Homily for Christmas, 2011

We celebrate again the birth of the Jesus the Lord of all. But really, spiritually, who is he, why do we keep doing this?

In our reading from Isaiah we heard the prophet announce peace, salvation and God’s kingship. Using the poetic imagery of the “sentinels” on the city wall who are normally occupied in watching for approaching enemies but, now sing for joy because they see God returning to his people. Isaiah announces that this saving act of God will be known by the whole world. It is not just for Israel.

Our reading from Hebrews is the prologue of this anonymous epistle. The letter stresses the importance of salvation through Christ – perhaps to Jewish Christians who were tempted to return to Judaism, or to Jews who were interested in becoming Christian. One point these verses make is that Christ is the perfect priest: he is mediator between God and humanity.

Our gospel today is the prologue or introductory chapter of John. The author’s intent is “that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah [the Christ], the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (20:31). John begins from God’s creative act: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth ...” (Genesis 1:1), the Word, he who became a human (v. 14a), already existed. He was “with God” (v. 1) and (with the Father and the Holy Spirit); he was God. He was the agent through whom “all things came into being” (v. 3).

For John, understanding Jesus as the Messiah is not enough nor is understanding him as Son of God as King David was called son of God as an honor. Jesus is not a son of God the way Hercules was a son of Zeus’ philandering. Jesus is God, before the creation – the one who came down to us in flesh through Mary.

Many poets and lyricists have raised and tried to answer the question: Who is Jesus? What is He? I most love the poetry of a very old hymn that goes like this:

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Despite all the theologizing done over the millennia, it is an intensely personal question. Obviously he is the savior for us all. And his birth is monunmental for that reason alone. He is also God incarnate, and this is a universal blessing to the human race. But none of these reflections take way the personal level of our Christian experience. We must each step up to the challenge and take the question to the deepest places in our hearts.

How do you think of Jesus and your relationship with him? When you pray, how do you address him? Is he the friend you share your thoughts with or Athe boss@? Is he the miracle worker you reach to for help or the master of Divine wisdom you look to for insight and encouragement? We all call him Lord, and celebrate the birth as Son of God. But taking a moment to ponder how that works itself out in your prayer life is deeply fruitful. Please, sometime during your celebrations, take a brief moment to ask yourself, how you experience him. Then, wish him a happy birthday!

Christmas Eve

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the father’s only son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Today is the eve of Christmas, in the dark of tonight we mark “the break through.” We celebrate the breakthrough of God’s Word into human experience. The Word which dwelt with God before all things, the Word which worked all creation as God’s agent, has become flesh and lived among us. And, we know him! He has brought us Divine light, love and truth.

Homily for 3 Advent B: December 11, 2011

My sisters & brothers, A couple had two little mischievous boys, ages 8 and 10. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons would get the blame.

The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed and asked to see them individually.

So, the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?"

They boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open.

The clergyman repeated the question. "Where is God?"

Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.

So, the clergyman raised his voice some more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "Where is God!?"

The boy screamed and bolted from the room. He ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.

When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?"

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied: "We are in real BIG trouble this time! God is missing, and they think we did it!"

Well the good news is that God is not missing. Even though we can sometimes feel like it. Our readings today revolve around the belief that God is with his people and that his blessings are with them, especially when we are experiencing hardships.

Today we heard particularly from John’s gospel the announcement of the Baptist: declaring that the time of Lord had arrived. Believe it or not, the main point of John’s Gospel isn’t that Jesus is the Messiah. Or that he fulfills the Old Testament’s prophecies about the “Lord’s Day.” This gospel writers main point is that Jesus is GOD! Which in its day was such a radical idea that this gospel was almost rejected, not included in the bible. It seems strange to us 21st century Christians but it took believers a couple centuries to sort out who Jesus really is.

The synoptics: Mark, Matthew and Luke, seek to demonstrate that Jesus is the expected Messiah. Matthew puts the greatest detail into this message but John takes the story to a whole new level. Jesus is one and the same God who made Abraham father of the nation, set the people free from Egypt and made David king. This is the one whose birth we celebrate each Christmas. This is the one who expects his faithful people to love and assisted the oppressed, poor, sick, etc. For John, Jesus is God’s divine word of compassion spoken to the world. No my friends, God is not missing. God is here in the Christian legacy calling us to continue his example of loving compassion.

Homily for 2 Advent B, December 4, 2011

So, where do we start making ready for the coming of the Lord? We start on the inside....

Isaiah announces the deliverance of Yahweh for the people. They have suffered much but “comfort” is coming from God. Literally, the text says to speak "tenderly,” to the heart (the core) of the person).

In our reading from 2nd Peter, the author is Aware that he will soon die, so he leaves his fellow Christians with a testimony of what being Christian demands: how to live up to The Way, so that they may be among the godly when Christ comes again. It was tempting to deny that Christ would come again because early Christians expected the world to end within their lifetimes.

The delay, he argues is only in human terms, for God does not measure time as we do. God wishes all people to be found worthy at the Last Day. Any delay in that event should be taken as more time to get ready.

Mark begins his telling of the “good news” with quotations from the Old Testament. God had promised the Israelites a “messenger” to lead them. The prophet Malachi understood this promise as pointing to the end-times, to one who would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. To him, the “messenger” would be Elijah. While the echoing of Isaiah’s message was originally spoken of as a return from exile, by Jesus’ time it was seen as an expression of God’s comfort and salvation. To us, John the Baptist comes to fulfill this expectation and lead the people to the Messiah - Jesus.

My sisters & brothers, is being ready for Christ’s return, being ready to celebrate his birth, the same as seeking personal holiness? I believe, on the most fundamental level of our human existence, it is the same thing.

In advent, we reach for a transformation that is focused on becoming more Christ like in our thoughts, affections and our spiritual core. We do this trough prayer, reading the bible in a way that lets the stories move us, spiritual direction and spiritual exercises like “the presence of God."

This practice is about using some mundane task or event that happens many times a day and using it to remind you that God is present with you. maybe each time to you pick up your pen, or reach of the keyboard of your computer, or stop your truck at an intersection.

In this way we open ourselves to the affections of God and having affection for God. Being in love with God is not about being a fanatic. It about growing in that deeper holiness or godliness that some of the older prayers refer to. It’s about a deeper virtue, which changes the very way we feel about life.

My brothers and sisters, this week, I ask you to join me in this practice of "the presences of God." Using some mundane task to remind you that you are with God who loves you enough to be with you at all times and in all places.

Homily for 1 Advent B, Nov. 30 2011

Let us make joyful preparation for the Lord's return!

This part of the Isaiah was probably written 530 510 BC, soon after Jews returned to Israel from the Babylonian captivity. Now the prophet prays to God: please reveal yourself as you did during the Exodus! Display your wondrous works so the other nations will fear you oh God.

Note the sense of urgency: rip the heaves open and come to us.....

Paul greets his readers at Corinth: he wishes them grace (God's freely given gift of love) and peace (the total state of well being to which we are admitted through Christ). He makes the point that they are indeed richly blessed, but later mentions that they tend to dwell on the excitement of the present rather than looking forward to the "revealing of ... Christ", his second coming. This is not something to be afraid of; God will help them prepare for that day, so that they may be among those judged worthy of eternal life.

Jesus has prophesied the destruction of the Temple to the disciples. Then Peter, James, John and Andrew (the first four he called) have asked him: "when will this be?" Today's lesson is Jesus' response. Jesus admonishes his followers to "keep alert" for this coming. The leafing of the "fig tree" is a sure harbinger of summer; similarly, when they see "these things," the End is near, very near. But, it is all at the Father's prerogative and the exact time will not be revealed.

Remember this, and passages like it, the next time someone clamming to know when the second coming will happen. That they have read the signs and know that it is near. It cannot be known.....

At Advent we do not simply look forward to celebrating the birthday of the Lord. We also look forward to his return in glory and power, when God=s kingdom will be fully established and all will be made right.

Like lent we use Advent to get ready for Christ=s return, but we do it with a different focus. In lent we look at our personal short comings and take steps to improve our selves for the judgment to come. In Advent we look forward to the joyful aspect of Christ=s return, to the setting of all things right, to the joy of seeing God win out at last. In this season we absorb the beautiful awareness that God is with us and will be with us in a yet more powerful, inspiring and loving way.

In this is a time of joyful preparation we remember that the Lord did come to humanity, and we will celebrate the anniversary of this event at Christmas. We also remember that Christ is with us in a mystical way today, and will return in triumph in the future. We prepare to celebrate the Incarnation.

Homily for Proper 29: Christ the King

This year, my associate priest, Rev. Donne Puckle preached last Sunday (Nov. 20, 2011). I don't have a written copy to post here; he didn't write out his homily. The following, shared for your reflection, is one of mine from 2008.
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Compassion is the law of God.

It is important that we understand the context of Ezekiel’s ministry as a prophet. He was sent by God to prophesy against Israel’s kings, who had abused their authority and exploited their subordinates. Although the prophecy is couched in a lot of metaphors, its meaning is straight forward. God will reverse the evil done by the bad human shepherds (kings, royal officials, etc). He will seek out and rescue his people from wherever they have been scattered and restore them, to Palestine; he will care for them - providing just and caring leadership.

In today’s passage from Ephesians, Paul covers a lot of territory. Given our other readings today, we need to focus on his view of God the Father giving Christ to the church as ruler over all things. The church is one in Christ and thus is able to share in Christ’s exaltation, Christ being the complete embodiment of God, who is in the process of filling (making good) all things.

Our gospel today is probably Jesus’ most pointed and powerful parable. The message is clear, what ever you do to/for the lowliest members of society, you do to Christ. And Christ will judge accordingly.

Jesus did not invent this law of compassion. God revealed it through both the prophets and the law of the old testament many generation before Jesus. The Old Testament prophets give us the fullest development and illustration of what this Divine calling is about and Ezekiel’s example today is one off the more pointed.

What Jesus did do, was extend this law from its begging as the way you relate to your own people, country men, etc.; to the way we must relate to all human beings. He extended who is covered in this Divine Law. We see this most clearly in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Today’s gospel dramatizes just how important it is in Jesus’ eyes.

As a parish there are many things we do to live out this law as a community. We support Salvation Army, the Chaplain’s Footlocker, Forgash house, CANTOR, Imago Dei and many other programs I can’t even begin to list here and now. We have also responded generously to each other when need arose. The love here is grate and it is a testimony to the authenticity of the faith we profess together.

Let us never grow tired of carrying forward God’s command to care and help.

Homily for Proper 28 A, November 13, 2011

My sisters and brothers, it is vital that we embrace and fulfill the mission God gives us.

In our first lesson today we saw God working through the prophetess Deborah to answer his people’s cry and free them from oppression. Following the death of Joshua, Israel lead by 12 successive judges, charismatic leaders raised up at times of national crisis by the spirit of God. Judges honestly admits that Israel does not control all of the Canaan; because they “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD,” they were subjugated by other peoples from time to time.

“Deborah” is the fourth of the judges but is different from others. She acts as God’s spokeswoman in matters of national importance and societal disputes but leaves military leadership to Barak. She orders him, in God’s name, to assemble troops drawn from northern tribes on Mount Tabor. There, God will draw the enemy, and will give Israel victory. The following verses describe the battle. Due to a heavy rainstorm or to the “Kishon” River overflowing its banks (or to both), Sisera’s chariots become mired in the mud, and his troops panic. Sisera and all his troops are killed. Israel is once again free.

In the second lesson we heard Paul reminding us: you cannot know when the Day of the Lord will come! So, keep awake and sober, be ready, for God has planned salvation for you through Christ.

In the gospel lesson, we heard the Parable of the talents! Notice that the one who is punished does not receive condemnation for his poverty or any lack of ability. He was given responsibility according to his ability just as the others. He is punished for his lazy, cowardly, do nothing attitude. That is, for not using the abilities he has. The one who made a small prophet was given the same blessing (entering his master’s joy) as the one who made the greater prophet. And, given greater responsibilities according to his ability.

Yes, God both rewards generously and is a stern judge. God expects us to be good stewards of his gifts and to use them for the mission of growing his Kingdom. God does not want to see us let our gifts go unused and the Kingdom go stagnate.

It reminds me of a funny story:
Three nurses appeared before St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter said to the first, "Tell me what you did on earth."

Said she, "I was a birthing room nurse. I helped bring hundreds of precious babies into the world."

"Enter!" said St. Peter. Then he turned to the second. "And how about you?" he asked.

She replied, "I was a trauma unit nurse. I helped save hundreds of lives of people involved in terrible accidents."

"Enter!" cried St. Peter, and turned to the third.

"I worked for an HMO," she admitted. "Over the years I saved my company hundreds of thousands of dollars by refusing extended care to people who were trying to bilk the system."

"You may enter!" said St. Peter.

"You really mean it?" asked the nurse incredulously.

"Yes," replied St. Peter. "You've been pre-approved for three days."

My brothers and sisters. Fulling our mission for Christ is not about doing greater things than any one els. Its not about achieving some personal best. Its about doing the good that presents itself to be done. Using our skills, knowledge and energy to spread the Kingdom of God as the opportunity arises.

Homily for All Saints/Souls

My sisters & brothers, some are enjoying the fullness of God’s kingdom. Others, like us, still wait for their turn. Though Christ, we share full communion with all of them.

There are two very important details for us to draw from our first reading. First is the encouragement to seek the gift of Divine Wisdom. Or, ask God to fill you with God’s own spirit. The Old Testament ideas are interchangeable and the basis of our understanding of Jesus’ teaching about the Holy Spirit.

The second detail is that The Spirit/Divine Wisdom is described feminine imagery. We 21st century Christians tend to get so wrapped up in Jesus conversations about the Father, that we forget the deeper teaching of the God’s nature. God is neither male nor female but far more than both. This awareness starts in the Old Testament and has been consistently carried forward thought Christian history. It is important that we not lose sight of this, that we do not reduce God to some lowest common denominator.

Our second lesson brings up an important question for the first generation of Christians. They understand that the destiny of the faithful who are alive at the end of time is to be with God, but what about those who have already died? Remember they expected the second coming to be very soon. We know from 2000 years of history that it’s not happening soon.

Paul addresses their concerns about the faithful who have died. Christians have a certain hope: because we believe in the crucified and risen Christ, through him, God will bring those who are asleep into his company, the same as you and I.

Today’s gospel story is a parable about a master who leaves his household for a time, and suddenly returns. If, while he is away, his servant lives a godly, ethical life, they are “blessed” when the master returns. On the other hand, if they, realizing that the master is delayed in returning, misbehaves and lives a life of debauchery, they will be excluded on the master’s return. In fact, they will be caught in the act, because the master will return when least expected. Jesus is speaking in an allegory, about the relationship between how we live now and what our fate will be at the Second Coming; the master stands for Christ.

Our celebration today of All Saints and All Souls, revolves around the Christian belief that in Christ we have a spiritual connection with all the virtuous people who have gone before us. All Saints and All Souls days celebrate the final fulfillment of God’s promises of a holy paradise and the foretaste we experience now as God’s people. Do you remember Jesus’ preaching; the Kingdom is at hand, even among you? Today we celebrate that what Christ announced is true and our unity with Christ and one another extends not just to other believers in this life but in the life to come as well.

This awareness, that we share intercommunion between the living and the dead in the Body of Christ, is was far older than the Middle Ages. The patriarch John Chrysostom, who died in 407, says that a festival of All Saints was observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Constantinople at the time of his episcopate.

Today, we join this tradition in celebrating our vast spiritual family, in Christ.

Back on Blogger

Alleluia! I've gotten technical issues resolved and I'm back on Blogger....

More to come! Thanks for hanging in with me.

Homily for Proper 14 A,

My sisters and brothers, let us seek the Lord even in the most unexpected places.

In our first reading we have the conclusion of Elijah’s flight from the people who want to kill him. He has traveled far through the wilderness and nearly died of thirst and starvation. Mysteriously aided by an angle, he now arrives at Horeb, “The mount of God.” Though various phenomena, such as wind, storms, earthquakes, fire, herald the God’s presence, they do not constitute the actual presence of God. Who, like the mysterious silence, is perceivable only in the soul.

In the second reading we heard, Paul makes the rhetorical point, no one will bring Christ down from heaven, or up from the dead. Christ is with-in all who confess him. He goes on, “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,” there is one Lord of all, who is generous to all that accept him.

Our gospel is the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water. But the miracle story can obscure for us some of the subplot, or “story with in the story.” Prior to Jesus feeding the 5000, he received news that John the Baptist was killed by King Herod. He tries to find a privet place to grieve/pray but the crowds follow him. Now he finally gets his privet time to pray and then catches up to this disciples by walking across the water to their boat. The point of the miracle story is that nothing is beyond the power of God and that Jesus is the one! Which the disciples proclaim.

An interesting side note, the comment that this happened, “early in the morning” (v. 25) is a bit of translator’s license. The Greek word indicates that it took place “before dawn.”

As Elijah traveled to reach safety with God; Jesus traveled to find solitude and support in his Father- we also must put effort into seeking God in our lives. God does not impose himself on us. But He is close for all who seek Him. And seek Him we must. However, as we seek God we must be prepared to encounter Him in unexpected ways: Elijah found him in silence and stillness rather than in examples of power. Jesus in the solitude that followed an unexpected ministry opportunity. The Apostles found him in a shocking manifestation of power as Jesus approached them walking on a storm tossed sea.

Four or five years ago, I shared a poem with you about my encounter with God, back in Kansas City, wile walking one of our dogs. I am going to share that with you again as an illustration of what I’m driving at.

Husky

God if you made this Siberian Husky I'm walking
Friendly and loving to a fault
yet ready to pounce on any squirrel.

Tale curled high with excitement
oblivious to the frigid water he walks through
wile snow drifts down to catch in his fur.

If you made this husky,
sniffing the ground diligently
with a mound of snow flakes on his nose.

Powerful enough to drag our eight-year-old,
on her belly, through tall summer grass
and gentle enough to kiss her crying face.

Who welcomed me home
with a dance and a howling rooooing song
who now gases out the window with me, wile I pray.

Then O Lord, you are awe inspiring indeed
loving and frightening
the power-filled creator taking playful joy in his work.

Loving and forgiving
with out end
yet just and terrible in accusation.

Giver of deadly blizzards
and soft warm breezes
deserving of respect, devotion and love.


My brothers and sisters, we simply need to make a point of praying each day and keeping an open mind and heart for God’s blessed surprises.

Homily for Pentecost, 2011

My sisters & brothers, how will we respond as we are renewed in the Holy Spirit?

In our first lesson God shares with the elders of the people the same Spirit that was given to Mosses. The griping of the people has set this whole scene in motion. They are tired of eating manna every day and complain, wanting the foods they used to have in Egypt. Moses turns to God. He is overwhelmed by the constant requests from the people. God in turn instructs Moses to commission 70 elders to be his assistant. They are blessed by God with the Divine spirit and their immediate response is to make some kind of ecstatic utterance. Being momentarily overwhelmed by God’s Spirit.

Our second lesson marks a mile stone in salvation history, the Pentecost event. The coming of the Holy Spirit is the gift inaugurating the final stage of the salvation story; this era leads up to the end of time. The whole book of Acts is about mission, about speaking, proclaiming, the good news to people everywhere, in language they can understand; Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit is the driving force behind this work. Today’s story sets the stage for what follows. The disciples are filled with the Spirit, and immediately begin to tell the story of Christ. Clearly the event was both mysterious/mystical and empowering.

In our gospel story, Jesus is appearing to this followers after his resurrection. In John’s version of the story Jesus gives the Spirit now, rather than later. But the punch line remains the same. As he has been sent into the world with the Father’s authority, so he now sends out the disciples and the whole Christian Church after them.

We too are blessed and sent! Our being baptized into Christ means that we, like the first disciple, receive a Spirit of holiness that will sooner or later move us to missionary work. That might mean feeding the hungry, teaching a class, welcoming new comers or putting an Episcopal Church bumper sticker on your car. One way or another it means sharing, or spreading around, the gift we received in Christ. This is the universal mission of Christians. It is both a gift and a challenge given by the Holy Spirit.

I’ve mentioned before that getting our building done and payed for is part of our mission. It provides space for the ministries we need ourselves, and ministries we can offer to others.

Today, as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, we need to be open both to refreshment in God’s Spirit and Renewal in our calling to serve!

Homily for the Feast of the Ascension

If you have not heard the expression, you certainly have had the experience: “Hurry up and wait.” The stories of Christ that we hear today always make me smile. Jesus is giving us the classic “hurry up and wait” scenario. You are my witnesses to the very ends of the earth, to transform the world to faith. But first, stay here and pray for the Holy Spirit . . .

Our first reading today comes from Acts. This book is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel. Here he tells the story of Jesus’ ascension to heaven and the prediction that Jesus will return in the same way at the end of time. From here the waiting for the Holy Spirit begins. It is not surprising that those present expect Israel to be restored to independent national status. Nevertheless, Jesus’ answer shows the first phase of restoration to be of a different nature (Spiritual). When will it be finished? By what times and by what steps, he simply does not say.

In our second reading Paul relates some objectives of our shared lives in Christ. By God’s grace we are to attain a maturer knowledge of God in three ways:

• In spiritual growth as those whom God has called
• The “glorious inheritance” of the Jews that is being shared with the Gentile Christians
• Experiencing the tremendous power of God as he works in their lives

In the Gospel story we just heard, Jesus gives his last commission to his followers and his last instructions. Proclaim repentance and forgiveness in Jesus’ name to all nations. But, first, wait here until you are filled with the Holy Spirit. In essence he charges the disciples (and other followers) with preaching the good news to all people. They are his “witnesses.” The Holy Spirit will be with them, as God promised.

So, we get ready for the mission but wait for the Spirit . . .

Like the first disciples, we must begin our journey by praying for a renewal in the Holy Spirit. As we make our physical journey from this Sunday to the Next, our journey to Pentecost, we need to make the spiritual journey a very intentional endeavor. Praying daily for renewal in the Spirit. Praying for the grace we need to accept and enact or part of the mission to share the good things we have received in Christ.

In the last few months my studies brought me to some very new demographic statistics about religion in America. Fifty percent of our population has no religious affiliation what so ever. The vast majority of that 50% have been unchurched for multiple generations. We can no longer afford to sit here as today’s readings go by us and assume that the mission of Christ is done in the USA. We are not the Christian nation that we once were. We who believe in and follow Christ, must hear the Holy Spirit’s renewed call and move the mission of the Church forward in whatever way we can.

So, in the next week, I call on all of us to pray for the grace of renewal in our faith. Asking God to help us see more clearly the role he has in mind for us at St. Stephen’s.

Homily for 5 Easter A, May 22, 2011

My brothers and sisters, being a bystander is not ok! We must all role up our sleeves and take our place in the Family of God!

In our first reading today, we heard a short clip about the works of our patron St. Stephen. As he is pursued by the murderous crowd, has a vision of heaven. From this he draws the grace he needs to die in full imitation of Jesus; by willing giving his soul to God and praying for those who kill him. He is definitely a holier man than I am . . .

I am sure we have all heard the story: As the Christian Community grew, the need for leaders besides the apostles became obvious. So, seven were chosen to attend to social-service and administrative functions (“daily distribution of food”), of whom Stephen is one. Later in the story we are introduced to Saul (A.K.A. Paul). We see him in his pre-conversion role of supporting the killing of Christians.

In our second reading we hear the classic image of believers being transformed into living building blocks for the house of God. All centered on Jesus the corner stone. Though some rejected Jesus, he is God’s chosen and will be the foundation of the people God is amassing. The author goes on to describe Christians as a “priesthood” dedicated to God (that is: holy) who are to present lives of faith and love.

In today’s gospel story, Jesus explicitly proclaims himself as the way into the house hold (family) of God. We are all called to become part of this spiritual family. Farther, Jesus makes the point that the one who believes will do the works of Jesus, and even greater.

My sisters and brothers, Do not be sitting on your hands! As Peter said, we are being built into the “house, church, family of God.” We are expected (rightly) to participate by helping the project along . . . Jesus’ example and teaching is our road map (or blue prints) for this project. Saint Stephen gives us yet another powerful example. He steps up to the calling that God gave him and gets to work for the growth and good of God’s people. We, in our day and age, each have our own calling for God. Do not be a bystander, an accidental/incidental Christian. To be the real thing, we must get involved in doing the work of the Family of God! We are not all the same. We cannot all do exactly the same. However, we can all do something, and to be authentic, we must do that something. We all have that natural human desire to “test the water” before “taking the plunge!” It is normal. The problem comes in when we make sitting on the fringe into a permanent perch. We must not let our selves get stuck.

Or, to put it another way: Will we let ourselves fall in love with God, or will we keep a safe distance? Will we love our brothers and sisters in the family of God, or will we keep a safe distance? To be authentic, we must eventually cross the line or doom ourselves to a lukewarm existence. Is that the way any of us really want to live? I really do not think so . . .

Interesting conversations in the Scientific American Web Site today.

  This first one (Click Here) is about the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and the obvious speculations that go with it.  Clearly, the researchers involved in the SETI project presume that any extra terrestrial intelligent race we my find will post no threat to us.  In fact many hole the belief that such a race would be highly advanced and altruistic, sharing with us their accomplishments.  Others, including Stephen Hawking, have pointed out that we have not rational basis for this attitude; they prompt the idea that we should keep quiet until we are better able to protect ourselves on a planetary level.  As much as I love this kind of highly speculative conversation...  I must point out that we have absolutely no factual information from which promote either position.  Cautious exploration seems the only wise and rational option. 


This Second story (Click Here) explores new astronomical discovers about planets and their niche in the galaxy.  It appears that some planet size bodies may not orbit a star but have their own path around the galactic center. 

Homily for 5 Lent A, April 10, 2011

My sisters and brothers, the resurrection takes place both in our world and inside each of us.

The lesson we had from Ezekiel, the valley of the Dry Bones is a powerful symbol of renewal and restoration. It may well be the source of the Jewish belief in the resurrection at the end of time. It is likely that Ezekiel was among those deported when the Babylonians first took Jerusalem, in 598 BC. He opposed a political solution to Judah’s woes, espousing instead the notion of Israel as a community faithful to God in religious observance. This story involves both one of the prophet’s visions and an interpretation. Namely, that faithful Israel will be resurrected.

In our lesson from Romans, we have Paul’s classic duality of Spirit (things of God) vs. Flesh (things of the earth). The Christian is able to live a life for God, in the Spirit. Christian life is bound up in the Spirit, and not by the desires of the flesh. Now he explains the difference between what he calls living in the Spirit and living according to the flesh: two very different mind-set. A person whose mind “is set on the flesh,” whose view is limited to the natural world, is at enmity with God because he is fundamentally unable to obey God's law – he lacks the power to transcend his inner conflicts, and. On the other hand, Christians are in the Spirit. Spirit of God dwelling in them, fills and motivates our Christian lifestyle.

Today’s gospel story, of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is a dramatic representation of Jesus’ divine power. He, like God, has power even over death itself. In way, the story sets the stage for the resurrection story of Jesus himself. As the story begins, Jesus and his disciples are at a safe distance from Jerusalem, out of reach of the authorities that are out to get them. Thomas, shows great courage in his readiness to travel back to the Jerusalem area and risk his life with Jesus.

In that day, people thought that one’s soul hovered around one’s body for three days, but when Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for “four days;” making his miracle all the more powerful. I love the gentle way Martha rebukes Jesus for his tardiness wile showing her confidence in his ability to heal. She goes further: perhaps because the Father grants the Son whatever he asks, Jesus will restore life to Lazarus. She, as many did, believed in “the resurrection [of all] on the last day” (v. 24), but this is small comfort to her now. Jesus identifies himself as he who raises believers from death. Yet, even Jesus becomes distraught and his humanity shows in his tears. Causing some to say that he weeps at the loss of a friend (having compassion for Jesus), but others criticize him for his tardiest. They are about to be amazed and overwhelmed at Jesus’ compassion and power.

All of this gives us a view of the end of our Lenten journey, a reminder of our Easter celebration which is just a couple weeks away. As we make our way toward Easter, we have some choices to make about how we get to Easter. We can choose not to focus on the things of the world that distract us from our relationship with Christ. We can choose to resist spite, envy greed, etc. We can deny those things that satisfy a sense of artificial power based on material things. Or we choose to allow God to restore and renew us by filling us again with the risen Spirit of Christ. Let us pray for this gift!

Homily for: 4 Lent A, April 3, 2011

My sisters and brothers, God is full of surprises.

Our first lesson from the prophet Samuel begins a saga for us. The prophet is off about God’s work, blessing the next King of Israel. But, God has not chosen the usual suspects. The present king (Saul) has enjoyed God’s favor, but has lost it by disobeying the prophet Samuel’s instructions. God now orders Samuel to anoint a new king, a son of “Jesse.” The story goes into great length describing how God had not chosen any of the young men that Samuel or Jesse might have guessed. When Samuel does anoint David as the upcoming king, the “spirit of the Lord” fills the young man in a noticeable way. His brothers themselves are witnesses to the event. Saul will persecute David relentlessly but upon Saul’s death in battle, David unifies the northern and southern districts and ascends to the throne over all of Israel. The unexpected boy, is God’s chosen instrument.

In the letter to the Ephesians, the author has exhorted his readers to conduct themselves ethically as befits those who have adopted the way of Christ. Having “put away your former way of life” and being clothed with the new self in baptism, they are now to lead moral lives befitting members of a body in which the Holy Spirit dwells. An offence against a member is an offence against God. Using terminology one also finds in the Qumran scrolls and Matthew, the author contrasts unbelievers (who live in “darkness”and disobey God) with those who are in “light,” i.e., “in the Lord.” Evil deeds are never hidden from God.

The gospel story we just shared, about the man born blind, is one of John’s most rich and intricate stories. In ancient Judaism, illness and physical disability were often attributed to sin: in this case, either of the man (prenatally) or of “his parents.” Jesus dismisses the link between sin and illness. Rather, he says that this man’s impairment gives him opportunities to do the works of God. The Pharisees consider making mud on the Sabbath as breaking the Law so they question the man. They are divided among themselves: some clamming that Jesus cannot be from God (for he breaks the Law) and those who wonder how a sabbath-breaker can perform miracles (which only one approved by God can do). Finally they side against Jesus and the man he cured. The man boldly asserts the fact of the cure. Eventually, in frustration, he ridicules their expert opinion. Jesus must be “from God” for no one has ever before performed such a cure.

There are several themes in this gospel that I believe we need to take note of: 1, The man’s spiritual journey on the way to faith, takes him through three levels of awareness about Jesus: Jesus is a prophet, He is of God, the man worships Jesus. We all have phases to go through in our lives of faith, we grow and mature along the way.

2, Blindness. Spiritual sight or insight is not a given in our lives. It is something that some of us are better at than others. It is something that we all grow in as we invest more effort into our spiritual lives. Even the best of us can miss what God is doing and have the experience of being taken by surprise.

3, The self-righteous-know-it-all vs. the humble peasant. The peasant recognizes that God does not have to operate in the way we expect. Jesus broke the Sabbath law to heal a blind man. What might God do that takes us by surprise.

God’s ways are not our ways. They are above and beyond us. God can and usually does take us by surprise.

When I was a college sophomore, working towards a degree in electronics, with a job in the college lab and an active outdoors-man life style; the last thing I expected of God was to be called to ordained ministry. Yet we can all see who prevailed......

Let us not get to confident about what Jesus would or would not do.

Homily for 3 Lent A, March 27, 2011

My sisters and brothers, let us drink of the Lord’s refreshment for our souls!

In the first lesson we heard today, God gives water from a rock to Israel as they wandered through the desert. The Israelites travel “by stages” toward the Promised Land. As God showed his power during their slavery, winning their freedom by inflicting ten plagues on the Egyptians, he now tests the Israelites’ faith in him, as provider and ruler, ten times. If they trust in him, he will save them. This reading is about one of these tests. God orders Moses to take representatives of the people with him. The elders see his show of power. They will certainly not miss that he uses the same staff he carried when the Nile was given its plague back in Egypt.

In the second lesson Paul talks about the Love of God for his people in Christ dying for us wile we were still sinners. Now that we are justified by Christ, that is, we are united in a sacred relationship with Christ, how much more will God watch over us.

Our gospel lesson is one of John’s beautifully crafted stories of an individual’s spiritual encounter with Christ. There are some details that are important for us to really grasp the story. Fist, Rabbis did not speak to strange women in public and Jews considered Samaritans ritually unclean, so the woman is rightly surprised by Jesus’ request. Secondly, “living water” has a double meaning in the culture of Jesus’ day. It’s a common expression for moving or flowing water and (in our story) a symbolic expression for the gift of faith. Initially the woman thinks Jesus is referring to moving water, then she remembers the legend about Jacob well: for him water rose to the top of this well and overflowed. So, she implies that Jesus is counting on such a miracle, quipping about his not having a bucket. Jesus contrasts the well water with “water gushing up to eternal life” making his meaning more obvious. Finally, as Jesus address her on a more personal level (talking about her past husbands) she makes the leap of faith and receives the spiritual renewal that Jesus was talking about in the symbol of life-giving water.

Water is one of the most basic essentials of life. It is also a symbol for God's life saving grace. We enter into a new existence in God's blessed grace through the life-giving gifts of Christ. I’m not simply speaking about baptismal water, but also about life sustaining grace. Which keeps us spiritually alive and refreshed; that metaphorical drink of everlasting life. This water, Jesus offers, is a drink for our inner, spiritual, thirst. A refreshment for that longing inside each of us that we really can’t name or get a grip on. This inner thirst is part of each of us and in our heart of hearts, know it. We feel it in those moments when we wonder: “is it all really worth it?” Those moments when we feel like we are busting our tails for nothing. Christ came to let us know that the answer is yes, it is worth it. Christ’s gift is the refreshment we need to keep going and not give up! The spiritual drink . . .

We need to ask our selves, do we drink regularly enough from the spiritual well Christ offers us? Communion is part of this gift, but also privet prayer and reading the scriptures. It all goes to refresh us spiritually. My brothers and sisters, let us drink deeply of this gift by having a conversation with God each day, as well as coming each week to worship and share communion.

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent A, 2011

March 20, 2011

My brothers and sisters, let us put renewed faith in God!

In our first lesson today we have the very brief story of God calling Abram, who God will later rename Abraham, to pick up his life and go. We need to understand the context of the story. Abram and his people were semi-nomadic - before God called to him. About 4,000 years ago, Abram his father and nephew Lot traveled with their families from Ur, near the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to Haran. This is where our scripture passage picks up the story. The point of the story is that Abram puts great trust or faith in God’s promises to bless him for his loyalty.

The reading from Romans Paul makes the point that one can attain a right relationship with God through faith, without living by Mosaic law. He takes Abraham as an example and asks: what can we conclude about faith vs. obedience? Pharisaic Judaism claimed that Abraham kept the Law before God gave it, i.e., he was justified because his “works” were in accord with the Law. Paul rejects this claim; it was, as Genesis shows, Abraham’s faith that counted for him as godliness. So a right relationship with God “depends on faith.” It is based first on God’s promise of grace and later our deeds empowered by God’s grace.

The gospel story of Nicodemus is one of my favorites. He has understood from Jesus' miracles that Jesus is “from God.” However, Jesus throws him a curve, saying that he has not yet understood the main point: to see the kingdom of God one must have a spiritual rebirth. Nicodemus misunderstands, he thinks that Jesus is speaking of a biological rebirth. This sets up the story so that Jesus can make an analogy for the workings of the Holy Spirit. We can see many things only in the effect they cause, like the blowing of the wind. The same is true of birth in the Spirit.
First, let us remind our selves about the difference between belief and faith. Belief is accepting the truth of something that you cannot prove/experience for yourself. For example, I believe in the existence of the country of China, though I have never been there. Faith, is trusting in someone; I have faith in my wife and the loyalty we share for each other.

∙ Abraham shows faith in his dramatic trust in God; picking up and moving to a strange place.
∙ Paul contrasts this example of faith with adherence to Divine Law. The law has its benefits as a guide through life’s confusion but obedience cannot earn what is freely given when one puts faith in God.
∙ Nicodemus struggles to embrace belief and faith in Jesus. By the end of John’s gospel he is a loyal follower of Jesus.


These lessons are a call to deeper faith, which is a deeper trust in God. Trust that God will be with us, guide us, support us, and protect us from those things that are beyond us.

Faith/Trust is a growing thing. We start trusting God in little ways: to answer our prayers as children, to bless us and the ones we love, to guide us in ruff times. Nevertheless, we can also learn to trust God in deeper things that influence the whole direction of our lives: discerning a calling to a professional ministry, the calling to married/family life, the pursuit of justice and the building of a better world.

Remember that old joke about the guy who was hiking at night and falls off a cliff. He scrambles for something to save him self and his hands land on some scrub brush. Hanging there, he calls out to God for help and a voice from heaven tells him to “let go.” The man thinks for a second, looks down at the darkness of the night, unable to see if the bottom is close or far and says: “is there anyone els out there?”

Our lives are often like this, we know we need God’s help, but we are afraid to trust what we cannot see. Though we would all accept that God surly sees reality more clearly and than we do. Now I do not mean foolish or ignorant trust. God is not asking us to be fools. I mean thoughtful, wise and prayerful trust in God.

My brothers and sisters, let us always seek divine guidance in our prayers. Let us put trust in God in little everyday ways so that we can learn to trust God in bigger things as well.

1st Sunday of Lent A, March 13, 2011

My sisters and brothers, let us strive to make wise decisions by always seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s first lesson is a collection of excerpts from an epic tale about the creation of humanity. God formed the human “from the dust of the ground” and gave him his spirit of life. I have always found it ironic that this poetic description from millennia ago, turns out to be so scientifically accurate. The basic elements of human body chemistry (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen) are all the stuff of the earth.

But, one very important detail of the stories symbolism is difficult to translate into English. The name Adam is really the Hebrew word for “Human.” Human’s equal partner, whom God creates and a natural and necessary partner is “Woman” (Hebrew: isha). Then the vocabulary changes and Human is now called Man (Hebrew: ish) and the two, Man (Ish) and Woman (Isha) shall be as one; reflecting God’s own image.

God tells the humans (Adam and Eve) that they may eat the fruit of the trees with just two exceptions:
1, “the knowledge of good and evil”
2, that of “life.”

If they do this, they will be separated from God. It is important here for us to realize that the sin of Eve and Adam is not disobeying God; it is just the outer level of the symbol. The deeper message in the story is that of people trying to be gods. It is a sin of pride and arrogance. And as we know from our own lived experience, the arrogant tend to create their own punishments.

In the second lesson Paul contrasts Adam and Christ, both began whole eras in salvation history. Adam foreshadowed Christ as head of humanity. Adam disobeyed God’s direct command. Jesus, is unlike Adam:
1, Adam was condemned to separation from God but Christ brings union with God;
2, Adam’s sin allowed “death” to rule through the Devil but we let good rule our hearts through Christ;
3, Adam’s action led to the sin of many but Christ’s will lead many to godliness and “eternal life.”

In our gospel story of Jesus’ temptations we have the symbolic countering of Eve & Adam. In Mark’s version (the original version of the story) only the essential historical facts are recorded: The disciples probably knew none of the details of Jesus’ trials. Let’s face it, temptation is essentially a personal inner battle with one’s conscience.

Matthew castes the temptations of Christ as ways of sinning against the great commandment in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. We can look into each of them and see part of the not-so-attractive side of human nature. To change “stones” into bread would be to for Christ to use his power for his personal greedy benefit. Jesus says no to that and counters symbolically by asserting the importance of the word of God. Throwing himself from a pinnacle was about trying to manipulate God to Jesus’ own advantage, make himself look good. Jesus answers: testing God’s protection by unnecessarily risking life is a mockery of real sacrifices of martyrdom. Next Jesus is invited to prefer personal wealth and power over the love of God by worshiping the devil who symbolized all evil of such obsessive desires. Jesus answers: God is the only god to be worshiped and served. The details make the point that Jesus is the perfect lover of God, the ideal Israelite, the founder of a new way of being human.

As I mentioned, we have a dynamic contrast between the old era and he new one. This is symbolized in Adam & Eve’s bad choice verses Jesus’ much wiser choices. We have to be careful that we don’t read too much into this story of original sin. It is a mythic tale meant to get us thinking about human nature, especially our own ability to make choices that are self destructive. We humans can easily fool ourselves into thinking that certain possessions or pleasures, will make us all the things we are not. And it never works out that way. The point of the story is not a history of disobedience to God vs. Jesus’ obedience. It is asserting the truth that it is human choice (human agency) that brings the most genuine evil into our lives. Not God’s will or demonic forces but human action.

Jesus in contrast makes the wise choices that bring a long term happiness to life. Starting with recognizing one’s true place in the world. Turning way from greed, manipulation and unbridled power He sets his life and ministry on a wholesome and life-giving path rather than one that will inevitably lead to conflict and destruction. The final vindication of Jesus’ choices is dramatized in the stories of his resurrection.

My brothers & sisters, let us strive to choose wisely by allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide in this life.

Homily the Last Sunday of Epiphany (Transfiguration Sunday), March 6, 2011

My sisters and brothers, let us reach to Christ for the power we need to transform or lives.

The core of the story we heard in our fist lesson today is Moses receiving the 10 commandments from God. Previously, Moses has ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Law verbally from God – both the Ten Commandments and the case law. Moses has told them to the people; they have agreed to their side of the Covenant. (God’s side is to be their God and to protect them.) Moses has then written all God has told him. The pact, the union between God and the people, has been ratified in blood, “the blood of the covenant.” Blood has been dashed against the altar (symbolizing God) and sprinkled on the people.
Now God offers to put all the laws in permanent form, on “tablets of stone.”

The description of God’s “glory” is an envelope of light, a bright “cloud,” veiling his being: the people can see the cloud, but not God. Unlike the light from the burning bush, this appearance of God is frightening “like a devouring fire.” Moses prepares to meet God for some time “Forty days and forty nights.”

In our second lesson today, Peter gives his testimony of Jesus’ Transfiguration and status and God’s Son. While others (false teachers) have used cleverly lies to deceive members of the community the author was an “eyewitness” to the event. An event that showed the power of God and was a preview of Christ’s second “coming.” Then, Jesus “received honor and glory from God the Father” when the heavenly voice identified him as “‘my Son, my Beloved . . . ’.”

Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah at the end of time; the Transfiguration more fully confirms this. After reminding the readers of this grounding of their hope in Christ, the author makes two important points about the life they share as a community of faith: 1, scripture should be interpreted in the community, not on “one’s own” as some privet revelation; 2, true prophets, in every age, are empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak for God; they do not prophesy of their own volition and do not choose themselves.

Today’s gospel gives us, again, Matthew’s demonstration that Jesus is the ONE. Jesus’ transfiguration parallels Moses receiving the law: God’s glory in the cloud and the voice. Matthew’s point is that Jesus is the new Moses and brings in a new and greater relationship with God for the people. Jesus and the inner circle of his disciples ascend a mountain. Jesus is “transfigured.”

An aura of unnatural brightness is linked with mystical appearances in Exodus when Moses came down off the mountain as a symbol of transcendence. In Jewish tradition, both “Moses and Elijah” were taken into heaven without dying; here Moses represents the Law and Elijah the prophets. Both are associated with Mount Sinai.

Peter has the realization that Jesus is “Lord”; the testimony of which we heard in the second lesson.

This is our last Sunday before lent begins. We traditionally focus this day on the transfiguration of Christ. Recounting that he is the fulfillment of all expectations of the law (symbolized by the law giver Moses) and the prophets (symbolized by Elijah the greatest of the prophets). Remember I mentioned that the people of Jesus’ day had many hops and dreams of what the messiah would do for them, Matthew is saying Jesus is the one who does it all . . .

We look to Christ for the grace/power to transform our own lives, move us way from our flaws and sins to the healing and virtue we are called to embody on Christ’s behalf.

Today let us pray for the grace we need to make this a good lent. A lent of transformation that empowers us to more fully live out the mission Christ has given us at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church!

Homily for 8 Epiphany A, February 27, 2011

My sisters and brothers, we must never allow the necessities of life, to replace God in our lives.

From Isaiah we hear the liberation that God promises to his people. The Prophet continues to speak on God's behalf. God has given this prophet to Israel as assurance that, at a time of God's choosing (“time of favor”), the people will indeed return to Palestine and take possession of the properties they owned, taking with them those deprived and oppressed. In this new era, Jerusalem (and its inhabitants) who may feel that God has ignored them, will be assured of his Divine love: they are as close to God as a tattoo on his hand.

In our passage from Corinthians, Paul continues on the topic of the role and status of different apostles. How should members of the Church think of him and Apollos (and perhaps Cephas)? What should be the role of apostles in the Church? A servant's work is not his but his master's; an apostolic ministry makes no claim for itself but points to Christ.

We many never know if Paul was as indifferent to the criticism leveled against him as he states; I’ll just wait for God. Paul certainly does spend a great deal of space defending himself. Regardless the message is still valuable today, Its really all about Christ!

Our gospel reading is the classic you cannot serve two masters. One must make the fundamental option: choose God or wealth. God gives everlasting life, but wealth is fleeting at best. Can you, by worrying, as a single hour to your span of life? Put service of God and the Kingdom first, everything els will fall into place.

A key word here is “worry.” The Greek word means being preoccupied with or absorbed by. We might say obsessing or experiencing anxiety over something. To be preoccupied with food and appearance is to view life much too narrowly and to keep God from being central in one’s life.

Many things in this world demand our attention. Some are unavoidable necessities, some are of moderate importance and others are negligible. We can unfortunately get fixated, anxious or obsessive about certain things: like seeking extravagant wealth despite what it does to our integrity. On the other hand putting God and the kingdom at the center, will bring us much more than peace with what we achieve in this world. It brings a path to eternal life.

This does not mean abandoning life’s responsibilities nor a naive trust in God to pay your bills for us. It does mean: “don’t give into anxiety.” Don’t loose perspective and allow these needs to take the place of God in our lives.

My brothers and sisters, let us prayerfully keep a wholesome (Christian) perspective on everything in this world!

Homily for 7 Epiphany A, February 20, 2011

My sisters and brothers: God calls us to the kind of holiness that makes a difference.

Three nurses appeared before St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter said to the first, "Tell me what you did on earth."

Said she, "I was a birthing room nurse. I helped bring hundreds of precious babies into the world."

"Enter!" said St. Peter. Then he turned to the second. "And how about you?" he asked.

She replied, "I was a trauma unit nurse. I helped save hundreds of lives of people involved in terrible accidents."

"Enter!" cried St. Peter, and turned to the third.

"I worked for an HMO," she admitted. "Over the years I saved my company hundreds of thousands of dollars by refusing extended care to people who were trying to bilk the system."

"You may enter!" said St. Peter.

"You really mean it?" asked the nurse incredulously.

"Yes," replied St. Peter. "You've been pre-approved for three days."

In our first reading today, we heard Part of the moral code given through Moses. Leviticus is one of the first five books in the Old Testament. It is a book of law, and naturally follows Exodus. In Jewish circles, it was known as The Priest's Manual and has six parts; Our reading is the keynote of the Holiness Code. The people have been separated for a special covenant with the God who liberated them from Egypt. Israel’s holiness is derived from relationship to the holy God. Holiness here includes wholeness, perfection, and relationships between people or ethics.

The final summation is familiar to us because it recurs throughout the gospels: Love members of your family and fellow Israelites, taking neither vengeance nor nursing anger. If a fellow Israelite errs, correct him – not to do so would be a sin. Love your fellow Israelite as you love yourself.

In our second reading Paul has offers two metaphors for the Church: a crop in a “field” and a “building.” As God’s agents, he and Apollos have worked together: he has planted, i.e., founded the church at Corinth, and Apollos has watered, i.e., nurtured the community. This was part of the message we heard last week.

Paul now likens the growth of the church to constructing a building. He founded the community properly; “that foundation is Jesus Christ.” Others must construct the building above the foundation “with due care.” His final point is well worth our taking to heart: do not get overly wrapped up in human wisdom, God is far wiser. All human leaders of faith belong to the Faith Community and the Community to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Keep your perspective.

In the gospel we heard today, Jesus continues making his point about observing the law. The Pharisees and the scribes kept Mosaic law diligently, and taught it. Jesus has said this is not enough; one must strive for a deeper holiness.

Some details help us see his point. A soldier in the Roman army could force a civilian to carry his pack. The Greek words translated “forces” and “mile” reflect the imperial messenger service, a courier service using relays of horses. To “go . . . the second mile” would be to avoid another civilian being compelled. So the example is calling us to be generous, even under duress. Finally, to be “children of God” is to pattern one’s attitudes after God’s; he provides for all, both good and evil people.

My brothers & sisters, to be a holy person, to be a fully fledged Christian, is to care. As I’ve said before, its means that we do give a dam!

We are called to reach for the ideal we see in God’s own actions. Who provides good things from the earth for all, the good and the bad alike. This not a naive kind of value that assumes that all will come to love you if you love them. It is a reminder that we are not to hold old grudges once we have obtained justice or we vanquish an enemy.

Lets us not shy from Jesus’ ideal but strive for it.

Homily for 6 Epiphany A, February 13, 2011

My sisters and brothers, one day the Devil challenged God to a baseball game.

Smiling God proclaimed, "You don't have a chance, I have Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and all the greatest players up here."

"Yes," snickered the devil, "but I have all the umpires!"

Today our lessons present us with the question of choosing sides. Will we choose God or not?

Our first lesson from Ecclesiasticus (also called Sirach) reminds us that God has created us each with the freedom to choose our path in life. Further, God gives us guidance as to the consequences of that fundamental choice. We will not force us to be good but we will not be shield from the consequences of our misdeeds either. CHOOSE WISELY!

In the Old Testaments we see different perspectives on what causes a person to commit evil. Some imply that God causes a person to sin: God “hardened Pharaoh’s heart” in Exodus 11:10 and in 2 Samuel 24:1 God “incited David” to count how many subjects he has – out of pride.

However, Sirach disagrees: in no way can God be held responsible for human sinfulness. God not only hates evil but he even preserves the godly person from committing it. He says that God “left them in the power of their own free choice” (or inclination). This is what many Christian authors call the “Fundamental Option”; choosing for God or against God and dealing with the results.

Earlier we heard Paul address the divisions in the church at Corinth. Raising the issue that some follow particular leaders of the community rather than Christ. Now he addresses the criticism that he oversimplifying the good news. The very “jealousy and quarreling” the Corinthians are involved in demonstrates that they are still only earthly minded and not ready for the full spiritual teaching.

Paul goes on to say: It is natural to be attached to the person who welcomed you into the church, but you need to recognize that they are all “servants” of Christ. Each has a distinct function in bringing you to faith. Paul founded the church at Corinth (planted); Apollos nurtured faith (watered) in the community; but it is God who causes spirituality and faith to grow. He and Apollos have the same objective - serving Christ!

In our Gospel reading we heard Jesus use exaggeration to call his followers to be dedicated to virtue.

Each of Jesus’ expansions of the Law begins with: you have heard it was said. He then quotes a law. The expression “Ancient times” refers to the days of Moses. The Ten Commandments forbid the act of murder; Jesus extends this law to include propensities to violent conflict. He calls his followers to be people of reconciliation.

Further Jesus points out that God looks for purity of thought and desire not just sexual behavior. In short, we are to pursue virtue in our daily lives with great dedication and thoroughness. Rather than simply following the rules.

My brothers and sisters, both Sirach and Jesus urge us to CHOOSE a virtuous way of life. The first with poetic imagery and the second with dramatic exaggeration.

Most of us are deeply aware that (in the real world) there are consequences for any choice and action. Some rather neutral, some very bad and others very good. Our fundamental choice in life is to live for or against God. In classical Christian writing this is often spoke of as the “fundamental option.”

We generally know the consequences of our choices and actions. Unethical behavior will cost us the loss of friends, family and probably even our freedom - if one goes as far as a life of crime. Today’s readings are about reminding us that there is also spiritual and eternal set of consequence to our fundamental option. Choosing to disregard God is to choose to estrange our selves from our maker, who will allow us to do just that. And, allow us to suffer the consequences; eternal estrangement from God. On the other hand, choosing for God, leads us in the opposite direction and most eternally rewarding direction.

Let us choose wisely!

Loggerhead Turtles, born with internal GPS

Loggerhead turtles are born with an ability to know where they are on Earth, and which way to swim to get to favorable feeding grounds. That's the conclusion from a new study by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Click Here

This is a great story and accompanying audio file.  Wonderful - the complex way God has made all us creatures!

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Epiphay, cycle A: 2011

Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God! Micah has given us what became a classic expression of the Christian Life.

As a Prophet he was a fearless champion of the oppressed and exploited. The scene for today's reading is a lawcourt. The ungodly are told: “plead your case.” Israel is on trial for contravening the Covenant established through Moses. After God makes his case, Israel responds as the defendant; pleading that God allows them to make an amends for our infidelity. At the end, it is a bit unclear if God or Micah speaks. Nevertheless, the message is very clear: God requires internal conversion and a proper spiritual attitude. What God expects of the godly is to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly in the ways of God.

In today’s snippet from the fist letter to the Corinthians, Paul expresses the irony of Christian Belief. The Cross (death of Christ and his resurrection) is a counter sign to some, foolishness to others and a scandal in Jesus’ own day. Yet, it was the single most powerful act of God’s self gift to humanity. Also the single most powerful act of Divine salivation offered to humanity.

Earlier, as we heard last week, Paul has decried divisions in the church at Corinth; he now recognizes two groups of humans: the “wise” and “those who believe.” He is making the point one cannot “know God through wisdom,” i.e. in a philosophical way. Knowing God is experiential and manifests itself in belief.

Our gospel today is the part of the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes. Jesus ascends a mountain in Galilee where he speaks to his, his followers. He speaks of the new era he has come to initiate and articulates the ideals embodied by God’s people.

Thucydides (the ancient Greek historian) is credited with saying: “Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured.” The form of mercy (which is caring about others) is at the core of his reflection. It is also the counter balance to the justice spoken of by Micah. Justice or fairness is a notion that we are familiar with and it is a virtue to which God calls us. It also needs the counter balanced of mercy. Mercy, clemency or compassionate treatment is an idea that we use less often, but it is core to the Christian way. Walking humbly with God, is another matter. It means to be a person of faith and virtue, who is not overly bold or too proud. Rolled together, we have a goal to strive for in our personal Christian walk through this world. My sisters and brothers, let us be refreshed and rededicated to: doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God!