tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91956186520245279712024-03-13T16:37:17.766-05:00Vicar in the 'burbsRev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-27054744457339081892014-03-20T19:42:00.001-05:002014-03-20T19:42:57.438-05:00Reflection for 15th day of Lent 3/20<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Day Fifteen: Be playful today. Write a prayer with a twinkle.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whoop
Dee Doo, God! What a lovely, joy-filled day! Terry came out and taught me how to play an interactive computer
game, and we had such fun! I’ve never wanted to play games on the “net” – I was
afraid I might get hooked and spend too much time on it. But this Scrabble-type
game can’t be played until the other person/people have their turns, so I don’t
think it will eat into too much time! And it’s an excellent way to work on my
memory. We talked, laughed and had a great afternoon. Thank you, Lord, for good
friends, companionship and ways to keep learning! Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-25316295122770798522014-03-20T19:39:00.001-05:002014-03-20T19:40:55.296-05:00Reflection: 14th day of Lent: 3/19<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Fourteen:<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"> Can you
approach your chores today as a meditation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
must have ben channeling this meditation! Even though I didn’t get to this
until the day was almost over, it was a very meditative-type day! It wasn’t
that I thought about the question and determined that it should happen, it just was. I
made time for myself today, so I wasn’t rushed in getting to the various places
I needed to be, and I noticed the people around me and making eye contact led
to smiles. When I had to wait in traffic, somehow I was not frustrated. When I
had to run multiple places to find what I needed, it made me feel like I was on
an adventure, not a hassle. Thank you, God, for a lovely day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-52502906750177234972014-03-18T14:58:00.000-05:002014-03-18T14:58:05.258-05:0013th Lenten Meditation from SSJE
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<div class="MsoNormal">
What makes it hard for you to Love? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Frustration? Pain? I
know that when I’m in pain, whether it is emotional pain or physical pain, I
get too caught up in myself to let love flow. My words are sharp, and short. When
I’m late and the traffic is slow, or even when I’m late due to my own
procrastination, frustration moves to the fore. I don’t get road rage, exactly,
but I’m definitely not loving those folks around me in their vehicles. I most
often find that love doesn’t flow from me because I’m not loving myself: I have
lost touch with how much God loves me. If (or when) I become aware of my
negative attitudes towards myself, and begin to pay attention to God’s love,
then I become loving. It’s that continual returning to God and the love flowing
between us, that opens us all up to loving God and loving all others. It’s a
discipline that I have yet to master: living in an awareness of God’s love for
His creation, including myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-54966380394170090412014-03-17T11:11:00.000-05:002014-03-17T11:15:49.342-05:0012th Day of Lent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There was no Sunday meditation from SSJE...</span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day Twelve:</span><b><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What acts of friendship have you initiated or
received this week?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
back and forth expressions of friendship expand through almost every encounter.
Whether it be a phone call to check on a friend, smiles/greetings reflected
back by strangers I pass on the street, or the ultimate sharing of Christ’s
body and blood through the Eucharist, friendship and love are shared throughout
my days. What a blessing it is to share this caring for others, as Christ
taught us and continues to teach us to spread God’s love in this world. And
what a blessing it is to receive that same love from others!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-56559571964601037882014-03-16T15:51:00.001-05:002014-03-16T15:54:28.854-05:0010th Day of Lent<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As we continue our Lenten journey with the brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, today's reflection is about laughter and fun in the life of Jesus. Scripture doesn't mention times when Jesus told jokes, or tickled a child. But as a complete human being, surely he did those things. He surely laughed and elicited laughter from his friends. There surely were times of fun together, as with any relationship between friends does. The SSJE brothers asked us today: Is God present to you through joy? </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now to me, Joy is different from happiness. Joy is a deeper, more complete "knowing", not something that can be fleeting like happiness. The following is my answer to the question:</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I am most aware of God’s
presence in my life through the experience of Joy. Joy is that overwhelming
sense of wellbeing (of being loved and cared for by God) that brings the
certainty that, as St. Julian of Norwich said, “All shall be well, all shall be
well, and all manner of things shall be well”. And, through her statement, awareness
dawns that the “shall be” has become present tense. No matter the
circumstances, all things are well as we live into God’s love.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What answer do you have?</span>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-12284764211790566832014-03-15T10:52:00.001-05:002014-03-15T10:52:43.505-05:00Lenten Reflections - 1st 9 days of Lent<div class="MsoNormal">
Day One: Where can you know abundant life? Where can you
still grow?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
can know abundant life by paying attention. Our Lord has richly blessed me in
all ways, and if I am simply aware of what God is doing in my life, the
abundance is overwhelming. I can grow my faith and awareness by scripture,
prayer time, and sharing God’s blessings with others. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Two: What new word is God speaking to you today?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
word I am hearing is “Less”. Less food, less drink, less noise: Less of all
things in which I tend to indulge. I’m also hearing “More”. More quiet, more
prayer, more silence with God, more focus on the important things which I have
neglected.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Three: Write a wish for your journey along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
wish for this journey is to reclaim my relationship with God. I have abdicated
God’s place as first in my heart, mind and most especially, time. I wish to
again grow closer, devoted to quiet time with spirit, and give myself to that
place of peace and consent, for the Trinity to reign in all areas of my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Four: Can you allow yourself to be vulnerable and be
embraced?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is easy to be vulnerable before the presence of God, to allow myself to open
before Him, and pour out my frailties and confusion, knowing that God loves me
as I am, and frequently feeling His embrace of Love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Doing
that with other people is very different. I have some difficulty with being
vulnerable, but as I have aged and gone through all sorts of difficulties, it
is becoming easier to let others see my weaknesses. At the same time, I have
always been open to being embraced – at least in the ways of friendship and
family. Yet I find myself continuing to strive to be the caregiver, even when I
am hurting. The realization dawns upon me that I must allow others to care-give
to me: that allowing others to reciprocate is also allowing them the grace to
express love. There is a freedom, a relaxation in even the idea of being cared
for that allows my shoulders and back to relax. Stoicism is not necessarily a
good thing, I realize…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Five: What do you understand about who God is?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
have a unique understanding of God, due to my experience of being “slain in the
spirit” in 1992, on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I truly
believe that God allowed me to feel his unconditional love enveloping me
through that experience, and I KNOW, without doubt, of God’s Love and can
recall being completely immersed in it. I came out of that with the knowledge
that Love encompasses all, and is the ultimate power that moves Creation and
everything in it. God’s love is the current that holds creation in place, and
it exists in each nano-cell of everything in creation, including the places
that we term “void”. God is pure and complete unconditional love that holds the
planets in their courses, and even the smallest parts of creation in that love.
It is that love that allows “even the rocks to sing” – though we haven’t the
ears to hear their singing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Six: How could you be playful in showing love to others
today?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Playfulness
is so easy at times, and difficult at others. Today, I will choose to be
playful: with my spouse and my friends, as well as those I encounter. How?
Well, smiling comes easily to me, and that is a way to impact anyone whose path
I cross. Greetings to passersby can perk up their day. Perhaps it is simply an
attitude change: deciding to be playful makes me so. I think that works! We’ll
see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Seven: What is your reminder that you are loved?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Again
(see Day Five) I KNOW this beyond anything else in my life. Remembering it on a
moment-to-moment basis is, however, not where I live. It is my desire to keep
this knowledge always in my awareness, for when it is, I am a better person to
those around me – more loving, more joyful, more giving. This meditation itself
is a reminder that the desire to keep God’s amazing love for all of creation in
the forefront of my consciousness will make my life and the world a better
place. May it be so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day Eight: <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Where was
God for you today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God
was in the beautiful sunshine and the singing of birds. I found God in nature
around me as I walked down to get the paper. I found God in the smiles and
waves of people on the street as I drove by. He was in the joy of children in
the stores, in the hands of Theresa as she softened my hands and feet and made
them prettier, in Amy’s strength as she massaged my aches away. I saw God in my
sweetheart’s eyes as he greeted me. And God was in the words of Jessica’s
story, which she shared as her Lenten discipline. God’s creation and His love
surrounded my day, and I am blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Day Nine: What does
God especially cherish about you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> What
immediately popped into my mind was that God cherishes my failings. Now why
that occurred makes me pause: I know God loves it when I am “right on” with him
– aware and in love with God and all of His people. Yet I have a niggling
feeling that He loves me even more when I struggle and fall short, as I do each
and every day. In God’s wisdom, She knows that my desire is to be the best
person I can be, and it aches God’s heart and God draws even closer to me when
I fail to achieve that goal. God’s love is infinite and unconditional, and the
cherishing continues without subsidence, even when I am at my weakest in
returning that love to God by loving those I encounter.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-24770103518173870162014-03-15T10:47:00.000-05:002014-03-15T10:47:54.184-05:00Life Gets in the WayI can't believe it has been over a year since I blogged anything here. There have been many changes, and for a while, I was too caught up in what was happening to even consider the thoughtfulness necessary to write about what those changes meant for my life.<br />
<br />
From being a very involved (read that over-involved) vicar in a small mission church, to illness and accident, on into "retirement" from St. Paul's, and over six months of recovery from surgery following a fall and concussion, Lent 2014 has finally brought me back into introspection, connection and a sense of moving ahead.<br />
<br />
I thank God today for for the Society of St. John the Evangelist for their Lenten videos and questions. This way of listening, meditation and prayer has helped to center me to contemplate my relationship with God and my small understanding of Who God is in my life.<br />
<br />
As a way of sharing this with you, I will post my reflections on the questions posed by the brothers.<br />
Since we are already way into Lent, the first posting will be all the questions and reflections thus far, continuing each day from this point on.<br />
<br />
May God bless and keep you all,<br />
Judith<br />
<br />
<br />Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-45325381700182284572013-01-01T21:20:00.002-06:002013-01-01T21:20:55.860-06:00The Word Became Flesh
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Thanks to Bishop Doyle for his thoughts and words....</div>
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<br /></div>
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"The Word became flesh and
lived among us." <o:p></o:p></div>
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St.
Augustine said that we are Easter people, and that "Alleluia is our
song." I believe that we are <b>also</b>
Christmas people, and as our altar hanging says, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” or "Glory
to God in the Highest" is also our song. Who am I to amend a statement by
the man who laid the foundation of theology in the Middle Ages and forever
since?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why
do I say that we are Christmas people? Well, though the celebration of Easter
preceded the celebration of Christmas by centuries, and despite the fact that
American Puritans considered it a pagan festival and outlawed it, and in spite
of the obvious secularization of this holy day, I suspect that most devout
Christians find our hearts strangely warmed by the thought of the babe in the
manger, and its message is a very unique one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Every
religion has had to deal with questions of the relationship between God and
creation: Who we are in relation to the Creator? And then there is the big
question of what happens after we die. For some religions, it is an escape from
the bonds of the flesh, for some it is the Resurrection of the body. Plato
thought that disembodied souls lived on. The Christian celebration of Easter says
something very specific. And, in my experience and study of other religious
traditions, I have never found any other that believed in the Incarnation quite
the way Christians do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
closest might be the Hindus: their god, Vishnu is believed to have appeared on
earth many times, including his incarnations as Prince Rama, and Krishna, of
whom you may have heard. But these incarnations, what the Hindus call “avatars”
never quite get their feet dusty, they never really leave their divine glory
behind. They are never as human as you and me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This
is one of the places where Christianity goes beyond other traditions: God is not simply manifest in the
natural world, nor simply in the human heart, but, in the words of St. Paul in
his letter to the Galatians, we read, “But when the fullness of time had come, God
sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who
were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because
you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
"Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a
child then also an heir, through God.” And,
from the Gospel of John we hear these words: “But to all who received him, who believed in
his name, he gave power to become children of God… And the Word became flesh
and lived among us.” It is this that makes Christianity so different. It is also
something, ironically, that many of us forget when we view Jesus as "just
a step above" "real" humans. Our Creeds remind us that Jesus was
fully human, as well as fully divine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There
is really only one thing that we as Christians can never say in prayer. It is:
"But God, you don't understand." Because Jesus became a human, God
always understands. He’s been here and experienced it. And that, I suspect, is
the motivation behind the Lucan story of the stable, the manger, and shepherds:
this child was not born as a prince, or as the son of a CEO. Not in a palace,
not even in the maternity ward at a good hospital, but in a barn, sleeping in a
feeding trough, visited by dirty, smelly common laborers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It
is that initial coming to live with us, one of us, that we celebrate at this
time of year. If not for the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery could not have
taken place: it is the essential condition for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
But it is more. Many of the Church Fathers considered the Incarnation to be the
beginning of the defeat of Sin and Death. St. Ignatius said in the 2nd century,
"Christ became what we are so we could become what he is." And St.
Athanasius in the 4th century made the statement, "God became human so
humans could become god." This sounds sacrilegious, but he is only echoing
2 Peter, where it says "we are made partakers in the divine nature."
And it is echoed in the Roman Catholic liturgy, when the priest puts the water
in the wine, he says, "By the mingling of this water and wine, may we come
to share in the divinity of him who humbled himself to share in our
humanity."<o:p></o:p></div>
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But
perhaps there is even more to it than that. Some theologians have believed that
even had there been no sin, the Incarnation would have taken place, anyway: that
God created precisely because God wanted to share in the lives of his creatures
as a creature. Karl Rahner, the 20th century Christian scholar, said that when
God wishes to express Godself, there must be a structure, a "grammar"
if you will, for that expression, the Word, and that the grammar of God's self-communication
is humanity. In other words, we don't need to figure out how to get the Word
(Christ) "to fit" into a human nature, since human nature was created
precisely to hold the Word. Like a shoe is made for a foot, not a hand, and the
foot slips easily into the shoe, so does the Word precisely fit into human flesh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What
does all this mean for us? I believe that the Incarnation is an indication that
the Word has been becoming flesh since God said, "Let there be
light." It means that for Christians, matter matters. Matter is the
beginning of God's self-expression into the world. It means that human beings
are truly created according to the Imago Dei, the image of God, and that
includes our bodies. The great Protestant theologian Karl Barth said that if we
truly understood what it meant for God to become human, we could never again
harm another human being. We are, all of us, "mini-incarnations." If
the Word had been becoming flesh, the Word is now continuing to become flesh. Or
did you not remember that when you were baptized, you were baptized into union
with Christ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And,
as expressions of Christ, individually and corporately (as this church), <b>our place </b>in this world is to be Christ
<b>to</b> the world. To take that mental
image of our “Christ-ness” and carry it with us, remain in awareness of it,
wherever we go. Yes, it’s a constant job to remember, and to act from <b>that place</b> in our daily dealings with
others. And it’s very easy to forget. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
start and end most days in prayer; I wear crosses most all the time, and put up
pictures and quotations around our house – not to show off that I’m a
Christian, but to remind <b>myself</b> of
whom and whose I am – of what I am to strive for. It helps me to pay attention
to what is most important in life. Perhaps something similar could help you to
daily recall your individual, personal mission in life: which is to share God’s
love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s
been quite a while since I mentioned the Millennium Development Goals. Remember
those 8 goals put forth by the United Nations back in 1990? We have only 3 more
years to meet those goals. Yes, 2015 is the target date. Just to remind you of
this effort, here is the list of worldwide goals: To reduce extreme poverty and
hunger by half, to provide primary education for all children, to promote
gender equality in education and opportunity, to reduce by 2/3s the deaths of
children under age 5, to reduce by 3/4s the numbers of mothers who die in
childbirth, to halt the spread of HIV/AIDs, to ensure environmental
sustainability throughout the world, and to develop policies among nations to
further economic progress for all. Perhaps you will be led to become involved
in certain portions of this work, or at least add their mission to your daily
prayers. And on a corporate, church level, perhaps we should consider becoming
more active in helping those less fortunate right here in Pflugerville. We have
been doing well with our donations to the Storehouse, but the last few weeks
we’ve fallen off. Next week, and every week, let’s make sure that the
Storehouse box is overflowing with food (especially peanut butter) for those
who don’t have enough to eat. Perhaps this next year we could do more, actually
volunteering at the Storehouse, as well as donating food and money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For
you see, human life, matter itself, is even more than it appears to be, because
God has come to Earth as one of us. And Jesus has given to each of us the greatest
gift of all, the gift of being a child of God. We have union with Christ
through our baptism, and are heirs to the kingdom of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> And
that seems to me, to be more than enough reason to sing "Glory to God in
the highest." Amen.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-14384932850176587632013-01-01T20:42:00.000-06:002013-01-01T20:42:35.666-06:00Advent 3 Response to Sandy Hook<br />
With thanksgiving for the theologians at Working Preacher, and our Bishop Andy Doyle, for many of the thoughts and words in this sermon. Amen. <br />
<br />
From the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Again and again, when the people of God are in trouble and distress, tears flow. So it was in the time of Rachel, the mother of the people of Israel, whose grave lies near to Bethlehem, Rachel weeping for all her children. It was in the last days of Jerusalem before it fell to the Babylonians, when the prophet Jeremiah looked down upon the tragedy and wept.” Then Bonhoeffer quotes from Jeremiah, ’A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.’” <br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How are we to cope in the midst of tragedy? What are we as Christians called to do when horrible and senseless things assail us? Sandy Hook, Connecticut is a long way across the country from Pflugerville, yet our hearts break for people we don’t even know. There is little we can do to console the families of those 20 innocent, young children and their teachers. We cannot hold those mothers and fathers; we cannot cradle the grandparents, siblings and friends who are living in shock and horror right now. Yet, we can pray. And how frequently in these situations, we add, “That’s the least we can do.” From where I stand, it is one of the most important things we can do. So please, let us join with the country and the rest of the world in prayer:<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lord God: We pray to you for peace to be poured down upon Newtown and the Sandy Hook Elementary School community. As we weep with Rachel we pray for a healing balm to be given to all. For those who have died we pray that they may rest eternally with the saints in light. We pray for the first responders and for our Episcopal clergy who are there offering care and support. O God, hear our lamentation, our intercession, and our hope. Amen.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And now, I am going to preach the sermon I’d already written for today. It has a lot to say about children, so hug your kids, and let’s begin.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Are we there yet? I have no doubt that the children among us are questioning their parents frequently: How many more days is it until Christmas? We all know very well that feeling of excitement and longing that comes from the anticipation of some outstanding event in our lives. Be it a young person’s anticipation of going off to college, or an adult beginning a new career, there is a feeling deep inside that the coming event will change our lives forever.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How many of you here are parents? Perhaps you can dredge back into your memory and conjure up that feeling you had when you announced to the world that your first child was on the way. Oh, the excitement and thanks you gave when all the friends and family, and perhaps even strangers congratulated you on the impending birth! The anticipation and dreams you surely had for that child not yet born!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now, there is something tricky about great gifts. The lessons we just heard do a marvelous job of pointing to this insight. The first two are all about rejoicing. The prophet Zephaniah sings to the people, "the King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you shall fear disaster no more." God is going to do great things for his people. All is well; God is at hand. "Rejoice" is also the first word we hear from Philippians. Again, we are assured that the Lord is at hand, and this is a cause for great joy.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That is part of what it means to prepare for a gift. That is almost always the very first thing you say when you discover someone is expecting a child; you say, "congratulations," -- rejoice, this is wonderful news. We have all heard or said that many times.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rejoicing is also a big part of what it means to prepare for Christmas. The good news of Advent is that God is coming to God's people -- to you and to me. God's promises are being fulfilled. And we are to wait on that promise, to believe in it, to realize it, and open ourselves fully to it. That is great cause for celebration!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then we hear the Gospel and the image shifts. God is no longer pictured as a victorious warrior exulting over his people, but as a wrathful judge. We are standing at the River Jordan, face to face with John the Baptist at his most intense.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>John doesn't say to rejoice; John calls us to repentance: metanoia is the Greek word. It literally means returning, coming back to the way of life charted by the covenant between God and Israel. Paul told the Philippians not to be anxious about anything; John tells his hearers to flee from the wrath to come. "His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you know what chaff is? It’s the paper-thin husk that surrounds a kernel of wheat, the edible part of a nut and also coffee beans. John is reminding us that we need to get rid of the chaff in our lives, and focus purely on the nourishing parts of our being. Everyone in the Gospel is asking, "What shall we do? What has to change if we are to survive the great and terrible events that lie ahead?" This is a very different message from "rejoice!"<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And if you think about it, that makes sense; too, that anxiety is part of our preparation and of our waiting. And it should be heard, and felt, at exactly the same moment we hear and feel the call to rejoice. For the Lord we await in Advent is a Lord who makes a difference, who changes things.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He is a Lord who offers both new life and new responsibilities, and who offers them simultaneously. If we truly receive the gift of the Christ child, we will change: the direction and the focus of our lives will shift. It just works that way.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Remember the second thing everyone (or at least everyone who has been a parent longer than 20 minutes) says when they learn that you are expecting a child? The first thing said is always, "Congratulations, we're happy for you." The second thing is always one form or another of, "Boy, are you in for it!" We are told often, and in a variety of ways, that things are going to change, that everything will be different.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Rejoice/repent!" Those are the words that go with all great gifts. Something wonderful is going to happen; and if, after you receive that gift, you try to live the way you are living now, your life just won't work anymore. Life after such a gift is a sort of judgment on life before.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At this place of Advent, it is time to realize, to make real our place within the faith family of Abraham and seek not only to be reconciled with Jesus but also to be reconciled with the notion of right living which is plainly: to give to the poor, and to aid those who go without.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We Americans spent over 8 billion dollars on Halloween. We will spend some $504 billion to celebrate Christmas. Is it possible that the coming of God in the person of Christ might just cause us to pause and realize that "only" $10 billion would ensure clean water for every human being in the world, and $13 billion would keep everyone in the world from going hungry? Yet safety net agencies that do just this work have seen a 10% decrease in funding. Certainly these are numbers to make us pause in the face of Zacchaeus who gave away half of what he possessed to the poor. What if we lived out the charge of living for our neighbor? What if, in our repentance, our choosing to look at the world with new eyes, we saw and befriended those poor tortured souls such as Adam Lanza in Newtown, Erick Harris and Dylan Klebold in Columbine, whose hurts were so deep that they know of nothing to do but destroy others before destroying themselves? John the Baptist offers us not only a vision of a Christmastide incarnation but a transformed world reflecting the kingdom of God.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Rejoice/repent!" This dual demand in the face of the coming of God is addressed to all of us: it is part of Advent. It is a perfect reflection of the ambiguity that permeates our vision and our experience. We await and try to prepare for the coming of a child, a child who changes everything. So Zephaniah is right: we are to rejoice, give thanks to God, and sing. And, John the Baptist is right: this wonderful gift will also come as judgment, and with a power all its own. If we take seriously the good news of Christmas, then our lives will be very different.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Think of what it would look like to live daily with the child from Bethlehem in our hearts. For both the joy he offers and the demands he makes cannot be truly ours if we remain exactly the people we are today. Think about what repentance, the redirection of our attention looks like. It is not something weird or mysterious. Repentance, generally, looks pretty much like our lives now, but with a difference.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When the crowd at the Jordan River felt this crunch of anticipation and judgment, their cry of "What then shall we do?" was met with responses designed to force them into practical decisions. "Look at who you are," John the Baptist said; "begin there." When it comes to giving, give from what you have. Don't wait until you have more, or until your offering can be of a higher quality. Start now, start with what is already there.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Practice justice where you work; build fairness and mercy into your present dealings, your current life. Don't wait until you have a job where justice is easier.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't wait to be somewhere else, to be doing something else, or to be someone else: begin with the road in front of you, walk that road, and so allow God to transform the life you live right now. John did not tell even the despised tax collectors or the hated and feared soldiers that they had to go somewhere else to begin. Just as being a son of Abraham was no exemption from the call to repent, so being a tax collector or a soldier was no barrier to repentance, to change. The business of repenting is much the same as rejoicing. It has to do with transforming the life we are already living.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Repent and rejoice -- in all things, with the real life we live in the real world.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rejoice, for what is happening is wonderful.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Repent, because from now on, everything will be different. Amen.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-80176738345795881512012-09-09T22:11:00.001-05:002012-09-09T22:14:13.416-05:00Miracles Happen Today<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b>COLLECT: </b>(borrowed from Rick Warren)<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“Most Holy Father, We remember right now the gift you have
given us in the love of Jesus. Thank you for the miracles you’ve worked in our
lives, and down through the ages. Lord God, help us to remember your grace and
to be gracious. We remember your generosity to us. We ask you for the strength
to be generous toward others. We trust that you will be with us, and we trust
that you will finish the good work you have started within us. In the name of
the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremiah 29:11-14</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Psalm 103:1-13</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Acts 5<b>:</b> 12, 14-16</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark 16: 9-17, 18b - 19</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">May the
</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">words</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you,
Oh Lord our God, the Three in One: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> Okay.
I’m not sure all of you noticed, so I’ll point it out: Today is the very first
time I’ve ever gone “off Lectionary”. That means that our Collect and
Scriptures were of my choosing: they are not the scriptures chosen by the
people who compiled the Revised Common Lectionary, or even the Lectionary in
the Book of Common Prayer. I chose them myself. The Collect is simply a prayer
I came across last week, and thought appropriate for what I was called to say
today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> It
is not against the “rules” to very occasionally stray from the scriptures
assigned each week. It is even okay to go “off Lectionary” for a series of
sermons on a certain topic. Many other denominations don’t tell their preachers
what scriptures to preach upon at all, but let them choose themselves what they
are led to in prayer. The reason we even have a Lectionary is to keep us
honest, so we don’t consistently ignore the hard things to preach on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> The
reason I have chosen to go “off Lectionary” is to talk to you about what has been
happening to me in my prayer time over the last year, and where I believe God
is calling me. Now don’t panic, I’m not leaving St. Paul’s. I truly believe
that God is calling all of us to a new attitude and relationship with Him. So,
here’s what I need and want to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> Beginning
last year, or even perhaps before that, I felt a pull to investigate what is
called “Healing Ministry”. I’ve been reading books, and praying a lot about
what this might mean for me, and for us. Week before last, I went to San Antonio
for a conference of the Order of St. Luke, the Physician, an ecumenical, but
strongly Episcopalian and Anglican Order that focuses on Prayers for Healing:
physical, mental and spiritual healing for God’s people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> I
found a widely diverse group of people, all of whom are either searching for
healing, or being conduits for God’s love to actually heal people. Miracles
happened there. The books I’ve read speak over and over again of God’s healing
Grace, of miraculous things occurring in the world today, just as they did in
the times of the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> There
was a time a few months ago when I felt conflicted. I knew I was being called
to respond to God by beginning some form of healing ministry, but I didn’t have
any idea how that could happen. I even thought that it wasn’t possible to do it
here at St. Paul’s, and that I would have to leave and begin again in a new
way. But I was shown that this is the perfect place for God’s love to flow and
for healing to happen, if at least some of us are willing to open our hearts
and lives to God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> Here’s
what I’ve learned at the OSL conference, and the Forming Disciples Conference
at St. David’s yesterday. First and foremost, at the end of the Gospel of Mark,
chapter 9, verse 2, when Jesus told the disciples to “Preach the kingdom and
heal everyone”, he meant it not only for the 11 disciples who were with him on
that day of his ascension, but also for all the disciples who would choose to
follow him down through the ages. He meant that statement for us: we are not
only to bring others to Christ, but also to heal everyone through the power of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> So
we pray prayers for our friends and family members, and nothing seems to
happen…why is that? I have been told, and I believe, that something happens
whenever we pray. We say we are Christian, but powerful miracles don’t seem to
show up in our lives. What does that mean? Is it possible that we haven’t
understood what the plan is for our lives? Might there be another way Jesus is
calling us to live our daily experience? Here is what I have heard: There are a
whole lot of people who call themselves Christians, who say they believe that
Jesus is the Son of God, yet WE, and yes I’m including myself as well as most
of us in this room, we don’t really believe it. We admire Jesus and what he did
as he roamed the Israeli countryside two thousand years ago, but rather than
being <b>followers</b> of him, truly living
his words and believing what he taught, we do little more than come to worship
and then somehow put him on a back shelf in our minds during the rest of the week. We come to
worship, yet we don’t really follow him with all our hearts. We put our trust
and our feelings of worth in other things like our jobs, or families, or what
we can accomplish on our own. We have no true concept of how glorious our lives
really could be if we would determine to completely turn our lives over to him.
If we truly became his followers, rather than admirers, putting Jesus first in
our lives, amazing miracles would flow from this place. We would be filled with
the Holy Spirit, and empowered to do God’s work right here in Pflugerville. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> And
here’s the deal with God, and it’s very important: God wants us to completely give
ourselves to him. She wants us to love her first and foremost and trust her to
show us the way to live. (Since God has no gender, we can use both to describe God.) The reasons we tend not to trust God are fear and
pride. We must take our <b>pride</b> of
doing it all ourselves, of being in control of our lives, and our <b>fear</b> of turning over our lives completely
to God’s care, and give that very pride and fear away to God. Until we can do
that, we will be continue to be caught in ego and mistrust, and we will not be
completely open to letting God’s love in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> It begins with the things expected of every
Christian: that we will pray daily, that we will come to church faithfully, on
Sundays and other times more often than not, not just when it’s convenient.
That we will put learning about God in a place of honor in our lives, being in
some sort of Bible study or spiritual discipline, for developing a relationship
with God is a lifelong process. We will participate in the work of the church
for those less fortunate, and pledge a portion of our income for the
maintenance of the church – if not a full tithe at present, that each one of us
will consciously work on raising that pledge over time to a full tithe. And
perhaps, more important than anything: that we will forgive: forgive ourselves,
and forgive all others who have caused us pain throughout our lives. Have you
been assaulted? Ridiculed or beaten as a child or molested as an adult? Forgive
those persons, let our anger go. Abandoned and unloved as a child? Forgive your
parents. Whatever is holding us back from experiencing the complete and full
love of God must be let go and given to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> Have
you ever wondered why I am up here? Has it ever occurred to you to question why
I am a priest? I mean, seriously, why would anyone want to do this, especially
someone who wasn’t getting paid a single penny, to spend hours and hours each
week for St. Paul’s Church? I’ll tell you. I once experienced
the overwhelming joy that can come from giving myself away to God, and putting
God first in my life. Flawed as I am, God showed me the immensity of His love, and I absolutely <b>have</b>
to share it with others, as the joy present in that time is to precious not to share it. That is the main reason I’m here, to convince you that
it’s worth the decision and the follow through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> I’m
asking you to join me on a new adventure. I’m not sure what form it will take,
or how we as St. Paul’s will do it. I do know it’s not the easiest work in the
world, but it is the most rewarding thing we will ever experience. It all has
to do with what our real priorities are! Are we willing and ready to really put
God first in our lives? Do we want to be <b>transformed</b>
into the body of Christ? Would you like to be a part of the healing of the
world through Christ Jesus, in this day and time? There is absolutely no doubt
in my mind and heart that miracles can happen here at St. Paul’s. I’m putting
God (and myself and all of you) on the line here, and I’m asking you, each one
of you: Are you ready to make Jesus your <b>only</b>
lifeline? If there are even a few who are willing, I’d like you to stay seated
here for a few minutes after the service, so that we can pray and plan the
beginning of our trans-formation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Please pray with me:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> Oh
Glorious and Gracious God: we come before you this day, bringing our broken
hearts and broken lives, telling you that we want to make a new beginning: A
new covenant with you that you are first in our lives. That we commit our lives
to growing in your love, learning more about you and truly becoming your heart and hands
and eyes into the world. We want nothing more than to be your healing hands in
this place. Guide us and keep us, and show us Your ways, that we may carry your
Love to the world. In the names we are taught, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen. <span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-81780747920395025612012-08-31T22:50:00.003-05:002012-08-31T22:50:52.652-05:00Family Love & ExpectationsMy maternal grandfather, my Daddy Bill, was a farmer, a 1st generation American, who spoke German before he spoke English. Even though he was born in Texas, he never lost the German accent he learned as a boy. His life on the land was not easy: working from can to can’t, raising three children during the Great Depression. They had food because they grew it, but they never got ahead, and even in the good years life was hard. <br /><br /> Oh, but he loved God. He and my grandmother raised their family in an atmosphere that was permeated by the presence of the Lord. It was an atmosphere that rejoiced in the knowledge that they were loved, and that Jesus came not only to save, but also to bring them abundant life. They never had much in the way of material wealth, but oh, they did have abundant life. He played the violin and his sweet wife Emilie, my Mamaw, played the piano, and their children danced and sang while they played both hymns and popular tunes. They spent their social times with neighboring families at the church. The ladies had their quilting bees. Prayer and Bible stories infused the waking hours of the day, and at times throughout the night. <br /><br /> I wasn’t even in my teens when Daddy Bill shared his favorite Bible verse with me. It is part of our Old Testament lesson for today. Joshua called all the tribes of Israel together and told them to “choose this day whom you will serve.” And the end of that paragraph was Daddy Bill’s watchword: “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” It has remained with me, adopted as one of my favorites. That verse has been in a prominent place in most of the houses I’ve lived in. Our present home isn’t the first one that’s had a plaque nailed to the entry on the front porch – “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” <br /><br /> Theologians commonly agree that the Book of Joshua was written sometime during the late 7th century before Christ – well over 600 years before our gospel narrative. In Joshua’s story, all the tribes of Israel speak in one voice that they too will serve the Lord. It is a different story from the followers of Jesus we hear about today. <br /><br /> "This teaching is difficult," they said. "It's too hard. Who can accept it?" And many who had been following Jesus departed; they couldn’t accept or even try to understand the deeper meaning of his words. To them, it sounded like cannibalism, something totally against anything they could imagine. <br /><br /> I remember a time I said, "this is too hard." It was when my dad had been diagnosed with stage four-pancreatic cancer and my mother had Alzheimer’s. I was talking to my cousin who had already lost both of her parents. I told her that this was too hard and I just couldn’t deal with it. She gently said, "I know, but you don't have a choice." And I was so blessed by that time with them. <br /><br /> It is true there are difficult things that we can't walk away from. But difficult teachings are another matter. Yet, Peter has the right of it in his answer to Jesus. Jesus asks, "do you also wish to go away?" and Peter answers, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." <br /><br /> Several years ago, some people here at St. Paul’s said they were leaving The Episcopal Church, because they couldn’t deal with our acceptance of everyone. This was shortly after Eugene Robinson was elected bishop in New Hampshire. The first question I asked was whether they had found another church. We need a church family to help nurture and support our faith when it wobbles. If those who wanted to leave hadn't found somewhere else to go, I urged them not to leave, at least not then. If they had found another community that was nurturing and supportive of them, then I urged them to go with my blessing. <br /><br /> Recently, I found the following statement online. I’m not sure where Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located, but this is their welcome notice, and I believe it is ours also: <br /><br /> “We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. <br /><br /> We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli, or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism. <br /><br /> We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery, or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too. <br /><br /> If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. <br /><br /> We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!” <br /><br /> The difficult teachings don't go away just because we change congregations or denominations. They are always there, poking and prodding us. The teachings of Jesus are frequently difficult, sometimes too difficult. That is when we turn to our brothers and sisters in faith. We need them to listen to our doubts and questions and help us come to understand better. After all, we are supposed to grow in faith, not rise from baptism fully formed. You don't teach a child to count from one to ten and then put them in an advanced calculus class. <br /><br /> But once we have come to believe, there really is nowhere else to go. Leaving doesn't help solve the difficult things. Difficult teaching makes us uncomfortable. It's supposed to. If we have made ourselves a cozy nest of our faith, then we are not working hard enough on being faithful. Reread the gospels. Go back and hear what Paul wrote while he sat in prison. Nowhere will you find Easy Street. Almost everywhere you will find challenges, obstacles, tests, hard teachings.. <br /><br /> We have told God that we will serve Him as Christians: that we will follow Jesus throughout our lives. So how do we serve and follow Him? Does our service to God show in our daily lives, or is it simply played out in a minor way when we come to worship on occasional Sunday mornings? The Church universal has certain expectations of its members. One is that as Christians, we will be in worship more Sundays than not. That would mean at least 3 Sundays a month. Another expectation is that every person would be in some type of ongoing Bible study or spiritual exercise to deepen his or her relationship with God.
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What happens if
someone doesn’t meet the Church’s expectations? Absolutely nothing! Your relationship with our Lord won't grow deeper. Yet God, and
the church, will continue to love and accept each person who walks through the
door. But as members of the family, we want to see you more often, visit with
you and share family stories with you, just like I shared my family story with
you today. And when the hard lessons come, we want to be close enough that we
can work through them together in a spirit of love. This is how Christ’s family
learns to follow him, by carrying out our commitment to serve him by serving
each other. “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.” May it be so,
Amen.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-60750560761919257002012-06-12T23:07:00.001-05:002012-06-12T23:07:35.686-05:00Butter, flour, chocolate chips bound in ‘Trinity’ By Danielle Tumminio<br />
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This one isn't mine, but I love it, and wanted to share. Enjoy! Jude</h1>
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Butter, flour, chocolate chips bound in ‘Trinity’</h1>
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<span class="author vcard"><span class="fn">By Danielle Tumminio</span></span> | <span class="date published time" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/wp-content/themes/news/images/icon-time.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 21px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;" title="2012-06-12T10:09:25+00:00">June 12, 2012</span> <span class="post-comments" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/wp-content/themes/news/images/icon-comments.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 22px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/06/12/butter-flour-chocolate-chips-bound-in-trinity/#comments" style="color: #0094d2; text-decoration: none;">3 Comments</a></span> |</div>
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<span style="color: grey;">[Episcopal News Service]</span> There are few places where community is as rich and energized as on a college campus: Groups of students gather for passionate discussions about Plato and Aristotle, following their professors after class and peppering them with questions. A cappella groups practice until their different voices sound as one, and clusters of undergrads huddle together in the winter, wearing gloves with holes in the thumbs and carrying handmade signs that say, “Free Tibet!”</div>
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A college campus is one of those rare places where, at two o’clock in the morning, groups of young people gather in dorm basements, making chocolate chip cookies, eating dough and placing it on baking sheets in equal proportions. Watching that scene—or being part of it—makes one certain that tomorrow will be better than yesterday.</div>
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I have the privilege of teaching college students as a lecturer at Yale University, watching them blossom during the semester we spend studying theology together and seeing how they develop relationships in class that can last a lifetime.</div>
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And I have the privilege of answering—or trying to answer—their questions.</div>
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Case in point: the Trinity.</div>
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A couple of months ago, a student raised a hand to ask me about the Trinity, and the inner dialogue in my head went something like this:</div>
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CONFIDENT SELF: Just say that it’s three-in-one-and-one-in-three.</div>
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DOUBTING SELF: That won’t be sufficient.</div>
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CONFIDENT SELF: Won’t it, though?</div>
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DOUBTING SELF: No, it won’t.</div>
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CONFIDENT SELF: Then I will say it is a mystery.</div>
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DOUBTING SELF: If you say that, then that ornery student who sits in the corner making incisive and dangerously true comments will want to know why theologians can’t explain this fundamental concept in Christianity with greater eloquence.</div>
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CONFIDENT SELF (now rapidly losing confidence): I fear you are right.</div>
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[Pause as CONFIDENT SELF deflates like an unknotted balloon.]</div>
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CONFIDENT SELF: God, please help me.</div>
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And in one of those moments when God offers exactly what we need, I found an answer to my student’s question, an image to explain this extra-biblical-fundamental-to-our-faith-mystery: The Trinity, I said, is like those chocolate chip cookies you bake at two o’clock in the morning. You take flour, and sugar, and butter, and a whole lot of chocolate chips (preferably two times as many as the recipe calls for) and you blend them together. And then you stick them in the oven, and when they come out, they’re bound as one.</div>
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You can’t pull the sugar out.</div>
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You can’t separate the flour from the butter.</div>
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And the cookie would be something entirely different if you removed the chocolate chips.</div>
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Yes, I told my students, the Trinity is very much like a chocolate chip cookie: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — all baked together — all distinct, all necessary, and yet inseparable.</div>
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Even though the word ‘Trinity’ appears nowhere in the Bible, Jesus offers glimpses of this chocolate-chip-cookie relationship. He tells Nicodemus, for instance, about how the Father, Son, and Spirit work together on our behalf for our salvation: Each person of three is part of an interwoven mission, each dancing with the other, holding hands, unable to let go, until the dance is complete, until their work on behalf of us is done, which it never seems to be.</div>
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And yet, Jesus also seems to acknowledge the mystery of the Trinity. While he tells Nicodemus that we are saved by the Son, that we can experience new life through the Spirit, when pressed, he says that, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”</div>
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Some things about the Trinity, Jesus says, humans will not be able to explain.</div>
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But like the wind blowing, like the scent of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, we will experience it. We will be touched by that dancing, dynamic relationship that exists between the persons of the Trinity, and it will change us. It will change our relationship with God and our relationship with the world.</div>
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Because if there’s one thing that doesn’t have to be a mystery about the Trinity, it’s the way in which we can imitate the relationships between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. Alone, we may be like flour, wholesome, but a little dry. We may be like butter, rich in flavor but greasy in morals. We may be like sugar, sweet but one-dimensional. Or we may be like chocolate chips, big in personality but a little too addictive.</div>
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As individuals, we’re all missing something, which is why we need God and each other — to complete ourselves in a way that we can’t alone. It’s why we need the church, because it’s there that we can practice knowing, loving, and serving God together: in our choirs, where different voices with different pitches and timbres and ages blend as one in praise of God; in our mission projects, where we join our hands and minds and hearts to create a world without sorrow or sighing or pain; in the Eucharist, where we share bread and wine so that we become Christ’s body.</div>
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In this work together, we see why alone is not good enough. Alone, we’ll just be a flake of flour or a lonely chocolate chip. Together, we become a tasty cookie that can nourish and feed others, that can transform the world into the place God intends it to be.</div>
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At the end of my first semester teaching, it was a beautiful spring day, and my students wanted to sit outside. Seated on grass in a courtyard surrounded by Gothic architecture and stained glass windows, I asked them what they’d learned, and at the end of our two hours together, one of my students ducked into her dorm room and emerged with a cake.</div>
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“We were up all night making it,” she said. “Some of us went to the grocery store to buy stuff, and a couple of us baked the cake, and others made the frosting. From scratch,” she added, and I could see her pride that even with limited kitchen supplies, they hadn’t resorted to a mix.</div>
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We stayed late that day, my students and I, eating that cake with the homemade yellow frosting, laughing, smiling. It wasn’t a chocolate chip cookie, but the principle was the same: Ingredients had been bound together. People had been bound together, inextricably woven, yet still distinct. And intermingled with the sun, I like to believe the persons of the Trinity shone down upon us, rejoicing to see themselves reflected on earth.</div>
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<em><span style="color: grey;">– The Rev. Danielle Tumminio lectures at Yale University and is the author of God and Harry Potter at Yale. She currently serves as an interim associate at St. Anne in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln, Massachusetts.</span></em></div>
</div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-85744671477183509442012-03-06T17:33:00.000-06:002012-03-06T17:33:15.641-06:00Watered Down Faith<div class="MsoNormal">Mark 8: 31-38</div><div class="MsoNormal">(With attribution to Marilyn Salmon at Working Preacher for portions of her exegesis on the Gospel.)<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span> Are you frightened yet? I think maybe we should be. “‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. <sup>35</sup>For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. <sup>36</sup>For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? <sup>37</sup>Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? <sup>38</sup>Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Think about this…Our reaction to these words is similar to Peter’s reaction to Jesus telling them about the crucifixion. It is doubt, and unbelief. It doesn't make sense. Surely, we think, Christ didn’t really mean for us to be willing to die for him. Surely he won’t be ashamed of us if we don’t speak out even when we are given the opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> But that is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOT</b> what he tells those following him back then, or now! This true life story of the Risen One is an invitation to living a radical faith, a faith that proclaims the uniqueness of God in Christ Jesus, the cross, and salvation. It would be so easy, like the disciples, to offer some turn of phrase that would reduce the meaning of who Jesus is, and what he tells us to do, but it would not be true. Here we are told to pick up our cross and be advocates for our belief in God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah. We know he is right because the beginning of Mark tells us this is the good news of Jesus, Messiah. But Peter receives no confirmation, only the command to silence. Jesus then teaches the disciples that the Son of Man will suffer, be rejected, killed, and three days later rise again. In Peter’s mind, there is a great contradiction between who Messiah was believed to be, and Jesus' words. Jesus rebukes Peter for focusing on human things as opposed to divine things. Then follows the paradox: One must lose one's life in order to save it. What could he mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Bishop Andy Doyle spoke to the Forming Disciples conference on Friday night, and he made it pretty clear that we are called, just like those people following Jesus, to lose our lives to Christ. He didn’t mean that we should expect to die on a cross for Jesus, but that most of us, if not all, have never really “bought into” what we say we believe. And he’s right. If we really and completely turned our lives over to God through Jesus, living and learning of him would be the prime motivation in our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> In today’s world, many of us who call ourselves Christian, and Episcopal Christians at that, tend to live two lives. We come to church when it is convenient, and together we pray and worship. But we have so many things to do, and so many things calling us away into the world that we frequently pay no attention to who we say we are. We go about our lives, trying to find the time between work and errands to run our kids from band practice to soccer games or basketball practice. Or we who have no kids at home are enticed into other things we enjoy doing, be it learning a new skill, playing golf, being with friends, or watching our favorite sports teams perform, that church and going out to proclaim the Gospel are far from our minds. We jump up when the morning alarm goes off, and hit the ground running, failing to begin our days with even a “Thanks be to God” for this day, much less a time spent in prayer and meditation. We forget to take God with us on our journey through the pitfalls and pratfalls of our days. We rarely if ever actually proclaim the Good News to those around us, or perform works of mercy that live out the covenant. And at the day’s end, we fall into bed, and may think a quick prayer to the Almighty, but fall asleep, or begin to worry, before we’ve even focused on the Almighty. We’ve become people who say we are Christian, but we don’t live the life Christ has called us to live.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> As Episcopalians, we are blessed to have something that no other Christian denomination has: it is our Book of Common Prayer. No other church has anything like it, and we need to use it to increase our faith. In it are beautiful services for private worship as well as corporate use: Morning prayers, Noontime prayers, Evening prayers, as well as Compline, the short prayer service for bedtime. Please pick up one of the prayer books in the racks in front of you and look at the closed pages. It is pretty obvious in most of those copies that there are only a few pages that have seen lots of use -- that's our Rite II worship service. If you don’t have a copy of this book at home, please take the one you have in your hands with you. Take it home and explore it, read it, pray the prayers within it, use it. Read what we say we believe in the Catechism near the back of the book. It can change your heart, and grow your soul closer to God. It is a beautiful gift that our ancient church has given us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Bishop Doyle suggested that if our faith were in the place in our lives that God has asked us to put it, we would be living our lives differently. If we can’t find a swim or soccer league for our kids that doesn’t have competitions on Sunday, perhaps it’s time for us to start a league of our own that respects our Sabbath. He suggested that even when we are on vacation or a business trip, it is, hopefully, our desire to find an Episcopal church and attend wherever we are, rather than miss an opportunity to be with others who are striving to live a Christian life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> As we drive through small and large towns, we frequently see signs that say, “The Episcopal Church welcomes you.” That’s what we tend to do: put something on a sign, and wait for people to come in our doors. In this day and age, that’s not near enough. If we truly love God through Jesus Christ, isn’t it something we want to share? Perhaps, no, not perhaps, DO: Let’s speak to our friends and neighbors of the joy we share in our church, and invite them to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Let’s leave this building and go out into the world where people are, serving them and helping them for the love of Christ, and show them the love that expands in our lives by doing good works in the name of God. As my friend Debbie Allensworth said to me on Friday: when you go out together to help people, they ask, “Why are you doing this for me?” And we too will be able to say, “I do this because it brings me joy to use what God has blessed me with to bless you. Come with me and learn about God’s love.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 1.5in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> We are blessed in living in this country where it is doubtful that we will ever come to the point of having to choose whether or not we will actually die for our faith. Many people in other places around the world truly are dying because they are Christians, and it is what Christ asks us to be willing to do. This statement of Christ to give up our lives is a call to live a radical Christianity; to refocus our mundane and worldly lives, leaving behind the selfishness of “me, first and always” that our society strongly suggests, and turn to live into the joy that comes with putting Christ first in our lives. I will not go to God with the possibility that Christ will be ashamed of me! I hope you feel the same way. So I say to you, as Christ told his followers, </span>“Take up your cross”. And I add, it will bring us all to a joy that we have never known before. Amen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-13641984993487353492011-12-19T22:50:00.000-06:002011-12-19T22:50:39.064-06:00An "Angel" in our midst<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't believe it's been 6 months since I blogged. No excuses...it just has happened that way. I hope that this is the re-start of writing more often! But don't hold me to it -- life flies by when you're in the middle of your 6th decade...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Advent is almost over. Christmas is coming in less than a week, and we at St. Paul's have been blessed by an angel -- though I'm sure many of our parishioners have not recognized her as such, and I didn't either, until yesterday. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During this Advent, St. David's, Austin (my "home" church) has been experiencing some controversy -- in the news: radio, television and the newspaper, due to their unusual steps in attracting the downtown community to Advent:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"> graffiti on the walls outside the church -- not the work of "gangsta" artists, but the work of one of St. David's young members, commissioned by the church. Their "theme" is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><i>Light Interrupts</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">-- calling attention to the downtown community that when Christ's light appears, it interrupts our daily life. They have a daily email to go along with the theme, pointing out that God does interrupt our lives in many ways. </span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been so touched by many of the <i>"Light Interrupts"</i> posts, but today's really got me thinking about what has interrupted me, and turned on the light. A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call at the church from a woman who needed help. I had some money in my discretionary fund and told her to come to the church and I'd see what I could do. It was an interruption in my schedule, but at this time of year, with the economy the way it is, I wanted to help. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was obvious that this woman, who called herself "Angel", was not a "normal" person: there were signs of mental instability, if not mental illness. Yet she told me a story that tugged at my heart, so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with church funds </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I paid her electric bill and bought a Walmart gift card to buy food and gas for her car. It's one of the best "perks" I have as being a priest -- being able to make a difference in strangers' lives. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most every church has one or more people living with mental disabilities. At St. Paul's, I guess we've been insular, or not blessed, because we haven't had anyone during my tenure that isn't simply your average, every day Christian (though we have been very blessed with having a few really saintly people). Now we have been blessed with Angel. She has been with us each time the doors have been open for worship.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although she has caused a bit of apprehension with young parents of little ones because she loves babies and wants to touch them (as well as their parents), Angel is harmless and a loving soul. She's quite inappropriate at times, and as a result has interrupted my schedule frequently, but the most wonderful interruption was in Adult Ed yesterday. In our discussion, Angel suddenly raised her hand, asking permission to speak (though she didn't need to ask -- no one else does). She proceeded to explain the Hebrew meanings of our text, and explained the spirit behind what was written! After class, two of our members thanked her for her words. It is obvious that underneath her mental problems, she is quite bright, and has a lot of knowledge.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God interrups our lives in many strange and unexpected ways. Angel (though that is not her "real" name in the sense of the world) has become an angel to our congregation. May she continue to interrupt all our lives at St. Paul's, bringing our compassion to the fore, as she brings her life into our midst.</span></div></div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-71657115427473475542011-07-21T00:07:00.000-05:002011-07-21T00:07:48.100-05:00Who's "in" and who's "out"?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Proper 11 – Yr A</div><div class="MsoNormal">Genesis 28:10 – 19a</div><div class="MsoNormal">Psalm <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">139: 1-11, 22-23</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Romans 8:12-25</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Matthew 13:24-30,36-43</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think I could have written three sermons on the scriptures today. Each one is so filled with important messages for us. In our Old Testament reading, we have Jacob fleeing into the wilderness. For those of you not familiar with this story: Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, fought with his older twin brother Esau even in the womb. They were fraternal twins with nothing in common. Isaac loved Esau best because he was a hunter and brought meat into the household. Their mother, Rebecca, knew by prophecy that Jacob, though he was second-born, would inherit and rule over his brothers and receive his father’s blessing. Suffice it to say that in a moment of weakness Esau gave Jacob his birthright. At a later date, Jacob outright lied to their blind father to get Isaac’s blessing and therefore, Esau’s inheritance as firstborn. Esau promises to kill Jacob, and at this point in the scriptures, Jacob is fleeing for his life, out in the wilderness, trying to go to his mother’s brother for sanctuary. He feels as though he has lost everything, and may yet lose his life. Jacob lies down to sleep without even bothering to look for a soft or pleasant place – the sun had set, and he merely moves a stone to use as a pillow, and, exhausted, falls into deep slumber.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This man is not an upright and moral man. A liar, a thief if you will, and from his family, no less! Yet it is to him that God comes. God isn’t calling to Jacob from heaven, She is standing beside Jacob; repeating the promises made to Abraham and Isaac of owning great amounts of land, having many children and possessions; how Jacob and his family will bless the nations. God says that Jacob will never be alone; God will always be with him.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the morning, Jacob realizes that this deserted place is the house of God. He takes the stone he used for a pillow, turns it into an altar, pours oil over it as a blessing, and names it Bethel, literally “house of God”. Throughout history, we have used oil for blessing, anointing and sanctifying, both people and places. Jacob is not worshipping the stone; he is making a sacrament, the physical and outward sign of an inward and spiritual event. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And this event: the coming of God to Jacob, changed not only the place where it happened, it also changed Jacob. Though it’s not in our reading for today, the next verse shows the dramatic turnaround that occurred in Jacob’s life: he makes a vow, telling God that if he survives the coming ordeal and is eventually allowed back into his father’s lands in peace, he will be God’s devoted servant. This opportunist and liar has become a man of God. God’s message to Jacob about how he will be a blessing to all the peoples of the Earth is surely a blessing to us. It shows us that there is always hope – hope that, with God’s help, we can turn our lives around, from a path of destruction such as Jacob was on, to a path where we will be a blessing to others.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Paul continues his letter to the Romans in our New Testament reading, and again I remind you that there is a great difference in the way Paul uses the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sarx </i>or “flesh” and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">soma</i>, which means “body”. Flesh has to do with an unhealthy attitude and focus on the body, whether it is an obsession with making your body perfect, or being obsessed in a sexual way. It has to do with power, over yourself or other people. The body (soma) has no negative connotation, it is neither good or bad, it is simply the body. In this passage, Paul is telling the people that because they have accepted Christ, they, and we, are God’s children, that we are heirs of God’s kingdom, brothers and sisters of Jesus. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Roman Christians were experiencing persecution; enduring great difficulties in their lives. Paul reminds them not to fall back into fear: that as servants of God, we have no reason to fear. This world is not as it should be – it wasn’t then, and it isn’t now. Suffering is part of all of life; we all experience great pain at some point – whether it is physical or emotional, it just is, because the world is not as God wants it to be. Paul’s point is not that anyone (including Christ) earns glory by suffering; rather, as he seeks to describe what it means to be a joint heir with Christ: he notes that the joint heir's life is characterized by the same pattern that shaped Christ's life. To be connected to Christ is to know humiliation, and exaltation. To be an heir with Christ is to share in Christ's suffering and resurrection. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Paul is not saying hope for heaven, in the sky, by and by. That freedom of which he writes is not freedom from the material world, but freedom within a restored creation. It is the freedom of an embodied life that reflects the image and glory of God. Paul points to that freedom and describes what it is like to hope for such a thing here and now. He uses the words for "son" and "child" to refer not to Jesus, but to his siblings, we who are led by the Spirit. As "flesh" referred to a power that enslaves us and keeps us from participating in God's glory, the Spirit is the power that frees and enlivens us for a new identity as children of God. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One cause of suffering for those who have received the Spirit of adoption, is that the Spirit has given us reason to hope for more than we can see. Paul’s meaning of suffering includes anything that threatens to separate us from God's love. For now, the suffering Paul speaks of is suffering that comes from knowing what the world <u>could</u> be, even as we live in the world as it is. Then he writes, “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Let us be patient, my friends: for the joy engendered in our relationship with our Creator through Christ Jesus is worth the wait.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our Gospel is a wonderful teaching for us, though to simply read the scripture without digging deeper might only bring us confusion, and lead us in the wrong direction. We have wheat and weeds, comingled together, and the servants are anxious to pull up the weeds, to root out the “evil” in the field so that a bountiful harvest would grow, undeterred by evil weeds within the wheat field. I doubt that there is anyone here who hasn’t questioned why God allows evil to exist. Haven’t we all at some time wanted to take matters into our own hands and get rid of the evil we see? The master stops the slaves from doing anything of the sort. For one thing, it is not so easy to tell the weeds from the wheat, and for another, their roots are intertwined below the ground. Rooting out the weeds would uproot the wheat as well; doing more damage to the crop than leaving the weeds to grow until harvest.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It sounds as though Jesus is saying that there are two groups of people in the world -- children of the kingdom and children of the evil one, wheat and weeds -- and that their destinies are fixed from the beginning. Jesus says that at the end of the age, the angels will "collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin (<i>skandala</i>) and all evildoers, and will throw them into the furnace of fire”. Elsewhere Jesus warns those who put a stumbling block (<i>skandalon</i>) before any of the "little ones" that it would be better for them to have a millstone put around their neck and to be drowned in the sea. Similarly he warns that if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin (<i>skandalizo</i>), it is better to cut it off or pluck it out and enter life blind or maimed, than to be thrown into the "hell of fire" with body intact. All of these phrases are hyperbole of course, exaggerated speech meant to jar us into recognizing the seriousness of anything that leads us, or others into sin. It seems to suggest that <i>skandalon</i> may be something within a person rather than the whole person. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We know that it is not really our hand, foot, or eye that causes us to sin. Sin comes from the human heart: <i>kardia</i>, which in Greek refers to the inner self, the mind and will. No human is able to pluck out the inner self. Perhaps when Jesus says that the angels will collect all <i>skandala</i> to burn in the fire, he means that everything within us that causes sin will be burned away.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It doesn't quite fit the logic of the parable, which seems to be talking about two groups of people and speaks of throwing all evildoers into the furnace of fire. Yet it fits with other texts in Matthew about stumbling blocks. Remember where Jesus tells Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block (<i>skandalon</i>) to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." In spite of these strong words and Peter's repeated failings, Jesus does not give up on Peter; rather, he entrusts the future of his mission to him and the rest of his disciples, who more often than not don’t understand what he’s trying to teach them. So perhaps we shouldn’t take the parable too literally. In the world we know, weeds do not become wheat. Yet Matthew's story holds out hope even for those who stumble -- yes, even for the one whom Jesus calls a stumbling block!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps there were some overzealous "weeders" in Matthew's congregation who wanted to purify the community by rooting out the bad seed. This seems to be a temptation for followers of Jesus in every age. Many Christians carry on a weeding frenzy, certain that they know the difference between weeds and wheat, and that they know how to deal with the weeds! Jesus' parable makes clear that any attempt to root out the weeds will only do more damage to the crop. This has happened far too many times in congregations and denominations, with some determined to root out anyone who does not agree with the "right" interpretation of Scripture, liturgical practice, or stand on a particular issue, or way of life. There are many who pronounce judgment on people outside the church: on people of other faiths, for instance: declaring them to be destined for eternal damnation. Whether judgment is focused within the church or without, it does serious damage to the church and its mission.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus makes clear that we are not the judge of who is "in" or who is "out." In fact, in scripture we are told that God's judgment about these matters will take many by surprise: that many will be “in” that we don’t expect, and many will be “out” that we never thought would be. The Bible tells us that God is love, and Jesus tells us to be a neighbor and friend to all. We can leave the weeding to the angels, and get on with the work Jesus has called us to do: loving all those we meet and caring for those in need. Amen.</div><!--EndFragment-->Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-89772603980514566032011-07-11T16:01:00.000-05:002011-07-11T16:01:33.223-05:00My Memorial Sunday AwayI thought I put this up a month ago! Well, here it finally is -- I've got to get better about keeping this blog more current! It seems that life is getting in the way of writing...<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">My Memorial Sunday Away</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">In Memoriam</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, USMC</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">1979 – 2009</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">KIA, Farah Province, Afghanistan</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We (about 50 of us) drove about 30 minutes from the wilderness campsite up rocky roads, parked and then hiked/climbed another 200 or so yards from the top of a West Texas mountain out onto a promontory that on three sides hung over a very deep canyon, hundreds of feet down. As we gathered around a mound of rocks that held an American flag at half-staff, four WWII trainer planes did a flyover, disappeared into the distance, then came back around and directly over us did the missing man formation. Thomas Meadows, a Murchison Middle School student and son of one of Josh’s cousins, played taps on his bass clarinet. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I read scriptures about eternal life from The Committal (page 501, BCP) then spoke of how we were gathered to honor Josh, to place a plaque on “Pop’s Peak” in remembrance, and to release his remains, his ashes, back to the earth. I prayed the beautiful prayer also found on pg. 501 and then we all prayed the Lord’s Prayer.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Josh’s uncle Henry told the family history of “Pop’s Peak”: how their father/grandfather/great-grandfather had loved that peak and how they had climbed it many times. Directly underneath the peak is a cave once used by Indians. Henry related how Josh, as a ten-year-old, had been down there with his grandfather and found potsherds, arrowheads and points. He then explained that after Henry, Sr. died, they’d placed a bronze plaque into the stone, and when Josh’s father, Robert died, they did the same for him. Now Josh has a plaque there, which would be unveiled at the end of the service. Then Henry turned on the music, playing tunes that were reflective of the Meadows family’s heritage: Celtic, American, Southern, and Marine.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the music faded, Angela (Josh’s wife) and his sister, Erin, joined together on the side of the cliff and speaking softly to one another; they took handfuls of his ashes and let the wind carry them away out over the valley. Jan, Josh’s mom, held his little daughter, Olivia Claire, who was born just weeks after her Daddy died. <br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then, Patrick (Josh’s cousin who arranged the ceremony) and Jan removed the Marine flag from Josh’s plaque so all could see. Angela took Olivia, and they knelt by the plaque. Little Olivia patted the plaque and said “Daddy,” and I couldn’t stop my tears from falling, along with many others around me. Then as Thomas played taps once again, we began the trek back to the parking area.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before we left the top of the mountain, about 25 or 30 people took their guns out of their trucks (including at least 4 automatic weapons) and proceeded to give Josh what was “billed” as a 2100 gun salute, shooting out over the canyon for quite some time. It was the perfect finish to Josh’s memorial. I was so very honored to be a participant. Josh is a hero, having saved the lives of all of the men with him when he covered their retreat. Josh was the only casualty of the fire team he commanded. He was an amazing young man. The world is lesser for his loss and heaven is blessed to have him. </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-8408457436500196832011-03-18T19:05:00.000-05:002011-03-18T19:05:34.745-05:00Friday Five at RevGal!Jan at the Rev Gal blog spot asked these questions this morning, and for the first time, I'm playing:<br />
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Whether we liked it or not, we all "sprang forward" with the change to daylight savings time in the USA this past Sunday. There is lightness and brightness slipping in as spring approaches, so let us consider what is springing forth in our lives right now.<br />
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Name 5 things that are springing forth, possibly including :<br />
what you hope for<br />
what you dread<br />
what you observe<br />
what is concrete<br />
what is intangible<br />
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Okay, here goes:<br />
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What I hope for: That the small mission I pastor will come alive in the Spirit during this Lent. We have been growing, and the love is ever-present. I pray that those on the edges that don't have experience of a church "family" will catch fire and want to be active and present.<br />
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What I dread: I know this one is quite personal. With so many horrendous things going on in the world, it seems selfish and self-centered. What I dread is my continuing problems with the pain and degeneration of my spine. I am so afraid that the doctors will never find a solution, and I won't be able to stand behind the altar to celebrate communion, or stand to preach, or do any of the things I want so desperately to do. I pray for a solution without pain.<br />
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What do I observe: Like so many of you, I'm very aware of Spring breaking forth. The redbud trees and the salvia, the special greens of new growth. Sitting on the porch to write as I watch the new gazebo rising in my backyard. So many blessings!<br />
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What is concrete: That God is love, and loves all of Creation!<br />
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What is intangible: The joy that springs from my heart as I do my priestly things. It is so right, and what I've been called to do. Thank you, God, for putting me in this place, a place where love abounds!Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-12721680912209377062011-02-16T10:29:00.000-06:002011-02-16T10:29:31.445-06:00Pluck out your eye! Cut off your hand!I give thanks for the research and enlightenment of the Right Rev. Michael Rinehart of the ECLA Church. Much of his exegesis and some of his words are contained in this sermon. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.<br />
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Hellfire and Damnation! You are going to burn – I Am Going to BURN!! If you’ve thought it in your mind or heart – you may as well have done it, because you are certainly going to get the punishment as though you had! Who hasn’t been angry with someone? Haven’t we all? Have you been divorced and are now remarried – or living with someone outside the vows of marriage?? It’s hellfire for you! It’s hellfire for me! Oh, NO!!! <br />
How often have we heard these messages? From Dante’s “Inferno” through Milton’s “Paradise Lost” on up through our Puritan history to screaming televangelists today, what we hear leads us to look at these verses of Jesus and quake – shaking in our shoes that we really are in a world of hurt and there is no way to work our way out of the deep sin in which we find ourselves? Oh…My…God! What can I do? I find myself in a wonderful and decent marriage, but Jesus appears to call this one adulterous, because I’ve been married before! What shall I do?<br />
Well, I think I can tell you what we all need to do, and that is: take a deep breath and calm down. Fundamentalist preachers have interpreted these words of Jesus for hundreds of years in a completely different way than most theologians read them, whether those theologians were from the ancient world like St. Augustine, and Luther, or modern theologians. People who read the Bible literally, without considering the circumstances in which they were said, can completely misunderstand Jesus’ meanings.<br />
In this particular scenario, we are hearing a portion in the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We’ve been reading it in order for the last three weeks. But suddenly, after the words about Salt and Light we heard last week, come these hard words. So different and so harsh from what has gone before. I think it is very important that we understand what Jesus was doing here.<br />
When people hear “hellfire,” they take it quite literally. Jesus may have meant it literally, but I suspect not. Translated from the Greek, this phrase reads: “into the Gehenna of fire,” which refers to the dump south of Jerusalem where garbage was burned. I don’t want to negate the image of judgment here. Jesus certainly means to say that there is a Judgment Day coming, in which things are going to be sorted out, good and bad. Bad stuff will be burned like trash. But, we have to hear this as literary hyperbole. Here’s why: In just a few verses, Jesus will instruct his listeners to tear out their eyes if they are a cause of sin. I presume he didn’t mean this literally, as there’s no evidence that Jesus’ disciples mutilated themselves. St. Augustine assumes that Jesus is speaking metaphorically. These shocking images work. They ring in people’s ears two thousand years later. He’s using a powerful homiletic tool, preaching tool, to make his point.<br />
So what is the point? Relationships are important: more important than vengeance, more important than retaliation. We can do violence with our words. When we do, mending those relationships is more important than going to church, or making our offerings. Asking others for forgiveness is as important as seeking God’s.<br />
About the statement on anger, Martin Luther explained it this way: We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray, slander, or hurt our neighbor’s reputation, but defend, speak well of our neighbor, and explain everything in the kindest way.<br />
About Lust, I’ve got a quote that may shock you, but it made me stop and think: our beloved C. S. Lewis said the following: “He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart.” What Jesus is really saying is, he is very interested in the heart. What you think matters: your motives matter. Transformation of behavior alone won’t do. Actually, it won’t work. The only hope is transformation of the heart, from which all actions flow.<br />
I suppose even if we are entirely chaste, our lusting will work its way out in other ways, resulting in: anger? Resentment? Unhealthy relationships? Fear of intimacy? Selfishness? I’ve always felt that lust and covetousness came from the same source. It’s the desire for more, more, more, no matter how much I have. It is, at the heart of things, self-centeredness. God will have to deal with this in us, if we are to become spiritually alive.<br />
And now, to Divorce: Consider this. A man could “put away” a woman by simply writing down a note. “I divorce her.” The Bible was used to justify this practice. The woman had very few options. There was a huge power differential. Jesus is upholding the sanctity of marriage. The goal is faithfulness. And fairness.<br />
The Hebrew Bible’s laws about divorce are draconian and patriarchal. They are about men’s rights to divorce women, not women’s rights to divorce men. By and large, they assume women as a possession of men, traded for shekels like cattle. Women have few rights in this system. Consider this passage from Deut. 22: If a man meets a virgin who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are caught in the act, the man who lay with her shall give fifty shekels of silver to the young woman’s father, and she shall become his wife. Because he violated her he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives. So, if a man rapes a woman, his punishment is paying the father 50 shekels and marrying the woman. She is forced to marry her rapist. She cannot seek a certificate of divorce, and neither can he. One can only wonder about the marital dynamics in such an arrangement.<br />
It seems to me that Jesus, by criticizing divorce, is making it more egalitarian. The woman couldn’t divorce anyway. Jesus is leveling the playing field. And he creates a loophole: “except on the grounds of unchastity.” And it’s quite a loophole. What qualifies? I can imagine physical or emotional abuse as being unchaste. There’s wiggle room here, just not, “the man said so.” Jesus is not a fan of divorce, or broken relationships of any kind. It’s tragic really. But even he leaves a loophole. There is grace here.<br />
The following three statements on oath taking – only saying “yes” or “no”; going the extra mile rather than retaliating, and loving our enemies, are also points of grace. Without discussing them in detail, what Jesus is doing is calling his followers to a higher standard than the law given by Moses. He is saying that our behavior in adhering to the law does not bring life. Those who are peacemakers, full of mercy and hungry for justice will see beyond the letter of the law to its deep inner yearning for purity of heart and a world of justice. They will exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. Righteousness is not obedience to legislation, but perfect conformity to the will of God. The end product is that we are to be: children of our heavenly Father: righteous and merciful. <br />
These words we’ve always heard as harsh and scary, are really words of love. Jesus calls all of us to respond in love to every situation, hurtful and hard as those situations might be. He is calling on us to be sacrificial with our thoughts, words, actions and feelings. He is telling us that we can change our hearts to hearts of non-judgmental love. Until our lives overflow with caring more and doing more for others than for ourselves, we’ve missed the boat on what it means to live the Christian life.<br />
It is time to move into the next level. To move beyond our worship in this place, to moving out into the world, showing people we do not know and who don’t know us, what living in Christ’s love truly means to the world. It’s time to get our priorities in order: to go out and live the love we’ve been given. Amen.Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-74808662723164063622010-10-15T10:41:00.003-05:002010-10-15T10:46:19.735-05:00The ExiledParts of this sermon were strongly influenced by a sermon written by the Rev. Richard Fairchild. My prayers of thanksgiving for his work and willingness to share his talents with the world go up to God this day. Amen<br /><br /> Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem. On his final journey there that would end on the cross. He was near the border to Samaria when ten lepers call out to him. These people had a disease that was the equivalent of AIDS in the early ‘80’s, if you are old enough to remember the fear of AIDS at that time. These people were under a sentence of death. Leprosy was so feared that the victims of this disease were total outcasts. <br /><br /> By the rules of their society, rules created by a fear of contamination, lepers were forced away from society except with other lepers, and when they encountered healthy people, they rang bells that said to others, “keep away – I am lethal!”<br />Until very recently, people who had leprosy, what we now call Hansen’s disease, were treated as the living dead: shunned, avoided, feared, they were believed to be unclean, as men and women of the greatest misfortune (if not guilty of huge sins) as people beyond help and not worthy of notice except, perhaps a little charity.<br /><br /> As Jesus entered a village these lepers approached him and called from a distance: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They must have cried out with a sense of futility, for so few people even acknowledged their presence. Jesus did something unusual for him. Rather than saying, “be healed” – “stand up” – “take up your bed and walk”, Jesus responded to their cry by saying “go and show yourselves to the priests.” Now Jesus was referring to Leviticus chapter fourteen, which specifies what a priest is to do with a leper who happens to get healed. If cured, the leper could gain readmission to the temple, and to the rest of society, if he was ritually purified and certified as “clean” by a priest.<br /><br /> Yet, despite the unusual response of Jesus, they turn and go, and as they walk down the path towards the priest in the village, they are healed. The Greek word translated “healed” in verses14 and 17 is a word that literally means cleansed or cured.<br /><br /> As we know, one of the ten, a Samaritan man, realizing he had been made clean, turned back and praising God with a loud voice he came to Jesus and prostrated himself: he fell on his knees and his face before Jesus’ feet, and thanked him. And Jesus looked down on him and said to his disciples:<br /><br /> “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And then he said to the man: ‘Get up and go on your way, your faith has made you well.’”<br /><br /> The word for “well” used here in the Greek can mean cured or healed, but it also means to be made whole or to be saved. My Friends, Jesus’ point is that it is faith that makes us whole. In this story, we have the opportunity to see faith in a different light than we might normally see it. We have the opportunity to see faith as something that leads us to a life that is more than just being well: it is what leads us to wholeness. Through this story we can see that faith is nothing more difficult, nothing more profound than remembering what God has done and giving thanks to him for it.<br /><br /> What, after all, is the difference between the nine lepers who are made clean and the tenth leper who is not only made clean, but also made whole? Just this one: of all the healed lepers, the Samaritan, realizes real resurrection. He alone comes back to say “Thanks”. He realizes that his healing comes from God, through Jesus, and that God has put him in a relationship with Jesus and that relationship alone has made him whole and alive again.<br /><br /> Both last Sunday and today, our reading from Jeremiah has focused on the people who were exiled: taken into Babylon when Israel was conquered. The people torn from their homes and their way of life, are similar to the lepers in our gospel. And there are people here in Central Texas who have been made to feel like exiles. There are many more around the country, and I believe that God is calling us to love them, to let them know that He loves them, just like we are told God loves all of Her creation.<br /><br /> There is something going on in our country that is being almost shouted from the rooftops. I think we’ve finally realized that we are drowning in incivility. People’s rudeness toward others covers the spectrum, with everything from road rage to employee abuse, to people taking their anger out on strangers. But what has really caught my attention, and most probably yours, if you put any focus at all on the news, is the increasing numbers of teen suicides as a result of bullying. Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among college-age students (after auto deaths) in the United States, with some 1,100 deaths a year. In yesterday’s paper I read about four high school kids in one Ohio town who killed themselves during the last year: one was a girl named Sladjana, whose family recently immigrated from Croatia, and she was ridiculed for her accent and unusual name. She hung herself. Another girl was gay, and another was teased mercilessly because she had a learning disability. Eric, a boy from the same town wasn’t gay, but the school bullies decided that he was because he liked to dress differently. He shot himself in the head.<br /><br /> You may have heard about the death of five teens that took their own lives in the month of September. Raymond Chase, 19; Seth Welsh, 13; Asher Brown, 13, here in Texas; and Billy Lucas, 15, in Indiana, all committed suicide after being bullied and harassed about their sexual orientation. And, just a little over a week ago, Tyler Clementi, 18, of New Jersey. He did it because he didn’t know how to live with what was done to him. A brilliant musician, Tyler was a freshman in college. He had an amazing future in front of him but, in torment over his roommates “outing” him by broadcasting a video of his sexual encounter with another man, Tyler threw himself off a bridge. <br /><br /> Honesty and openness about sexuality is difficult at any age. For teenagers, it can be simply paralyzing, an almost impossible subject to discuss with parents or other adults. Kids don’t know what to do, or how to protect themselves, and harassment is devastating to fragile, emerging personalities. <br /><br /> But bullying isn’t just about sexual orientation. It is a tragic and deadly trend in our schools that students are not being held accountable for their disrespect of others. In Bob Lively’s Faith column, also in yesterday’s Austin paper, he quoted theologian Richard Rohr, saying that though our human problems are for the most part psychological, the solution for those problems is mainly spiritual. It is so obvious to those of us who know and follow the Lord Jesus Christ that our world is hurting so much because we are not following his command to love one another and to treat each other as we would like to be treated. <br /><br /> In our baptismal covenant, we say that seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. We say we will strive for justice and peace among all people, and will respect the dignity of every person. As followers of Christ it is our place to step up in protecting those who are being harassed, and to try and show bullies a better, more compassionate way to be. <br /><br /> As the lepers were shunned and shut out of society, so are many of our children being shunned and shut out, or even worse. One of the many reasons I love my job is because I have the privilege of knowing the youth of St. Paul’s. I cherish each and every one of you, and you can pass the word to any and all of your friends and acquaintances. It doesn’t matter to me what the trouble is: anyone, any time, can feel free to come talk to me about anything in confidence– there will be no judgment given, only caring concern, and thoughtful support. There is nothing you can tell me that will shock me – and with love and God’s help, we can find a way to make things better.<br /><br /> The good news is that we can do something about this. Each of us has a responsibility to be present in the lives of our youth, offering them reminders of their belovedness as members of the Body of Christ, and giving them the support they need to thrive. As Jesus pointed out in the Gospel today, as we love and care for one another, and as we give thanks to God for his grace given to us, we have the opportunity to become whole. That it is through God’s loving grace, manifested through His people, that we all find healing and wholeness from the hurtful things of this world. And as one helps another, and that one loves another and helps them, the world can be changed. Amen, and amen.Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-58159290255321388772010-10-03T18:28:00.002-05:002010-10-03T18:34:31.944-05:00What a FABULOUS Weekend!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;">Oh, my, I feel like my prayers have been answered...at least for this past two days. St. Paul's had a yard sale on Saturday, and most of the church pitched in to organize things on Friday evening, and then came back to help with the sale. It was a real community effort just like we've been praying for, and everyone seemed to have a great time (and we made some good money to further along our plans for our 25th anniversary celebration too!).</p> </p>Then, including the young ones in the nursery during worship, we had 52 people at church! And most of them stayed for Sunday school and our usual potluck lunch that we have on "First" Sundays (the first Sunday of every month). It was so good to study God's word together, and then visit while we ate and cleaned up the church.</p> </p>Then, there was just time enough to run to the store to buy treats for the animals for our 2:00 PM St. Francis' Blessing of the Animals (as I promised and almost forgot to get). This was so that every pet that was brought by their person or people to the blessing service could enjoy refreshments just like the people did. We had 18 people, 12 dogs and 1 cat, including the two precious dogs from the Pflugerville Animal Shelter who are patiently waiting for someone to adopt them. One was an older female pit bull mix who was simply sweet and loving. The other was a young black and white terrier who, from a standing still stance, jumped almost 3' off the ground! And he did it over and over again, every time anyone paid him the slightest attention. If you are thinking of adopting a dog, get yourself to the PAS in a hurry -- these sweeties won't last long!</p> </p>I'm not sure how much money we raised for the shelter, but there was enough dog and cat food to help them out for a few days anyway, and it was a real blessing to have animal control officer, Michael, with us again for the second year. It has been an amazing few days -- full of love and laughter and church family. We are so very blessed to have each other!</p></p></span>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-55127086384877604752010-08-31T12:00:00.005-05:002010-08-31T21:00:16.404-05:00Where to begin....?The pilgrimage to Malawi was life-changing. I'm not sure how exactly, yet...I'm still processing it all. Such beautiful, joyous people -- joyous in the Lord, even when they are lacking any creature comforts, and live as our early ancestors did, with dirt floors and no water or electricity, and no toys for the children except balls made from plastic bags tied around with string. It made evident how very spoiled we are here in the States. <div><br /></div><div>It all seems to relate to our Gospel reading for next Sunday, Luke 14:25 - 33: How much are we willing to give to be a follower of Christ? Are we willing to pay the price to follow Jesus? What is first in our lives? He tells his "many followers" that there is great cost in choosing him. He tells them that they must weigh the cost and choose. Have we truly chosen, or are we among those many followers who aren't really following Him -- simply walking along and listening, saying we believe and are followers, but not truly choosing to live the Christian life? What <b>is</b> most important in our lives? </div><div><br /></div><div>It seems to me that we here, in a place that has every creature comfort imaginable, have become so attached to those things which give us comfort, or mindlessness, (read that as bleeping out on television, being a "workaholic", depending upon alcohol or drugs, watching sports or playing video games) that we have forgotten what could -- and yes, should, be the most important focus of our lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why is it that we don't focus more on the one thing that truly can bring us the most joy that it is possible to experience? Is it because we have become so jaded with the "entertainment" or "busyness of work" that we can't allow ourselves to just sit and be with God? Is it because we have spent so little time with Her that it's uncomfortable to be in silence, doing nothing but paying attention to Him?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, Jesus was telling the truth when He told those many followers that they needed to count the cost of following Him. Yes, we<b> may</b> lose friends and acquaintances, if they are just with us to play, and see what they can get from the relationship. If they are attached for selfish, or frivolous reasons. For what Jesus is saying is that if we are truly to follow Him, all that we have -- all that we possess in this life -- must become unimportant to us in comparison to our love for God. Somehow it seems that we should lose some "friends" or even family, if we choose to love God first. It seems obvious when I think about it, that when our priorities are in the proper order, our reality changes: we become immersed in God, and many other things fall away -- and there is a parting of the ways because we no longer relate to people in the same way we did when we were caught up in the trappings of the material world.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most amazing thing is, that when we truly let go and release our attachment to all these things that we "love" on this Earthly plane, and focus on God as the source <b>and</b> destination of the only true love, we find ourselves complete -- lacking nothing -- and living in total joy. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is what I experienced in Malawi, and what I experience in my own life when I allow myself to be still in the presence of God. It changes things. It is what makes life have meaning. What I don't comprehend is why I have such difficulty remaining aware of Him. It is the most glorious experience of my life, and yet I get caught in the mundane, and forget to focus on Her. It seems so hard in this place, back in everyday life. Perhaps this is why I had such a hard time leaving Malawi: Out there in the bush, working with the orphans and widows, God was so palpably evident...It was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life...</div><div><br /></div><div>And then I realized that I can do more from here than I could ever do being there. That doesn't mean that I don't want to go again, and focus on certain things that I only got a glimpse of on this whirlwind trip to see so many different projects that are making a difference. But this is home, and it's where I belong. </div><div><br /></div><div>In our Gospel for Sunday Jesus says we must hate our families, and I have trouble with that. Not only do I love my family and need to be with them; I also love my parishioners, and know that we are doing good work, growing in our love of God together. Although he literally used that word, hate, perhaps he was using it in a quantitative sense, that we should love God so much more. I don't know. I firmly believe that God is love and wants us to reflect that love throughout our lives to everyone -- perhaps Jesus was talking about attachment. There are so many opportunities to share the love of God, now matter where we are -- it seems to me to be a matter of putting God first.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will not let go of my love of the land and the people of Malawi. They have taught me many great lessons: lessons of priorities, lessons of focus, lessons of love. Love in the deepest sense. Love that comes from deep within a relationship with God, which pours out to the entire Earth and all the people in it. For God loves all of His creation, and what I believe She wants each one of us to be is a conduit of Her love to all those we meet, and that happens no matter what continent we are on, or where we are on our journey.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-8977158590078098182010-07-15T18:28:00.003-05:002010-07-15T18:48:09.860-05:00Heading into the bush<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is just a few days until I get on a big "bird" and fly to the other side of the world...as chaplain of a group of seven, including me, to experience pilgrimage in the country of Malawi. Don't know where it is? Well, Google a map of Africa and look southeast. Where we are going (in the southern part of the country) is completely surrounded by Mozambique, which is just north of South Africa. It is one of the poorest, most destitute countries of the world, plagued by AIDS and therefore, there are many orphans. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Diocese of Texas signed a concordant agreement with the Diocese of Southern Malawi in January -- we are now "Sister" dioceses. We go to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ, to rejoice with them in the love of Christ, and to see how we might help them with worldly needs while they teach us how to love. You see, from what I know about the Malawian people, they don't have a bunch of "stuff" as we do here in the States, but they are overflowing with the love Christ calls us to live in. I think that they know more than we about <i>real</i> living.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I may be unable to post while I'm there -- I don't know what access I will have to wifi and the web, but know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all while I am across the world.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When their bishop, the Right Rev. Bishop James Tengatenga came to St. Paul's a few months ago, one of my parishioners asked him, "What will Judith do when she is in Malawi?" Bishop James replied, "Well, I hope she encounters God there." I, too, hope to encounter God among these beautiful, loving people. Please pray for our group while we are there. We all believe God is calling us to this place, and will help us realize how He wants us to be family together.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-64856987369854480582010-07-06T09:00:00.002-05:002010-07-06T09:05:43.426-05:00Have you time to make a call?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>July 4<sup>th: </sup>Proper 9 -- Year C</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">II Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, Galatians 6:1-16, Luke 10:1-11,16-20</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>What I gleaned from this Old Testament story of the healing of Naaman is something I believe is very important for all of us to hear. I think we usually tend to either sit around waiting for God to call us to do something dramatic, something out of the ordinary…or we’re so afraid that He might call us to do something that’s going to disrupt our lives, that we don’t listen for His call. </p><p class="MsoNormal">What the story of Naaman is telling us is that God usually calls us to do something simple, something that’s easy. What God most particularly asks most of us to do is a gentle healing of our lives and the lives of others through a simple change of attitude, a change of heart. These are both of the Old Testament lessons today. Rejoice, for God is with us and loves us, and…open your minds and hearts to be ready to do the little things, in simplicity. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Our Epistle reading from Galatians is about “Karma” – that Hindu and Buddhist word for the idea that, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” If you are selfish, you’ll get selfish people surrounding you. Ignore the presence of God around you, don’t pay attention to spreading His love around, and your life will pretty well be overgrown with weeds, with problems that are difficult to clean out of your life. But if you let God’s love grow in you and you share that caring love with those you encounter in your daily life, your life will bloom. Bear one another’s burdens and the burdens will be lighter for all of us.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Paul tells us to plant things of the Spirit within ourselves, and in those we meet, and what we will reap will be the joys of heaven. He writes that we are to do whatever we can for the good of everyone whenever we have the opportunity. And he reminds us of what our attitude should be when he says, “May I never boast of anything, except the cross of Christ.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. He goes on to tell his followers (and that’s us as well as those people he spoke to so long ago). He goes on to say that we don’t need any special preparation for doing his will. Simply go your way, and when you are with others, share God’s peace, help them however you can, tell them that God is near them, and your name will be written in heaven. Sometimes, God calls people to make dramatic changes in their lives, and to undergo huge sacrifices for the faith, but most of the time, God wants us to do His will right where we are, in the little things of life. Sometimes we don’t even realize that it is God’s urging that is moving us in new directions. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>I have a story about some new friends that Lewis and I made on our trip. Timir Banerjee and his wife Elaine happened to sit with us at dinner the first night of the tour. They live in Louisville, Kentucky, where they are both active in their faith. Elaine is a nurse who is doing additional graduate work, and is interested in integrating spiritual aspects of life into the healing process. Timir is a retired neurosurgeon who has in the last few years begun teaching 5<sup>th</sup> grade three mornings a week. He came to the United States several decades ago from India to practice medicine and improve his life: he is a naturalized American citizen. This story is one that Dr. Banerjee told us over dinner.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>He started out by saying what an amazing country the United States is, how in this country things can happen that would never happen anywhere else. And he shared with us the story of Dennis. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The year was 1978, and Dennis was a 32-year old patient of Timir’s. Dennis had a debilitating lung condition that kept him from living on his own, or providing for himself. He spent lots of time in the hospital to undergo oxygen intubations for his condition. In consultation with Dennis’s mother, Timir found out that it didn’t matter to her whether Dennis was in the hospital or at home, she couldn’t rest. She never got a good night’s sleep due to her worry that Dennis would become unable to breathe, and would die with no one to help him. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>When Dr. Banerjee discovered how distraught Dennis’s mother was, he couldn’t let the problem continue. He picked up the phone and called the headquarters of AT&T and asked to speak with the president of the company. He didn’t even know the man’s name, but he did know that at that time, AT&T owned Bell Laboratories, and he thought maybe they could help in some way. Timir actually got through to the top man, and he explained the problem. (You see, at this time there were some monitors built for pediatric use to alert nurses if a child had difficulties, but no monitors that alerted someone if an adult patient’s breath stopped.) <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The President of AT&T told Dr. Banerjee that he didn’t believe he’d ever had a more important problem to solve, and he would be in touch as soon as he could. Just a day or two later, Timir received a call telling him that two engineers from Boeing were flying in from Seattle and they’d be in KY in a few days to get to work. These men came in and developed the medical monitor that results in an alarm if a patient stops breathing. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Dr. Banerjee, the hospital, Dennis, nor any of their insurance companies, were ever charged even a penny for the work that went into the development of the monitor. These men did what needed to be done because they wanted to help someone they didn’t even know. Timir told us that this type of thing is what makes us different, and why he wanted to be a citizen of this country. Timir explained that he wanted to be a part of a place where a relative nobody could ask for help from a powerful person just by picking up the phone. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Timir grew up in the Brahmin caste, the highest and most powerful level of India’s caste system. Here there is no caste system: each person is equally valued, be they a major corporate executive, or someone without a job or home. We have been taught from early childhood that all people have value, each person in the world has equal value with every other person: there are no untouchables here. Our forefathers founded this country on this basic principle that Christ teaches. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Timir has done some other dramatic and unusual interventions to help people since he became an American citizen. Shortly after the shootings in Columbine, CO, he formed a non-profit organization named SPAVA, an acronym for the Society for the Prevention of Aggressiveness and Violence among Adolescents. Their mission statement says they exist to produce a nonviolent society by being mentors and role models for our youth. Last year, as a fundraising and public relations effort for the charity, Timir walked all the way across the country. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>The message I got from all that Timir told us is that he believes what our forefathers wrote about equality and liberty, and he believes what he’s read in his Bible about caring for one another. These gave him the courage, or maybe simply the belief that we are all able and called to make a difference, so he does it. All it took to prevent Dennis’s death, and his Mom’s sleepless nights, was a phone call, and Timir made it. God calls all of us to take those steps: to make that phone call. Timir thought he came to the U.S. to practice medicine and have a better life. But because he saw a need and took the brief minutes necessary to make the call, thousands of lives have been saved, and will continue to be saved. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>God calls us all to be open to love and to care for all of those we encounter. May each and every one of us, this day and every day, give thanks that we have been put in this place where we have the freedom to be conduits for God’s love flowing into the world. May we remain aware that no matter how young or how old, rich or poor, educated or not, we are able and capable of making a difference in the world around us, and this is what God calls all of us to do. Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-41224900045344664922010-06-14T00:31:00.004-05:002010-07-15T18:04:49.455-05:00Sinners! Sinners everywhere!Here is my sermon for today: 6/13<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Proper 6, Year C<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15, Psalm, 32, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36;-39</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sinners…I see sinners…everywhere I look, within and without the church, in every Bible story I studied all week long, nothing but sinners! Now why do you think that’s so? Well, I got to thinking about all these stories of sinners, and it became obvious – everyone sins. Everyone but Jesus, that is. We can delude ourselves and start ticking off lists of all the wonderful things we do, and how we don’t cuss, and we remember to pray, and how much we love all the people we know, but I’m here to tell you, we all sin. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Some of us know how we personally sin, and many of us don’t. Sometimes it’s really hard to look at ourselves objectively and see where we are falling short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some of us are aware that we get really angry with loved ones at times, and we don’t control it. Others of us have road rage. Sometimes we might mutter, “Stupid” under our breath when thinking of a coworker. Some of us don’t control our drinking, and it causes great strife within the family. And others of us get caught in looking at the negative side of things, and yet don’t realize that this too can be a sin. Sins abound around and within us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So, it only makes sense that on occasion the Lectionary would focus on this pervading aspect of life, that every one of us experiences. Let’s look at these scriptures for today.<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First we have the ancient tale of King David, and how, though he had hundreds of wives and concubines – an entire harem of beautiful women at his beck and call – he saw Bathsheba on her rooftop across the way from his palace, and he coveted her, the wife of his general, Uriah. We aren’t told how Bathsheba felt about the situation, but David, as a powerful king, could not be denied no matter what he wanted. Uriah was away, fighting battles for King David, and David is busy impregnating Uriah’s wife. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>You probably know the story. How David sent for Uriah to come from the battlefield in hopes that he would be with his wife while at home in Jerusalem, and return to the battlefield, only to believe later that the child was his. But Uriah was an excellent soldier who would not leave his troops even while they were on R&R – he did not go home to see Bathsheba.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>So David plotted to have Uriah sent into the most dangerous part of the battle, using his enemies to take care of his problem. Uriah was killed in battle and, after the proper period of mourning, Bathsheba was called to David and he made her another of his wives.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>God sent Nathan to challenge David, to point out to him how he had flaunted the laws of God. And David didn’t even recognize himself in Nathan’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When David said that the rich man who had stolen the lamb from the poor man should be killed, Nathan replied, “You are the man!” David’s anger suddenly turned to great remorse. He realized his sin, and repented. He still had consequences to face because of what he had done, but his relationship with God was restored.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>In our Gospel reading, we heard of someone so much like we tend to be. The Pharisee, Simon, was so sure that he recognized all the sinners around him, though his sin of judging others never entered his mind. He knew that the woman who followed Jesus into the house was not worthy to even enter his door, and yet there she was, crying over Jesus’ feet, drying them with her hair and anointing them with ointment. Simon was interested in who Jesus was and what he had to say, but he didn’t care enough for his guest to even make sure that what was considered common courtesy was extended to him: no one, not even the lowliest servant, came to offer him the opportunity to wash after coming in from the dusty roadways.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Yet when this unnamed female fell down at Jesus’ feet and cared for him, crying over her sins, Simon could only judge and wonder if Jesus really was a prophet, for surely no prophet would let a woman like that touch him! "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him-- that she is a sinner."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Jesus is quick to respond to Simon’s unspoken thought: "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>You see, Simon believed in the letter of the law, not the heart and meaning behind the law itself. He never considered or looked at why God laid down the rules: that they might be for healing and for love, rather than simply arbitrary laws to follow with no reason. Jesus was asking Simon to look deeper, beyond what he’d accepted as law…to look deeper to find the love God was trying to embody in his creation.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>There are people outside of these walls who do not understand what we’re doing here. There are quite a few who say that churches are full of hypocrites. That we talk a good game about love and compassion, and then we go our merry ways, treating others just like every other cheat and swindler who plots to do evil. What those people haven’t understood (and it’s probably our fault because we haven’t told them) is that church is not a club for the angelic high choir whose members have it all figured out. Church is a hospital for sinners. It’s a place we come to hold up before our eyes the very best examples of how we wish we were. This place is for healing, and for forgiving, over and over again. We all sin, every day.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Oh, excuse me. There may be some here who don’t know the definition of “sin” and here I’ve been using the term all this time. The Encarta Dictionary defines sin as: “an act, a thought, or behavior that goes against the law or teachings of a particular religion, especially when the person who commits it is aware of this.” The second meaning is ”something that offends a moral or ethical principle.” Looking further, Jesus himself told us how we are supposed to live when someone asked him, “What is the greatest commandment?” He replied, “To love God with all your heart and soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Anytime we aren’t living fully out of that place of love, we are sinning. Oh my word! It’s nigh to impossible to live in that love all the time, isn’t it? Jesus didn’t think so. It’s the only thing we are about in this place: reminding ourselves that we are sinners, attempting to grow more loving. Being aware of when we fall short of that love is the most important thing. For when we are aware of our shortcomings, we begin to change, and become more like Christ. When I suddenly realize that I have not been living in a Christ-like place, that I’ve been crabby and short and mean, immediately, contrition and confession pop into my mind. I turn to those I’ve been rude toward and ask for their forgiveness, and ask for God’s forgiveness also. And I repent: I turn around my actions and face God – becoming more loving once again,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>This is what we are called to do. We, like all, have gone astray, and our repentance is what God asks of us. To turn our faces into His love, and to carry that love with us, as much as we possibly can. And to continue our striving to become the pure love God desires us to become. When we ask forgiveness, our Lord does forgive. Then we too, can sing with the psalmist, as we read today: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!” I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord, shout for joy, all who are true of heart.” Sinners, rejoice in the forgiveness and love of the Lord! Amen.<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195618652024527971.post-15312926955997723322010-06-05T09:01:00.001-05:002010-06-05T09:03:57.846-05:00Summer of Love<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In San Francisco back in the 1960's, there was a certain summer that was called the "Summer of Love." In many ways, that place and time was simply a big, long party for the young people who indulged themselves in all sorts of hedonistic behavior. Though I cannot condone those aspects of that summer, I have also heard stories that vaguely remind me of the early church: stories of people who took in strangers and cared for them, people who shared their food with those who had none. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In the Christian life, all seasons, the entire year through, are designated as times of love. Jesus calls his people to love one another, no matter the place, time or situation. Summer in particular is a hard time for many of the poor here in Pflugerville. The breakfast and lunch programs available for children in the schools suddenly end with the summer break from classes. The Storehouse, our local food pantry, has an influx of people requesting more food because the children are home full time and the cupboards are bare. Remember our commitment to serve those in need. Bring your gifts of non-perishable foods, most especially canned meats and dry grains (rice and beans) for the storehouse. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our community has many hurting people and they are praying for help. Your hands are God's hands, moving in the world to care for all God's people. Let's make this Pflugerville's Summer of Love by providing for the needs of the people of our town. May God bless you as you serve him through serving His people!</span></div>Rev Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06538885938069859011noreply@blogger.com0