In our passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus says that he will be lifted up and will draw all people to himself. At the very beginning of Jesus ministry, Jesus was attracting people. They were coming from long distances, not just for the promise of being healed, but also to hear Jesus speak. The people were hungry for hope and desperate for direction and so they came to Jesus. And Jesus knew that people’s needing direction and hope would not stop, but that need would continue on. Jesus set before them teachings - words and actions to live by. And now, 2000 years later, our humanity needs such truths to be placed before us again. I am convinced that our world needs to be drawn to ideals of service and words of hope and life more than ever before. The Christ has an answer for the challenges of our world, if we but be drawn into his sphere of influence.

Let me give you some examples - climate change and responding to the ecological challenges can be conquered by our being drawn to Christ. When we are drawn to Christ, we try to shed our selfish passions and care for our neighbor and our stranger. And so, we would be willing to change our behaviours - to turn the lights down a bit - use less oil and instead of having the big fancy cars, be willing to drive something enviromentally friendly - because we would be helping our world and helping our neighbors. How many of us when we go to buy a car think about what is best for our world....let us face it, we think about ourselves - what looks good, what might be an impressive ride. A couple of days ago, I was looking at some cars on the web and I spotted a lamborgine - fancy - can you imagine your minister showing up at your door, but then my son reminded - dad, you can’t afford that and look at the gas it would use.....oh, how our youth can teach us a thing or two.

Christ also has an answer for our conflicts - that is easy enough....if we are willing to sit down and hear the struggles, but often, we get trapped into cycles of hatred and hurt. Many of us get trapped into that here - we do not talk to someone - we keep our distances - Christ has an answer for that - it is called loving reconciliation, which is not turning back the time, but creating a moment to start fresh.

Christ has an answer for us when we face confusion or hurt from our past or worry about the future - the Christ who has shown us love in the cross and life beyond the grave is the One who comes again and again to correct us in our mistakes, to assure us of our not being alone and who promises that the burdens we bear will be lighter if we but trust in him and trust that we will get through whatever our lot and load.

Christ also has an answer for the woes of our community - physical abuse, drug and alcohol and gambling additions.....our communities creating places for caring and also being willing to forgo profit to assist the needy soul.....YES CHRIST HAS AN ANSWER FOR OUR SOULS - FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WILL WE BE DRAWN TO HIM?? I Pray so.