Who do you say that I am?

Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus then knew he could launch into the "tough bits." Who do you say that I am? Who do I say that you are? What comes next?

This is

The Relational Question.

Never mind that Jesus asked it

Ok

Jesus asked it

And Peter got it

Almost right.

Still

I think of everyone

In the known universe

And beyond

All the people

All the creatures,

All things sentient

And even insentient

Like that rock

Over there.

For the sake of conversation

Who is that other?

Who am I

In relation to you?

Who are you

In relation to me?

Who do you

Say that I am?

Who do I

Say that you are?

Then comes the listening

More listening

Even more listening

And perhaps

Just maybe

A response.

Theme

Years ago I read about a preacher who somehow worked "water baptism" into every sermon. His congregation waited for the reference every Sunday. I believe we all have themes, clergy or not. What's yours?

Clergy often speak

Of having one sermon

To preach,

One revolving theme.

If congregations are lucky

It is a big theme

With lots of detail,

Many permutations

Which can go on

For years.

Since seminary

My theme has been

Openness

Even before then

It was

Openness.

Clearly

I am still learning,

Even as I mostly do not preach

Anymore.

Now I sit and listen

For themes,

For sermons we each

Are called to preach.

Window dressing

I have long felt it unnecessary to preach after we have read the Passion.  Instead I offered a few words before the reading, and offered a period of silence afterwards.  But really, as my friend offers, the Whole Week speaks for itself.

My friend says

There are so many sermons

Already

In Holy Week:

The entire story

Of the donkey and palms,

The strewing of garments;

The Meal

The foot washing

The altar stripping;

The exchange in the Garden,

The Cross

Oh the Cross,

The tearing of the Veil

Between Heaven and Earth;

Then the Waiting

Oh the Waiting

For the Stone

Rolled away.

So many sermons

Already.

Anything more

Is window dressing.