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.

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