Homily for November 10, 2013

Homily for Veterans Day and Pledge Sunday, 2013

A few days ago I learned from Greg about the military expression C4I.  It is kind of memory aid for the core elements of military operations, i.e., Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.  In our Christian lives I think of three core elements: accepting God's blessings, growing in the faith and giving back in gratitude. 

We are blessed by God in many ways; we've all heard that before but may not have really reflected on what it means.  Because God is our Creator everything we are and everything we make of ourselves are actually gifts from God.  All of our intelligence, strength and skills are God's gifts.  Everything we earn and achieve with our intelligence, strength and skills we have because of God's generosity to us. 

This is also true of our experience of community or belonging.  Whether we are talking about family, friends, clubs, neighbors or our church community the networking friendship and support we experience are also God's gift.  As religious people who are not just spiritual in the individualistic since, we are blessed with spiritual membership in the "Communion of saints" or "Body of Christ." 

Growth in our faith (growth in our relationship with God) in many ways is about control i.e. giving up control.  We have a natural tendency to want to be in control of what goes on around us even though it's mostly an illusion.  We have all heard the expressions "let go and let God," "let God be God."  And most of us have heard the even more powerful serenity prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”  In our baptism we essentially give control to Christ of the things in our lives that are beyond us.  We trust that his example and teaching will guide us through the confusing aspects of this life for the greater good of ourselves and our loved ones. 

In spiritual growth we also draw inspiration and guidance from Christ for the use of all God's other blessings.  In particular we learn the Christian ethic of love of neighbor as Christ loved us.  And, we hear the call of God to take our place in the history of his kingdom giving back gratitude for all we have received. 

In gratefulness for blessings received we give of ourselves as a central piece of following Jesus example.  In other words through the love and inspiration of Christ we let go of control by living our lives as Jesus lived his rather than in a selfish and self absorbed manner.  We live for that greater good!

As we grow we come to realize that we can enjoy the blessings and benefits of faith community: like this building in which we worship, the beautiful ministry of music, the availability of a priest, opportunities for Bible study, centering and intercessory prayer, etc. because of the grateful generosity of one another.  Collectively we pay the bills for all these things.  And what's more we make a statement to the whole city around us that we are a people who cooperate together through the love of Christ for the greater good.  Sometimes the sacrifices we make are small sometimes they are larger but it all comes together to keep this community going and nourished in God spirit. 

This weekend we don't just give thanks to God through our personal generosity to this faith community and the larger Episcopal Church – we also acknowledge the generosity and self-sacrifice of our veterans who gave of themselves for the greater good.

I hope we also draw inspiration from their example.  They have put themselves on the line (literally) standing between us and the murderous intentions of others.  This is the example of people who are grateful for the gifts they received: freedom, democracy, the right to worship God and be part of the faith community which they choose.  And in gratitude for these gifts they freely gave of themselves embracing even the ultimate risk so that others may continue to enjoy these gifts in safety.

Let us be generous in the gifts of our time, talent and treasure in support of this faith community we call St. Stephen's.  Not just for ourselves and the blessings of spiritual nourishment we continue to receive here but also for that greater good which includes those who will be attracted to Christ by our example.  By God's grace and our generously cooperating with his grace, the blessings we receive here will be availability for generations to come. 

Homily for All Souls Day, 2013

Let us entrust our loved ones to God looking forward to our reunion in Christ! 

In early 1984 my Father was told that his prostate cancer had returned.  Five or so years prior he had been treated with radiation but this time it did not respond to treatment and grew rapidly. 

I was in New Orleans doing my Novice year for the order of priests and brothers I had joined.  I returned home for a summer break and we all braced ourselves for the inevitable. 

Complications with his kidneys put my dad in the hospital sooner than expected and at 2:00 one morning we received a call from the nursing station that we should come.  When we arrived he was already unconscious.  We prayed together, spoke to him and waited.  After about a half-hour he passed. We sat there in silence for a few moments, not shocked but overcome by the sacredness of the moment.  Strange as it may sound, I have never since felt so close to God or sure of God’s unending love! 

I am sure that most of us have similar stories to tell about family and friends.  Today we take time to both entrust our loved one into God’s care and remind ourselves of the promises we have in Jesus the Christ. 

As we just heard from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, all who belong to Christ will rise and we shall be reunited with them as we are united with Christ.  That is to say, our friends and family, who have gone before us await our reunion in Christ with the same hope as we do. 

In Jesus, especially in the Eucharist we are still united with our departed loved ones.  The spiritual bonds of love and friendship cannot be broken.  In Christ all are still one!  This is an important part of what we celebrate today.  Not just that all the faithful departed are with God and the Saints; but, that we remained spiritually united through Christ even while we are separated by death.  We can still pray for them and they for us. 

This does not necessarily make our feeling of loss go away.  Today, it is also very appropriately to ask for the healing we need in this life.  That sense of loss at the passing of friends and family hurts.  But it is not insurmountable.  God’s grace does heal us and empower us to enjoy our happy memories as we look forward to that Divine reunion! 

Today let us pray for our departed loved ones and for ourselves, trusting in God’s almighty love!