I’m in the car with my granddaughter Athena; she was probably five or six. Five and six-year-olds get bored easily in the car, so Papa decided to play a game. “Let’s play I-spy I said.” We had played it a few times before. “OK says Athena.’ “I’ll go first I say.” 

I gaze in the mirror, and she is wearing a grey T-shirt with a big pink unicorn on the front. And I say, “I spy with my little eye, something that is pink.” I think she will get it right off the bat, but of course she is facing forward, not looking down. 

Athena begins to ramble off several things, “the pink stuffy hanging from the visor?” “No, but good guess I say.” The pink lights on the car (as she points to the dashboard, they are actually red).” “Nope I reply.” “The pink flowers by the road?” “Nope again.” She looks down and she has pink laces on her shoes. “My pink laces?” “Nope again, but good guess.” “Papa, are you sure it’s pink she asks?” “Yes, it is.” Finally, she realizes she is wearing a shirt with a pink unicorn on it. “My unicorn T-shirt?” “Yes, I reply, you got it. Good for you.” It had been there all along, but it took her a little while to recognize it. 

The resurrected Christ has been with the disciples for some time. The book of Acts suggests forty days. In that time, he spoke and taught about the peace, justice and healing work that needed to continue. And he advocated for his disciples to continue on his ministry when he was gone.

The disciples wonder about the changes to come and whether Jesus was going to restore the kingdom of Israel. Jesus responds by saying “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.” Unfortunately, you don’t get to know that. Jesus implies. What is left out is the fact that Jesus himself doesn’t really know when that might happen. 

Well then, when might they know? When will the time come when the followers of Jesus receive assurance that the time will arrive when pain and suffering will cease, when peace and justice will reign and love will be present in every heart. Jesus’ response is “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will understand the way to the kingdom. You will know what to do to bring about the transformation of the nation. The Holy Spirit will be your guide as you sew seeds of harmony into brokenness. It will hold you in your doubt and despair. It will sustain you during times of loneliness and discouragement. It will help encourage your journey in the new Christ community. 

But when will this happen? How will it transpire? What do we have to do? Those gathered with Jesus on the day he ascended wanted answers to those questions. And so, they gazed up into heaven as Jesus left them, anticipating. 

Two strangers appear out of nowhere. They are clothed in white, and they say, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

They could easily have said, let’s play a game. It’s called I spy. We will give you a clue and you see if you can figure out what we are talking about. One of them says, “I spy with my little eye, something that is pure love.”

The disciples are flummoxed for sure. They are alone except for the two men next to them. They think of Jesus, but he is gone. They are dumbfounded and have no clue how to respond. One of the cloaked figures says, “look at yourselves, do you not see Jesus in you? The Jesus you knew has passed over but his spirit remains. It is now and forever imbedded in your hearts and has become part of your souls.”

Like Athena the believers were not looking to themselves. They were looking elsewhere, expecting another miracle, another sign to follow, another pathway in the darkness. You are it, is the message. The same Jesus you saw go into heaven is the same Jesus that preached, healed and loved. He has passed that responsibility along to you now. I Spy you, his disciples. You are to do the work that Jesus began. You are the way to the new kingdom

Jesus has passed along his ministry to us. The answer to the “I spy with my little eye” question is you and I, and all those others that understand what Jesus was about. 

In recent weeks and months, we have been subjected to some of the most bizarre and troublesome events of our time. We have shared our frustrations and our concerns of our world in chaos. We have lamented and prayed over those concerns. We have tried to center ourselves on moving forward in hope and remembering those who are much less fortunate than ourselves. It has been and will continue to be tough sledding. 

And so today when we reflect on the passage Phyllis shared from Acts, and we envision a stunned community witnessing Jesus final departure, it might be helpful to celebrate. Celebrate all the incredible stories that remind us Jesus is in the world working through individuals like us. Celebrate because there is much kin-dom living being practiced. 

I went on my computer to the Good News Network and I “I-spied” Jesus at work. 

The first successful human bladder transplant was recently completed at the UCLA Medical Centre, a procedure that was four years in the making. Bladder transplants have not been done previously, in part because of the complicated vascular structure of the pelvic area and the technical complexity of the procedure.[1]

The owner of a California Dry Cleaner is doing his part to help those down on their luck by offering free dry cleaning to any unemployed customer heading to a job interview.

A former Canadian Social Worker is spending his retirement in a similar way to his career. He is on a cross-country tour where he just shows up somewhere, sits down and offers to listen to anyone about anything. And his time is free.

A family-run dairy business has reached a significant milestone this week: Müller UK & Ireland donated the equivalent of four million meals through its partnership with FareShare, an ongoing effort to support low-income people across the UK by transforming surplus food into vital meals.

Thanks to the charity of “Merch Ships” and successful surgery, a boy from Madagascar who has been unable to wear shoes for 13 years due to a childhood injury, can “now wear sneakers for the first time in his life and play football with his friends.”

I read about a story of a grade one boy who was really upset getting on to his school bus. It was pajama day, and he couldn’t participate because he didn’t have a pair of pajamas. His school bus driver went to the dollar store and made the situation right.[2] 

We don’t have to look far of course to witness the ministry of Jesus in our midst. We have been doing it now for almost 100 years as a United Church. How many lives have we touched in those years? How many tears have we dried? How many have felt a belonging? How many outside these sanctuary walls have been touched in some way by grace, friendship and hospitality? 

And who has been responsible for this discipleship, this work to bring about the new kin-dom?  I spy with my little eye – and it’s you! Don’t look skyward for Jesus, he is here.

Thanks for listening this morning, Amen

[1] Surgeons Perform World’s First Human Bladder Transplant at UCLA, accessed May 24, 2025

[2] Bus Driver Saves Day By Getting Pajamas For Boy Who Needed Them, accessed May 24, 2025

Inspired by Revelation 21:1-6 and John 13:31-35

Did you know that there is an “endangered species day?” This year it was last Friday. Endangered species day is a day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting conservation efforts for endangered species worldwide.[1] Endangered species day occurs annually on the third Friday of May. The day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect and conserve species that are at risk of extinction. Like a lot of special days on our calendars, I had no idea it existed.

A first impression from the reading of our text from Revelation this morning, is that the author also concerned himself with species extinction. However, in this case it is the human species that is the focus. The entire book of Revelation is apocalyptic, extolling the end times of the earth as we know it. In todays reading 21:1-2“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 Later in the text, 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”

There are many who suggest the world is a mess, and God has deemed it time to say, “Out with the old and in with the new.” Revelation, for these interpreters, graciously warns its audience, “God is starting over. Don’t get left behind!”[2] 

This mindset has in fact been preached many times over the years from pulpits in North America. And it still is.

Thankfully there are many with other points of view. As the ancient biblical texts are studied more and more, new interpretations arise, new perspectives suggested. That can be helpful, especially when we encounter apocalyptic verses.

Is it possible do you think that the earth and heaven passing away could be a good thing? In these times when we wish for real change in the world, I see the image of something entirely new as desperately needed. There is often so much to hold in our prayers we can’t do it all justice. 

Famine and flood, rising seas and cataclysmic weather events are normal these days. Anger and hostility against neighbouring countries fill the daily news headlines. A total lack of care and empathy for humanity is alarming. Yes God, come in with your omnipotent power and wipe the slate clean. Give us another Noah event. Let’s begin anew! Except, of course, that God told Noah that “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:15 That’s a bit of a contradiction isn’t it. 

Anna Bowden offers a different perspective. She suggests that God doesn’t abandon us. In fact, heaven and earth are not destroyed, because God comes from heaven to be with us.2 “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

We are reminded, says Anna, that “we are not heaven bound. Heaven is bound for us. God has come to dwell among God’s people, even in our moments of pain and suffering. So, yes, it might be tempting to destroy it all and rebuild from the ground up, but that is not the work God calls us to do. God calls us to join God in the good work of redemption, the work of radical care. We don’t have to burn it all down. We don’t have to escape to some new world. God meets us right here on earth. God is not waiting for us to join God in heaven. God is waiting for us to join God in the good work right here on earth.” [3]

I’m drawn to that last line. God is waiting for us to join God in the good work right here on earth.” There is an invitation, God beckons us to join in the mending, healing, reconciling work that needs to be done. God, Creator and Holy Love encourages us to work together in what we could call an incredible massive resurrection. 

In ancient times as in the present, hatred, corruption, and war existed. Selfishness has plundered the human soul and spirit for millennia. And yet God, Holy Wisdom, continues to remind us there are more just ways to travel through life together, and that there is always the potential for renewal. 

I think Jesus’ “New Commandment” we heard today in our gospel reading could be the key. In preaching truth, healing with touch and word, and speaking justice, Jesus had a huge capacity to love. His love was unconditional, and he embraced everyone regardless of their culture, educational, or ethnic differences. That is essence of a new world, a new order of discipleship.

Today Jesus would be here offering you assistance getting in or out of the sanctuary. He would be in the kitchen washing the dishes or serving cookies. He would be helping sort clothing in the Bin and pastoring to those who needed to share their grief. He would be in downtown Kelowna with the addicts or the unhoused. On days like today he would sit on a bench at the Pavilion and offer words of wisdom and empathy to anyone who would listen. Young children would be sitting on his knee as he told stories. 

It would be the same Jesus who lived centuries ago, the same Jesus who said, remember friends the greatest gift you can give is your love. Share that abundantly in whatever way you can.

When we do that, we bring heaven down to earth. We breathe life into the withering soul. We feed the hungry, help to cast out demons, and spread a little sunshine into bleakness. 

The writer of the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos (a small island off the west coast of Turkey) had a vision. 

“See, the home[a] of God is among mortals.
He will dwell[b] with them;
they will be his peoples,[c]
and God himself will be with them and be their God;[d]
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for[e] the first things have passed away.”

It is an incredible, audacious vision. Unfortunately, it’s one that has yet to be realized. Perhaps it might be a bit unrealistic. But Jesus would not think so. His resurrected presence in this time begs us to continue the ministry he started, and work towards the peace and harmony he lived and died for; work toward the time every tear is dried, and pain will be no more.

The how of that is contained in what is likely the most well known of Gospel texts that Brenda shared. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

It is not really a “new” commandment now, but we can resurrect it and live it. That way perhaps we can bring heaven down to earth the way that John of Patmos envisioned.

Thanks for listening this morning, Amen

[1] endangered species day 2025 - Search, accessed May 16, 2025

[2] Commentary on Revelation 21:1-6 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary, accessed May 16, 2025

[3] Commentary on Revelation 21:1-6 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary, accessed May 16, 2025

 Inspired by Acts 9:36-43

“Wake up and smell the roses,” is a rather sarcastic phrase we have all used from time to time. You will remember using it I’m certain. 

Recall when your teenage son or daughter just went a little too far. “Dad will you drive me to the mall, I want to meet up with my friends. Mom, can I have $20, I want to go to the movies. Dad, where are my sneakers. Mom, I have to go, where is my lunch?” Those were exasperating times, times when you wanted to shout, and perhaps you did, my son, “Wake up and smell the roses, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Take some responsibility for crying out loud.”

Sheepishly your daughter arrives home with a note from the principle. She was caught smoking again on the school grounds. And perhaps worse, she presents a failing report card, which also confirms she has been skipping classes. “Girl, you need to wake up and smell the roses. Don’t you realize what the consequences of your actions will be? Don’t you want to graduate?”

It was infuriating wasn’t it. You saw all that potential being wasted. You wanted to grab the child by the shoulders and shake her, “hello, is there anyone in there, wake up, wake up, come back into the real world! Hello, is there anyone home?”

We use that phrase, or some facsimile of it, when we witness idiotic behaviour around us. The individual who flies past you in an all-out blizzard fishtailing down the highway. You numb-scull, wake up already. You’re going to kill someone. 

The irrational, impatient shopper in the line behind you yelling, “hurray up, I don’t have all day here. What kind of service is this?” You think, chill our man, it’s not all about you. Wake up, can’t you see it’s really busy today? The clerk is doing the best she can.”

Some of the best examples come from our political leaders. Inappropriate charges to expense accounts, misappropriation of budgets, interference in awarding contacts. “Wake up already, we’re not completely brainless you know. We know what’s going on.” 

The outrageous lies from the likes of Putin and Netanyahu are hard to stomach. Do your recall Mr. Putin’s original denial that Russian was at war with the Ukraine? Netanyahu is not threatened at all by Hamas in the Gaza strip. He just wants the Palestinians out so Israel can occupy the land. “We know what this is about, Wake up and smell the roses gentlemen, we are on to your games.”

As Jesus’ emissary, Peter has healed before, and he is asked to come to Joppa to raise the woman Tabitha from death. Peter kneels down next to Tabitha (who is also known as Dorcas) and says “Tabitha, get up,” and Tabitha awakes. The moment is another healing miracle, another resurrection. Goodness, gentleness and grace can live again. Factual or otherwise, the significance of this story about Peter’s healing is monumental.

The actual word Peter would have used to speak to Tabitha is the Hebrew word Anastethi (An-as-te-thi ) from which the word anesthetic is derived. It means, arise, get up, stand up or wake up.[1] 

In this case, “wake up Tabitha, is not a criticism. It’s not a wake up and smell the roses, or a wake up, don’t be lazy, you have work to do. It is not a reprimand. 

Tabitha wasn’t famous but she was a disciple of Jesus being described as someone who “was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” Apparently, God had more work for her to do, and so she is raised into discipleship once more. 

Peter’s wake-up call is God’s wake up call. And it is not isolated just to the texts contained in the Acts of the Apostles. That message runs liberally through all of our biblical texts especially the gospels. And that wake-up call is before us each and every day directing us to act justly and love passionately. That means we love one another as ourselves. We speak out for the displaced and the forgotten. We walk alongside the weak and infirm. We speak for those without a voice.

All of us try our best to respond to Peter when asked, “Hello there, Wake Up, Wake up, God needs help.” But we have at times a significant problem – we are anesthetized. We are numbed from the continual lack of progress we are making, and we can’t wake up. The effort required to stay engaged in Jesus’ ministry makes us weary and it is sometimes demoralizing.

From our experience we feel defeated. We have encountered so many roadblocks before, that we just can’t face doing it again. We hear God calling us, “Get Up, Let’s get moving, we have work to do.” But we don’t have an antidote for the anesthetic that has been administered by life, and we just cannot muster the enthusiasm to respond.

If you feel like that at times I can tell you, you are not alone, because I get to that place too. Too exhausted to respond, we just don’t. Too discouraged, “forget it, I’m not trying that again.” Perhaps you have been previously hurt, “and you are thinking why would I respond to that request again? I’m not a martyr.” There is a limit to what can be expected of us and sometimes we reach it. There is just no more gas in the tank. Perhaps that was what was really wrong with Tabitha, she was so worn out and discouraged she couldn’t continue.

What was it then that allowed her to hear Peter? What is it that revives us from our anesthetized state and brings us back. Is the message of this Acts passage one of miracle healing or something else?

A “Wake-Up” call isn’t necessarily a reminder for us to act. We pretty well know what our ministry with Jesus is about. A prompt now and again to keep us on the path is a good thing, but we understand where we need to be going. The hard part of course is in the convincing of others to follow our lead. No, I don’t think, “Ian, Anastethi (An-as-te-thi ), means wake up from death, wake up from deep slumber or even wake up and smell the roses.” Peter would know that about me. He would know that about you. God does too.

No, I think wake up for us means, “remember, regardless of how tired you are, regardless of how discouraged you are, regardless of how fed up you are, we can succeed.” Peter (and God’s) wake up call is about encouraging, supporting and loving. It is in reality a miracle or resurrection as we hear, “wake up, I am with you, you don’t have to do this alone.” Perhaps that is what Tabitha heard, “wake up, I’m here to help.”

The “we” is the Holy Spirit working in and with us. It’s encouragement is the antidote to the anesthetic that would lull us into complacency. It is saying, hang in there, we are a team. Lean on me when you need to. I am here when you are feeling hopeless. Rest in me a while when you are weary and you will find the strength you need. 

Wake up, wake up, wake up and know that when you are beyond coping, when you are at your wits end, when you feel like you could just lay down and never get up again, the voice of Holy Love is there to bring you back. 

Amen and Thanks for listening this morning.

[1] Jennifer T. Kaalund, Commentary on Acts 9:36-43 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary, May 9, 2025  

Jesus’ apostles have continued to preach, teach and heal. Just prior to their arrest by the high priest, they had been bringing the sick into the streets. Apparently great numbers would gather from towns around Jerusalem (5:16) “bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.”[1]

Jesus’ ministry was continuing, his resurrected presence living on as he had promised. It didn’t seem to matter much what the authorities tried to do, the followers believed and would not be silenced.

And when they are questioned by the high priest, (it is really more of a scolding)  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in his name,” they respond “We must obey God rather than any human authority,[b] 30 Just one line from an ancient text, but it packs a most powerful punch.

A former boss of mine during my tenure in Health Canada had great advice for me when I was about to become unglued about a staffing issue. He would say, “Ian best not to poke a sleeping bear with a stick.” The apostles poke a sleeping giant with a hot iron. But their conviction is stronger than any possible consequences they might suffer. 

 Those few words, “We must obey God rather than any human authority,” are indeed most profound. They should be emblazoned on every Coat of Arms and included in every Vision Statement. It would be something wouldn’t it, if those words were fundamental to every constitution that was proudly displayed in every government office. “We must obey God rather than any human authority!”

We must obey God– We must remember above all else not to let our personal agendas take control of us. We must care for everyone as God the creator would. 

If God is compassion and unconditional love, then we must love our neighbour as ourselves. We must see the beauty in every individual, whether or not they have immigration papers, whether or not they are desperate enough to cross unforgiveable deserts in searing heat, or dangerous seas in leaky boats. Obey God means do what God would expect, live like Jesus lived and lives. Practice kindness and live gener-osity. Honour our differences rather than let them separate us. Work together to build relationships rather than prejudge and exclude. 

Building caring, compassionate and loving communities is pretty straightforward. We all know how to do it. And yet that is an unrealized dream. 

It seems there is more energy spent erecting protectionist barriers between neighbours isolating one another, rather than getting to know each another. There is more of an appetite to live based on mistrust rather than mutuality. Holding tightly on to what is seen as a birthright prevails over the possibility of sharing. A perception of what is mine or ours prevails. And a desire to stick to a perceived self-righteous moral high ground, stands in the way of any possible compromise. 

How do you see yourself in God’s community? Are you a follower of Jesus, a believer, a truth-teller? How would you see yourself standing up to the temple priest telling you to stop doing the work Jesus began? Would your answer be similar to that of the apostles? Would the spirit within you motivate you to say that your faith surpasses any human authority?

I ask because today I think it is really important we remember to “Let God Speak.” And when we do, we need to listen carefully to what the Holy Presence is saying. That voice cuts through the rhetoric of selfishness, coercion, condemnation and abuse. The truth prevails.

Pope Francis will be remembered as a real trailblazer in both the Catholic Church, other Churches and faiths and the secular world. He was a truth-teller. He was a pastoral and justice seeking pope, unlike any of his predecessors. 

Francis spoke openly about the climate crisis and environmental stewardship and offered historic apologies to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. He apologized to the Indigenous people of Canada for the trauma they experienced at residential schools. He washed and kissed the feet of women prisoners in Rome. And while it could be said he didn’t go far enough, his allowance for the blessing of “same sex” couples in the Catholic Church was a milestone. 

Francis would also speak critically about abuse of authority and acts of violence, as he did condemn Israel’s continued attacks in Gaza and Lebanon as “immoral” and disproportionate. He actually called for an investigation to determine if Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute(d) genocide, a charge Israel denie(d) while investigations at the U.N.’s top courts procee(d).[2]

I would say that through his papacy, Francis was letting God speak. 

But as it happens to many who speak the truth to power and authority, he got a resounding rebuke on more than one occasion. The last, after a short message of condolence posted by Israel’s foreign minister was removed. The message read, “Rest in peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.”[3] It was actually removed by the Israeli Prime Minister a few hours after it had been posted. Can you imagine? Removing a post offering a blessing?

It seems even in the death of a revered and remarkable world leader politics does not take a back seat. God was speaking about justice. But justice would not be heard, even by the nation where the birth of Christ took place, the nation that biblical literature suggests was favoured by God. 

It doesn’t seem likely to me that God would condemn anyone let alone a saint. 

It is such a sad commentary when we try and let God speak that there are those around us that would rather, we stay complacent and remain quiet. Many ears remain closed. The truth is a hard lesson to face, especially if you are hiding behind deceit. 

Jesus and the apostles both faced the ire of the priestly order. We know Jesus faced the cross as his ministry threatened to expose corruption and self-interest. The apostles carried on in Jesus’ stead preaching justice, equality and healing. Both were letting God speak through them. That message has carried on for millennia. 

We let God speak through us today and everyday when we say our moral standard is not that associated with human authority, it comes from God and God alone. Sometimes we will face the ire of others who would scold us, or ridicule us. But we know when God speaks, we listen. We listen and do our best to follow.

And thank you for listening this morning, Amen 

[1] Acts 5:16, NRSV Updated Edition

[2] Israel's deleted condolence X message on pope’s death, accessed April 26, 2025

[3] Ibid., April 26, 2025

 Inspired by Luke 24:1-12

“This, I believe, is the real danger of our time. Not anger. Not sorrow. But detachment. A giving up. A slow surrender to disconnection.”

These words were shared in a post by our Executive Minister at the Pacific Mountain Regional Council Office, Treena Duncan, in a post last Thursday. She is speaking about the numbness that can become a human condition, when there is just too much for us to cope with. 

We all have a limited amount of coping power, and when that is exhausted, we can become detached from the world. Treena believes that is happening now; to many of us in Canada, many in our churches, and many in our communities.[1] We are well and truly stuck in the doldrums. And between tariffs, counter-tariffs, and rhetoric about our possible annexation with the US, many off us have gone past anger to fear. And fear numbs our consciousness.

Fear is not a good place to be. Fear keeps us off balance. Fear lowers our resilience. Fear promotes disengagement, anxiety and depression. Fear is why Peter denied Jesus three times. Fear is what Jesus’ crucifixion was all about. Fear tried to tell the disciples what would happen to them if they followed Jesus. Fear was the Roman trump card, “look what we will do if you step out of line.” And, for good reason, I think fear is where a lot of us are today. 

In response to being fearful, we are likely to become more and more detached from things that can renew our spirit and keep us hopeful. Easter offers us an opportunity for optimism and confidence. Easter can foster courage in our lives. 

In her message Treena wrote, “Easter comes not only as a celebration—but as a call. A call to reengage. To feel again. To hope again. To risk joy again. Because Christ is risen—not only in the bright places, but in the broken ones too. And that resurrection promise pulls us toward life.” 

I wrote an article to the local paper the other day that some you may have seen. One of the things I mentioned is that I see resurrection every day. I don’t see it in the effigy of Christ clothed in brilliant light, but in Christ’s presence within and among us. That presence is the personification of the tenacity of the human spirit. It is the determination to go through and past the pain and anguish, in the belief that something new and better will prevail. It is the resolve to “stay the course” despite the hardships, pitfalls and disappointments. And most difficult of all, it is the conviction that we must move forward through sorrow and grief. We need to move past our fear to do that. 

That doesn’t in any way mean to diminish or trivialize the real fears that haunt us on a daily basis. The fear someone we love may suffer a life altering illness or accident. The fear that we might lose employment or savings. The growing fear of what might happen to Canada under the existing US Administration. The fear of facing our own death.

We read that Jesus didn’t fear death. His death was predicted, and he was prepared for it. However, I can’t imagine even Jesus, in his humanity, not being fearful of the physical pain that he would endure at the hands of the Romans.

We can’t shut off our fear response. Fear is a natural human reaction to something in the environment that we know might harm us. Fear serves us well in many cases. 

But living in fear is another matter. That is debilitating, unnerving, and unhealthy. That was exactly the Roman’s plan in Jesus’ time. Keep everyone fearful and stay in control. Unfortunately for them it didn’t last. Soon a groundswell of Jesus followers would peek out from behind closed shutters. They would meet in secret. Eventually they would gain confidence and speak out. Fear was cast aside, and Jesus would be resurrected once more.

That is the story we must remember and retell this Easter Day. In spite of those that would want to control the world through fear, we must rally and live the Jesus story. 

To share once more from our Executive Minister’s Easter message, Treena urges, “This year, I pray that we don’t skip past the sorrow. That we don’t deny the wilderness we’ve walked. But that we also don’t stay there. Because Easter invites us to a deeper joy—one that isn’t shallow or performative but rooted in the whole story. A joy that’s been cracked open by grief. A joy that sings because it has wept.[2]”  

Easter morning some years ago a great tragedy was righted, a miracle occurred. Through tears of shock at the betrayal and loss of their mentor and friend, the women who had arrived at the tomb received a great gift, hope. Jesus’ body was not there. The crazy, impossible truth, “He is not here but has risen.”[d] Joy filled their hearts and they ran as fast as they could to tell the others. 

And since that time millions of us have believed in the truth of that story. It has been the mantra of generations. Those that have lived through two world wars, and those who are unjustly sacrificial pawns in the conflicts between ego driven world leaders now. The impoverished whom toil endlessly to fuel the desires of the wealthy. The refugees that cling to the tiniest of hopes of a new beginning for their families. 

 Today migrants go to sleep fearing deportation. Same sex couples fear imprisonment. Women in some countries fear arrest, detainment and beating because they say no to male dominance. Individuals and families fear they will not have enough to eat. The unhoused fear sleeping in the cold, the addicted fearful of a tainted injection. 

There are many who live through fear, it is rampant, possibly as much today as it has ever been. That, at least in part, is why the Easter message is so vital. 

The hope by some that goodness, kindness and generosity could be silenced by fear failed. Those who believed they were in total control would be surprised. The manipulators, coercers and the corrupt would some day be held accountable. 

That has to be our story this Easter day. Truth rises from the tomb. Love is renewed. Hope walks away from the grasp of those that would silence it. 

Joy rose with the dawn that Easter morning long ago. Joy visits us this day and we are resurrected past our fear into great hope.

Thanks for listening today.

Amen

[1] Treena Duncan, Executive Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council, personal email, April 17, 2025

[2] Treena Duncan, Executive Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council, personal email, April 17, 2025

  Inspired By: Luke 19:28-40

We say things like, “that’s a no-brainer,” “that is a plain as the nose on his face.” One of my favourites from a former colleague - “that is intuitively obvious.” Those are comments we make when the expected response or action is abundantly clear. Any alternate response would just be inconceivable.

It was inconceivable that afternoon at Riverside Park in Kamloops when Rick Hansen came through on his “Man in Motion” tour. It was inconceivable that the gathered crowd would just give him a nod or a wave. No, everyone was ecstatic. Applauds and cheers and shout outs, “way to go Rick.” The man who had crossed the globe in his wheel chair demonstrating the potential of people with disabilities, had become a celebrity, a house hold word. And he was in our midst. Had it been appropriate I would have run out from behind the roped off area and tried to shake his hand. 

The crowd gathered to greet Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem were ecstatic too. Can you imagine the excitement? He was real! The man everyone had been talking about was right there in front of them. Were the stories about his healing powers true? Could he raise someone from the dead? Was he really the chosen one who would bring peace and order to the people and free them from bondage? I’m sure many reached out to Jesus on that colt trying at least to touch his clothing. I would have. If there were reporters in those days, he would have been inundated.

And yet some of the Pharisees called out to him asking that he stop his disciples. “Stop the procession. Stop this celebration. This is not the time and place for a party!” 

The Pharisees, the more conservative Jewish religious sect, had clashed with Jesus before. Was this another of their objections? “You defame God coming here getting all this attention. Who do you think you are?” Or were they possibly worried about his safety? The text says, “some of”, not all of the Pharisees. It could have been that perhaps they were concerned about the response of the Roman authorities to his arrival. Maybe they were worried that violence would break out. 

Whatever the reason, in wonderful metaphor Jesus responds, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

“I can’t possibly stop it even if I wanted to. In my coming the people see possibility. They see truth in what has been predicted. They see harmony once again. They see freedom from their constant oppression. They see the coming of justice and equity. The people have been imprisoned far too long. They want to live in peace, a peace that the emperor does not understand. No, I cannot stop the celebration. I cannot stop God from being with the people. If I did the very stones beneath our feet would cry out in objection.”

This is a truth, “too good to have its mouth shut” says Stephen Shoemaker.[1] That is a brilliant comment. Along with Jesus rides God the liberator, God who delivers hope even to the hopeless, God who brings unconditional love to all who are open to receive it. That is a truth that cannot be silenced.

No, one cannot stop the kind of hope that Jesus brought that day. And I would venture to say that we cannot stop the kind of hope Jesus brings today either. Regardless of what might be predicted through the chaos of our times, the possibility of birthing something new, something profoundly better, is the truth that Jesus offers still right now, in this moment.

God spoke through Jesus those many years ago and speaks to us again today. We experience the excitement of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem when we acknowledge that the dream never dies. Jesus could not quell the crowd. Rick Hansen could not stop us from cheering and clapping. That would be like trying to stop a volcano when it is about to erupt. 

No, the horse has left the stable, the die has been cast, the toothpaste is out of the tube. We can’t go backwards. Jesus is here and Jesus will stay with us.

Many do think otherwise and give into becoming complacent. “Our destiny is beyond our control they say, we don’t have the capacity to encourage change. Why waste our energy on pointless tasks? The outcomes are predetermined. Let’s just do our own thing, worry about ourselves and our families, keep our noses clean and mind our own business.” 

But doing that is not a Jesus way. It is giving in to the Pharisees and quenching the celebration of hope when it is needed most. Its acquiescing to greed, power, corruption and abuse of authority. 

I hope that some of you have found some wisdom in what I have shared so far this morning. Having said that, you might be thinking, Ian that is all well and good, but staying positive isn’t easy at times. And it is a real challenge to keep believing when there is so much unrest in the world.

Yes, these are uncertain times. Goodness and mercy are not abundant. 

Luke’s Jesus says, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” You can’t silence the truth. You can silence me infers Jesus. You can silence my friends. You can silence the crowd. Even the stones know truth and they will shout it out if they need to. God’s truth will not be quiet. 

We wouldn’t be the people we are if allowed ourselves to be silenced. Regardless of circumstance, the Jesus in us continues to push back, resisting inflated egos, tyranny, oppression, racism, sexism and other evils. Those are tenets of our faith, foundations of our being. Even the stones we walk on know that. 

Thanks for listening this morning.

Amen

[1] Feasting on the Word, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, Volume 2, David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, Editors, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2009, p 157 

  Inspired by Isaiah 43:16-21 and John 12:1-8

I had a plan. I had run in the 10K BMO Classic the year before so why not up the ante and go for something grander. Yes, I will train for the half marathon! It was May of 2011, the run in October. Lots of time. 

I began down at the track at TRU. A couple of laps at first then 3 and 4. That’s about a mile, I think. I did that several times a week. I think probably every second day. My brother, who is a runner, advised to put in some “wind sprints” too so I added those. Once around the track then a 100 m sprint, slow down, another loop, another 100 m sprint. I recall the first few weeks being brutal. The heart in the throat kind of thing after 10 min or so. 

However, I graduated to a few laps then once around the university campus. Then twice around (about 5 km). Soon enough I was down at Riverside Park running over the bridge and out by the river through N. Kamloops. I varied the route and kept at it - 10 km, 12 km. I was getting stronger. 

When I was in Vancouver on business I would run along the waterfront by the Pan Pacific and then along the sea wall. It actually started to be enjoyable, something all runners tell you happens. 

Well with the run in October I had to push a little harder. I made the big breakthrough in September. Lenore came with me. My goal was to purposefully run the route planned for the half marathon. We parked in Stanley Park, and I was off one Saturday morning. Along the sea wall, up to prospect point, all around the park, out into the city, over to the planetarium and back. In all, 19 km. I was pumped and Lenore was impressed. I was nearly ready. 

A couple of weeks later I am in the Urologist’s office. An ultrasound had shown something amiss with a kidney. Well, what to do doc? Some tests Ian. Let’s see what is going on. Into the hospital one set of tests. Back home. Then back in. Scopes and such. 

Say doc I said after the second array of tests, (because Lenore asked me to), I have a half marathon to run next week. Do you foresee any issues? Well, it’s probably OK he says, but you might bleed. You need to be prepared for that. Well, the nurse promptly told me no half marathon for you and of course my sweetheart was adamant. Nyet, no way, no chance, nadda, not going to happen. 

Dang it anyway, I was training to be a stallion and now the stallion was confined to the stable. I was not impressed. All that endurance training for nothing.

Lent is a reminder of endurance training. 

Isaiah reminds us of the incredible endurance of the Hebrew people during the exodus. They were led across the Red Sea with Pharaoh in hot pursuit. The hazardous marathon continued, an expedition into uncertainty which would last well over a generation. They are to eventually arrive in what we know to be modern day Israel, “the promised land,” but in the interim much suffering ensues. Uncertainty, fear, a lack of confidence in Moses and a lack of trust in God develop. 

Of course it did, faith can only do so much. Forty years in the wilderness is a very long time to wait in anxiety and deal with hardship. The land of “milk and honey” seemed a dream, not a reality.

Isaiah’s prophetic words are a hard sell to another community of exiles, another community enduring great hardship, the Judeans in Babylon. Seven hundred and fifty (750) or so years after Moses, Isaiah tries to encourage the Jewish people, by predicting an end to their seventy-year (70) imprisonment. He recalls Moses making a way through the Red Sea in escape. He recalls making a way in the wilderness as did the Hebrews in the first exile. Isaiah predicts God will give drink to all of God’s people. God will give sustenance, lift up, provide for, comfort. Isaiah intends to ignite reassurance among a people, who must have lost all hope of ever returning home. They had to endure hardship first.

There is a remarkable similarity between the Hebrews in Exodus, the Judeans in Isaiah and events of our time. 

The Berlin Wall prevented people from fleeing from East to West Berlin. For twenty-eight (28) years countless families were torn apart, unable to see one another again. I can’t imagine the heartache they endured. Losing complete contact with someone you loved would be devastating. 

The Palestinian people are to this day still unable to establish a true homeland. They are being squeezed out of real estate that they have called home for centuries. And they have no where to go. Along with shattered homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and places of worship, are shattered hopes and dreams. How much are they expected to endure?

Isaiah speaks about God doing a new thing. In all that we have witnessed in history and all we witness today, where is God in the lives of those that are asked to endure far too much? Where is God doing a new thing? Where is God making a way in our wilderness? I wonder because I often don’t recognize it. 

I recall being very frustrated when I had to cancel my plan for the half marathon run. In retrospect however I know that I was “almost there.” I had glimpses of the achievement. I could feel it, sense it. I knew it was within my reach. For reasons outside of my immediate control, I was unable to get across the finish line. But that does not mean the goal is unachievable. Perhaps I shall try again and this time, perhaps a different result can be realized. That will be something new and a celebration.

As we follow Jesus through these 40 Lenten days, the requirement for great endurance stands clearly in front of us once more. Jesus moves further and further towards his destined conflict with the Roman authorities and Pilot. He endured both betrayal and denial by friends. He endured public ridicule and beating and finally, the physical and emotional torment of a barbaric execution.

I wonder if our Lenten time and recollection of Jesus’ journey asks us to be prayerfully mindful that times of celebration may one day be realized for the suffering of the world. Perhaps Isaiah’s prophesy can become a reality for those that endure heartache, grief, separation from loved ones, loss of home and homestead, and worst of all loss of hope. Perhaps there will be a time when God will do a new thing, making a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters; making a way in the wilderness and waters in the desert; a time when what has been endured is ended, and there will be a new beginning.

That is the promise that the belief in Jesus brings. Somewhere through the sometimes-excruciating pain of what is now, a thread of love is woven into being. That love grows into life in seeds of reconciliation, peace, forgiveness, and justice for all.

We follow a man who paved the way for that hope. We continue to follow him now on the way to Golgotha where some will try to extinguish his life and his spirit. But we know that doesn’t happen. The Jesus then is the Jesus now. He endures the pain of the world with us. And his resurrection love keeps us hopeful.

Thanks for listening this morning.

Amen