The tendrils of the Church Spread Wide

Jesus said to his disciples, ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower…Abide in me as I abide in you…
I am the vine, you are the branches.


I love this image and how it dovetails into John’s letter…


Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love…if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.


The Vine of God is immense. We might have a romantic idea of a thin vine that carefully navigates the border of a drawing or book of text.


We may imagine a spindly growth that we are just trying to deter.
But last weekend Billy and I spent at least an hour dealing with an invasive vine overcoming the forsythia in the rectory yard. They may seem spindly, but they are not - it reaches out its tendrils to incorporate all; whether it is tree or post or wall.


Vines are not actually like neat calligraphy on a family  tree. Vines are robust. Vines use tendrils and holdfasts and words that sound kind and gentle (if they are where we want them to be). If they are actually for support.


The vine of life: God’s vine reaches out to all. Think of the vineyards vine - the power in that metaphor - the extent and breadth of its vision!




That Love is immense… and this is what Philip and the other disciples have been asked to tend. They have been asked to reach out their branches to all the nations.
It is a dangerous time in the Gospel. Stephen has just been stoned to death; a persecution rose up against the church in Jerusalem and scattered them throughout Judea and Samaria. Saul (St. Paul himself before his conversion) is busy going door to door and arresting both men and women followers of Christ.


Brave Philip goes down to Samaria to continue spreading the Gospel. Today we hear of this joyous encounter with the Eunuch. We are told it occurs on a "wilderness road" between Jerusalem and Gaza. Wilderness roads play important roles in many of our readings. They are in-between spaces, often dangerous, and the stories display "the workings of God outside of human boundaries and conventions."(1)


The Eunuch too, is an individual who inhabits a body and a role outside of average human convention. Eunuchs held a role in society, but they were often slaves and servants who worked closely with royal women - and who were castrated with or without their consent. We can’t be sure in every case. But regardless, they are inhabiting bodies that have been altered.


And this Eunuch is also certainly an outsider to Philip’s clan. He is neither entirely Jewish nor Gentile. He is from Ethiopia; and while he is an entrusted servant, he nevertheless is a servant, a eunuch, and quite different from Philip.


But Philip trusts, as the first letter of John states: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because God first loved us.”


An angel of the Lord sends Philip to the Eunuch who is on the road reading Isaiah - and the Holy Spirit tells Philip to “join him.”


So Philip does… he runs up alongside the chariot - and he asks him whether he understands what he is reading. The Eunuch says, not without someone to guide me... "And he invites Philip to get in and sit beside him.”


What trust they had - What a leap of faith on a dangerous road for these two strangers to connect.


Philip takes a leap of faith to continue his ministry…. And to extend guidance to a stranger on the road - and the Eunuch in turn extends hospitality. It is very intimate. You can imagine the two sitting side by side in a chariot discussing scripture and the message of Jesus “the messiah” with such excitement!
The Eunuch is so taken with Philip's evangelism, that he asks to be baptized on the spot!


"What is to prevent me...?" he exclaims.


He hears and he understands that it is good - and he takes a leap of faith...and Philip is there to greet this "outsider" as a full member of the Body of Christ. Their trust turns what might have been an isolated wilderness journey into a unitive joyous event.




Many people are still metaphorically on a wilderness journey. People who feel cut off from the vine. Today this passage particularly resonates with the transgender community - and the Episcopal Church is celebrating their inclusion this month. It brings hope and consolation, that we all may abide in the Love of God.


I'm bringing this forward today, because I want you to know the church you are a part of. It is not simply a political or moral issue. The Episcopal Church, unlike many other churches, believes it is an issue of Love.


Love in God is about abiding… and Resurrection life is about trust and unity - and remembering that God's LOVE is always greater than our human boundaries, conventions and expectations!


Today many of us are concerned about what is happening with young people and issues around transgenderism. We are concerned rightfully about our youth having surgeries too early. We can remember the trials of junior high and high school clearly. Puberty is rough.


Regardless of how the politics and medicine around transgenderism evolves, these issues of identity and how we present are real, and personal, and connected to our relationship with God. And so we must trust.


The Episcopal Church is inclusive, Thanks be to God!


We believe transgender individuals were created transgender by God.


And since 2012 transgender individuals have been fully accepted into the ordination process. We are a church with transgender clergy.


….As the Eunuch says
“What is to prevent me?”
And rightly so, our church says: Nothing!


We must remember, fear has not reached perfection in Love.


And The Episcopal Church is working to perfect Beloved Community.


Perhaps the Eunuch was trusting of Philip because his Queen entrusted him with her treasury. Trust builds trust. And that trust allowed something beautiful to emerge - and blossom into Baptism and discipleship: as wholeness into life-giving community.


The Eunuch was converted, but so are we through a story of unitive and abiding Love.


“For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.”


The Lord the Giver of Life - and Life in Abundance!


Jesus said,
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”


All of the disciples of God in love -  in us provide the support - the tendrils and the branches of this vine that is meant to spread to all peoples.


Amen.


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