everything we need and then some. But the tough times force us to think this through, bring us back to the basics, and maybe that’s part of what God wants us to do during this time.

Since we’re all so very different, this is a question that only you can answer for yourself. We all make choices around what we own and value, based on who we. But that’s something we can all take a look at. Difficult times cause us to do that. Do I really need all those clothes in that closet? How much time am I giving to my family? Am I taking care of my health? How much of what I want, do I really need? What do I value? These are questions that perhaps God is wanting us to ask ourselves during this time.

A second question that I, as a Christian, am forced to wrestle with during difficult times is, “Do I trust God’s promises?” Do I truly believe what God, in God’s Word, says? Today’s lessons are full of these promises. In John 14, Jesus is preparing his disciples for that time when he will no longer be physically present with them. He promises them they will not be left alone. “I will not leave you orphaned,” he says. He promises them the Holy Spirit, another advocate, the Spirit of truth to guide them. Peter says, “Do not fear? Who will harm you? He’s speaking to the early church, facing persecution. Even if you do suffer, he says, you will be blessed.

When things are going well, we tend to think only about ourselves, that we can handle life quite nicely on our own. But when things are not so good, it forces us to re-think that. Do I really believe these promises of God, that God is present and that God will guide me through, or do I not believe it? Spiritually, the tough times can have the positive effect of bringing us back on our knees to God and trusting in those most basic promises. Rather than approaching life with panic when things go bad, we can step back, push the pause button, hear the promises fresh again, and then figure out how we are being led.

In one of his films, Charlie Chaplin plays a prisoner being transported to jail, but his boat is shipwrecked. At the film’s beginning, he is sitting on a beach looking at an iron clasp around his leg attaching him to a ball and chain. The whole film shows him relating to this ball and chain, attempting to escape its weight.

First he thinks he will humor the ball and chain. “When its guard is down, I will dash away,” he thinks. So he makes little jokes to distract the ball and chain and then he tries to run away from it, only to fall into the sand.

Scratching his head, wondering what to do next, he decides that he can outsmart the ball and chain. He gets up and tries to walk away--and again falls into the sand. As he becomes more thoughtful, his next strategy is one of reason. “I know. I will talk to it! I will reason with it!” but, again, down he goes into the sand.

Now, at the end of his patience, he pretends the ball and chain are not there. He kicks sand over it, and for a while it looks as if his problem has vanished. Thinking he has solved his dilemma, he strides to the end of the chain. Down he goes.

At this point, the insight finally dawns. Like a light turning on in Chaplin’s head, he realizes that he can’t solve this problem alone. If he is going to be helped, it has to come from the outside. In the last scene, he is seen looking upward in hope of rescue.

When we are in times of distress, that is our hope as well. We are not orphans. We are not alone in this world. We have a Savior, a Redeemer. Someone watches over us and cares for us. Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you . . .” Do I believe this? Do I trust God’s promises? These are questions the tough times force us to face.

And then the final spiritual question I think we need to ask is, “Because of faith, can I act differently from what the world is expecting?” Because I trust the promise of God’s presence, do I have the courage to stand up and, if necessary, go against what the majority of people are doing? Do I trust God enough to do the right and best thing, even though it may not be what everyone else does?

Peter is encouraging these early Christians to do just that. “Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?” he asks. “Even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed,” he says. “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting of the hope that is in you,” he tells his readers.

We’re living in a time of high anxiety. The temptation, even in faith and ministry is to circle the wagons and shut things down. That’s what is happening in much of what we read about every week. Times are tough. But as my father used to tell me when I was a kid, and maybe your parents did as well, “Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to it as well.” This should be especially true for believers, who have all the promises of God upon which to draw.

We have a great opportunity for us as a church to act differently than expected in the matching gift opportunity that Chris spoke about. At a time when lots of ministries in neighboring churches are being scaled back, and staff and programs are being cut, two families have stepped up and offered a very generous matching gift, so that does not have to happen here. All the rest of us need to do is step up in a similar way, go against the grain, and give more, not less, to make it happen. “Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? asks Peter. In doing the right and best thing, I know this church, and many others, will be blessed.

Tough times are here, there’s no denying that. This economic downturn is being felt by everyone every time we fill up the tank. So now that God’s got our attention, what is God our maker asking us to think about? How about these spiritual questions. What do I really need and value? Do I trust God’s promises? Because of my faith, do I have the courage to act differently than what the world is expecting? When times are tough, it’s tempting to give up. But that’s not what believers, backed by the promises of our Lord, are called to do. Rather, we move forward with hope and trust. Or, as Pastor Caliandro learned, “Do not close the door, signed Jesus.” Amen