Nothing Will Keep Me From Loving You

Brad Sullivan

Maundy Thursday, Year C

March 24, 2016

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Nothing Will Keep Me From Loving You

Last weekend Kristin and I spent Friday night with my cousin and his wife in Tyler, TX.  We went to a great barbeque place and then to a pub and had some local beers.  While were there, Kelly, my cousin-in-law told us about talking earlier that day with her co-workers about what they were doing for the weekend, and Kelly said, “oh, we’re going to have a great weekend, my cousins are coming into town.”  Somehow, it came up that Kristin and I are both priests, and Kelly’s friends said, “Oh, what are you going to do?”  She said, “No, no, it’s ok.  They’re cool.” 

Somehow and for quite a number of reasons, Christians and especially priests are associated with no fun.  It’s like this guilt feeling like we get to have fun, so long as we don’ t get caught.  I remember in college hearing about a Christians on campus group that told their members that when they went into a bar, to be sure to hide any crosses they wore as jewelry so that no one would think badly of Christian folk. 

How crazy, messed up, backwards, and completely missing the mark is that? 

As Christians, as disciples of Jesus, we certainly do intend to live well.  We intend to live in such a way as not to bring harm to others and not to bring harm to ourselves.  In fact, if we’re really living as disciples of Jesus, we take it a step further and intend to live in such a way to bring about good for other.  We serve one another.  Of course we do.  That’s what love does. 

We also fail miserably a lot of the time both at not harming and at doing good.  So far I have described nothing that would separate a Christian from anyone else.  You don’t have to be a Christian to want not to harm others, and you don’t have to be a Christian to want to do good for others.  You certainly don’t have to be a Christian to fail miserably. 

What makes us Christians, quite simply, is Jesus.  We rely on Jesus.  We rely on his grace and his love to nurture us, guide us, forgive us, and love us. 

Jesus’ command to his disciples was that they love one another.  Jesus’ command to us is that we love one another.  Not that we don’t have fun, not that we try to hide having fun from each other, or God forbid from a priest.  Love one another. 

Love means digging deep.  Love is not a surface affair.  Love means we’re going to get our hearts broken.  Love means we’re going to get dirty as we love others who have fallen.  Love means being with and loving people as they are, not as we want them to be.  Love also means that no amount of failing at love will end the love.  “Nothing will keep me from loving you,” Jesus said, “now love each other that way.”

Not Fire Not Ice – Ben Harper.  

There is not a river wide.

Not a mountain high.

And neither sin nor evil.

Could change how I feel inside.

Could change how I feel inside.

Not all the strength of the ocean.

Not all the heat from the sun, from the sun.

Now, others have tried, I just can't deny.

For me you are the one.

For me you are the one.

The true love is priceless.

For true love you pay a price.

But there's nothing can keep me from loving you.

Not fire, no not ice.

Not fire, no not ice.

Like a hero or a champion.

You are the best, you're the best.

Like religion or superstition.

With you I am blessed.

With you I am blessed.

Now the river may grow wider.

The mountain may reach past the sky.

And wether or not you feel the same.

My love shall never die.

My love shall never die.

The true love you give and take.

The true love is sacrifice.

But there's nothing can keep me from loving you.

Not fire, no not ice.

Not fire, no not ice.

Not fire, no not ice.

Amen.