Scripture Passages
August 9, 2020
Matthew 14: 22-33Walking on the Water
22-23 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
24-26 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
29-30 He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
31 Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
32-33 The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
Romans 10: 5-15
4-10 Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here,
as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest.It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
11-13 Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”
14-15 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?
Homily Notes
August 9, 2020
The second reading from the Book of Romans and the reading from the Gospel of Matthew are the primary sources of my reflection this Sunday. The gospel story is a familiar one. It is the account of Jesus a.) Sending his disciples away after the feeding of the five thousand, b.) to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while he spends some “alone time” in prayer and when Jesus decides to join them it is in the early morning hours of the next day. c.) The disciples witness Jesus walking on the water and they are afraid. Peter calls out wanting to join him and Jesus invites him to come out of the boat to meet him. d.) Peter displays a great amount of enthusiasm and he immediately starts toward him, walking on the water like Jesus, until he looks down and the reality of what he is doing frightens him and he begins to sink. He calls out to Jesus and without hesitation e.) Jesus reaches out and saves him.
The reading from the Book of Romans is a statement made by Paul, that as far as he is concerned Jesus came to be among us so that “all people” could be saved. (Here, at this point in my reflection I am going to enter a personal evaluation of the viewpoint of being “saved”. I think that the true meaning of this word in reference to its meaning has become somewhat lost in the translation of the word. I think the word “ saved" comes close to what the actual meaning could be, but I also think the interpretation of the word “saved “in relation this scripture passage likely means much more than how we typically apply the word. I know nothing about the interpretation of Hebrew ,or Greek, therefore I am probably way off course, but I personally think that Jesus’ mission to be among us was more about giving us the opportunity to be in sync with God our creator. The story of Adam and Eve reminds us that the connection that we once had with God had become broken, we were then out of sync. Jesus reconnects us, we are not so much saved, but we are back “on line” so to speak. If our connection is never fixed we will be totally and forever lost. We can only reconnect when we call out for help and are reconnected through Christ. You may think this is a silly comparison, but if you have ever lost your connection with the internet you understand how totally and completely lost people feel. The feeling of being disconnected and the actual state of being disconnected absolutely throws us into isolation and puts us at a huge disadvantage in how the world relates today. Being back in sync with God through Christ gives us a full and true state of life., but you only can get reconnected through Christ.) So . . . . , back to the passage, Jesus came not just to be present for God’s chosen people, but also for us, the Gentiles, and for any other group of people who choose to be totally back in sync with the creator.
I wish to make a few more observations about these two readings:
1.) From the gospel reading, Jesus is in total control. It was he who decided to feed the five thousand, it was he who sent the disciples off to cross over the sea by boat, it was he who decided what time to arrive to greet them, and without hesitation it was Jesus who saved Peter.
When we feel that life is out of control, such as now with the battle against COVID, we can decide to focus on God and how God is in total control, or we can focus on what “appears” to be the reality of the domination of the Corona virus that has the whole world in various states of chaos and disruption. Many of us are beginning to understand, and feel the effects of COVID fatigue, particularly the longer we remain disconnected from our church community, it can cause us to wavier and to question our faith. But don’t, I remind you of who is in control and that God has got you firmly clasped by his hand to save you from drowning. COVID will pass, God remains in control.
2.) From the Book of Romans, our faith is not based on laws and codes, nor is it the laws of Moses that will save us (or as I like to say, reconnect us) Laws and codes can become a way for us to tally up a score, to earn points of merit, but unfortunately laws and codes become restrictive as more and more laws are added to cover all the finer points that are exposed by the law when the law doesn’t quite go far enough to take care of the “what if’s” of life. People who follow the laws and codes can often develop a holier the thou attitude which helps no one.
Paul is making the point it is by faith alone that one is saved; the belief that all is well with our souls, both in this earthly time and in the life to come after our deaths if we can but “trust” that God is the one who is in control, not us. If we can trust that he is the Father who throws a party for his wayward son when he returns (The Prodigal Son), if we can trust that God is like the employer who fully pays a days wage to everyone regardless of the time they spent in the vineyard work (Worker in the Vineyard), and trust that God is like the host who serves the best wine to his guests (The Wedding in Cana) we will gain insight into how eternal life is achieved by trust, not by what we do. We cannot control our future by the works that we do, hoping that God will be a benevolent accountant of our good deeds, or a divine probation officer who will look the other way when our time comes to totally reconnect and we are granted access to the kingdom. We can however “trust” that what Jesus said was true. We only have to confess silently, or out loud that God is the Master, and that Jesus is the Son of God and we will be living by faith alone.August 2, 2020
Scripture Passages
Psalm 17: 1-7
1-2 Listen while I build my case, God,
the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent--
in your heart you know I am.
3
Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night--
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
My words don’t run loose.
4-5
I’m not trying to get my way
in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
I’m not giving up.
6-7
I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
Romans 9: 1-5
God Is Calling His People
9 1-5 At the same time, you need to know that I carry with me at all times a huge sorrow. It’s an enormous pain deep within me, and I’m never free of it. I’m not exaggerating—Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses. It’s the Israelites . . . If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I’d do it in a minute. They’re my family. I grew up with them. They had everything going for them—family, glory, covenants, revelation, worship, promises, to say nothing of being the race that produced the Messiah, the Christ, who is God over everything, always. Oh, yes!
Mathew 14: 13-21
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Homily Questions
After reading the Gospel reading, ask yourself, “Who am I in this story?” Am I Jesus, am I one of the disciples, or am I a follower?” When you decide who you are ask yourself the following questions.
What is my purpose in this story, why do I identify with this person?
Where is my faith placed? In Jesus, in the disciples who are distributing the food, or in those seated waiting to receive.
Are you hungry?
When are the times that you come to be fed?
Mathew 14: 13-21
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Homily Notes
Today I wish to talk about the service of Holy Communion and how it relates to this passage
We find similarities with the story and the celebration of communion together.
The elements of this story reflect on people gathering, people sharing, an abundance of food, and people coming together, and receiving.
When we come to a communion service, we need to be hungry, We need to be hungry to receive from the Lord what the Lord offers in the sharing of communion.
Jesus shares himself, and we receive from him when we gather together in fellowship. All of us should be present because we are hungry. If all of our needs have been satisfied, there is no need for us to come to receive, because we are not hungry. Do you agree, or disagree? Why?
July 19, 2020
This morning I am presenting to you what I call a “hodge podge” sermon, it has some of this, and a bit of that in it, and when all the ingredients are mixed together and seasoned it becomes a delicious dish. Hodge podge, the Nova Scotian way, will soon be gracing many of our maritime tables in the next few weeks. The lovers of hodge podge look forward to this annual treat from their gardens. How many of you have kitchen gardens this year, and how many of you have planted peas? Peas are one of the main ingredients in hodge podge. I mention peas because I identify the humble pea with today’s gospel story, that of the seed that is sown, and grown, and as it grows weeds will grow along with it. The question presented to Jesus about whether to pull the weeds out of the wheat which is growing reminds me of peas. When weeds first start to sprout along with the seeds of the pea, I have found that the weeds that have grown around the seed of the pea cannot be removed successfully. As weeds and peas grow together, and as the time draws closer to the time of harvest you cannot remove a weed from in and amongst the growth of the peas, if you do, the roots of the weed pull out the root of the pea plant and the plant dies, therefore no harvest of peas from that crop.
The story of the weeds is like last weeks gospel story. Last week the lesson was about seeds and the type of soil they were planted in. The kind of soil that the seeds were planted in would determine how well they would grow. It was a parable about how we represented the seeds, and how our surroundings, and our attitude would determine how our faith would, or would not grow. This week the seeds, which once again represent us, have obviously fallen upon ground that can produce good growth, but the weeds that have grown around the seed can cause the seeds of faith to be crowded out. Therefore, at the end of the growing season what is harvested is a combination of what is useful and what was not useful.
The disciples ask Jesus why the farmer does not pull out the weeds. Jesus explains that far more harm can be done by the weeds to the seed when the weeds are pulled out. Just like the growth of the peas, if wheat seeds have sprouted and have started to grow if you pull the weeds out there will be much harm done, but if the plant grows to maturity it will become part of a good harvest. Have you ever thought of how a single seed represents the past, the present and the future? If a seed does not mature, there is no present, and no future. Hold on to this thought for moment, I will go back to this a bit later.
Another main point found in the story of The Weeds is in the question that Jesus asks his followers. In the telling of the story about the weeds and the seeds Jesus communicates to his disciples a message that relates to their past, to their present, and to what the future holds. Jesus asks his disciples, “Are you listening to this? Really listening”. We heard this same phrase used in last Sunday’s story when he told them the parable of the seeds and he asked them “Are you listening? Are you really listening?”. The act of listening is a key component of communication and I fond it interesting to note that the typical response of the person who is listening, is for the listener to want to want to respond to the other person. Often while they are listening to the other person, they are also at the same time preparing their response while they are listening. Preparing what we will say is not a good listening skill. When we listen, we should be listening to discover what we understand about what the other person is saying, rather than what we will say in return. Therefore, I can understand why Jesus said, “Are you really listening?” He is asking them, “Do you understand what I am saying to you? "
Five months ago, each of our lives changed . . . just like that. Scientists, emergency measure agencies and our health care leaders had issued warnings about the very real likelihood that a pandemic would happen sometime soon. It would be a pandemic like the Spanish Flu in the devastation that would follow. I, like a good many of others had heard what the experts had said, but I had no real understanding of how a pandemic would affect our day to day lives, such as the economy of our nation, or the effect it could have upon our health. I knew it would be bad, but beyond this, I had no real understanding. Was I really listening to the warnings?
Now I am going to go back to the subject of a seed and how the sequence of the life cycle of a seed represents our past, our present, and our future. There is so much meaning that can be found in any of the stories and lessons of Jesus. Each story can have multiple applications, therefore today the application of the seed as it relates to us is the direction I wish to take. Because scripture is so versatile, for me this is evidence of the power and the authority that scripture holds. I am sure that I could prepare a homily on this same story in three years time and find fresh new meaning in it.
Today what I wish to share with you is the thought that everything that has happened in the past has had an influence on us today. The pandemics of the past, the wars of the past, the hate crimes of the past, all of these are like seeds. These past events influence people, they influence governments, and nations, and like weeds these events can choke out the good that does exist in the present. Resentment, and prejudice, and unfair practices still exist today because of the weeds of the past. However, today in the present, the seeds of goodness, justice, and fair practices also have their influence upon us all today. The seeds of the past have produced a present crop and when these seeds are fully grown and mature there will be new seeds to be planted that will create the future. Our faith must grow were we live and mature despite the dangers and threats that surround us. Jesus is trying to get us to understand that the real consequence of not paying attention to where we have been planted, and how we live where we are planted, are conditions that will have very real consequences in the future.
In todays’ messages, Jacob’s dream revealed his future, and our psalmist speaks from their heart about the challenges which they face and of how they understand that God is real and present in both the good and bad times. Paul’sl messages reveals that he is fairly bursting with excitement in anticipation of his future, and Jesus tells us that if we are really listening we will understand that God will take care of the wicked, we are not to let worry and doubt, hate or anxiety to kill the life in us, otherwise we will be destroyed as well. Jesus encourages us to live holy lives in this present time so that like seeds which have been planted, our deeds will grow and flourish in God’s kingdom set in the here and now, and there will be a bountiful harvest in the future for us and for others in the kingdom of God yet to come . . . . . just like the delicious hodge, a little bit of this which you can do right now, and a little bit of what others can do right now will serve up a sweet and delicious hodge podge to be shared by everyone. Amen.
Gospel of Matthew
24-26 He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27 “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’
28 “He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’
“The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’
29-30 “He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’”
36 Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”
37-39 So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
40-43 “The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
July 12, 2020
Genesis 25: 19-34 Psalm 65 Romans 8: 1-11 Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
May nothing but God’s truth be spoken here and may nothing but God’s truth be received. Today I share with you my thoughts concerning the times and events in each of our lives when we face disadvantages, impediments, complications, or difficulties that become obstacles for us. Some of the obstacles that people face such as the current Black Lives Matter movement is addressing the difficult obstacle of race. The Me Too Movement has addressed the barriers that sexual harassment has upon women, and the Covid 19 pandemic has forced us as the Church to address the complications of social isolation. These are large issues, but it appears that an obstruction of some sort that creates an obstacle happens frequently in our day to day lives, such as our car needing an unexpected repair, the internet goes down, or an expected delivery does not arrive on time. Obstacles are an unexpected difficulty that we can face that causes us anguish, but sometimes obstacles are not always a failure to achieve, sometimes when we have an obstacle before us that cannot be overcome we eventually come to discover, that in the long run, the obstacle became an asset that helped to establish a healthy perspective, or acted it as an aid toward directing us along another path that was more advantageous for us. Obstacles are not always bad. It is however, from the viewpoint of today’s scripture reading the obstacles faced by our characters in their stories do indeed reflect the negative side of facing an obstacle.
The account of Esau and Jacob identifies two brothers who are so different from one another that it creates a divide. A division between family members is a well known obstacle that we are familiar with. As the story goes, Rebecca has been informed that her unborn twins will be so different in their temperaments that trouble will arise between them, and eventually one twin will rule over the other. This prophetic message was a warning that from one body, be it Rebecca’s physical body, or the land, two nations would arise. From one family with two sons, one hereditary line would become more powerful than the other and this would became an obstacle in the family that was not easily overcome. I am sure we have all know of one child in a family being favored over other and of the difficulties this created, or of sibling rivalries that grew strong and divisive.
The focus of the Esau Jacob story is that the hereditary line of Abraham that flowed through Issac and Rebecca, and then through Jacob would be the family line that would become the recipients of the promise God made to Abraham to make him the father of a great people. Abraham’s people were to obey God and in return God would guide them and protect them and give to them the land of Israel.
As the story is told, one day Esau was too impatient to wait for a meal, he had returned from a hunting trip, not having food to eat when it was right in front of him being prepared by Esau, became an obstacle to his satisfaction. Jacob who was very aware of his brothers personality then tempted Esau with a trade. Jacob offered to give Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright (this was the right to be recognized as the firstborn) and Esau agreed to the trade. A birthright has to do with both position and inheritance. By birthright, the firstborn son inherits the leadership of the family and the judicial authority of his father. Jacob’s order of birth, as the second born son, was for him an obstacle and he had discovered that a simple bowl of stew was to overcome the disadvantage of being born the second son. In making the trade Jacob held the position of authority in his family and he received the inheritance. I appears to me that neither of Issac’s son is an example of of commendable behavior.
The story plainly shows that Esau and Jacob were both self centered in wanting their needs to come first. One foolishly gave something of great value away for something of little worth in comparison so that they would be momentarily gratified. The other was manipulative in how he obtained a position of great value. When you look at it from these two perspectives we have to question what is it in the lesson that speaks of God’s kingdom. The retelling of the event that happened between Esau and Jacob reveals that both of them selfishly thought of their own needs first. The poor attitude, and self centered concerns of each of these twins is not a commendable quality to uphold, this is not a moral story meant to direct us toward doing what is right. This story is meant to convey that even in spite of favoritism, deceitful actions and the greed that was present and extensive in God’s favored family, what is commendable is that God kept his promise, he did not let their sinful attitudes to become the obstacle whereby the line of Abraham would not be blessed by God, because it would be through Abraham’s lineage that Christ would hold authority over God’s people and be the instrument of salvation for their sins, and for our sins. The twins despite of their previous behavior would not become the obstacle to prevent God from keeping his promise, even though a very poor choice had been made by Esau, it would be the family line of Jacob that would reveal the good that was yet come because God kept the promise he had made.
There is yet more to be said on the topic of obstacles in the Book of Romans written by St.Paul. It reflects another kind of barrier that we can face that becomes an obstacle for us. It is the struggle that we have to set our lives straight by buying into the plan that God has set before: to live life on God’s terms. It is God’s desires that we become all that we can be, living a life drenched in love, living a life connected with God, but it is our inclination to lean away from God’ plan toward living a life on our own terms. In doing so we try to follow laws that provide a rule of measurement that judges how close we come to living as God intended, or how far we have fallen away from what is God’s desire for us. Paul delivers the good news message that if we welcome the Spirit of Christ and experience the alive-and present God within us, all hurdles are removed between us and God. There is nothing to keep us from our inheritance if we follow God’s plan.
In closing I will focus on the story of the harvest, as told by Jesus, and of the many of obstacles that can arise in growing our faith. The gospel of Matthew records how Jesus took advantage of a boat to use as a pulpit, and how he easily gathered a crowd. This easy method of reaching others stands out in stark contrast to today and the difficulties and obstacles that we face with Covid 19 in gathering a crowd. People are very wary, as we known, now a days about gathering together. The only pulpit we had early on in the pandemic was the internet, and the internet still remains as the primary way of communicating. The community based social church, ministry activities, and gatherings for worship is for now very much a thing of the past. How do we plant seeds of faith that can produce a harvest and build up the future church if we cannot gather in our traditional ways? This is a huge obstacle; before us is a very high and exceptionally broad obstacle of “lack of communication” that could overwhelm us and greatly damage our community. This is deep and troubling problem, but we also have before us a huge obstacle that can be turned into an advantage and provide opportunities. Like Jesus who used what was at hand as a pulpit to sow seeds of faith, we have before us the internet to se as a pulpit. How we choose to share the stories of Jesus message is up to us, we can try to stick with ways of communication that we have used in the past, but if we do not fully use the potential of the internet it would be casting seeds as told in the harvest story. What is scattered is unlikely to produce.
When Jesus compares hearing the news of the kingdom with that of a farmer who planted the seed on the surface, and because it was not planted deep in the soil the seed could not properly take root, this is like the person who doesn’t fully take in the messages of the good news. Possibly the message doesn’t take hold because we have not found a way to make the story personal to those who are listening, we must make the message personal, and right now it is the internet that becomes the pulpit through the use of Facebook, Zoom, e-mails, You Tube videos, and live streaming that makes it personal.
For some people the seed sown in poor ground is like that of seed sown in gravel, the message will not take hold. Some people become very enthusiastic in their first response to the message, but sometimes their for God becomes sidetracked by an obstacle that consumes their focus, it could be something like inclusion into another group, or an engaging hobby that becomes the next thing they focus on. These people then become distracted and disconnected from what had previously shown such great promise. In this instance it is your and I that must stand in as the pulpit as we “continue to remain” connected with them.
In another instance seeds that are sown in weeds that choke out the growth of the seed, are like people who have become overwhelmed by current worries, or false illusions, who allow these obstacles to dampen and spoil the faith they were seeking. What faith that had begun to take hold and to grow then takes a back seat to their consuming worries. In this instance our concern for their well fair becomes the pulpit whereby we preach the stories of faith. Our concern becomes the pulpit where the personal touch of true concern helps the seeds of faith to grow and bloom.
The seed that is cast on good ground will grow naturally and produce a good crop at harvest time. When the seed lands on good ground ad it is cared for and nurtured, what is harvested is the future. A successful harvest of faith produces a future filled with possibilities, a future that brings meaning to our lives and gives us a purpose. I hope that if any of us find ourselves facing any of the obstacles such as lack of focus, or being overwhelmed by the circumstances of life the we will not allow them to distract us, and put an end to our dreams and plans. I hope what we have learned together this morning, is that patience will reveal how the obstacles presently before us can become a blessing. I hope we have learned that God has a plan for us and his plan for us involves how our faith is cultivated. How we choose to let it grow is up to us. Amen.
Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
A Harvest Story
13 1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.
3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
The Meaning of the Harvest Story
18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
July 5, 2020
This Sunday morning we have listened to four very good stories. Because of these stories I am going to introduce a word into our vocabulary that is seldom used to define the purpose of holy scripture. The word is mentor, and I hope to provide us with insight into how the word mentor can be applied to scripture. To begin let us define the word mentor as it applies in this homily. A mentor shares with another information that provides guidance, motivation, emotional support, and acts as a role model. A mentor may help with providing future direction, setting goals, developing contacts and identifying resources. Scripture does all of these things, and in my opinion scripture is meant to do all of these things. As we receive the advise of scripture we can in turn decide how to use its and apply feedback to help us modify our lifestyles, and our life values to make improvements.
I believe the the role of scripture adequately fulfills the role of a mentor. As we evaluate the meaning of what is read, we receive it as feedback. Like that of a mentor we can turn to scripture for support and guidance. Scripture has the power to motivate and to inspire and to provide direction. These are the attributes of a good mentor, support, guidance, inspiration, motivation, and direction. Each of today’s readings exhibit one or more of these hallmarks of being a mentor.
The first story that we take a look at is the story of how Issac and Rebecca became husband and wife. Abraham was adamant that his son Issac marry a woman from Abraham’s home country, in doing so Abraham could greatly increase the chance of insuring that Issac’s spouse would be like minded in their approach to life, and their dedication to God. So, who does Issac send to make sure that this happens, he sends a senior servant to carry out the task. As the story unfolds we discover that the servant is a faithful man of God who trusts God to help him in his task. He prays for guidance and receives it. It appears that everything falls neatly into order because of this man’s approach to Abraham’s request. Rebecca responds favorably to the servants response; Rebecca appears to know a good deal when it is presented to her. Rebecca’s family responds favorably as well and they send her off with the servant with their blessing. When Rebecca first catches a glimpse of her future husband Issac, she is intrigued and responds favorably. As the story goes we find that Issac and Rebecca become husband and wife and the closing statement says, “Issac loved her”. A terrific ending to a terrific story in the days of arranged marriages whereby true love was found.
Embedded in this story many truths come to light. Sometimes, like Abraham's servant we are selected to do a job, a job that we feel unprepared for, like Abraham’s servant we should call upon God to seek help through prayer. Like Abraham’s servant our success with any task that is set before us it is dependent upon how well equipped we are, with the tools needed, to achieve the best outcome. When we look at this particular passage in this light we should be inspired to accept the challenges set before us, we should willingly seek guidance through prayer, and expect the support of our community to help in the ways that the community can to ensure success. The community can act as our mentors and we in turn can be a mentor to others as we follow the same direction taken by Abraham’s servant with any future tasks asked of us. In this example scripture has taken on the role of a mentor.
In respect to the reading from the Song of Songs we are encouraged by the verses that we heard this morning. In this story we are listening to a selection of love poetry. This poem is known as the wisdom literature of Solomon. Revealed is a tale of love of both man and woman, both who can hardly wait to be with one another. In this mornings selection the images used to define love portray the intense desire each one has for the other. If we sum up the entirety of the eight chapters of the Song of Solomon what is shared with us is the experience that love is stronger than death in the passion that is released between two people. Love is essentially described as a divine flame that cannot be extinguished, or swept away. The human longing to be known and to be loved by another is one of the most transcendent experiences in human life. Scripture provides us with the advise that the love shared between men and women, and the love between us and God should be intense. Love can kill and destroy, or it can flourish and give life. This is the wise counsel and guidance of a mentor that will inspire us to seek this kind of love, and to find it, like that of the two lovers described in the book of the Song of Songs.
The message from Romans represents the emotional anguish of the human condition as we seek to do good, and to do what is right. More often then not we find that our good intentions have gone astray. I think all of us can identify with the quandary of having our good intentions sabotaged by our overriding primary compulsion to seek our needs first, and many times this means that the good that we intended does not get done. In this example the scripture passage acts as our mentor because the written word describes how we all have been in this exact situation many times before and of how we are all in the need of help. The question is asked, “Where does my help come from?”, it comes from God. I find this message to be inspiring because I am receiving guidance toward where I know help can be found. I find it motivating because I am given an answer to the quandary that that has been described, I am shown a direction to take, and the direction that I am to take is to call upon God. Just like the senior servant did in Genesis when he was given a task that required divine assistance, he reached out in faith.
It is in the closing lines of the gospel story that scripture acting as my mentor has provided me with the best advise of all. Jesus tells his followers, and I count myself as being one of them, that if I am tired, or worn out, I am to go to him. Jesus is well known for being the helper and restorer of those who are oppressed, or poor. He may not be as well known as the one who can restore and help those who are weary and tired from the circumstances of life. We are encouraged by Jesus to walk with him. As a good mentor Jesus does not ask us to keep pace with him, but rather that he will keep pace with us, and in doing so he sets the example. This is how the best, of the best mentors will council and guide others. He is asking us to learn to live in the ease of his grace. In other words, walk with me and I will show you how to walk humbly among others and how to see all others as equals, to transcend and blend and to be infused with the qualities of God’s grace. We will become infused with his grace and we will be able to share this grace with others. Jesus advises us to keep company with him and we will learn to live life freely, and lightly. I find this instruction to let my tired and weary self to rest in him to be inspiring, motivating, full of guidance in what direction to take. Once again the attributes of a mentor come forward from the written word.
In regard to the influence that these messages have upon us today they should inspire us to become mentors for others as individual situations arise. In the lives of those who participate as members of the parish I believe each person seeks out to find a purpose to fulfill, and they are keen to have a task that provides a purpose for them, to actively become involved in the life and work of the Church. In finding and discovering a purpose for each person in our parish this task becomes a hurtle for us to overcome. Having a task to do, or a role to fulfill is recognized as being one of the important aspects of retaining members. Unfortunately it is a common experience related to churches that members will often hold a position in the church for a long time, thus not leaving much room for new members to discover, and to experience a purpose that is fulfilling and rewarding Sometimes this occurs because there is a lack of people to fill the role, or a lack of people fit for the job, but sometimes we also fail to recognize that there are those who are standing in the shadows waiting to be called upon who are seeking a purpose. Each and every one of us can be mentors in situations like this as we take on the role of instructing others, guiding others, inspiring and motivating others as we find ways to share the tasks that provide us with a purpose. It’s not an easy task to take on, but I am asking you to take on the role of being a mentor to others. Like Abraham tasked his senior servant with an assignment I likewise ask you to become mentors. I encourage you to pray for how your purpose can be shared with another member, and if you need tools to carry out this task to ask myself, or a member of parish council if we can help to provide what you need to be a mentor. Let us enter into being mentored by the scripture and work toward being mentors for others. Amen.
June 28, 2020
Jeremiah 28: 2-9 Psalm 89: 1-4. 15-18 Romans 6: 12-23 Matthew 10: 40-42
This Sunday I came awfully close to substituting a homily prepared by myself for a reflection written by another person. It was all too tempting because the writer of the other homily had presented a point of view that was very much in step with about how I felt on the topic and I also knew that they had presented the topic much better than what I could do. In the end I decided to stay true to the decision that I had made three years ago that I would not allow this passage to be part of the central message of the homily for the day. I decided instead to substitute Genesis 22: 1-14 for Jeremiah 28: 5-9. What Genesis 22: 1-14 has to say to us today remains true but find the details of the message to be harsh and the story can be damaging to those who have been abused mentally and physically.
In my opinion, in today’s world, this passage is not a strong contender for drawing people to Christ, it can often set up a wall of confusion that is difficult to explain. It is a story that at one time in history provided clarity for those who lived in a time in history that better understood how cruelty and absolute submission equated to God’s compassion and love. I know there are those who will disagree with me concerning my analysis, but from my perspective today’s message is hard to conceive of in a postmodern setting. I am being deliberately vague about Genesis 22: 1-14 because I believe that if you take the time to read it, I think what I have said is all that needs to be said.
I chose instead to reflect mainly upon the alternate passages given for today and when I began to review Jeremiah 28: 5-9 I discovered there is a strong warning concerning the preacher who preaches, “that everything is fine”, and there is nothing to be troubled about. Of course, this places me in the centre of my own dilemma and my decision to not include the passage from Genesis. I don’t believe that I can be accused of preaching sunshine and lollipops, but I do like to include the positive side in any message that I give, therefore I asked myself if I was in danger of Jeremiah’s accusation because I had deliberately set aside the difficult story of Genesis 22: 1-14. This question did cause me to think, and I answered my own question with the answer that the stories which I choose to preach upon, the stories that I believe motive people into action, are not messages about upholding abuse and mental cruelty upon the innocent. In the end I found that the story I wished to avoid had taken is its place in the homily as a central passage in today’s message and had taken the centre stage position. I fail to see how faithfulness to God that places another in a vulnerable situation of physical harm and death can act to motivate us. The Genesis story relates to how God will sometime in the future lay upon his own Son the responsibility of atoning for our sins. It is a story of how Isaac, as the innocent victim represents Jesus and of how Jesus will eventually become the innocent lamb slain for us, and in the end the central point of Genesis 22: 1- 14 has been made, even though I successfully avoided reading the story.
I much prefer messages of love, fidelity, and faithfulness like that found in today’s Psalm. In today’s world this kind of message inspires others and will motivate them to act. This is exactly the focus of the gospel lesson from Matthew that is appointed for today. It points out that a life spent helping others, is a life worth living. A life of giving is evidence of a full and complete life. A life of giving is equated with a life of intimacy between us and Christ that becomes even better by sharing with others. We learn that in giving to others, we in turn receive, and in receiving one gives. It is away of forming relationships which create intimacy. In this passage Matthew makes the specific point that a life of giving is rewarding, but it is also a demanding life. He advises that if we take on a lifestyle of giving it is best to begin with small acts of generosity and to build up your giving to others by starting with small acts of kindness.
The message for today from Romans also speaks of giving, but not the kind of giving that is extended to others, but the kind of giving that suggests that we are giving into sin, giving into the temptations of serving ones self. In the Book of Romans Paul warns us that a life of putting ourselves first before others is not an expression of freedom, but rather it becomes a life that eventually leads to hollowness and an unfulfilled feeling. For example, what we seek to be fulfilled with by achieving status, or in the material possessions that we own will eventually become hollow, and we become imprisoned by them. What I especially appreciate about Paul’s message is the way that Paul explains that we can find reasons to justify what we know to be essentially wrong to achieve things like status, or a comfy income, but eventually they leave us feeling like we have nothing.
Paul encourages us not to fall into this trap and not to allow this way of justifying our actions to bleed into our day to day life. I find myself in agreement with what he says, and I think of the many joys I have experienced in my life that came from giving to others, and not from achieving. It is definitely a fine moment of joy and excitement when I have succeeded at something that enriches me, but I recognize in these moment of achievements they will often pale in comparison to the amount of satisfaction and happiness I often experience when I have selflessly given something of value to another person. The satisfaction that I receive of bringing happiness to another person brings a sense of fullness and wholeness that can be achieved in no other way. I like this kind of message, this is the kind of message that inspires me, and I hope it inspires you as well. The story of Genesis 12: 1-14 does have much to teach us that we should not avoid, but its position as one of the key text of a Sunday worship should possibly be reconsidered by those who select the readings for each Sunday as better suited for bible studies and mid week services. Amen.
Matthew 10: 40-42
40-42 “We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I have called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”
June 21, 2020
Isaiah 40: 25-31 Psalm 19 Philippians 4: 4-9 John 1: 1-18
Today is defiantly a momentous day. To begin, it is Father’s Day, so Happy Father’s Day to all dads, and grandads, special uncles, mentors, and guardians. This is your day to be appreciated and pampered. Today we also celebrate our first worship at St. Luke’s since March 12, and we are greatly encouraged by the recent lifting of restrictions that will allow us to now gather in groups of 50 when we practice social distancing. Thirdly, today is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. Three amazing aspects of God represented today. God as parent, God as community, and God as “other" than what we image.
This morning I wish to examine the aspect of other. The recent change in attitude toward minorities of colour that is circling our globe has been for many people a breath of fresh air, for others it is a gust of wind that needs attention paid to it, and for the majority of people it is a wind storm that has been brewing for far too long and it does depend on which side of privilege, or what side of injustice that you are on, how strong the wind is blowing. I have little knowledge to impart that could be considered as insightful on this topic. There are however two life lessons that I have learned that I can share. One is the perspective that I can never understand the difficulties and challenges faced by others of colour. I can become an observer and I can approach the challenges they experience with an open mind, but I will never have a complete understanding of how prejudice and bias against persons of colour has affected them. The second perspective, that I do understand is that I live a life of privilege and as I said last week, attitudes of privilege have exacted a heavy price upon others by others.
Today is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer, and because of the current climate real change appears to be taking hold, I do so hope and pray that this is the case. Keeping in mind the two perspectives I have shared with you, 1.) That I will never completely and fully understand the situation of minority groups of races, and 2.) That I experience privileges that I am not even aware of, this past week I asked a direct question to two local residents with who are in the minority, one being of indigenous heritage and the other of black descent. I asked them if they would like to see the local area support a Bend the Knee event, and I also mentioned this coming Sunday’s focus of the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. They both said they were not opposed to the ideas, but they both heavily stressed that they would much rather not have special attention paid to one day, out of the 365 days of each year, whereby the majority conveys to a minority of race, the message, “We like you.” I understood what they were saying, one day of being ‘nice” does not turn the tide of systematic racism, it takes every day of the year to turn the tide. For myself, I have always viewed special recognition days as an opportunity for me to educate myself further, for them it appears to be a one-day event of niceness. Because of our conversation they helped me to see that National Indigenous Day of Prayer, or Black History Month is not a “special” day, or month of equality, a time whereby we embrace indigenous culture and practice some of the aspects of the indigenous peoples to draw us closer together. Today I have come to understand is a moment for me to appreciate the wholeness of God represented in the identity of other.
Recently I received a lot of sincere feedback about the statement that is now commonly read at public events. This statement has also been adopted by our diocese as a statement of reconciliation. It goes something like this. “Today we acknowledge that we gather here on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq”. I have experienced the tension that these fourteen words could create at the very moment they are spoken. Just like the statement, Black Lives Matter, these two pronouncements often create immediate vocal feedback, passionately expressed from those who are not in the minority. I am left with the impression that what is said as a statement as “otherness”, that they are left with an impression that they do not matter. Because of the statement that is made by others. This appears to me to be hubris (in other words a funny statement, that is based in pride) made by persons who have lived privileged lives about those who have not. The expression, “the shoe is now on the other foot” seems appropriate. Those who do not experience much bias in their lives get a taste of it and they don’t like it. I myself when I first heard this statement many years ago could be placed in this category, but thanks be to God, God has listened to my prayers that I may have an open heart and an open mind to listening and learning. For myself, the statement of us meeting on unceded territory is nothing more than saying we are standing on the same land together as brothers and sisters. Possibly this is a too simplistic interpretation, but this is how I understand “the other” in this situation.
Today’s scripture readings are wonderful examples of how language is used to convey impressions of God and of the Great Spirit. I choose to believe that they are one and the same. The passages of scripture that speak of the night sky and the native perspective of morning star, of honouring the four directions and of a Creator of all “that we can see or imagine” are two perspectives that each can easily share with the other that speaks of the One.
There is so much in both cultures that should draw us closer to together than what could possibly push us away from each other. As I said before, “I have very little knowledge to impart that could be considered as insightful on this topic”. What I do have are viewpoints of understanding that I have gained over the years of trying to be aware of who I am, and what my place in the world is to be. In John’s gospel the point is made that Christ, the Life Light of the world came to all of us. For everyone who wants him and believes in him will become their true selves, each of us enters into becoming a child-of-God as we choose to believe in Jesus and in what Jesus taught us about our self and others. We become a community of believers and all of us become one, not others who are separate from one another, but one together. Let us follow the advice of St. Paul and in togetherness let us be noble in our actions, authentic to our cultures, gracious to one another. and put into practice the good qualities that we have learned from one another. Above all let us be united through Christ, through God, through the Great Spirit they are all One - in - the same.
Amen.
June 14
GENESIS 18: 1-15 PSALM 116: 1, 10-17 ROMANS 5: 1-8 MATTHEW 9: 35- 18: 8
“May nothing but God’s truth be shared with you and may nothing but God’s truth be received”. Amen.
From 1992-2003 I worked for the Annapolis District Board of Trade and developed my position of Supervisor for their Tourist Information Centre to that of holding the position of Executive Director. I thoroughly enjoyed my work and look back on those years as the training ground for years of academic studies that were ahead for me. I worked for fabulous people and they supported me in the many endeavors and tasks that I coordinated for them. I mention this season of time in my life because of a specific memory that I have of being a member of a team of travel counselors. The Information Centre was located in the Annapolis Tidal Generation Station and we were responsible for the tidal power exhibit located upstairs at the site. There is a fabulous view of the Annapolis River from that vantage point and I recall looking out the west window at this view. I must have been reflecting upon my life and my faith at that time and I recall thinking that I just wanted to give back to God because I felt so blessed. My life story is no different from many other people, I’ve had times of great sorrow and trauma, but I’ve also have had incredible experiences and know what it means to be blessed. Little did I know then two years later I would be knee deep into my first year of university studies through Thorneloe Theological College. It was the initial stage of my giving back, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Trials and difficulties have occurred since that time, and there have also been incredible blessings, but the relationship that I have with Christ continues to compel me to want to give back.
The story of Abraham and Sarah and Psalm 116 are testimonies of the relationship that can exist between us and God. These two stories high light God’s ability to listen and God’s ability to bless. The gospel story written in Matthew also heightens our understanding of how God listens and then answers prayer requests. Last week I mentioned in my homily my appreciation for the Season of Pentecost and the lessons appointed for each Sunday. As I said, “I find these messages to be simple and straight forward in what they project.” Today the message is this, our relationship with God is close, so close that we do not have to utter words for God to know our thoughts. Sarah kept her thoughts to herself, but God knew what Sarah was thinking without speaking. It is the same for us, our relationship is so close with God that God knows what we are thinking. The message that comes through is clear and straight forward, respect God and respect what God can do.
The psalmist also shares with us their faith story of being faithful to God and the closeness they feel with God. The relationship they share is intact despite the “ton of bad luck’ that the psalmist has experienced, and the people who have lied to him, and those who have cheated him. The psalmist did not blame God for hard times, or unload fault on to God. Instead he says, “What can I give back to God?” The psalmist answered his own question by stating he would complete for God what he had promised God that he would do, and that he would do this in the company of God’s people.
These two messages of relationship and duty become crystallized in the gospel message. It is recorded that Jesus is with his followers, the men who had built a relationship with Christ by faithfully him through times of tension and triumph. In their day to day lives Jesus was teaching them by example the skills they would need to become the teachers of the truth that would reveal God’s kingdom, and of how God’s kingdom worked here on earth and of the kingdom yet to come. He showed them the power of healing both body and the mind. Jesus felt such compassion for those he loved and he knew them so well that he knew what they were thinking and of what they were most in need of. He wanted his disciples to shepherd God’s people, and he therefore commanded them to pray for this to happen. Matthew then records their names so that we will remember them as being followers and shepherds. In reading the list of names several question come to mind, “Have our names been added to this list of faithful followers”? Do we recognize our own close relationship that we have with God through our relationship with Christ? Have we responded with hearts that yearn “to give back”?
Our message from the gospel closes with this advise, that we need not look any further than our own neighborhood to give back to God, and that we do not need to be charismatic people to have an influence upon others. This is good advise and I wholeheartedly support it and encourage us to remember this as we all give back. The message is clear, stay in close relationship with God and allow our faith to become part of the message as we connect with those who have no faith in God, nor a relationship with God. Like the years that I unknowingly spent with the Board of Trade being shaped into the person that I am today, our years of faithfully following Christ have been times of learning and practice and being shaped into the people that we are today. Over the years we have been growing in confidence and building up skills that have equipped us to be shepherds.. We have messages of hope to share and willing hands to bring healing where we can. Let us give back for all the blessings we have known, and for all of the blessings yet to come even in these trying times. Let us with thankful hearts give back. Amen.
Matthew 9:35-10: 8
35-38 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
The Twelve Harvest Hands
10 1-4 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent:
Simon (they called him Peter, or “Rock”),
Andrew, his brother,
James, Zebedee’s son,
John, his brother,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).
5-8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
June 7, 2020
Genesis 1: Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Matthew 28: 16-20
There are times when we find ourselves lost for words, for example in most conversations about every fifteen minutes there is a natural lull before a new conversation picks up again, for this brief moment we are lost for words and we don’t know what to say next. How we communicate to one another and the words that we use to communicate are powerful. The wrong words can begin a disagreement, or the choice of the right words can motivate others. Whether the words that are spoken push forward a conversation, or halt a conversation, something new has been created when we choose to speak. The power of the spoken word to create something new is evident in a marriage ceremony. We like to think that the presence of an officiant, whether it is a priest, or a justice of the peace, is how a couple becomes married to one another. We also place a lot of trust and authority into a piece of paper called the marriage license. Both the officiant and the marriage license are extremely important for they act as witnesses to the event. It is however, in my opinion, and what I covered in my graduate paper, the spoken word that creates the marriage. Something new is created when a couple exchange vows, that did not exist before, but after the words are spoken a new union has been created that had not existed until the words were shared between the two. The power of the spoken word is central to what I wish to share today.
The opening chapter of Genesis goes into detail to provide an explanation of how the world was created and how it was ordered. The spoken word was a pivotal part of creation. Each time God created something new he spoke them into existence. I cannot explain how this happened, nor am I terribly worried about how it might of happened, what interests me is the acknowledgement that something greater than ourselves is involved and something greater than what we can understand spoke creation into being. We call this mystery God. It delights me to read how the world was created in its order. The first thing talked about is water and how light, and then the land, and then everything else came into being after God spoke it into being. Everything following its natural order. I particularly delight in the concept that the oceans were first filled with creatures before the land became populated with living mammals, reptiles, and insects. It keeps us in sync with the scientific thesis of evolution, that we evolved after we first “crawled out of the water”. I do not say this in jest, rather I say it as an observation that ancient civilizations, in their best attempt to relay to us how they interpreted the world to be created by God, had pretty much got it scientifically right. As recorded in the book of Genesis the order of how God created the world is pretty much how it would have had to happen. And it was spoken into begin. Fascinating!
What is more, in verses 26-28 it is revealed that God is sharing his creation with someone else, for it says, “let us make human beings in our image . . .”. Apparently, God is not alone in the creation process. Too often many of us get caught up in the physical likeness of how we were created as an image of God, male and female. Do you not think that we were also created to reflect God’s nature? Are we not also to possess the same features of character and personality that God possesses? We have been created to be more than flesh and bones, we are to have elements of spirit and essence of soul. We must possess these traits because if we were just made up of arms and legs and basic animal instincts, we could not be effective stewards and be care takers of God’s world as God intended.
We certainly have messed up and fallen far from the potential we possess. In fact, if we had been hired to do this job, we would have been fired long ago for negligence. I do believe embedded into our failure is the concept of privilege. We have mistaken stewardship for ownership. Where did this ridicules idea of privilege come from? Our human concept that the world is ours and we can do what we want with it is evidence that we have fallen far from the original intent of creation as told in Genesis. God has commissioned us to be responsible and to care for the world, not to own it, or to rule over it. Psalm 8 speaks of the wonderful splendor of God’s created world; how majestic God is and how he placed responsibility for it into our hands. Possibly this idea of privilege comes from the Bible translations that are used, and our view of ourselves as privileged. We should instead have an attitude of humble gratitude. Our assumed control over everything does not only reside in the environment, but the current racial divide caused by attitudes of white privilege have also exacted a heavy price and it is time that this end. To end racial prejudice, we can begin with the use of the spoken word. When we are bold enough to speak out against injustice and systematic racism, change will begin to happen. To be silent about what we know to be wrong is the same as being an active racist, in saying nothing we are allowing what bigots say to stand as the truth. In being silent we become an accessory to the crime, but when we speak up against wrong this attitude is being challenged and something new is created in ourselves that was not present before when we speak up. Something new takes hold.
I have shared with you what I consider to be the bad news in what is really meant to be a good news message. When I first read the reading from Genesis for the first time this past week, I actually felt like a new beginning was being offered to us. Last Sunday’s readings focused on the release of the Holy Spirit. Last week we also received the go ahead from the province to increase the number of people who can gather from 5 to 10 When Dr. Strang spoke and gave provincial consent for worship with up to 10 people, he created something new. The words that he spoke changed us form a people of isolation and separation back to a community of togetherness and oneness. This feels to me like a new beginning. I am conscious of how much we had to adjust to in the past three months and of how further adjustments are necessary if we are to gather safely together once again. If we are conscious of the changes, we must make we can address these changes as an opportunity to call upon the Holy Spirit to help us create the best outcome possible.
In going from a lifestyle of isolation to a more open lifestyle we must continue to be cautious, but we must also continue to exercise our faith and not let it become confined. The message from 2 Corinthians is a brief passage packed with good advice on how to do this. The Apostle Paul encourages us to be cheerful, to keep things in good repair, to keep our spirits up and to be in harmony with each other. This is particularly good advice at any time, but especially now with the current isolation restrictions placed upon us. I am thankful that we have now entered the season of Pentecost for I find the Pentecost season a time of rejuvenation and new possibilities. If I was in possession of any artistic talent, I could paint a picture, or compose a piece of music that would reflect these qualities that Paul wrote of, and I would title it Pentecost Season. Of all the church seasons that we celebrate it is the season of Pentecost that is my favorite. To me it is a season of simple straight forward messages, filled with hope and brimming with solutions. During this time of the year I feel like I can take a deep breath and relax, lean back, slow down and let God’s presence to fill each day. Pentecost season is a spiritually restful time. I speak these words to you of rest and hope in the desire that you will take advantage of this time to create something new in you. Read good books, study scripture, prepare fine food, enjoy the comfort of summer days and the display of sunsets, sip a fine wine, mediate, and pray, be changed in good ways.
If you have not been changed because of the restrictions placed on us, I know that I have been changed and what I’ve experienced will likely influence me in how I approach ministry as we begin to reopen. The Gospel of Matthew mentions that some of Jesus disciples were hesitant and unsure about worship. Jesus did not allow their uncertainty to unsettle him. He spoke to them and endorsed them to do the work he had called them to do. They are to baptize and to teach, to lead God’s people into new ways and new life. To speak into existence something that did not exist before and to enact the power of the Holy Spirit. He proclaimed these things in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. May God bless us in our time of rest. May God bless what it is we create, and may God bless us as we hesitantly go forward in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May 31. 2020
How wonderful today is, as it is the day of Pentecost! On this day we celebrate the release of the Holy Spirit and the movement of the Holy Spirit among us, just as Jesus had promised. How exciting it must have been for the early church! Today I can hardily contain my excitement. I am excited that today is Pentecost Sunday, and I am excited because I feel a shift in movement. Our world has moved a bit with the good news announcement that we can now socially distance in gatherings of ten, and that we can worship again. My attitude has shifted from a mindset of restrictions to that of possibilities. It seems appropriate that this shift occurred just before Pentecost Sunday, as the Holy Spirit was released so was the church released to offer God’s grace and to share God’s love with others. With the ban on worship being lifted we become the firsthand witnesses of how movement can influence us as we go from what was before to what is happening now. Excitement is in the air!
There has been another shift in movement this past week which is not exciting. Once more thousands of protesters have demonstrated demanding justice for George Floyd a black man who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck. The consequences of years of white privilege clashing up against the years of black oppression have not eased, but the movement for justice has once more gained momentum and has taken on an ugly hue, spilling out as rioting and looting has taken over as the frustration mounts. The tyranny of hate and prejudice resides here in Canada as well and we cannot say we are immune from its influences upon us. It is unfortunate, but we always appear to be trying to maintain a balance between two divides.
I have come to appreciate that almost everything that we encounter in our day to day lives will generally fall on one side of a debate. Usually people are either for, or against a particulate action, each side seeking movement from the other side to understand their point of view. The discussions over when to reopen Nova Scotia for worship, or the debates that happen over differing racial points of view are but two examples of differing points of view. It always seems incredible that each side is often convinced that their response is the correct response and they are justified in their response.
There is an obvious example of these two kinds of movement in the first lesson of this morning, one is a lesson of success and another of failure in the telling of the story of Moses and the seventy leaders. There is a divide between the people, one has a good outcome and the other is a disaster. At the beginning of the story God places upon the seventy chosen leaders the Holy Spirit, just as it had been given unto Moses. This group of seventy men becomes and active body of God’s people who seek unity among the people. The story ends when the leaders return to the camp and a wind is set into motion by God and this wind will sweep quail in from the sea, so many quail that the people grew sick of them even though they had cried out to God because they craved meat and not the manna given to them by God. This story reveals there is a divide amongst the people and there are two movements building, one that seeks to follow God and the other is a movement to serve themselves. Stories such as these reveal opposing views. There are those who follow God and they will do what God wills them to do and they will be happy in the relationship between themselves and God. Then there are those who seek to go their own way, the are unsatisfied with the way things are and dissatisfied with God, they have other ideas other than the ways of God. The movement of the people away from God eventually brought them unhappiness.
The psalm this morning illustrates happiness to be gained when we, and all of creation are the receivers of God’s abundance. There is a warning contained in this message of God’s abundance, and it is, that if God removes the Spirit, we will be worse off, in fact it says that we will die. This message backs up the evidence of the previous account that if we become absorbed in yourself, and we grumble and complain and are unthankful for what we receive we are responsible for our own destruction.
In the letter to the Corinthians Paul takes the time to explain to his readers about the spiritual gifts of abundance that God bestows upon those who become leaders among God’s people. Proportioned to each person will be a gift that is to be shared with others. Each gift is separate from the others given to individual, but each gift is to be shared and in this way everyone benefits. Something like the current N. S. pandemic slogan, “Separate yet together”. It is the Spirit that determines who receives what gift and when they will receive the gift. This proportioning of spiritual gifts creates a united front, there is no divide, there is but one movement, the Jesus Movement.
On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit arrived, a movement was created, today we would call it the Jesus Movement. God’s people become a body of united people, it was not a divided body, it acted as a whole. Paul explained further that like a body, no matter how many parts a body has, the body is one body. There is no divide, everyone is like minded with one purpose, to live full lives integrated and complete. He likens it to that of a fountain, that when we drink from a fountain we are refreshed and sustained, and the body is revived. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink”. He was saying this regarding the Spirit, those who believed in him would receive the Spirit and be revived. They would be of one mind, one body, and one faith, one in hope. A new movement of God amongst his people spilled out on the Day if Pentecost, spirited on by the Spirit. A shift had occurred, and excitement was in the air. May we carry the excitement of this very day and the excitement of our churches reopening for worship and become part of a renewed movement of God’s grace to be showered upon all and may it become the standard that we are known by. Amen
John 7: 37-39
37-39 On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (He said this regarding the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)
May 24, 2020
Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 93 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53
Long ago in my youth I remember someone speaking about the basic rules of reporting the news known as the 5 W’s. In order to write a good news story a journalist needs to know who is in the story, what the story is about, where did the event happen, when did it happen, and last but not least, why did it happen? You can add to the 5 W’s the letter H which stands for how did it happen. Our current N. S. news items are hitting all the W5H points as newscasts try to report the facts of the recent tragedies. After all the questions have been asked the facts of the stories can then be checked by anyone who takes an interest in knowing the truth. There are other methods of record keeping that go beyond the skills of a journalist that help keep us informed such as photos, videos, diaries, fashion trends, and popular music to name a few. Each genre will cast a different light upon a subject that reveals the truth after the 5W’s, and the H as used to probe the subject. Take fashion as an example, the style of dress for women between the 1900’s to 2000’s is a record of the women’s movement all over the world. Knowing the who, what, when, where, why, and how of events reveal fascinating details of importance.
A record of events is a useful tool to use in discerning the truth of a matter. Written records can reveal interesting facets about our society, our organizations, our governments, and also how the body of the Church has functioned. I suspect historians will have ample evidence of how the Church reacted in this strange time of COVID 19 and much will be revealed about us in regard to how we face the challenges before us and how we coped into the present day. Keeping the written record of certain details can help with financial investments decisions, point government toward what direction to take, and help educators to plan curriculums. During this time of COVID 19 our financial institutions, governments, and educators are using investigative questions to interpret:
Who is being affected
What is happening in their sectors
Where is it happening most often, or not happening at all
When does their response become a question of timing
Why it is important to not ignore current trends
How can they as an institution best address the problems that arise, or how to celebrate the successes that are happening.
Recently, I and other members of the parish have been asked by the diocese to record numerous details about how we are functioning during this time of crisis. The answers that we are asked to supply to their questions seem rather frivolous, but not so much when we place them in the context of the 5WH what we can learn.
Thank goodness we have a record of what happened between Jesus and his disciples in their final encounter and from the written record we can discern the truth of the story and this will help guide us in discovering who we are, what we are suppose to do, where we are to go, when we are to do it, and how to do it. In this mornings scripture we have a written record of the final moments spent by Jesus with his followers before he left his kingdom here on earth to ascend upward to the heavenly kingdom of God.
I have two points from the accounts written in the Book of Acts and the Gospel Luke from today’s message that I wish to review. One point is about the author of the story and the other is about the story itself. It is often found in the case of scripture that the questions of who wrote the story and why they wrote the story is as important as the story itself when trying to discern the truth. In Acts 1: 1-11 the questions of WHO wrote the story and WHY the story was recorded reveal significant details. The writer is Luke, a close companion of the apostle Paul, who writes to Theophilus an unbeliever. WHAT Luke is doing in writing the letter is the work of an evangelist, he writes to Theophilus to present to him an account of what he knows about the claims made about Christ so that Theophilus can have a clear understanding of all that he needs to know about Jesus to make an informed decision. Without going into a lot more explanation about the investigative tools used by scholars, the account of Jesus ascension is backed up by many more written accounts of the same event that tend to prove that what was written is the truth, not a made up story. Basically, because of these investigative tools Luke’s credentials as a reliable source are to be believed.
The second review is of the two stories as they are told:
#1 The question of who.
Before Jesus leaves for good he verifies his credentials to his followers. He states, everything written about him in the Law of Moses and the Prophets has been fulfilled, therefore he presents reliable evidence that can be compared to him and his ministry, and can be verified as truth by others, such as the details about his birth and of how he died. The proof of what he says establishes the question of Who he is, he is the Messiah, the Son of God.
#2. The question of what.
The record of the story reveals the truth around the question of what it is that Jesus did. The answer to what becomes revealed as the explanation gently unfolds like that of a cloth that has been rolled up and tucked into each role of the cloth is the evidence of the truth. In revealing the truth of his identity Jesus confirms his role as the Messiah. Next, he reveals the evidence of how he suffered and died and was resurrected. Next to be unrolled in this explanation of what happened is that the find out that through Jesus act of sacrifice the sins of humanity and our wrongdoings are forgiven once and for all. Metaphorically, as the cloth is completely unrolled the explanations reveal what Jesus accomplished for us, and the end of his life and his story we discover that we are offered a new beginning, the greatest “do over” of all time! This is what the story is about.
#3 The question of where.
Where does this event occur? The answer Jesus says is in Jerusalem. It begins there and then spreads out into all the nations of the world. The evidence of the truth in his statement is before us today. In the last 100 years, the number of Christians in the world has quadrupled from about 600 million in 1910 to well past 2 billion presently. Today, Christianity remains the world's largest religious group.
#4 The question of when.
The when of this story does not seem to be as important as the other facts because the time frame of Jesus ascension was in the first century, a long time ago. But when we ask the question of when the event occurred from another perspective, we recognize that Jesus ascension happened as the last act of his ministry. In his last moments he was not concerned about goodbyes and hugs and well wishing. He continued as he had done all along. In his final hours he continued to teach, he continued to share time in fellowship with them, he revealed a future revelation of what was to come, and he blessed them. When on his final day he continued with his ministry he reveals to us the length of our ministries, our ministries are to be like his, all the days of our life.
#5 The question of why?
The story of Jesus ascension and the account of the letter written to Theophilus were recorded because story telling was the major mode of communication to the masses at that time. Storytelling was one of the few ways of revealing truths. The story of Jesus ascension became a written record because the followers of Jesus wanted to keep the story accurate and safe from being tampered with. In this way the story of this event, as a written account, could easily travel further and reach more people than by the storytelling of one person.
#6 The question of how.
The how of the story of Jesus ascension remains as much a mystery today as it was then. Our scientific mind wants an explanation about the ascension which science cannot provide. Because science cannot provide us with the answer of how, for some people this reduces the record of this account to that of a myth, or a tale of folklore. For others, the evidence revealed by the use of the 5WH method should lead us to say, “Because I don’t understand today how the ascension happened, it does not mean that I won’t understand it tomorrow”. To this point, in former periods of history we did not understand that the earth revolved around the sun, until the proper questions were asked and the answers were discovered, nor was the evidence of how an illness (a virus) can be transmitted from one person to another was only discovered by asking the questions too investigation that we now know how this happens. This should be cause enough for all us to think that the mystery of the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit do not need to be proved for them to have relevance in our lives. I am confident the passage of time will reveal this answer. For now, the evidence of the truth found in the question of how, is in how the world and the lives of billions of people have been made whole because of faith in Christ and the answers to the questions of why. Let us not get caught up in doubts, but rather be investigative in the questions we ask about our faith and be caught up in in promises of hope offered in Christ, as revealed in the recorded story.
Amen.
You are the Witnesses
44 Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”
45-49 He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is especially important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”
50-51 He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands, he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.
52-53 And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.
May 17, 2020
Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66: 7-20 1Peter 3: 13-22 John 14: 15-21
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is a well known 1960’s rhythm and blues song which began to play in my head earlier this week. I apologize for not knowing the music artists of today, such as Adele and Drake, and knowing something about their music, but I am a woman from another era and I speak about what it is that I am familiar with. Aretha Franklin’s version of the song “Respect” is the version that I am familiar with and today I wish to focus on an attitude of respect. When Aretha sings this song, she is referring to her boyfriend and telling him whatever it is that he want’s she has it to give. Whatever he needs, she’s got it, and she says, “All I'm askin’, is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)”. I enjoy turning the lyrics of popular songs around by replacing the intent of the original artist’s words with what it is that I understand about God. My theology, or what I understand about God and how I relate to God is different from the intent of the words used by the original artist. When Aretha sings, “All I’m askin”, is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)”, I relate these words to the love and care that God has for us like that of the atmosphere that we find in a loving home, and as it appears to me, the majority of people give no serious thought of their relationship between themselves and God. In the words of the song I hear God asking for a little bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I do believe the issue of respect is heavily embedded into the first lesson for today. The Book of Acts is a record of an account of Paul explaining to the group gathered at the Areopagus that they are offering their respect to images carved out of stone. Paul tells them about the God of his belief. The one true God who created the world and mankind. He passionately speaks of how God created us to be flesh and bone, he he bestowed upon us heart and soul, and of how God is always near and always present. He speaks of how the God that they worship is made by them out of a carved and chiseled stone. The God of Paul’s faith is always near and present and that mysteriously WE LIVE, and WE MOVE IN HIM! The God of Paul’s faith is not removed and far away like their Gods. Paul tells them the relationship that we have with God is a lifelong relationship and the sooner that this relationship between us and God begins the better it will be for us. He ends with telling them that if they were not aware of these facts God will overlook their lack of understanding, but as soon as they know better, the difference between that of worshipping a God of stone and a God that abides with us, they are expected to change. If they do not change, they are basically disrespecting the God of all time and the God all things. The idea that all of us have a time and a season in each of our lives to gain a healthy respect for God is backed up by what is written in Psalm 66. It appears that during our lifespan there will be times of training, and times of refinement, and a time for the lessons of life to sink in. During these times of hardship, we learn that God is always near and that God provides. If you feel that the COVID pandemic is pushing us to our very limits and that we are being road tested on the highway toward hell, then you are not alone. The psalmist encourages us that even though we may not feel like we have the support of God or feel confident in God’s love and protection during these difficult times we most assuredly do. During our lifetime we gain an understanding that God has all that
we need and knows the truth of what we deeply want. The confidence that we place in God becomes a show of respect that builds in strength and intensity over time. There are other elements in this mornings message from 1 Peter that high-light the elements of respect. It is easily recognizable to view God firmly positioned in the world of the ancient Romans and in today’s post-modern world. If we suffer for doing good Paul tells us we are still better off because we have gained understanding and we have gained wisdom. In acknowledging, whether privately or publicly, that both our heart and our attention are focused on our relationship with God we show our respect for the relationship that Christ has formed for us between us and God. Nestled in this message of the hard times that may fall our way is the valuable insight provided by Paul in regard to our efforts and the mysterious relationship of those who accept the role of God as the creator of all and our role as God’s creation. We have been shaped to be in a life of communion and relationship with God and Paul shares with us the reality that there are many people who do not understand this bond between us and God and they reject this special opportunity offered to them. Paul tells us not to be discouraged by this outcome. I bring up this point of being disheartened because of what is written in the gospel lesson this morning. Jesus is sharing with his disciples that even though he will not always be with them the Holy Spirit will always be present, to always be with us and to be near us, it will be the Holy Spirit’s presence that comes after Christ and acts on behalf of God, in essence the Holy Spirit is the active presence of God. He says to those gathered, ‘The world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and your about to come alive”. Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirt that comes to abide with us and to live in us. The world around us will see Christ because he lives in each of us through the presence of the Spirit. From a local perspective I ask the question, “How will communities around us, such as Karsdale, Annapolis Royal,Parker’s Cove, Clementsport, Granville Centre, Perotte, or Round Hill see the living Jesus through us. It can happen in three ways. Firstly, by our dedication, secondly by our words and actions, and thirdly by our prayers. Praying that the people who we are in contact with will have open minds and discerning hearts to accept the messages of the Gospels. We can pray that our faith in Christ will be respected by what it is that the world witnesses through us and their respect toward God will grow as well, “just a little bit”. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Amen. John 14:15-21 The Spirit of Truth 15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he will provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world cannot take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you and will even be in you! 18-20 “I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you are going to see me because I am alive and you are about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I am in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you. 21 “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
May 10, 2020
I wonder if other priests get a feeling of uneasiness as I do when they hear comments about prayer. Comments such as, “I prayed to God and God did not answer my prayer”. This thought often drifts into my mind when I read passages such as John 14: 13 which says, “ From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it”.
The promise of answered prayer is a promise of consistency, that if we ask Jesus for something he will give us what we ask for. His promise of answered prayer is comforting and reassuring, and many people call upon this promise in times of need. Therefore, why does Jesus not always give us what we ask for, especially when we pray for people who need their health restored, or why is our world not freed from the effects of pollution when we call upon God to help the earth and change the hearts of those who pollute?
Over the years I have found answers that satisfy me that counter any doubt that I may have about unanswered prayers. I can summarize in one word my response to this eternal question of why God did not answer my prayer when asked, it is the word “trust”. I become anxious when I am confronted with the question about unanswered prayer, not because I cannot give an answer back, but I get anxious because of the disbelief and doubt that appears to be embedded deep within the person who asks the question. I get the sense that no matter what my reply may be they have made up their minds about what the answer will be. I often find people are not searching for the answer to this question, but rather they are offering what they perceive as a failure of God to their unanswered prayers as a testimony against my beliefs. In other words, here’s the proof Rev. Nita that God is not faithful to his promise.
In 1 Peter 2: 7-8 it says, “ To you who trust in him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, the stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone. For the untrusting their questions about unanswered prayer can become a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way”. I guess my years of attending church, praying, studying scripture, developing projects, leading youth group, numerous other volunteer efforts, and trusting in God have been years of building upon the cornerstone of the foundation laid by Christ. During those years I have come to understand that I am like one of the stones that is laid upon the foundation. I have been asked to take on many of the tasks that Jesus undertook, to trust in what I am doing, and in doing so, sometimes I have become the instrument of another persons prayers being answered.
Prayers that are not answered in the ways that we wished for have likely been answered with a silent and unresponsive no by God. Why people are not healed when we pray for healing I cannot give an answer to, but I can say it is a matter of trust. Unanswered prayer can be painful, and it hurts and it devastates our lives when loved ones are not healed, but I believe in the mystery of faith and I believe that I am to trust, even though I did not receive the answer I wanted, all that unfolds is under God’s authority and under God’s love. I am willing to trust that someday I will understand fully what I don’t completely understand today.
As you may already know, the cornerstone (or foundation stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. To make a comparison between Jesus and that of a foundation stone is to make a comparison between our trust in Christ and how he is at the very base of all that we follow. He says, “I am the way (road), the truth, and the life. If I am to be one of the stones laid upon the true foundation of Christ’s teachings then I must have the confidence to trust that he is the way forward toward discovering the truth about how God heals. I must have the confidence to trust that he wants nothing but the best for us, and I must have the confidence to trust that we have been fully accepted by God. The foundation stone of Jesus upholds liberation for all peoples. The foundation stone of Jesus gives me the confidence to expect the best and my expectation of receiving the best helps supports me. The foundation stone of Jesus gives me the confidence to accept that healing comes in many forms. In Jesus I place my confidence and my trust. At the present time there is a lot of discussion concerning consumer confidence. As each province in our country begins to reopen and businesses prepare to balance the ways that they operate with public safety in mind. The big question being asked is, “Will consumers start buying once again?” Will our doubts about the economy and our personal finances become a stumbling block and we are presently in a difficult situation whereby in the Annapolis Royal area we have a high proportion of our local businesses that operate seasonally and are heavily dependent upon tourism. We find ourselves in a difficult situation, sometimes as the business owner, sometimes as a bystander. When will the tourists have the confidence to return? Will we have a tourism season this year? As the effects of the pandemic begin to transition from a short term struggle into a long term problem home owners will continue to hold mortgages, tax bills wait to be paid, medical prescriptions need refilling, and hungry mouths are waiting to be fed. As a faith community it becomes more important than ever for us to be responsive in ways that we can help. We should buy from local businesses when we can and we must become advocates to petition our governments, banking institutions, and insurance companies to be lenient during these unprecedented times. Offering loans to businesses that cannot afford to take on more debt is not helping, telling businesses that their taxes will be deferred, but an interest rate will be applied to the amount owing is not helping. I have heard of insurance companies offering lower rates for car insurance because of reduce driving, that is helping. Confidence will return when we recognize that everyone holds a share in the financial pain and we find ways to be helpful, not hurtful.
I guess Covid 19 has turned me into a political creature, but my outlook is also balanced with a healthy measure of confidence in God. I long ago decided that even if my prayers are not answered in the way that I hoped for that they were being answered. Not receiving what I wanted does not mean that I have not received what I needed. I have learned to trust and not allow distrust to be the stone that I trip over. If I can be of help to those in this present time who are struggling I will do what I can do. I know I can’t help everyone, and I know sometimes I will fail, but I pray that I will succeed more often than fail. I will not allow distrust and skepticism be the boulders to get in my way. I will continue to pray. Won’t you join me and continue in prayer. Amen.
May 3, 2020
Acts 2: 42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2: 19-25 John 10: 1-10
Make Yourself at Home
The most common, and the most understood meaning for the phrase “make yourself at home” is as an invitation of welcome. Come on in, be yourself, relax, be comfortable, treat this place as if it were your own. This is, in a small part, some of the impression that this Sunday’s gospel message had upon me. Jesus speaks of sheep, of a shepherd, he speaks of a sheep pen and how the sheep pen is am image of security and of the how the shepherds voice , if it is followed, will likewise offer safety and security. Psalm 23 also picks up the theme of security and safety. I especially like the phrase that says, “. . . you let me catch my breath . . .”. All these statements and images left with me the impression of a home, of an invitation to come in and to relax, to ultimately feel secure and safe. These are fitting images for the theme of this Sunday which is sometimes known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In our mind we see a vision of a green pasture the offers safety and the oversight of a caring and loving shepherd. This is indeed a comforting message of good news.
Unlike last Sunday’s message when I had a lot to say about adapting for the future and for us to be open to change, the invitation to come to another persons home and to relax, along with the images of sheep and lambs living in a safe and secure pasture, doesn’t really seem to send the same message. In fact, the message from 1 Peter, that of being a servant who should expect to be treated badly by others and the message of the good shepherd does not really seem to fit together at all, except in fact they do fit together well and their messages do hold meaning with today.
Let us begin with the image of a servant and the image of a slave. Sometimes we think of them as being “one and the same” when they are distinctly different. A servant is a a person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed to help keep a house, or a servant is recognized as a follower, a supporter, and a helper of others. It is this latter definition, that of the follower and helper, that we will examine because I believe this is the meaning and the intent of the author of 1Peter when he speaks of being a servant.
Peter is writing to the various churches in Asia Minor who are the followers of Jesus and who are recognized as helpers and supporters of the early Church. He is telling them to expect hard times ahead, that they are to be prepared for their day to day lives to b changed and that they should expect their lives to be changed because of the relationship they have with Jesus.
In the safe social circles of the early church the first century Christians were expected to extend themselves outside of their familiar social circles in response to following the voice of Christ. They are be the true servants of Jesus, to follow his example and to be a support and help to others. They are reminded, as servants of Christ, that if they have any masters who treat them badly, they are to persevere in their efforts. Today the most common example of this kind of scenario, of being a follower of Christ and persevering and having someone be a master over us happens within the work place whereby resentment against an employee, or toward a co-worker will steal from the other person their peace of mind, their sense of who they are, and possibly their purpose in life.
We may very well find ourselves in the role of the servant and having to persevere against prejudice directed toward us.
The key to this message and the liberation it offers is found in the act of forgiveness. To forgive others, or events that have happened to us that have caused us harm is an extremely difficult act of Christianity. No one said it would be easy, in fact Peter says so when he states, “ ………What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There is no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you are treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
It is in times like these that that the comforting words of Jesus message about following the voice of the shepherd, of green pastures, and the opportunity to catch ones breath we recognize the invitation that has been extended to us "to come in and make yourself at home”. To live a life as a servant of Christ is to live a life in support to others and to offer help, it also means that we will receive back from Jesus the same gifts of support and help that we need.
If we continue with the comparison between us and sheep, and Jesus as being the gate keeper and shepherd, we should acknowledge that there are other kinds of thieves, other than human thieves that can scale our walls of defence and steal us away. There are events and situations that can capture us and remove us from our sense of security, such as the current pandemic, a loss of income and job security, the loss of social connections and friends, or having our property vandalized. The events of the past two weeks, with the most recent being the downed helicopter of the Armed Forces and the loss of life, this event alone is enough to steal our sense of peace and security.
There is good news however, there have been many times in my life when I have been led by the still waters of Christ and in the midst of anxieties I have been refreshed. I have discovered that when I call upon God and wait upon Him I find that I have time to catch my breath. Best of all, in my relationship between myself and Christ I find that if I need to find peace, I will find it, if I need healing I will be healed, if I need to be liberated I will become liberated. I know I always have an invitation to come into the presence of God and to make myself at home, to be myself, to relax, and to be comfortable, and to be treated as God’s own. To accept the invitation to come on in and make yourself at home is an invitation well worth accepting. Amen.
John 10:1-10 He Calls His Sheep by Name 10 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he is up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him, and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them, and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” 6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So, he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to
no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
April 26, 2020
Fans of the former TV show Red Green will recall him reciting at the end of each show The Man’s Prayer, "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess.” This statement brings a slight smile to our face as we recognize this twist of sincerity as a comedic play on how we can change, if we want to, but many times it becomes a half hearted attempt because we really do not desire change. Of course, this made me wonder if Red Green’s statement can be applied to us in our spiritual lives and in our daily lives. I decided to explore this a bit further
I ask this question, “Why do we seem to resist change rather than to embrace change. There are many factors, but one of the significant reasons for resisting change is the unexpected unknown of what will happen if we change our way of doing things. At this present time COVID-19 is the cause of change and we are presently facing the unknown and are trying to figure out how our lives will be changed. We ask the question, “When will our lives become normal again? I think a lot of us are hesitant to use the phrase, “. . . when life gets back to normal . . .” because the normal that we knew before the pandemic will not really have changed, we will still need to make payments, buy groceries, celebrate special occasions, but some of our former habits and practices will be replaced with a new kind of normal and this means change has happened.
Much of our new normal will be created out of necessity. Our thoughts become filled with more questions about what the future will be like and we wonder what lies ahead. We ask many questions such as, “Will we be back together by the middle of June, or will it take longer for restrictions to be eased?” We question if Harvest Thanksgiving will happen, it is after all in October and October is the beginning of the flu season and we have been warned to expect a second wave of COVID 19, likely in the fall during flu season. How long will the important social distance rule of two meters apply? Will the Ecumenical Fall Fair be cancelled like so many other large gatherings? Can our Sunday School happen with the energy filled youth that we are so blessed with, or will the ACW monthly meetings gathering around the board room table continue like they have? We recognize that all these activities will continue, but they will have been changed. All these possible changes can leave us feeling shocked and somewhat confused over what to do.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were in a state of shock as they walked and talked over the recent events. The claims made by others that Christ was alive confused them. How can this be? A lot of what they knew about normal had changed because people do not die and come back to life! The obvious truth of upheaval was right before them, their daily lives had been interrupted by tragedy, their Passover practices had been threatened by disruption, and some of them were now in hiding, isolating themselves to protect themselves against arrest. There was nothing about these circumstances that was normal, and they were likely unaware that their current circumstances would require them to change and to adapt.
In the next few weeks our stories of scripture will tell us how the lives of the apostles changed. Once more questions bubble to the surface. Did the apostles want their lives to change”? The answer is, “Likely not”. Did they have to make changes in their day to day lives because of what happened, the answer likely is, “Yes they did”. For them to carry on Jesus ministry and to become the bearers of the Good News they had to make changes to their normal way of life. I believe their source of strength to carry on in their new life was founded in the words of the psalm chosen for today, Psalm 116. The key verses (12-19) outlined for the disciples what they needed to do in the face of change and instability.
1.) “. . . I will lift high the cup of salvation . . .”
2.) “ . . . I will pray in the name of God . . .”
3.) “ . . . I will complete what I promised God I‘d do . . .”
4.) “ . . . I will do it in the company of his people . . .”
On the night of Christ’s betrayal and arrest Jesus and his disciples would have sung Psalm 116 as part of their Passover celebration. We cannot dismiss the words of this psalm and the meaning they hold. To lift high the cup of salvation is a reference to the blessings of God poured out on us, but it is also symbolic of the cup of blessing that we share in the Eucharist. When we gather once again at St. Luke’s we must continue sharing Holy Communion as we did before. Although so much of our world around us may change this is a practise that we cannot afford to do without. We will likely need to make changes in how we celebrate the communion, but it is a key element of our spiritual life and it is one of the ways that we will move forward in this time of change. Jesus told his disciples to share this meal as often as they could when they met. It was important to him; it was important to the apostles and it is important to us.
Psalm 116 also speaks about prayer. We have always known the importance of prayer and how prayer connects us with God and with one another. When we pray it is particularly important to acknowledge and declare before others the goodness of God and credit to God all the glory due to God. This is laid out clearly in Psalm 116. Prayer is yet another important element that will help keep us together and keep us strong.
On the night of the Passover meal when Jesus sang the words, “ I will complete what I promised God I’d do”, we know that he was making a pledge and announcing that he would keep his promise and allow his death to be a holy sacrifice to cover our sins. He would stand in for us and take our place, he would bear the pain and punishment that was ours. Jesus kept his promise and so should we.
Jesus disciples promised that they would go out into all the world to preach the Good News and to baptize, likewise we have promises to keep as well. I am specifically referencing a promise that we made as a parish that connects us with Psalm 116 and with COVID-19 and the mass shootings of last weekend. Our mission statement, “Together we worship, we care, we serve our communities” is a form of promise that we accepted, and Psalm 116 directs us to complete what we have promised. I witnessed a wonderful example of this last week when it was suggested by a parish member that a Vigil of Light in the memory of those killed in the Portapique shootings be organized. Their suggestion was a caring and thoughtful way for us to be a support for others inside of our church community and outside of our church community. Because of their suggestion a Vigil of Light was held on Wednesday evening in Annapolis Royal that became part of the healing process for so many. We will continue to offer the important ministry of caring and in doing so it will strengthen not only others, but it will support us as well.
Psalm 116 has given us the directions to worship, to pray, and to care for others, but there is one more suggestion, all these things are to be done in the company of God’s people. I am happy to say that we work very well together as a community of God’s people and during this time of difficulty all of you have supported each other in significant and wonderful ways. What it is that we say, and what it is that we do as God’s people is watched by others, we become witnesses of the Good News. For this alone we cannot relax on any of the practices mentioned in Psalm 116 when our parish reopens. As the parish reopens, we must be willing to adapt and change as we must, yet not let go of the ways that have always kept the church and her people a strong, active, and vibrant people. Like Red Green we can change if we must, but unlike Red Green our promise will not be half hearted. Amen.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Acts 2: 14, 22-32 Psalm 16 1 Peter 1: 3-9 John 20: 19-31
“May nothing but God’s truth be revealed through these words and nothing but God’s truth be received. “
As I read through the passages of scripture chosen for today I found key phrases that seemed to jump out at me, and with each phrase that jumped out, I found myself taking a closer look at what was said and to think about how it related to today. Here are some examples.
In Acts 2: 23 Paul wrote “ . . . he was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, . . .”. The words, “took the law into their own hands” caught my interest. My mind immediately leapt to the topic of how these men of authority, the chief priests and council, had an innocent man killed to achieve their personal goals. They wanted the crowds who were following Jesus to turn away from Christ and back to them once again. They were alarmed to discover that they were losing their authority over the people. Their power to control the will of the people so as to bend them toward what they wanted was eroding away.
The events of Jesus trial were manipulated by those who were in authority at that time and it makes me think of the situation that we have before us today. I think of the circumstances that are unfolding now in some places whereby people are protesting against their government and the regulations that have been put in place for social distancing. There have been protests to put an end to the social isolation measures they live under. The protesters want their local businesses and industries to open up again and for the people to go back to work even though the pandemic is far from being over. The protesters appear to represent the will of the people and are acting like they are taking the law into their own hands. In their public demonstrations they are challenging the laws and taking the health authorities to task. In the news reports we hear of powerful people with authority lending their support to the protesters. This is turning the current situation into an “us against them” showdown. People who hold authority have the ability to move the will of the people and to encourage them to do either what is right, or what is wrong. Those who hold authority must exercise it wisely. Therefore the words, “taking the law into their own hands” caught my attention.
As I continued to read other short phrases, verses from1 Peter 1: 3-9 also caught my attention:
“ . . . the future starts now . . .”, “ . . . God is keeping careful watch over us . . . “ , “. . . Pure gold put into the fire comes out of it proved genuine . . . “, “You never saw him, yet you love him.”, . . . and, “You still don’t see him, yet you trust him- with laughter and singing.”
I utter the words, “WOW”. The author of 1 Peter compares the suffering of Christ to the purification of gold by fire. What comes out of the fire is pure and genuine, 100% pure gold. Similarly because we are believers of Christ, through his death and his resurrection, we become purified as well. That is a “wow” moment, and what adds to the "wow “moment is the idea that as people of the 21st century, who have not had the benefit of being a first hand witness to Jesus life and ministry, love him just the same as they did, and even though we cannot see him we trust him. That is quite amazing!
The final phrase that stood out to me as important comes from the Gospel of John 20: 19. John writes, “ Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you! “ I have always looked at this as a verbal expression of what we wish for another person , for them to be well. Today however, I see it as the remarkable benefit of receiving peace of mind.
The three segments of scripture that I have I mentioned highlight three themes and that I wish to briefly explore them. 1.) The will of the people and the power of authority 2.) How something new and pure has begun 3.) The peace of mind that comes with Christ.
Last Sunday I wrote that I was ready to move forward into what lies ahead. The first month of social distancing, and “staying the blazes home” has now become an experience that will help to set the tone for the future and force us to adapt in certain ways. It’s time to move on and I am going to hold fast to the advise written in this mornings scriptures to help me move forward. 1.) I will trust, as I have for most of my life, in the authority of God. I will try my best to not “take the law into my own hands” or to will us to go the way that I want us to go, but rather I will trust that after discussion and prayer our future will unfold as it should and we will go the way that God wants us to go.
2.) The second point that caught my attention was the purity of God’s love. Each Easter season we become aware that something new and pure has begun again. We take the time during Lent to reflect upon our life and how we should live our lives, how we should trust in God’s enormous love for us. The love that God has for us is pure and rich. It is of great value and this brings me peace of mind. The assurance that God loves us, and will guide and direct us, and be the source of our strength is what I will hold on to.
3.) Lastly, when Jesus met with his disciples in the locked room and they came to trust that the person before them was Christ and he shared with them his gift of peace. This act of love brought them comfort and peace of mind.
If something gives you peace of mind, it stops you from worrying about a particular problem or difficulty. I don’t think peace of mind is something that you create, but rather something that is given to us. Nor is peace of mind something that we choose, or something that needs to chased and found. At the time of Jesus death his disciples had a lot to be worried about, and it seems to me right now we likewise have a lot to be worried about. I will not however let the present troubles we are facing become problems that cannot be solved. To get ahead of these troubles I will continue to trust in the authority of God, I will embrace the love he has for me, and I will have peace of mind. I hope you also will likewise be sustained. Blessings to you all.
John 20:19-31
To Believe
19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.
Easter Sunday, April 15, 2020
Jeremiah 31: 1-6 Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3: 1-4 John 20: 1-18
Alleulia, Alleulia, Alleulia . . . . . and I say one more time, “Alleulia”! It’s here, Easter day has come! This is such a day for rejoicing!
Since March 12 when we last gathered as a community it appears to me that we have been straining under the weight of carrying a heavy load, all of us together trudging toward Easter day. Every step along the road leaving a heavy imprint, but today has arrived and it is a day of release!
In today’s readings Jeremiah wrote about the day that was yet to come, a day of release for God’s people. He was referring to a time of great trouble that was yet to come and of how it would afflict many of his people, and he also spoke of how not all of them would survive. Yet the great majority of those who would survive would receive God’s grace and rest. In their survival they would find the Messiah Jesus Christ. Jeremiah writes about God’s love for his people that is an everlasting love, and of how God is faithful to his people.
I like this promise and I am going to take God’s promise of everlasting love and God’s faithfulness and carry it with me into tomorrow. I am going to take this same promise of love and faithfulness and carry it into the coming weeks, and into the future that lies ahead. Today, I feel I am released.
There are yet months ahead of us whereby COVID-19 will continue to dictate a lot of what we hope to do as a community of faith, and of what we hope to be as a community of God, but last evening after the sun had set, and Easter had officially arrived, I left behind the past four weeks of isolation and the sense of heaviness that went with it. I will now go forward into the future taking with me the promise of God’s everlasting love and of God’s faithfulness toward us. I am going to leave the heaviness of the past where it belongs, behind me. I am going to move forward into the new normal of our future and also return to my former place of confidence and trust.
Like the words written in this mornings psalm, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”, I am going to follow that advise and I am going to rejoice. It is a good day. There is no doubt that the world as we know know is in a mode of self correction. Much of what we knew before the time of COVID - 19 will change, such as the suggestion that the handshake will be a gesture of the past. I think this idea is likely a good idea, but what does that mean to us as a community when we exchange The Peace with each other? It just means that we will find a different gesture to share with each other as we say, “May the Peace of the Lord be with you.”
This experience has certainly taught me once again that I do not need to go to the grocery store every day. It was an unnecessary habit and my habit of daily grocery shopping helped to put additional carbon into the atmosphere. Experts are telling us, that when the threat of COVID-19 is behind us, more people will likely be working from home and this will be good thing for our environment. The world around us is enjoying a time of much needed relief. The world of God’s created order is enjoying a time of falling back into order. Let us not loose the initiative of these positive changes when we once again become free to do as we please. Let us as a Christian community become stronger in our resolve to be stewards of care for this planet.
This is definitely a memorable Easter. We can find similar comparisons between the Easter of the first century and the Easter of 2020. The disciples of Jesus time found themselves living in locked rooms, hidden away because of fear. They came to discover that a locked door could not keep the risen Christ away from them. The glorious good news of the risen Christ could not be stopped. Today we find ourselves in isolation, basically locked behind doors a necessary lifestyle that is driven by fear. Like the first century Christians, our self isolation cannot keep the risen Christ away from us either. I cannot describe for you the joy and the relief that I felt the moment I knew I had overcome some of the technological challenges that had kept us separated. When I succeeded at recording a video, and I knew that I could connect with you on Easter morning my sense of relief and joy were enhanced by a sense of liberation that I find difficult to describe. Oh, what joy. What a sense of release!
Of course, when I describe such a moment to you, my thoughts encounter my conscience. The small inner voice in my head shouts, “Just image what Jesus would have felt when he was released from the tomb”. Oh what joy, what release!
For Jeremiah the joyful return of the exiles to their homeland was to be a day of immense joy. On the day of their return God’s everlasting love and enduring faithfulness would be on full display for others to witness. When they returned home and they rebuilt their lives there was to be a new normal. This is how I feel and it is how I hope you feel. On the day that we can say that we have been released from our isolation we will be a witness to our community and families that God’s love is everlasting, it cannot be defeated by a virus. A virus cannot pull our community apart. God’s faithfulness to us will be on display because we will be a witness of how we stayed together and how we picked up right where we had left off. We talk about how we will be stronger after COVID-19 and I expect we will be better at caring for our world and better at caring for one another.
The writer of Colossians encouraged us to seek God and to build upon our relationship with God. To be part of creating a better world and to become “the community” of a better world. To seek does not mean that we are to go on a scavenger hunt to find this ideal life, but rather we are called to look beyond the present complications and the messiness of this present time and to find a direction to follow. This direction comes from above.
Disbelief and wonder were present in the tomb as the disciples saw before them the evidence of the risen Lord. Before them the truth was revealed. Jesus has risen and he is the lord of heaven and earth and his love endures forever and his faithfulness to us is everlasting. Alleulia!
Passion of the Lord - Good Friday
Ritual at Home
Opening Prayer:
Lord of Glory, we proclaim your death and look ever forward to your Resurrection. As we contemplate your death on the cross so that we may have life, may we be ever aware of the life that springs from death, the light that rises from darkness, and the hope that banishes fear. Draw us close to you, so that we may know the glory your Cross points to.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
John 18:1–19:42
Place a cross on a table or some other place of respect, adding candles if you wish. Be sure to allow some time in silent reflection as you gaze upon the
Make this a time of personal prayer and reflection. At some point during the period of reflection, you may wish to pray the following Litany for Forgiveness.
Litany for Forgiveness
For the times we have not loved as we are called to love . . .
Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive.
Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive.
Intercessions
For the times we have cultivated doubt instead of hope . . .
For the times that selfishness, greed, and lust influence our decisions.
For the times we nurture isolation instead of community . .
For the times we hear the needs of others but refuse to act .
For the times we pass judgment on ourselves and those whom we encounter . . .
For the times we create divisions . .
For the times we neglect care for our common home . . .
For the times we are not good stewards of the gifts you give us .
Confident that Jesus Christ hears our prayer, let us offer our petitions with open hearts .
“Let us pray for those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and God’s saving grace to all the victims who have died.”
(Silence)
“Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died, and throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(Silence)
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering these prayers together, as well as those we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray in the words that Jesus taught us. Our Father . . .
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Isaiah 50: 4-9 Psalm 31: 10-17 Philippians 2: 5-11 Matthew 26:14-27: 66
A variety of thoughts filled my mind as I studied the scripture for this coming Sunday’s homily. So much of what came to mind has been said before, but even though the story is familiar there is always a gem of truth that comes to the surface. Something that can be shared which propels the old story of the past forward into a fresh message for today.
After what has seemed to be an extra long season of Lent we have arrived at the starting point of Holy Week. I have researched and assembled a collection of worship liturgies and meditations that will help us follow the familiar flow of Holy Week. There is no denying however that this year it feels like something is missing. The closeness of being together and sharing worship has been blocked by a virus.
Some people call the virus “the enemy” and look upon what is happening as an “us” against “it” war. I find this to be an interesting state of mind. What each of us feels and believes about this pandemic will have a great influence upon our mood and our behavior. This pandemic, like the Spanish Flu and SARS will have its own fixed mark on the timeline of history. We will become a changed society when this is over, and I think this is why we feel like something is missing, we are changing. Our outlook for the future will change, our mood will fluctuate with each adjustment that we undergo, and our behavior toward agencies and people will strengthen, or they will weaken. So you are likely saying to yourself, “What’s the good news, and how does it fit in with Passion Sunday story. Is there good news to be found in this mornings message?
The gospel readings of Passion Sunday are long, and they are made up of two seemingly different stories. In the beginning the gospel of Matthew retells the account of Jesus’s triumphant arrival into Jerusalem. Everything seems to be well. Jesus is hailed as a king and the people are excited and happy and waving palm branches. In a matter of hours, the mood has changed, and Jesus is given over to the authorities to be tried as an imposter, he is accused of heresy and this leads to his arrest. Just as swiftly in a matter of hours he is tried before Pilate and sentenced to crucifixion with his eventual death on the cross that follows. It may seem strange that these two extremes are celebrated on Palm Sunday, but this is the reality of what we call the Easter mystery. In the midst of disbelief and the challenging times that the disciples were to face it was how Jesus lived his life and his death and his ultimate resurrection that changed the world. The mood and behavior of the first century Christians changed. Despite the ups and downs of life they found that their lives were better because of their beliefs. The challenges and disasters that they faced worked to strengthen their faith.
It is impossible to separate these two stories. The story of celebration and triumph and the story of despair and challenge. This same statement can be said about our lives. Even when our lives don’t feel the same, like they do now. We are facing challenges that have just begun, we will gain strength from these challenges and the source of our strength is in our connection with God and our connection with each which we celebrate each time we gather. Our connection is strong and will get stronger because we are united with Christ through his death and his resurrection.
There have been one or two times in my life when I have felt like something was missing and each time it involved a change that was yet to come that helped me recognize my way forward. Many times, over the past 20-30 years I have heard people pronounce that the church is on its last legs and headed towards death. I heard it so often, but yet still saw around me the witness of the church through its people. I began to say to others, “I don’t know what the church will look like in the future, but I am convinced that the church will still be here after I am gone. I likely won’t recognize it because it will look different, but it still will be here”. I sincerely do believe this, and I do believe that after the pandemic ceases to crowd our news headlines and the world returns to normalcy, we will discover that we have changed. We will be transformed in another way, our beliefs will become stronger, and not weaker. Our optimism for the future will increase. There are goods days ahead for us because the same Lord who changed the world once before will be the same Lord of our future who will change this world once again. This is the good news today’s message. Amen
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Have any of you ever ground the gears in your vehicle? If you have ever driven a standard and you need to shift manually by hand you likely have. It’s part of the learning curve when you drive a standard and it most often happens when you are trying to match the speed of your car with what you are demanding of it, you either want it to go slower, or you want more speed. It is a matter of experience. We try to avoid grinding the gears because if it continues it is going to end up costing us and we will pay the price in replacement parts and garage fees. Sometimes I think that our journey of faith is kind of liking driving and knowing when, or when not to shift gears.
This week the gospel of John is a stirring and sensational story about the death of Lazarus, and of the separation that his family and his community feel because of his death, and of course the personal grief that comes with the death of a person we love. It appears that we have switched gears for the coming week when death becomes a primary focus instead of the focus of new life. Added to this impression of grief is our awareness that today marks the beginning of what we call Passiontide, a solemn period of two weeks of reflection that focuses on the persecution of Jesus, his eventual crucifixion and his death. Has there been a shift from the theme of the past few weeks?
Over the past three Sunday’s we have explored the scripture passages for an understanding of the new life that Jesus spoke of. Our first glance at today’s gospel message might lead us to think that we have switched gears going from light and life to darkness and death, but this passage has more to do with new life than what it has to do with death. It’s not the time to shift gears, we will keep the message of new life.
Let us take look at the first reading from Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones as described by the prophet Ezekiel. He is describing a vision, he sees a valley filled with the dry bones of the dead. New life is breathed into these bones and the vision is so real to Ezekiel that he describes how first the sinew and muscles are formed, followed next by the skin, but it was the breath which came from God that created new life in those dead bones. Ezekiel’s vision is intended not only to reach the people of his time, but also far beyond his time to other people down through the ages. The vision of the dry bones is an encouragement to us that our earthly life has an extended life beyond the life we now know. I find there is no need for me to shift gears, for this is my belief as well.
Once again this past week I looked out my office window and gazed at the North Mountain. A thought crossed my mind, and I said to myself, “What fun God must have had when he created this world”. To watch the world that he created unfold as it once did must have brought the Creator great delight. Rivers forming here, mountains erupting in another place, and over there prairie plains with vast lands as far as the eye can see, and foaming waters which rise and fall with the tides. I thought, “What fun God must have had, and the delight God must know when I, one of his created creatures takes comfort and solace from what he created by looking at the North Mountain”. Therefore, it is not unimaginable to me that God has created another life, a new life for us.
In the gospel of John we have another example of death and new life. Although Martha and Lazarus’ friends make the claim that if Jesus had been present with them Lazarus would not have died, it appears at first to be a rather positive statement of faith, but it is this kind of a response that angers Jesus. Their exclamation that Jesus would not have let Lazarus die is but a shadowy proclamation of Jesus authority and power for it does not affirm faith, but rather it questions where was Jesus when he was needed. Jesus has been trying to instil in his followers a faith that comes by believing and not by seeing and he becomes frustrated with their response. They need to change gears and to shift up. They are struggling and working hard to understand, but they have missed the main point of Jesus ministry, that they and Lazarus have a new life now and even at the time of our death we continue to have this new life. Lazarus family should have been celebrating Lazarus new life and not wishing and hoping for another miracle for them to place their faith in. The people of Jesus time wanted miracles, they seem to need miracles in order to believe. Miracles were necessary at that time, but after his death and resurrection, right up to today there is a time when our faith must move beyond miracles and truly be based in faith. In the letter to the Romans Paul tells us that those who trust that God is in them, will find God’s Spirit is in them - living and breathing. Our attention to God will lead us out into the open and spacious life, a new life. So, as we enter into Passiontide and we prepare to be immersed in the Passion of Jesus, to experience the sorrow of Good Friday and then on Easter day when the story explodes with new life we need to gear down and slow down and prepare for all of this activity.
For myself, over these past two weeks since we last met as a worshipping community, I have been struggling with trying to experience the weeks of Lent leading up to Holy Week and Easter as I have before. So many of the things that we do to experience these events will not happen as a community this year. The Palm Sunday Procession, the reading of the Passion narrative, mid day mediations from Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week, the Maundy Thursday service, the Ecumenical Good Friday Service and Cross Walk, and of course Easter Day! This year we are going to miss the joy of celebrating together. Our gathering for worship, the singing of Easter hymns with the chorus of Alleluias’ that fill the church, the Sunday school youth and Easter egg hunt, the discovery of the hidden Alleulia, and the decorative white lilies that decorate the sanctuary are not going to be part of this years celebration for us. Our familiar and comforting traditions have been put on pause until next year.
COVID-19 is reshaping us, making us shift our gears. I stand firm and say, “I will not let this virus interfere with the meaningful and spiritual filled practices of Holy Week, or let our Easter Day joy be dampened”. In the coming week I hope to be able to share with you a few ideas of how this can be. I will share one of them with you now. At sunset on Holy Saturday, it is a common practise for many parishes to celebrate the Easter Vigil. At the beginning of this service a small fire is lit outside the church and from it the Paschal candle is lit and brought into the darkened church. As the candle is held high the words, “The light of Christ” are said, and there is a response, “Thanks be to God”. Most of us have in our homes a set of white Christmas lights, or a lamp that burns a white light. I encourage us all to place in one of our windows the white lights, or to light a lamp on the eve of Easter at the time of sunset. Turn them on so they are visible to those outside our homes and a witness to us inside our homes that the light of Christ is here, that Easter has arrived and new life has begun. It’s time to begin a new tradition, to shift gears, to light a white light that symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his innocence and purity, and the joy and the triumph and the glory of new life. The white lights will represent as Saint Paul said in today’s reading, it’s time to get on with our new life. There are things to do and places to go.
We are bound to grind our gears as we adjust to the new reality of COVID -19, but let us not pay the price by demanding signs and wonders, but instead live in a faith that hopes for, and believes in new life.
Amen.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
When I look out of my office window and gaze upon the north mountain what swiftly comes to mind is Psalm 121 . . . “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?” A comforting statement that declares that God is the source of David’s strength. This psalm is a companion to the Psalm chosen for today . . . Psalm 23. A familiar and comforting piece of scripture that declares that God is our comfort and strength all the days of our lives.
In the timeline of our life this past week has been a week of adjustment. We are adjusting to a new mind set of settling down into a life style of social distancing, we are adjusting to self isolation, adjusting to how day to day tasks have now taken on a measure of caution that is balanced against what potential outcomes may come from careless exposure, and the list of adjustments goes on and on. The reassuring words of both the 23 Psalm, and Psalm 121 act upon me like a soothing lotion. I hope they bring this same response to you. We are at the beginning of a time of testing and challenges and we are seeking answers to our many questions.
It has been said that there are two types of questions and two types of question askers. There are those who want to ask a question, and there are those who want to discover an answer. In the gospel passage we have a fine example of this as the Pharisees investigate the healing of the blind man. There appears to be a great deal of confusion. Some are asking questions only wanting to hear the answer that they favour and then there are others who want to get to the bottom of their questions. Who healed this man, and how did he heal him?
As our global world seeks to contain and to eradicate the COVID-19 virus many questions are being asked, such as how are we going to get ahead of this virus and what can be done? In finding the the answers to these questions fear and confusion have caused many people to search out someone, or something to blame that will help them understand why we are in the current situation that we are in.
In the gospel message Jesus is challenged by others who were not his followers as to who is to blame for the man to be born blind. They want to know who sinned to have caused his serious disability. There is a lot of confusion in the story mostly about who did what and how can this be. At about mid point in the the story the man who was most affected had this to say to the Pharisees, “You know not where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes!” He was of course speaking of Jesus and of how very blind the religious leaders of the day were. They could not accept what they saw; that Jesus was present with them, that he was not only healing the physically blind, but also healing the spiritually blind. This is why this passage has been chosen for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
There has been much said over the past three weeks about darkness and light, how Nicodemus came by night and received the truth from Jesus about a new life. How the woman at the well came in broad day light and received new life. Now we have the story of the man, blind from his birth who only could ever know darkness, but can now see in a way that he never saw before, or understood in a way that he could never understand before. He has gained a new life. He now sees both physically and spiritually. Our lenten journey is a journey that leads us toward an understanding that a new life different form our former life is now ours because Jesus gave his life for us. He died, but through his death true life is given to us. In asking the questions of who and how this happens we discover the answer. In asking the questions of how and why we face the current challenge of COVID-19 we discover the answer. When it is over we will have adjusted in ways that will make our world a better place, dare I say a healed place. In understanding that Jesus is the Son of Man we will have have adjusted our attitude and our outlook and we will understand and know that God is the source of our strength and this will carry us through.
Amen.
August 9, 2020
Matthew 14: 22-33Walking on the Water
22-23 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
24-26 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
29-30 He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
31 Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
32-33 The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
Romans 10: 5-15
4-10 Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here,
as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest.It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
11-13 Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”
14-15 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?
Homily Notes
August 9, 2020
The second reading from the Book of Romans and the reading from the Gospel of Matthew are the primary sources of my reflection this Sunday. The gospel story is a familiar one. It is the account of Jesus a.) Sending his disciples away after the feeding of the five thousand, b.) to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while he spends some “alone time” in prayer and when Jesus decides to join them it is in the early morning hours of the next day. c.) The disciples witness Jesus walking on the water and they are afraid. Peter calls out wanting to join him and Jesus invites him to come out of the boat to meet him. d.) Peter displays a great amount of enthusiasm and he immediately starts toward him, walking on the water like Jesus, until he looks down and the reality of what he is doing frightens him and he begins to sink. He calls out to Jesus and without hesitation e.) Jesus reaches out and saves him.
The reading from the Book of Romans is a statement made by Paul, that as far as he is concerned Jesus came to be among us so that “all people” could be saved. (Here, at this point in my reflection I am going to enter a personal evaluation of the viewpoint of being “saved”. I think that the true meaning of this word in reference to its meaning has become somewhat lost in the translation of the word. I think the word “ saved" comes close to what the actual meaning could be, but I also think the interpretation of the word “saved “in relation this scripture passage likely means much more than how we typically apply the word. I know nothing about the interpretation of Hebrew ,or Greek, therefore I am probably way off course, but I personally think that Jesus’ mission to be among us was more about giving us the opportunity to be in sync with God our creator. The story of Adam and Eve reminds us that the connection that we once had with God had become broken, we were then out of sync. Jesus reconnects us, we are not so much saved, but we are back “on line” so to speak. If our connection is never fixed we will be totally and forever lost. We can only reconnect when we call out for help and are reconnected through Christ. You may think this is a silly comparison, but if you have ever lost your connection with the internet you understand how totally and completely lost people feel. The feeling of being disconnected and the actual state of being disconnected absolutely throws us into isolation and puts us at a huge disadvantage in how the world relates today. Being back in sync with God through Christ gives us a full and true state of life., but you only can get reconnected through Christ.) So . . . . , back to the passage, Jesus came not just to be present for God’s chosen people, but also for us, the Gentiles, and for any other group of people who choose to be totally back in sync with the creator.
I wish to make a few more observations about these two readings:
1.) From the gospel reading, Jesus is in total control. It was he who decided to feed the five thousand, it was he who sent the disciples off to cross over the sea by boat, it was he who decided what time to arrive to greet them, and without hesitation it was Jesus who saved Peter.
When we feel that life is out of control, such as now with the battle against COVID, we can decide to focus on God and how God is in total control, or we can focus on what “appears” to be the reality of the domination of the Corona virus that has the whole world in various states of chaos and disruption. Many of us are beginning to understand, and feel the effects of COVID fatigue, particularly the longer we remain disconnected from our church community, it can cause us to wavier and to question our faith. But don’t, I remind you of who is in control and that God has got you firmly clasped by his hand to save you from drowning. COVID will pass, God remains in control.
2.) From the Book of Romans, our faith is not based on laws and codes, nor is it the laws of Moses that will save us (or as I like to say, reconnect us) Laws and codes can become a way for us to tally up a score, to earn points of merit, but unfortunately laws and codes become restrictive as more and more laws are added to cover all the finer points that are exposed by the law when the law doesn’t quite go far enough to take care of the “what if’s” of life. People who follow the laws and codes can often develop a holier the thou attitude which helps no one.
Paul is making the point it is by faith alone that one is saved; the belief that all is well with our souls, both in this earthly time and in the life to come after our deaths if we can but “trust” that God is the one who is in control, not us. If we can trust that he is the Father who throws a party for his wayward son when he returns (The Prodigal Son), if we can trust that God is like the employer who fully pays a days wage to everyone regardless of the time they spent in the vineyard work (Worker in the Vineyard), and trust that God is like the host who serves the best wine to his guests (The Wedding in Cana) we will gain insight into how eternal life is achieved by trust, not by what we do. We cannot control our future by the works that we do, hoping that God will be a benevolent accountant of our good deeds, or a divine probation officer who will look the other way when our time comes to totally reconnect and we are granted access to the kingdom. We can however “trust” that what Jesus said was true. We only have to confess silently, or out loud that God is the Master, and that Jesus is the Son of God and we will be living by faith alone.August 2, 2020
Scripture Passages
Psalm 17: 1-7
1-2 Listen while I build my case, God,
the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent--
in your heart you know I am.
3
Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night--
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
My words don’t run loose.
4-5
I’m not trying to get my way
in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
I’m not giving up.
6-7
I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
Romans 9: 1-5
God Is Calling His People
9 1-5 At the same time, you need to know that I carry with me at all times a huge sorrow. It’s an enormous pain deep within me, and I’m never free of it. I’m not exaggerating—Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses. It’s the Israelites . . . If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I’d do it in a minute. They’re my family. I grew up with them. They had everything going for them—family, glory, covenants, revelation, worship, promises, to say nothing of being the race that produced the Messiah, the Christ, who is God over everything, always. Oh, yes!
Mathew 14: 13-21
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Homily Questions
After reading the Gospel reading, ask yourself, “Who am I in this story?” Am I Jesus, am I one of the disciples, or am I a follower?” When you decide who you are ask yourself the following questions.
What is my purpose in this story, why do I identify with this person?
Where is my faith placed? In Jesus, in the disciples who are distributing the food, or in those seated waiting to receive.
Are you hungry?
When are the times that you come to be fed?
Mathew 14: 13-21
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Homily Notes
Today I wish to talk about the service of Holy Communion and how it relates to this passage
We find similarities with the story and the celebration of communion together.
The elements of this story reflect on people gathering, people sharing, an abundance of food, and people coming together, and receiving.
When we come to a communion service, we need to be hungry, We need to be hungry to receive from the Lord what the Lord offers in the sharing of communion.
Jesus shares himself, and we receive from him when we gather together in fellowship. All of us should be present because we are hungry. If all of our needs have been satisfied, there is no need for us to come to receive, because we are not hungry. Do you agree, or disagree? Why?
July 19, 2020
This morning I am presenting to you what I call a “hodge podge” sermon, it has some of this, and a bit of that in it, and when all the ingredients are mixed together and seasoned it becomes a delicious dish. Hodge podge, the Nova Scotian way, will soon be gracing many of our maritime tables in the next few weeks. The lovers of hodge podge look forward to this annual treat from their gardens. How many of you have kitchen gardens this year, and how many of you have planted peas? Peas are one of the main ingredients in hodge podge. I mention peas because I identify the humble pea with today’s gospel story, that of the seed that is sown, and grown, and as it grows weeds will grow along with it. The question presented to Jesus about whether to pull the weeds out of the wheat which is growing reminds me of peas. When weeds first start to sprout along with the seeds of the pea, I have found that the weeds that have grown around the seed of the pea cannot be removed successfully. As weeds and peas grow together, and as the time draws closer to the time of harvest you cannot remove a weed from in and amongst the growth of the peas, if you do, the roots of the weed pull out the root of the pea plant and the plant dies, therefore no harvest of peas from that crop.
The story of the weeds is like last weeks gospel story. Last week the lesson was about seeds and the type of soil they were planted in. The kind of soil that the seeds were planted in would determine how well they would grow. It was a parable about how we represented the seeds, and how our surroundings, and our attitude would determine how our faith would, or would not grow. This week the seeds, which once again represent us, have obviously fallen upon ground that can produce good growth, but the weeds that have grown around the seed can cause the seeds of faith to be crowded out. Therefore, at the end of the growing season what is harvested is a combination of what is useful and what was not useful.
The disciples ask Jesus why the farmer does not pull out the weeds. Jesus explains that far more harm can be done by the weeds to the seed when the weeds are pulled out. Just like the growth of the peas, if wheat seeds have sprouted and have started to grow if you pull the weeds out there will be much harm done, but if the plant grows to maturity it will become part of a good harvest. Have you ever thought of how a single seed represents the past, the present and the future? If a seed does not mature, there is no present, and no future. Hold on to this thought for moment, I will go back to this a bit later.
Another main point found in the story of The Weeds is in the question that Jesus asks his followers. In the telling of the story about the weeds and the seeds Jesus communicates to his disciples a message that relates to their past, to their present, and to what the future holds. Jesus asks his disciples, “Are you listening to this? Really listening”. We heard this same phrase used in last Sunday’s story when he told them the parable of the seeds and he asked them “Are you listening? Are you really listening?”. The act of listening is a key component of communication and I fond it interesting to note that the typical response of the person who is listening, is for the listener to want to want to respond to the other person. Often while they are listening to the other person, they are also at the same time preparing their response while they are listening. Preparing what we will say is not a good listening skill. When we listen, we should be listening to discover what we understand about what the other person is saying, rather than what we will say in return. Therefore, I can understand why Jesus said, “Are you really listening?” He is asking them, “Do you understand what I am saying to you? "
Five months ago, each of our lives changed . . . just like that. Scientists, emergency measure agencies and our health care leaders had issued warnings about the very real likelihood that a pandemic would happen sometime soon. It would be a pandemic like the Spanish Flu in the devastation that would follow. I, like a good many of others had heard what the experts had said, but I had no real understanding of how a pandemic would affect our day to day lives, such as the economy of our nation, or the effect it could have upon our health. I knew it would be bad, but beyond this, I had no real understanding. Was I really listening to the warnings?
Now I am going to go back to the subject of a seed and how the sequence of the life cycle of a seed represents our past, our present, and our future. There is so much meaning that can be found in any of the stories and lessons of Jesus. Each story can have multiple applications, therefore today the application of the seed as it relates to us is the direction I wish to take. Because scripture is so versatile, for me this is evidence of the power and the authority that scripture holds. I am sure that I could prepare a homily on this same story in three years time and find fresh new meaning in it.
Today what I wish to share with you is the thought that everything that has happened in the past has had an influence on us today. The pandemics of the past, the wars of the past, the hate crimes of the past, all of these are like seeds. These past events influence people, they influence governments, and nations, and like weeds these events can choke out the good that does exist in the present. Resentment, and prejudice, and unfair practices still exist today because of the weeds of the past. However, today in the present, the seeds of goodness, justice, and fair practices also have their influence upon us all today. The seeds of the past have produced a present crop and when these seeds are fully grown and mature there will be new seeds to be planted that will create the future. Our faith must grow were we live and mature despite the dangers and threats that surround us. Jesus is trying to get us to understand that the real consequence of not paying attention to where we have been planted, and how we live where we are planted, are conditions that will have very real consequences in the future.
In todays’ messages, Jacob’s dream revealed his future, and our psalmist speaks from their heart about the challenges which they face and of how they understand that God is real and present in both the good and bad times. Paul’sl messages reveals that he is fairly bursting with excitement in anticipation of his future, and Jesus tells us that if we are really listening we will understand that God will take care of the wicked, we are not to let worry and doubt, hate or anxiety to kill the life in us, otherwise we will be destroyed as well. Jesus encourages us to live holy lives in this present time so that like seeds which have been planted, our deeds will grow and flourish in God’s kingdom set in the here and now, and there will be a bountiful harvest in the future for us and for others in the kingdom of God yet to come . . . . . just like the delicious hodge, a little bit of this which you can do right now, and a little bit of what others can do right now will serve up a sweet and delicious hodge podge to be shared by everyone. Amen.
Gospel of Matthew
24-26 He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
27 “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’
28 “He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’
“The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’
29-30 “He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’”
36 Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”
37-39 So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
40-43 “The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
July 12, 2020
Genesis 25: 19-34 Psalm 65 Romans 8: 1-11 Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
May nothing but God’s truth be spoken here and may nothing but God’s truth be received. Today I share with you my thoughts concerning the times and events in each of our lives when we face disadvantages, impediments, complications, or difficulties that become obstacles for us. Some of the obstacles that people face such as the current Black Lives Matter movement is addressing the difficult obstacle of race. The Me Too Movement has addressed the barriers that sexual harassment has upon women, and the Covid 19 pandemic has forced us as the Church to address the complications of social isolation. These are large issues, but it appears that an obstruction of some sort that creates an obstacle happens frequently in our day to day lives, such as our car needing an unexpected repair, the internet goes down, or an expected delivery does not arrive on time. Obstacles are an unexpected difficulty that we can face that causes us anguish, but sometimes obstacles are not always a failure to achieve, sometimes when we have an obstacle before us that cannot be overcome we eventually come to discover, that in the long run, the obstacle became an asset that helped to establish a healthy perspective, or acted it as an aid toward directing us along another path that was more advantageous for us. Obstacles are not always bad. It is however, from the viewpoint of today’s scripture reading the obstacles faced by our characters in their stories do indeed reflect the negative side of facing an obstacle.
The account of Esau and Jacob identifies two brothers who are so different from one another that it creates a divide. A division between family members is a well known obstacle that we are familiar with. As the story goes, Rebecca has been informed that her unborn twins will be so different in their temperaments that trouble will arise between them, and eventually one twin will rule over the other. This prophetic message was a warning that from one body, be it Rebecca’s physical body, or the land, two nations would arise. From one family with two sons, one hereditary line would become more powerful than the other and this would became an obstacle in the family that was not easily overcome. I am sure we have all know of one child in a family being favored over other and of the difficulties this created, or of sibling rivalries that grew strong and divisive.
The focus of the Esau Jacob story is that the hereditary line of Abraham that flowed through Issac and Rebecca, and then through Jacob would be the family line that would become the recipients of the promise God made to Abraham to make him the father of a great people. Abraham’s people were to obey God and in return God would guide them and protect them and give to them the land of Israel.
As the story is told, one day Esau was too impatient to wait for a meal, he had returned from a hunting trip, not having food to eat when it was right in front of him being prepared by Esau, became an obstacle to his satisfaction. Jacob who was very aware of his brothers personality then tempted Esau with a trade. Jacob offered to give Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright (this was the right to be recognized as the firstborn) and Esau agreed to the trade. A birthright has to do with both position and inheritance. By birthright, the firstborn son inherits the leadership of the family and the judicial authority of his father. Jacob’s order of birth, as the second born son, was for him an obstacle and he had discovered that a simple bowl of stew was to overcome the disadvantage of being born the second son. In making the trade Jacob held the position of authority in his family and he received the inheritance. I appears to me that neither of Issac’s son is an example of of commendable behavior.
The story plainly shows that Esau and Jacob were both self centered in wanting their needs to come first. One foolishly gave something of great value away for something of little worth in comparison so that they would be momentarily gratified. The other was manipulative in how he obtained a position of great value. When you look at it from these two perspectives we have to question what is it in the lesson that speaks of God’s kingdom. The retelling of the event that happened between Esau and Jacob reveals that both of them selfishly thought of their own needs first. The poor attitude, and self centered concerns of each of these twins is not a commendable quality to uphold, this is not a moral story meant to direct us toward doing what is right. This story is meant to convey that even in spite of favoritism, deceitful actions and the greed that was present and extensive in God’s favored family, what is commendable is that God kept his promise, he did not let their sinful attitudes to become the obstacle whereby the line of Abraham would not be blessed by God, because it would be through Abraham’s lineage that Christ would hold authority over God’s people and be the instrument of salvation for their sins, and for our sins. The twins despite of their previous behavior would not become the obstacle to prevent God from keeping his promise, even though a very poor choice had been made by Esau, it would be the family line of Jacob that would reveal the good that was yet come because God kept the promise he had made.
There is yet more to be said on the topic of obstacles in the Book of Romans written by St.Paul. It reflects another kind of barrier that we can face that becomes an obstacle for us. It is the struggle that we have to set our lives straight by buying into the plan that God has set before: to live life on God’s terms. It is God’s desires that we become all that we can be, living a life drenched in love, living a life connected with God, but it is our inclination to lean away from God’ plan toward living a life on our own terms. In doing so we try to follow laws that provide a rule of measurement that judges how close we come to living as God intended, or how far we have fallen away from what is God’s desire for us. Paul delivers the good news message that if we welcome the Spirit of Christ and experience the alive-and present God within us, all hurdles are removed between us and God. There is nothing to keep us from our inheritance if we follow God’s plan.
In closing I will focus on the story of the harvest, as told by Jesus, and of the many of obstacles that can arise in growing our faith. The gospel of Matthew records how Jesus took advantage of a boat to use as a pulpit, and how he easily gathered a crowd. This easy method of reaching others stands out in stark contrast to today and the difficulties and obstacles that we face with Covid 19 in gathering a crowd. People are very wary, as we known, now a days about gathering together. The only pulpit we had early on in the pandemic was the internet, and the internet still remains as the primary way of communicating. The community based social church, ministry activities, and gatherings for worship is for now very much a thing of the past. How do we plant seeds of faith that can produce a harvest and build up the future church if we cannot gather in our traditional ways? This is a huge obstacle; before us is a very high and exceptionally broad obstacle of “lack of communication” that could overwhelm us and greatly damage our community. This is deep and troubling problem, but we also have before us a huge obstacle that can be turned into an advantage and provide opportunities. Like Jesus who used what was at hand as a pulpit to sow seeds of faith, we have before us the internet to se as a pulpit. How we choose to share the stories of Jesus message is up to us, we can try to stick with ways of communication that we have used in the past, but if we do not fully use the potential of the internet it would be casting seeds as told in the harvest story. What is scattered is unlikely to produce.
When Jesus compares hearing the news of the kingdom with that of a farmer who planted the seed on the surface, and because it was not planted deep in the soil the seed could not properly take root, this is like the person who doesn’t fully take in the messages of the good news. Possibly the message doesn’t take hold because we have not found a way to make the story personal to those who are listening, we must make the message personal, and right now it is the internet that becomes the pulpit through the use of Facebook, Zoom, e-mails, You Tube videos, and live streaming that makes it personal.
For some people the seed sown in poor ground is like that of seed sown in gravel, the message will not take hold. Some people become very enthusiastic in their first response to the message, but sometimes their for God becomes sidetracked by an obstacle that consumes their focus, it could be something like inclusion into another group, or an engaging hobby that becomes the next thing they focus on. These people then become distracted and disconnected from what had previously shown such great promise. In this instance it is your and I that must stand in as the pulpit as we “continue to remain” connected with them.
In another instance seeds that are sown in weeds that choke out the growth of the seed, are like people who have become overwhelmed by current worries, or false illusions, who allow these obstacles to dampen and spoil the faith they were seeking. What faith that had begun to take hold and to grow then takes a back seat to their consuming worries. In this instance our concern for their well fair becomes the pulpit whereby we preach the stories of faith. Our concern becomes the pulpit where the personal touch of true concern helps the seeds of faith to grow and bloom.
The seed that is cast on good ground will grow naturally and produce a good crop at harvest time. When the seed lands on good ground ad it is cared for and nurtured, what is harvested is the future. A successful harvest of faith produces a future filled with possibilities, a future that brings meaning to our lives and gives us a purpose. I hope that if any of us find ourselves facing any of the obstacles such as lack of focus, or being overwhelmed by the circumstances of life the we will not allow them to distract us, and put an end to our dreams and plans. I hope what we have learned together this morning, is that patience will reveal how the obstacles presently before us can become a blessing. I hope we have learned that God has a plan for us and his plan for us involves how our faith is cultivated. How we choose to let it grow is up to us. Amen.
Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
A Harvest Story
13 1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.
3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
The Meaning of the Harvest Story
18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”
July 5, 2020
This Sunday morning we have listened to four very good stories. Because of these stories I am going to introduce a word into our vocabulary that is seldom used to define the purpose of holy scripture. The word is mentor, and I hope to provide us with insight into how the word mentor can be applied to scripture. To begin let us define the word mentor as it applies in this homily. A mentor shares with another information that provides guidance, motivation, emotional support, and acts as a role model. A mentor may help with providing future direction, setting goals, developing contacts and identifying resources. Scripture does all of these things, and in my opinion scripture is meant to do all of these things. As we receive the advise of scripture we can in turn decide how to use its and apply feedback to help us modify our lifestyles, and our life values to make improvements.
I believe the the role of scripture adequately fulfills the role of a mentor. As we evaluate the meaning of what is read, we receive it as feedback. Like that of a mentor we can turn to scripture for support and guidance. Scripture has the power to motivate and to inspire and to provide direction. These are the attributes of a good mentor, support, guidance, inspiration, motivation, and direction. Each of today’s readings exhibit one or more of these hallmarks of being a mentor.
The first story that we take a look at is the story of how Issac and Rebecca became husband and wife. Abraham was adamant that his son Issac marry a woman from Abraham’s home country, in doing so Abraham could greatly increase the chance of insuring that Issac’s spouse would be like minded in their approach to life, and their dedication to God. So, who does Issac send to make sure that this happens, he sends a senior servant to carry out the task. As the story unfolds we discover that the servant is a faithful man of God who trusts God to help him in his task. He prays for guidance and receives it. It appears that everything falls neatly into order because of this man’s approach to Abraham’s request. Rebecca responds favorably to the servants response; Rebecca appears to know a good deal when it is presented to her. Rebecca’s family responds favorably as well and they send her off with the servant with their blessing. When Rebecca first catches a glimpse of her future husband Issac, she is intrigued and responds favorably. As the story goes we find that Issac and Rebecca become husband and wife and the closing statement says, “Issac loved her”. A terrific ending to a terrific story in the days of arranged marriages whereby true love was found.
Embedded in this story many truths come to light. Sometimes, like Abraham's servant we are selected to do a job, a job that we feel unprepared for, like Abraham’s servant we should call upon God to seek help through prayer. Like Abraham’s servant our success with any task that is set before us it is dependent upon how well equipped we are, with the tools needed, to achieve the best outcome. When we look at this particular passage in this light we should be inspired to accept the challenges set before us, we should willingly seek guidance through prayer, and expect the support of our community to help in the ways that the community can to ensure success. The community can act as our mentors and we in turn can be a mentor to others as we follow the same direction taken by Abraham’s servant with any future tasks asked of us. In this example scripture has taken on the role of a mentor.
In respect to the reading from the Song of Songs we are encouraged by the verses that we heard this morning. In this story we are listening to a selection of love poetry. This poem is known as the wisdom literature of Solomon. Revealed is a tale of love of both man and woman, both who can hardly wait to be with one another. In this mornings selection the images used to define love portray the intense desire each one has for the other. If we sum up the entirety of the eight chapters of the Song of Solomon what is shared with us is the experience that love is stronger than death in the passion that is released between two people. Love is essentially described as a divine flame that cannot be extinguished, or swept away. The human longing to be known and to be loved by another is one of the most transcendent experiences in human life. Scripture provides us with the advise that the love shared between men and women, and the love between us and God should be intense. Love can kill and destroy, or it can flourish and give life. This is the wise counsel and guidance of a mentor that will inspire us to seek this kind of love, and to find it, like that of the two lovers described in the book of the Song of Songs.
The message from Romans represents the emotional anguish of the human condition as we seek to do good, and to do what is right. More often then not we find that our good intentions have gone astray. I think all of us can identify with the quandary of having our good intentions sabotaged by our overriding primary compulsion to seek our needs first, and many times this means that the good that we intended does not get done. In this example the scripture passage acts as our mentor because the written word describes how we all have been in this exact situation many times before and of how we are all in the need of help. The question is asked, “Where does my help come from?”, it comes from God. I find this message to be inspiring because I am receiving guidance toward where I know help can be found. I find it motivating because I am given an answer to the quandary that that has been described, I am shown a direction to take, and the direction that I am to take is to call upon God. Just like the senior servant did in Genesis when he was given a task that required divine assistance, he reached out in faith.
It is in the closing lines of the gospel story that scripture acting as my mentor has provided me with the best advise of all. Jesus tells his followers, and I count myself as being one of them, that if I am tired, or worn out, I am to go to him. Jesus is well known for being the helper and restorer of those who are oppressed, or poor. He may not be as well known as the one who can restore and help those who are weary and tired from the circumstances of life. We are encouraged by Jesus to walk with him. As a good mentor Jesus does not ask us to keep pace with him, but rather that he will keep pace with us, and in doing so he sets the example. This is how the best, of the best mentors will council and guide others. He is asking us to learn to live in the ease of his grace. In other words, walk with me and I will show you how to walk humbly among others and how to see all others as equals, to transcend and blend and to be infused with the qualities of God’s grace. We will become infused with his grace and we will be able to share this grace with others. Jesus advises us to keep company with him and we will learn to live life freely, and lightly. I find this instruction to let my tired and weary self to rest in him to be inspiring, motivating, full of guidance in what direction to take. Once again the attributes of a mentor come forward from the written word.
In regard to the influence that these messages have upon us today they should inspire us to become mentors for others as individual situations arise. In the lives of those who participate as members of the parish I believe each person seeks out to find a purpose to fulfill, and they are keen to have a task that provides a purpose for them, to actively become involved in the life and work of the Church. In finding and discovering a purpose for each person in our parish this task becomes a hurtle for us to overcome. Having a task to do, or a role to fulfill is recognized as being one of the important aspects of retaining members. Unfortunately it is a common experience related to churches that members will often hold a position in the church for a long time, thus not leaving much room for new members to discover, and to experience a purpose that is fulfilling and rewarding Sometimes this occurs because there is a lack of people to fill the role, or a lack of people fit for the job, but sometimes we also fail to recognize that there are those who are standing in the shadows waiting to be called upon who are seeking a purpose. Each and every one of us can be mentors in situations like this as we take on the role of instructing others, guiding others, inspiring and motivating others as we find ways to share the tasks that provide us with a purpose. It’s not an easy task to take on, but I am asking you to take on the role of being a mentor to others. Like Abraham tasked his senior servant with an assignment I likewise ask you to become mentors. I encourage you to pray for how your purpose can be shared with another member, and if you need tools to carry out this task to ask myself, or a member of parish council if we can help to provide what you need to be a mentor. Let us enter into being mentored by the scripture and work toward being mentors for others. Amen.
June 28, 2020
Jeremiah 28: 2-9 Psalm 89: 1-4. 15-18 Romans 6: 12-23 Matthew 10: 40-42
This Sunday I came awfully close to substituting a homily prepared by myself for a reflection written by another person. It was all too tempting because the writer of the other homily had presented a point of view that was very much in step with about how I felt on the topic and I also knew that they had presented the topic much better than what I could do. In the end I decided to stay true to the decision that I had made three years ago that I would not allow this passage to be part of the central message of the homily for the day. I decided instead to substitute Genesis 22: 1-14 for Jeremiah 28: 5-9. What Genesis 22: 1-14 has to say to us today remains true but find the details of the message to be harsh and the story can be damaging to those who have been abused mentally and physically.
In my opinion, in today’s world, this passage is not a strong contender for drawing people to Christ, it can often set up a wall of confusion that is difficult to explain. It is a story that at one time in history provided clarity for those who lived in a time in history that better understood how cruelty and absolute submission equated to God’s compassion and love. I know there are those who will disagree with me concerning my analysis, but from my perspective today’s message is hard to conceive of in a postmodern setting. I am being deliberately vague about Genesis 22: 1-14 because I believe that if you take the time to read it, I think what I have said is all that needs to be said.
I chose instead to reflect mainly upon the alternate passages given for today and when I began to review Jeremiah 28: 5-9 I discovered there is a strong warning concerning the preacher who preaches, “that everything is fine”, and there is nothing to be troubled about. Of course, this places me in the centre of my own dilemma and my decision to not include the passage from Genesis. I don’t believe that I can be accused of preaching sunshine and lollipops, but I do like to include the positive side in any message that I give, therefore I asked myself if I was in danger of Jeremiah’s accusation because I had deliberately set aside the difficult story of Genesis 22: 1-14. This question did cause me to think, and I answered my own question with the answer that the stories which I choose to preach upon, the stories that I believe motive people into action, are not messages about upholding abuse and mental cruelty upon the innocent. In the end I found that the story I wished to avoid had taken is its place in the homily as a central passage in today’s message and had taken the centre stage position. I fail to see how faithfulness to God that places another in a vulnerable situation of physical harm and death can act to motivate us. The Genesis story relates to how God will sometime in the future lay upon his own Son the responsibility of atoning for our sins. It is a story of how Isaac, as the innocent victim represents Jesus and of how Jesus will eventually become the innocent lamb slain for us, and in the end the central point of Genesis 22: 1- 14 has been made, even though I successfully avoided reading the story.
I much prefer messages of love, fidelity, and faithfulness like that found in today’s Psalm. In today’s world this kind of message inspires others and will motivate them to act. This is exactly the focus of the gospel lesson from Matthew that is appointed for today. It points out that a life spent helping others, is a life worth living. A life of giving is evidence of a full and complete life. A life of giving is equated with a life of intimacy between us and Christ that becomes even better by sharing with others. We learn that in giving to others, we in turn receive, and in receiving one gives. It is away of forming relationships which create intimacy. In this passage Matthew makes the specific point that a life of giving is rewarding, but it is also a demanding life. He advises that if we take on a lifestyle of giving it is best to begin with small acts of generosity and to build up your giving to others by starting with small acts of kindness.
The message for today from Romans also speaks of giving, but not the kind of giving that is extended to others, but the kind of giving that suggests that we are giving into sin, giving into the temptations of serving ones self. In the Book of Romans Paul warns us that a life of putting ourselves first before others is not an expression of freedom, but rather it becomes a life that eventually leads to hollowness and an unfulfilled feeling. For example, what we seek to be fulfilled with by achieving status, or in the material possessions that we own will eventually become hollow, and we become imprisoned by them. What I especially appreciate about Paul’s message is the way that Paul explains that we can find reasons to justify what we know to be essentially wrong to achieve things like status, or a comfy income, but eventually they leave us feeling like we have nothing.
Paul encourages us not to fall into this trap and not to allow this way of justifying our actions to bleed into our day to day life. I find myself in agreement with what he says, and I think of the many joys I have experienced in my life that came from giving to others, and not from achieving. It is definitely a fine moment of joy and excitement when I have succeeded at something that enriches me, but I recognize in these moment of achievements they will often pale in comparison to the amount of satisfaction and happiness I often experience when I have selflessly given something of value to another person. The satisfaction that I receive of bringing happiness to another person brings a sense of fullness and wholeness that can be achieved in no other way. I like this kind of message, this is the kind of message that inspires me, and I hope it inspires you as well. The story of Genesis 12: 1-14 does have much to teach us that we should not avoid, but its position as one of the key text of a Sunday worship should possibly be reconsidered by those who select the readings for each Sunday as better suited for bible studies and mid week services. Amen.
Matthew 10: 40-42
40-42 “We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I have called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”
June 21, 2020
Isaiah 40: 25-31 Psalm 19 Philippians 4: 4-9 John 1: 1-18
Today is defiantly a momentous day. To begin, it is Father’s Day, so Happy Father’s Day to all dads, and grandads, special uncles, mentors, and guardians. This is your day to be appreciated and pampered. Today we also celebrate our first worship at St. Luke’s since March 12, and we are greatly encouraged by the recent lifting of restrictions that will allow us to now gather in groups of 50 when we practice social distancing. Thirdly, today is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. Three amazing aspects of God represented today. God as parent, God as community, and God as “other" than what we image.
This morning I wish to examine the aspect of other. The recent change in attitude toward minorities of colour that is circling our globe has been for many people a breath of fresh air, for others it is a gust of wind that needs attention paid to it, and for the majority of people it is a wind storm that has been brewing for far too long and it does depend on which side of privilege, or what side of injustice that you are on, how strong the wind is blowing. I have little knowledge to impart that could be considered as insightful on this topic. There are however two life lessons that I have learned that I can share. One is the perspective that I can never understand the difficulties and challenges faced by others of colour. I can become an observer and I can approach the challenges they experience with an open mind, but I will never have a complete understanding of how prejudice and bias against persons of colour has affected them. The second perspective, that I do understand is that I live a life of privilege and as I said last week, attitudes of privilege have exacted a heavy price upon others by others.
Today is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer, and because of the current climate real change appears to be taking hold, I do so hope and pray that this is the case. Keeping in mind the two perspectives I have shared with you, 1.) That I will never completely and fully understand the situation of minority groups of races, and 2.) That I experience privileges that I am not even aware of, this past week I asked a direct question to two local residents with who are in the minority, one being of indigenous heritage and the other of black descent. I asked them if they would like to see the local area support a Bend the Knee event, and I also mentioned this coming Sunday’s focus of the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. They both said they were not opposed to the ideas, but they both heavily stressed that they would much rather not have special attention paid to one day, out of the 365 days of each year, whereby the majority conveys to a minority of race, the message, “We like you.” I understood what they were saying, one day of being ‘nice” does not turn the tide of systematic racism, it takes every day of the year to turn the tide. For myself, I have always viewed special recognition days as an opportunity for me to educate myself further, for them it appears to be a one-day event of niceness. Because of our conversation they helped me to see that National Indigenous Day of Prayer, or Black History Month is not a “special” day, or month of equality, a time whereby we embrace indigenous culture and practice some of the aspects of the indigenous peoples to draw us closer together. Today I have come to understand is a moment for me to appreciate the wholeness of God represented in the identity of other.
Recently I received a lot of sincere feedback about the statement that is now commonly read at public events. This statement has also been adopted by our diocese as a statement of reconciliation. It goes something like this. “Today we acknowledge that we gather here on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq”. I have experienced the tension that these fourteen words could create at the very moment they are spoken. Just like the statement, Black Lives Matter, these two pronouncements often create immediate vocal feedback, passionately expressed from those who are not in the minority. I am left with the impression that what is said as a statement as “otherness”, that they are left with an impression that they do not matter. Because of the statement that is made by others. This appears to me to be hubris (in other words a funny statement, that is based in pride) made by persons who have lived privileged lives about those who have not. The expression, “the shoe is now on the other foot” seems appropriate. Those who do not experience much bias in their lives get a taste of it and they don’t like it. I myself when I first heard this statement many years ago could be placed in this category, but thanks be to God, God has listened to my prayers that I may have an open heart and an open mind to listening and learning. For myself, the statement of us meeting on unceded territory is nothing more than saying we are standing on the same land together as brothers and sisters. Possibly this is a too simplistic interpretation, but this is how I understand “the other” in this situation.
Today’s scripture readings are wonderful examples of how language is used to convey impressions of God and of the Great Spirit. I choose to believe that they are one and the same. The passages of scripture that speak of the night sky and the native perspective of morning star, of honouring the four directions and of a Creator of all “that we can see or imagine” are two perspectives that each can easily share with the other that speaks of the One.
There is so much in both cultures that should draw us closer to together than what could possibly push us away from each other. As I said before, “I have very little knowledge to impart that could be considered as insightful on this topic”. What I do have are viewpoints of understanding that I have gained over the years of trying to be aware of who I am, and what my place in the world is to be. In John’s gospel the point is made that Christ, the Life Light of the world came to all of us. For everyone who wants him and believes in him will become their true selves, each of us enters into becoming a child-of-God as we choose to believe in Jesus and in what Jesus taught us about our self and others. We become a community of believers and all of us become one, not others who are separate from one another, but one together. Let us follow the advice of St. Paul and in togetherness let us be noble in our actions, authentic to our cultures, gracious to one another. and put into practice the good qualities that we have learned from one another. Above all let us be united through Christ, through God, through the Great Spirit they are all One - in - the same.
Amen.
June 14
GENESIS 18: 1-15 PSALM 116: 1, 10-17 ROMANS 5: 1-8 MATTHEW 9: 35- 18: 8
“May nothing but God’s truth be shared with you and may nothing but God’s truth be received”. Amen.
From 1992-2003 I worked for the Annapolis District Board of Trade and developed my position of Supervisor for their Tourist Information Centre to that of holding the position of Executive Director. I thoroughly enjoyed my work and look back on those years as the training ground for years of academic studies that were ahead for me. I worked for fabulous people and they supported me in the many endeavors and tasks that I coordinated for them. I mention this season of time in my life because of a specific memory that I have of being a member of a team of travel counselors. The Information Centre was located in the Annapolis Tidal Generation Station and we were responsible for the tidal power exhibit located upstairs at the site. There is a fabulous view of the Annapolis River from that vantage point and I recall looking out the west window at this view. I must have been reflecting upon my life and my faith at that time and I recall thinking that I just wanted to give back to God because I felt so blessed. My life story is no different from many other people, I’ve had times of great sorrow and trauma, but I’ve also have had incredible experiences and know what it means to be blessed. Little did I know then two years later I would be knee deep into my first year of university studies through Thorneloe Theological College. It was the initial stage of my giving back, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Trials and difficulties have occurred since that time, and there have also been incredible blessings, but the relationship that I have with Christ continues to compel me to want to give back.
The story of Abraham and Sarah and Psalm 116 are testimonies of the relationship that can exist between us and God. These two stories high light God’s ability to listen and God’s ability to bless. The gospel story written in Matthew also heightens our understanding of how God listens and then answers prayer requests. Last week I mentioned in my homily my appreciation for the Season of Pentecost and the lessons appointed for each Sunday. As I said, “I find these messages to be simple and straight forward in what they project.” Today the message is this, our relationship with God is close, so close that we do not have to utter words for God to know our thoughts. Sarah kept her thoughts to herself, but God knew what Sarah was thinking without speaking. It is the same for us, our relationship is so close with God that God knows what we are thinking. The message that comes through is clear and straight forward, respect God and respect what God can do.
The psalmist also shares with us their faith story of being faithful to God and the closeness they feel with God. The relationship they share is intact despite the “ton of bad luck’ that the psalmist has experienced, and the people who have lied to him, and those who have cheated him. The psalmist did not blame God for hard times, or unload fault on to God. Instead he says, “What can I give back to God?” The psalmist answered his own question by stating he would complete for God what he had promised God that he would do, and that he would do this in the company of God’s people.
These two messages of relationship and duty become crystallized in the gospel message. It is recorded that Jesus is with his followers, the men who had built a relationship with Christ by faithfully him through times of tension and triumph. In their day to day lives Jesus was teaching them by example the skills they would need to become the teachers of the truth that would reveal God’s kingdom, and of how God’s kingdom worked here on earth and of the kingdom yet to come. He showed them the power of healing both body and the mind. Jesus felt such compassion for those he loved and he knew them so well that he knew what they were thinking and of what they were most in need of. He wanted his disciples to shepherd God’s people, and he therefore commanded them to pray for this to happen. Matthew then records their names so that we will remember them as being followers and shepherds. In reading the list of names several question come to mind, “Have our names been added to this list of faithful followers”? Do we recognize our own close relationship that we have with God through our relationship with Christ? Have we responded with hearts that yearn “to give back”?
Our message from the gospel closes with this advise, that we need not look any further than our own neighborhood to give back to God, and that we do not need to be charismatic people to have an influence upon others. This is good advise and I wholeheartedly support it and encourage us to remember this as we all give back. The message is clear, stay in close relationship with God and allow our faith to become part of the message as we connect with those who have no faith in God, nor a relationship with God. Like the years that I unknowingly spent with the Board of Trade being shaped into the person that I am today, our years of faithfully following Christ have been times of learning and practice and being shaped into the people that we are today. Over the years we have been growing in confidence and building up skills that have equipped us to be shepherds.. We have messages of hope to share and willing hands to bring healing where we can. Let us give back for all the blessings we have known, and for all of the blessings yet to come even in these trying times. Let us with thankful hearts give back. Amen.
Matthew 9:35-10: 8
35-38 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
The Twelve Harvest Hands
10 1-4 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent:
Simon (they called him Peter, or “Rock”),
Andrew, his brother,
James, Zebedee’s son,
John, his brother,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).
5-8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
June 7, 2020
Genesis 1: Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Matthew 28: 16-20
There are times when we find ourselves lost for words, for example in most conversations about every fifteen minutes there is a natural lull before a new conversation picks up again, for this brief moment we are lost for words and we don’t know what to say next. How we communicate to one another and the words that we use to communicate are powerful. The wrong words can begin a disagreement, or the choice of the right words can motivate others. Whether the words that are spoken push forward a conversation, or halt a conversation, something new has been created when we choose to speak. The power of the spoken word to create something new is evident in a marriage ceremony. We like to think that the presence of an officiant, whether it is a priest, or a justice of the peace, is how a couple becomes married to one another. We also place a lot of trust and authority into a piece of paper called the marriage license. Both the officiant and the marriage license are extremely important for they act as witnesses to the event. It is however, in my opinion, and what I covered in my graduate paper, the spoken word that creates the marriage. Something new is created when a couple exchange vows, that did not exist before, but after the words are spoken a new union has been created that had not existed until the words were shared between the two. The power of the spoken word is central to what I wish to share today.
The opening chapter of Genesis goes into detail to provide an explanation of how the world was created and how it was ordered. The spoken word was a pivotal part of creation. Each time God created something new he spoke them into existence. I cannot explain how this happened, nor am I terribly worried about how it might of happened, what interests me is the acknowledgement that something greater than ourselves is involved and something greater than what we can understand spoke creation into being. We call this mystery God. It delights me to read how the world was created in its order. The first thing talked about is water and how light, and then the land, and then everything else came into being after God spoke it into being. Everything following its natural order. I particularly delight in the concept that the oceans were first filled with creatures before the land became populated with living mammals, reptiles, and insects. It keeps us in sync with the scientific thesis of evolution, that we evolved after we first “crawled out of the water”. I do not say this in jest, rather I say it as an observation that ancient civilizations, in their best attempt to relay to us how they interpreted the world to be created by God, had pretty much got it scientifically right. As recorded in the book of Genesis the order of how God created the world is pretty much how it would have had to happen. And it was spoken into begin. Fascinating!
What is more, in verses 26-28 it is revealed that God is sharing his creation with someone else, for it says, “let us make human beings in our image . . .”. Apparently, God is not alone in the creation process. Too often many of us get caught up in the physical likeness of how we were created as an image of God, male and female. Do you not think that we were also created to reflect God’s nature? Are we not also to possess the same features of character and personality that God possesses? We have been created to be more than flesh and bones, we are to have elements of spirit and essence of soul. We must possess these traits because if we were just made up of arms and legs and basic animal instincts, we could not be effective stewards and be care takers of God’s world as God intended.
We certainly have messed up and fallen far from the potential we possess. In fact, if we had been hired to do this job, we would have been fired long ago for negligence. I do believe embedded into our failure is the concept of privilege. We have mistaken stewardship for ownership. Where did this ridicules idea of privilege come from? Our human concept that the world is ours and we can do what we want with it is evidence that we have fallen far from the original intent of creation as told in Genesis. God has commissioned us to be responsible and to care for the world, not to own it, or to rule over it. Psalm 8 speaks of the wonderful splendor of God’s created world; how majestic God is and how he placed responsibility for it into our hands. Possibly this idea of privilege comes from the Bible translations that are used, and our view of ourselves as privileged. We should instead have an attitude of humble gratitude. Our assumed control over everything does not only reside in the environment, but the current racial divide caused by attitudes of white privilege have also exacted a heavy price and it is time that this end. To end racial prejudice, we can begin with the use of the spoken word. When we are bold enough to speak out against injustice and systematic racism, change will begin to happen. To be silent about what we know to be wrong is the same as being an active racist, in saying nothing we are allowing what bigots say to stand as the truth. In being silent we become an accessory to the crime, but when we speak up against wrong this attitude is being challenged and something new is created in ourselves that was not present before when we speak up. Something new takes hold.
I have shared with you what I consider to be the bad news in what is really meant to be a good news message. When I first read the reading from Genesis for the first time this past week, I actually felt like a new beginning was being offered to us. Last Sunday’s readings focused on the release of the Holy Spirit. Last week we also received the go ahead from the province to increase the number of people who can gather from 5 to 10 When Dr. Strang spoke and gave provincial consent for worship with up to 10 people, he created something new. The words that he spoke changed us form a people of isolation and separation back to a community of togetherness and oneness. This feels to me like a new beginning. I am conscious of how much we had to adjust to in the past three months and of how further adjustments are necessary if we are to gather safely together once again. If we are conscious of the changes, we must make we can address these changes as an opportunity to call upon the Holy Spirit to help us create the best outcome possible.
In going from a lifestyle of isolation to a more open lifestyle we must continue to be cautious, but we must also continue to exercise our faith and not let it become confined. The message from 2 Corinthians is a brief passage packed with good advice on how to do this. The Apostle Paul encourages us to be cheerful, to keep things in good repair, to keep our spirits up and to be in harmony with each other. This is particularly good advice at any time, but especially now with the current isolation restrictions placed upon us. I am thankful that we have now entered the season of Pentecost for I find the Pentecost season a time of rejuvenation and new possibilities. If I was in possession of any artistic talent, I could paint a picture, or compose a piece of music that would reflect these qualities that Paul wrote of, and I would title it Pentecost Season. Of all the church seasons that we celebrate it is the season of Pentecost that is my favorite. To me it is a season of simple straight forward messages, filled with hope and brimming with solutions. During this time of the year I feel like I can take a deep breath and relax, lean back, slow down and let God’s presence to fill each day. Pentecost season is a spiritually restful time. I speak these words to you of rest and hope in the desire that you will take advantage of this time to create something new in you. Read good books, study scripture, prepare fine food, enjoy the comfort of summer days and the display of sunsets, sip a fine wine, mediate, and pray, be changed in good ways.
If you have not been changed because of the restrictions placed on us, I know that I have been changed and what I’ve experienced will likely influence me in how I approach ministry as we begin to reopen. The Gospel of Matthew mentions that some of Jesus disciples were hesitant and unsure about worship. Jesus did not allow their uncertainty to unsettle him. He spoke to them and endorsed them to do the work he had called them to do. They are to baptize and to teach, to lead God’s people into new ways and new life. To speak into existence something that did not exist before and to enact the power of the Holy Spirit. He proclaimed these things in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. May God bless us in our time of rest. May God bless what it is we create, and may God bless us as we hesitantly go forward in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May 31. 2020
How wonderful today is, as it is the day of Pentecost! On this day we celebrate the release of the Holy Spirit and the movement of the Holy Spirit among us, just as Jesus had promised. How exciting it must have been for the early church! Today I can hardily contain my excitement. I am excited that today is Pentecost Sunday, and I am excited because I feel a shift in movement. Our world has moved a bit with the good news announcement that we can now socially distance in gatherings of ten, and that we can worship again. My attitude has shifted from a mindset of restrictions to that of possibilities. It seems appropriate that this shift occurred just before Pentecost Sunday, as the Holy Spirit was released so was the church released to offer God’s grace and to share God’s love with others. With the ban on worship being lifted we become the firsthand witnesses of how movement can influence us as we go from what was before to what is happening now. Excitement is in the air!
There has been another shift in movement this past week which is not exciting. Once more thousands of protesters have demonstrated demanding justice for George Floyd a black man who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck. The consequences of years of white privilege clashing up against the years of black oppression have not eased, but the movement for justice has once more gained momentum and has taken on an ugly hue, spilling out as rioting and looting has taken over as the frustration mounts. The tyranny of hate and prejudice resides here in Canada as well and we cannot say we are immune from its influences upon us. It is unfortunate, but we always appear to be trying to maintain a balance between two divides.
I have come to appreciate that almost everything that we encounter in our day to day lives will generally fall on one side of a debate. Usually people are either for, or against a particulate action, each side seeking movement from the other side to understand their point of view. The discussions over when to reopen Nova Scotia for worship, or the debates that happen over differing racial points of view are but two examples of differing points of view. It always seems incredible that each side is often convinced that their response is the correct response and they are justified in their response.
There is an obvious example of these two kinds of movement in the first lesson of this morning, one is a lesson of success and another of failure in the telling of the story of Moses and the seventy leaders. There is a divide between the people, one has a good outcome and the other is a disaster. At the beginning of the story God places upon the seventy chosen leaders the Holy Spirit, just as it had been given unto Moses. This group of seventy men becomes and active body of God’s people who seek unity among the people. The story ends when the leaders return to the camp and a wind is set into motion by God and this wind will sweep quail in from the sea, so many quail that the people grew sick of them even though they had cried out to God because they craved meat and not the manna given to them by God. This story reveals there is a divide amongst the people and there are two movements building, one that seeks to follow God and the other is a movement to serve themselves. Stories such as these reveal opposing views. There are those who follow God and they will do what God wills them to do and they will be happy in the relationship between themselves and God. Then there are those who seek to go their own way, the are unsatisfied with the way things are and dissatisfied with God, they have other ideas other than the ways of God. The movement of the people away from God eventually brought them unhappiness.
The psalm this morning illustrates happiness to be gained when we, and all of creation are the receivers of God’s abundance. There is a warning contained in this message of God’s abundance, and it is, that if God removes the Spirit, we will be worse off, in fact it says that we will die. This message backs up the evidence of the previous account that if we become absorbed in yourself, and we grumble and complain and are unthankful for what we receive we are responsible for our own destruction.
In the letter to the Corinthians Paul takes the time to explain to his readers about the spiritual gifts of abundance that God bestows upon those who become leaders among God’s people. Proportioned to each person will be a gift that is to be shared with others. Each gift is separate from the others given to individual, but each gift is to be shared and in this way everyone benefits. Something like the current N. S. pandemic slogan, “Separate yet together”. It is the Spirit that determines who receives what gift and when they will receive the gift. This proportioning of spiritual gifts creates a united front, there is no divide, there is but one movement, the Jesus Movement.
On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit arrived, a movement was created, today we would call it the Jesus Movement. God’s people become a body of united people, it was not a divided body, it acted as a whole. Paul explained further that like a body, no matter how many parts a body has, the body is one body. There is no divide, everyone is like minded with one purpose, to live full lives integrated and complete. He likens it to that of a fountain, that when we drink from a fountain we are refreshed and sustained, and the body is revived. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink”. He was saying this regarding the Spirit, those who believed in him would receive the Spirit and be revived. They would be of one mind, one body, and one faith, one in hope. A new movement of God amongst his people spilled out on the Day if Pentecost, spirited on by the Spirit. A shift had occurred, and excitement was in the air. May we carry the excitement of this very day and the excitement of our churches reopening for worship and become part of a renewed movement of God’s grace to be showered upon all and may it become the standard that we are known by. Amen
John 7: 37-39
37-39 On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (He said this regarding the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)
May 24, 2020
Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 93 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53
Long ago in my youth I remember someone speaking about the basic rules of reporting the news known as the 5 W’s. In order to write a good news story a journalist needs to know who is in the story, what the story is about, where did the event happen, when did it happen, and last but not least, why did it happen? You can add to the 5 W’s the letter H which stands for how did it happen. Our current N. S. news items are hitting all the W5H points as newscasts try to report the facts of the recent tragedies. After all the questions have been asked the facts of the stories can then be checked by anyone who takes an interest in knowing the truth. There are other methods of record keeping that go beyond the skills of a journalist that help keep us informed such as photos, videos, diaries, fashion trends, and popular music to name a few. Each genre will cast a different light upon a subject that reveals the truth after the 5W’s, and the H as used to probe the subject. Take fashion as an example, the style of dress for women between the 1900’s to 2000’s is a record of the women’s movement all over the world. Knowing the who, what, when, where, why, and how of events reveal fascinating details of importance.
A record of events is a useful tool to use in discerning the truth of a matter. Written records can reveal interesting facets about our society, our organizations, our governments, and also how the body of the Church has functioned. I suspect historians will have ample evidence of how the Church reacted in this strange time of COVID 19 and much will be revealed about us in regard to how we face the challenges before us and how we coped into the present day. Keeping the written record of certain details can help with financial investments decisions, point government toward what direction to take, and help educators to plan curriculums. During this time of COVID 19 our financial institutions, governments, and educators are using investigative questions to interpret:
Who is being affected
What is happening in their sectors
Where is it happening most often, or not happening at all
When does their response become a question of timing
Why it is important to not ignore current trends
How can they as an institution best address the problems that arise, or how to celebrate the successes that are happening.
Recently, I and other members of the parish have been asked by the diocese to record numerous details about how we are functioning during this time of crisis. The answers that we are asked to supply to their questions seem rather frivolous, but not so much when we place them in the context of the 5WH what we can learn.
Thank goodness we have a record of what happened between Jesus and his disciples in their final encounter and from the written record we can discern the truth of the story and this will help guide us in discovering who we are, what we are suppose to do, where we are to go, when we are to do it, and how to do it. In this mornings scripture we have a written record of the final moments spent by Jesus with his followers before he left his kingdom here on earth to ascend upward to the heavenly kingdom of God.
I have two points from the accounts written in the Book of Acts and the Gospel Luke from today’s message that I wish to review. One point is about the author of the story and the other is about the story itself. It is often found in the case of scripture that the questions of who wrote the story and why they wrote the story is as important as the story itself when trying to discern the truth. In Acts 1: 1-11 the questions of WHO wrote the story and WHY the story was recorded reveal significant details. The writer is Luke, a close companion of the apostle Paul, who writes to Theophilus an unbeliever. WHAT Luke is doing in writing the letter is the work of an evangelist, he writes to Theophilus to present to him an account of what he knows about the claims made about Christ so that Theophilus can have a clear understanding of all that he needs to know about Jesus to make an informed decision. Without going into a lot more explanation about the investigative tools used by scholars, the account of Jesus ascension is backed up by many more written accounts of the same event that tend to prove that what was written is the truth, not a made up story. Basically, because of these investigative tools Luke’s credentials as a reliable source are to be believed.
The second review is of the two stories as they are told:
#1 The question of who.
Before Jesus leaves for good he verifies his credentials to his followers. He states, everything written about him in the Law of Moses and the Prophets has been fulfilled, therefore he presents reliable evidence that can be compared to him and his ministry, and can be verified as truth by others, such as the details about his birth and of how he died. The proof of what he says establishes the question of Who he is, he is the Messiah, the Son of God.
#2. The question of what.
The record of the story reveals the truth around the question of what it is that Jesus did. The answer to what becomes revealed as the explanation gently unfolds like that of a cloth that has been rolled up and tucked into each role of the cloth is the evidence of the truth. In revealing the truth of his identity Jesus confirms his role as the Messiah. Next, he reveals the evidence of how he suffered and died and was resurrected. Next to be unrolled in this explanation of what happened is that the find out that through Jesus act of sacrifice the sins of humanity and our wrongdoings are forgiven once and for all. Metaphorically, as the cloth is completely unrolled the explanations reveal what Jesus accomplished for us, and the end of his life and his story we discover that we are offered a new beginning, the greatest “do over” of all time! This is what the story is about.
#3 The question of where.
Where does this event occur? The answer Jesus says is in Jerusalem. It begins there and then spreads out into all the nations of the world. The evidence of the truth in his statement is before us today. In the last 100 years, the number of Christians in the world has quadrupled from about 600 million in 1910 to well past 2 billion presently. Today, Christianity remains the world's largest religious group.
#4 The question of when.
The when of this story does not seem to be as important as the other facts because the time frame of Jesus ascension was in the first century, a long time ago. But when we ask the question of when the event occurred from another perspective, we recognize that Jesus ascension happened as the last act of his ministry. In his last moments he was not concerned about goodbyes and hugs and well wishing. He continued as he had done all along. In his final hours he continued to teach, he continued to share time in fellowship with them, he revealed a future revelation of what was to come, and he blessed them. When on his final day he continued with his ministry he reveals to us the length of our ministries, our ministries are to be like his, all the days of our life.
#5 The question of why?
The story of Jesus ascension and the account of the letter written to Theophilus were recorded because story telling was the major mode of communication to the masses at that time. Storytelling was one of the few ways of revealing truths. The story of Jesus ascension became a written record because the followers of Jesus wanted to keep the story accurate and safe from being tampered with. In this way the story of this event, as a written account, could easily travel further and reach more people than by the storytelling of one person.
#6 The question of how.
The how of the story of Jesus ascension remains as much a mystery today as it was then. Our scientific mind wants an explanation about the ascension which science cannot provide. Because science cannot provide us with the answer of how, for some people this reduces the record of this account to that of a myth, or a tale of folklore. For others, the evidence revealed by the use of the 5WH method should lead us to say, “Because I don’t understand today how the ascension happened, it does not mean that I won’t understand it tomorrow”. To this point, in former periods of history we did not understand that the earth revolved around the sun, until the proper questions were asked and the answers were discovered, nor was the evidence of how an illness (a virus) can be transmitted from one person to another was only discovered by asking the questions too investigation that we now know how this happens. This should be cause enough for all us to think that the mystery of the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit do not need to be proved for them to have relevance in our lives. I am confident the passage of time will reveal this answer. For now, the evidence of the truth found in the question of how, is in how the world and the lives of billions of people have been made whole because of faith in Christ and the answers to the questions of why. Let us not get caught up in doubts, but rather be investigative in the questions we ask about our faith and be caught up in in promises of hope offered in Christ, as revealed in the recorded story.
Amen.
You are the Witnesses
44 Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”
45-49 He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is especially important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”
50-51 He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands, he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.
52-53 And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.
May 17, 2020
Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66: 7-20 1Peter 3: 13-22 John 14: 15-21
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is a well known 1960’s rhythm and blues song which began to play in my head earlier this week. I apologize for not knowing the music artists of today, such as Adele and Drake, and knowing something about their music, but I am a woman from another era and I speak about what it is that I am familiar with. Aretha Franklin’s version of the song “Respect” is the version that I am familiar with and today I wish to focus on an attitude of respect. When Aretha sings this song, she is referring to her boyfriend and telling him whatever it is that he want’s she has it to give. Whatever he needs, she’s got it, and she says, “All I'm askin’, is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)”. I enjoy turning the lyrics of popular songs around by replacing the intent of the original artist’s words with what it is that I understand about God. My theology, or what I understand about God and how I relate to God is different from the intent of the words used by the original artist. When Aretha sings, “All I’m askin”, is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)”, I relate these words to the love and care that God has for us like that of the atmosphere that we find in a loving home, and as it appears to me, the majority of people give no serious thought of their relationship between themselves and God. In the words of the song I hear God asking for a little bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I do believe the issue of respect is heavily embedded into the first lesson for today. The Book of Acts is a record of an account of Paul explaining to the group gathered at the Areopagus that they are offering their respect to images carved out of stone. Paul tells them about the God of his belief. The one true God who created the world and mankind. He passionately speaks of how God created us to be flesh and bone, he he bestowed upon us heart and soul, and of how God is always near and always present. He speaks of how the God that they worship is made by them out of a carved and chiseled stone. The God of Paul’s faith is always near and present and that mysteriously WE LIVE, and WE MOVE IN HIM! The God of Paul’s faith is not removed and far away like their Gods. Paul tells them the relationship that we have with God is a lifelong relationship and the sooner that this relationship between us and God begins the better it will be for us. He ends with telling them that if they were not aware of these facts God will overlook their lack of understanding, but as soon as they know better, the difference between that of worshipping a God of stone and a God that abides with us, they are expected to change. If they do not change, they are basically disrespecting the God of all time and the God all things. The idea that all of us have a time and a season in each of our lives to gain a healthy respect for God is backed up by what is written in Psalm 66. It appears that during our lifespan there will be times of training, and times of refinement, and a time for the lessons of life to sink in. During these times of hardship, we learn that God is always near and that God provides. If you feel that the COVID pandemic is pushing us to our very limits and that we are being road tested on the highway toward hell, then you are not alone. The psalmist encourages us that even though we may not feel like we have the support of God or feel confident in God’s love and protection during these difficult times we most assuredly do. During our lifetime we gain an understanding that God has all that
we need and knows the truth of what we deeply want. The confidence that we place in God becomes a show of respect that builds in strength and intensity over time. There are other elements in this mornings message from 1 Peter that high-light the elements of respect. It is easily recognizable to view God firmly positioned in the world of the ancient Romans and in today’s post-modern world. If we suffer for doing good Paul tells us we are still better off because we have gained understanding and we have gained wisdom. In acknowledging, whether privately or publicly, that both our heart and our attention are focused on our relationship with God we show our respect for the relationship that Christ has formed for us between us and God. Nestled in this message of the hard times that may fall our way is the valuable insight provided by Paul in regard to our efforts and the mysterious relationship of those who accept the role of God as the creator of all and our role as God’s creation. We have been shaped to be in a life of communion and relationship with God and Paul shares with us the reality that there are many people who do not understand this bond between us and God and they reject this special opportunity offered to them. Paul tells us not to be discouraged by this outcome. I bring up this point of being disheartened because of what is written in the gospel lesson this morning. Jesus is sharing with his disciples that even though he will not always be with them the Holy Spirit will always be present, to always be with us and to be near us, it will be the Holy Spirit’s presence that comes after Christ and acts on behalf of God, in essence the Holy Spirit is the active presence of God. He says to those gathered, ‘The world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and your about to come alive”. Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirt that comes to abide with us and to live in us. The world around us will see Christ because he lives in each of us through the presence of the Spirit. From a local perspective I ask the question, “How will communities around us, such as Karsdale, Annapolis Royal,Parker’s Cove, Clementsport, Granville Centre, Perotte, or Round Hill see the living Jesus through us. It can happen in three ways. Firstly, by our dedication, secondly by our words and actions, and thirdly by our prayers. Praying that the people who we are in contact with will have open minds and discerning hearts to accept the messages of the Gospels. We can pray that our faith in Christ will be respected by what it is that the world witnesses through us and their respect toward God will grow as well, “just a little bit”. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Amen. John 14:15-21 The Spirit of Truth 15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he will provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world cannot take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you and will even be in you! 18-20 “I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you are going to see me because I am alive and you are about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I am in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you. 21 “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
May 10, 2020
I wonder if other priests get a feeling of uneasiness as I do when they hear comments about prayer. Comments such as, “I prayed to God and God did not answer my prayer”. This thought often drifts into my mind when I read passages such as John 14: 13 which says, “ From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it”.
The promise of answered prayer is a promise of consistency, that if we ask Jesus for something he will give us what we ask for. His promise of answered prayer is comforting and reassuring, and many people call upon this promise in times of need. Therefore, why does Jesus not always give us what we ask for, especially when we pray for people who need their health restored, or why is our world not freed from the effects of pollution when we call upon God to help the earth and change the hearts of those who pollute?
Over the years I have found answers that satisfy me that counter any doubt that I may have about unanswered prayers. I can summarize in one word my response to this eternal question of why God did not answer my prayer when asked, it is the word “trust”. I become anxious when I am confronted with the question about unanswered prayer, not because I cannot give an answer back, but I get anxious because of the disbelief and doubt that appears to be embedded deep within the person who asks the question. I get the sense that no matter what my reply may be they have made up their minds about what the answer will be. I often find people are not searching for the answer to this question, but rather they are offering what they perceive as a failure of God to their unanswered prayers as a testimony against my beliefs. In other words, here’s the proof Rev. Nita that God is not faithful to his promise.
In 1 Peter 2: 7-8 it says, “ To you who trust in him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, the stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone. For the untrusting their questions about unanswered prayer can become a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way”. I guess my years of attending church, praying, studying scripture, developing projects, leading youth group, numerous other volunteer efforts, and trusting in God have been years of building upon the cornerstone of the foundation laid by Christ. During those years I have come to understand that I am like one of the stones that is laid upon the foundation. I have been asked to take on many of the tasks that Jesus undertook, to trust in what I am doing, and in doing so, sometimes I have become the instrument of another persons prayers being answered.
Prayers that are not answered in the ways that we wished for have likely been answered with a silent and unresponsive no by God. Why people are not healed when we pray for healing I cannot give an answer to, but I can say it is a matter of trust. Unanswered prayer can be painful, and it hurts and it devastates our lives when loved ones are not healed, but I believe in the mystery of faith and I believe that I am to trust, even though I did not receive the answer I wanted, all that unfolds is under God’s authority and under God’s love. I am willing to trust that someday I will understand fully what I don’t completely understand today.
As you may already know, the cornerstone (or foundation stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. To make a comparison between Jesus and that of a foundation stone is to make a comparison between our trust in Christ and how he is at the very base of all that we follow. He says, “I am the way (road), the truth, and the life. If I am to be one of the stones laid upon the true foundation of Christ’s teachings then I must have the confidence to trust that he is the way forward toward discovering the truth about how God heals. I must have the confidence to trust that he wants nothing but the best for us, and I must have the confidence to trust that we have been fully accepted by God. The foundation stone of Jesus upholds liberation for all peoples. The foundation stone of Jesus gives me the confidence to expect the best and my expectation of receiving the best helps supports me. The foundation stone of Jesus gives me the confidence to accept that healing comes in many forms. In Jesus I place my confidence and my trust. At the present time there is a lot of discussion concerning consumer confidence. As each province in our country begins to reopen and businesses prepare to balance the ways that they operate with public safety in mind. The big question being asked is, “Will consumers start buying once again?” Will our doubts about the economy and our personal finances become a stumbling block and we are presently in a difficult situation whereby in the Annapolis Royal area we have a high proportion of our local businesses that operate seasonally and are heavily dependent upon tourism. We find ourselves in a difficult situation, sometimes as the business owner, sometimes as a bystander. When will the tourists have the confidence to return? Will we have a tourism season this year? As the effects of the pandemic begin to transition from a short term struggle into a long term problem home owners will continue to hold mortgages, tax bills wait to be paid, medical prescriptions need refilling, and hungry mouths are waiting to be fed. As a faith community it becomes more important than ever for us to be responsive in ways that we can help. We should buy from local businesses when we can and we must become advocates to petition our governments, banking institutions, and insurance companies to be lenient during these unprecedented times. Offering loans to businesses that cannot afford to take on more debt is not helping, telling businesses that their taxes will be deferred, but an interest rate will be applied to the amount owing is not helping. I have heard of insurance companies offering lower rates for car insurance because of reduce driving, that is helping. Confidence will return when we recognize that everyone holds a share in the financial pain and we find ways to be helpful, not hurtful.
I guess Covid 19 has turned me into a political creature, but my outlook is also balanced with a healthy measure of confidence in God. I long ago decided that even if my prayers are not answered in the way that I hoped for that they were being answered. Not receiving what I wanted does not mean that I have not received what I needed. I have learned to trust and not allow distrust to be the stone that I trip over. If I can be of help to those in this present time who are struggling I will do what I can do. I know I can’t help everyone, and I know sometimes I will fail, but I pray that I will succeed more often than fail. I will not allow distrust and skepticism be the boulders to get in my way. I will continue to pray. Won’t you join me and continue in prayer. Amen.
May 3, 2020
Acts 2: 42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2: 19-25 John 10: 1-10
Make Yourself at Home
The most common, and the most understood meaning for the phrase “make yourself at home” is as an invitation of welcome. Come on in, be yourself, relax, be comfortable, treat this place as if it were your own. This is, in a small part, some of the impression that this Sunday’s gospel message had upon me. Jesus speaks of sheep, of a shepherd, he speaks of a sheep pen and how the sheep pen is am image of security and of the how the shepherds voice , if it is followed, will likewise offer safety and security. Psalm 23 also picks up the theme of security and safety. I especially like the phrase that says, “. . . you let me catch my breath . . .”. All these statements and images left with me the impression of a home, of an invitation to come in and to relax, to ultimately feel secure and safe. These are fitting images for the theme of this Sunday which is sometimes known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In our mind we see a vision of a green pasture the offers safety and the oversight of a caring and loving shepherd. This is indeed a comforting message of good news.
Unlike last Sunday’s message when I had a lot to say about adapting for the future and for us to be open to change, the invitation to come to another persons home and to relax, along with the images of sheep and lambs living in a safe and secure pasture, doesn’t really seem to send the same message. In fact, the message from 1 Peter, that of being a servant who should expect to be treated badly by others and the message of the good shepherd does not really seem to fit together at all, except in fact they do fit together well and their messages do hold meaning with today.
Let us begin with the image of a servant and the image of a slave. Sometimes we think of them as being “one and the same” when they are distinctly different. A servant is a a person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed to help keep a house, or a servant is recognized as a follower, a supporter, and a helper of others. It is this latter definition, that of the follower and helper, that we will examine because I believe this is the meaning and the intent of the author of 1Peter when he speaks of being a servant.
Peter is writing to the various churches in Asia Minor who are the followers of Jesus and who are recognized as helpers and supporters of the early Church. He is telling them to expect hard times ahead, that they are to be prepared for their day to day lives to b changed and that they should expect their lives to be changed because of the relationship they have with Jesus.
In the safe social circles of the early church the first century Christians were expected to extend themselves outside of their familiar social circles in response to following the voice of Christ. They are be the true servants of Jesus, to follow his example and to be a support and help to others. They are reminded, as servants of Christ, that if they have any masters who treat them badly, they are to persevere in their efforts. Today the most common example of this kind of scenario, of being a follower of Christ and persevering and having someone be a master over us happens within the work place whereby resentment against an employee, or toward a co-worker will steal from the other person their peace of mind, their sense of who they are, and possibly their purpose in life.
We may very well find ourselves in the role of the servant and having to persevere against prejudice directed toward us.
The key to this message and the liberation it offers is found in the act of forgiveness. To forgive others, or events that have happened to us that have caused us harm is an extremely difficult act of Christianity. No one said it would be easy, in fact Peter says so when he states, “ ………What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There is no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you are treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”
It is in times like these that that the comforting words of Jesus message about following the voice of the shepherd, of green pastures, and the opportunity to catch ones breath we recognize the invitation that has been extended to us "to come in and make yourself at home”. To live a life as a servant of Christ is to live a life in support to others and to offer help, it also means that we will receive back from Jesus the same gifts of support and help that we need.
If we continue with the comparison between us and sheep, and Jesus as being the gate keeper and shepherd, we should acknowledge that there are other kinds of thieves, other than human thieves that can scale our walls of defence and steal us away. There are events and situations that can capture us and remove us from our sense of security, such as the current pandemic, a loss of income and job security, the loss of social connections and friends, or having our property vandalized. The events of the past two weeks, with the most recent being the downed helicopter of the Armed Forces and the loss of life, this event alone is enough to steal our sense of peace and security.
There is good news however, there have been many times in my life when I have been led by the still waters of Christ and in the midst of anxieties I have been refreshed. I have discovered that when I call upon God and wait upon Him I find that I have time to catch my breath. Best of all, in my relationship between myself and Christ I find that if I need to find peace, I will find it, if I need healing I will be healed, if I need to be liberated I will become liberated. I know I always have an invitation to come into the presence of God and to make myself at home, to be myself, to relax, and to be comfortable, and to be treated as God’s own. To accept the invitation to come on in and make yourself at home is an invitation well worth accepting. Amen.
John 10:1-10 He Calls His Sheep by Name 10 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he is up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him, and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them, and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” 6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So, he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to
no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
April 26, 2020
Fans of the former TV show Red Green will recall him reciting at the end of each show The Man’s Prayer, "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess.” This statement brings a slight smile to our face as we recognize this twist of sincerity as a comedic play on how we can change, if we want to, but many times it becomes a half hearted attempt because we really do not desire change. Of course, this made me wonder if Red Green’s statement can be applied to us in our spiritual lives and in our daily lives. I decided to explore this a bit further
I ask this question, “Why do we seem to resist change rather than to embrace change. There are many factors, but one of the significant reasons for resisting change is the unexpected unknown of what will happen if we change our way of doing things. At this present time COVID-19 is the cause of change and we are presently facing the unknown and are trying to figure out how our lives will be changed. We ask the question, “When will our lives become normal again? I think a lot of us are hesitant to use the phrase, “. . . when life gets back to normal . . .” because the normal that we knew before the pandemic will not really have changed, we will still need to make payments, buy groceries, celebrate special occasions, but some of our former habits and practices will be replaced with a new kind of normal and this means change has happened.
Much of our new normal will be created out of necessity. Our thoughts become filled with more questions about what the future will be like and we wonder what lies ahead. We ask many questions such as, “Will we be back together by the middle of June, or will it take longer for restrictions to be eased?” We question if Harvest Thanksgiving will happen, it is after all in October and October is the beginning of the flu season and we have been warned to expect a second wave of COVID 19, likely in the fall during flu season. How long will the important social distance rule of two meters apply? Will the Ecumenical Fall Fair be cancelled like so many other large gatherings? Can our Sunday School happen with the energy filled youth that we are so blessed with, or will the ACW monthly meetings gathering around the board room table continue like they have? We recognize that all these activities will continue, but they will have been changed. All these possible changes can leave us feeling shocked and somewhat confused over what to do.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were in a state of shock as they walked and talked over the recent events. The claims made by others that Christ was alive confused them. How can this be? A lot of what they knew about normal had changed because people do not die and come back to life! The obvious truth of upheaval was right before them, their daily lives had been interrupted by tragedy, their Passover practices had been threatened by disruption, and some of them were now in hiding, isolating themselves to protect themselves against arrest. There was nothing about these circumstances that was normal, and they were likely unaware that their current circumstances would require them to change and to adapt.
In the next few weeks our stories of scripture will tell us how the lives of the apostles changed. Once more questions bubble to the surface. Did the apostles want their lives to change”? The answer is, “Likely not”. Did they have to make changes in their day to day lives because of what happened, the answer likely is, “Yes they did”. For them to carry on Jesus ministry and to become the bearers of the Good News they had to make changes to their normal way of life. I believe their source of strength to carry on in their new life was founded in the words of the psalm chosen for today, Psalm 116. The key verses (12-19) outlined for the disciples what they needed to do in the face of change and instability.
1.) “. . . I will lift high the cup of salvation . . .”
2.) “ . . . I will pray in the name of God . . .”
3.) “ . . . I will complete what I promised God I‘d do . . .”
4.) “ . . . I will do it in the company of his people . . .”
On the night of Christ’s betrayal and arrest Jesus and his disciples would have sung Psalm 116 as part of their Passover celebration. We cannot dismiss the words of this psalm and the meaning they hold. To lift high the cup of salvation is a reference to the blessings of God poured out on us, but it is also symbolic of the cup of blessing that we share in the Eucharist. When we gather once again at St. Luke’s we must continue sharing Holy Communion as we did before. Although so much of our world around us may change this is a practise that we cannot afford to do without. We will likely need to make changes in how we celebrate the communion, but it is a key element of our spiritual life and it is one of the ways that we will move forward in this time of change. Jesus told his disciples to share this meal as often as they could when they met. It was important to him; it was important to the apostles and it is important to us.
Psalm 116 also speaks about prayer. We have always known the importance of prayer and how prayer connects us with God and with one another. When we pray it is particularly important to acknowledge and declare before others the goodness of God and credit to God all the glory due to God. This is laid out clearly in Psalm 116. Prayer is yet another important element that will help keep us together and keep us strong.
On the night of the Passover meal when Jesus sang the words, “ I will complete what I promised God I’d do”, we know that he was making a pledge and announcing that he would keep his promise and allow his death to be a holy sacrifice to cover our sins. He would stand in for us and take our place, he would bear the pain and punishment that was ours. Jesus kept his promise and so should we.
Jesus disciples promised that they would go out into all the world to preach the Good News and to baptize, likewise we have promises to keep as well. I am specifically referencing a promise that we made as a parish that connects us with Psalm 116 and with COVID-19 and the mass shootings of last weekend. Our mission statement, “Together we worship, we care, we serve our communities” is a form of promise that we accepted, and Psalm 116 directs us to complete what we have promised. I witnessed a wonderful example of this last week when it was suggested by a parish member that a Vigil of Light in the memory of those killed in the Portapique shootings be organized. Their suggestion was a caring and thoughtful way for us to be a support for others inside of our church community and outside of our church community. Because of their suggestion a Vigil of Light was held on Wednesday evening in Annapolis Royal that became part of the healing process for so many. We will continue to offer the important ministry of caring and in doing so it will strengthen not only others, but it will support us as well.
Psalm 116 has given us the directions to worship, to pray, and to care for others, but there is one more suggestion, all these things are to be done in the company of God’s people. I am happy to say that we work very well together as a community of God’s people and during this time of difficulty all of you have supported each other in significant and wonderful ways. What it is that we say, and what it is that we do as God’s people is watched by others, we become witnesses of the Good News. For this alone we cannot relax on any of the practices mentioned in Psalm 116 when our parish reopens. As the parish reopens, we must be willing to adapt and change as we must, yet not let go of the ways that have always kept the church and her people a strong, active, and vibrant people. Like Red Green we can change if we must, but unlike Red Green our promise will not be half hearted. Amen.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Acts 2: 14, 22-32 Psalm 16 1 Peter 1: 3-9 John 20: 19-31
“May nothing but God’s truth be revealed through these words and nothing but God’s truth be received. “
As I read through the passages of scripture chosen for today I found key phrases that seemed to jump out at me, and with each phrase that jumped out, I found myself taking a closer look at what was said and to think about how it related to today. Here are some examples.
In Acts 2: 23 Paul wrote “ . . . he was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, . . .”. The words, “took the law into their own hands” caught my interest. My mind immediately leapt to the topic of how these men of authority, the chief priests and council, had an innocent man killed to achieve their personal goals. They wanted the crowds who were following Jesus to turn away from Christ and back to them once again. They were alarmed to discover that they were losing their authority over the people. Their power to control the will of the people so as to bend them toward what they wanted was eroding away.
The events of Jesus trial were manipulated by those who were in authority at that time and it makes me think of the situation that we have before us today. I think of the circumstances that are unfolding now in some places whereby people are protesting against their government and the regulations that have been put in place for social distancing. There have been protests to put an end to the social isolation measures they live under. The protesters want their local businesses and industries to open up again and for the people to go back to work even though the pandemic is far from being over. The protesters appear to represent the will of the people and are acting like they are taking the law into their own hands. In their public demonstrations they are challenging the laws and taking the health authorities to task. In the news reports we hear of powerful people with authority lending their support to the protesters. This is turning the current situation into an “us against them” showdown. People who hold authority have the ability to move the will of the people and to encourage them to do either what is right, or what is wrong. Those who hold authority must exercise it wisely. Therefore the words, “taking the law into their own hands” caught my attention.
As I continued to read other short phrases, verses from1 Peter 1: 3-9 also caught my attention:
“ . . . the future starts now . . .”, “ . . . God is keeping careful watch over us . . . “ , “. . . Pure gold put into the fire comes out of it proved genuine . . . “, “You never saw him, yet you love him.”, . . . and, “You still don’t see him, yet you trust him- with laughter and singing.”
I utter the words, “WOW”. The author of 1 Peter compares the suffering of Christ to the purification of gold by fire. What comes out of the fire is pure and genuine, 100% pure gold. Similarly because we are believers of Christ, through his death and his resurrection, we become purified as well. That is a “wow” moment, and what adds to the "wow “moment is the idea that as people of the 21st century, who have not had the benefit of being a first hand witness to Jesus life and ministry, love him just the same as they did, and even though we cannot see him we trust him. That is quite amazing!
The final phrase that stood out to me as important comes from the Gospel of John 20: 19. John writes, “ Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you! “ I have always looked at this as a verbal expression of what we wish for another person , for them to be well. Today however, I see it as the remarkable benefit of receiving peace of mind.
The three segments of scripture that I have I mentioned highlight three themes and that I wish to briefly explore them. 1.) The will of the people and the power of authority 2.) How something new and pure has begun 3.) The peace of mind that comes with Christ.
Last Sunday I wrote that I was ready to move forward into what lies ahead. The first month of social distancing, and “staying the blazes home” has now become an experience that will help to set the tone for the future and force us to adapt in certain ways. It’s time to move on and I am going to hold fast to the advise written in this mornings scriptures to help me move forward. 1.) I will trust, as I have for most of my life, in the authority of God. I will try my best to not “take the law into my own hands” or to will us to go the way that I want us to go, but rather I will trust that after discussion and prayer our future will unfold as it should and we will go the way that God wants us to go.
2.) The second point that caught my attention was the purity of God’s love. Each Easter season we become aware that something new and pure has begun again. We take the time during Lent to reflect upon our life and how we should live our lives, how we should trust in God’s enormous love for us. The love that God has for us is pure and rich. It is of great value and this brings me peace of mind. The assurance that God loves us, and will guide and direct us, and be the source of our strength is what I will hold on to.
3.) Lastly, when Jesus met with his disciples in the locked room and they came to trust that the person before them was Christ and he shared with them his gift of peace. This act of love brought them comfort and peace of mind.
If something gives you peace of mind, it stops you from worrying about a particular problem or difficulty. I don’t think peace of mind is something that you create, but rather something that is given to us. Nor is peace of mind something that we choose, or something that needs to chased and found. At the time of Jesus death his disciples had a lot to be worried about, and it seems to me right now we likewise have a lot to be worried about. I will not however let the present troubles we are facing become problems that cannot be solved. To get ahead of these troubles I will continue to trust in the authority of God, I will embrace the love he has for me, and I will have peace of mind. I hope you also will likewise be sustained. Blessings to you all.
John 20:19-31
To Believe
19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.
Easter Sunday, April 15, 2020
Jeremiah 31: 1-6 Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3: 1-4 John 20: 1-18
Alleulia, Alleulia, Alleulia . . . . . and I say one more time, “Alleulia”! It’s here, Easter day has come! This is such a day for rejoicing!
Since March 12 when we last gathered as a community it appears to me that we have been straining under the weight of carrying a heavy load, all of us together trudging toward Easter day. Every step along the road leaving a heavy imprint, but today has arrived and it is a day of release!
In today’s readings Jeremiah wrote about the day that was yet to come, a day of release for God’s people. He was referring to a time of great trouble that was yet to come and of how it would afflict many of his people, and he also spoke of how not all of them would survive. Yet the great majority of those who would survive would receive God’s grace and rest. In their survival they would find the Messiah Jesus Christ. Jeremiah writes about God’s love for his people that is an everlasting love, and of how God is faithful to his people.
I like this promise and I am going to take God’s promise of everlasting love and God’s faithfulness and carry it with me into tomorrow. I am going to take this same promise of love and faithfulness and carry it into the coming weeks, and into the future that lies ahead. Today, I feel I am released.
There are yet months ahead of us whereby COVID-19 will continue to dictate a lot of what we hope to do as a community of faith, and of what we hope to be as a community of God, but last evening after the sun had set, and Easter had officially arrived, I left behind the past four weeks of isolation and the sense of heaviness that went with it. I will now go forward into the future taking with me the promise of God’s everlasting love and of God’s faithfulness toward us. I am going to leave the heaviness of the past where it belongs, behind me. I am going to move forward into the new normal of our future and also return to my former place of confidence and trust.
Like the words written in this mornings psalm, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”, I am going to follow that advise and I am going to rejoice. It is a good day. There is no doubt that the world as we know know is in a mode of self correction. Much of what we knew before the time of COVID - 19 will change, such as the suggestion that the handshake will be a gesture of the past. I think this idea is likely a good idea, but what does that mean to us as a community when we exchange The Peace with each other? It just means that we will find a different gesture to share with each other as we say, “May the Peace of the Lord be with you.”
This experience has certainly taught me once again that I do not need to go to the grocery store every day. It was an unnecessary habit and my habit of daily grocery shopping helped to put additional carbon into the atmosphere. Experts are telling us, that when the threat of COVID-19 is behind us, more people will likely be working from home and this will be good thing for our environment. The world around us is enjoying a time of much needed relief. The world of God’s created order is enjoying a time of falling back into order. Let us not loose the initiative of these positive changes when we once again become free to do as we please. Let us as a Christian community become stronger in our resolve to be stewards of care for this planet.
This is definitely a memorable Easter. We can find similar comparisons between the Easter of the first century and the Easter of 2020. The disciples of Jesus time found themselves living in locked rooms, hidden away because of fear. They came to discover that a locked door could not keep the risen Christ away from them. The glorious good news of the risen Christ could not be stopped. Today we find ourselves in isolation, basically locked behind doors a necessary lifestyle that is driven by fear. Like the first century Christians, our self isolation cannot keep the risen Christ away from us either. I cannot describe for you the joy and the relief that I felt the moment I knew I had overcome some of the technological challenges that had kept us separated. When I succeeded at recording a video, and I knew that I could connect with you on Easter morning my sense of relief and joy were enhanced by a sense of liberation that I find difficult to describe. Oh, what joy. What a sense of release!
Of course, when I describe such a moment to you, my thoughts encounter my conscience. The small inner voice in my head shouts, “Just image what Jesus would have felt when he was released from the tomb”. Oh what joy, what release!
For Jeremiah the joyful return of the exiles to their homeland was to be a day of immense joy. On the day of their return God’s everlasting love and enduring faithfulness would be on full display for others to witness. When they returned home and they rebuilt their lives there was to be a new normal. This is how I feel and it is how I hope you feel. On the day that we can say that we have been released from our isolation we will be a witness to our community and families that God’s love is everlasting, it cannot be defeated by a virus. A virus cannot pull our community apart. God’s faithfulness to us will be on display because we will be a witness of how we stayed together and how we picked up right where we had left off. We talk about how we will be stronger after COVID-19 and I expect we will be better at caring for our world and better at caring for one another.
The writer of Colossians encouraged us to seek God and to build upon our relationship with God. To be part of creating a better world and to become “the community” of a better world. To seek does not mean that we are to go on a scavenger hunt to find this ideal life, but rather we are called to look beyond the present complications and the messiness of this present time and to find a direction to follow. This direction comes from above.
Disbelief and wonder were present in the tomb as the disciples saw before them the evidence of the risen Lord. Before them the truth was revealed. Jesus has risen and he is the lord of heaven and earth and his love endures forever and his faithfulness to us is everlasting. Alleulia!
Passion of the Lord - Good Friday
Ritual at Home
Opening Prayer:
Lord of Glory, we proclaim your death and look ever forward to your Resurrection. As we contemplate your death on the cross so that we may have life, may we be ever aware of the life that springs from death, the light that rises from darkness, and the hope that banishes fear. Draw us close to you, so that we may know the glory your Cross points to.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
John 18:1–19:42
Place a cross on a table or some other place of respect, adding candles if you wish. Be sure to allow some time in silent reflection as you gaze upon the
Make this a time of personal prayer and reflection. At some point during the period of reflection, you may wish to pray the following Litany for Forgiveness.
Litany for Forgiveness
For the times we have not loved as we are called to love . . .
Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive.
Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive. Father, forgive.
Intercessions
For the times we have cultivated doubt instead of hope . . .
For the times that selfishness, greed, and lust influence our decisions.
For the times we nurture isolation instead of community . .
For the times we hear the needs of others but refuse to act .
For the times we pass judgment on ourselves and those whom we encounter . . .
For the times we create divisions . .
For the times we neglect care for our common home . . .
For the times we are not good stewards of the gifts you give us .
Confident that Jesus Christ hears our prayer, let us offer our petitions with open hearts .
“Let us pray for those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and God’s saving grace to all the victims who have died.”
(Silence)
“Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died, and throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(Silence)
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering these prayers together, as well as those we hold in the silence of our hearts, we pray in the words that Jesus taught us. Our Father . . .
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Isaiah 50: 4-9 Psalm 31: 10-17 Philippians 2: 5-11 Matthew 26:14-27: 66
A variety of thoughts filled my mind as I studied the scripture for this coming Sunday’s homily. So much of what came to mind has been said before, but even though the story is familiar there is always a gem of truth that comes to the surface. Something that can be shared which propels the old story of the past forward into a fresh message for today.
After what has seemed to be an extra long season of Lent we have arrived at the starting point of Holy Week. I have researched and assembled a collection of worship liturgies and meditations that will help us follow the familiar flow of Holy Week. There is no denying however that this year it feels like something is missing. The closeness of being together and sharing worship has been blocked by a virus.
Some people call the virus “the enemy” and look upon what is happening as an “us” against “it” war. I find this to be an interesting state of mind. What each of us feels and believes about this pandemic will have a great influence upon our mood and our behavior. This pandemic, like the Spanish Flu and SARS will have its own fixed mark on the timeline of history. We will become a changed society when this is over, and I think this is why we feel like something is missing, we are changing. Our outlook for the future will change, our mood will fluctuate with each adjustment that we undergo, and our behavior toward agencies and people will strengthen, or they will weaken. So you are likely saying to yourself, “What’s the good news, and how does it fit in with Passion Sunday story. Is there good news to be found in this mornings message?
The gospel readings of Passion Sunday are long, and they are made up of two seemingly different stories. In the beginning the gospel of Matthew retells the account of Jesus’s triumphant arrival into Jerusalem. Everything seems to be well. Jesus is hailed as a king and the people are excited and happy and waving palm branches. In a matter of hours, the mood has changed, and Jesus is given over to the authorities to be tried as an imposter, he is accused of heresy and this leads to his arrest. Just as swiftly in a matter of hours he is tried before Pilate and sentenced to crucifixion with his eventual death on the cross that follows. It may seem strange that these two extremes are celebrated on Palm Sunday, but this is the reality of what we call the Easter mystery. In the midst of disbelief and the challenging times that the disciples were to face it was how Jesus lived his life and his death and his ultimate resurrection that changed the world. The mood and behavior of the first century Christians changed. Despite the ups and downs of life they found that their lives were better because of their beliefs. The challenges and disasters that they faced worked to strengthen their faith.
It is impossible to separate these two stories. The story of celebration and triumph and the story of despair and challenge. This same statement can be said about our lives. Even when our lives don’t feel the same, like they do now. We are facing challenges that have just begun, we will gain strength from these challenges and the source of our strength is in our connection with God and our connection with each which we celebrate each time we gather. Our connection is strong and will get stronger because we are united with Christ through his death and his resurrection.
There have been one or two times in my life when I have felt like something was missing and each time it involved a change that was yet to come that helped me recognize my way forward. Many times, over the past 20-30 years I have heard people pronounce that the church is on its last legs and headed towards death. I heard it so often, but yet still saw around me the witness of the church through its people. I began to say to others, “I don’t know what the church will look like in the future, but I am convinced that the church will still be here after I am gone. I likely won’t recognize it because it will look different, but it still will be here”. I sincerely do believe this, and I do believe that after the pandemic ceases to crowd our news headlines and the world returns to normalcy, we will discover that we have changed. We will be transformed in another way, our beliefs will become stronger, and not weaker. Our optimism for the future will increase. There are goods days ahead for us because the same Lord who changed the world once before will be the same Lord of our future who will change this world once again. This is the good news today’s message. Amen
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Have any of you ever ground the gears in your vehicle? If you have ever driven a standard and you need to shift manually by hand you likely have. It’s part of the learning curve when you drive a standard and it most often happens when you are trying to match the speed of your car with what you are demanding of it, you either want it to go slower, or you want more speed. It is a matter of experience. We try to avoid grinding the gears because if it continues it is going to end up costing us and we will pay the price in replacement parts and garage fees. Sometimes I think that our journey of faith is kind of liking driving and knowing when, or when not to shift gears.
This week the gospel of John is a stirring and sensational story about the death of Lazarus, and of the separation that his family and his community feel because of his death, and of course the personal grief that comes with the death of a person we love. It appears that we have switched gears for the coming week when death becomes a primary focus instead of the focus of new life. Added to this impression of grief is our awareness that today marks the beginning of what we call Passiontide, a solemn period of two weeks of reflection that focuses on the persecution of Jesus, his eventual crucifixion and his death. Has there been a shift from the theme of the past few weeks?
Over the past three Sunday’s we have explored the scripture passages for an understanding of the new life that Jesus spoke of. Our first glance at today’s gospel message might lead us to think that we have switched gears going from light and life to darkness and death, but this passage has more to do with new life than what it has to do with death. It’s not the time to shift gears, we will keep the message of new life.
Let us take look at the first reading from Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones as described by the prophet Ezekiel. He is describing a vision, he sees a valley filled with the dry bones of the dead. New life is breathed into these bones and the vision is so real to Ezekiel that he describes how first the sinew and muscles are formed, followed next by the skin, but it was the breath which came from God that created new life in those dead bones. Ezekiel’s vision is intended not only to reach the people of his time, but also far beyond his time to other people down through the ages. The vision of the dry bones is an encouragement to us that our earthly life has an extended life beyond the life we now know. I find there is no need for me to shift gears, for this is my belief as well.
Once again this past week I looked out my office window and gazed at the North Mountain. A thought crossed my mind, and I said to myself, “What fun God must have had when he created this world”. To watch the world that he created unfold as it once did must have brought the Creator great delight. Rivers forming here, mountains erupting in another place, and over there prairie plains with vast lands as far as the eye can see, and foaming waters which rise and fall with the tides. I thought, “What fun God must have had, and the delight God must know when I, one of his created creatures takes comfort and solace from what he created by looking at the North Mountain”. Therefore, it is not unimaginable to me that God has created another life, a new life for us.
In the gospel of John we have another example of death and new life. Although Martha and Lazarus’ friends make the claim that if Jesus had been present with them Lazarus would not have died, it appears at first to be a rather positive statement of faith, but it is this kind of a response that angers Jesus. Their exclamation that Jesus would not have let Lazarus die is but a shadowy proclamation of Jesus authority and power for it does not affirm faith, but rather it questions where was Jesus when he was needed. Jesus has been trying to instil in his followers a faith that comes by believing and not by seeing and he becomes frustrated with their response. They need to change gears and to shift up. They are struggling and working hard to understand, but they have missed the main point of Jesus ministry, that they and Lazarus have a new life now and even at the time of our death we continue to have this new life. Lazarus family should have been celebrating Lazarus new life and not wishing and hoping for another miracle for them to place their faith in. The people of Jesus time wanted miracles, they seem to need miracles in order to believe. Miracles were necessary at that time, but after his death and resurrection, right up to today there is a time when our faith must move beyond miracles and truly be based in faith. In the letter to the Romans Paul tells us that those who trust that God is in them, will find God’s Spirit is in them - living and breathing. Our attention to God will lead us out into the open and spacious life, a new life. So, as we enter into Passiontide and we prepare to be immersed in the Passion of Jesus, to experience the sorrow of Good Friday and then on Easter day when the story explodes with new life we need to gear down and slow down and prepare for all of this activity.
For myself, over these past two weeks since we last met as a worshipping community, I have been struggling with trying to experience the weeks of Lent leading up to Holy Week and Easter as I have before. So many of the things that we do to experience these events will not happen as a community this year. The Palm Sunday Procession, the reading of the Passion narrative, mid day mediations from Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week, the Maundy Thursday service, the Ecumenical Good Friday Service and Cross Walk, and of course Easter Day! This year we are going to miss the joy of celebrating together. Our gathering for worship, the singing of Easter hymns with the chorus of Alleluias’ that fill the church, the Sunday school youth and Easter egg hunt, the discovery of the hidden Alleulia, and the decorative white lilies that decorate the sanctuary are not going to be part of this years celebration for us. Our familiar and comforting traditions have been put on pause until next year.
COVID-19 is reshaping us, making us shift our gears. I stand firm and say, “I will not let this virus interfere with the meaningful and spiritual filled practices of Holy Week, or let our Easter Day joy be dampened”. In the coming week I hope to be able to share with you a few ideas of how this can be. I will share one of them with you now. At sunset on Holy Saturday, it is a common practise for many parishes to celebrate the Easter Vigil. At the beginning of this service a small fire is lit outside the church and from it the Paschal candle is lit and brought into the darkened church. As the candle is held high the words, “The light of Christ” are said, and there is a response, “Thanks be to God”. Most of us have in our homes a set of white Christmas lights, or a lamp that burns a white light. I encourage us all to place in one of our windows the white lights, or to light a lamp on the eve of Easter at the time of sunset. Turn them on so they are visible to those outside our homes and a witness to us inside our homes that the light of Christ is here, that Easter has arrived and new life has begun. It’s time to begin a new tradition, to shift gears, to light a white light that symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his innocence and purity, and the joy and the triumph and the glory of new life. The white lights will represent as Saint Paul said in today’s reading, it’s time to get on with our new life. There are things to do and places to go.
We are bound to grind our gears as we adjust to the new reality of COVID -19, but let us not pay the price by demanding signs and wonders, but instead live in a faith that hopes for, and believes in new life.
Amen.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
When I look out of my office window and gaze upon the north mountain what swiftly comes to mind is Psalm 121 . . . “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?” A comforting statement that declares that God is the source of David’s strength. This psalm is a companion to the Psalm chosen for today . . . Psalm 23. A familiar and comforting piece of scripture that declares that God is our comfort and strength all the days of our lives.
In the timeline of our life this past week has been a week of adjustment. We are adjusting to a new mind set of settling down into a life style of social distancing, we are adjusting to self isolation, adjusting to how day to day tasks have now taken on a measure of caution that is balanced against what potential outcomes may come from careless exposure, and the list of adjustments goes on and on. The reassuring words of both the 23 Psalm, and Psalm 121 act upon me like a soothing lotion. I hope they bring this same response to you. We are at the beginning of a time of testing and challenges and we are seeking answers to our many questions.
It has been said that there are two types of questions and two types of question askers. There are those who want to ask a question, and there are those who want to discover an answer. In the gospel passage we have a fine example of this as the Pharisees investigate the healing of the blind man. There appears to be a great deal of confusion. Some are asking questions only wanting to hear the answer that they favour and then there are others who want to get to the bottom of their questions. Who healed this man, and how did he heal him?
As our global world seeks to contain and to eradicate the COVID-19 virus many questions are being asked, such as how are we going to get ahead of this virus and what can be done? In finding the the answers to these questions fear and confusion have caused many people to search out someone, or something to blame that will help them understand why we are in the current situation that we are in.
In the gospel message Jesus is challenged by others who were not his followers as to who is to blame for the man to be born blind. They want to know who sinned to have caused his serious disability. There is a lot of confusion in the story mostly about who did what and how can this be. At about mid point in the the story the man who was most affected had this to say to the Pharisees, “You know not where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes!” He was of course speaking of Jesus and of how very blind the religious leaders of the day were. They could not accept what they saw; that Jesus was present with them, that he was not only healing the physically blind, but also healing the spiritually blind. This is why this passage has been chosen for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
There has been much said over the past three weeks about darkness and light, how Nicodemus came by night and received the truth from Jesus about a new life. How the woman at the well came in broad day light and received new life. Now we have the story of the man, blind from his birth who only could ever know darkness, but can now see in a way that he never saw before, or understood in a way that he could never understand before. He has gained a new life. He now sees both physically and spiritually. Our lenten journey is a journey that leads us toward an understanding that a new life different form our former life is now ours because Jesus gave his life for us. He died, but through his death true life is given to us. In asking the questions of who and how this happens we discover the answer. In asking the questions of how and why we face the current challenge of COVID-19 we discover the answer. When it is over we will have adjusted in ways that will make our world a better place, dare I say a healed place. In understanding that Jesus is the Son of Man we will have have adjusted our attitude and our outlook and we will understand and know that God is the source of our strength and this will carry us through.
Amen.
