Friends, we are winding down on the Sundays of Easter with one more before we move on to the Ascension and Pentecost, and the overall theme and message has been, “to love” –that has not changed, and in fact, it has only grown in importance.  The clear message through today’s readings is that basically, “we have to walk-the-talk!”

   John, in the second reading today from his 1^st letter says, “Love” [can’t just be] “words,” [but must show itself in] “actions.”  The first followers of Jesus, the Christ, sometimes known as the followers of “The Way” were challenged to do just this by Barnabas, a follower of Paul, who advocated for him in today’s 1^st reading from Acts.  Understandably, these human followers of Jesus were afraid of Paul who formerly as Saul, had persecuted Jesus followers, also later called “Christians.”  If these so-called followers of Jesus were true to their words, they must show it in their actions, and at least try to give Paul a chance. 

   I had a personal experience of this dynamic this past week that challenged me to “walk-the-talk,” of which I am very grateful.  A friend and I were having a disagreement, and were delineating our particular points through emails for a few days.  Finally, my friend suggested that we have a phone chat to resolve our issues, or at least see if there was any place for agreement.

   I immediately knew that my friend was right, and I suggested that we Facetime, if she was willing, of which she was, to further help in our hearing one another.  As we began, I suggested a couple of things that we probably agreed on, to get us started.  One was that we are both strong women, and that if an issue arises between us, it would probably be “an engagement,” and secondly, that we probably each liked each other, and because of that were more able to hurt each other. 

   My friend agreed with me on these points, and then we asked the Spirit to “help us hear each other.” I am happy to report that “we did hear each other” and that it was a healing conversation.

   Friends, I do believe that our baptisms and our belief in our brother Jesus call us to this kind of intimacy in attempting to love as he did—otherwise, it is just a sham. 

   Another good friend of mine calls this kind of behavior, where we say one thing, and never, or seldom, act upon it, “crazy-making!” We can’t say things like, “I love God,” but refuse to even try to love my neighbor.  Or a statement that I have heard from some Evangelical ministers, “I wouldn’t want him as my pastor, but he would make a good president.”  The part that makes this “crazy-making” in my mind is that someone who I would call a good and worthy pastor would be someone that I would think would make a good president too! 

   I say this because we want people of strong characters and strong morals that include caring for the least among us in both Church and State instead of individuals who will go to any lengths to care for themselves and control, rather than lead, those who follow them—right?

   Looking toward another issue out there for our consideration is the discussion going on in the highest court in our land—“what is criminal?”  Apparently, those most learned among us where law is concerned, don’t know, or won’t say, as the majority it is thought, will defer to a lower court to decide!  Crazy-making!

   And finally, a very thorny issue at present are the demonstrations going on at many college campuses over the fighting in the Middle East between the Palestinians and the Israelis over the Gaza Strip, and specifically over the United States assisting Israel militarily in this fight. 

   Some of these demonstrations have become violent and all I can say is that if the demonstrations by students, which they have a right to do, would remain peaceful and peace-filled, they would be so much more effective—you can’t become what you say you are fighting or better yet, working against. These demonstrations, in some places, we have learned, are very complicated with some of the demonstrators not being students, entering the fray with hate-filled speech and actions. As in all such cases where people disagree, many innocents are hurt.

   Words from the Dalai Lama XIV today seem appropriate: “Peace does not mean the absence of conflicts; differences will always be there.  Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge, and through humane ways.’’  Such was the case with my friend and me in the earlier example.  

   John, in today’s gospel writes of Jesus words about God’s love for each of us, comparing this same God’s desire for relationship with us in the symbolism of “the vine and the branches.”  As we witness spring bursting all around us in the small buds on trees waiting to open, and become leaves, fruit, whatever it might be; we can shift our thinking to ourselves as branches on the vine of life and love of our God. 

   Our God is just waiting for us to burst open too, to feel the warmth of that love, not unlike the sun in our skies, warming and sustaining our beautiful earth, becoming our best selves, for ourselves, but also for others by “walking-the-talk,”  Easter is simply about this—love received, and love given! Amen? Amen! Alleluia!