I’ll be seeing you

AKA Confessions of a Kindle addict

A sermon for the congregation of St. Stephen, Summerland on Sunday, January 18, 2005 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray

There are all sorts of ethical concerns surrounding the owner of Amazon, US tech billionaire Jeff Bezos. That admitted and underlined, the Amazon process of book purchase and delivery is absolutely brilliant, and for my own needs, essential.

Good morning: My name is Ken. I’m a Kindle addict.

As a low vision reader, Kindle helps me access a world of literature, fiction and non-fiction. One particularly valuable feature is its dictionary function. Anywhere, anytime, I can simply select a word and immediately access its definition. I now expect this feature to work for any literature I choose to read. I must say, however, that it doesn’t always work. The other day I needed a definition of a word. I placed my finger on the word hoping for a definition. Nothing happened. Of course, I was reading a hard copy book.

I find something similar in today’s lection from John’s gospel. Did you catch these embellishments; these explanations; these translations:

Jesus asks two disciples: “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher). One word explained;

Next, Andrew tells his brother, Simon: “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Second word explained;

Finally Andrew brings Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said: “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). Final explanation.

Such additions occur elsewhere in John’s Gospel, though they start here.  Scholars suggest that many of these early stories from John may form part of a baptismal preparation curriculum. If so, such detail makes sense. All of us at one time or another need explanation of the details of our inherited story, when coupled with the circumstances of our faith journey. The teacher, preacher, or bible study leader, should fill in as many blanks for us as possible. Help people to follow, act, and believe. Share the truth.

The problem with truth is — as Pilate asked Jesus — what is truth? The first story in my fiction collection Stories from Somewhere deals with this very situation. A young minister prepares their first sermon in their first church. They are working away in the church office, and getting nowhere. They want to share “the truth” about God, but are painfully aware of their own deficiencies. They discover that any truth they share is somehow disguised through their words. It’s a sober reflection. If courts of law seek “the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” well, truth is elusive.

In our own day, Truth seems to be on the run. United Church of Canada Diaconal Minister Bri-Anne Swan just published a thoughtful piece that speaks to our dilemma:

“It isn’t only that there is disinformation all over the place and all at once. But we are also witnessing, in real time, that when, say, a reporter asks a straightforward question — Will the U.S. rule out using force to annex Greenland? — the answer is a performance of contempt, as if accountability is a quaint hobby for people who just don’t understand how the real world works.”

Truth, a “performance of contempt.” Yikes! Has it come to this now? Yes, it has.

So if this is the case, that almost any statement is to be considered corrupt; Swan continues: “If you can make people feel like the truth is unknowable, they will stop looking for it.” Such is the tragic situation we now face. All this poses the question: What are people looking for, right here, and right now? More specifically, what are you looking for?

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!

What was John looking for? The Lamb of God. He knew the lambs of temple sacrifice. He now seeks the Lamb of God. And yes, this is the only time where the term is used in all of scripture.

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Same question; different respondents; keep listening:

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”

Now at first glance, this answer seems woefully inadequate. Who cares where Jesus is staying? Unless, however, one cares that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is in fact staying — staying with the disciples and their community; staying with us; staying in and with the world. What will happen then? Maybe you know the old Gospel song:

Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready, my God, Thy will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Maybe you know and love the old Jazz standard, originally from Billie Holiday. Of course, the plea is for physical and emotional love. Stretch your imagination, towards God’s love —  Our love for God, and God’s love for us. See what happens.

I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through . . .

I’ll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I’ll be looking at the moon
But I’ll be seeing you

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