Join the Band: A sermon by Pastor Christian
Easter 2 C
Who among us has not retreated at one time or anther to an upper room? The disciples retreated to their upper room out of grief and fear. It is usually something frightening, something anxiety producing, and sometimes something tragic that drives us there. When I was younger I had a terrible case of stage fright. I would get sick before I went in front of people. Even when I was playing in concert band, or when I was singing in the choir, I was afraid. I was afraid of people’s judgment, I was afraid I would make a mistake, and I was just afraid of all those eyes watching.
Before concerts I would get sick and try and retreat to my upper room, even though the vast percentage of the grade in choir and band depended on being at the performances. Because the stakes were high, it made it even worse.
Well, the stakes are high for the disciples. They have gathered in the upper room. They have retreated momentarily to regroup and grieve. They have retreated because they were afraid of being killed in the same fashion as Jesus I imagine. After all, Jesus performed many signs and wonders and it got him killed.
When Jesus appears to his disciples in the upper room he addresses their fears immediately. He says, “peace be with you.” This shows us that the disciples were indeed in distress. They were in such distress that he had to bestow peace twice on them. After he shows them his wounds again he says, “peace be with you.”
The peace of the risen Christ is something special I am sure, but more than that is needed to send us from our upper room. Jesus breathes on them the Holy Spirit and gives them a mission. He gives them what they need to leave the upper room and sends them forth into the world to breath that same Holy Spirit onto others.
The Greek word for Spirit is “pmeuma” it is the same word from which we form the word pneumonia. And what is pneumonia but a lack of breath. What is a woodwind or brass instrument without breath? Without breath these instruments are mute, silent, dead. What is a voice without breath? What use are the apparatuses of language and music without breath? They are useless. What good is a body without breath? It is mute, silent, dead. Without breath there is no music, no singing, and no life.
This afternoon at
Breath and life are interconnected. It was not until God breathed life into Adam and Eve that they became animated and alive. Breath is what separates the living from the dead. Breath is what gives life to us. It is what gives life to our music. It is what gives life to our bodies. And in today’s gospel it is what gives life to the disciples.
The resurrected Christ comes to his disciples. He comes not to impart any teaching or special wisdom, but to give peace to banish fears, and to breathe on them the breath of life that sends them forth into the world. The resurrected Christ comes to his disciples still bearing the marks of the crucifixion as evidence of the power of life and he calls them out of the upper room, out of that dark tomb of death and fear and sends them into the world.
He calls them out by giving them a vocation, a calling, As the Father has sent me, So I send you.” The word vocation is the word from which we derive words voice, vocal and call. Without Spirit and Breath a call is silent and unheard, just as without spirit and breath a voice or a wind instrument is silent and unheard.
Jesus comes to us this morning through the word. He gives us peace, He shows us the power of the resurrection over death, He breathes on us God’s Holy Spirit, and He calls us forth—sending us on a mission to proclaim that He is the resurrection and life. So come forth from your upper rooms and join the band.
Alleluia, Amen.
