Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Discipleship

Sermon

Text: John 13:13-35, Revelation 21:1-6

            I don’t know if you’ve noticed a trend in our lectionary readings the weeks since Easter. I really started to notice it this week. But, the texts are all focused on, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, especially in light of the fact that he has died for us, and been raised for us.

            We are disciples already saved by Christ. Already. It’s not a situation of having to check a bunch of boxes to gain that salvation, Christ has already died, and risen, all for us.

            It started with the disciples seeing Jesus, multiple times, without Thomas, and then with. And we learned that now we are disciples of hearing, not seeing. That our faith comes through hearing, we gather together as disciples of Christ, Followers of Jesus, to hear the Good news that we have been saved, then we go out to tell others.

            The next week we hear Jesus give the disciples, and especially Peter a second chance, a re-calling to the ministry of sharing the Good News. Here we learn more about what it means to be a disciple. It’s not just going and telling, it’s hearing Jesus’ commands and following him. Feeding his lambs, tending his sheep, feeding his sheep. We go out as disciples not just to speak, but to show our faith through action. We answer the question Jesus asks Peter, Do you love me?, by going out to love the world.

            Last week we heard of Jesus the Good Shepherd, who declares that he and the Father are one, in being, and also in action. That the work Jesus does, is the work that the Father wills. And as disciples, taking inspiration from Tabitha who cared for poor widows, and Jean Vawn-yay who cared for the developmentally disabled, we too seek to live a life of love for others.

            And today, that’s all repeated. We see Jesus in the midst of the last supper in the Gospel of John. Judas has just run out to betray him, soon Jesus will be arrested in the Garden and Peter will deny him three times, but in the midst of this turmoil he gives us his greatest commandment. Love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

            In all this talk of what it means to be a disciple, how people will know we are disciple is all about how we show love in the world. It’s not about how well we show up to church, or how well we follow the rules, or how perfect we try to hold ourselves, its all connected to how do we live in relationship with others. Do you live a life of love for others.

            Well, what does that mean? Last week we talked about how being a Mother is a way to do that, raising your children to love others. Or being a nurse, loving your patients and being a God filled presence to them in those trying times. On my way home from church last week I was thinking about how many times we think of being a disciple as what things are you doing for the church. Which are all good things, giving our time and money to the church. Helping with mowing, or weeding, teaching Sunday School, or helping with coffee hour. Quilting, cleaning the building, decorating, there are so many ways that we can do things for the church. But, discipleship is also more than that, it’s being that mom, being that nurse.

            I saw and shared a post on Facebook this week about Pooh and Piglet visiting Eeyore. I’d like to read it to you.

            It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

“Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh.

“Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.

“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”

Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”

“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.” And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.

Because Pooh and Piglet were There. No more; no less.

            Being a disciple is not doing extravagant things, it’s showing love. And sometimes that love is simply being present with people, not trying to change or fix them, but being with them.

            In Revelation we read that God will wipe away tears, death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain will be no more. But, before that happens it says God will dwell with them; they will be God’s peoples, and God will be with them. God dwells with us, we are God’s people and God will be with us.

            To be a disciple is to seek to do the work of God in the world, loving others as Christ commanded, and that all starts with simply going out and being with people.

            Be people who sit in hospital rooms with people, who check in on people to see how they are doing, who love others so much we can walk with them in the hard times, knowing that Christ walks with us then as well.

            May you be a people who goes out to be with people, knowing that God is with you.