Sermon notes for
the Third Sunday of Easter, Year C
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
A poignant question Jesus asks of Peter after
his 3 fold denial.
Peter responds:
“Yes Lord, you know
that I love you.”
“Yes Lord, you know
that I love you.” “
“Yes Lord, you know
that I love you.”
After post-Denial tears, Peter needs this
restoration.
He needs to name again, reaffirmed his passion
for Jesus:
“Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”
Why?
His passion for Jesus will shape how he lives.
After each question/answer Jesus tells him,
“Feed my sheep.”
Declaration of Love comes with a command.
Passion comes with a purpose.
Whatever, whomever we love shapes how we live.
We know this with spouses/partners; children.
Our love for them shapes what we do.
So, too , if Peter – or any of us – says we
love Jesus,
we will need to put that passion into action.
I've seen and been moved by the passion for
Jesus in our Bishop + George .
When he speaks of Jesus whom he clearly loves
he is often close to tears.
His passion for Jesus has shaped the purpose
of his life as priest and bishop.
We are blessed to live and serve under the
leadership of a Christian
so passionate for our Lord, so given to God's
purpose for his life.
Example for us all – ordained and lay.
Today is Passion and Purpose Sunday in the
Diocese of NJ –
a day to focus on call to ministry by Risen
Christ;
on how people's passion for Jesus shapes their
lives to Jesus' purpose.
Baptismal font still in center of Church from
Easter Vigil and last week's Baptism of Elizabeth Grace.
Both times, we renewed our vows,
renewed our commitment of passion for Jesus,
renewed our commitment to lives lived for
Jesus’ purpose.
Church needs passionate, committed ordained leadership:
that was the original impetus for Passion and
Purpose Sunday.
Church needs passionate, committed baptized
people, too;
as passionate for Jesus as is our brother &
Bishop +George;
people willing to proclaim by word and example
the Good news of God in Christ
people willing to seek and serve Christ in all
people, loving neighbor as self;
people willing to strive for justice and peace
among all people
and to strive for the dignity of every human
being,
as we promised when renewed our vows.
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Jack, son of Frank and Janet, do you love me?
N. N. N. N., N. N. do you
love me?
A poignant question Jesus asks us– do we love him?
Do we love him enough for that to make a
difference in lives?
Do we have a passion for Jesus that will shape the purpose
of lives?
We each need to answer ourselves –
and if yes, to listen for Jesus' purpose in
our lives:
feeding hungry sheep; visiting the sick;
fighting for economic justice;
proclaiming Good News of Jesus' love.
But the question of passion for Jesus and
purpose in life
Is not simply about us as individuals.
It is about congregations as a whole.
Congregations have corporate personalities,
communal spirits, shared passion, common
purpose.
Jesus asks congregations as he does individuals.
Jesus ask us:
Francis, child of Holy Innocents and St.
Andrew’s
do you love me?
Francis, child of Holy Innocents and St.
Andrew’s
do you love me?
Francis, child of Holy Innocents and St.
Andrew’s
do you love me?
Will you live according to my purpose?
Will you feed my sheep?
Will you love the people in the word around
you?
Will you tell
the Good News of my love for
them?
Francis, do you love me?
We know the answer our patron St. Francis
gave.
Francis of Assisi loved Jesus as much as
anyone, perhaps, since Jesus death and resurrection.
But Jesus is not now asking that Francis –
He is asking this Francis in Dunellen
in 2010:
Francis, child of Holy Innocents and St.
Andrew’s
do you love me?
This question is on my mind because of our
upcoming Vestry Retreat:
A time in which our leaders will seek to discern
our passion and Jesus’ purpose for St. Francis now:
Parish has survived – and more – some challenging
times in the last decade or so..
The question is: Now what?
What is our passion of for Jesus?
How will that passion shape the purpose of our
common life?
Francis, child of Holy Innocents and St.
Andrew’s
do you love me?
Will
you feed my sheep?
Jesus is waiting for our response.
The
Rev. Jack Zamboni, April 18th , 2010