Acts 1:15-17

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters,the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus, 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

Acts 1:21-26

21 “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles.

How do we make choices?  Many of you know my deep love for the University of Kentucky.  I’ve been an avid fan all of my life.  But, you’ll be surprised to know how I made my decision to go to UK.  I had applied to Belmont in Nashville, Georgetown College in Kentucky, even the University of Tennessee (God forbid!), as well as Kentucky. 

I made my decision to go to UK when I was walking down the halls of my high school in between classes when one of my best friends that I grew up with, Jeff Hume, yelled at me from across the hall and said, “Rich, are you going to room with me at UK next year?”  I quickly said “yes” without even flinching.  Decision made. 

Now, in life, we have all probably had different ways of making decisions.  With our kids, we always have the “pros and cons” list.  I also tell myself and others that, upon making a decision, if you have time, let it sit for a while, see how it feels and what is emerging within you, and then make the call.

Most of us probably don’t cast lots like the disciples did though as it says in our New Testament reading when replacing the disciple Judas.

Yet, I think that there was a lot of trust, a deeper trust, with the disciples.  Which is amazing, considering that you’d think their trust would be shattered.  One of their own, Judas, had turned in Jesus, had betrayed him.  Yet, they still trusted something deeper.  They trusted that God resided in them and in all things and people.  They trusted that they would be able to find someone to take Judas’ place and that God would lead them towards someone whose heart was good. 

It’s also interesting to note that they had a deeper trust that Judas’ actions were part of a larger flow of God’s imagination.  God does not want or condone violence.  God certainly did not send Jesus to the cross, that was a consequence of the pathologies of humans who would not let go of their worldly status and thought they had to kill Jesus in order to protect their way of living.

Yet, the story of Judas also fits within the story of Jesus…actually, all betrayals and sufferings fit within the story of Jesus, and, consequently, our story.  The disciples acknowledge that Judas was a part of them, was their brother, and, I believe, had a sense of grace for him even in his betrayal.

I often feel some sadness for Judas, he could not muster the courage to confront his betrayal and live into the grace that Jesus gave him.  He could not find a way to love himself after he realized what he had done. 

Yet, the story of Jesus and the story of God is one where love always wins and love moves us towards an acceptance of ourselves, and of others, and that God’s story and our story are one and the same. 

The cross, the death of Jesus, is part of the cycle of life that we all live in…life, death, resurrection and new life.  As a friend said this week, we need to come awake to the reality that we must die in this life before we die…that’s the way we move towards life, abundant life.

We know the Easter story, that love overcomes death, but we have to recognize that the choice that Jesus made is one that we all are called to make.  To count the cost of what it means to be truly human as made in God’s image.  And, that Easter is not a separate event from our experience.  It’s not just Jesus on that cross, it’s all of us. 

As the psalm passage says, our actions are thrown in the fire that are wicked.  It is meant to convey that we are not thrown into a fire, but that our actions that are wicked are burned away and put back into the earth for growth.

The Christ Presence that permeates all of creation, the Universe really, and resides within us is calling us to make a choice, or to become awake, and cultivate that awareness.  And, to trust a deeper trust than circumstances in our lives and culture.

That’s happening at Westwood First.  When I first came to Westwood First’s Session, we talked about this kind of deep trust.  And that it is a trust that is given, not really earned.  A deeper trust indeed…and one that produces fruit.  We are already seeing it…and living into it. 

There’s a great story here…and it’s a part of the larger story of God.  

I heard this quote recently:

“Unless Christianity is understood to be the most realistic and cosmic of faiths and hopes, nothing has been understood of its mysteries.” (Teilhard de Chardin)             

This quote reflects on the necessity of understanding Christianity not just as a religious faith but as a comprehensive cosmological perspective that addresses the real and vast universe. – Cynthia Bourgeault

We don’t know the future, nor should we, but we have a great story at Westwood First, a mystery, yes, and a faith that is universal and a deeper reality built on a deeper trust.

Let’s continue to choose to trust, to love, and to produce good fruit in the soil of our congregation and community.  And, my goodness, we are already seeing the fruit of the choices we have made together!  Amen?