April 24, 2005; The Fifth Sunday of Easter Readings: Acts 17:1-15; 1Peter 2:1-10; John 14:1-14; Psalm 66:1-8.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith A Way Prepared The question is put to Jesus: How can we know the way? How can we follow God; how can we live as God would have live? How can we have unity with God? Life is all about choices. Every day we make choices; even on days when it seems that options are limited, there are still choices to be made. Some churches will tell you exactly what to do and what to think. Preachers will stand in the pulpit and tell you the way to salvation--in great detail. People flock to these churches because the way is easy; the answers are provided. In this church, and in most Episcopal Churches, we do not give the easy answers. We do not talk about the answers. We talk about the One who is the answer for us. We do not say, "act a certain way and you will be blessed." We say, "you are already blessed." We do not tell you that the Bible can be read like an insturction book for life. We believe that the Bible can nourish our souls--but we do not select particular verses and tell others how to live. For some that would be easy, but could it be all that God desires for anyone? It can be much more of a struggle, it can take much more effort, but actually having a spiritual life of your own, one that is created through direct relationship with God, is worth the time---and it does take time. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" How can we know the way of life and death; how can we know the answer to life's most important questions? Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." I hear Jesus say to me, in those words, come to me, be with me and you will find the way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus himself is the way. To know the truth, the life, the way, is to be in relationship with him. In answer to 'how,' Jesus offers himself. The answer to 'how' is not a detailed list of rules, or a map with specific directions, rather it an invitation to relationship with the one who came to be with us, and offered himself for us so that we could always, in all times and places and circumstances have relationship with God. So, from this church do not expect to be told what to think or what to do, instead, expect to find people who believe you are already wonderful creation of God and that God wants to relate to you in ways that speak to you. Expect to find people who want to create a faith community that will help you to listen for that, sometimes, still, small, voice of God. I just got back for an eight-day silence retreat at a Jesuit Retreat Center in PA. Silence in that context has its own power and energy. I felt embraced by the silence and able to talk to God in an easy and undistracted way. Sometimes when I go on such retreats, people joke that I might like to stay there. It is nice there. But, I had a strong sense from God that I am called, that you and I are called, to make this church an oasis of prayer in a busy and noisy world. To be an oasis of prayer can mean to be a place where respect for each other's spiritual journey's directs how we relate to each other. It can mean to be a place where we listen for God to guide us as individuals and as a group. It can mean that we are a place of rest and nurture for those who hunger for spiritual companionship. It can mean that we see ourselves as a worshipping community as set aside for the praise and glory of God. As an oasis of prayer in a busy and noisy world, we are seeking to deepen our relationship with God, through Christ, knowing that Jesus is "the way and the truth and the life." Everyone needs time and space to pray about how Jesus is the way for them. If you can take some days in silence, I highly recommend it. But even if you cannot, you can come here every week and find this to be place of retreat, a place set aside, a place that allows for reflection and connection. We hear Jesus say, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." There are so many things that can trouble us and for good reason. Belief in God, relationship with God, does not make life any less complex. Nor should it; beware of those who offer easy answers. And yet, as we open ourselves to the transforming presense of God, through Christ, we come to know the way that leads to peace. We come to know the way that leads to truth--the way that leads to life. Jesus prepares a way for us through himself. May you find here in this space, and in our fellowship, an oasis that refreshes you and helps you to know the One who is our way, our truth, and our life. Amen. Footnote on Religious Pluralism (the fact that many religions exist) "No one comes to the Father except through me." These words were written by a minority religion seeking to define its way--how they connected to God--and that way for Christians is through Jesus Christ. When Jesus says "no one" he is saying, "none of you" to the disciples. These words were written for those first Christians and for you and me as a celebratory claim of access to God. These words are not meant to be read as condemning of other world religions.