Sunday's Message on Unity and Ocala First United Methodist Church

Luke 9:28-43 – Astound All the People

⁴³ Everyone was astounded by God’s greatness.

The crowds were astounded not because they saw Jesus transfigured. Only three of Jesus’ disciples had witnessed what had happened on the mountaintop. They were astounded by God’s greatness because they experienced their own lives changing because of Jesus.  They had hope where they had been hopeless. They found faith where there had only been doubts.  They found love where there had only been judgement. They found healing where there had only been brokenness. They found life where there had only been death. 

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and the church was born, the crowds were astounded once more. They were astounded not because they had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection or ascension, but because they were seeing the lives of the disciples radically change.  Those disciples who had hidden in fear behind closed doors suddenly stepped forth in boldness of faith. God’s greatness was made known through their courage and willingness to risk everything to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. 

When the world looks at Ocala First UMC are they astounded? When they see you and me as followers of Jesus Christ, do they see the greatness of God?  Are they astounded because they can see our lives have changed because we follow Jesus? When they see how loving or how joyful we are . . . when they see the patience and the peace that passes understanding take hold of our lives . . . when they experience the deep goodness and gentleness of our souls . . . when are recipients of our gracious generosity of spirit . . . all the fruits that are born in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

As United Methodist Christians, we now have an opportunity.  The world has just seen us in divisive conflict at a global level.  The news articles are full of questions about which church members, churches, annual conferences, or even whole jurisdictions might leave the denomination.  Disagreement means division in the eyes of world.

Let us astound all the people by showing them that unity does not require uniformity.  What credit is it to us to be unified only with those who already think, act, and believe as we do? Anyone can be unified in those circumstances.  No, the unity that astounds all the people with the greatness of God is a unity that overcomes and transcends our differences. And that kind of unity requires humility, grace, love and forgiveness. As John Wesley said in his sermon on "Catholic Spirit” - Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?

Church, if we would be that people, we will astound the world.  We will astound the world by being a church for all God’s children through our Baptismal waters.  We are a church for all people . . . people of deep faith and no faith . . . people who are old and young . . . people who are rich and poor . . . people who are conservative and liberal . . . people who are gay and straight . . . people of all races, ethnicities, nationalities and languages . . . all peoples (Book of Discipline, para. 140)

When we find that deep, sacred heart of unity, we will astound all the people who only know the brokenness of division. Indeed, the greater our differences, the greater our witness of unity in Christ becomes. May our prayer today be the one we offer each time we come to the table for Holy Communion:

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

   one with each other,

   and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory

   and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

What could be more astounding?