tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70867991152547856992024-03-17T16:31:20.869-04:00PenelopepiscopalPrayers, musings, photos.Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.comBlogger3683125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-16860448947637099742024-03-17T16:30:00.005-04:002024-03-17T16:31:20.199-04:00Heartbroken<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq-CpKbqafd0NkJCWz9tQTYetc9ubShlAIb312RAcYDwFBZJ_LL7qUueqdqXkFl6k8UfDc9OF8WL_lJMdbdmZE9jSs6ZCo86vdwvbAeyBJh9uslLPiO30l3GQcj05GJfCZyWlaAYet7Y9NAKXgZSzugfRdM7lB8ucFPFA1a8F-hYeuhlk6cBGngcT041x/s4032/IMG_4348.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhq-CpKbqafd0NkJCWz9tQTYetc9ubShlAIb312RAcYDwFBZJ_LL7qUueqdqXkFl6k8UfDc9OF8WL_lJMdbdmZE9jSs6ZCo86vdwvbAeyBJh9uslLPiO30l3GQcj05GJfCZyWlaAYet7Y9NAKXgZSzugfRdM7lB8ucFPFA1a8F-hYeuhlk6cBGngcT041x/w480-h640/IMG_4348.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: from Jeremiah and John </span><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Lent/BLent5_RCL.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Lent/BLent5_RCL.html</a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">For two weeks in a row now, Jesus has talked about being lifted up. Last week he compared what is going to happen to him, being lifted up, to that time when Moses put a bronze serpent on a pole and lifted it up for people to look at after they had been bitten by snakes themselves, so that they might be healed. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week he says that when he is lifted up from the earth he will draw all people to himself.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both references, of course, are to the cross and also his ascension after his death. When he is lifted up onto the cross, everyone will look upon him and see the glory of God who is willing to die for those he loves, who is showing that he will be with them in their own suffering and shame. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being lifted up will be an exaltation. His rising from the dead will show us the true power of God. And his ascension will be a way for people to be reconciled with God. But despite the lofty language Jesus uses - glorification - in the short term, we are talking about something traumatic here. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is much trauma in the world. Read the news. See the destruction and death and starvation and brutality and the continued tearing of the fabric of community through hatefulness on the front page every day.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s so wearing and depressing.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we move closer and closer to Good Friday, I am more and more aware of just how close I often feel to drowning in sorrow. How my sense of resiliency has grown thin. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet I believe that we cannot look away from trauma, from disaster, we cannot look away from wreckage of all kinds because I know that God is to be found there and that God calls us to stand there too, even if all we can do is just stand there and weep. And we would be in good company if that is all we can do. At the foot of the cross stood Mary Magdalene and the other women after everyone else had run away. They stood in sorrow and they stood bearing witness. It was all they could do. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But of course that was not the end of the story. Mary Magdalene and the other women later spoke up about what they had seen - not only death but also resurrection. Not that people believed them at the time. They spoke of the power of love.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Jesus speaks of the grain of wheat dying but bearing much fruit, he is reminding us that there needs to be a response to what happens to him. The world responded to Jesus by putting him to death, but also a community of believers was formed and responded to his life and death and resurrection and ascension by serving in the world in his name, bearing witness and responding to suffering and bringing forth life and redemption through the power of love. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are the current generation of that community called to continue to bear fruit. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It would be nice if our story were that Jesus was a good teacher who lived a good life and died a good death, a feel good story of gentle wisdom imparted to eager and dedicated followers, but our story is a lot more radical than that. Our story is that we follow a man who is actually hard to follow, who turned things upside down, who erased traditional cultural boundaries, who flaunted customs and who was willing to die rather than become complicit in the use of violence through which to take revenge or wield destructive power. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He was killed because he was a threat to the status quo of both political and religious leaders, because he dared to treat the poor and the sick and the outcast as if they were just as important as the rich and the privilegedand dared to say that this is what God is like. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He took on being an outcast, he took on being abandoned, he took on being misunderstood, scorned and scourged, taunted and tortured in hopes that something would be broken open in us that would lead us to see the dark side of power and how the world’s love of that kind of power is driven by evil.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He challenged us to keep looking through it all until we could see the redemptive power of love that God can bring to bear that will heal us and heal the world.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He took on dying a shameful and horrible death - described succinctly in our creeds as “he suffered” and in response he asks US to bear witness to the suffering in the world and to minister to those who suffer as well because we know another power, the power of love, the power of resurrection life. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As he says today in the Gospel, our response it to bear fruit. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which we do by seeing the suffering around us and opening ourselves to the Spirit’s leading us into response, as individuals and as a community, through direct actions on a personal level and as part of community efforts, </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">from supporting just public policy to giving from our resources to humanitarian or peacemaking work. And standing up against a culture of hate and violence and death. Because we know that what God wants for us - and for all - is life. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our engagement can be powerful and transformative, for us and for the world, but undergoing transformation through the power of God means being willing to first be broken wide open by the suffering we see. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Holy Week draws near and our sorrows and the sorrows of the world are about to be illuminated by his, </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">what do we think following Jesus is supposed to look like when he speaks of dying to bear fruit, of losing our life to save it, to see glory, to hear thunder and know it to be the voice of God? What will we see when he is lifted up? What must be broken open in us now, and how will we bear witness to it? </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And most of all, how will we respond?</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-16968406481668075232024-03-03T06:00:00.002-05:002024-03-03T06:59:56.172-05:00Deliver us from transaction<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h-rs2A5vuKHjVfiZoVgFwu2rXUBpsAbiMF1lnBURlUdBMhtRsZlrJEcIAiX0LqbXwVv3JWr4pASXncYsi9Wr5fjmGKl-YgOSuf1bOvPGWXCd_p8whH6W3tsNH75r-qIhUDkoDrF2i7xhlpZgwuHhgjSYD0LRpEw4YXrZr5cFtV3CSXFjqD0cqoOsWV4Q/s1102/IMG_3849.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h-rs2A5vuKHjVfiZoVgFwu2rXUBpsAbiMF1lnBURlUdBMhtRsZlrJEcIAiX0LqbXwVv3JWr4pASXncYsi9Wr5fjmGKl-YgOSuf1bOvPGWXCd_p8whH6W3tsNH75r-qIhUDkoDrF2i7xhlpZgwuHhgjSYD0LRpEw4YXrZr5cFtV3CSXFjqD0cqoOsWV4Q/w480-h640/IMG_3849.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: </span><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Lent/BLent3_RCL.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">John 2:13-22</a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it was time for the Passover, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when everyone flocked to Jerusalem</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to make their sacrifice at the Temple,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also went to Jerusalem. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And there, instead of making his sacrifice,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he short-circuited the whole system. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite the whip and the table-overturning action, though, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this story is not about Jesus’ anger.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s not finding fault with the sacrificial system, either,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but rather announcing, in dramatic fashion,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that it is no longer needed. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That there do not have to be transactions</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and intermediaries</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">within a complicated structure,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the kinds of things found in the market place,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for people to be in relationship with God. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his disruption of the Temple process, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he is, like an Old Testament prophet,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">acting out who he is. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is the man from God interrupting</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the regularly scheduled program</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">so as to bridge the divide</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">between humanity and divinity. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is God’s interruption of the world</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as it was before, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the divine interrupting earthly life. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’s point in this prophetic performance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is that HE is now the locus of God among the people. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because God is not a God of a particular location,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">bound by walls and courts and corridors </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or a system of rules and observances,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but is a living God who is among the people. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those of us who have been attending the interfaith </span>dialogue <span style="font-family: inherit;">are aware that Judaism itself was changed </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when the Temple was indeed destroyed </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in the first century. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judaism moved the focus from a sacrificial system </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to recenter on gathering in community </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">where people came together </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be fed, to learn, to worship together, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be equipped to serve the world </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as God commands.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So for Jews and for Christians alike, then, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Temple is no more.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The obvious follow up to this, then, is the question, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">why worship in a building at all? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If the historic and storied Temple has been made obsolete,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">then what about OUR historic and storied building? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about OUR system,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with its Prayer Books and vested priests? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If our salvation is assured,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">why not just go to the mountains or the beach</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and read some Thomas Merton or Mother Teresa?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, as you know, many people DO go to the mountains or the beach. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They say that they are spiritual but not religious. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They commune with God in their own way,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">without a church to tell them anything. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I understand that. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I spent some time being spiritual but not religious myself. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was nice to sleep in on Sundays.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, I came back. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I came back because I wanted to be part of something</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that was way bigger than I was. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a thing for beautiful sacred spaces, but also </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to be part of a community. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it was community that actually formed me,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that upheld me in my troubles,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that prayed for me, and visited me,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and brought food to me. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was in community that I experienced </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the love that we Christians say</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the world will know us by.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found people who would walk with me, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">people who would serve as mentors and guides along the way. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found beauty in sacred spaces and in the music in church.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found classes and groups that fed me spiritually. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found that the church could be a resource</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not just for me but for others,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all kinds of others. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found that it was through being in community </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that I could discern where God was calling me to go</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and who God was calling me to be. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The building was the place I went to gather </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with the community </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but being in community was how I grew.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so I found I could be be spiritual AND religious. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus was all about community, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and he taught in the synagogues </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which were already a part of Judaism. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he didn’t want people to worship the Temple</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">instead of worshipping God. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus didn’t want people to feel that they have to make transactions </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be in relationship with God, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and you know that lots of us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">still think we need to do that. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">("God, I’ll do something good so you’ll love me </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and save me.") </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus wanted people to encounter a living God </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in their daily lives.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so that is our challenge. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are not here to worship our building,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">expecting that somehow our salvation comes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from church membership </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or saying the right words </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or doing a good deed.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are not here to make a transaction with God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for our salvation. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our salvation has already come </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in Jesus.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We come here to be a community that follows Jesus. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Congregational life is how we are formed and transformed,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and God is among us here, I know absolutely.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We derive real sustenance from being</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">part of a church community,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and our spiritual growth depends on our prayers together,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our considering Scripture together,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our working together for the good of the world around us.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this is not the only place God is. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We don’t just “come to visit God” on Sundays and holidays.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We, too, can encounter a living God in our daily lives, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we re-orient ourselves to look for God everywhere</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and not just here. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God interrupts our lives every day....</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we feel some kind of urge</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to go visit someone who is sick or lonely</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or welcome a stranger</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or get involved with a group to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">alleviate poverty or suffering or hunger. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God interrupts our preoccupations with getting things right </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through order and systems and transactions </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and calls us to follow Jesus and minister out there in the world </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in his name.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus wants us to live for God and others. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">To worship God and not the church or the Bible </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or our services or our prayer book. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus wants us to be in community</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but not to worship the community. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus wants us to be fed and nurtured</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and guided in community</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and to follow him out into the world.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s why we are here.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-45397072085686000642024-02-18T15:10:00.001-05:002024-02-18T15:10:06.772-05:00Live like we believe it<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM46hwRrO0leJSN4F3M4l3BI3HYOQfuQJqKoWsxh73RmlMwgKGoRFTLb_3lRWgRJBrfmdtq_jQ-v2hviatF9uKpj6VumlFCaDh298NOlkE7octdeo5n3hSeaJwB0s85GvUha80TM_spLvynjNWc_AWRg_tD8qdDCWJTuPU1qDRhOTZhhpj1wOU2rPcEaDs/s5712/IMG_2017.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM46hwRrO0leJSN4F3M4l3BI3HYOQfuQJqKoWsxh73RmlMwgKGoRFTLb_3lRWgRJBrfmdtq_jQ-v2hviatF9uKpj6VumlFCaDh298NOlkE7octdeo5n3hSeaJwB0s85GvUha80TM_spLvynjNWc_AWRg_tD8qdDCWJTuPU1qDRhOTZhhpj1wOU2rPcEaDs/w640-h480/IMG_2017.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text:<a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Lent/BLent1_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank"> Mark 1:9-15</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t know exactly why it was that the Spirit pushed Jesus out of the baptismal waters right into the wilderness to undergo temptation, but every year at this time we read this story to begin our Sundays in Lent. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, it seems like a hint, doesn’t it? That the Spirit of God, which we receive at our baptisms, directs us, recruits us, presses us forward and deeper into our lives with God. That the Spirit is active in our lives and is sometimes most likely to show up as disruption. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Gospel of John, which has a lot more to say about the Spirit than any of the other Gospels, Jesus proclaims that it is the Spirit that will lead us, his followers, into truth, even when that truth might be at the edge of the unbearable. It is the Spirit that is with us, opening our eyes, prompting us, when we are listening for what it is that God is doing in the world and what it is that God wants us to do in the world, even when, or perhaps especially when, we are exhausted, confused, frustrated, and lost. Even and especially when we are in a wilderness time or place.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have always loved the season of Lent, which was new to me when I became an Episcopalian thirty years or so ago. Maybe I still feel the zeal of a convert, but I love the fact that we intentionally take a season to look at the direction in which our lives are headed and to discern if this direction is actually going towards God or going away from God.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that to answer that question we have to also be intentional about looking for where God is, what God is up to, to tune in to how it is that the divine shows up in the world around us.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT5PhfHRQFh_BZGV6UC2x2GVjfwPpt6BNX-6RVCqx3ppLI92yKrbAxNj8Zj9ooM65mC7HvRHXsreWhxCxh9XOf3o9yTuh1f5JC_OJS6U1s2jv85ycimh5cTk_f5CwSS7RPOwF5ECbSW2Agcw5Gk2_tS5Ps6w0KRlebJ1F9tMjf7NI3InARoBwAOrI23k1/s3269/IMG_3185.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3269" data-original-width="2452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT5PhfHRQFh_BZGV6UC2x2GVjfwPpt6BNX-6RVCqx3ppLI92yKrbAxNj8Zj9ooM65mC7HvRHXsreWhxCxh9XOf3o9yTuh1f5JC_OJS6U1s2jv85ycimh5cTk_f5CwSS7RPOwF5ECbSW2Agcw5Gk2_tS5Ps6w0KRlebJ1F9tMjf7NI3InARoBwAOrI23k1/s320/IMG_3185.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the imagery of Lent, the wilderness, the angels and wild beasts, even the temptation part, and understanding that this is not just long ago and far away. There are wildernesses in our lives now, and temptations too. Temptation to go along with the world’s values instead of following Jesus’s commands to love our neighbors as ourselves. Temptation to take shortcuts to expediency, to act now and think later, to let fear and anxiety fuel our actions. Temptation to look for quick answers and see everything in black and white because daily discernment and thoughtful prayerand tending to our spiritual lives feels too demanding in such a busy world as ours.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that when Jesus says repent and believe the good news, he isn’t just talking about saying ok to an idea. He’s saying live like you believe that good news. Live like you believe that God wants life for you. Live like you believe that no matter how hard it all gets, God, Jesus, the Spirit will be with you. Live like you believe that God wants life for everyone because everyone belongs to God. Live like you believe that God has given and will give new life even in the midst of death and that Jesus - the fact of him, and his words, and his actions - shows us how to live even in the midst of wrenching loss and grief.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I love that Lent makes clear that the Spirit is not just a comforter but also a disrupter and that wilderness time is necessary for real life, the kind of life that gushes up like a spring of water to nourish everything around it.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HJnujFCtmCgT5tQH-hT8bJnmjlgYiqLcYm_3XegUI1DnJJO0mUUuSPJGl7HrM6lR1inZZAch7kZ5M4sK6q-H1MOiL_plvTNw3aB8sBTIpl9YkO7LqVyOqCtAUT5i_H8rVFRsI0c3oLWPt3e6qi6jUM5X5JY7idMucFQsmpNO0XYC6hVV3p8JFhrcmYgb/s5712/IMG_3107.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HJnujFCtmCgT5tQH-hT8bJnmjlgYiqLcYm_3XegUI1DnJJO0mUUuSPJGl7HrM6lR1inZZAch7kZ5M4sK6q-H1MOiL_plvTNw3aB8sBTIpl9YkO7LqVyOqCtAUT5i_H8rVFRsI0c3oLWPt3e6qi6jUM5X5JY7idMucFQsmpNO0XYC6hVV3p8JFhrcmYgb/s320/IMG_3107.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that this story begins not in the Temple, not in the courthouse, not in the halls of a king or queen, but in the wilderness, on the edges, out there in a liminal space where there are beasts and also angels, where there is temptation and also courage and clarity and time - the proverbial 40 days and 40 nights, which in the Bible means “the time it takes to complete something.” So in this story and in our own wilderness story, there is enough time to discern one’s identity, one’s mission, one’s values and purpose.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I mentioned on Ash Wednesday that during Lent this year we are definitely in the wilderness which is often how transition time is described. And I suggested that our Lenten discipline this year would be well spent in discerning that identity and mission and purpose for our parish.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I suggested we turn upside down the usual questions of “what am I doing for Lent” this year and wonder about God instead of self. What does God want us to be in the world now? Where is God calling us now? What new life is beginning and how might we use our resources to nurture and encourage that new life?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s easy to get caught up in the details of giving up and taking on and let that be our focus during Lent. Avoiding chocolate or caffeine or alcohol or swearing or speeding or shopping at Target (yes, I know someone who gave that up for Lent one year) can take up a lot of our energy and time. And don’t get me wrong, Lenten practices that help us remove obstacles to deeper and more authentic life are good to do.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a little harder to let ourselves be in the wilderness and to look beyond our daily activities to inhabit these big questions about divine activity and new life and what it is that God needs us to be right now.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But whether we like it or not, the Spirit has led us into this wilderness and the Spirit will be with us in it and will tend to us as we face the temptation to rush through the season and miss the opportunity we have to deepen our relationship with God and neighbor, and to follow Jesus by living like we believe the good news that God is always in the business of new and abundant life. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-3103602714747813322024-01-14T06:00:00.002-05:002024-01-14T06:00:00.177-05:00Dreams<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmpZ3i1_z9Xe_d47Tbt6hlEKypjt6h8H7hXvv3DkyfSaO_-jibC-2LMMaCh2FeQN9Kvybt53QLUjxB0NWcoCLFsFXUkfEgqlvtbtgEnD2FkkK_9IITtolSY2jhcgkLxjpRdUdZa1yw7vs9V0fPs96Dd_jyvi16Oq7KlZocAn94dvAedWVWxoZT7Y9Lj50/s4032/IMG_4348.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmpZ3i1_z9Xe_d47Tbt6hlEKypjt6h8H7hXvv3DkyfSaO_-jibC-2LMMaCh2FeQN9Kvybt53QLUjxB0NWcoCLFsFXUkfEgqlvtbtgEnD2FkkK_9IITtolSY2jhcgkLxjpRdUdZa1yw7vs9V0fPs96Dd_jyvi16Oq7KlZocAn94dvAedWVWxoZT7Y9Lj50/w480-h640/IMG_4348.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Texts: </span><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Epiphany/BEpi2_RCL.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">1 Samuel 3:1-10; John 1:43-51</a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we hear two stories about recognizing when </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Holy One shows up.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Samuel, a child who does not know God, hears someone calling him </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but has to learn that it is indeed God who calls, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and Samuel has to be taught how to respond.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nathaniel, who is a world-weary grownup, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">has firm ideas about God and where Holiness comes from </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and he has to unlearn what he has been taught about that </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">so that he, too, can know when it is God who calls </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and how to respond.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this season of Epiphany, this is our question as well: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">how do we learn to recognize the voice of God, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and what are we supposed to do </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we realize that the Holy One</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is speaking to us.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzR21ezmsXhuQIODBrxHIiQrvAVFt-sWLeME4Qke-96NYb-_Hl5OKvLyIS7IxEnuG64K_ELjoXUZrCyOIHd6v7YBuWRsw5ggjcJR8fI3mnwva_mcyYaSsPh7pEJWzXHYY_b7IbXkikU1PHma29EWzpsSME2E0zGKT_L6lMn13tAsqZEtJ6NMrE4fQ-glP/s2565/_DSC3634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="2357" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzR21ezmsXhuQIODBrxHIiQrvAVFt-sWLeME4Qke-96NYb-_Hl5OKvLyIS7IxEnuG64K_ELjoXUZrCyOIHd6v7YBuWRsw5ggjcJR8fI3mnwva_mcyYaSsPh7pEJWzXHYY_b7IbXkikU1PHma29EWzpsSME2E0zGKT_L6lMn13tAsqZEtJ6NMrE4fQ-glP/w368-h400/_DSC3634.JPG" width="368" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus usually gives pretty helpful answers to these kinds of questions, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but what he says today to Nathaniel might feel less than instructive, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">particularly if we were to take him literally. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because when have you seen the angels</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ascending and descending into heaven lately? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve never seen angels ascending and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">descending, although there is an iron angel </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">climbing up the metal cross on top of the</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sky high pencil thin bell tower </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the Badia Fiorentino in Florence, Italy,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that was very arresting the first time I saw it.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So maybe Jesus isn’t being literal here.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how do we know when the Holy One is calling to us, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and how should we respond? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we recognize when we, like Samuel, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">like Nathaniel - indeed like the magi, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the figures we most think of during this</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">season - have an epiphany, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that is, an experience where we </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">grasp that some kind of divine activity</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is in our midst?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my former teachers, Brian Mahan, who is not ordained, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">wrote a book called “Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vocation and the Ethics of Ambition”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in which he uses the term “epiphanies of recruitment.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An epiphany of recruitment is an experience </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through which we feel drawn to give ourselves over</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to a purpose beyond ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and to life a different kind of life.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">These epiphanies happen in real, regular life,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and they may not make sense to anyone but us,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but they are experiences of calling.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Professor Mahan tells the story of himself as a young child, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sitting on a Sunday morning in his Roman Catholic parish church,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">his pocket filled</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with the coins he’d been saving from his allowance.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Upon hearing a guest speaker talk about her work with the poor</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through the St. Vincent de Paul Society,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he felt so moved</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that he emptied all of his dimes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">into the offering plate.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He was just a child,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but he felt in that moment a calling to something beyond himself,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and he responded.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Responding to vocation, he told us,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is giving over oneself, one’s life,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to compassion for others and for the world.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this is not necessarily a feel good story. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Professor Mahan’s father was angry at him</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for giving away all his money</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and withheld his allowance for two weeks</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a punishment for being so foolish.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Divine activity often looks foolish. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Popular culture rewards success over compassion </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and favors self-promotion over self-sacrifice. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The world wants us to achieve status </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and amass resources for ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">instead of giving them away</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for the good of the whole </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or using our voices to stand up for those</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">whose voices are being discounted or drowned out.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So like Nathaniel, we have to re-frame our understanding </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of where the divine comes from or what divine activity really is. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And like Samuel we have to learn how to listen for God, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">how to put ourselves into a posture of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">tuning in to the divine.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we move into a new year here at St. James’s, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this is our work as a parish, too: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">To listen out for God speaking to us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It will be our work to open our eyes to see God at work </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in the world around us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">so that we as a community of faith</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">can join in that work as partners with God </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to serve our neighbors as Jesus commands.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To do that we also need to tune in to the community on the other side </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of our big granite columns </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and open our eyes to what the needs are out there </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to discern what we may have to offer to meet those needs </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then how we might go about</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">putting our resources to work for the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">benefit of our neighbors.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">It’s tempting especially in a time of transition </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">to want to circle the wagons and become a closed community. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">It’s tempting to reach back into the past and stay there </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">with our work and our attitudes and our opinions. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">But this is not what the church is for. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">Later today we will hear much about the dream of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but this morning I’m thinking </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">about another dream, the dream of God </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">as addressed by Verna Dozier, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">a Black Episcopal laywoman from D.C. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">who wrote a book by that name, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Dream of God.</i></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s hard but transformative reading. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">She says that the Dream of God is</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that we Christians will </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">follow</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Jesus</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and not merely worship him. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That we will serve our neighbors instead of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">keeping all our resources for the purpose of preserving our institution.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dozier explains that the church comes together on Sundays </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and other days </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to learn, to be fed spiritually, to deepen our relationships </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with God and one another. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is The Church gathered.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then we're supposed to go out into the world </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to follow Jesus, to serve our neighbors, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to minister to them, to be in real relationship with them. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is The Church scattered.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we are called to be both, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">both The Church gathered here, to pray, to hear our stories,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to sing, to be fed, to give thanks; </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and also The Church scattered, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">following Jesus out into the world</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to work for God’s dream of life </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and reconciliation and peace </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">right here in our city.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">God’s dream for us </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">is that we will listen for and notice those epiphanies of recruitment </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">that show up as we are just living our lives, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">and respond by giving over our selves</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">to compassion for others and for the world. </span>Maybe you'll have one of those epiphanies today or tomorrow, here in this space or over in Valentine Hall.</p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So let’s pay attention. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s listen. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s respond. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s join in God’s dream.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYES5WNU3kPtUuxHW2xxqnSXaQa3WCQ_DcPwdten65rSjuk-z8KUHquN59SW-NeEJ3M1oZWWTh7nmhY__GnxxCSfPCvW9VWHQk8mYC2L8IkrWAWwXPVAEMC-PwjX5fXDXLrmZKArqpqMlDhyphenhyphen5_47XBWlztsBaWNYBc7MZ_5rlkC-43OL4I_k8Ip7VVUpu9/s994/_DSC8266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="821" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYES5WNU3kPtUuxHW2xxqnSXaQa3WCQ_DcPwdten65rSjuk-z8KUHquN59SW-NeEJ3M1oZWWTh7nmhY__GnxxCSfPCvW9VWHQk8mYC2L8IkrWAWwXPVAEMC-PwjX5fXDXLrmZKArqpqMlDhyphenhyphen5_47XBWlztsBaWNYBc7MZ_5rlkC-43OL4I_k8Ip7VVUpu9/w528-h640/_DSC8266.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-51296970088587561342023-12-31T06:00:00.010-05:002023-12-31T07:47:34.375-05:00He came to give life<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOFfjSWrkq9Hy7bIBv4O4IutR-LFZIGwKzNxTT-8aBZwKQ3g8tcf_77q41ukhn1IyQ0e5XfOOOYYc3Kqk60FRO4aCCeey6rQc1OhBdZkq55JwJyntvzLmal0SUoe2vBsHPV2ZOLkiSKQ1xcG0yd6QRbayiAwwzIuljk0IF46PjgcLTqDr883lTEWBbMG0/s2932/IMG_4199.jpeg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2094" data-original-width="2932" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOFfjSWrkq9Hy7bIBv4O4IutR-LFZIGwKzNxTT-8aBZwKQ3g8tcf_77q41ukhn1IyQ0e5XfOOOYYc3Kqk60FRO4aCCeey6rQc1OhBdZkq55JwJyntvzLmal0SUoe2vBsHPV2ZOLkiSKQ1xcG0yd6QRbayiAwwzIuljk0IF46PjgcLTqDr883lTEWBbMG0/w640-h458/IMG_4199.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><span><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearABC/Christmas/Christmas1.html#Gsp1" target="_blank">John 1:1-18</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this first Sunday after Christmas, we look at the incarnation through a completely different lens. Whereas both Luke and Matthew begin with the story of Jesus born to human parents - stories of promises kept within the scope of human history and decorated with either angels and shepherds or magi and a star - the Gospel of John is cosmic in scope, beginning outside the constraints of time and place and even human understanding. </span></p><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through just a few lines of exquisite poetry, this passage, known as the prologue, brings forward a number of big themes from the Hebrew scriptures: creation; the Word as the expression of God in the world; light; the appearance and manifestation of God’s glory; God dwelling among God’s people; and the whole Wisdom tradition. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And at the same time, it sets out all the themes that will appear in this particular Gospel: light vs darkness; testimony and witness; grace and truth; Father and Son; belief and acceptance; death and rebirth; seeing and knowing; and above all, life.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amid all this extravagance in these few lines, John also explains plainly who Jesus is and why he came: to reveal God as the presence of God on earth. Jesus has brought divine life, heaven, into this world. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, John goes on, and this is a major point for John, it is our job to respond appropriately - to believe the testimony that God’s one desire is to give us real, true, grace-filled, glorious, love-infused life.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The message of Christmas in THIS book is that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, but I like the version from The Message best: “The Word was made flesh and moved into the neighborhood.” God has come to us in the person of Jesus to give us true life. He’s our neighbor, not just a spirit in the sky. What could be better news for Christmas?</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />But if we keep reading through this Gospel, we start getting the picture that this Jesus turns out to be like the neighbor who paints his house purple and never mows the lawn. He’s the kind of neighbor who brings the good wine to the first party we invite him to, but then makes a big ruckus and turns over all the tables out there in the narthex at the next one. Uh-oh.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we already know that Jesus is the one who reveals God to us, which John has pointed out right up front, then what is our response not only to the abundance of wine but also to the upturned tables? What is our response to the offer of life when it comes from a man who has a favorite disciple? A man who tells his friends he will not go to the festival in Jerusalem but then sneaks in anyway? A man who plays word games with Nicodemus and becomes irritated with his mother? What is our response to a man who seems to piddle around while his friend Lazarus dies and then weeps bitterly before finally calling him out of the tomb?</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This doesn’t seem very God-like, does it? Raising Lazarus, yes, but crying, piddling, rabble rousing in the temple, playing favorites? We expect God to be powerful and consistent. Not passionate and emotional, mixing up new life and healing with frustration at what he sometimes sees going on around him.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet this is what we see of God all through all the Scriptures. God punishes and then mourns the people taken in exile and God’s anger burns hot against their enemies, enemies God also claims to love. God appears before Job as one who takes pleasure in the creation of the great armored crocodile that can destroy at will, and God also directs Isaiah to tell the people that God will wipe away every tear.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do we expect God to be consistent? To conform to the rules we have made to keep us from making ourselves vulnerable to the world around us? Do we expect to understand God and God’s ways? </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps our response to John’s question about how we should respond to Jesus must first be grounded in an understanding that life, real life, like God, includes all these things. And thus perhaps our response should be to try to live in this world - as it is - with true passion.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Later in the story Jesus will say that he came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. And abundant life is not just happiness. It’s not the safety of sameness or the security of tameness or the absence of pain.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, Jesus shows us that we are to experience all that life has to offer - from the pleasure of deep friendship to the hot face of righteous anger to the surrender of body shaking grief and much in between. These are in fact what make us fully alive. And as St Irenaeus says, a human being fully alive is the glory of God.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We always hear this text on the first Sunday after Christmas - after we have worshiped at the manger and perhaps also at the toy or electronics store. I think it is meant to shake us up - to shake us out of any notion that accumulation of stuff is how we live the good life. And to shake us out of any complacency that might have settled in after we’ve cozied up to the baby Jesus in the hay. We get to play with our new toys and relish that pastoral scene for a few days and then John grabs us by the lapels and says, “Hey! No less than God almighty has moved into the neighborhood. How are you going to respond?”</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />(No wonder we don’t get the big crowds at church on this Sunday.)</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But of course, Jesus shows us how we ought to respond as we follow him through the rest of the Gospel, like this: Be passionate. Love your friends. Be angry when you see injustice and do something about it. Mourn and grieve death and destruction. Be generous. Be faithful to your religious tradition. Spend time away with your family and friends. Feed people. Wash their feet. Be curious. Stand up for what you believe in. Develop your talents. Go fishing. Be open to wonder. Look for God in unlikely places. Let go of your fears. Change your mind. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spread the Good News - that the Word was made flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory, the glory of a human fully alive, full of grace and truth. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, go out and live like Jesus yourself. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9hMJXbs_REOHJ_ia-mfMEFA_4tiZl0qiBESTutNgGThMqhW93WTGcMYk-8C5L-1YlouQGS4OntI1tkwka5oGS24_ORiiCnJCIKasDAzkcNRRvqs9SixdpYem6IFy30p_8ndZpvOkkc3mdX5j11sSZCS_8q9S72psevrCpg_0p77k1F5IsOq8JvJq_a1E/s4032/IMG_5951.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9hMJXbs_REOHJ_ia-mfMEFA_4tiZl0qiBESTutNgGThMqhW93WTGcMYk-8C5L-1YlouQGS4OntI1tkwka5oGS24_ORiiCnJCIKasDAzkcNRRvqs9SixdpYem6IFy30p_8ndZpvOkkc3mdX5j11sSZCS_8q9S72psevrCpg_0p77k1F5IsOq8JvJq_a1E/w400-h300/IMG_5951.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-39500278009232455022023-12-03T06:00:00.003-05:002023-12-03T06:00:00.139-05:00Putting on the armor of light<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzslhh0FCTC2HzZlO4OjFOmqdb4O3TrZAQKUcOnqMygIYZDMuL2fDMCJACMntMqs1vxzlFngAtm3PvtFHBQHkRU9wTsebwZwG6Ru6UczZ0xOAPF953ESf1bJJVsB_Ai2fSIL1zM9denfdRZ8Sjn0enjjHy_uQQO3a17dVE9ryd18wcIyhF2YjqVlWyOt_w/s3446/DSC_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3446" data-original-width="2755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzslhh0FCTC2HzZlO4OjFOmqdb4O3TrZAQKUcOnqMygIYZDMuL2fDMCJACMntMqs1vxzlFngAtm3PvtFHBQHkRU9wTsebwZwG6Ru6UczZ0xOAPF953ESf1bJJVsB_Ai2fSIL1zM9denfdRZ8Sjn0enjjHy_uQQO3a17dVE9ryd18wcIyhF2YjqVlWyOt_w/w512-h640/DSC_0020.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Texts: </span><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Advent/BAdv1_RCL.html" target="_blank">Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37</a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the recession of 2008, the actor Kenan Thompson appeared on Saturday Night Live a few times as the character Oscar Rogers, a “financial expert.” Rogers portrayed with typical SNL humor the real frustration of people who were getting beat up by the economic woes of that year. His report on the economy was, emphatically, that IT needed to be FIXED. That was his whole thing: shouting FIX IT every time show host Seth Myers asked him a question. And when Myers asked him to say how he thought we should go about fixing it, Rogers reported: “Take it one step at a time. Identify the problem. FIX IT. Identify another problem. FIX IT! Repeat as necessary. And when I wake up in the morning, I want IT to be FIXED!”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That skit may have been created specifically for the economic crisis of 2008, but just read Isaiah today and we see that some kind of IT has been needing to be FIXED for a long time.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We always begin the season of Advent in Year B with this reading. O, that you would tear open the heavens and come down, O God, and do those awesome deeds we know you can do. Because we are in a big mess of our own making and cannot save ourselves. And Jesus speaks of cosmic disturbances in those same heavens and the need to watch for sudden appearances and signs of the master’s return.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so it is not business as usual at church, this season of Advent, with these opening messages today. Advent is both looking ahead - for God to come - and looking around as Jesus commands - what signs do we see now? </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the season in which we yearn for restoration - restore us O God of Hosts! We long for salvation. We yearn for the presence of a power so awesome and righteous that we and all the world will be brought up short. We long to be molded into what God has created us to be.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we long and yearn for those things because we know what a mess the world is. Come down and fix it, God, come down and save us, God, come down and gather us as your people. And yet also we have been given a savior to follow and we hear his commandments to love and serve our neighbors who also are God’s people and to look around for the signs of the kingdom which is in fact near.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We say that Advent is a time of waiting. But we don’t do nothing while we wait. We long but we don’t stop responding to the needs around us. We yearn but we don’t hold back for someone else to bind up wounds and work for the peace that we talk about so much at Christmas.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This year I expect to spend Advent meditating on peace. Last month I was in Northern Ireland learning from people who have been and are peacemakers in that country, which for thirty years was torn apart by violence, with more than half of those who died just folks who were on a bus or at a bar or walking by a building that was blown up by one side or the other. I visited places where violence took place and I visited places where secret meetings took place that would eventually evolve into bona fide peace talks. Some of the people I heard from were clergy, both Protestant and Catholic, but also lay folks who took seriously the command of Jesus to be a peacemaker. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSqx1YOuBVYkiLXE2Ql4XdeZPpwA3ObknphEiMxrfw0rEgjYZrwJsqcFfNeAPlGNEF1F6U0P8qxbxwNNSWbIpeaqY9_NmK4mbLB1AtmCowAdf8eQUoZA-nkIOkmQv-vxMZ27dVFnJD4uA_21FSYe0cj0fY_tI3lKxl3WE2F1Bs4Z4nBw3qhH5NiPTXODC/s3264/IMG_7467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSqx1YOuBVYkiLXE2Ql4XdeZPpwA3ObknphEiMxrfw0rEgjYZrwJsqcFfNeAPlGNEF1F6U0P8qxbxwNNSWbIpeaqY9_NmK4mbLB1AtmCowAdf8eQUoZA-nkIOkmQv-vxMZ27dVFnJD4uA_21FSYe0cj0fY_tI3lKxl3WE2F1Bs4Z4nBw3qhH5NiPTXODC/w300-h400/IMG_7467.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And no doubt they all prayed, and not just on the first Sunday of Advent, for God to come down and fix this mess. But also, while they waited, they kept showing up to the groups that had been formed to help Catholics and Protestants, or nationalists and republicans, or east-enders and west-enders to get to know each other, to play together or talk or dance and learn to see one another as fellow humans instead of members of the other side. While they waited for the authorities to hammer out deals, they invited one another into conversation, they listened to the awful stories of waking up to paramilitary groups bashing down the door looking for a father, of losing a sister who was just going to the grocery, and they learned to open their hearts to one another. While they waited for peace, they learned how to ask for peace, if necessary to march for peace, to come together from all sides for peace, and eventually some of them joined the ranks of the higher-ups who were able to broker the peace that did come in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story goes that U.S. Senator George Mitchell, who had been appointed to broker that deal, felt that the time had come to close it, but both sides were holding back. So he announced that he was leaving on Wednesday. And on Friday, the deal was reached. Perhaps he did not say to both sides that when he woke up in the morning he wanted it to be fixed, but he did see the signs that the agreement was near, and he announced it to the people with whom he had worked diligently for five long years. And they saw it was so.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our world is still torn by so much strife. And even if in our land we are not bombing each other, there is so much polarization, there is so little listening to one another, there is so much need for restoration of community, and it is hard to see that small group just out of sight that is always there, working for peace and reconciliation. As a follower of Jesus I am called to be in that small group, that reconciliation and restoration is our calling as Christians, individually and institutionally, right here where I am. I know that we are waiting for Jesus to come and save us once again because we cannot save ourselves.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I know that Jesus has already come and we are also called to look for the signs that say he is near, the signs that he is in the midst of that small band of peacemakers wherever they may be. I know that when I see them, I need to join them, for the sake of Jesus who is the prince of peace.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Advent, I invite you to join me in meditating on peace as we yearn and long and wait and watch for the signs that God has indeed drawn near. I invite you to yearn and long for peace and reconciliation, and to look for it, too, and to join in making it so. For now is the time, in this mortal life, in our own city and society, that Jesus calls us to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjlhZYjdXS9Qv4mSfDfauu9TiUN3u20678_fwwoZium-Q7Li3A9pQrrUP9GZ73e6IpZgYM1_7K3-9yufB1HLN3Yy0lS2fKZJS9d6A4hc3mV6mjBBTFkTkarcWiSSJp0TRexasUnNc2yrx9tACZHu7jRcMcoxoxo_ml1mMaxRZO2_QUUOPdQSlD-oiRYg7/s3523/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="3523" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjlhZYjdXS9Qv4mSfDfauu9TiUN3u20678_fwwoZium-Q7Li3A9pQrrUP9GZ73e6IpZgYM1_7K3-9yufB1HLN3Yy0lS2fKZJS9d6A4hc3mV6mjBBTFkTkarcWiSSJp0TRexasUnNc2yrx9tACZHu7jRcMcoxoxo_ml1mMaxRZO2_QUUOPdQSlD-oiRYg7/w400-h314/DSC_0102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-24820958123053265362023-11-23T12:15:00.002-05:002023-11-23T12:15:15.638-05:00Returning Thanks<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6z1x33ythVNxt4RiliQxWfkcMYl1ILY3fSiUDsBPGf9RMOmWBCy7kp8yyZ_h4rTRIf_7ypbGdAV5RN4cc5Sap1Hv8tEAd5VQ9mbOuPEzmhTh9UVCtqI-FAQ06vzFp53lhDtViMNLNgcRyCtyRlLQzogSroq-HP4m3xYJbLho-3Am20PSzNigM8Em4aAyg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6z1x33ythVNxt4RiliQxWfkcMYl1ILY3fSiUDsBPGf9RMOmWBCy7kp8yyZ_h4rTRIf_7ypbGdAV5RN4cc5Sap1Hv8tEAd5VQ9mbOuPEzmhTh9UVCtqI-FAQ06vzFp53lhDtViMNLNgcRyCtyRlLQzogSroq-HP4m3xYJbLho-3Am20PSzNigM8Em4aAyg=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">So, here we are again at Thanksgiving, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">the holiday that is about abundance. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">My childhood Thanksgiving table </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">always featured a cornucopia </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">overflowing with wax vegetables and fruit (</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">did you have one of those, too?) </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that lived in the attic the rest of the year. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a huge turkey and many side dishes on the table, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">including my mom’s cornbread dressing </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which is the best dressing there is. (Fight me.)</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We ate a lot. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And sometimes we raked leaves </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or watched football and movies on TV </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">after the meal. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was lots of everything and we felt thankful for it </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and said we were thankful for it </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as we sat at our loaded table or on the couch </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">nodding off with full bellies.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was growing up, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">before we ate a meal - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">every meal, not just the one on Thanksgiving Day - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we “asked the blessing.” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The blessing was always asked by my dad, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">unless he was not at home </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in which case it was asked by my mother. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We said that we were “asking the blessing” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">rather than saying it, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because we were asking God to bless the food </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and to bless us to God’s service, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">albeit rather tersely and perhaps somewhat hastily.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This, of course, is an ancient practice, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">pronouncing blessing before meals. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But originally the blessing was not on the food </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but something to be said about God. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who brings forth bread from the earth,” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">goes the traditional Jewish prayer before eating. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Book of Common Prayer offers this very similar </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">version of grace before meals: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for you give us food to sustain our lives </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and make our hearts glad; </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This prayer is not about blessing the food </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but acknowledging the blessedness </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the one who has provided all that we have. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is an ancient and beautiful custom.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also when I was growing up, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I discovered that some other families said other things </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">at meal times. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And they called what they said something different, too. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They didn’t say that we were saying </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">or</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> asking the blessing. They said that they were “returning thanks.” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoXJWdvb_LLjqyt8IaJSM8zMhNArOecrtXXEWpbyGRqewT5mx--kQrG0vizJ73LB7nbIuHdElt47c3L9ACWTBx3E3-tOHtH8o1V2Rl-Potoa4NTI87AVrYLDiriKgTHWUcSIr_1y9YccZtSayhVEkuA0hHK-wLzKcHEYkeFAlqm_Ru30-oKr7GLmmFLT76" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoXJWdvb_LLjqyt8IaJSM8zMhNArOecrtXXEWpbyGRqewT5mx--kQrG0vizJ73LB7nbIuHdElt47c3L9ACWTBx3E3-tOHtH8o1V2Rl-Potoa4NTI87AVrYLDiriKgTHWUcSIr_1y9YccZtSayhVEkuA0hHK-wLzKcHEYkeFAlqm_Ru30-oKr7GLmmFLT76=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>Because of the kind of child I was back then, <span style="font-family: inherit;">I just tossed that idea off as weird. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s not how WE do it, I thought. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We don’t ask anyone to return thanks. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(“Hi Jim, welcome to our home, would you please return thanks?” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What the heck does that mean anyway, giving thanks back? </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">ask</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the blessing.</span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say, however, now that I’m allegedly a grownup, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">while I’m all about saying that God is blessed </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>for providing for us so abundantly - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I think we should say that every day </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and not just at meals - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">having a daily custom of “returning thanks” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">- of giving thanks back - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">seems like a good idea. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure God doesn’t mind feeling called blessed. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure God doesn’t mind us feeling thankful. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure God doesn’t mind us saying thank you for our food. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure God doesn’t mind us enjoying good meals </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and savoring family time. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I wonder if God wonders </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">if we understand how we could be transformed </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and thus transform the world </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">by considering Thanksgiving not only </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a day to give thanks, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then put everything back in the attic to wait for next year, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but as a daily, year-round spiritual practice. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A way to live. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A verb rather than a noun.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What if Thanksgiving were not just about saying thanks </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and feeling thankful </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but practicing thankful-ness through gene<br />rosity, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hospitality, compassion, and stewardship each day? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">About returning thanks not by just pointing up at God </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with a big smile </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but by living out in the world around us each day </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our thankfulness for the abundance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we have been blessed with? </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is great and God is good </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and it is right to give God thanks and praise. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But God also wants us to become our true selves, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who we were made to be, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and becoming our true selves involves spiritual practices. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3oLy8hPiCgNZEw-0kjVEzBdfPzByp6cS2ptMpMDfISC8THNY8CpXdi0N07rnBe3vU5bG9yFGnApyAcq9hyXshkqhqEEht9qZvjgBo4128sK-Q309Zs-1IcFwD1RxoDzKsjrjm1yKqgZhcAcSnjUDkb-IWW2W4D7l1suHBXqKdDJF43WvoRAHlKMPHtI5A" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3oLy8hPiCgNZEw-0kjVEzBdfPzByp6cS2ptMpMDfISC8THNY8CpXdi0N07rnBe3vU5bG9yFGnApyAcq9hyXshkqhqEEht9qZvjgBo4128sK-Q309Zs-1IcFwD1RxoDzKsjrjm1yKqgZhcAcSnjUDkb-IWW2W4D7l1suHBXqKdDJF43WvoRAHlKMPHtI5A=w265-h400" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayer is definitely a spiritual practice; </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">attending church and receiving communion is a spiritual practice. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Walking labyrinths or reading Scripture and lectio divina </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">are spiritual practices. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so is generous giving, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of our selves and of our resources. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are transformed by spiritual practices. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Giving, like other spiritual practices, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">helps our souls deepen and grow. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is how we become who we were made to be.</span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Returning thanks” as a spiritual practice means </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not just giving </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">things</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> away </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but giving </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: underline;">ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> away, </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>fearlessly living out the Gospel in the world around us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in response to God’s graciousness - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to SHOW God’s graciousness </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to a world that sorely needs to see it.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am moved by this sea of grocery bags around the chancel today. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have done this. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have given of your resources </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to feed the hungry in our community, not just today but in the weeks to come. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hundreds of people are going to be able to eat </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because of this. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doug is going to bless these groceries in a few minutes, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but they don’t really need his blessing. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You yourselves have already blessed them </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through your giving.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaV1gGv4I2iZPYp2PfLkugPL7RP91oGQFCUKoOvBxD7a-4gFzhYtNyD4HsaBNx8370SpKfRLYKCD_mXlzhZdOzyx_3O-SbLP8RMLeLpf5vcx2nDLkDwj1L1EbN-A0xsE5zadvfjCiZnx9cuAwhtkDmhwc1CQ66v2FoT2grmQ2lJh6iaX0rcACSTS-QbN6t" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s not stop here, though. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s not just do our bit during the holidays </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but think about how we can return thanks to God </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through practicing generosity all the time. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let us take on returning thanks </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a spiritual practice, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">giving ourselves away for the sake of Jesus, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who, after all, gave himself away </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for us.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><br /></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-40809877785025999472023-11-05T06:00:00.003-05:002023-11-05T07:43:01.581-05:00Making Peace<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBOl3BFCcaH6C8yK3vhVxi1sS7f8TLJl2kHGCWwYPf24PvV8AIoaR1pKDIVJqWvTHHu86g4QIoLZKJkGZLg_Urcp16ZUvZw42k_djkxXO6FbYMXg6VJrsMrHP5mlWLCr25vnmaNlMTRgNI4lVqi8mcvkJtvbtp1Bk7G-YJw62BiZRoNJcFAzw9fdNGRdA/s4032/IMG_4475.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBOl3BFCcaH6C8yK3vhVxi1sS7f8TLJl2kHGCWwYPf24PvV8AIoaR1pKDIVJqWvTHHu86g4QIoLZKJkGZLg_Urcp16ZUvZw42k_djkxXO6FbYMXg6VJrsMrHP5mlWLCr25vnmaNlMTRgNI4lVqi8mcvkJtvbtp1Bk7G-YJw62BiZRoNJcFAzw9fdNGRdA/w640-h480/IMG_4475.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/HolyDays/AAllSaints_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew 5:1-12</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d;">There is a scene in the Monty Python comedy “Life of Brian” where Jesus stands on a rocky hill, speaking to the multitudes gathered below. Some distance away stands a small group, bickering among themselves, who can’t quite make out his words. At one point, one man asks another, “What did he just say?”</span></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I think he said blessed are the cheesemakers!” the other replies. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Blessed are the cheesemakers?” a nearby woman cries, “What’s so special about cheesemakers?” </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The scene is good for a laugh, but listen: Jesus may not have said “Blessed are the cheesemakers,” but what he did say probably sounded equally ridiculous to his actual listeners, and no less ridiculous to us today.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the poor. Blessed are those who mourn, who are hungry and thirsty. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are those who are persecuted. And perhaps strangest of all, blessed are the peacemakers. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peacemakers. Those who make peace, who are in the business of peace. Peacemaking is not a passive term - it’s not giving in or a simple refusal to fight. Peacemaking is something one does through action, deliberately. And it isn’t popular, making peace, even though one could argue that there is always a lot of demand for that kind of work.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But people tend to think of peacemakers as a little weird, as dreamy idealists, ineffective, maybe even crazy. Peace making, working for reconciliation, making broken things whole, could be dangerous and is likely to fail - who’d want to do that? It seems a futile action.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ career was mostly about action, even though many verses in this Gospel are concerned with his words. His words come after, and in light of, his actions, though. Jesus healed people. He made them whole. And this was so wonderful, so desperately needed, that people came from everywhere and brought their friends and family and neighbors to Jesus - they hauled them out of their beds or the ditches they were dying in and brought them to Jesus so that Jesus would make them whole.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so this discourse about blessedness, this pronouncement of the beatitudes, comes out of the work of Jesus among the broken people in his world. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The poor, the meek, the grieving, the hungry for food and the hungry for justice, the oppressed and persecuted, and also the peacemakers. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">They</span>, Jesus says, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">they</span> are blessed. And we should all see those people through that lens.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then Jesus makes a surprising turn: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">You</span>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">you</span> also are blessed when people dismiss you or taunt you or revile you when you work to make peace. When they think you are out of touch with reality for working to be merciful. When they shun you for working for justice. When they laugh at you for your idealism.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because peace making, mercy-giving, comforting, justice-doing are the actions that Jesus holds up to us as blessed. Making people and their communities whole, healing their woundedness, is the work Jesus gives us to do through these words he speaks from the mountain. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We always read a form of the beatitudes on the Feast of All Saints. Jesus didn’t really say anything about saints, but I can imagine that he might say, blessed are the saints: see how they acted courageously, see how they acted faithfully - they were willing to be thrown to the lions; they were willing to stand up to power mongers; they were willing to give away all their possessions; they were willing to live and work among lepers; they were willing to persist in translating the gospel using only one finger because that was the only part of their body that still worked; blessed are they when they acted in ways that other people would find futile and crazy. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then he would make the turn right here in this room and say to you - blessed are YOU when YOU act courageously and faithfully even if people think YOU are crazy and tell you YOUR actions are futile. Blessed are you when other people think you are weird for mercy-granting, for justice-doing, for peace-making, because everybody knows that won’t help you get ahead in life. Blessed are you when people think you are dreaming when you do the work of peacemaking and others treat you badly for it. When they think you are out of touch with reality for working to be merciful. When they mock you for working for justice and laugh at your idealism. </span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed are you, says the Prince of Peace, for this is how YOU will show the world what the kingdom of heaven looks like.</span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Optima; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-66880876057795248352023-10-22T06:00:00.011-04:002023-10-22T06:00:00.156-04:00In whose image?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr436KsiwDFKwHiD72tBr2vuqInZBsKpifHcsU7q6hHFh5QmJojqVBwEoXZl2eTmLqDW2LnfT8duMRBjVMP4Ec3lSy_57vndfGRdUgsNlbWh65phH9asgmdolfnS09ukyX6jvY_h5PwUzRx_zOCeLmTCYBecBvZl4BPSCn3xdhyjkTCBrD0EX2b0lm559/s4643/_DSC2937.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="4643" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr436KsiwDFKwHiD72tBr2vuqInZBsKpifHcsU7q6hHFh5QmJojqVBwEoXZl2eTmLqDW2LnfT8duMRBjVMP4Ec3lSy_57vndfGRdUgsNlbWh65phH9asgmdolfnS09ukyX6jvY_h5PwUzRx_zOCeLmTCYBecBvZl4BPSCn3xdhyjkTCBrD0EX2b0lm559/w640-h282/_DSC2937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp24_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew 22:15-22</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we come to a curious scene from the Gospel of Matthew that illustrates how the leaders of the various local factions, suspicious and nervous about Jesus, are attempting to bring him down. Remember that Jerusalem at this time is an occupied city in an occupied territory. There was then no nation of Israel, there was only The Roman Empire and all of the territories in that Empire, from Britannia to the Nile Valley, up past Byzantium all the way to the Caspian Sea, are all under Roman rule, some more peacefully than others. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHYmjM8IDevUQfUmH163tBHmK8te20SotlXiacAR2Vp_6CI19MG1GZTrb50cklaViK_63YSATUVE59l1QE58hvk10uOBa3vePP7uVM9NaExyB3Jb0pxfNdckuL3YQ7vCqOwiwQItZc1dCK6uwVCwnoMvR2t413_n_AFrwkyXknWtOthi-2VmKMSDsA9Lc3" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHYmjM8IDevUQfUmH163tBHmK8te20SotlXiacAR2Vp_6CI19MG1GZTrb50cklaViK_63YSATUVE59l1QE58hvk10uOBa3vePP7uVM9NaExyB3Jb0pxfNdckuL3YQ7vCqOwiwQItZc1dCK6uwVCwnoMvR2t413_n_AFrwkyXknWtOthi-2VmKMSDsA9Lc3" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Palestine was not peaceful. It seems that it never really has been peaceful. The area has been ruled by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Turks, Egyptians, Crusaders, and of course in the time of Jesus, the Romans. It is a valuable area, a crossroads on the major trade routes from east to west (from the Far and Near East to the Mediterranean) and from north to south (from most everywhere to Egypt). It is important territory for major world religions as well. And so there has always been conflict there.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s important to consider this context when hearing the story of the attempts to entrap Jesus during what we now call Holy Week. Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem during a tense time, the buildup to Passover when the city was full of pilgrims, and he was being heralded as the Messiah. For some, that meant the hero who would overthrow the Romans and establish God’s rule instead. For others, it meant a canny troublemaker whose actions and words threatened to bring down the religious leadership that was permitted by those Romans to wield power in the land, presumably to then exercise power himself. Jesus had ridden into town as the Messiah and had immediately overthrown the tables in the Temple, a provocative act. The leaders, both political and religious, decided that it was time to take Jesus down.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, they come and ask Jesus if it’s lawful (that is, if the Torah commands) for the Jewish people to pay a special tax to the Roman Emperor. As theologian David Lose puts it, they are asking if it is appropriate for oppressed people to pay their oppressors to oppress them, which sounds a little Monty Python-like, but I think is an accurate description of the situation.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If Jesus says, no, oppressed people should not pay their oppressors to oppress them, then the Roman officials are going to come after him. <br />
<br />
If Jesus says yes, oppressed people SHOULD pay their oppressors to oppress them, then the Jewish people who hailed Jesus as Messiah will reject him.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVU98hQ_IqKTl9OsbGxQMXGYVEkj1TdWcQ9O5RzN14rxEDGhaXk1KQownNpWEMwEiRRLmeYstR4SJpUHdwednAA1iq4jj3buSnutIOb4p7q_p41JIMCdqqJqyMvCre7-xCGwNBGvWyuCYwwsziGqxaHkJ281yy0PhKyEwYmRaZkAvAl_Km8077HBrq_iI/s4032/IMG_4488.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVU98hQ_IqKTl9OsbGxQMXGYVEkj1TdWcQ9O5RzN14rxEDGhaXk1KQownNpWEMwEiRRLmeYstR4SJpUHdwednAA1iq4jj3buSnutIOb4p7q_p41JIMCdqqJqyMvCre7-xCGwNBGvWyuCYwwsziGqxaHkJ281yy0PhKyEwYmRaZkAvAl_Km8077HBrq_iI/s320/IMG_4488.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jesus sidesteps the whole thing. First he asks for a coin, because Jesus, just like me, never carries cash. Second, the so-called religious elite DO carry cash - they carry the Emperor’s Tax Coin cash, they are part of the Roman economic system. Third, he does not take sides in the question. He says to give to Caesar what belongs to him and give to God everything else. </span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvTPwEYlUS-jWxUQfje9UfMtdzIAN61eqsDa2dbGFj1dtM7SEQAm4GkDoQ-HbFFKRnoA9VipuUtwMn3IwiuJPK6i1gahnJLir4SKzM06g3S8p7hTzUpjCvDhQYLurEgM1trd4_9eWNZ9hKN8P8tJ1AxQeAdhC9bQzCaRD4k72XcmzEP51ArnZX7byKoZA/s4928/_DSC2611.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvTPwEYlUS-jWxUQfje9UfMtdzIAN61eqsDa2dbGFj1dtM7SEQAm4GkDoQ-HbFFKRnoA9VipuUtwMn3IwiuJPK6i1gahnJLir4SKzM06g3S8p7hTzUpjCvDhQYLurEgM1trd4_9eWNZ9hKN8P8tJ1AxQeAdhC9bQzCaRD4k72XcmzEP51ArnZX7byKoZA/s320/_DSC2611.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, here’s the catch: the people of God believe that everything belongs to God. We belong to God. We are made in the image of God, not in the image of Caesar. God’s image in imprinted upon us, from the time of our creation. And so Jesus not only again turns the tables, this time metaphorically on his interlocutors, but also calls them, as he did in the temple when he turned over the literal tables, to consider what they themselves owe to God.</span><div><br />
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please understand that this passage is not enshrining some sort of “separation of church and state” as some have tried to portray it. In Jesus’s time, there was no such thing. Life was not compartmentalized in such a way then, and I think we would do well to avoid succumbing to that way of thinking now. As the people of God we believe that everything we have has come from God. So God is not just a Sunday thing. God is an every day thing.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But of course we also live in a society that has laws and systems and such. We are not withdrawn into separatist societies. We too are part of an economic system. So if we are to take Jesus’s words seriously, that all belongs to God but also there may be some things that are due to that system, then this means we have to practice daily discernment about what it is that we do owe to God even while we are paying our rent and and tuition and whatever else requires the coin of the realm. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcSbNRUHurYsnCvFmhBLc0zRitp5iYw3V9hZBUC2H1vAVG-Ep9hTVBTVqSKlJmyIfdOqpqt-w2PgYbeE3tEt7j8Ulpho7B-Rdbjg6zMpss9HfLUrK10lWTeUyQscCL_wZcre6cQcXyaGgA24nGJMEFPQ0JsV8a6ZXXkJ4wGnyNdU_m1YUKwBnB_tZ5zzZ/s4032/IMG_6797.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcSbNRUHurYsnCvFmhBLc0zRitp5iYw3V9hZBUC2H1vAVG-Ep9hTVBTVqSKlJmyIfdOqpqt-w2PgYbeE3tEt7j8Ulpho7B-Rdbjg6zMpss9HfLUrK10lWTeUyQscCL_wZcre6cQcXyaGgA24nGJMEFPQ0JsV8a6ZXXkJ4wGnyNdU_m1YUKwBnB_tZ5zzZ/s320/IMG_6797.jpeg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Naturally during this annual giving season, we all hope that you are giving this great thought. What is it that we owe to God, how do we use the coin of the realm that’s in our pockets to further God’s mission in the world around us?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But just as importantly, how will we recognize when we are being asked to pay something that oppresses us to continue oppressing us? What is it that is demanding our resources that is actually robbing us of the life abundant that God wants for us? And by the way, I don’t mean taxes. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m asking what demands are being made upon us that rob God of our devotion by distracting us away from God in hopes of holding us enthralled to what Biblical people called idols, things created by humans that demand our allegiance but cannot give us life?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RjZz3cL_kepmIYSzRz11ZyioQAzx3TNrQgLldPTH_hvdxpjrhU05EPkb1jFn1HT0tYOawlZB79twIiOOqLJ2DLtDqk7P8DC1FtGy30fn_ZpIrl1sz1wTqymld8JJ06bwD3xwj78oZkTRimoyMHPkIEIgM5CfN7o5H7GSmC0T7CCTFxCaDZsTrKNflBdH/s4032/IMG_4342.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RjZz3cL_kepmIYSzRz11ZyioQAzx3TNrQgLldPTH_hvdxpjrhU05EPkb1jFn1HT0tYOawlZB79twIiOOqLJ2DLtDqk7P8DC1FtGy30fn_ZpIrl1sz1wTqymld8JJ06bwD3xwj78oZkTRimoyMHPkIEIgM5CfN7o5H7GSmC0T7CCTFxCaDZsTrKNflBdH/s320/IMG_4342.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is asking us to consider our values, to consider our commitment to God, to recognize that it is God who has given us life and our many blessings even in the midst of living in a society that we enjoy. And he asks us not to participate in our own degradation by becoming slaves to that society and its demands. He asked us to discern what we owe to whom.</span><div><br />
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discernment is usually not easy. It takes time and thoughtfulness. Many of us feel pretty short on time and maybe inexperienced in the careful consideration and re-consideration of what we have always done or what everyone else is doing that true discernment requires. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
But God is with us in this, as God is with us in all of life, from before even Moses. Every week in our prayers we thank God for giving us discerning hearts. So let us look into our hearts every day to find the path in which we will find ourselves free to turn away from those idols and follow Jesus into new and abundant life.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WO6MhWyulD_A7aL72n1s0xv_38NwzCGPj_RGcRa1ibw8ijeceHIRfRLSdxQJm_lLFyfaE6YkEWrot-VYpcEH3xFo2k1zDt-c3iqWQ2kPyzuCljALapOXc1FLvc_MeIDNj8ubr0nqb8sYKeEnvjlr-Y438sg6LX3QdPyIUjupurE-I-rBmGgFe9PUc5hw/s4032/IMG_7677.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WO6MhWyulD_A7aL72n1s0xv_38NwzCGPj_RGcRa1ibw8ijeceHIRfRLSdxQJm_lLFyfaE6YkEWrot-VYpcEH3xFo2k1zDt-c3iqWQ2kPyzuCljALapOXc1FLvc_MeIDNj8ubr0nqb8sYKeEnvjlr-Y438sg6LX3QdPyIUjupurE-I-rBmGgFe9PUc5hw/w300-h400/IMG_7677.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p></div></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-37038156263434930802023-10-08T06:00:00.002-04:002023-10-08T06:00:00.139-04:00Striving forward<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulb33kB2wMc4ohDahTcuAybgF8B7aKjSh77fro-JpZcW6AU5Y1z4Stp9uDambqdaK1SWvJ3gxKTs8I8aCgwPPyzNt_Yev6O8QGWigDZ6k8mwLq4J_vTfLNMjApNNUwZmgD21eiL9K4VMwGjaYB2rfjVRG9eBnRTOjVhRpV8kA1GmvrEp6WzcLBd1DBmzk/s4032/IMG_3681.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulb33kB2wMc4ohDahTcuAybgF8B7aKjSh77fro-JpZcW6AU5Y1z4Stp9uDambqdaK1SWvJ3gxKTs8I8aCgwPPyzNt_Yev6O8QGWigDZ6k8mwLq4J_vTfLNMjApNNUwZmgD21eiL9K4VMwGjaYB2rfjVRG9eBnRTOjVhRpV8kA1GmvrEp6WzcLBd1DBmzk/w480-h640/IMG_3681.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Texts: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp22_RCL.html" target="_blank">Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do like it when St. Paul talks about Jesus. I like it when he talks about the future. And I like it when he talks about being part of something bigger than ourselves.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, St. Paul is writing to the congregation in Philippi, mostly to thank them for being his friends. He's actually in prison as he writes. But Paul being Paul can’t help but give them some advice. Early in the letter he exhorts them to live their lives in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, even when he is not with them, because …. Well, because people talk, you know. He will hear about it if they do not.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going on, he advises them to be humble and to look out for the interests of others. He reminds them to be different from the world and to rejoice that they are called to be different.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then he gets to the part we read today, which sounds like classic Paul, using some of the words he uses often - righteousness, suffering, circumcision. These would have meaning to those who heard his letter being read to them in church, which may or may not have the same meaning to us, depending on whether or not we hear them as jargon or as clinical terms instead of theological ones. Certainly the word righteousness has been freighted with a lot of meaning beyond what Paul intended. But that’s a conversation for another day.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I want to consider on this day is Paul’s urging for folks to let go of the past and strive toward the future. A future that is determined by the call of God through our following Jesus. What lies ahead is not the result of a strategic plan or a business model or a set of lofty goals. What lies ahead will be revealed to us through listening for God’s call to us in this place and at this time. That’s what determines our future, where and how we will follow Jesus into the place God is calling St. James’s to go and to be next.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now Paul, being Paul, with his sometimes dramatic way with words, suggested that he counts his past as rubbish. Modern psychology, especially the armchair variety, has two things to say about the past: First, that the past is NOT what makes you who you are. This is helpful to those who have suffered trauma in the past, or made horrible mistakes and have trouble accepting that they are not the worst thing they ever did. But also, one often hears that it indeed our past that has made us who we are now, warts and all, successes and failures and all, and that this is how our character has been formed. This is helpful to those who have learned to accept and come to terms with all kinds of things, stuff we could control and stuff we couldn’t control. It’s helpful to those who have done the work of putting their demons in their place, of forgiving and allowing themselves to be forgiven, of remembering that most every day all of us are just doing the best that we can and letting that be ok.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip848r3mrklpcAe-7X-op1acBGwRYpSzGlh_qEnJJ4bYdPE1lpPVECZ7t0XWCAXKj9jOWeXYwJXBY6wCvlMhNs4GOwnG4ozi4HIwP-cjj3Ykm26dxNW2oHPy5Y617AG8oPaQsV43835YhJUY87DW-4PdJTSYmSOEqDzFbVV2c2kjd6rYNkSCEEr_mtP_jy/s4928/_DSC6810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip848r3mrklpcAe-7X-op1acBGwRYpSzGlh_qEnJJ4bYdPE1lpPVECZ7t0XWCAXKj9jOWeXYwJXBY6wCvlMhNs4GOwnG4ozi4HIwP-cjj3Ykm26dxNW2oHPy5Y617AG8oPaQsV43835YhJUY87DW-4PdJTSYmSOEqDzFbVV2c2kjd6rYNkSCEEr_mtP_jy/w265-h400/_DSC6810.JPG" width="265" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul of course was not a student of modern psychology, but I think where he is going with this in his letter to the Philippians is still a healthy way to look at ourselves today individually and as a community.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What he is pointing toward is this: No matter whether one views one’s past as horrific or glorious, following Jesus requires us to hold that past very lightly, because getting mired in or just replaying the past over and over keeps us from listening for God’s call to us here and now and beyond. If we want to live there, either in the glory or the sorrow or the frustration or the joy, we stop following the one we made promises at our baptism to follow, and we therefore stop living our life in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Jesus was always on the move. And so, as St. Paul reminds us, so must we be also, looking forward, pressing forward, listening for that call of Jesus - and following that call, even when the call is challenging and the way forward feels too much like change. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jesus calls us to produce the fruits of the kingdom, which means to follow where he leads, to where God calls, to wherever God’s people are who need to hear the good news that we do not have to stay captive to the past but indeed should strain forward to what lies ahead, confident in our most basic identity as the beloved people of God, and do the work God has given us to do in this </span>vineyard<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and in this time.</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-32223303226274849642023-09-24T06:00:00.010-04:002023-09-24T15:49:36.072-04:00Plenty good room<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKstAhK0DuZrIUxnVOlKp_LosesQQ0sNVVdvYt5tbK_DZDj6sgl4c3RWcTYWGijJhuVHy1V_TUEUuFtxagr2rM9J4zoXUneD4AGQ6Xx0DbEHhhQ22YqcW2A1aFAYSM_TpdK3bQe5JCl4tL9uFlpnullQMydCK6JPPSQabt-umkvTkSnegCFbZUORXttW-l/s4887/P1000501%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="4887" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKstAhK0DuZrIUxnVOlKp_LosesQQ0sNVVdvYt5tbK_DZDj6sgl4c3RWcTYWGijJhuVHy1V_TUEUuFtxagr2rM9J4zoXUneD4AGQ6Xx0DbEHhhQ22YqcW2A1aFAYSM_TpdK3bQe5JCl4tL9uFlpnullQMydCK6JPPSQabt-umkvTkSnegCFbZUORXttW-l/w640-h332/P1000501%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Texts: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp20_RCL.html" target="_blank">Jonah 3:10 - 4:11 and Matthew 20:1-16</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once I read about a woman </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who faithfully reads ahead in the lectionary</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">so she will know what is coming up in church. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The woman informed her pastor</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that she would not be in church the week</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this Gospel passage was read.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">She doesn’t want to hear this story from Matthew. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It offends her. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Truth be told, I know many for whom this story is offensive. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It offends our sense of fairness, something that,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">if you’ve been around kids ever,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">you know is a trait we must be born with. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It’s not fair!” are the three words most often heard</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in families with children. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are born with a sense of fairness, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but in its most basic form it is pretty ego-centric. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not fair because I am not getting</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">what I think I ought to get. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not fair that you get more, or better,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or funner stuff than I do. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though I have plenty of stuff myself.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we grow and that sense of fairness matures </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we begin to extend our concern for fairness to others,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then we might see something wonderful. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Growing up in the 1960’s,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I began to witness a growing sense </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that it was not fair that people of color</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">were supposed to sit in the back of the bus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that they were not able to walk in the front door</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of a store or house,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or attend a white church or restaurant. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">My own children, by the time they got to high school, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">had embarked on a similar journey. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">They reported that it was not fair</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">that a few students at their school were shunned</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">and even treated badly by others </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because they were not white or heterosexual or Christian or </span>whatever<span style="font-family: inherit;"> others deem "normal." </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">When a so-called religious group came to their school</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">holding up signs that said “Thank God for AIDS” </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">and “God hates Jews” and worse,</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">students came out to hold</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> up their own signs</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal;">that said, “God loves everybody.”</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And God does love everybody. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible says so, all over the place.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But for whatever reason, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this can be hard to swallow sometimes. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have this thing about deserving. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We want everyone to get what they deserve </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and deserve what they get. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we’re not so good at admitting </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that we are no more deserving than anyone else.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no better story to illustrate this </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">than the tale of Jonah. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God sends Jonah to Nineveh</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to tell the people there to repent and be saved. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jonah doesn’t want to do this </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and heads the other way. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still, by way of a storm and a big fish, as you may remember, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jonah ends up in Nineveh,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and his message is heard loud and clear. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the urging of the king, everyone, even the animals,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">put on sackcloth and ashes. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They repent and call upon God. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is pleased. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jonah is mad. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nineveh is the capital of Assyria, which is the empire</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that wiped the northern kingdom of Israel</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">off the face of the earth, a sworn enemy. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The people reading the story of Jonah </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when it was written </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">would be shocked and upset that God cares for Nineveh. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They would understand Jonah’s anger. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So when he says “See, God,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew you were the kind of God who is quick to forgive,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and gracious and merciful</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and full of love,” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he doesn’t mean this as a compliment. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’d rather die than rejoice with God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">about God’s concern for the people and animals of Nineveh. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jonah was saved himself by God,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but he’d just rather die</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">than see the people of Nineveh saved, too, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and as the story ends,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he is just sitting there with his arms crossed</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and his jaw set, consumed by his bitterness.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The laborers in the vineyard are not as bitter as Jonah, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but their story certainly echoes his. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are given their daily bread,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the laborers’ daily wage.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But they do not think it’s fair</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for the Lord to give others that same daily bread</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because those others haven’t worked as hard as they have.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are jealous that God has treated others</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">so generously, even though they have all been</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">treated generously themselves.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The vineyard owner drives around all day</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">finding more and more people to bring into the fields for work. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We probably like to think of them as lazy -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">why weren’t they working at the crack of dawn</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">like the others?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We want there to be a reason - a bad reason! -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for them to be without work. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet they say themselves, well, nobody hired us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve been here all day, too, but nobody picked us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were passed over. (The vineyard owner is not the only employer in town after all.)</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so the vineyard owner picks them, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">over and over,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">more and more.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hop in, there’s plenty for everybody. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s plenty good room for everybody.........</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of us call this the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but that’s because we always think everything is about us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We find ourselves in the story</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and let it all revolve around us.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In truth, though, this is the story of the generous vineyard owner. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is what the kingdom is like, Jesus says. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a story about God’s generosity, God’s mercy,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s kindness, God’s desire for all to be part</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of God’s economy. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is about who God is, about how the heart of God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is full of abundance and generosity. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>Why are we envious because God is generous? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do we care that God cares for others </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we don’t think God should care for?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do we not believe what Jesus said</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">about there being many rooms in the mansion? </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think deep down inside, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">maybe many of us feel that the generous God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as portrayed in this story from Matthew, well,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this God is too good to be true.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But here is truth:</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our ways are not God’s ways, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this is such very good news. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This God picks us early</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this God picks us late. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this God picks us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we don’t feel we deserve to be picked </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because it’s not about deserving.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s just about love. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-4427844531421170602023-09-10T06:00:00.001-04:002023-09-10T06:00:00.137-04:00Why are we here?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxhoeVH4GyR1Tfi43Oe8X0hzHy2ozo25ubmN_YPGCREXHMBmvh7lPBf8jtPf0Yi7z_ekZQaSAadVc3hOQg-YIpz6iBVUw9GrVX4xEULRS4h4WFUPXAc6Zeal77O8wLexcRJcGmtNNv8xvvhRtirMv_G1qWvnBNG3JSPlZyT-AL6tIpzJinRkIJ08zbXKBM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxhoeVH4GyR1Tfi43Oe8X0hzHy2ozo25ubmN_YPGCREXHMBmvh7lPBf8jtPf0Yi7z_ekZQaSAadVc3hOQg-YIpz6iBVUw9GrVX4xEULRS4h4WFUPXAc6Zeal77O8wLexcRJcGmtNNv8xvvhRtirMv_G1qWvnBNG3JSPlZyT-AL6tIpzJinRkIJ08zbXKBM=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp18_RCL.html#nt1" target="_blank">Romans 13:8-14</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I struggle with St. Paul, as no doubt he would have struggled with me. He might say I talk too much. I might say he’s awfully opinionated. As much as I respect him, we have our differences, I am sad to say, and so I generally prefer to talk about what Jesus said instead of blessed Paul. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But as we come together to kick off a new program year here, a year in which we are using the <span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">tagline</span> “We are St. James’s - you are St. James’s” as you will see on our program materials - Paul’s words offer us valuable guidance today for what it means to be, individually and communally, St. James’s.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul wrote to the Christian community in Rome, which was established only 20 years after Jesus’s death. Among other things, he wanted to offer to them his vision of what life in a Christian community ought to look like. Christian communities, of course, were a new thing in the first century. Paul was the founder of many of those communities, although not the one in Rome.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, Paul’s letter to the Romans is in some ways different from his other letters. For one thing, this letter seems to echo a lot of what Jesus did and said, which is often missing from the others. For another, most of the other letters were written with an eye toward teaching a Christian community how to live together as a community.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The letter to the Romans, though, is in part also about how to be a community among other communities. The Christian community was embedded in the great city of Rome, the capital of the Empire, home of not just the Christian community but the Jewish community and the pagan “Zeus and Venus” community, and, if there were such a thing back then, even the “dones” or the “nones” communities. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And for the past few weeks we have been hearing from Paul about how to treat one another and also how to treat our neighbors. We have neighbors, too, people in other communities that live just down the street or across the alley or who are riding scooters down West Franklin Street on the way to class. Just as it was in Rome, our neighbors include institutions - a synagogue and a university - and folks who will only live in an apartment across the street for a year or two as well as folks who have owned lovely homes in the historic district for generations. Our neighbors bring their children to learn and be cared for in our preschool, and stop for coffee on the corner, and attend our music concerts, and come to support one another through anonymous groups. They drive by, walk by, listen to our steeple chimes tell them it’s time for lunch. They sit on our steps or in our memorial garden to take a break. And maybe they look at us and wonder who we are behind those big stone columns, wonder if we see them, wonder if we want to know them, wonder who they are to us, their neighbor.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul says live peaceably with your neighbors. Do not be snooty or think too highly of yourself but be humble like Jesus. For all your neighbors belong to God just the way that you do. The summary of all the commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself, he says, just like Jesus said. And because of that, he says, love does no wrong to a neighbor. Indeed, loving your neighbor as yourself means wishing for and working toward the well-being of your neighbor, no matter whether you know them or how you feel about them. Love in our tradition is not an emotion, it’s our work.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So this Jesus-infused Paul has some good counsel for us St. Jamesers as we come back together after summer breaks and travels to focus anew on how to follow Jesus right here in Richmond in 2023, not only on Sundays but on all days, not only as individuals but as a community among other communities. He invites us to ponder the question of who we are - what does it mean when we say “We are St. James’s?” in the midst of this city, and to wonder how we can and should work for the well-being of our neighbors here. He invites us to ponder how it is that the love we show to our neighbors will transform us all.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week, my colleague Doug Wigner gave us a beautiful image of how it is we take up our cross every day. He suggested we imagine that we have one of these wonderful processional crosses in our own room, and every morning we pick up that cross and carry it with both hands before us as we go about our day. Today St. Paul adds to that vision that we are also bearing the light of Christ as we go into the world, that we put on Jesus Christ as we remember our obligation, our debt that we owe our neighbor - to be the doers of God’s love in the world around us. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was always understood from the Old Testament writings that God intended Israel to be a light to the rest of the world - to show the rest of the world what God’s kingdom on earth should look like. And Jesus took up that theme when he taught his disciples that they were the light of the world - and so by extension as his disciples today, WE are the light of the world. And that means that we are to show the world what God’s kingdom on earth should look like, not just as individuals but as a community. Especially as a community among other communities. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we start by showing that to our our neighbors, by bearing God’s light among our neighbors, by wanting the best for them and loving them as we love ourselves. Why else are we here on West Franklin Street if it is not to love our neighbors?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My brothers and sisters, that is what it means to be St. James’s.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
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<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-23522087485751293622023-08-20T06:00:00.001-04:002023-08-20T06:00:00.157-04:00Holy Work<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj49Z5NLrQUkeldPPV0cXAWV6hCuXSloTltqjp_Y5CpdCq9exXjkc68q-2GWCGItxeBztShj7b4t28RrHiVDLmTsFaSEpKpQO_8E_87de0g7dQSeA6Yfwus_-oB3p1hkhXqf8cwMFrFzA7yUYhsGwtzAJ0f4IUu-wvyyxTTxD6W146lsCEGDNrG15xVk-0n" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj49Z5NLrQUkeldPPV0cXAWV6hCuXSloTltqjp_Y5CpdCq9exXjkc68q-2GWCGItxeBztShj7b4t28RrHiVDLmTsFaSEpKpQO_8E_87de0g7dQSeA6Yfwus_-oB3p1hkhXqf8cwMFrFzA7yUYhsGwtzAJ0f4IUu-wvyyxTTxD6W146lsCEGDNrG15xVk-0n=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp15_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew 15:21-28</a></p><p><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;">The story of Jesus’s encounter</span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;">with The Canaanite Woman in Matthew</span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;">is not my favorite Bible story.</span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px;">The way Jesus calls that desperate woman a dog makes me feel embarrassed and angry. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;">Some people say, oh, he’s just talking about pet puppies, but back in Chapter 7, Jesus was clear. Don’t give what is holy to dogs. Do not profane the holy. The word he uses is not pet puppy. So this is not my favorite story. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But it is a really important story - because in it we see Jesus look at his beliefs in light of a new experience and understanding, and see him change his mind. This is an example and a lesson for us.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Changing one’s mind, turning around one’s traditional beliefs, is hard. And it is sometimes messy and difficult. We worry about being called a waffler, a flip-flopper, inconsistent, fickle. We worry about appearing to dishonor tradition, worry that doing things a new way, or embracing a new point of view, suggests that we are casting aside our parents, our society, our history, and saying that our family, our society, our history, our former belief or action, was bad. A change of mind or opinion might be a threat to the memory of those we mean to honor.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And in terms of religion, Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, changing his mind seems like it might be a threat to the idea that God is immutable. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But actually, there are several places in the Hebrew Bible where God changes course in light of new information. Usually it is when God has planned destruction but in the face of repentance or vulnerability God decides to hold back. Sometimes Abraham stands before God and says, please don’t do that, you’re not that kind of God. Please change your mind. The king of Nineveh in the book of Jonah tells his people that they should repent and hope that God will change God’s mind about destroying them - and God does do that, to Jonah’s frustration, so God has to remind the angry Jonah that these Ninevites are God’s people too.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And also God sometimes decides to do a new thing that expands the notion of who even are God’s people. In Deuteronomy God declares that certain people are excluded from “the assembly of the Lord.” But the prophet Isaiah reports that God has now declared the Temple to be house of prayer for all people, specifically naming those formerly prohibited in Deuteronomy.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And those formerly named people were all from the outer edge of the category we might called minority or marginalized today - not just the sick or poor or needy, but the damaged and the hated. The Not Like Us people.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So it feels really important to see Jesus change his mind, even if it is hard to watch from the beginning - to see Jesus allowing himself to respond with the grace and mercy that is his essential self to someone who he initially considered beneath his notice and not his problem. It feels really important to see that it is holy work to change one’s mind when it comes to extending grace, love, mercy, respect and dignity.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It also feels really important to see the Canaanite woman persist in the face of Jesus’s dismissal of her, in the face of his rude comment. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">She doesn’t sit meekly and wait but instead insists that her supplication for mercy be heard. She entreats Jesus to look at her and see her as a human being and not just as a woman and a foreigner, a person with no value or agency. She struggles with Jesus, she engages him, and she tells him her truth, because she has nothing to lose by begging for mercy and in light of his experience, when he really hears what she is saying and recognizes the part he has to play in this situation -indeed recognizes THAT he has a part to play in the situation - recognizes that, as one theologian put it, God is not enslaved by any theology, even one announced by God’s son - (because as valuable as theology is, it need not stand in the way of divine compassion) and so Jesus changes his mind and restores the daughter to health.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But I want to emphasize that this is not a story in which we say, look how Jesus got bested by this woman who challenged him on social issues. Rather, it is an invitation for us to be challenged ourselves for our own biases and our own tendencies to be certain about who God does and does not want to receive justice and mercy and how we think that others should behave when they are seeking that justice and mercy.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are a divided people in many ways. This is not totally new for any society but our divisions right now feel real and urgent. It is very temping to want to compartmentalize social issues and the practice of our faith. But time and again Jesus shows us that faith is how we live based on what we believe, not just a matter what we believe as if that exists in a vacuum.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We people of faith live in the world with all its issues confronting us daily. Further, we are being confronted with people who have been traditionally marginalized wanting us to hear them, to hear their experience and their frustration at the lack of justice and mercy extended to them. We are being asked not meekly but boldly sometimes.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are also being asked to recognize our privileges and our prejudices in order to engage in the healing of some very deep wounds, in order to respond to these words, spoken or unable to be spoken, “Help me.”</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And it is messy. It is difficult. Everyone is not behaving perfectly, and that makes us want to turn away. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But that’s basically what privilege is, isn’t it? being able to turn away without consequence. Jesus could turn away and his mission would go on. But that desperate woman would live forever with her torment.And she is one of God’s people, too.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So I believe this is holy work, struggling with our histories, our biases, and our fears of losing what we have. It is holy work to allow ourselves to be confronted by others’ truths and experiences and to be willing to change our minds, to expand our understanding, to grow.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And it is holy work to recognize in ourselves that we have a part to play in God’s dream for the world. We have the power to stand up for those who are crying out for justice and mercy, to give them our support and lend them our voices if need be, to recognize their dignity and their pain. We have the power to bind up the wounded and bring good news to the desperate. We have the power to change our minds and grow in faith, love and charity with all God’s children as imperfect as they and we all are.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So it has always been and so it shall always be ever since Jesus, our example of Godly life, came to be our savior and our guide.</p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Big Caslon"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-40475110057569472972023-08-06T06:00:00.083-04:002023-08-06T07:12:25.557-04:00Shining through<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q-lZLiEu3R4jvhaOtplaX7tMWYMcGC0xewvb9yGEZ2WNv59MegSkCnzq6NPDWLwiGs8xecLnn4W89Eyeo4tQyPx1wymR04fH2XVfG-JEyiIvViKrwg0cbxgPfQ3ZviQH4bFX4keZSX8nIlgh1XqPNCGMflL1KpjRuMa3LVvQd5D72XHml0U24pPeTc5a/s800/DA-LH-0423.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="585" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q-lZLiEu3R4jvhaOtplaX7tMWYMcGC0xewvb9yGEZ2WNv59MegSkCnzq6NPDWLwiGs8xecLnn4W89Eyeo4tQyPx1wymR04fH2XVfG-JEyiIvViKrwg0cbxgPfQ3ZviQH4bFX4keZSX8nIlgh1XqPNCGMflL1KpjRuMa3LVvQd5D72XHml0U24pPeTc5a/w468-h640/DA-LH-0423.jpg" width="468" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The Feast of the Transfiguration holds a special place in my heart. </span><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was ordained to the priesthood on this feast, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I have several pieces of art -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">icons, paintings, carvings -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that I received as gifts</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or bought in commemoration of the day.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the different ways in which this story is</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> represented in art</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and I think in many ways a story like this one,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a story that is filled with symbols and symbolic action,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">may be best apprehended through art.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we’re not doing a slide show here, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will only note that in most artistic representations</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the Transfiguration,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">even though the main feature is of a shining Jesus</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who may or may not be levitating</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or be wearing flowing robes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that make him look as if he were in a Vogue photo shoot,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">what I really find fascinating is the depictions of the disciples.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are almost always at or near the bottom of the scene, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">having fallen on their faces, or their backs or even their heads,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">at the sight of the divine light of God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">shining through the person of Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a painting by Salvadore Dali (see above), </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the disciples are simply squiggles and lines </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">at the bottom of the canvas.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Perhaps even a riff on his signature. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I especially like that one.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Transfiguration is an Epiphany, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a theophany as it is called in the Greek church,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a manifestation of God in our world,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the appropriate response of one</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who recognizes that he or she is in the presence of God</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is to fall on the face,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to look away from the dazzle that could blind a person,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to shield oneself from the fearful awesomeness </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the Divine and Holy One.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So that’s why the disciples are usually </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">lying on the ground or covering their faces </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or upside down on their heads.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Transfiguration is therefore also a symbolic event. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Luke’s telling of it, we hear echoes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of the story of Moses and his shining face, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which he must keep veiled when he is among the people</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because it is too much for them.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s the mountain, and the cloud,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the voice in the cloud, and the shiningness.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>In both stories, God is speaking to God’s people </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through an approved spokesperson.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But while we are instructed by God’s voice to listen to Jesus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is through the visual of the moment of shining glory</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that we see he is more than simply a spokesperson.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The transfiguration of Jesus is a way of showing us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that God Almighty shines through Jesus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that Jesus is the manifestation, the showing,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of God on earth.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is of God - Jesus is God with us -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this is why we follow him</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">instead of following someone else,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">worthy though they may be, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">like Gandhi or Plato or Gwynneth Paltrow.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, all that is nice, and instructive, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but what are we to do with this story</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in terms of its connection with our own lives, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">given that we’re not going to be seeing </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">what the disciples saw that day? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s the takeaway for us? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we live after hearing this story?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think what has stuck with me about the Transfiguration </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all these years is the idea that even if we don’t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">get to have a beatific vision of Jesus, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we still might have an unexpected experience </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">where the veil is lifted just a little</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the glory of God shines through in the world,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">just in a flash, just for a moment,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">before the veil is lowered again</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and life goes back to looking like it usually does.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We might find that, in the midst of every day life </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God shines through, Jesus shines through, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">giving us a glimpse of beauty, of truth, of justice </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which is not only a joyful reminder but also </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">encouragement to keep going </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when things are rough </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or when we are despondent </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or just don’t know what to do.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So it seems to me that if we are disciples, followers </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of this God with us, Jesus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and we know that sometimes even on this earth</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the veil is lifted just a little bit, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">unexpectedly, sometimes,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">then instead of hiding our eyes in fear,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or otherwise shielding ourselves, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we might try training our eyes </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to look for those times when God’s glory shines through.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We might, perhaps through prayer and obedience</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in our discipline of following Jesus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">walk around this world with wondering eyes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">primed and ready to see glimpses of God’s glory</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">manifested in the midst of our broken world,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">glory that transforms something ordinary </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">into something that reflects the holy.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Glory that shows that God is still speaking,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that the light still shines through the darkness,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that just for a moment an epiphany</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">- </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">something breathtakingly beautiful - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">could appear in front of us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and that moment of unspeakable beauty</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">could change absolutely everything.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I wouldn’t want to miss that. Would you? </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the truth is that most of us are not looking for God's glory in the world very often. We are beset by the noise and relentlessness of life in these times. We are tired. We steel ourselves against the manifestations of polarization that is ever present in our society, polarization that has seeped into our families and our schools and our work places and our neighborhoods and even our church. If we are primed for anything, it is to see dissension or offense or misconduct or people just not doing what we want them to do. It is to see lack and feel helpless, to see strife and feel scared, to see pain and just want to look away, to see something new and challenging and just wish to roll back the clock to a time when we felt safe and loved and maybe unchallenged. We see the manifestations of polarization and feel that the choice is either to put up our dukes or avert our eyes.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But our shining transfigured Jesus beckons us to look for the light, to look for the beauty, to look for the glory twinkling out there from time to time and place to place. To look for the manifestations of love and justice and mercy, especially mercy; to look among the broken pieces and see that God is there too, doing what God does best, bringing new life into this world while we are still in it. So let us be primed to look for these things as we make our way through our days and know that God is there just hoping and wanting us to see the light.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-57671535565979419602023-07-23T06:00:00.008-04:002023-07-23T06:00:00.155-04:00Trust<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrssxQmoQ7IX3hhKLixUwSjEfBcez4jX3oG-SedKwv8DIzkVFu6aLmjAeh0I8tGX9jD2T51TrHxc3zKhi87QMeHT9SWNO5ImUT8kEv-Ssa65olVse7UwazXV8ajIiin2Z-uH6I_wKA_Ata9i3QZvU9NhWl6pApedmPPDV7GlVE9ijXweDj66Zk335JAfo/s4887/P1000501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="4887" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrssxQmoQ7IX3hhKLixUwSjEfBcez4jX3oG-SedKwv8DIzkVFu6aLmjAeh0I8tGX9jD2T51TrHxc3zKhi87QMeHT9SWNO5ImUT8kEv-Ssa65olVse7UwazXV8ajIiin2Z-uH6I_wKA_Ata9i3QZvU9NhWl6pApedmPPDV7GlVE9ijXweDj66Zk335JAfo/w640-h332/P1000501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp11_RCL.html" target="_blank">Matthew 13:24-30;36-43</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability— and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually—let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.”</i></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So wrote the French Jesuit priest and paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in a letter to his cousin Marguerite on July 4, 1914, penned from a trench in northern France. He spent the whole of the First World War as a stretcher-bearer, with few breaks, always on the front line, Flanders, Verdun, Ypres, Strasbourg, and he kept up a steady correspondence with his cousin from wherever he was.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Surely the setting in which he wrote was extreme, but nonetheless a reality we all must come to grips with in lif<span style="font-family: inherit;">e, </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a reality that Jesus reveals in his parable today</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">: that good and bad, joy and sorrow, pure and impure, justice and injustice co-exist in our world. They live side by side everywhere, sometimes inextricably intertwined, so that it can be hard to tell what is the good and what is the bad. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this is hard for many of us. We would like for there to be less ambiguity in life; we would like for things to be more black and white; we would like to know just what it is that we are called to do when faced with the reality of evil. We would like to know what to do when we see injustice, when we see uncharity, when we see, or think we see, weeds among the wheat.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An so we return to Jesus’s improbable farming practices and hear his invitation to stop and think about the consequences of hasty action to root out what we think is bad when we are trying to live in community.</span></p>
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The church throughout its whole history has not been immune to the urge to purify itself by demonizing, excluding, or full on driving out those it identifies as impure. Matthew’s community was embroiled in this very thing as those who followed Jesus began to separate from the synagogue. When Tom and I were in Spain earlier this year, we saw magnificent church after church built on the ruins of magnificent mosques and synagogues, symbols of Christian triumphalism over what the church deemed infidels whom it expelled from Spain itself in the 15th century. And some Christian individuals and some of our sister denominations are actively engaged right now in purging themselves of LGBTQ people and their allies and of ordained women, a tearing of the community that our own denomination has experienced in its own past.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is truly a conundrum. Are we called to simply sit still in the face of injustice? Are we called to passivity when we feel so strongly that a wrong must be righted? But maybe this is the wrong question.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe the question is, how do we act in the best interest of our community in the face of trouble?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because Jesus’s answer is, trust that God is at work. Trust that God is going to sort things out. Trust that God sows good seed and that we need to trust that God will bring forth good. And, as Pere Teilhard said, that might take a while. So trust in the slow work of God and accept the anxiety that we feel as we discern the way forward. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because, as Jesus suggests, there are consequences, perhaps unintended consequences but consequences all the same, to seeing ourselves as God’s weed-pullers instead of God’s own plants among other plants. Matthew’s community became estranged from their own roots in the synagogue, an estrangement that widened over the ages to eventually result in horrific persecution of Jews. The expulsion of both Jews and Muslims in Spain began the decline of a once great civilization in which the three great religions coexisted and thrived, and gave birth to the Inquisition. Two of my own seminary classmates from other denominations have been removed from their posts, one removed from the ministry altogether, for officiating the weddings of gay couples. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin himself was cancelled by the church for his modern scientific writings, losing his position as a teacher and seeing his books removed from libraries and bookshops.</span></p>
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<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bAxKQs05VtEKLjOGAdopgj2mJ14X8WwcqpCfZOZwRoNjf2NiWONEr8C19jqFpSMcnUVLEyb6Vc0ebuO31H_1geMIS_AkCcnc62TU46qxN2Tx4aDc2jg3aIut_Gg-rLbb0loADrg-IKEdrTMS0ykpmA69Ozb7TINudYLiNeEl7Qf2YaX0x3gMMQ3TZd7H/s3264/IMG_7158.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bAxKQs05VtEKLjOGAdopgj2mJ14X8WwcqpCfZOZwRoNjf2NiWONEr8C19jqFpSMcnUVLEyb6Vc0ebuO31H_1geMIS_AkCcnc62TU46qxN2Tx4aDc2jg3aIut_Gg-rLbb0loADrg-IKEdrTMS0ykpmA69Ozb7TINudYLiNeEl7Qf2YaX0x3gMMQ3TZd7H/w300-h400/IMG_7158.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">No community exists outside the reality that the good and the bad are living side by side all the time. And this reality is so very hard to tolerate. And so, our country is polarized and anxious to oust others in various ways. Mistrust has grown here in our own church and anxiety pushes some to judge others in haste. It’s almost impossible to know the intentions of others, but we scrutinize and speculate all the same so we can know which side to line up on ourselves or what side to assign others to.</span><p></p>
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But Jesus says, leave that to God. Trust that God will bring out the good, because it is God’s work to bring out the good even from disaster. It is not our work to judge or to sow bad seeds ourselves.</span><div><br />
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fabric of our community has been torn, and we are divided in our reactions to this truth. But surely God is in this place, and we must learn to trust in the slow work of God and not act out of our anxiety about what has happened or what is to come. It is not helpful to the community to judge one another, or to lob accusations, or speculate, or scrutinize intentions. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we live into our own reality here and now, only God can say what we will be. It is natural to want to skip ahead, to forego the intermediate stages, to get to the new place now, to resist that it may take more time than we like and even deny that we are in pain. But it is our job to trust that God is with us, that God even now continues to sow good seed, and that God will redeem us. Let us give God the benefit of believing that God’s own hand is leading us, and accept the anxiety of feeling ourselves in suspense and as yet incomplete. Let us trust in the slow work of God, secure in the knowledge that God is with us every step of the way.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-45875369845195943212023-07-16T06:00:00.009-04:002023-07-16T06:00:00.142-04:00The absurd farming practices of Jesus<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRzgPAcImb-L8wClWYaDntqv2-F0koIXczsUQPGE7mHpb0mlIhyjBSb9iOpXxKVZVs37vgQnMfdW--FLVrGTPtd9y4z_zjRcS2gNozqQN8xsOEZuWKhMosUkmm0NNJf8-rX6DH-qmeqqn7e1DZ2yFOFR_Wg3yJawAMFJv6KvV6y70ykGmsOmgDMPDoM1v/s4928/_DSC9859.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRzgPAcImb-L8wClWYaDntqv2-F0koIXczsUQPGE7mHpb0mlIhyjBSb9iOpXxKVZVs37vgQnMfdW--FLVrGTPtd9y4z_zjRcS2gNozqQN8xsOEZuWKhMosUkmm0NNJf8-rX6DH-qmeqqn7e1DZ2yFOFR_Wg3yJawAMFJv6KvV6y70ykGmsOmgDMPDoM1v/w640-h424/_DSC9859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Text: <a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp10_RCL.html" target="_blank">Matthew 13:1-9,18-23</a><div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you a personality test taker? </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you a Taurus, an ENFP, an enneagram</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">7, a yellow, a Spring?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you click those tests on Facebook</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or read those articles that tell you all about yourself?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t we love to learn all about ourselves? I do!</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
So if you are like me, then, you probably hear the Gospel today,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and immediately skip to the part about the soil.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s like a Bible personality quiz!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What kind of soil am I?</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it is true that there is stuff about the soil </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in this reading today</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and how the seeds fare in the different kinds of soil.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jesus said,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this could be a clue!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that this is the Parable of the Sower.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So let’s look at that for a minute and see what we can see.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parables are not stories with morals </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but stories that are puzzles with a twist,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">sometimes an absurdity,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as an important feature.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’s parables often</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> examples from housekeeping or farming,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">things people who were hearing them knew about,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then Jesus would turn them upside down.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">People would get that it was upside down.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When he asks “who wouldn’t leave </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the 99 good obedient sheep</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and go after the one dumb old lost sheep”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">normal sheepherding standards</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">would suggest that the answer is</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“no, actually, no one would do that, Jesus!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">No one would leave the 99 for the one.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s absurd.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or in another story,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">no one would be so excited to find a lost quarter</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that they would throw a party</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and spend $100, Jesus!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s absurd.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so the sower. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He turns out to be pretty absurd, too.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are a farmer, your seeds are precious.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your future depends on their yield.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t want them wasted, eaten,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">washed away, lost.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this sower flings out the seeds everywhere!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no pre-flinging soil analysis in this story.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This sower doesn't sit down and figure out </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">where the is best place to put the seed.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doesn't try to avoid the rocky places</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or the path or the thorns. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doesn’t even especially aim for the fertile places.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doesn’t bend down and pat each precious seed</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">into it’s hill or its row.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This sower flings, with abandon.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUjXLa1NjUI5rFa_XXx5O8ybtSbiLxPp4P5d75_Q01RW4xZBOpsbUvpzJ1PfSgWnbrbRqsxe4yAbaSclwzHzND61XaVmuXeq-x-cPYqQtVVt095p1LaO8EbI1_ktN7evg_lta5ekpDSeaMylzCPjKz-rQiQvX-lAyn_9jZcY7-FQuNTIzZybFm5Bum2Eq/s1600/PICT0297.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUjXLa1NjUI5rFa_XXx5O8ybtSbiLxPp4P5d75_Q01RW4xZBOpsbUvpzJ1PfSgWnbrbRqsxe4yAbaSclwzHzND61XaVmuXeq-x-cPYqQtVVt095p1LaO8EbI1_ktN7evg_lta5ekpDSeaMylzCPjKz-rQiQvX-lAyn_9jZcY7-FQuNTIzZybFm5Bum2Eq/w300-h400/PICT0297.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because this particular sower knows </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">there is more than enough seed to sow</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in every nook and cranny</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and even more than enough to waste - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and who can say how much is wasted anyway? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It feeds the birds,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it goes back into the earth,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it nourishes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">even when it doesn't immediately look productive. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It may come up later. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It may grow a fern through the cracks in the patio</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in that one shady spot </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to the delight of a curious little rabbit.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, this sower is unbelievably extravagant, exuberant, profligate. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which is sometimes a negative word, profligate,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> because it makes of think of wasteful,</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but who is to say what is wasted? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who cares if the sower throws the seed everywhere -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it's the sower's seed, not ours.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no condemnation of this profligate sower.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus obviously approves.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe that’s another clue.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So yeah, there’s the soil. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But do you see how easy it is to skip right to that part</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and focus on ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and begin to justify ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and make it about us? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course we want to be fertile soil.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course we want to bear good fruit.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we congratulate ourselves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for working hard making ourselves into fertile soil. And maybe we might be tempted</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to look around at other people and size them up.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What kind of soil are they?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What kind of fruit do they bear? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then maybe we are tempted to compare ourselves to others,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or even to judge others,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and to focus on how good we are </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or how bad they are</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then we have made it all about us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and we forget all about Jesus’s favorite sower,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the one who flings out that grace</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">wherever it might land,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">no pre-flinging soil analysis required,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and we forget that it is God who saves</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because actually we cannot save ourselves.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And you see where we have ended up.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think this is why Jesus says that this is the parable of the sower, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the wild flinger,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the one who knows that God is in charge of the harvest.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">To help us keep the focus where it ought to be.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGbcyhNNh1_MfdLnFoptqUgrxdL08cCqEEzJ48Kp7j8pnCOmkRxMMliDafR1Fzqw92qSxEwyAfjUUr0KiTMD2P0F8kR4tYfAVxPmSJoEcjdK1UGsijkCEiyFwsTlLxP1fxUKUDnm3HK5rPaqBLdCoq9VcgQ7M53ksT_t3pm2YRrECINb-S3MDlq2tUprl/s4928/_DSC7454.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGbcyhNNh1_MfdLnFoptqUgrxdL08cCqEEzJ48Kp7j8pnCOmkRxMMliDafR1Fzqw92qSxEwyAfjUUr0KiTMD2P0F8kR4tYfAVxPmSJoEcjdK1UGsijkCEiyFwsTlLxP1fxUKUDnm3HK5rPaqBLdCoq9VcgQ7M53ksT_t3pm2YRrECINb-S3MDlq2tUprl/w400-h265/_DSC7454.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The prophet Isaiah says, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because it is God who gives the seed to the sower.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is God who makes life rise from the cracks in the sidewalk</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and brings life to the dry bones in the valley</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and throws out grace everywhere</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because with God there is always enough</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and more than enough.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grace is not a pie that only has 8 pieces. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we don’t always know what God has in store</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">either for us here at St. James’s or for the world.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which may feel scary</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but we do not need to be afraid.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These days our world here may feel strange and confusing </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and presents us with puzzles to ponder</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and maybe some absurdities that pull us up short</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as we wonder what it all means</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and how we are to live</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in these hard or sad </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or “I just don’t get it” times.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So maybe this is a good time to remember with gratitude </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">this sower flinging out those seeds</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and leave off the judgment</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the self-justification</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and just marvel, marvel!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that God’s work is to bring new life</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">out of change and turmoil.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The seeds of new life, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">brave new life,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“crazy but it just might work” new life</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">are flying everywhere,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">flying all over the place these days -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So let us wonder, simply wonder,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">without judgment and without fear,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">just what and where this sower’s seeds will grow.</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7Jl-0dCHv4E3qeF4leDm6BXitvtYCQZMTA-rWI8FkX_NvqH6BQHyQFj-XjcGqFSfYWnffdKDoTPuMzVTfM9WjEjZgccUTcOfKrTduUJkbDbcossgoBVep4642rvBmRs4v-uobOeXB-EYdj96HMoYLymhg4vA5CHuuA4nFrY2LNV1L8bgstXMgAIRrX7J/s4928/_DSC7511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7Jl-0dCHv4E3qeF4leDm6BXitvtYCQZMTA-rWI8FkX_NvqH6BQHyQFj-XjcGqFSfYWnffdKDoTPuMzVTfM9WjEjZgccUTcOfKrTduUJkbDbcossgoBVep4642rvBmRs4v-uobOeXB-EYdj96HMoYLymhg4vA5CHuuA4nFrY2LNV1L8bgstXMgAIRrX7J/w640-h424/_DSC7511.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-59405790614305635492023-07-09T07:00:00.001-04:002023-07-09T07:00:00.135-04:00The things that we carry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzWqIZd32ULmwpO_lAKmTTaUDkDjYl7AmB8aUsDnNLz9CXvoqW4STU9z2kb-oOhBgQ3NTb4qF-gCIPoF44G3Pj9BQ5W2cSK31wrofOsn0HA78xm11VagFtJd0zYLJ6ZEIDefBTPHvJw_7TFVLZ6rsWSr_-gBMVSYUf69VT08I7khEc0z9jMCaBLLO7UwU/s4928/_DSC5601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzWqIZd32ULmwpO_lAKmTTaUDkDjYl7AmB8aUsDnNLz9CXvoqW4STU9z2kb-oOhBgQ3NTb4qF-gCIPoF44G3Pj9BQ5W2cSK31wrofOsn0HA78xm11VagFtJd0zYLJ6ZEIDefBTPHvJw_7TFVLZ6rsWSr_-gBMVSYUf69VT08I7khEc0z9jMCaBLLO7UwU/w424-h640/_DSC5601.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>Text: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", "Century Schoolbook L", Baskerville, serif;"><a href="http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp9_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30</a></span><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever noticed how much stuff folks tend to drag around with them? </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t mean just physical stuff, although there’s that. Today I’m thinking about emotional stuff - frustration, failure, worries, guilt, anger, resentment. Old wounds. Especially old wounds.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know people who are in their eighties who are still dragging around hurts from their childhoods - a mean sibling, a parent's sharp words. Maybe you do, too. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know people who run companies or are nurses or lawyers or teachers who still carry around the crippling burden of their parents' divorce or a child's failure or a rupture at their church or some other thing that wasn't their fault or that they cannot fix. Maybe you do, too.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of us assume responsibility for nearly everyone and everything and carry that responsibility around as if our lives depended on it. Some of us can’t let go of our feelings of guilt. Some of us secretly believe that we and our stuff are holding up the whole world. And we can't let go or everything will come crashing down. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And if we end up carrying our leftover hurtful junk into new relationships, well, people just have to understand, right?</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jesus says, come to me all you who are weary from carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That sounds really nice, doesn’t it?</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Except some of us actually find that hard. Like me. I find it hard. I am not really used to setting something down and letting it go when I don't know what else to do. I tend in my anxiety to either try to run away or try to fix things that are not mine to fix.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this is part of the salvation story. God knows we are heavily laden. God knows that there are things that happen in our lives that are hurtful, unfair, and just not right. God knows we carry secret worries, carry the weight of the world, carry burdens and hurts and fears of every kind. God knows that we are upset that the fabric of our community has been torn, that we’ve been through a trauma here. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So Jesus says, lay that down. Leave it with me. It’s going to be all right. All is going to be well, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet we find it so hard to let go. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the great mid-1980s movie The Mission, Robert DeNiro plays a character who is carrying profound guilt and shame from his life as a slavetrader and murderer. He is offered a chance to do penance and find sanctuary in a Jesuit mission. The only way to the mission, though, deep in the South American jungle, is by scaling a sheer cliff that is also a massive waterfall.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He attempts to make the harrowing climb while carrying on his back a huge sack of clinking silver, his old armor and weaponry, a sack of stuff that he thinks will protect him, but really it threatens to overwhelm him as he climbs painfully upward through the rushing water. All that stuff keeps pulling him backwards and he nearly falls to his death. But he couldn't trust that what he needed <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>would be there for him at the top and so he grimly hung on until one of the Jesuit brothers threw the sack into the water below.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yeah that was just a movie, but that scene is forever seared in my brain, a frightened but determined human being trying to climb a waterfall while carrying a big bag of heavy, but useless, stuff.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course we have our reasons why we drag our burdens around. It feels impossible and even irresponsible to let go of them. Maybe we secretly believe we should stagger on, nobly, under what we believe are our crosses to bear. Maybe we believe these things are somehow going to protect us,</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">that they are our armor or the weapons we can use to keep fear at bay.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet Jesus in his compassion and wisdom invites us, saying, come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a good thing for us to hear today.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So. Are you dragging something around that you need to let go of?</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guilt for something you didn't even do, or maybe guilt for something you did do but even though you made restitution or apologized you can't stop punishing yourself? Sorrow for something you couldn't stop from happening, couldn't fix, couldn't make better, but you can't let go of because you've assigned yourself the role of keeper of the flame? Responsibility for someone else's behavior or addiction or feelings or growth?And frustration that they’re not doing what you think they should be doing? Anger you can't let go of because you think letting it go will let the person you're angry at get off the hook, even though the only person you're hurting by hanging on to it is you yourself?</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hurt feelings, embarrassment, anxiety, all of life’s what-ifs and if-onlys - the list goes on, doesn't it? We drag all these things around with us. We let them take up space within us, we hold on tightly to them as if they are precious instruments of salvation. Maybe we've been carrying them so long we don't know what to do without them.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it all makes our hearts and souls heavy. So heavy.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m new here and we don’t know each other yet but since I’ve got you as a captive audience, let’s go over what we do know.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We do know that Jesus is our savior, that God is always with us, that the Spirit leads us into all truth. The Bible tells us so. And we know that as doers of the word we all come together to hear the Word.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so let’s really and truly hear what Jesus is saying to us today. Let’s let Jesus give our souls some rest. Let’s let Jesus be in charge of salvation, Let God be in charge of the universe, Let the Spirit give us strength to lay our heaviness down and be free from its power over us.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Letting go does not mean sweeping things under the rug. It means naming those burdens, being honest about our pain and our frustration as well as our joys, and taking responsibility for our part in it all, so that you, and I, and this whole community can over time find healing and peace, and grow into what God made us to be - free, and whole, and fully alive, a reflection of God's own unfettered glory.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-27519710253922197472023-02-05T06:00:00.004-05:002023-02-05T06:00:00.246-05:00The Church on the Hill<p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_Kpz5GdZBvPjbMTbzsNIFywLvZOu_NkmDf0JgNjB9Gcbjv9Pww2zB40fuiWaah0MTfgALTQbMJNuJ-Owvm5zbEpYtuOgNmV1Q_EQpJFMed_kuqNI4ufM_A02hTnUWBcK3xhm8gK_lKqliChmpH-oDgEedisuNAzDdzh5T53QyYg-MuVApNGHZ-v-Rw/s1774/IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="1774" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_Kpz5GdZBvPjbMTbzsNIFywLvZOu_NkmDf0JgNjB9Gcbjv9Pww2zB40fuiWaah0MTfgALTQbMJNuJ-Owvm5zbEpYtuOgNmV1Q_EQpJFMed_kuqNI4ufM_A02hTnUWBcK3xhm8gK_lKqliChmpH-oDgEedisuNAzDdzh5T53QyYg-MuVApNGHZ-v-Rw/w640-h640/IMG_0776.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, friends, it is time for us to say goodbye. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will always treasure my time with you on this church on this hill. When I arrived two years ago, it was kind of dark. The lights were mostly off. Everyone was mostly working from home and worshipping from home, and feeling sad and isolated. As I began to connect with a few of you, and then a few more, often by Zoom or phone, I sensed that there was grief here, and there were wounds, and there was fear that this church on the hill was going to stay dark.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But over these two years, we began to open back up. We opened our doors and our hearts in new ways. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We connected with St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church, offering our beautiful space to them for their worship at Christmas and Easter and hosting the wedding ceremony for two of their young adults.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been steadily strengthening our relationship with our ministry to children and families through our preschool, which has grown tremendously despite the pandemic and economic uncertainties of these times. By spring time not only our playground and classrooms were buzzing but the patio and parking lot were buzzing too with the neighborhood music classes. Light was coming into our campus accompanied by the laughter and singing and other exuberant noises of children. Now we have not only clergy but our lay staff and parishioners leading chapel services on Wednesday mornings. Next fall with the addition of three more preschool classes, we are expecting to have more than 100 families on our campus each weekday to sing and play and learn and explore. And many days after school I look out my window and see neighborhood children on the playground with their parents, enjoying a safe place to gather and enjoy our fresh air and birds and trees. We offer a needed and valuable community for neighborhood families through our preschool ministry.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We re-imagined our garden ministry, creating a pantry garden to grow vegetables and herbs that we donate to the food pantry at our partner church, Wellbourne United Methodist. Not only our own gardeners tend the garden, but also our youth and the youth from neighboring schools.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We refurbished much of our space, using funds donated by you to remove and replace worn and tattered flooring in the nave and on the second floor, and we replaced flooring in offices and repainted many rooms and hallways and generally spiffed up our spaces for folks of all ages, again with your donations. We let more light in with new landscaping and window cleaning. We expanded our technology, upgrading equipment for both in person and virtual worship.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We welcomed a seminarian, Dale Smith, who helped us put together a team of folks with a plan to organize us in an effort to care for one another through visits, phone calls, cards, flowers, and home baked bread. The Congregational Care team is awesome.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We cleaned out the basement. And the closets. And a bunch of rooms. Some more than once. We reorganized spaces and cleaned out some more places and got rid of stuff that was taking up too much room and crowding out our capacity to imagine new ways of doing church and being a church community. We got our youth group back up and running.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hosted two glorious All Saints Days, the first with Bishop Brooke-Davidson who baptized two sets of twins and confirmed twelve youth (those twins being 4 of the 16 children we’ve baptized these two years) and the second with a feast and a petting zoo. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every summer we’ve hosted more and more children through Vacation Bible School and our preschool camps.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hosted three huge diocesan events - deacon ordinations, priest ordinations, and the first meet and greet event in the whole diocese with the candidates for bishop. We welcomed our new bishop Mark Stevenson, our next-door neighbor who came to worship with us several times before his consecration and to celebrate at the altar his first Christmas Eve as a bishop with us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58n3oSxYXCPRqcR5hdnbW_WVGHB01MhirixqfcVrtrmta0LewkGX8U4b3u90oKG8KTe8di3JZXLHDuHmddbLtsQ3Me9qtWAB68o19IodR_VxJTEFmhZ5M-7upNtEcRPHlZVpI8CreTmgxhn9nLb2inidKVhkaaxeqYMYXUSKW3y9ladwOZ4ZvzeJsMw/s1416/IMG_5130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1089" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58n3oSxYXCPRqcR5hdnbW_WVGHB01MhirixqfcVrtrmta0LewkGX8U4b3u90oKG8KTe8di3JZXLHDuHmddbLtsQ3Me9qtWAB68o19IodR_VxJTEFmhZ5M-7upNtEcRPHlZVpI8CreTmgxhn9nLb2inidKVhkaaxeqYMYXUSKW3y9ladwOZ4ZvzeJsMw/w308-h400/IMG_5130.JPG" width="308" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And perhaps most importantly, we embarked on a journey into our grief and disappointments, working together with our consultant to delve into our history and unearth our feelings of mistrust and hurt and name our painful experiences and to look them in the eye and say goodbye to them. We learned how to better recognize conflict and turn it into opportunity for growth. We learned how to begin to regain our trust in one another and in our leadership. We learned that we can lament but also we can let go.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">We've grown, in more ways than one.</p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And throughout it all, we have worshipped together in the beauty of holiness, with our outstanding music program consistently offering some of the best music in town, through the talents of our choirs, our instrumentalists, and our visiting groups in concert.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, I’ve been saying “we” throughout these remarks and that’s not the “royal we.” This has been a team effort. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have an amazing staff here. Each member of our staff is truly invested in All Saints and has worked hard and under difficult circumstances (dodging Covid, caring for children when school is out or they’re sick, working at night or with kids in tow) to keep things going, to support me and you and our work here. Other than Scott Hayes our music director and Daniel Stipe our principal organist and tech tweaker Sam Robinson, you don’t always see them in here on Sundays - out longest serving staff member, Judy Kronimus, celebrates 25 years with us as nursery director, so she’s here but in the nursery and Diane Hayes is our volunteer Christian ed director who might be off leading Children’s Church. But we couldn’t do what we do without Natallia Chyhryna (CHEE-HEAR-INA) our financial secretary - who’s been with us for 14 years. And Winston Hazlegrove of course who keeps everything running everywhere, and our newest staff member Tyronn Wilkins who tends to our facility with care, as well as Preschool Director Extraordinaire Melissa Taylor who is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church on the Northside but comes to All Saints on occasions like Preschool Sunday. I hope you all will continue to appreciate and support this wonderful, loyal, hardworking staff. Often during interims, staff begin to peel away, but not this staff.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These two years have also seen growth in engagement and investment in the community through our revitalized vestry, especially Mark Wilcox, senior warden, and Jim McCauley, junior warden.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there’s the discernment committee, led by Dan Kniffen and Anne Blackwell and included Jim Hunter, Mary Catherine Washo, Russ Ryan, Kelly Vidunas and Bruce Wright who spent a year and a half in prayer and conversation and study and more conversation discerning the needs of this parish and how to structure and conduct a search for a new rector who would be the right fit for All Saints at this time. Their work has concluded in the calling of Ben Robertson to be your new rector, but if you see any of them, please say thanks to them for their good service.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are more successes to highlight and more people to thank, but I’m running out of time. You all can continue the conversation with Ben as he begins to settle into this community.<br />
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The lights are on in this church on the hill. And you are ready to let your light shine so that all the world can see how you are giving glory to God. You have a new road ahead that leads in a new direction, with new opportunities and challenges. You have new work to do. But you go with a fabulous staff and steady lay leadership who are all invested in this community. Renew your own investment and take these successes (as well as what has been learned through failure and loss) with you into your new relationship with your new rector, remembering that what you are about is love, both inside this building and out there in the world; and what you are called to do is to be invested in God’s mission through this church and to build and maintain trust with your new rector and your leaders. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And most of all, trust in God to be with you every step of the way as you follow Jesus into your next adventure.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLzTYs9JPAT7c8ibUSQv85KVKuyWvWnVy0-7HZpTo5fev1KYI2TMJWa3zkvekveyxje-hzoTTohHkxfLyEbnb7RjNLPhDZ--CoQA9awmwYbq8E1njKeuW_DLK3xZtQeGBGdZv-gwfO8njVvZXXwUf07oLZ_QOik0L0wmDU45Q7gj3I8RrpkGYe7PBpA/s3264/IMG_6102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLzTYs9JPAT7c8ibUSQv85KVKuyWvWnVy0-7HZpTo5fev1KYI2TMJWa3zkvekveyxje-hzoTTohHkxfLyEbnb7RjNLPhDZ--CoQA9awmwYbq8E1njKeuW_DLK3xZtQeGBGdZv-gwfO8njVvZXXwUf07oLZ_QOik0L0wmDU45Q7gj3I8RrpkGYe7PBpA/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" width="240" /></a></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The R</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">ev. Penny A. Nash</span></i></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">All Saints Episcopal Church</span></i></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">February 5, 2023</span></i></p>
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<p style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-72051436492641985032023-01-29T06:00:00.017-05:002023-01-29T09:29:43.745-05:00Considering our call<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcrPUiwjazMsncRKd_kcefiwBu3Ew2MxZ-kOJe9528Bo6jvz-Lh5jqB8Ulh1nLGG7lJ-S-suQI3dByjSnnBWjIAbXkTtLCDv7EOkK6oomhpUPIWvEEDy5mZOXZnZkIVDAhtgcw6OuV69OZZCBGq2xTxmJu-70K1a6JhAwZoJIY5ofEeB75FLBrVsiuQ/s4928/_DSC6836.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcrPUiwjazMsncRKd_kcefiwBu3Ew2MxZ-kOJe9528Bo6jvz-Lh5jqB8Ulh1nLGG7lJ-S-suQI3dByjSnnBWjIAbXkTtLCDv7EOkK6oomhpUPIWvEEDy5mZOXZnZkIVDAhtgcw6OuV69OZZCBGq2xTxmJu-70K1a6JhAwZoJIY5ofEeB75FLBrVsiuQ/w424-h640/_DSC6836.JPG" width="424" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Texts: </span><a href="https://lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Epiphany/AEpi4_RCL.html" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12</a></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I was signing up for classes </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for my first semester of seminary,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I saw this neat class called “Women in Preaching.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought, oh boy, that will be fun,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we will sit there</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and watch Barbara Brown Taylor videos</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and other famous women preachers too -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">maybe Heidi Neumark or Berniece King.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And read through the sermons </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from great women preachers from the past</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">like Sojourner Truth, Aimee Semple McPherson.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I signed up.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the first day of class, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took my seat in the first chair on the front row,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all excited to be in seminary,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the professor came in and said, "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Good morning class.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please turn in your Bibles to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">chapter 1, verses 26 and 27.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have five minutes to read these verses,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then each of you will rise from your seat</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and preach for two minutes on the passage."</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which was: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not many of you were wise by human standards,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But God chose what is foolish to shame the wise;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God chose what is weak in the world</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to shame the strong.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I sat there, in the front row, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">thinking OH MY GOD what have I done?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And why did I sit here in the first chair on the first row?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh my God oh my God oh my God.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s pretty much all that happened in my head</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for the whole five minutes.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then God intervened. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the reading time was up and the bell rang,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the professor pointed to the back row</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and asked the person in the last seat to begin.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What came next was a little bit like The Gong Show, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">if you remember that one.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Someone would get up and start talking</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and soon the bell would ring</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">while they were in mid-sentence,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and they’d have to sit down.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few folks were able to speak a few sentences</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that sounded like they went together,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but honestly I don’t know what they said.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My mind was just going in circles.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it was my turn, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I rose and the Holy Spirit apparently gave me a few things to say</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that seemed to go together,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which I don’t much remember now,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then class was over.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to walk for about 20 minutes around the quadrangle</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to discharge the anxiety</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then another 20 asking myself</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">why on earth I was foolish enough </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to think the class</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">would be about watching Barbara Brown Taylor videos.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the almost 20 years since that day, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve had some time to reflect on this passage,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which probably unsurprisingly has become important to me.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our teacher chose it to emphasize</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that God called women to preach</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">even though there were still many folks who thought</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that women shouldn’t be preaching.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God calls those who are not powerful</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but considered foolish by the world</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to call forth the Gospel in community.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That was her point, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the way she wanted to begin our course.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that was one of my favorite classes</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and she was one of my favorite professors.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this is one of my favorite verses too. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider your own call! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not the call of other people!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You all are called, we all are called by God,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">called to follow Jesus,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">called to live out the Gospel in our own lives.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t have to have a special pedigree</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or education or certain standing or any of that</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to follow that call. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t have to be particularly wise, either. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s work often seems foolish, as St. Paul reminds us.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But you do have to recognize that you have a call.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all do. It’s not just for folks long ago </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or for folks with certain degrees.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But what is our call? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we follow?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do we do?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
As always Jesus has a suggestion for a starting point </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in considering our call,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which we also hear today -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from his first and most famous sermon -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the sermon on the mount.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In particular, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to prepare his listeners</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for what he’s going to say in the body of his sermon,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus calls attention to those</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who are called blessed by God -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the list is surprising,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or at least it would have been to the folks</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who heard it then.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We may have started to gloss over it ourselves,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">having heard it so often.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this passage is so important we hear it in church </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">at least twice a year.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the rest of the sermon</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus will be telling us how to follow him</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">more specifically, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but in this overture if you will,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he reminds us all that God has blessed all of us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">AND that God’s desire for all of us is transformation.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s the purpose of following him, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">transformation,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">always.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God has blessed those who need help </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which means those who are subject to abuse</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because of their powerless - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">those who are persecuted, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God has blessed those who are helpers</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(the merciful, peacemakers, the pure in heart</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But just as important as naming those who are blessed, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also names the transformation God intends for each.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The poor in spirit will receive the kingdom, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which surely is full of spiritual gifts.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who mourn will be comforted.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who are powerless shall receive</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all they could desire.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their brokenness, their lack, their frustrations</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">will be transformed into fulfillment, joy, peace.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And those who help will be transformed as well, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not because they have done something to earn God’s favor,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but because they will show others</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">what it means to follow Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Others will recognize their blessedness,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and that is the result of our witness and testimony.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our call is simply to be human </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and to be ready for transformation,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">whatever our circumstances are at this time.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes we will need to be transformed </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from living in grief to experiencing joy.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes we need to lend aid</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to someone else’s transformation,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">which in turn is witnessing to our faith.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes we need to transform our own vision </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of ourselves or of others,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">turning our vision away from only seeing brokenness and lack</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">both in ourselves and in others </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">toward seeing blessedness</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the opportunity for fulfillment.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s really the starting point.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes we just need to accept that we are blessed, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or accept that someone else is blessed,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not because of anyone’s actions</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but because of God’s nature</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to bless all of God’s creation.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And sometimes that acceptance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of ourselves and of others </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">can be the most profound transformation of all.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-9752230641911874402023-01-22T09:42:00.002-05:002023-01-22T09:42:18.832-05:00Disruption<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXGthlP-20rZNoAUTDobjiZY-ej9-xq4kUWG-Hvva0hjwGq7Kbuzv_xEaRK-gSPlS62D1a5Yti2m62jpSyM9bke7WWpqoUWZAii3hApzdIE7EOqcIBDgG9Me_ssm_WgUmZhEclAmZVClaOaVBjdk3YNRYRjnLc3uVZAAzkb4IMMLp4tUf0qjmJ4yaUg/s1732/DSC_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1732" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXGthlP-20rZNoAUTDobjiZY-ej9-xq4kUWG-Hvva0hjwGq7Kbuzv_xEaRK-gSPlS62D1a5Yti2m62jpSyM9bke7WWpqoUWZAii3hApzdIE7EOqcIBDgG9Me_ssm_WgUmZhEclAmZVClaOaVBjdk3YNRYRjnLc3uVZAAzkb4IMMLp4tUf0qjmJ4yaUg/w640-h570/DSC_0468.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Text: <a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Epiphany/AEpi3_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew 4:12-23</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Today we hear the story of Jesus calling his disciples from Matthew, which is not the same as the story we heard last week from John, in which John the Baptizer introduced his disciples to Jesus, leading them to know him through his testimony and witness. And someone asked me about that last week - what did John mean that he didn’t know Jesus, weren’t they cousins? But that’s the story from yet another gospel, Luke - only Luke describes Jesus and John as cousins.</span></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And maybe this all makes you shake your head and want to know why there are so many variations in the stories.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which is when I say, God is mystery and the Bible is poetry, and we are mortal, formed of the dust, and the theology and symbolic actions and words that had meaning to first century people sometimes elude or befuddle us. The Gospel writers had reasons for emphasizing certain details, and sometimes those reasons can become clear with a little study and sometimes they remain hidden behind the curtain drawn during the Age of Enlightenment. </span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At any rate, today Jesus is calling disciples again. He’s going down to the shore and finding these random guys, it seems, and saying to them “Follow me.” And they drop their nets, and in one case drop them in their dad’s lap, and they follow him, even though they do not know him, even though he has not performed any miracles, even though he is just this guy who speaks to them, who calls them, even though it means leaving dear old dad in the boat.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Much ink has been spilled in search of why Peter and Andrew and James and John would do such a thing. Why they would just leave their jobs, leave their dad, leave their life to follow Jesus. And so lots of theorizing has been done.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Such as: Well, really, they had met Jesus before, or they had at least heard of him, because he must have done some miracles that they heard about even though they’re not reported in this Gospel, or maybe he said some other things that the Gospel writer didn’t think needed to be reported, or maybe you could see Jesus’s halo or he was wearing a name tag that said “Hello! My name is Jesus the Messiah” and maybe “MESSIAH” was all in big letters just to make sure they got it.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But to go there is to miss the point that Matthew wants to make: they follow Jesus because he comes to them and he speaks to them, and his word engenders faith.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And his coming to them is disruptive, which is what happens in most all of the Bible stories from before Jesus’s time - the calling of prophets, the calling of folks like Gideon or Isaiah or Ezekiel and pulling them abruptly out of their lives and into God’s service. Sometimes those prophets say to God, I think you were looking for somebody else, and sometimes they say Oh Woe is Me and sometimes they say, you know God, I never asked for this.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But our guys today, Simon and Andrew and James and John are not like that. They do not protest or whine or anything. They don’t even ask where they are going or why (even if there will later be a little bit of plaintive cries of “are we there yet?”). Jesus has come to them, and spoken to them, and they obey.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, maybe you are wondering at this point if you really want Jesus to come to you and speak to you if it’s going to mean disruption. I get that. We like to think we can plan out life and it will go smoothly, although you know there is an adage that says if you want to make God laugh you should tell them your plans.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But all those readings we read during Advent about being watchful, about paying attention to when God may come near - those instructions are not just about Christmas. They’re about the life of the faithful person who is always watching, always paying attention, always expecting that Jesus may come to them and speak to them, and always hoping that the words Jesus speaks will create in them faith.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the time comes for me to depart so that you can make room for your new rector to enter this community, I wonder what words Jesus is speaking to you now? I wonder if Jesus is asking you to follow without knowing where you are going because you have faith that the Spirit is here and will lead you forward? Even though this is an exciting time it is also a bittersweet time because it means we have to say goodbye, and that means disruption. Again. We’ve gotten used to one another and here comes someone new, someone who is not Jesus but who loves Jesus and wants to follow Jesus and wants to encourage you to follow Jesus on a different path than the one we have been on in this interim wilderness time. It’s going to be time to move into a different landscape with different joys and challenges, and that might feel like disruption.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But take heart. God will be with you. The Spirit will be with you. Jesus will be leading you into renewed life, into renewed mission, into renewed ministry in this place and even further afield. And your new rector, who is not Jesus and I assure you they know that, will be with you too to go into a new and daring adventure that will be fueled by your faith.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So be listening for Jesus and have faith that when you hear his voice, you’ll be ready follow him, and with him generate faith in those you will meet along the way.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-75148291323061900342023-01-15T06:00:00.012-05:002023-01-15T06:00:00.210-05:00Friends<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Weqepd1BKPhVZGZy7PMQYBQ3tylXB3wU0rgT8TFx8rFmwuuLd7fIzaaDzvFKKTgL6QNUboH26wxhqvCGV63u5nXhD-s1nLpZptklp5cv-hZLg22FRx5yYEbz_O3Bcz_vvop3o__raq_Y33aFJfpDWhtihfKjL4udZMJyXWWQEo8V19DgfjWxEpGUdA/s4032/IMG_0731.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Weqepd1BKPhVZGZy7PMQYBQ3tylXB3wU0rgT8TFx8rFmwuuLd7fIzaaDzvFKKTgL6QNUboH26wxhqvCGV63u5nXhD-s1nLpZptklp5cv-hZLg22FRx5yYEbz_O3Bcz_vvop3o__raq_Y33aFJfpDWhtihfKjL4udZMJyXWWQEo8V19DgfjWxEpGUdA/w640-h480/IMG_0731.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fairytale Forest, a painting by Edvard Munch, hanging in the Museum of Fine Arts, Oslo</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Epiphany/AEpi2_RCL.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Texts: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and John 1:29-42</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we settle into this season of Epiphany, we are re-introduced to Jesus as he begins his ministry, and we will be seeing as the weeks go by some of the key moments in his life as his identity is revealed more and more fully and the question of how to follow him becomes more and more urgent.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
The way that the Gospel of John tells the story is through witness and testimony. It is John the Baptizer who is the first witness to testify about Jesus. It is John who recognizes Jesus, thanks to some whispering to him from God, and it is John who brings Jesus to the attention of others. And not just any others, but his own disciples, his own followers - it is to them that he introduces Jesus, who in turn invites them into fellowship with him. Yes, they become Jesus’s disciples, and before it is all over, later is this book, Jesus will declare to them that they are most of all his friends because they have learned what he is all about through following him.</span></p>
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So today Jesus has come on the scene and through John’s testimony a couple of his guys (including Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother) become curious and literally follow him down the street. Jesus turns to them and ask the question he is asking all of us who come near him - what are you looking for?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week my friend Ethan gave us his own testimony and witness about following Jesus as a young adult in the church. He told the story of being invited into community and then he told us what it is that young adults are looking for: Friendship. And belonging. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are looking for people who will be interested in them.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s how I came back to church, too, 30 years ago as a young adult myself, and perhaps some of you did as well. I came back to church to find a place to belong, and then I began to explore what it might mean to be a disciple of Jesus. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now discipleship might feel like a scary word to some of us because we are polite and somewhat reserved Episcopalians who do not toss about certain terms that might make us nervous that our friends will run away screaming. (Testimony and witness are other such words.) Maybe we like to think of disciples as other people, those guys in the Bible. But we are called to be disciples, and to make disciples through our own witness and testimony (spoken or simply lived out). </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The meaning of discipleship is active engagement with Jesus. It means being in relationship with him. That's all. But that's a lot.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And you have to find out for yourself how that’s going to work in your own life. Jesus asks us to understand what we are looking for and then invites us to hang out with him, to learn from him, to follow him - that’s active engagement. And we are invited into that not just as individuals but as a community. But we are invited into fellowship with Jesus and one another only as a first step.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we live into that fellowship, we are called to be witnesses ourselves. Now that doesn’t mean we have to set up shop on a street corner shouting about Jesus to the people hurrying by with their heads down in embarrassment for us, but it does mean that we don’t shy away from living a life that others can see that shows we are in fellowship with Jesus, that shows we are his friends.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what does it mean to be a friend of Jesus? I mentioned that later in the Gospel of John Jesus is specific about that with his disciples. They have been following him around, learning from him, listening to his teaching and experimenting with their own ministries (not always successfully but that’s ok), and he tells them that he no longer calls them servants but calls them friends, because a servant does not know what the master is about but a friend does. In other words, Jesus’s friends understand his mission of healing and reconciliation, of fellowship and community, of compassion and mercy and they share in it.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So how might we be friends of Jesus in this place at this time in our life together? How might we be witnesses, and what testimony might we give? How might we share and participate in his mission?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I really like Ethan’s testimony and witness last week about being friends with those who come among us in whatever way they come, because at heart that’s what folks need - friends. Read any newspaper’s “wellness” section and you’ll see that in order to be healthy, you should have friends and spend time with friends. Further, the Washington Post just published an article last week citing data affirming that the happiest and most meaningful things one can do is to participate in religious and spiritual activities - and that the happiest most meaningful lowest stress place on earth is not in fact Disney World but is someone’s place of worship. So being friends at church with everyone, not waiting to see if they fit or we fit or we are all alike, seems like the best thing we can do. Perhaps it was not an anomaly when I met one of our 3-year old preschool kids in the hallway last week on his way to the playground and he said to me, hey, I know you - what are you doing in my church?<br />
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My church. As far as he is concerned, this whole place, his classroom, the playground, the hallway, this nave, is indeed his church, and this is where his friends are.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Friends, our time together is drawing short. And you are preparing to welcome a new friend to this place, a new pastor, a new rector, a new priest and teacher, a new companion - but most of all, a new friend. I know that you will be nervous about that, and so will the new rector, but if everyone just takes it for granted that everyone belongs here, that everyone is friends here, that everyone is to be loved and supported here in fellowship with one another, including the rector who also needs to be loved and supported and needs you to be interested in them - if everyone remembers what St. Paul says to the congregation at Corinth, “God is faithful and by God you are called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” — if everyone remembers that, then truly, everything is going to be all right.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-22329091081947179822022-12-18T06:00:00.002-05:002022-12-18T06:00:00.227-05:00Seeing what God has done<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RW7i_6P2u4OXcWyRSksDfL6TY_BY4nHxtQLY-9R_j9UCnYbPgZgf4t326CJADbk4FvZq38nYkrL0vso8DoBp4tLoTVJmUzeEZeLPWOdOQ_-0nU7Ko0j2zdtCgD1tPNRJSmfvDabIxWde6NfUYfRtT1yhhF-XNLocKdFEpnCJZbahEnDnfOHEOD4k-A/s2718/819CF061-0A3D-4812-BA6E-67C8730A41B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="2718" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RW7i_6P2u4OXcWyRSksDfL6TY_BY4nHxtQLY-9R_j9UCnYbPgZgf4t326CJADbk4FvZq38nYkrL0vso8DoBp4tLoTVJmUzeEZeLPWOdOQ_-0nU7Ko0j2zdtCgD1tPNRJSmfvDabIxWde6NfUYfRtT1yhhF-XNLocKdFEpnCJZbahEnDnfOHEOD4k-A/w640-h640/819CF061-0A3D-4812-BA6E-67C8730A41B9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: </span><a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv4_RCL.html#gsp1" target="_blank">Matthew<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1:18-25</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a reason why church Christmas pageants use the story of Jesus’s birth as told by Luke, only including from Matthew the part about the magi at the end. There aren’t enough characters, for one thing. No angels other than Gabriel, no shepherds, no sheep, no innkeeper, no donkey or dove or lowing cattle. Not even a manger or swaddling clothes or singing amid the midnight stars. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Luke story invites us into a kind of participation. We know the songs that go with the action - The Angel Gabriel from heaven came (to Mary); while shepherds watched their flocks by night, O little town of Bethlehem, hark the herald angels sing and angels from the realms of glory, it came upon a midnight clear, away in a manger….. And we literally learn to enter into the story first as children in sheep or shepherd costumes, and then as singers of the favorite carols we eventually come to know by heart. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story as Matthew tells us, by contrast, is rather spare. And almost all the focus is on Joseph. It is to him that the angel speaks, and it is his action, or inaction as it were, not to break it off with Mary despite her evident transgression that is praised. I used to joke that Matthew often seems like the Gospel for Guys and this is a big part of why I call it that right here.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But all joking aside, today we have the opportunity to look at this story in a new way, without the frills of the Lukan account, as much as we love them, and see just how strange and mystifying and singular this all is. Without all the other characters and multiple plot lines and the words about feelings, the story today makes clear that this is a narrative that is all about God’s action, without the “advise and consent” part that Luke portrays through the interaction of Gabriel and a highly favored lady, and instead a strange passivity runs through the short and rather thin telling of the birth of Jesus. Joseph’s betrothed was “found to be with child” and Joseph is instructed in a dream without conversation. And so it is not Mary who ends up perplexed, but us.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Matthew’s story, God didn’t ask. But God did act. And so, in a way, what we are invited into through this version of the story is to simply watch, and wait and see what’s going to happen next. We’re invited to consider and anticipate that God is going to show us something new - that God is going to show us what it means for God to be with us, and it is our job to watch and to see with eyes that have been primed to recognize Emmanuel, God with us.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been reading the marvelous new novel by Barbara Kingsolver, who lives here in Virginia, called Demon Copperhead. You may have heard of it - it’s showing up on all kinds of “best” lists. It’s not an uplifting read, in fact it’s a pretty grim portrayal of life in Appalachia, but it is very compelling and beautifully written. It, like our story today, starts out with a birth narrative that indicates what kind of life this is going to be. The narrator and a few other characters often speak to one another with great compassion and a frankness that comes from having already lost pretty much everything and thus have nothing else to lose. In one scene, the narrator, an orphan who has lurched from deprivation to disappointment to disaster has now dropped out of school to support his addict girlfriend, goes back to school one day to talk with his old art teacher, one of the few who encouraged him and told him he was somebody. He goes back to say he is sorry that he wasted her time. She said he had never been a waste, that he been a joy to her, and that teachers are always glad for the kids who showed them a spark.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She said, I don’t teach for the money. The money’s not that good anyway. I like helping kids see what they are looking at.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That line has really stuck with me. We all need help seeing what we are looking at sometimes. Even as grownups, maybe especially as grown ups, sometimes we do indeed need help seeing what we are looking at. </span></p>
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Maybe that’s because in this post-Enlightment, post-christendom age we simply are not primed for mystery any more. We are not primed to recognize when God is among us because we have other explanations for everything in the whole world. And we have so much to look at, so many images coming at us from our tvs and computers and phones and other screens, not to mention what’s happening live, all around us, how can we really see much of anything besides the blur of life going by at 110 mph. How can we look for God amid such constant distraction? And what do we even expect to see?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe that’s why the story as Matthew tells it is so compelling. It’s totally pared down. No distractions. No song and dance. No going from place to place and scene to scene. Just one scene. Just one scene.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look at this, Matthew says, and see what God can do. See what God has done. Look at this and get ready for what God is going to do with this child who is the Messiah, the savior of the world. Watch and wait and see how Jesus will change everything. Watch and wait and see what it means that God has come to be among us and use us for God’s own purposes, despite our own evident transgressions - to use us to bring new life into the world.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-50532060465393409362022-12-04T06:00:00.001-05:002022-12-04T06:00:00.242-05:00Let's talk about fire<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiUpofDvD4NUtNyjjcjfxxy9pjOZ4KWCVbCQuAIq_dEX2YieUFi5GR5F9DNSFTZH2BcdBHpjl7CQO5XC2VF9Y12aLNzefiik3MX7sIIFkvDOX7d7Buo7pMUJd_kVasFwqw5o5Q8TlRU9SxqfW3tYzDsV6ETVpmH20YG2CkoSRrFmzIxpS9JTyweMENag" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiUpofDvD4NUtNyjjcjfxxy9pjOZ4KWCVbCQuAIq_dEX2YieUFi5GR5F9DNSFTZH2BcdBHpjl7CQO5XC2VF9Y12aLNzefiik3MX7sIIFkvDOX7d7Buo7pMUJd_kVasFwqw5o5Q8TlRU9SxqfW3tYzDsV6ETVpmH20YG2CkoSRrFmzIxpS9JTyweMENag=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: </span><a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv2_RCL.html#gsp1" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Matthew 3:1-12</a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s talk about fire. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s all over our sacred writings. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A pillar of fire led the Israelites out of Egypt</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">across the Red Sea;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Angel of the Lord spoke to Moses</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">from the burning bush;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a flaming torch represented promises made to Abraham.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fire appeared on the holy mountain</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and fire appeared in the holy sanctuary,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and tongues of fire</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">suddenly came to rest on the disciples’ heads at Pentecost. Fire, eternal and mysterious,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is how God chooses to reveal the Divine Self</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to us mere mortals,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">again and again.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And years later, in the writings of the desert fathers, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">young Abba Lot wondered what he should do</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">besides pray and fast and meditate,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the elder Abba Joseph</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">stretched out his hands toward heaven</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and his fingers became like ten torches of fire</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as he replied: if you wish you can become all flame.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Less poetically, perhaps, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">John the Baptist also gives us an image of fire today,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">one that feels more disconcerting.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unquenchable fire that destroys the trees that bear no fruit </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and incinerates the husks of wheat</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">puts into mind neither Spirit nor divine love</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but rather eternal torment.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That eternal flame threatens those </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who do not stop and repent of their ethical lapses </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and instead figure that somehow </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">everything will probably turn out all right </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">if they just keep going as they are.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No doubt John used the image to shock his listeners. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And he got their attention -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all of Jerusalem and Judea</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and all the region of the Jordan -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">pretty much everyone in the land of God’s people -</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">streamed out to him in the wilderness,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">confessing, confessing, confessing.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the point of John is not the fire, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it’s the repentance.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">John too, embodies that truth:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that one cannot get to transformation</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">without recognition of what is wrong</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and showing contrition for it.</span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s another property of fire to consider, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and that is fire as a refiner, a purifier.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Precious metals, gold and silver,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">are plunged into the heart of a fire</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">not to destroy them</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but to burn away their dross,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">their impurities.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And that’s the fire that Jesus, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Messiah, Prince of Peace, brings</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when John says that Jesus will baptize us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">with the Holy Spirit and fire:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is divine, eternal, purifying fire</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in which all the ugly is burned away</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">until all that is left is the beautiful.</span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the sweep of Advent: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">recognition, repentance, transformation.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is why we have to go through John the Baptist,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that gruff wild man who calls people names,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to get to Jesus, our savior,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">during this season of preparation.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So we must not be afraid of holy fire.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is coming and he is bringing holy fire </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And through it God would have us be the light of the world.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We must not then be afraid to express sorrow and remorse </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for wrongs past and present.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I say that knowing</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">how high my defenses are</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">at all times and in all places</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and how hard that feels to me</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">because it brings on feelings of shame and guilt</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and a sense of having fallen short again and again. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I say that knowing that most of us (individually and collectively) just</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">want to leave the past behind us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and pretend that it is all over now</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and why keep bringing it up? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But John’s crucial reminder is </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that our transformation (individual and collective) will come</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">only after we can recognize and ask forgiveness</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for the things we have done and left undone,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as a church, as a society, as mere mortals </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">who are just trying to get by.</span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Confession, owning up to our errings and strayings, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the way to reconciliation;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is how we prepare the way</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">through our own wilderness for our savior.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recognition and repentance is how we get to the joy of letting go </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of our deep burdens of guilt and shame and regret,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">those burdens that we carry around with us</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">or drag along behind us that weigh us down so heavily.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is coming to us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and for no reason other than out of heavenly love, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he is bringing this celestial fire to us </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and through it we can be changed. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">His divine, eternal, purifying fire will burn away</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the shame and the pain and the guilt and fearfulness, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all the stuff we wish we hadn’t said or done, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">all the stuff we wish we had said or done </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but didn’t have the courage or wisdom </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in our frailty and fear or ignorance </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to say or do </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">until all that is left is the beautiful,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and we have become all flame.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #10131a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-78050524180305854212022-11-27T06:00:00.006-05:002022-11-27T06:00:00.230-05:00Preparing our eyes to see<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu5BAN8yAOUXRPrGop21k4GrWJpu42K_1gNZRvgxSIIOFNz3YjGN9PA-EdooAUGw_WEAPZmFNZAsI2P51-l9TfPg5TIHjPiK7C_enyeNCcAfBgyukv1NVAC2jTAzOpHaXiPGUtlrx4cTz2Jolt7A3hjRi0HskMW4SnspsMRGjzxPSmxkoYZOKJGD-yJA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="3446" data-original-width="2755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu5BAN8yAOUXRPrGop21k4GrWJpu42K_1gNZRvgxSIIOFNz3YjGN9PA-EdooAUGw_WEAPZmFNZAsI2P51-l9TfPg5TIHjPiK7C_enyeNCcAfBgyukv1NVAC2jTAzOpHaXiPGUtlrx4cTz2Jolt7A3hjRi0HskMW4SnspsMRGjzxPSmxkoYZOKJGD-yJA=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text:<a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv1_RCL.html" target="_blank"> Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 24:36-44</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you imagine a world in which all the nations took their weapons and turned them into tools to be distributed to everyone so that they could grow food for themselves and for the world? </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A world in which feeding all the people everywhere was more important than fighting, patrolling borders and taking prisoners, amassing wealth and treasure, shooting people in schools and stores and clubs and movie theaters and houses of worship, blowing things up and tearing things down? </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you imagine how many farming tools there would <b>be</b> in the world if all the weapons, the tanks and guns and bombs, were so converted? Can you imagine people actually doing that? </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The prophet Isaiah imagines that. Isaiah who is no blithe Pollyanna, no stranger to the horrors of war, of the destruction that ruins the land and snuffs out the lives of people and leaves the landscape desolate and unproductive. Isaiah has envisioned all of that and spelled it out quite graphically in many chapters and verses to all who would hear. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But Isaiah also sees the world as God would have it, where, as we will hear him say soon, the lion will lie down with the lamb and a little child will lead them. He sees possibility of a world of peace, a place where all people strive enthusiastically to learn God's ways. Isaiah has envisioned God's people streaming into the woods and caves and holes in the ground, </span>terrified,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to get away from horrible destruction and now he lyrically describes them streaming eagerly toward God in great throngs.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Advent is upon us, the time when we stand somewhere in the middle and look toward the end, toward the time when Jesus will return in glory and all things will be made right, and also we look toward the beginning again, the birth of the baby and the time when Jesus came to live among us to show us God's love.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who read Jesus' words in Matthew today and imagine it to be the beginning of some kind of bloodbath haven't read Isaiah. The vision Isaiah has of the time when all things are made right is not about some kind of holy war or tribulation or intrigue, or gangs of insiders taking out the bad guys. That’s Herod’s MO, not the way of Jesus.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's about peace and about all of God's people being fed both physically and spiritually - being made whole, having what they need. About a time when no one is hungry either for food or for dignity, no one is dying, no one is being shoved aside by the powerful, no children are suffering abuse or starving, and no one is being stalked and killed and maimed. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How does one prepare then, during Advent, for something so unbelievably incredibly wonderful and sublime as God coming to live among us so that peace will reign and all might have life abundant? We frankly can't even imagine such a thing for more than a few minutes before the vision disintegrates and disappears into the broken chaos that is our world. And these things seem very far away from us, either in a distant past or a distant future.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I think we are wrong simply to imagine ourselves living in some kind of religious no-man's land, where nothing is really happening in terms of God's coming to us. If Jesus came long ago, and will come again far in the future to transform the world into something radically different than it is now, is there really just nothing doing in the meantime? What does God have to do with us - and what do we have to do with God - if we are just part of a vast middle time in between, so that Jesus is just a memory and the glory of God transforming the world into the New Heaven and New Earth is just a dream - as is the vision of sword beaten into plowshares and not studying war any more?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that God comes to us often during this middle time in between. But God is hard to see - because God’s work looks like something else. Jesus looked like a little Jewish baby born to a teenaged mother in a back alley. God's angels who visited Abraham and Sarah to announce the impending birth of their son looked like three guys on a road trip. God's covenant with all of the earth, the people and the animals and earth as well, looked like a rainbow. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so I think that during this Advent time of preparation we need to prepare our eyes to see what God is doing in the world. We need to prepare our eyes to recognize God's work beneath the commonplace. To see a covenant within the rainbow, to see the hope of the world in a feeding trough. We need to prepare our eyes to be able to see those swords that have already been beaten into plowshares. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, if we are to focus on how and when God comes to us in our own world and in our own time, we must be awake, as Jesus warns us. We must be alert and watchful. We need to remember that the coming of God to us is always surprising, always unexpected, to be found in places one would not normally look. We must train our eyes to see and our hearts to wonder and our minds to allow for new things, unimaginable things, things as huge as tanks morphing into trees full of ripe fruit, things as tiny as a babe in arms. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To see love, to imagine peace, to look for and experience God's goodness in the face of the world's debilitating, pervasive, corrosive fear-mongering that is the stuff of Herod and not Jesus. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then to show it to others. To show that love, to tell of our experience, to speak about our own longings and imaginings that include the wellbeing of people in the face of a world that wants to demonize, castigate, and exclude, and as we see every single tragic week, to lash out in murderous hatred. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, it is Advent and we are preparing. But we don’t have to wait to walk in the light <b>now.</b> Let us stream to the mountain <b>now</b>, let us envision dignity and inclusion <b>now</b>, let us speak against fear-mongering <b>now</b>, let us look for God <b>now</b>, let us take hold of Isaiah's vision and make it our own in the face of hopelessness and cynicism <b>now</b>. Because <b>we</b> are the people to carry hope into the world now, wearing the beautiful armor of Advent light.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So let's carry that light and let's watch, and learn to see, and pray this prayer every day as we begin a new year, Come Lord Jesus, Come.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7086799115254785699.post-56470841207057491942022-11-13T09:51:00.006-05:002022-11-13T09:51:50.555-05:00Testimony<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4lMLu9iG12ugF9JdyXnVry556Nj3GIHODqP9D2ZPflGAfjI_pnQRnZUoMnkm0GQqxUHioHXIHdxh_--8mwcNbcVYW8rehgklLx5A60kjbqeFhjfEZWsaCMVQn5R2FVUbPRkFHVU06WKTcoRK1oCgdKwqtg49jHd9EkmkDJBSGJTBEX9gDymewMBxvqQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4lMLu9iG12ugF9JdyXnVry556Nj3GIHODqP9D2ZPflGAfjI_pnQRnZUoMnkm0GQqxUHioHXIHdxh_--8mwcNbcVYW8rehgklLx5A60kjbqeFhjfEZWsaCMVQn5R2FVUbPRkFHVU06WKTcoRK1oCgdKwqtg49jHd9EkmkDJBSGJTBEX9gDymewMBxvqQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Text: <a href="https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Pentecost/CProp28_RCL.html" target="_blank">Isaiah 65:17-25, Luke 21:5-9</a></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For many years now, I have spent a lot of time with the Old Testament prophets. Their offerings can be pretty tough, filled with images of unrelenting warfare, destruction and desolation; stories of people streaming away from smoking cities, seeking refuge, of people being rounded up and led away into exile, with hooks around their necks. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Among other things, the prophets were engaged with a theological and existential question: If God is on our side, then why was the the center of our life together(for them, the Temple) destroyed and God’s people scattered or taken captive?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Various prophets voice various “reasons” for the destruction. Some cite wrongful worship: You have bowed down to idols, they say, and have been unfaithful to your God. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Others add the danger of political maneuverings: You put your trust in, and made alliances with, Egypt or Assyria instead of trusting in your God. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still others point to injustice in society: your leaders push aside the people they are supposed to be caring for to get to the food and water first; and you yourselves, like heedless animals going to the river to drink, thoughtlessly foul everyone else’s water with your feet. You trample the poor and the needy and do not care for the widow and orphan or show hospitality to the alien in your land, and therefore God is turning the Divine face away from you, they say.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a complicated mix of religion, politics, governance, and morality.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which, actually, sounds familiar, doesn’t it?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These days, what now seems to be an endless election season in our nation has started to feel like a long siege of our own centers of communal life. It has become a season that is never actually over, so that accusations, dire predictions, handwringing, and angry blaming just seem to be part of every day news and experience. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We just keep fighting and blaming and allowing the outrage machine to play us and keep us all stirred up before, during, and still continuing after the day we cast our votes.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of us are not comfortable with this level is discord and wish to move past it quickly. We are polite Virginia Episcopalians and there’s a certain veneer under which we place our differences. But last week’s election results confirm what was clear two years ago and four years before that: we the people are not united. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our nation is seriously divided and we don’t see ourselves as a people but more like member of opposing teams. And we have to support our team no matter what.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But God does call us to be a people, and so here we are in church together, listening for the word of God, wondering what are we called to, as the people of God, in this divided world?</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the word from Jesus today is this: In times of upheaval, you will be given an opportunity to testify. And by your endurance, you will gain your soul. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a time for us to testify to our faith. And here is the testimony I believe we - you and I - are called to give, no matter which political side we are on: That God is love. That God says the outcast, the poor, the alien, the lost are precious. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That we - you and I - denounce hateful language, bullying, threats, intimidation, bigotry of every kind, harassment, contempt, vandalism and violence. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That we - you and I - stand up for the powerless and marginalized and take their situations seriously. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That we stand up for them by not keeping quiet about ill treatment and bad behavior. That we not shrug and say that’s just the way things are now, allowing individual children of God to be lumped together and dehumanized and made into issues so that we can feel ok about<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>whatever is going to befall them because they are black or gay or pregnant or seeking asylum or addicted or unhoused or just on the other team.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Testifying is not just about using words to say how God has treated you well and we don’t know why God has treated others less well as if it’s God who discriminates and denigrates instead of humans.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We - you and I - are called to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick and imprisoned, to welcome the stranger. We are called to work for their welfare as well as our own. We may have to think pretty hard, and get way outside our comfort zones, to determine who exactly our neighbors are And how exactly we are needed to love them. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in addition to not lumping people together into categories<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>we are called to sometimes actually go stand beside someone who needs protection - even to go out and find them so we can stand beside them - and to teach our children to do so, too.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We always are called to do these things, of course. This is our work for life as followers of Jesus. But our testimony to and in the world as faithful witnesses of the Gospel is crucial now, in the face of such obvious division. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a time for the Church to be the Church and shine the light of Christ as brightly as we possibly can, by our words and our deeds. And by our endurance, we will gain our souls……..</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are going to be reading from the prophets for the rest of this year as we move toward Advent and then through Advent to Christmas. And we’ll see that most of the prophets spoke not only of destruction, but also of reconciliation and restoration, as Isaiah declares today. And of course eventually that’s what we all hope for. God is going to bring good out of chaos, in God’s time, that swords will be beaten into plowshares and we will not study war any more. That God will return the people from whatever is holding them captive. That there will be no more weeping or children born for calamity, and the people will live in peace.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The vision of the new Jerusalem, the holy place God will bring forth some day is a vision we desperately need to hold on to.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But right now, in the meantime, in these hard times of division and distressing upheaval, we have work to do. Our work is to testify to the world about the love of God then,and to love our neighbors, to do so not just with our words but with our very lives.</span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And if we keep our eyes and ears on Jesus, he will show us the way.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Penelopepiscopalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110169815273159849noreply@blogger.com0