4 Epiphany

Readings are here

The last few weeks we have been hearing about Jesus beginning his public ministry - calling the disciples. Now he is gaining more attention and crowds are gathering wherever he goes. Today he begins to move beyond the healing ministry that has attracted the crowds and preach the message that will startle the world around him and call for a new way of looking at life. Looking at life the way God sees it.

In the days of Jesus blessed meant to those the Romans and Greeks "the gods" - the ones who lived beyond the normal cares of humanity. Or it could mean to many - those who had died and were finished with the trials of living. Or it most likely meant the elite-- those with great success, wealth, large families, land, business. We know this meaning from our daily news-- someone survives a wreck where everyone else is injured or klled - they say "I was blessed," or someone recovers from a life threatening illness and people say - "she was blessed," or someone wins the lottery - the news proclaims "showers of blessings!"

NOT blessed meant shame, being without any resources, loss of status, without hope, and overwhelmed by the world and its pain.

For Jesus to state in his first big public statement that it is these who had been seen as without blessing to be the blessed ones is shocking, foolish as Paul would call the world's view of this belief. How can this be - it goes against everything "people know."

What Jesus knows is that blessing is who we ARE not something we attain. Created in the image of God - just being here on this earth is enough. Many do not grow up with this belief about themselves. They never feel worthy enough -- always feel like they cannot earn enough, be enough, measure up because this is the message they hear at home and in the world. What message did you hear? I was lucky - my grandmother always delighted in being - just being born was enough to have her favor. It is something each child needs to hear. We know from studies that if a child has one person in his or her life who treats him with respect and listens and spends time her - it can change the course of a life. It does not have to be a relative - it can be a teacher - a person who sees the child in a store. Anyone.

Bishop Tutu - the great hero of South Africa says that for him it was a priest. He grew up thinking he was less than human because he was black in South Africa - he could never really do much because of all the barriers. He was about 10 years old living in the townships. One day a white man, an Anglican (Episcopal) priest walked by his home while his mother was out sweeping the steps. The little boy, Desmond, was watching out the window when he saw the priest tip his hat to his mother. It changed his life - seeing his mother treated as a full human being worthy of respect. He suddenly realized that he was not second class human but as good as anyone. Blessed as Jesus says in our reading.

That priest suffered and was persecuted for his belief in the dignity of every human being. Nelson Mandela suffered for that belief, Desmond Tutu suffered. Often the world does not want people to know they are blessed. It wants to keep people "in their place" --- the message of Jesus is "don't believe it" -- believe that you are created in the image of God - you are born blessed - you cannot lose the blessing not matter what happens nor what you do. It is grace and it is always there - always waiting for you to notice and accept it. We are called to know this as Christians - to tell each other when we forget - to tell others who may not know this message. But Jesus says it may cost you your place in the society of some -- but this is not Junior High where if you offend the 'in' crowd and you are cast out. This is the way to life abundant. A way of living without fear of who is in and who is out, who is up and who is down. It is a banquet with seats for everyone - Jesus offers himself as the way to find you place at the table.

When Paul talks about the foolishness of the cross - he is talking about following the One who could have done a miracle or could have brought the armies of angels to his rescue but chose to die as we die, God born as a helpless baby, who hangs helpless on the cross to show us that the rules of this world about who is blessed have no power. Claiming our blessedness - means we let go of fear - fear of death, fear of the stranger, fear of failure - because that is not real - it is not our doom - it is only something to pass through - it will not really kill the essentials of who we are.

The message of the cross is not becoming a doormat - it is about choosing to believe in our selves and the power of our choices even in extreme danger. When we poor in spirit - dispossessed and abandoned - we are still blessed. When we are mourning - grieving the state of the world or ourselves - we are still blessed. We do not seek these things to BE blessed we are blessed regardless of these things. The events are not blessings but we walk through them knowing that we are beloved of God and God knows what it is like to be poor and grieving.

The prophet Micah tells of God almost taking the people by the shoulders and shaking them - listen God says - I don't want all this ritual outward sign of your worthiness - you are already worthy -- live into it -- do what is good - this is what I require:

Do justice - see that all the peoples of the world can live in health and wholeness; Love kindness-- treat each person as you would be treated; and walk humbly with God - walk in the paths of God, see the world through God's eyes, choose LIFE.

Here is how it looks in the news today - from Egypt:
From Twitter
Sana Saleem
While Muslim Protestors prayed today, Christian Egyptians formed human chains to protect them. Solidarity,strength and co-existence and a few weeks ago when churches were attacked - Muslims neighbors surrounded churches during worship.

This is choosing to live into what it means to accept that we are blessed.

3 Epiphany

Thoughts towards a sermon:

Readings are here.

Once again the Gospel relates one of the call stories - though it differs from last week in the setting - now they are in Capernaum instead of by the Jordan River. Jesus has apparently taken up residence in this small town whose economy was based in fishing and agriculture. Recent archeological findings show that the town was made up of sturdily built houses of basalt (like we find in our rocky outcroppings along the coast) with roofs of small logs, sticks and mud (remember the healing of the paralytic where his friends tore up the roof to let him down by Jesus?). Prized possessions were small mills to grind grain and olives for flour and oil. There did not seem to be a wide disparity of social classes.

I don't often think of Jesus as having a home -- mostly in the gospels he seems to ramble about with his followers depending on the kindness and support of women for his food and lodging. But in the gospel of Matthew - they spend a lot of time in Galilee where they would not be far from home. Peter could easily return to look after his wife and mother in law. Peter and Andrew seem to work for others, as they own nets but no boat. James and John work for their father who most likely contracted with wealthier investors. This story makes me wonder about those who stayed home to support Jesus and his followers. Perhaps there is a ministry of stability that makes it possible for others to do their ministry of reaching out.

We are continuing with Paul's letter to the Corinthians. After the nice things about the Corinthian Christians that he said in the part we read last week - he begins his critique of them In this portion he is saddened by their divisions - this one over whose baptism is better. He is sort of funny in this letter - starting out with "I thank God that I baptized none of you" and then having to back track, oh except Crispus, Gauis, Stephanas and maybe a few more!! I like these segues in Paul's letters - they make him the most real of all the Bible people. He ends this section saying "the message of the cross is foolishness" - what does he mean- how can it be foolish. But looking at it from the point of view of might makes right, or wealth proves you are blessed, or he who dies with the most toys wins -- a God who dies powerless on the cross seems very foolish. A message that God chooses weakness and shame in an honor/shame culture instead of power and might and wealth - does sound very odd.

Lately I have been intrigued with the psalms. This one speaks of seeking one thing - to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, to seek him in his temple. At one time this might have meant an actual place - the temple in Jerusalem but what does it mean now. Sometimes I come into the church building when no one is around, and just sit -- this particular building has a very spiritual sense for me. I know altar guild members often report they are most able to pray and be present to God when alone setting up the altar and preparing the church for our worship. So it could be a place even now. I also believe the whole earth is a temple of God as well as our bodies - so it may be that we seek to dwell within the world and within our bodies as temples. When I walk the beach I feel that sense of holy space - a grand temple that brings awe and terror and peace in its own way. In many ways the ocean is a metaphor for God for me -- a place that gives me life and can easily take it away. If we look at our selves and our earth as a temple of God - how would that change us? Respect for the earth as holy place, respect for our bodies as holy places? What about cities?

Today we have the Annual Meeting - if we live into this idea how would it change our meetings?

There has been a plea for more civility in our public discourse. Could I start by treating each encounter with another as holy space? Acting and speaking with the sense of God's presence in the midst of us?

2 Epiphany

Looking back from Monday at what I really said -- 8 a.m. - felt to me like the sermon wanted to go in 2 directions - not sure it really came together. 9:30 a.m. - one of those rare moments when it felt like it all came together - sermon, music (not planned by me), prayers.

The congregation is beginning their search process and will have the Annual Meeting next Sunday so the focus was on their call to be the church in in this time and place?

Here are some notes --

Readings are here.

Lesson seem to be around the idea of what it means to answer the call of God and to witness that call to others?

Isaiah, not to lose hope

Psalmist - In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
'I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart."' What is written in the book about you? me? us as a congregation?

Paul and the Corinthians, -- assuring them that there is reason for their community, that God has called them in this time and place to witness to their city.

John, points to Jesus - not to himself

Jesus -- come and see. -- it is in the following that you will know.

WH Auden - Hymnal (did not end up using this - but it was in my mind)

He is the Way.
Follow Him through the Land of Unlikeness;
You will see rare beasts, and have unique adventures.

He is the Truth.
Seek Him in the Kingdom of Anxiety;
You will come to a great city that has expected your return for years.

He is the Life.
Love Him in the World of the Flesh;
And at your marriage all its occasions shall dance for joy

.


A blessing:

My friends, life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make this earthly pilgrimage with us, so be swift to love, and make haste to do kindness, and the blessing of God, who comes to us as +Creative Presence, Saving Grace and Lifegiving Spirit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you and all whom you love and pray for this day, and forever more.

Fun with Icons

Join the band with saints and angels. Gives a whole new meaning to "with all the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven" we sing!!



h/t to Phil's Treehouse

Epiphany

Today is the anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I was happy to be ordained on Epiphany as shooting stars are a metaphor for my life - I love the ones in the sky as well as the flowers that grow up the canyon from our house. It was an odd journey to that day and from that day. Now I am contemplating the future of where that call will take me. Here is TS Eliot reading his poem on the Magi.

"A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The was deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter."
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires gong out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty, and charging high prices.:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we lead all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I have seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

Baptism of Christ

I am not preaching this week - The Baptism of Christ, but am thinking of the scene from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Eustace has been transformed into a dragon but now wants to become a boy again:
[

"I looked up and saw the very last thing I expected: a huge lion coming slowly toward me. And one queer thing was that there was no moon last night, but there was moonlight where the lion was. So it came nearer and nearer. I was terribly afraid of it. You may think that, being a dragon, I could have knocked any lion out easily enough. But it wasn't that kind of fear. I wasn't afraid of it eating me, I was just afraid of it -- if you can understand. Well, it came close up to me and looked straight into my eyes. And I shut my eyes tight. But that wasn't any good because it told me to follow it."

"You mean it spoke?"

"I don't know. Now that you mention it, I don't think it did. But it told me all the same. And I knew I'd have to do what it told me, so I got up and followed it. And it led me a long way into the mountains. And there was always this moonlight over and round the lion wherever we went. So at last when we came to the top of a mountain I'd never seen before and on the top of this mountain there was a garden - trees and fruit and everything. In the middle of it there was a well. . . .

"Then the lion said -- but I don't know if it spoke -- 'You will have to let me undress you.' I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know -- if you've ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy -- oh but it is such fun to see it coming away."

"I know exactly what you mean," said Edmund.

"Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off -- just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt -- and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me -- I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on -- and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turned into a boy again." [115-116]

Readings for Sunday are here.

II Christmas

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child, bye-bye, lully lullay. O sisters, too, how may we do / for to preserve this day/ this poor youngling for whom we sing / bye-bye lully lullay? Herod the King, in his raging charged he hath this day / his men of might, in his own sight/ all young children to slay. That woe is me, poor child for thee! / And every morn and day / for thy parting nor say nor sing / bye-bye lully lullay. Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child, bye-bye, lully lullay.
Coventry Carol

This reading is a bucket of ice cold water thrown on the sweet baby Jesus in the manger of last week. Now reality "bites" as it is said. The Episcopal Church lectionary for reasons unknown to me take out the verses about all the baby boys being slaughtered by Herod as he tries to protect his throne from any who might challenge him and his family.

Mary and Joseph must be wondering what they have gotten themselves into listening to angels and dreams. Having a baby in a manger was just the beginning of the trials of birthing God into this world. After the visits of the shepherds and angels, here come the Magi - 3 or more since it only tells of 3 gifts - we don't know. We don't know who they are either - from the East - there is a new book out claiming they came from China. But they were foreigners, we know that - from some place "other" than Bethlehem or Nazareth. Wealthy since they brought such expensive gifts. Educated - understanding the movement of the stars and the planets. Not like the probably illiterate and rough shepherds. Also bringing the unintended consequence of the interest of the powers that be. In the story Herod is very interested in this new "king." And though the Magi return by another way - not going back to inform Herod of the whereabouts of the Jesus - the response is horrific. All the male children under the age of 2 are to be killed. Though there is no record of this event -- it is the oft times consequence of the clash of power and children. Just look at the daily news - Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Haiti, Nigeria - those who would maintain power and keep the wealth to themselves do not care about the collateral damage to children.

The little family now must flee like so many other families in our world today. War, famine, drought, flood, earthquakes make refugees out of all - some who thought they were secure and many who have never known security. In their case Egypt opened its arms to protect them. And even when they returned to Israel they had to avoid certain areas.

Egypt is a continuing theme in the Bible - from the time of Jacob to the time of our Gospel. For Jacob and his family it was also a place of refuge -- Joseph had been exiled there by his brothers - and just like our Joseph of the Gospel he finds a place of refuge and place to flourish. It is welcoming to the refugees. Then it becomes a place where staying is no longer an option. For Jacob's descendents it becomes a place of oppression and Moses must lead them out of slavery. For Jesus = he must return to the land of his birth to lead us all out of slavery.

Both Jeremiah and the Psalm that we read today long for refuge and freedom. Jeremiah lived through the terrible days of Exile when the Babylonians swept through Israel and Judah and took all the leaders off to exile. They longed and kept faith for several generations that they would someday return to their homeland and experience the joy and peace of the psalmist who sings of the sparrow finding a nest in the house of the Lord - the Temple. The sparrow whom Jesus assures us has God's eye even when falling from the sky. The sparrow - the least of birds.

The letter to the Ephesians is also encouraging people not to lose sight of the joy and peace and abundance that comes with being God's people.

For me the lessons speak of two themes - one to those of us who need refuge from whatever is troubling us in our lives. Where can we find that place of peace and joy? And the danger that the wrong kind of refuge can end up as a prison and enslaving us.

The other theme is welcoming the stranger who needs a place of refuge -- those who come to this country for economic reasons or to escape war or disaster. How do we become a place of welcome that allows people to grow and flourish in our midst? My grandparents on both sides came here for economic reasons - there was no work in Scotland and Norway. This country was seen as a place to change one's fortunes. It was not easy. Maybe that is why I have a soft spot for current immigrants. In Jackson, the Episcopal Church is a resource to the Latino community - the Latino Resource Center offers help negotiating the difficulties of law and language. Many Anglo members of the congregation have taken Spanish lessons offered by the church to better understand the newcomers in their midst.

One thing I really like about Trinity is the readiness to help others. Even though we might not always be able to meet all the bills that come with having a building - there is never a lack of coming forward to help others. Over Christmas the Diocesan Foundation offered matching grants to churches to do something helpful in their communities -- Trinity jumped at the chance to match the full amount and helped a family struggling with medical bills.

I read recently about Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet using their immense wealth to change the world for the better - rather than keeping it all for themselves and their families - they are giving it away. They also are trying to get others with great wealth to sign on to a pledge to do this.

The lessons of today speak to the on going struggle between the world of tyrants and the world as God would have it - we are called to choose. Will we join the Herod's of this world - keeping power and wealth all to ourselves or will we work for peace and abundance for all peoples? Each little thing we do - like the First Stop or the Food Bank or electing people who want the best for everyone - education, health care, opportunities. Each thing breaks the grip of the chains that keep all people from growing into that which God dreams for us and for them.



Painting: Luc Olivier Merson's Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Take Joy!

I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep.

There is nothing I can give you which you have not got. But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today.
Take heaven!

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instance.
Take peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy.
Take joy!

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty . . .
that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven.
Courage then to claim it, that is all! . . .

And so I greet you, with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

"Letter to a Friend" by Fra Giovanni, 1513

Christmas Eve 2010

Welcome to our celebration of this most amazing night. Celebrating a birth that reveals that all creation and life is holy. The beginning again of hearing the angels' song of hope for Peace on Earth - peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace in the world. The helpless infant in the manger at Bethlehem is the message God is with us. God is with us in our joys and our sorrows, in pain and in health. God knows us intimately - has walked our path from the first cry of coming into this world, the joy of and the betrayal by friends. God knows the joy of celebrations with families and the grief and pain of death. This is not a God who stays at a distance, who does not know crying, but God who enters into the fullness of life and walks the paths of this world with us. We look to power to fix things in this world but the message of the manger is God entrusting all life to us. The power of God is not military might or wealth. The power of God is found in saying "help me" -- both Jesus in the manger and Christ on the cross show that same message.

There is a a story that when God finished making the heavens and the earth and sending people out into the world, and Jesus came to walk with us and show us the way to be fully human and was crucified, died and rose from the dead. The angels asked so who is going to continue this work of creation and bringing peace on earth? God said "they are" -- the angels looked out on the rag tag collection of people who had heard the message and said -- that's your plan? God said "yes." The angels said - "Is there a Plan B?"

There is no Plan B -- it's us and "God with us" - "Immanuel" - whose birth we celebrate this night. So let's take a deep breath, sing our carols and light our candles against the deep dark places of life -- open our presents of presence - being that point of God's presence in our world - each day.

Hallelujah Chorus from Quinhagak, Alaska

Hallelujah Chorus -Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat 5th Grade - Quinhagak, Alaska

O Holy NIght - sung in Navajo

A Christmas Card with Jana Mashonee's rendition of "O Holy Night" in Navajo. It is accompanied by appropriate winter scenery on Navajo land featuring original artwork by Daniel Tate. Merry Christmas!

Christmas story

Kids enact the Christmas story like you have not seen before.



thanks to Episcopal Café