Erl Purnell Sermon

Easter 4 ~ April 13, 2008 ~ A sermon preached by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell at Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT

Acts 2.42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2.19-25; John 10.1-10

Well now, good morning Benjamin Reelitz LaVigne. Good morning Alex, Austin and Ethan. All of the rest of you are welcome to listen in, but mostly, I just want to have a chat with Benjamin for a while.

Benjamin, although you may not have understood all of the lessons, a shepherd theme runs through them. Because you’ve not heard me talk about Jesus as a shepherd before, let me assure you, he was a lousy shepherd. Maybe not that bad. But, the time he left the whole flock to go out and find one lowly lamb, that was simply irresponsible and foolish. No good shepherd would think of doing that. Fortunately, he saved the lamb, and all of Creation is better for it.

By the way, there was a man who lived a really long time ago, longer ago even than Jesus, who’s name was Jacob. He had a mess of kids and he named one of them Benjamin. Benjamin, too, was a shepherd. Who knows, you might just have a flock of sheep in your future. All of which is to say, Benjamin is a terrific name!

Anyway, back to Jesus. He’s a very good guy. He’s nice and cares a lot about everybody. Not just some folks, but every-single-body. In that way, he’s like a shepherd because a shepherd tries hard to care for all the sheep in the flock. So, Benjamin, one of the things I want to say today is: Do all you can to be a really good guy and care about everybody else as well as yourself.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. Luke says it’s a good idea to pay attention to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship with each other, and to eating together and praying together. But, my friend, it’s hard to do all of these things alone. There are people to teach you along the Way, and later, you’ll teach others. Stick with your family and friends, and find and make new friends as you go along. What I’m really saying is, build community with other people. This church is an example of a community of like-minded folk who care about you, your mom and dad and your brothers and sister. It’s always good to share fellowship, food, and friendship with others in a community like this.

Sometimes things are going to be rough for you. You’ll be hurt or hungry or hassled. It’s no fun. But, it’s part of the journey on this fragile earth, our island home. In these early years, you’ve got to learn to pluck yourself up and keep going. It might not be fun or easy. In fact, it might be down right hard. Which reminds me to say, don’t feel sorry for yourself. It won’t help.

Of all the blather you’re hearing this morning, perhaps the biggest take-away is the lovely Shaker hymn we’ve just sung. Benjamin, truly, it is a gift to be simple and it’s a gift to be free.

You’ll have more chances to make life complicated and confusing than you have little Os in a family sized box of Cheerios. People will give you tons of stuff and you’ll want even more. You might choose to make your life about stuff—most people do these days—but, Benjamin, it’s a bad idea. Stuff is just stuff. Relationships are what beauty is made of. Being generous is the best way to get rich. Forgiveness and compassion will make you feel the best, even better than seeing Boston beat the Yankees … well, maybe not that.

So, Benjamin, instead of stuff, come down in the valley of love and delight.

The Shakers also teach us to be gentle and fair. Isn’t that the way you’d like people to treat you? Of course it is. But, unfortunately, the golden rule doesn’t say a thing about what anybody else is going to do. It’s only a measure for your own behavior. So forget about saying something “just isn’t fair”. Benjamin, choose the path of your own gentleness and fairness. In that way, you’ll make a difference.

It’s hard to say how many mornings you’ve got in front of you. We all hope a lot! How easy it may be, though, to wake up and say, “Ugh. Another day.” On the other hand, It’s a gift to wake up and breathe the morning air. It’s another choice you have. If you engage life and what’s before you with good spirit, guess what? You’ll get back all that you’re giving. You see, you only get as good as you give. Even when those hard things are happening, charge into life and you’ll have a blast. Yes, wake up and breathe the morning air, but not like it’s the first day of the rest of your life, instead, like it’s the last day you have to live. Turn, turn, turn and come round right so you live with joyful abandon!

One more thing before we celebrate your baptism. This is straight out of the Shaker hymn because I can’t improve on it at all.

‘Tis a gift to be loving, ‘tis the best gift of all.
Like quiet rain, it blesses where it falls.
And if we have the gift, we will truly believe,
‘Tis better to give than it is to receive.

My young friend—Benjamin Reelitz LaVigne—today we welcome you into a family of people who are traveling the Way just as you are. Sometimes we know the way; sometimes we rely on others to lead us; sometimes we’re all lost; sometimes we are blessedly brought back into the fold after a cold night’s darkness. My point? We’re all in this together. My wish for you today is that you live in simple elegance and elegant simplicity. Blessings and …

Amen.