July 5, 2009
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

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Yesterday was the American Independence Day Holiday. A lot of Americans living in Okinawa felt a bit homesick and wished they could be back to their native land. A lot of Okinawan people also wished that the Americans would go back to their native land. In other words, "Yankee go home." What would it be like to go home and still not be welcomed there? That is what happened to Jesus. He went to his hometown but they did not accept him. 4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." A prophet is honored by everyone, except by his own people and family. And yet, Jesus had to preach the Gospel to his family and friends at home. That was his mission, to tell everyone the Good News. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel had the same mission. The Lord God told him to proclaim the Word of God to his own people of Israel. The Lord warned Ezekiel that they were rebellion, obstinate and stubborn. God warned him that the people probably would not listen to him. But still, Ezekiel had the obligation to tell them the Word of God whether they listened or not.

Whether Ezekiel, Jesus, or us, what should a prophet, speak? Which Word of God should be spoken? The first public words of Ezekiel were similar to those of Jesus, and they should be our first words too. Jesus' first public words were, Mark 1:15 "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Ezekiel was sent to his fellow Israelites in Babylonian Exile. Jesus was sent to the Israelites in the Promised Land. We are sent to our fellow countrymen, our own families, or perhaps to others in this global family of the world. But our message should be the same. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" In other words, we should proclaim the existence of God, the love of God, that God is near us to help us, and that God wants to guide our lives. God wants us to be good citizens in his Kingdom with all ethical, moral and spiritual goodness. Repentance means to recognize your failures and to want to change. And believing the Good News is the power for forgiveness and sanctification, and a new life.

On the Fourth of July, Americans talk a lot about patriotism and the love of their country. Modern Japanese do not seem to talk so much about these ideals, but wherever you go in Japan there is pride of being a Japanese and the pride of ones own prefecture or community. It is necessary to love your country. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor." This includes loving and serving your country and your community. You do not need to be a prophet to know that your country and community need to repent. Our beloved countries are not perfect. Do we need to make a list of the sins? For example, there is violence, greed, theft, sexual harassment and abuse, drunken driving, self-centeredness, etc. The people of our countries and communities need to repent and change. So, we need to be the voice of God to them. We need to be the voice that calls for moral, ethical, and spiritual standards. We need to stand for honesty, for justice, and for integrity.

[The Bible tells us that the cause of all the problems of society is because people do not believe in God and follow his ways. The Bible tells us that God loved the world, and especially his chosen people of Israel. Today's Old Testament reading is how God sent Ezekiel to be a prophet. Ezekiel was to speak the word of God to the Jews in Exile in Babylon. In the face of opposition, he told people their sins, and he told of God's continual love and promise. That was the promise that they would return from Exile to the Promised Land.]�@

The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that he sent his only beloved Son, Jesus Christ. John 3:16. Jesus spoke words of judgment against the sins of his fellow countrymen. But he spoke also words of God's love to those who would hear. And Jesus showed the result of that sin. He died on the cross. Then Jesus showed the result of repentance and faith, he rose from the dead on the third day.

The Bible tells us that Jesus loved the world so much that he sent the disciples out into all the world. They were to proclaim the simple message that Jesus proclaimed. That is, Mark 1:15 "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" The Kingdom of God has come to the kingdoms of this world'to the kingdoms and the democracies and dictatorships, too.

We have heard the word that we too must repent and believe the Gospel. We know that our sins are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Kingdom of God has come into our hearts. This is why we love and pray for the kingdoms and countries of the world. We pray for world peace. We pray for love and mutual understanding. We pray for justice. We pray for economic and political stability. And we pray that the people of the world would know the true source of peace in their lives, that they would know the love of Jesus. This is when we become more than social reformers and become prophets. This is real love for our neighbors.

Amen.