A Come and See Story

A sermon preached with the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, California.

This morning we find Jesus at the beginning of his earthly ministry. He’s in Galilee when he meets Philip, who responds to Jesus’s call to follow as though he’s been waiting for it all his life.

And Philip finds his friend Nathanial. “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” You can just hear the youthful earnestness and optimism. Which is met with a cynical quip: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Woof. You know the feeling of being so excited about something or proud of something, and you’re met with rejection? It’s not good.

I can imagine responding all sorts of ways to Nathanial. Loud and defensive, I might point out Nathanial’s response was a bigoted slur. I might yell at him for hurting my feelings. I might shut down completely and walk away. His loss.

But Philip is, clearly, not me.

His response is brilliant and simple. “Come and see,” he says.

And Nathanial does come and see. And what he finds is a God who meets him where he is. Who playfully quips right back: “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” A God who knows him. And, most importantly, who loves him. A God who cuts through the protective barrier, and tells him, you think this is good? You ain’t seen nothing yet. The world is going to change. Everything will be made new.

It is hard to invite people into Christian community. It is hard to invite people to church. It is hard to use words to explain it and, in my experience, generally ineffective to start out with theological statements or proselytizing.

But I think this “come and see” approach Philip and Jesus model for us this morning is more at the heart of what this Christian thing is all about. And, as it turned out, an awfully effective evangelism strategy. Because ours is a lived faith. And when we show the love of God through our actions, we are fostering what you might call “come and see moments.”

This year’s Christmas letter from Scott included a message from vestry member Kirby Marion. She reminded us that “the final part of St. John’s mission statement states that we are to manifest God’s love through action. As a community we have always been proud of our actions - from feeding the hungry, clothing the weary, and providing transportation for the youth of the area.”

That same email included a message from vestry member Lara Pierpoint, who told us that “If there's one thing we (parents) really want for our kids it's for them to understand, to listen, to see and to bring action and justice into the communities around them …” And in providing these opportunities “we can make a huge difference in our communities and we can start to grow the church.”

This business of feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoner, caring for the sick, advocating for justice and fighting discrimination and oppression of any kind—it’s not just one arm of our lives together we might think of as “outreach” or “justice ministry.” It’s also simply who we are – it is the way Jesus promised we can come and see him. Come and see God. Over and over. And the way we can provide that opportunity to others.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the life of Christian martyr the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who insisted the church must, quote: “reaffirm over and over again the essential immorality of racial segregation.” Beyond that though, he insisted the church must show this message – in how its members conducted themselves, got involved, and welcomed all people. He said: “It is not enough for the church to work in the ideological realm, and to clear up misguided ideas. To remain awake through this social revolution, the church must engage in strong action programs to get rid of the last vestiges of segregation and discrimination.”

King spoke those words in 1966. He was calling for the church to support new civil rights legislation. To write their representatives and mobilize support within the community. Then as now, Christian leaders were hesistant to wade in these waters – not just to talk, but to act. But King insisted must show the love of God. We must act, and then invite others to come and see.

Cynicism like Nathanial’s is a protective armor. I get it. I use it too. It’s so much easier to joke, to quip, to deflect, to reject, than it is to imagine something better for ourselves and for others. We don’t want to be disappointed. We don’t want to get played. To be told we’re naïve in this hard, hard world of seemingly insurmountable problems.

But Jesus offers us something new and something different. Jesus offers us hope. Possibility. God’s unlimited and unrestricted love. And the reality of a whole new world to come.

In following Jesus, our action provides a glimpse of that new world.

Do you have a “come and see” story? I’ve heard quite a few over the years. People who saw the love of God manifest through Christian action. Who joined the church when they saw it was not segregated, like every other institution in town. Who joined the church when they saw people of all sexual orientations and of all genders welcomed and celebrated. Who joined the church because they saw members marching for justice. Who saw members visiting prisoners. Who saw members protecting and respecting sick and disabled people. Who saw members welcoming immigrants. All in the name of God. I’d love to hear your come and see stories. Find me!

Now. Just imagine the stories people we don’t know yet will tell years from now, because we at St. John’s took action, and then, like brave Philip, said to our friends, our neighbors, our family members: come and see.

Come and see us care for one another like family. Come and see as we make and pack lunches for Vision. Come and see as we provide warm clothes and blankets for unhoused people. Come and see as we support and show up for our partner Genesis, which centers its work on “the most vulnerable in our community (youth, elders, people with disabilities).”

Come and see “him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”