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Scripture Lesson: John 1: 43-51
Dr. Matthew S. Brown
Austin, Texas - There’s a
tasty little Tex-Mex joint named Chuey’s that’s popular with the locals and I
always like the restaurants that the locals love better than the cookie-cutter
franchises that are often great in their own right, but sometimes lack the
uniqueness or personality. Chuey’s walls
are covered with quirky Tex Mex artifacts and the food makes you feel that
you’ve truly been to
Siesta Key, FL - Everybody
who has spent any time on the gulf coast of Florida is familiar with the
Columbia, a Cuban restaurant, whose original site is still operating in Ybor
City, the home of Tony Larussa, no less.
What’s the famous salad there? The 1905, or something like that? You partake of that and half of a Cuban Sandwich and you can just skip supper, maybe breakfast the
next day, too. I may have been the
youngest patron in the lunch time Siesta Key crowd, but I certainly enjoyed it.
Neither, gourmet, gourmand,
nor epicure are monikers ever attributed to me. If you threw down a slab of liver mush before
me and told me it was pate de fois gras, I’d be inclined to believe you. I wouldn’t eat it, but I’d believe you. If you ask if I ever munched on macaroni at
the Knife and Fork I’d have to say yes.
If you inquire if I have ever supped at Nobles I’d have to sadly say I
have not. Yet, when I am introduced to
someone and we begin the dance of prefatory small-talk (ie. “Do you have any family?” “What do you
do?” “How ‘bout that weather?” “Where are you from?”), quickly and
inevitably from that point we are talking about restaurants, cafes, diners,
dives, and drive-ins.
“Have you ever been to...” “O ya, their
famous...” “You bet,
I’d have ‘em mainline it in my veins if they would.”
It’s not that we’re obsessed
with food, well not compulsively. No, we
are searching, surfing, mining for points of connection, ways in which our
lives intersect, things we share in common.
It is the manner in which community, relationships, friendships are
built. It is also the manner in which we
witness to what is good in life.
Have you ever noticed that
when you have a splendid experience at a restaurant or see a movie you love,
you just can’t help but want others to have that experience, too?
I remember years ago when I
was “but a young preacher” I was invited to my home church to preach and after
the service one of the respected elders of the church enthusiastically approached
me. For some curious reason he had
actually connected with something I had said during the sermon and it sparked
in
him the thought that I ought to see the epic motion
picture Out of
You could see in his eyes
that this guy truly loved Out of Africa.
When I told him that, no, I hadn’t had the privilege of seeing the movie
he was overcome with excitement. You
could see the sense of mission building within him, the light bulbs flashing
above his invigorated mind. “How can I
make sure this neophyte preacher does not leave town without having witnessed
this cinematic masterpiece?”
Well, I politely excused
myself and returned to my parents house for lunch and
as I was chewing the last delectable bites of my grilled cheese, there was a
knock on the back door and, sure enough, it was this elder with the video of Out
of Africa in hand. I think he actually
skipped lunch to go out and rent it for me.
He said, “You need to see
this. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can just drop it off at the video store
on your way out of town.”
The door closed and my
parents started the parent routine (Yes, it’s the same thing I’d do to my
children.) “My, what a
grand gesture.” “What a kind
offer.” “Do you realize how respected he
is in this community?” “You really need
to write him a thank you note.”
Man, I didn’t want to watch
that movie. I was on vacation. Who wants to spend three hours watching Meryl
Streep cry. I
had seen “Kramer vs. Kramer”, hadn’t I endured enough. Out of
Yet, I will never forget the
gesture of that gentle man. Something,
in this case a movie, had granted him a moving, enriching experience, sentiment
overflowing to the point that he could not bottle it up even if he wanted
to. And he didn’t want to.
Though we tend to be hoarders
instead of givers, this was one of those experiences that compel you to
share. You so want others to find what
you have found, to experience what you have experienced, to
be given what you have been given.
Nothing would have given him more joy than if, after watching the movie,
I had called him and said, “Wow, what a movie.
I am so glad you wouldn’t let me miss this. Thank you for bringing me to this.”
It is in the wisdom of God
that this is how faith would most effectively be shared, that more than
anything this is how the community of faith would grow. Christ reveals himself to one, who moved by
that encounter rushes out to share it with another.
Jesus finds Philip, Philip
experiences Jesus, and Philip just can’t wait to go
and find Nathanael to invite him to share in the experience of the presence of
God.
Jesus “found Philip and said
to him, ‘Follow me.’ ... Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found
him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of
Joseph from
Notice it is not browbeating,
not fear-mongering - “Turn or burn!”
Notice this not an act of
pride - “We saved 352 souls today!” We
don’t save, that’s Christ’s job.
Notice this is not trying to
reach a quota so you can keep up with the church next door. My word, when preachers get together they
sound like that irritating kid in your childhood neighborhood. “I’ve got more than you’ve got.” I remember years ago serving this wonderful
congregation up in the
Well, while there, I traveled
to a Seminary class reunion, and as with many class reunions, it seemed to
quickly sink into one of those “Hi, aren’t I doing better than you”
encounters. A classmate approached me,
stirring his little cocktail, self-satisfied smile/smirk, and he asked the
first question always asked at class reunions.
“So, where are you now?”
“
“How many members do you
have?”
“240 or
thereabouts.”
And I kid you not. He said, “I’m sorry.”
???
It’s never about the
numbers. I was having the time of my
life. Wonderful church
family. Very
similar in character and personality and witness with this congregation. In fact, I’ve often thought of
Aha! And that is what is happening when Philip
rushes to Nathanael.
Look at the text. Faith sharing is not about fear tactics or
pride or competition. It is invitation
springing forth from the joy of encountering Christ. “Come and see.”
You know, if you’re an alumni
of a fraternity that was just kicked off campus, or if you played on the team
that just set the record for the most consecutive losses, or a member of a
church that is embroiled in conflict or so impressed with itself that you can’t
tell who they’ve come to worship, you probably wouldn’t be heavily motivated to
go and invite someone to be a part of the group. But when you are moved by your experience
someplace, if you come to know what joy is somewhere, if that place quickens
your spirit, inspires your faith, you just can’t help but want to share it.
“Have you ever been to
“You mean that place with the
quirky green roof? Can anything good be
going on there?”
“Come and see.” That’s when you just know the Spirit is
working, when the presence of the Lord is in this place. Amen.
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