The Third Sunday after Pentecost - Rev. Sonia Sullivan-Clifton

Jesus has set his face to go to Jerusalem in other words, he has tunnel vision about where he is going no one and no thing is going to distract him. Kinda like a teenager with a video game or millennials tied to social media. An earthquake could happen, and they’d never know it.

Jesus is on a mission and people want to follow...but some are hesitant – like when you go to get into a pool in early May...you aren’t quite sure. You want to, “but, first” test the water... but, first” get acclimated... and Jesus says to those “but, first” folks, “Nope!” “You have to dive in head first if you want to follow me.”

“But, first” is a phrase that we find in our vocabulary more often than we realize. Sure, but first I have to finish this work...

I’d love to, but first I have to lose this weight...

Certainly, but first I need clean the house...

I’ll go, but first I need more information...

Yes, but first – you fill in the blank...

“But, first” is often what happens when we are in a situation in which we are not completely comfortable or in which we are being asked to do something challenging.

There is a LOT of unknown in the world right now and the unknown is uncomfortable and challenging. “But, first” is lurking to creep in at every opportunity.

One of my favorite things to do is to take teens on mission trips. I love serving others and I love empowering teens to do the same. I also love watching them learn new skills, mature emotionally, and grow spiritually.

A couple of years ago, I had a group of adults ask me if I’d take them on a trip. I will admit that I was skeptical. I have found that most adults are not as flexible as teens, and not as willing to learn new things; not because they don’t want to, but typically because of the life experiences they’ve had. They already know things. But, these adults were adamant and so we planned a trip to Costa Rica.

At the beginning of the trip, I reminded the group, and myself to be honest, that we were there to love people the way God would have us love. We were there to serve people, the way God would have us serve. It may look nothing like what we expect or even think is within our ability. But if we would set our faces toward love, all would be well.

On every trip, and this one was no exception, we are met with things quite different than originally described.

Day One of this trip- Paint this bright blue wall with thin yellow paint. The “but, firsts” came quickly. “But, first” where is the kilz? “But, first” where are the nappy rollers? “But, first”.... the list goes on and on and could have gotten in the way. Within a few minutes, faces got directed toward yellow and four coats later the seemingly impossible became amazing!

Day 2: Play with children, do art with children, make music with children – almost all of whom you don’t understand and who certainly don’t understand you. “But, first” was there to greet us at every turn. “But, first” I want to look around. “But, first” I want to know the rules of the game. “But, first” where is ___________ (fill in the blank with some supply we thought we needed).

However, there really was nowhere to hide from the 37 children and 3 teachers waiting expectantly to experience love from us. Head-first diving was the only option on the table and head-first we dove. And head-first we loved and as a result we were loved.

And, then came Day 3 of serving. We landed in a different village at a Community Center that included a wonderful outdoor pavilion, river, butterfly garden, school, and more. It sounds lovely! And it was! We were told there’d be a variety of jobs for all skill levels and so we stepped off the bus and for the first time, eagerly leaving our “but, firsts” behind.

Out back was a plot of sloped land – full of rocks, and grass, and roots. Our instruction was to clear and level the 30’ x 60’ plot. There were shovels, hoes, 3 wheelbarrows, a pick axe, 18 Americans, 5 Costa Ricans, 1 German, and a lot of sloped rock and root filled land. We were stopped short. The “but, firsts” arrived with a fury. This was it? This was the “jobs for all skill levels?” This is how we were supposed to love and supposed to serve? Really??????

Picture this: there were many among us who had never held a shovel, much less slung a pick axe, or driven a wheelbarrow...and did I mention it was raining, we had on tennis shoes, and 10 of us were over 50? “But, first” was running through every single one of our minds....and then, before we knew it and without even realizing it, there we were...every single one of us, sweating, shoveling, stomping, laughing, and moving more land than any of us imagined possible.

No, it was not what we would have chosen. It was chosen for us, and because we set our face to that land, we accomplished a month’s worth of work in a matter of 5 hours and in strange and unconventional ways we loved and were loved. It was a determined kind of love. One that would not give up.

The kind of love that we know Elijah and Elisha shared for God. Their story is heartwarming and profound. Elijah, the great prophet, has his face is set toward his journey, toward God. Elisha, the new mentee, has his face set toward Elijah.Loyalty and blessing and love are first and foremost.

The “but, firsts” although offered throughout the story have no foothold. These two are living “by the Spirit” as Paul encourages the Galatians to do. Living by the Spirit means putting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control first.

It means letting go of the “but, firsts” which could get in the way of the Spirit.

When we set out to follow God, to live like Jesus, It can be hard, unknown, challenging, scary even, AND YET, when we set our faces toward God, when we shut out the “but, firsts”, when we claim the grace freely offered to us, when we trust the One calling us we will find ourselves empowered to love like Jesus.

Let us pray.

Father, it seems rather simple and yet equally as daunting. Help us to set our “but, firsts” aside. Help us to live by the Spirit.

Help us to love like Jesus. Amen.