Fruit from the Tree of Life

May 22, 2022 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 Fruit from the Tree of Life 6th Sunday of Easter Year C Opening Song Welcome Introit Call to Worship Many: Let the Creator be home among us One: In our hearts, may God be welcome Many: May God’s love shape our every thought One: May our actions lead to God’s justice Many: May our words be words of life One: May God’s Spirit lead us Many: May God’s peace dwell within us All: Amen. ( Michael Anthony Howard – UCC Worship Ways) Song Shall We Gather at the River UMH 723 Spotlight on Volunteers Prayer of Illumination Bountiful God, you gather your people into your realm, and you promise us food from your tree of life. Nourish us with your word, that empowered by your Spirit we may love one another and the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America website) Scripture Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 Sermon Fruit from the Tree of Life A Sunday School teacher asked her students where God lived. After the usual answers of heaven and in my heart, Bobby spoke up and said, “God lives in the bathroom at our house!” “Why the bathroom?” inquired the teacher. “I don’t know,” replied Bobby. “I only know that my Dad gets up every morning and beats on the bathroom door where my sister is taking forever to get ready for school and exclaims, ‘My God, are you still in there?’ God lives in the bathroom at our house.” Where does God live at your house? Is He on the front porch looking in or locked in the bathroom trying to get out? That is a good question for all of us to think about. And of course the easy answer is that God lives in heaven. So we also have to ask ourselves, Where is heaven. Is heaven a place, a time, a feeling? Revelations 21-22 is John’s vision of heaven. We don’t get to read all of his description of a perfect cubed city with 12 gates, three on each sides each door designed with fine jewels. It is a shining light. With a river running through it, no sea – because sea causes trouble and sin, but a tree of life so big that it is on both sides of the river. The doors are open all of the time. The book of revelation is a series of visions designed not to tell the future, but to address the present situation of the people. Chapters 21-22 are the end of the book, with John’s last vision of a new heaven and a new earth. It is not a vision where we are taken up into the sky one person at a time, and all of the bad people are left behind. There is not a judgement day where the good people get to come and all of the bad people are condemned to hell. In John’s heaven the gates are open 24/7 with no need to ever close them. People can come in any time, and there is no St. Peter standing at the pearly gate. John says that those who are sinners have no desire to enter. John was desperately trying to give hope to the present situation. He was trying to point out that our problems will be solved in a time and a place. Not always our time and place, but eventually. He is pointing out that God’s presence will solve all of our problems. In New Jerusalem, there is no church to go to – the whole city is the church. There is no sun, God’s light is our light to see clearly night never comes. The tree of live produces a different crop every month to take care of all of our needs. And it produces leaves to heal the nations – there is no war, no oppressions, on border disputes. In heaven we can all live whole and complete. What is it that we all need to feel whole and complete right now? Many years ago when I was going to prep school in Milwaukee, the students loved to walk past a nearby factory from which often emanated some simply wonderful smells. The factory made a product whose name seemed to perfectly fit the heavenly aromas that would occasionally fill the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The factory made Ambrosia Chocolate! For a chocolate lover like myself, there could be no better name for such a delectable food. You see, in ancient Greek mythology ambrosia was the name of the food of the gods! I remember years ago there was a part of the west side that smelled like chocolate because of the brach factory, and in forest park where the ferrerra candy company there is a pleasant smell all of the time. But how does one know that something is "heavenly"? I don't know of anyone who has been to heaven and come back to tell about it. Yet when we find a food that tantalizes our taste buds, we are not afraid to pretend that we know all about heaven. An exquisite piece of chocolate, a luscious slice of our favorite fruit pie, or a bite of tender steak ... what else could we possible call them? They must be ambrosia, food fit for the gods! We can find a little glimpse of heaven in various places in our lives. Where is heaven? Heaven is where the waters of baptism are poured and the name of God is spoken. Heaven is where the body and blood of Jesus are offered in bread and wine. Heaven is where the guilty are released from their deadly past through the granting of forgiveness. Heaven is where the stranglehold of death and hopelessness is broken. When enemies embrace, when spouses reconcile, when neighbors are neighborly, when victims refuse to get even, when the powerful offer to serve instead of demanding that they be served, there is heaven. There is one more thing that must be noted in the vision in Revelation. John saw “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” This suggests that we can have Heaven on earth to a certain degree when Christ lives and rules in our hearts. It will not be perfect, for there is always sin on earth, but the joys of Heaven can continue to increase on earth among those who hold Christ in their hearts. He keeps changing their lives into more and more of his likeness. This is what the Lord’s Prayer means when we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we mean what we pray, something of God’s heaven is let down on earth in our hearts. The Holy Spirit brings this to pass. Paul put it this way in the Bible, “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” The C.S.S. Publishing Compa, RENEWAL OF THE NEW, by John R. Brokhoff A survivor of the 1989 airplane crash near Sioux City, Iowa, said, surprised that she was still alive, “Here I was, sitting on the edge of eternity.” But aren’t we all sitting on the edge of eternity every day of our lives? I believe that there is a time and a place where we will all see God more clearly. One of the promises of John’s heaven is that we will all see the face of God. The bible gives stories of how no one can see the face of God on earth. What a priviledge. But the journey to heaven begins right here in our hearts. There once was a very unhappy old man. For him, things were never right and, thus, he grumbled quite a bit. He complained that he had to get up in the morning, and when nightfall came it was too soon. He complained when he had to work, but found it boring when he did not work. He talked about how people paid insufficient attention to him, yet when others spoke to him he seemed annoyed or irritated. He hated it when it rained and found the sun too hot when it shined. In winter, he longed for the summer and in summer for the fall. All-in-all the old man was miserable. One day he stopped at a fruit stand, but things there were no better. He found some of the fruit was too ripe and the rest was not ripe enough. He left, disgusted, but as he did, the fruit seller said, "I wish you new eyes, sir, child eyes." "New eyes," thought the old man as he walked away. "I have never used glasses; my vision has never been sharper." A week later, he again stopped at the fruit stand. The fruit seller had the fruit he didn't want and did not have the fruit he wanted. As he was leaving the fruit seller said, "I wish you kingdom eyes, sir." "Kingdom eyes?" This puzzled the old man. But no matter, he was busy, and thus let it pass. Sometime later, the man stopped at the fruit stand once again. It was, however, the same old story. Everything he didn't want and nothing he wanted; some things overripe and others not ripe enough. And as he left the fruit seller told him, "I wish you treasure-hunting eyes, sir." The man was perplexed at the comment, not knowing what the seller was saying. In spite of himself, the old man began to think about what the fruit seller had been saying to him. What did he mean by new eyes, child eyes, kingdom eyes, and treasure-hunting eyes? The next time he went to the stand, he pressed the fruit seller to to explain. "Well, you see," the fruit seller began, "one day there was a stranger in town. He spoke of many things, but a few things really stuck in my head. He spoke of the kingdom of God being within you and that in order to find it one had to become like a child. On another occasion the stranger was present and so, too, was a man blind from birth. He went to the blind man and asked if he wanted to see and, of course, the man said, ‘Yes.' And then the man's eyes were opened and he was delighted in all that he saw. I was confused about all this and thus I spoke to the stranger saying, ‘Please, sir, give me new eyes.' And he responded, ‘I will. I give you child eyes, kingdom eyes, and treasure-hunting eyes.' I thanked him and he left. "That was the last time I saw the man, but from that time forward I saw things differently. Where before I saw only darkness, I now saw stars and fireflies. When before I felt only pain, I now discovered a new door to joy. While before I could see nothing worthwhile, now I found much at which to marvel. Where before I lived in a desert of doubt and despair, now I found a fountain of faith, and where in the past I was irritated at people, now I saw something wonderful in them, something that reminded me of the stranger and I rejoiced." The old man left trying not to think of the fruit seller's story, but no matter how hard he tried he could not shake it off. The more he thought about it the more he wished for new eyes for himself. He began to think about the stranger hoping that he would return. If he did he would ask for new eyes, also. He worried about how he would make his request to the stranger so he practiced. In fact, he found it easy to put his request to music. He sang the refrain all day: "Give me new eyes, sir, child eyes, kingdom eyes, treasure-hunting eyes. Give me new eyes." Then one day he stopped at the fruit stand and saw the fruit seller was very sad. "What has happened?" he asked. The fruit seller replied, "I have just received news that the stranger has been arrested and will be put to death today." The old man went home and cried for his chance for new eyes was now gone. Yet, because the song had become so much a part of his life, he continued to sing it, and to his great surprise, three days after the stranger was put to death, he suddenly felt like scales had fallen from his eyes, and he began to see things differently. Where before he saw only darkness, now he saw light. Where before he saw only the injuries done against him, now he saw how much he was loved and he was able to demonstrate forgiveness that healed his wounds. Where before he had seen nothing of value, now he found many hidden treasures. Where before he experienced only boredom and suspicion, now he lived in wonderment and trust, and where before people had irritated him, he now saw in them something that reminded him of the stranger. And he knew that the stranger lived.1 The old man was bitter, arrogant, and resisted change, but through the persistence and love of the fruit seller he came to realize his need for transformation, conversion, and a new way of thinking. He needed the new eyes which the stranger had given the fruit seller. In the end he found what he needed through the power of the stranger. This fable is clearly an Easter story of the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings, not only to himself, but more importantly to all of God's people, Seeing a new heaven and a new earth, begins with our ability to see the presence of God anywhere that it may be hiding. We see God clearly in the midst of our deepest pain, in the wounds of life, in those things that we are not willing to admit about our lives. When we see God in a certain situation, we can also watch as history unfolds and God reveals Godself even more until we too have our own revelation in the story of God and of heaven and of our place in it. So I will ask again – where does God live in your life? What room in your heart can you find God. Where is heaven on earth for you. Is that not what all of you will get to do through your daily work in the week ahead? As you leave this place, renewed at the Lord's table, refreshed by his promises, strengthened by his Spirit, through your deeds of love and kindness you will give this world all too often suffering in its own kind of hell ... a glimpse of heaven on earth. Because Christ has triumphed, already now a new world is beginning to take shape, a world in which every tear will be wiped away, where death will be no more, where mourning, crying, and pain will be a distant memory, where there will be heaven on earth. Amen. The church can be that place, because it can be the place where we have our own visions of how heaven can come here on earth. The one thing that I like to most about John’s vision is that this amazing and dazzling place that would attract even the darkest soul – has gates that are not guarded and are always open. Anytime you are ready to come in, even it if is 3 in the morning, you can come. Once you get there you have no reason to leave. Heaven is an open invitation to sit in the presence of God and to be whole and complete. The doorway to heaven is right here. Our faith is always an open invitation to find the presence of God right here. Did you know that the word come appears in the bible over 1600 times. In John 14 God says that God will come and make our home with them – God will love them so that they can love others. Where is heaven? Where have you gotten of a glimpse of heaven? And how has it affected your life and the lives of those around you? I leave you with this quote from Wendell Berry – to be healthy is to literally be whole – our sense of completeness is not just about ourselves, but it is also the sense of belonging to others and to our place. Community with its fullest sense of place and all of its creatures is where we find ourselves and God. May we find heaven today in the hopes and dreams of one another and those around us. Amen. Song – For the Healing of the Nations UMH 428 Pastoral Prayer Children’s Time The Last Page in the Book Stewardship Moment John’s Revelation challenges many of us with strange images and what seems like coded messages. The image of the tree of life, however, can be seen as an image blossoming hopeful and full before us: a tree with leaves for the healing of the nations. In our own nation, we know of tree leaves which are healing (witch hazel leaves treat sensitive skin and inflammation; sassafras leaves, crushed for tea, help heal respiratory ailments; hawthorn leaves mixed into medicine respond to help ease cardiac issues.) In John’s vision, this tree, growing in the new Jerusalem, is a gift for all the nations of the world. Its leaves are given for individuals and nations to consume in order to repent of their brokenness, allowing them to be healed and made whole/complete. While we do not have access to this tree or its healing leaves, we do have opportunity to share what God has given us. Our offering this morning is one opportunity for each of us to be a healing agent in a hurting world. Our combined giving allows this congregation to be part of making real God’s intention for a wholly/holy world. Your gift helps! With generous hearts and hands, let us share our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving Good and gracious God, we yearn for a day when the nations of this world are turned to you and your desire for justice and peace. Please use these gifts, and the lives of each of us, to help move us toward the day when your Realm comes on earth, as it is in heaven. AMEN (From the Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Even as Jesus departs, he promises that we will never be alone. Therefore, we can go out in confidence to love and serve the Lord. And as you go, May the love of God, The peace of the Risen Christ, And the presence of the Holy Spirit Guide you and keep you, this day, and every day. Alleluia, Amen. (Rev. Molly Spangler – Presbyterian Outlook) Community Time Benediction Beloved of God, go to be a blessing. Bring the good news of forgiveness and healing to this hurting, lonely world. Bring hope to all, for God’s love is poured out for all God’s people. AMEN. (Nancy C. Townley – United Methodist Ministry Matters) Additional illustrations OF COURSE, WHAT IS TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WE LOVE IS ALSO TRUE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. Time is precious. It gets away quickly. Today is the appointed hour. If we are going to say yes to Christ, it needs to be this moment. We must seize the day. Eternity awaits. There is no time like the present. An unknown author helps us put it all into perspective. He or she writes: To realize the value of “one month", ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of “one week," ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of “one hour," ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of “one minute," ask the person who missed the train. To realize the value of “one second," ask the person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of “one millisecond," ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. When Thomas Edison lay dying, he could hardly speak, according to his widow. His doctor, who was also a friend of the family, observed that Edison was trying to say something. He bent down very close and heard the inventor whisper, “It’s very beautiful over there.” Those were his last words. Those could be a person’s first words in Heaven: “It’s very beautiful here.” In 1914 Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, an English explorer, led an expedition to the South Pole. As the ice began to close in on his boat, he had to leave some of his men stranded on Elephant Island as he went for help. He secured another ship on South Georgia Island and returned for his men. After several unsuccessful attempts, the weather finally permitted him to sail through to where the men were, pick them up, and then get out before the ice closed up again. Shackleford asked his crew why they had their things packed and standing by when he came back. They said, "Sir, when you left, you said you would come back for us, so we never gave up hope. Whenever the weather looked favorable, we would pack up our things and say, Maybe Shackleford will return for us today.' We were always ready for your coming." (5) We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. There is One who is returning for us. We are not forgotten. There is one who has gone to prepare a place for us. An African-American poet once put it like this: There's a king and captain high, And He's coming by and by, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. You can hear His legions charging in the regions of the sky, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. There's a Man they thrust aside, Who was tortured till He died, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. He was hated and rejected, He was scorned and crucified, And He'll find me hoeing cotton when He comes. When He comes! When he comes! He'll be crowned by saints and angels when He comes. They'll be shouting out Hosanna! to the Man that men denied, And I'll kneel among my cotton when He comes. (6) The future holds much promise ” but the greatest promise is this: Hope wins because God wins! Evelyn Husband lost her husband Rick when the space shuttle Columbia exploded into pieces upon re-entry to the earth’s atmosphere. Evelyn said “As I stood there in shock with my son Matthew, seven, and my daughter Laura, twelve, deep inside I knew God was going to walk me through this somehow. I knew it because He had walked me through other crises earlier in my life.” To live is to let go. Sometimes life asks us to let go of a lot. A job is lost and family income is drastically reduced. Illness strikes and the whole matrix of family life is rearranged. Death comes; all that has been nailed down for so long is now breaking loose. We raised two boys at our house. They were both high school football players. They consumed gallons of milk and juice a day, not to mention the tons of food. When the last one went away to college, a gallon of milk spoiled in the refrigerator. As Sandy was pouring the spoiled milk down the drain the tears were flowing right along with it. A new era of life had arrived. A high school girl went to a religious gathering at her school and found Christ. She had not been raised in the church, and had no idea how to express her newfound faith to her family, so she decided to live it instead of announce it. A spoiled, selfish, irritable teenager started being kind to her parents. Her attitude changed. She even cleaned up her room. Finally her parents asked, “What has happened to you? You are different.” She replied, “I have become a Christian. I am trying to do what Jesus would do.” Her parents responded, “If Christ can do that for you, we want to know more.” Paul teaches us that, if any one is in Christ they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come. Christ is making all things new. May His love abide in your home. May His comfort come to your soul. May He create in you a new heart and a steadfast spirit that His kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Into our homes, into our homes, come into our homes, Lord Jesus, Come in today, come in to stay. Come into our homes, Lord Jesus. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Faith Breaks, by J. Howard Olds CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays in Lent and Easter: But!, by Steven E. Albertin I recently heard a story about an urban congregation in a changing neighborhood of one of our eastern cities. The congregation had decided not to flee to the suburbs but to stay in the city and serve the needs of its crumbling neighborhood. The congregation had decided that in order to save souls, it had to start by saving its neighborhood. As a result, the church council decided that instead of repairing aging stained-glass windows, it would simply replace them with a more functional clear glass. Repair would not only have been costly but also would have meant repairing the glass of an image of the heavenly Jerusalem. The council felt that such an image was too otherworldly for a congregation committed to justice in the city. Then someone pointed out that when you stood in the sanctuary and looked out through that old stained-glass image of the heavenly Jerusalem and saw the neighborhood surrounding the church, suddenly that decaying neighborhood appeared in a whole new light. That window literally reflected the mission of that congregation. Through their ministry of compassion and to the needs of their neighborhood, they would be a bit of heaven on earth. Through them the people in their neighborhood, struggling to eke out a meager living in a hostile world, could catch a glimpse of the victory already won through the blood of the lamb.