Homily for Christ the King, Nov. 25, 2012

My brothers and sisters, do we belong to the truth Jesus is speaking of? Or are we on some less spiritual quest?  Our lessons today all revolve around the theme of our feast day today. Christ the King! This celebration dates back for centuries in one form or another.  In the new testament literature we heard today, we see the beginnings of the devotion. In Revaluations, John, is drawing on the imagery and tradition of Daniel to express his own vision.  Describing Jesus as the “Son of Man” coming down from heaven enthroned on a cloud.  Alpha and Omega, are the first and last letters of the ancient Greek alphabet. They make a convenient symbol of Christ as the beginning and end which includes of all things in-between. A simple and rich symbol of fullness.

In the gospel we look once again at Jesus’ trial before Pilot. Here, also in John’s expressions, Jesus is depicted as being questioned about being a king and having some kind of kingdom.  The actual charge here would be insurrection or treason. The King, Emperor, was Cesar.  John takes the story as an opportunity to emphasize that Jesus is about a spiritual realm not an earthly one. “Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.”

The bottom line of the gospel passage is the quote: “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Which prompts us to ask ourselves: Do we "Belong to the truth" as Jesus speaks of? How authentically do we listen to his voice?

Truth can be many things: enlightening/educating, frightening and even dangerous. It can also be exciting offensive.  Are we committed to living by the kind of spiritual truth Jesus testified to, i.e., recognizing God's plans and activities and living by them each day of our lives?

Anthony de Mello told the following story: When the devil saw a seeker of Truth enter the house of a Spiritual Master, he determined to do everything in his power to turn him back from his quest. So he subjected the man to every possible temptation: wealth, lust, fame, power, prestige. But the seeker was able to fight off the temptations quite easily.

When he got into the Master's presence, he was somewhat taken aback to see the Master sitting on an upholstered chair and the disciples at his feet. "This man certainly lacks humility, the principal virtue of the saints," he thought to himself.

He then observed other things about the Master that he did not like: For one thing, the Master took little notice of him. 'I suppose that is because I do not fawn on him as the others do," he said to himself. Also, he disliked the kind of clothes the Master wore and the somewhat conceited way he spoke. All of this led him to the conclusion that he had come to the wrong place and must continue his quest elsewhere.
As he walked out of the room, the Master, who had seen the devil seated in a corner of the room, said, "You need not have worried, Tempter. He was yours form the very first, you know."

To seek the truth sincerely we must give up our preconceptions about where we will find the truth and be ready to accept wisdom in many disguises.  Seeking the truth is not just an intellectual discipline. It is not simply a mater of study and learning; science is not about truth it is about gaining knowledge of how this world work.  Truth is about what and who is behind the workings of this world. Truth is seeking the ultimate meaning of life, the real purpose we human-beings have in living on this earth.  It is a quest of the mind, heart, body and sole; truth is a quest for the God who made us and gave us life for the purpose of sharing life and love.

We know this when we except the existence of God, we feel it when we allow God to enter our hearts and love us.  We live in this when we put love into action on behalf of our neighbor. Only in this way can anyone really be and live in the truth.  This is what it means to enjoy the real fulfillment of life's ultimate meaning and purpose.  In others words, we find and live truth-meaning by putting our faith into action.

Homily for Thanks Giving, 2012

It is truly is a good and proper thing for us to give thanks to God today.  After all it is from God that we ultimately have our very existence. Every thing on our earth (including ourselves) is from God's creation. And truthfully all of our physical needs are met from the earth's abundance because God set up the world as a home for humanity. 

Even in our present struggles we can be grateful that we have the security and blessing we do have.   We can be grateful for the food on our tables and the food programs our parish has to support those who are suffering.  We can be grateful that the wars of our country have not brought violence to our town and that we are able to give assistance to thous who are suffering because of the conflict.We can give thanks to the many Law Enforcement personnel who stand between us and the drug smuggling that tries to pass through our county.  

We can also give thanks for the many new babies baptized into our faith this year and for all who have gone from our midst into God's Eternal Kingdom.

Miles Lowell Yates, left us with a simple and powerful poem that sums up the spiritual dynamic of this day of expressing our thanks to God: 

AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR GREAT BLESSINGS

Miles Lowell Yates 1890-1956

O God, it is good to be alive, and numbered with

the people whom thou hast made:

and

I thank thee for thy gift of life.

O God, it is good to have the power of thought, and

to seek and learn and know:

and

I thank thee for thy gift of mind.

O God, it is good to dwell beneath the sun in the

world which is thy handiwork:

and

I thank thee for earth's beauty, and thy rule

within its laws.

Rememberance and Blessing for Veterans: November 10 & 11, 2012

Add the following to each celebration of the Eucharist on Veterans Day weekend

Extra collect, at the usual time, following the Gloria.

Loving God, as we gather here today our hearts are full of memories of friends, comrades, and family members who served under arms in the wars of our country. We come to remember those who fell in battle and those who, while they did not die, offered their bodies, hearts, and energies fighting for an end to tyranny and oppression.  We ask Lord that you would grace us with your presence, that you would help us in our pain, and that you would hear our prayers and have regard for our thoughts this day. Bless us – and bless all those who gave the best of themselves for our country – we ask this through Christ our Lord. 
AMEN.

After the Homily, Prayers and Confession, ask all veterans present to stand in the center isles.  

Prayer over the Veterans

Heavenly Father, we ask you to smile upon all the men and women who served in our armed forces during times of war.  Bring healing for those who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe. We remember especially the young men and women who are coming home from our present wars with injured bodies and spirits.  Dear God, Bring solace to them all. 

Have mercy on all our veterans from every war, bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions they fought in. Give us all the grace to reach for a world in which all warring has ceased and your Kingdom is complete.  

Bless these veterans in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!   
Amen!
Follow with the usual sharing of  Peace.

Homily for Novemer 11, 2012 - Proper 27 B

My sisters and brothers, Christian generosity is not just about monies, foodstuffs and household necessities.  We are also called to give of our time and talent. 

In our first reading we heard the famous story of the Elijah and the widow’s bottomless jar.  It is one of many miraculous things God does through Elijah.  Most importantly, it is an example of extreme generosity and sharing in the midst of calamity.  A little background makes the story even more powerful.  This story takes place in a region acknowledged as belonging to the pagan god Baal not Yahweh!  Yet the power of Yahweh causes drought to descend there and protects those He favors with miraculous food.  This is also a story of my God (Yahweh) is stronger than your god (Baal).  At this point in their history, the Israelite people did not see other gods as false; only as alien and inferior to Yahweh! 

In our Hebrews reading, Christ is described as removing sin by the sacrifice of himself.  

The author sees Christ as coming “at the end of the age” of the first covenant.  God has appointed that humans “die once” and later be judged (at the end of the current era); likewise Christ sacrificed himself once and will later return.  But his second coming will be to complete and finalize the salvation of his followers.  

For our gospel story today we heard the widow’s might.  She contributes out of her “poverty” while others contribute out of their abundance.  She clearly makes the greater sacrifice! 

Prior to this, scribe has asked Jesus: which is the greatest precept in the law?  His agreement that to love God and to love one’s neighbors are the most important has led Jesus to tell him that he is almost ready for the kingdom of God.

Now, as Jesus teaches in the synagogue, he warns of certain scribes (professional interpreters of the Law) who walk around ostentatiously, seek honor in public places and seek prestige.  They where showy cloths and expect the best seats in the synagogue (near the Ark where the scrolls were kept). 

Certain scribes, as legal trustees of a widow’s estate, charged exorbitantly for their services.  Jesus proclaims that they will be judged harshly in the greatest court of all on Judgment Day.  Jesus’ disciples are not to be like them.  On the other hand, the poor widow is an example of good discipleship because she made a far greater personal sacrifice than the rich people who only give what they do not need. 

In our modern world, many have wondered (and I am one of them) if our time is even more precious to us than any other possession.  The widows’ gift to Elijah was not just her bread but her labor as well. 

How do we contribute from our time, abilities?  Are we truly looking for honor and status or are we truly doing acts of charity?  Our parish stewardship committee has envisioned some opportunities for us to help clarify the gifts that God is calling us to share.  Each of us is blessed with talents, aptitudes, education and experience.  We simply need to grow in the awareness that God has not only blessed us with them but calls us to use them for the growth of the Divine Kingdom. 

Doing the work of the Kingdom is demanding.  It takes time, energy and heart.  For us it manifests in many volunteer activities: baking cookies and making crafts, singing, teaching children and youth, fixing this and that, and the dreaded: “committee meetings.”

Yet, we cannot exist and carry forward our calling as God’s people in Sierra Vista without all of the above.  My brothers and sisters let us roll up our sleeves and do our part! 

Homily for November 4, 2012: All Saints/All Souls

Our first reading is an assertion that life does not end with death in this world but continues in God’s eternal realm.  The message is that the just (or righteous) will join God and the angels in heaven.  God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.”My sisters and brothers, spiritually speaking, our extended family is vast and leaves us an inspiring legacy.  

Our second reading is from John’s record of his visions.  Previously he has told of the destruction of the old city, Babylon (code name for Rome) and of the old heaven and earth; the ungodly have been driven off to punishment.  Only the godly, a remnant, remain.  Now John sees the new creation.  The sea, a symbol of turbulence, unrest and chaos, is no more.  He sees the New Jerusalem, a holy city of divine origin, beautiful and lovely.  Some have interpreted this city as the Christian church, set apart for God’s use in the world while others view this as a glimpse at the reunion of heaven and earth.  Once again, God makes all things right and joyful for his people. 

Alpha” and “Omega” is the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; this imagery is intended to describe God as all encompassing. 

Our gospel story today (resurrection of Lazarus) is one of Jesus’ most powerful miracles.  After four days in the tomb, there is little doubt to the crowd that the man was truly dead.  Reviving him from a near death illness was not possible.  Yet, Jesus’ mere command makes it happen.  Most likely John relates Jesus’ weeping to express how he is touched by the pain of those he loves and shares that pain in some real way.  Martha tries to restrain Jesus from viewing the decomposing corpse of his friend.  And Jesus responds: did I not tell you that if you believed you would see God’s power?  After giving this reassurance, he issues the Divine Command and Lazarus is fully restored. 

Our readings and celebration today revolve around 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 us believers in this life but in the life to come as well. 

This entire heritage comes our way because people like us embraced the responsibility of preserving and passing on the gift of faith.  They put their energies, ability's and monies to work for this fundamental Christian Mission. 

Today we not only inherit this gift but we inherit the responsibilities as well.  Our Christian Mission is lived out in a different world than our ancestors but the mission is still the same.  We also are called by God to use our energies, abilities and finances to promote preserve and pass on the faith.  We do this through many different volunteer activities and donations to worthy charities.  We do it most importantly through the volunteer time and monies we contribute to the mission we share here at St. Stephen’s. 

This day, let us not only celebrate our oneness with all who went before us in faith - let us also choose to be generous with our resources in support of the mission entrusted to us here and now.