Homily for July 28, 2013, Proper 12 C

God made each of us with a unique set of gifts, becoming fully who we were born to be is the spiritual quest of all of us Christians. 

In today’s reading from Genesis we see Abraham arguing with God in defense of Sodom and Gomorrah.  He is so comfortable in his relationship with God that he objects to God’s plan with polite boldness.  God takes no offense with Abraham and agrees to avoid punishing the righteous with the wicked. 

The Colossians lived in a world view where “elemental spirits” (spirits thought to infuse the earth, air, fire and water) and cosmic (angelic) powers controlled the universe for God.  Paul discourages them from placating (worshiping) these spirits.  He reminds them that in Christ they have direct access to God without such intermediaries!  God is close to them. 

In the gospel story we just heard Jesus first teaches a simple prayer which we all know well.  The version we normally pray is the longer one found in Matthew’s gospel.  Next Jesus moves into an illustration of God’s readiness to give good things to his people.  Concluding with the implication that we should be asking the Holy Spirit to fill our lives!  Again, God wishes to be close to us and in direct conversation with us. 

This reminds me of two different quotes from Christian spiritual authors of past generations.  The first from Saint Teresa of Avila who was a 16th c. mystic: “For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”  And, my brothers and sisters, friends can and do disagree with one another; hopefully in a respectful manner.  Abraham is our example of this today; Moses and Jeremiah are also good examples of this kind of closeness with God. 

But, of course, there is more to the story.  My second quote is from Soren Kierkegaard the 19^th c. spiritual writer and philosopher: “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”  To have the friendship with God that is alluded to in our readings (or to be filled with the Holy Spirit) means letting our selves get close enough to God that we will be changed by the experience. 

Our vocations, ministries and other contributions to God’s kingdom are as varied as our unique personalities and giftedness.  But, under it all, our primary work as Christians is the same.  Welcome God’s friendship and allow the Spirit to guide (and transform) you into becoming fully the person you were born to be!

Homily for July 21, 2013: Proper 11 C

My sisters and brothers let us be people of prayer as well as people of learning and of compassion. 

In the reading from Amos we heard a poetic expression of God’s displeasure with the rampant corruption of the day.  The Lord knows that merchants, royalty, and other well-off members of Israelite society have been cheating at business and exploiting the less fortunate.  He will hold them accountable for their abuse of power and wealth.  In sort, God expects his people to act with justice. 

In the beginning of this reading there is a play on words: in Hebrew.  “Summer fruit” and the “end” sound alike.  God will not “pass them by,” i.e. he will no longer ignore the Israelites’ corruption: “the end has come.”  To Israelites of this day, sin was understood as literally polluting the land.  In this way earthquakes (rising and falling of the land) was the result of human sin. 

From Colossians we heard an early Christian hymn which speaks of how they understood Jesus the Christ.  Analogy used in this hymn was popular at the time.  Thrones and powers were orders of angelic beings and each had its origin in Christ, and exists for Christ.  Any power they have is subordinate to his’.  The whole of creation – both heavenly and earthly – were created with his participation.  He is also the “firstborn,” the inheritor from the Father, of created-ness; he governs it, and is the cohesive power of the universe. 

From Luke’s gospel we heard the story of Martha and Mary.  Mary assumes the role of a disciple; I’ve explained before that “sitting at the feet” of Jesus is a metaphor of discipleship and it was a role normally reserved for males in the day.  Martha assumes the role of a hostess but is bothered by Mary attention to Jesus rather than the work of hospitality.  Both are good and fitting and neither should look down upon the other but there is obviously tension. 

Today’s gospel was often used to exalt intellectual life (theological studies, etc.) above the practical tasks.  In this biased view, the role of cooking, maintenance and the like was judged as beneath the role of student, teacher and ordained ministry.  The text is not that simple.  Among the disciples of Jesus, in every generation, there are many responsibilities, ministries, etc., but one is central, attentiveness to Jesus himself.  Martha is “distracted” by the work of hospitality (vs 40) when she needs to be paying attention to Jesus. 

Attentiveness to Christ in prayer and worship (as we do today) is the primary option for us today.  Reading and taking classes in our Christian heritage is also important; so we may learn as Jesus’ disciples.  It is also important that we be about the work of justice, charity and compassion. But none of these important things can take the place of our relationship with Jesus the Christ and the attention we should be investing in that relationship. 

My sisters and brothers, let us be people of prayer as well as people of learning and of compassion and of justice. 

Homily for July 7, 2013

I'm back from vacation, visited NYC and had a great time.  Here is Sunday's Sermon. . .

Homily for Proper 9 C

God passionately loves each one of us.  The question is will you live your life in that love. 

In our reading from Galatians, Paul calls them back to the gospel he taught them.  Moreover, he speaks against those who want the Galatians to embrace Jewish ways, e.g., circumcision.  Paul reminds us that we are called to freedom, but not licentiousness or any other kind of self-indulgence.  He calls on the Galatians and us to live in the Holy Spirit.  In particular, he gives the example that Christians who have received the Spirit should gently help those who stray into sin.  The “law of Christ” is the norm of mutual love. 

In our Gospel reading, we see Jesus sending of the 70 disciples out to preach the Kingdom.  They are to go out as classical poor and humble prophets.  The response to their preaching is very positive.  There amazed that even the demons respond to their authority.  We have to remind ourselves, when we hear stories like these, that in Jesus day people believe most illness was caused by some minor demon messing with the person.  In essence, we are hearing stories about how people's lives were transformed by Jesus’ disciples.

Our first reading today, is a poem of celebration.  God is restoring his people to their homeland.  They will be joyful and carefree as a child in its mother’s lap.  The poem shifts its symbolism in a very quick but profound way: first, the imagery is of Jerusalem being a loving mother nursing her children and playing with them on her lap.  However, in the middle, it shifts and God becomes the comforting mother!  “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” 

We do not often get to see or talk about this imagery even though it is relatively common in the Old Testament.  This imagery is important because it reminds us that God is bigger than anything we can imagine.  It is also important for our spiritual lives because God as an ideal father is not an image that works for every person universally.  The author of Isaiah tells us that God loves us as an ideal mother loves her children.  Nursing them and holding them in her lap. 

Can we believe that we are so loved by God?  Alternatively, can you believe that you are precious to God?  So precious that God will respect the freedom you were created with even when you abuse it.  So precious, in God’s eyes, that God will take you back every time you repent of your sins and foolishness. 

God indeed, passionately loves each one of us.  Our response to that love is the question and challenge.  Will you embrace that gift and love God in return?  Will you keep returning to God every time you screw up and embarrass yourself in that spiritual relationship?  Will you invite and welcome others to share this immense love of God?

Homily for June 2, 2013

Proper 4 C

We are called to share the love of God with the stranger, welcoming all whom God calls into his family.

Our first reading today, takes place after King Solomon has completed building the Temple in Jerusalem. What we see today is part of the prayers of the Temple dedication ceremony.  Solomon prays that God will welcome even foreigners and answer their prayers. This is to fulfill the dream that all will come to know the Lord. 

Paul (in our second reading) strives to establish his credentials as superior to that of his detractors. That is, those who are preaching the “different gospel." Paul sees the Galatians as being led astray by false teachers.

In today’s gospel, Jesus heals the centurion's servant.  The Centurion is an officer in the Roman army of occupation, but he is unusually accepting of the Jewish people and their religion.  He is so loved by the Jewish community that he can send emissaries to Jesus about his servant.  They ask Jesus to bend the rules, to treat him as he would a Jew. Jesus willingly agrees and they set out on their way to the house.  When another of the servants of the centurion brings them the message which Jesus finds tremendously amazing.  The faith and trust of the centurion is beyond compare.  This foreigner becomes an example to all of us who should have such faith. 

This all reminds me of a blacksmith who’s daughter asked him how he came to their village and met their mom.  His story went like this: 

After earning his journeyman status he set out to find a place to start his business and make his home.  At the first village he came to he went to the inn and introduced himself to the innkeeper.  The innkeeper introduced himself warmly and asked how many nights the young man planned on staying in town.  Our young journeyman immediately felt uncomfortable because he had hoped to make this villages his new home.  He responded to the innkeeper "I will be staying just one night."

That evening he sat in the common room of the inn eating and drinking and introducing himself to people from the town.  Each shared various news about local events and persons but none introduced him to their resident blacksmith or made any indication that they were glad the young journeyman had stopped in town.

The next morning he went on his way.  At the end of that next day's journey he arrived at yet another village, the response of the people was very much the same.  So he left the very next morning.

On the third day, his travels found him camping in the wilderness; between towns.  On the fourth day he walked onto a third village and again went straight to the inn.  This time when he introduced himself to the innkeeper, the man introduced himself he and also said "I'm delighted you've come to our town, we haven't had a blacksmith for over a year."  Would you stay for a while and at least do some work for us before you go on?  The young journeyman said "I would be delighted to do some work here, is there a shop used by the former blacksmith still in town?"  The innkeeper showed the young journeyman to the empty blacksmith shop and promised him a hot meal and a clean room at the inn each night he was in town.

After he had cleaned up the unused shop and started a new fire in the forge it was evening so the young journeyman returned to the inn for his meal and bed.  The innkeeper introduced him to each of the local business people and several of the farmers who were in town for the evening.  Each were delighted to meet the young journeyman and spoke about the blacksmith work that they needed.

The young journeyman worked in that village from day to day and never really found an end to the work that came his way.  Neighbors, around the blacksmith shop, help him clean out the old home which was behind the shop so he could move in rather than staying at the inn.  Then he said to his little daughter: “your mom was one of the next door neighbors!”

My brothers and sisters, I'm sure we have all experienced being the outsider.  It's that awkward feeling, when you're new to a group or a place and don't know who to talk to or even what is going on.  Sometimes an individual steps forward, introduces themselves and helps us feel at home.  Sometimes we assert ourselves and make introductions.  But even then we can still feel awkward not knowing if or how we are being received. 

As Christians, our responsibility is not simply about welcoming new persons who walk in the door of our church.  It is also about helping them feel at home, finding their niche (their place to be), that is, showing them that they are really wanted.  Let us never allow ourselves to forget this lesson.