MOM'S MEMORIAL SERVICE
OPENING MEDITATION: AMAZING GRACE
MY MOTHER KNEW HER GOD BY MANY NAMES
AND MANY FACES
THEY ALL TAUGHT HER THE SAME
BE KIND
BE GOOD
WALK GENTLY ON THE EARTH
DID MY MOTHER EVER LOSE HER TEMPER
WAS SHE EVER WRONG
CERTAINLY
TO DENY THAT
WOULD DENY HER THE JOY OF BEING HUMAN
OF BEING ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE
ASKING THE AGE OLD QUESTION
WHO AM I
WHY AM I HERE
MY MOTHER NOW KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS
MY MOTHER NOW WALKS AMONG THE STARS
STRAIGHTENING UP MAYBE
HAVING TEA WITH THE ANGELS CERTAINLY
AND TELLING GOD HER LATEST CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD
WITHOUT DOUBT
AND HE BETTER LISTEN
AMONG THE FAMILY SHE WAS KNOWN AS THE GOOD WITCH
IF SOMEONE WAS SICK OR IN TROUBLE
AND SAID
I FELT GRANDMOM'S PRESENCE
IN FACT I SAW HER
NONE OF US WOULD BAT AN EYE
AFTER ALL THAT WAS OUR MOM
KEEPER OF THE UNIVERSE
AND PART TIME PROPHET
THE WORLD WILL BE A HOLLOW PLACE WITHOUT HER
WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
I READ THE FOLLOWING POEM IN READER'S DIGEST
IT MADE ME SO HOMESICK FOR MY MOTHER
I CUT IT OUT AND SENT IT TO HER
WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN
WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR
PURPLE
WITH A RED HAT WHICH DOESN'T GO
AND DOESN'T SUIT ME.
AND I SHALL SPEND MY PENSION ON BRANDY
AND SUMMER GLOVES
AND SATIN SANDALS, AND SAY
WE'VE NO MONEY FOR BUTTER.
I SHALL SIT DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT
WHEN I'M TIRED
AND GOBBLE UP SAMPLES IN SHOPS
AND PRESS ALARM BELLS
AND RUN MY STICK
ALONG THE PUBLIC RAILINGS
AND MAKE UP FOR THE SOBRIETY
OF MY YOUTH.
I SHALL GO OUT
IN MY SLIPPERS
IN THE RAIN
AND PICK THE FLOWERS
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS
AND LEARN TO SPIT
YOU CAN WEAR TERRIBLE SHIRTS
AND GROW MORE FAT
AND EAT THREE POUNDS OF SAUSAGES
AT A GO
OR ONLY BREAD AND A PICKLE
FOR A WEEK
AND HOARD PENS
AND PENCILS
AND BEERMATS
AND THINGS IN BOXES.
BUT NOW
WE MUST HAVE CLOTHES
THAT KEEP US DRY
AND PAY OUR RENT
AND NOT SWEAR IN THE STREET
AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE WILL HAVE FRIENDS FOR DINNER
AND READ THE PAPERS.
BUT MAYBE I OUGHT TO PRACTICE A LITTLE NOW?
SO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME
ARE NOT TOO SHOCKED
AND SURPRISED
WHEN SUDDENLY
I AM OLD AND START TO WEAR PURPLE.
MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE ALL HER LIFE
NO MATTER HOW POOR WE WERE AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE
WHO ELSE WOULD BUY GRAPEFRUIT
SO THE GARBAGE MAN
WOULD THINK WE ATE WELL
WHEN WE WERE SICK AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WOULD CURE US
WITH A MAGICAL POTION
OF TOAST ON A GREEN PLATE
AND TEA IN A YELLOW CUP
BETTER THAN PENICILLIN
BECAUSE IF THAT DIDN'T WORK
IT WAS CASTOR OIL
HIDDEN IN A GLASS OF ROOTBEER
BELIEVE ME THE TEA
WAS BETTER
I KNOW WE ALL HAVE FOUND MEMORIES OF MOM
OR THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO HER
I WOULD ASK YOU NOW
FRIEND OR FAMILY
TO SHARE THEM WITH US NOW
(TIME FOR SHARING)
MY MOTHER LOVED THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM
IT GAVE HER GREAT PEACE
I CAN HEAR HER RECITING IT NOW
AS SHE LOOKS DOWN UPON US
WANTING TO TELL YOU
SHE IS AT PEACE
SHE WOULD SAY
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED
HE LETS ME REST IN FIELDS OF GREEN GRASS
AND LEADS ME TO QUIET POOLS OF FRESH WATER
HE GIVES ME NEW STRENGTH
HE GUIDES ME IN THE RIGHT PATHS AS HE HAS PROMISED
EVEN IF I GO THROUGH THE DEEPEST DARKNESS
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID
FOR MY LORD IS WITH ME
HIS SHEPHERD'S ROD AND STAFF PROTECT ME
HE PREPARED A BANQUET FOR ME
HE WELCOMED ME AS AN HONORED QUEST
HE FILLED MY CUP TO THE BRIM
I KNOW THAT HIS GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL BE WITH ME
ALL MY LIFE
AND HIS HOUSE WILL BE MY HOME AS LONG AS I SHALL LIVE
ONE FINAL THOUGHT TO MY MOM AN OLD IRISH POEM
MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK IN SUNSHINE
AND GOD'S LOVE AROUND YOU FLOW
FOR THE HAPPINESS YOU GAVE US
NO SIMPLE WORDS WILL SHOW
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE
A PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME
A MILLION TIMES WE'VE NEEDED YOU
A MILLION TIMES WE CRIED
IF LOVE ALONE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE DIED
THE SPIRIT OF OUR MOTHER LIVES ON IN ALL OF US
IN LOVING KINDNESS OF HER MEMORY
LET US EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
SOME SIGN OF PEACE
CLOSING MEDITATION: HOW GREAT THOU ART
Showing posts with label SERMONS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SERMONS. Show all posts
Friday, May 08, 2009
MOM'S INTERNMENT
INTERNMENT SERVICE
OPENING MEDITATION: IN THE GARDEN
REQUIESCAT MUM
IN NEWFOUNDLAND
WHERE MOM WAS BORN
THE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY
ARE SURROUNDED BY FENCES
THE ANIMALS EAT THE GRASS
FLAT
AROUND THE FENCE
BUT THE CEMETERY ITSELF
IS ALLOWED TO GROW WILD
I THINK IT'S A NEWFIE WAY
OF TELLING US
WHAT IS IMPORTANT
WE BURIED THE BODY OF MIRIAM
BUT WE DID NOT BURY MIRIAM
SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN WHEN SHE DWELT IN HER BODY
WE HONOR THAT BODY
WHICH GAVE US BIRTH
NURSED AND CARED FOR US
TAUGHT AND ADMONISHED US
HUGGED US
SCOLDED US
LIFTED US UP
AND SET US FREE
WE HONOR THAT BODY
SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN SHE EVER WAS
ALL THE QUESTIONS OF HER QUESTING MIND
ARE ANSWERED
AND WE WOULD DISHONOR HER MEMORY
AND HER TEACHING
IF WE ALLOWED SORROW
TO OVERWHELM US COMPLETELY
MOM WOULD RATHER WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING
AS HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR US NOW
MOM WOULD RATHER
WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING
SO WE SEND MOM'S BODY TO THE ELEMENTS
TO BECOME
EARTH
AIR
FIRE AND WATER
AND WE SHALL LEAVE
SADDENED BY HER PASSING
BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY
BE AWARE
OF A CURTAIN
MOVING IN THE WIND
OR THE SUN
SHINING ON A CLOUDY DAY
AND HEAR A VOICE IN YOUR HEAD
SAYING
I AM AT PEACE
ALL IS WELL
TELL THE WORD
OPENING MEDITATION: IN THE GARDEN
REQUIESCAT MUM
IN NEWFOUNDLAND
WHERE MOM WAS BORN
THE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY
ARE SURROUNDED BY FENCES
THE ANIMALS EAT THE GRASS
FLAT
AROUND THE FENCE
BUT THE CEMETERY ITSELF
IS ALLOWED TO GROW WILD
I THINK IT'S A NEWFIE WAY
OF TELLING US
WHAT IS IMPORTANT
WE BURIED THE BODY OF MIRIAM
BUT WE DID NOT BURY MIRIAM
SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN WHEN SHE DWELT IN HER BODY
WE HONOR THAT BODY
WHICH GAVE US BIRTH
NURSED AND CARED FOR US
TAUGHT AND ADMONISHED US
HUGGED US
SCOLDED US
LIFTED US UP
AND SET US FREE
WE HONOR THAT BODY
SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN SHE EVER WAS
ALL THE QUESTIONS OF HER QUESTING MIND
ARE ANSWERED
AND WE WOULD DISHONOR HER MEMORY
AND HER TEACHING
IF WE ALLOWED SORROW
TO OVERWHELM US COMPLETELY
MOM WOULD RATHER WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING
AS HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR US NOW
MOM WOULD RATHER
WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING
SO WE SEND MOM'S BODY TO THE ELEMENTS
TO BECOME
EARTH
AIR
FIRE AND WATER
AND WE SHALL LEAVE
SADDENED BY HER PASSING
BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY
BE AWARE
OF A CURTAIN
MOVING IN THE WIND
OR THE SUN
SHINING ON A CLOUDY DAY
AND HEAR A VOICE IN YOUR HEAD
SAYING
I AM AT PEACE
ALL IS WELL
TELL THE WORD
20TH PENTECOST
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT ST. PETER
THAT SAYS THAT THE FIRST TIME
HE WENT TO PREACH
AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
THE SERVANT GIRL
WHO HAD QUESTIONED HIM IN THE COURTYARD
WAS IN THE AUDIENCE.
SHE BERATED HIM
SAYING
HOW DARE YOU PREACH TO US
HOW DARE YOU
ANSWER ME THE COURTYARD QUESTION
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.
PETER WAS HORRIFIED
AND MUTE WITH GUILT.
HE MADE TO TURN AWAY,
TO BE SILENT.
UNTIL THE MEMORY OF CHRIST'S LOVE
FILLED HIM.
HE KNEW HE WAS FORGIVEN.
IN THE STRENGTH OF THAT FORGIVENESS
HE WENT AND PREACHED.
AND THEY SAY THAT THIRTY THOUSAND SOULS
WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH
THAT DAY.
LET ME TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY
THERE WAS A MAN SENT BY HIS COMPANY
TO WORK IN A NEW CITY.
THIS MAN WAS DIVORCED
AND WAS ENGAGED TO MARRY A DIVORCED WOMAN
IT WAS LONELY WORKING IN THIS NEW CITY
AND HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH TO JOIN,
RATHER HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH
WHERE BOTH COULD JOIN.
.
HE WAS AWARE THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DIVORCE
SOME CHURCHES WOULD NOT BE HAPPY
TO HAVE HIM.
SO CHECKING THE YELLOW PAGES
HE CALLED THE LOCAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
EXPLAINED HIS CONDITION,
AND ASKED IF HE AND HIS BRIDE-TO-BE
WOULD BE WELCOME.
HE WAS ASKED TO COME IN FOR A MEETING.
HE WENT.
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THE' MINISTER'S MOUTH WERE,
YOU HAVE SINNED,
THE SECOND WORDS WERE
YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US.
YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY GUESSED
THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE STORY
ARE BARBARA AND I.
THOUGH I AM MORE HANDSOME
IN REAL LIFE
THAN I AM IN THE STORY.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
MAN AND WOMAN WOULD LIVE FOREVER
IN LOVE AND HARMONY.
THERE WOULD BE NO DIVORCE.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
PEOPLE WOULD NEVER STEAL OR KILL
LIE OR COMMIT ADULTERY,
DISHONOR PARENTS
OR WORSHIP OTHER GODS.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
IT WOULD BE SO.
BUT IT IS AN IMPERFECT WORLD.
WE ARE SINNERS.
THE SERVANT GIRL CALLS OUT TO US
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN
AND WE ARE TEMPTED TO TURN AWAY
AND BE MUTE
TILL WE REMEMBER WE ARE FORGIVEN,
TILL WE REMEMBER
WE PREACH NOT OUR PERSONAL WORTHINESS
BUT CHRIST'S LOVE
FOR HIS BROTHERS
FOR HIS SISTERS.
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
THE CROSS AND OUR REDEMPTION
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH.
THERE IS A PRINCIPAL IN SCIENCE
THAT STATES
THAT WATER CANNOT FLOW UPHILL.
IT MUST IN OBEDIENCE
TO THE LAWS OF GRAVITY
FLOW DOWN.
BY THAT PRINCIPAL
THE OCEANS ARE LOWER
THAN ALL THE RIVERS,
STREAMS AND BROOKS,
LAKES AND PONDS.
THE SNOWFLAKE THAT FALLS IN 'WINTER
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
MELTS
AND WITH NO EFFORT OF ITSELF
FLOWS DOWN TO THE SEA.
IN THE SAME WAY
JESUS LOWERED HIMSELF.
HE DID NOT CONSIDER
BEING EQUAL TO GOD
SOMETHING TO BE CLUNG TO.
BUT RATHER LOWERED HIMSELF,
TAKING THE FORM OF A MAN
AND WALKING THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE,
ALL THE WAY TO THE CROSS.
HE LOWERED HIMSELF
AND BECAME AN OCEAN
INTO WHICH WE CAN FLOW
NOT BY ANY EFFORT OF OURSELVES
BUT BY THE GRAVITY PULL
OF HIS LOVE.
AND HE SAYS TO US
I KNEW YOU WOULD BE SINNERS
WHEN I MADE YOU
BUT I MADE YOU STILL.
I WANT YOUR LOVE
NOT YOUR PUNISHMENT.
IF YOUR SINS ARE SCARLET
I WILL MAKE THEM WHITER THAN SNOW.
COME TO ME
ALL YOU WHO ARE HEAVY LADEN
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHEN THE SERVANT GIRL
TAUNTS US
ASKING
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.
ANSWER YES
I DO
AND HE LOVES ME.
ANSWER
YES I DO
I AM HIS CHILD
ANSWER
YES I DO
AND I AM FORGIVEN.
AMEN.
THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT ST. PETER
THAT SAYS THAT THE FIRST TIME
HE WENT TO PREACH
AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
THE SERVANT GIRL
WHO HAD QUESTIONED HIM IN THE COURTYARD
WAS IN THE AUDIENCE.
SHE BERATED HIM
SAYING
HOW DARE YOU PREACH TO US
HOW DARE YOU
ANSWER ME THE COURTYARD QUESTION
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.
PETER WAS HORRIFIED
AND MUTE WITH GUILT.
HE MADE TO TURN AWAY,
TO BE SILENT.
UNTIL THE MEMORY OF CHRIST'S LOVE
FILLED HIM.
HE KNEW HE WAS FORGIVEN.
IN THE STRENGTH OF THAT FORGIVENESS
HE WENT AND PREACHED.
AND THEY SAY THAT THIRTY THOUSAND SOULS
WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH
THAT DAY.
LET ME TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY
THERE WAS A MAN SENT BY HIS COMPANY
TO WORK IN A NEW CITY.
THIS MAN WAS DIVORCED
AND WAS ENGAGED TO MARRY A DIVORCED WOMAN
IT WAS LONELY WORKING IN THIS NEW CITY
AND HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH TO JOIN,
RATHER HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH
WHERE BOTH COULD JOIN.
.
HE WAS AWARE THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DIVORCE
SOME CHURCHES WOULD NOT BE HAPPY
TO HAVE HIM.
SO CHECKING THE YELLOW PAGES
HE CALLED THE LOCAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
EXPLAINED HIS CONDITION,
AND ASKED IF HE AND HIS BRIDE-TO-BE
WOULD BE WELCOME.
HE WAS ASKED TO COME IN FOR A MEETING.
HE WENT.
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THE' MINISTER'S MOUTH WERE,
YOU HAVE SINNED,
THE SECOND WORDS WERE
YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US.
YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY GUESSED
THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE STORY
ARE BARBARA AND I.
THOUGH I AM MORE HANDSOME
IN REAL LIFE
THAN I AM IN THE STORY.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
MAN AND WOMAN WOULD LIVE FOREVER
IN LOVE AND HARMONY.
THERE WOULD BE NO DIVORCE.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
PEOPLE WOULD NEVER STEAL OR KILL
LIE OR COMMIT ADULTERY,
DISHONOR PARENTS
OR WORSHIP OTHER GODS.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
IT WOULD BE SO.
BUT IT IS AN IMPERFECT WORLD.
WE ARE SINNERS.
THE SERVANT GIRL CALLS OUT TO US
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN
AND WE ARE TEMPTED TO TURN AWAY
AND BE MUTE
TILL WE REMEMBER WE ARE FORGIVEN,
TILL WE REMEMBER
WE PREACH NOT OUR PERSONAL WORTHINESS
BUT CHRIST'S LOVE
FOR HIS BROTHERS
FOR HIS SISTERS.
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
THE CROSS AND OUR REDEMPTION
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH.
THERE IS A PRINCIPAL IN SCIENCE
THAT STATES
THAT WATER CANNOT FLOW UPHILL.
IT MUST IN OBEDIENCE
TO THE LAWS OF GRAVITY
FLOW DOWN.
BY THAT PRINCIPAL
THE OCEANS ARE LOWER
THAN ALL THE RIVERS,
STREAMS AND BROOKS,
LAKES AND PONDS.
THE SNOWFLAKE THAT FALLS IN 'WINTER
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
MELTS
AND WITH NO EFFORT OF ITSELF
FLOWS DOWN TO THE SEA.
IN THE SAME WAY
JESUS LOWERED HIMSELF.
HE DID NOT CONSIDER
BEING EQUAL TO GOD
SOMETHING TO BE CLUNG TO.
BUT RATHER LOWERED HIMSELF,
TAKING THE FORM OF A MAN
AND WALKING THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE,
ALL THE WAY TO THE CROSS.
HE LOWERED HIMSELF
AND BECAME AN OCEAN
INTO WHICH WE CAN FLOW
NOT BY ANY EFFORT OF OURSELVES
BUT BY THE GRAVITY PULL
OF HIS LOVE.
AND HE SAYS TO US
I KNEW YOU WOULD BE SINNERS
WHEN I MADE YOU
BUT I MADE YOU STILL.
I WANT YOUR LOVE
NOT YOUR PUNISHMENT.
IF YOUR SINS ARE SCARLET
I WILL MAKE THEM WHITER THAN SNOW.
COME TO ME
ALL YOU WHO ARE HEAVY LADEN
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHEN THE SERVANT GIRL
TAUNTS US
ASKING
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.
ANSWER YES
I DO
AND HE LOVES ME.
ANSWER
YES I DO
I AM HIS CHILD
ANSWER
YES I DO
AND I AM FORGIVEN.
AMEN.
LAZARUS
WHEN JESUS FIRST HEARD THE WORD
THAT HIS FRIEND LAZARUS HAD DIED
HE CRIED
NO PLATITUDES
NO EASY SAYING OF HIS BEING IN A BETTER PLACE
NO REMINDERS OF ETERNAL LIFE
HE CRIED
AS ONLY ONE WHO LOVES
AS DEEPLY AS HE LOVES
COULD CRY
HE CRIED
HE FELT THE DEEP
AND EVER WIDENING CHASM
OF SEPARATION
HE FELT THAT THE SOUL OF HIS FRIEND
WAS LIKE A SHIP LEAVING THE SHORE
SENDING BACK RIPPLES OF REMEMBRANCE
SENDING BACK ECHOES OF OLD CONVERSATIONS
SENDING THEM BACK WITH NO WAY TO ANSWER
PEACE WOULD COME LATER
AND RESIGNATION
BUT FOR THE INSTANT
THERE WAS PAIN
TEARS
THE GREAT UNKNOWING
AND TO NEED TO WEEP.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED
HE LIVES IN GOD
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR NOW
HE LIVES IN US
LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF CONSOLATION
AS BARBARA READS FOR US PSALM 23
1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
AS I SAID BEFORE
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED
HE LIVES ON IN THE MEMORIES
EACH OF US HAVE OF HIM
I ASK HIS MOTHER
FRIENDS OR FAMILY
TO SHARE WITH US NOW THOSE MEMORIES
***********PAUSE FOR SHARING AND SOLO**********************
IN THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS
WE FEEL THAT WE ARE GUARANTEED
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OF LIFE
SO THAT WHEN A MOTHER BURIES A CHILD
WE FEEL CHEATED
BUT LIFE HAS TAUGHT US
THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF DAYS OF LIFE
SO WHAT LESSON DO WE HAVE FROM KENNY'S LIFE
WHAT LESSON WOULD HE
ASK US TO LEARN
IF HE WERE HERE WITH US
THE LESSON WOULD BE
THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS
AND UNPREDICTABLE
AND THAT WHILE WE HAVE OUR LOVED ONES NEAR US
WE SHOULD TELL THEM
WE LOVE THEM
WE SHOULD HOLD THEM CLOSE
WEEP WITH THEM
LAUGH WITH THEM
KISS THEM AND SAY
I LOVE YOU
WOULD YOU NOW IN KENNY'S NAME
EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
A SIGN OF LOVE AND AFFECTION
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WE WILL SCATTER KENNY'S REMAINS
OVER THIS PROPERTY WHICH HE LOVED
AND THEY WILL BE TAKEN UP AND BECOME LIVING THINGS
BUT FOR US THE LIVING
LET US LIVE IN PEACE
WITH THE SURE KNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD'S LOVE IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND IT
THAT KENNY LIVES IN OUR HEARTS
AND IN THE BOSOM OF GOD
THAT KENNY IS FINALLY AT REST
AMEN AMEN AMEN
THAT HIS FRIEND LAZARUS HAD DIED
HE CRIED
NO PLATITUDES
NO EASY SAYING OF HIS BEING IN A BETTER PLACE
NO REMINDERS OF ETERNAL LIFE
HE CRIED
AS ONLY ONE WHO LOVES
AS DEEPLY AS HE LOVES
COULD CRY
HE CRIED
HE FELT THE DEEP
AND EVER WIDENING CHASM
OF SEPARATION
HE FELT THAT THE SOUL OF HIS FRIEND
WAS LIKE A SHIP LEAVING THE SHORE
SENDING BACK RIPPLES OF REMEMBRANCE
SENDING BACK ECHOES OF OLD CONVERSATIONS
SENDING THEM BACK WITH NO WAY TO ANSWER
PEACE WOULD COME LATER
AND RESIGNATION
BUT FOR THE INSTANT
THERE WAS PAIN
TEARS
THE GREAT UNKNOWING
AND TO NEED TO WEEP.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED
HE LIVES IN GOD
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR NOW
HE LIVES IN US
LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF CONSOLATION
AS BARBARA READS FOR US PSALM 23
1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
AS I SAID BEFORE
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED
HE LIVES ON IN THE MEMORIES
EACH OF US HAVE OF HIM
I ASK HIS MOTHER
FRIENDS OR FAMILY
TO SHARE WITH US NOW THOSE MEMORIES
***********PAUSE FOR SHARING AND SOLO**********************
IN THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS
WE FEEL THAT WE ARE GUARANTEED
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OF LIFE
SO THAT WHEN A MOTHER BURIES A CHILD
WE FEEL CHEATED
BUT LIFE HAS TAUGHT US
THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF DAYS OF LIFE
SO WHAT LESSON DO WE HAVE FROM KENNY'S LIFE
WHAT LESSON WOULD HE
ASK US TO LEARN
IF HE WERE HERE WITH US
THE LESSON WOULD BE
THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS
AND UNPREDICTABLE
AND THAT WHILE WE HAVE OUR LOVED ONES NEAR US
WE SHOULD TELL THEM
WE LOVE THEM
WE SHOULD HOLD THEM CLOSE
WEEP WITH THEM
LAUGH WITH THEM
KISS THEM AND SAY
I LOVE YOU
WOULD YOU NOW IN KENNY'S NAME
EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
A SIGN OF LOVE AND AFFECTION
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WE WILL SCATTER KENNY'S REMAINS
OVER THIS PROPERTY WHICH HE LOVED
AND THEY WILL BE TAKEN UP AND BECOME LIVING THINGS
BUT FOR US THE LIVING
LET US LIVE IN PEACE
WITH THE SURE KNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD'S LOVE IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND IT
THAT KENNY LIVES IN OUR HEARTS
AND IN THE BOSOM OF GOD
THAT KENNY IS FINALLY AT REST
AMEN AMEN AMEN
20TH PENTECOST
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
TODAY’S GOSPEL IS A LITTLE GROWN UP
DO SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
I’D WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN IT
BY TELLING YOU ANOTHER STORY
CALLED “LOVE YOU FOREVER”
BY ROBERT MUNSCH.
MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW IT.
READ STORY
TODAY’S GOSPEL
IN MANY WAYS PARALLELS
THE STORY WE HAVE JUST HEARD.
THE MOTHER’S LOVE IS OVERWHELMING.
SOMETIMES SILLY.
KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.
THE SON REACTS TO HIS MOTHER’S LOVE
BY LOVING HIS MOTHER BACK
AND OUT OF THE FULLNESS HE HAS RECEIVED
IS ABLE TO LOVE HIS DAUGHTER.
THE VINEYARD
REPRESENTS ALL THAT GOD
DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE.
GOD MADE A VINEYARD ,
LET’S CALL IT A GARDEN
WHICH HAD EVERYTHING IN IT
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
GOD THEN GAVE THE GARDEN
TO OTHERS TO MANAGE.
TO OTHERS
WHICH MEANS
HE GAVE IT TO YOU
AND ME
TO TAKE CARE OFF.
AND THIS GARDEN
WAS MEANT TO BE
FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WE CLOSED THE GARDEN.
WE WOULD NOT SHARE WITH ANYONE.
BUT GOD HAD GIVEN THE GARDEN TO US TO RUN.
SO IF THERE IS WAR,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HUNGER,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HATRED,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THE WORLD IS NOT THE WAY
GOD WANTED HIS GARDEN TO BE
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
THIS IS OUR FATHER’S WORLD
GIVEN TO US TO RUN
DON’T SAY WE CAN’T CHANGE IT.
JESUS SAID
HE WOULD BE WITH US
FOREVER,
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AT HIS SIDE
TO BRING CREATION
BACK TO THE FATHER’S DREAM.
AND TO THE CHILDREN
AT THIS SERVICE
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD OPERATE
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO OPERATE
WE OWE IT TO THE CHILDREN
WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER
WE OWE IT TO GOD
WHO CREATED A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
DIED THAT THE GARDEN MIGHT FLOWER
DIED THAT THE VINEYARD MIGHT BE FRUITFUL
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE VINEYARD
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE GARDEN
LIKE GOD INTENDED IT
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW
LIKE GRAPES BEING CRUSHED
TO BE COME OUR DRINK
AND COMBINED WITH THE BREAD
TO BE COME OUR SAVIOR
WHEN WE RECEIVE COMMUNION
AT THIS SERVICE
AMEN
TODAY’S GOSPEL IS A LITTLE GROWN UP
DO SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
I’D WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN IT
BY TELLING YOU ANOTHER STORY
CALLED “LOVE YOU FOREVER”
BY ROBERT MUNSCH.
MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW IT.
READ STORY
TODAY’S GOSPEL
IN MANY WAYS PARALLELS
THE STORY WE HAVE JUST HEARD.
THE MOTHER’S LOVE IS OVERWHELMING.
SOMETIMES SILLY.
KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.
THE SON REACTS TO HIS MOTHER’S LOVE
BY LOVING HIS MOTHER BACK
AND OUT OF THE FULLNESS HE HAS RECEIVED
IS ABLE TO LOVE HIS DAUGHTER.
THE VINEYARD
REPRESENTS ALL THAT GOD
DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE.
GOD MADE A VINEYARD ,
LET’S CALL IT A GARDEN
WHICH HAD EVERYTHING IN IT
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
GOD THEN GAVE THE GARDEN
TO OTHERS TO MANAGE.
TO OTHERS
WHICH MEANS
HE GAVE IT TO YOU
AND ME
TO TAKE CARE OFF.
AND THIS GARDEN
WAS MEANT TO BE
FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WE CLOSED THE GARDEN.
WE WOULD NOT SHARE WITH ANYONE.
BUT GOD HAD GIVEN THE GARDEN TO US TO RUN.
SO IF THERE IS WAR,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HUNGER,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HATRED,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THE WORLD IS NOT THE WAY
GOD WANTED HIS GARDEN TO BE
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
THIS IS OUR FATHER’S WORLD
GIVEN TO US TO RUN
DON’T SAY WE CAN’T CHANGE IT.
JESUS SAID
HE WOULD BE WITH US
FOREVER,
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AT HIS SIDE
TO BRING CREATION
BACK TO THE FATHER’S DREAM.
AND TO THE CHILDREN
AT THIS SERVICE
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD OPERATE
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO OPERATE
WE OWE IT TO THE CHILDREN
WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER
WE OWE IT TO GOD
WHO CREATED A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
DIED THAT THE GARDEN MIGHT FLOWER
DIED THAT THE VINEYARD MIGHT BE FRUITFUL
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE VINEYARD
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE GARDEN
LIKE GOD INTENDED IT
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW
LIKE GRAPES BEING CRUSHED
TO BE COME OUR DRINK
AND COMBINED WITH THE BREAD
TO BE COME OUR SAVIOR
WHEN WE RECEIVE COMMUNION
AT THIS SERVICE
AMEN
FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY
FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGSIN THE NAME OF THE FATHERAND THE SONAND THE HOLY SPIRITAMEN.
WEEKS AFTER MY BIRTH
I WAS BAPTIZED
AND GIVEN MY NAME
FRANK ANTHONY
I BAPTIZE YOU
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
AND I AM A MEMBER OF A CHURCH
FOUNDED BY CHRIST
AND MANDATED BY HIM
TO GO OUT
INTO THE WHOLE WORLD
AND BRING THEM TO HIM
BY BAPTIZING THEM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
AND AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH
MAY SOMEONE SAY TO ME
RETURN SOUL
TO THE LIVING GOD
TO GOD THE FATHER
WHO MADE YOU
TO GOD THE SON WHO SAVED YOU
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO LED YOU
AMEN.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TRINITY
ON THIS SUNDAYDEDICATED TO THE TRINITY
THE TRINITY AS WE KNOWIS A MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH.
THE FATHER IS GODAND EQUAL TO THE SONBUT IS NOT THE SON
THE SON IS GOD
AND EQUAL TO THE SPIRITBUT IS NOT THE SPIRIT
THE SPIRIT IS GOD
AND EQUAL TO THE FATHER
BUT IS NOT THE FATHER
I HAVE A BOOK ON THEOLOGY AT HOME
THE ARTICLE ON THE TRINITY
TAKES UP SIXTEEN PAGES
OF SMALL PRINT
TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY
BUT IT'S LIKE TRYING
TO COMPREHEND THE BEGINNING
OR ENDING OF ETERNITY.
IT USUALLY MAKES ME
GO TO SLEEP.
BUT WE BEGIN ALL THINGS IN THEIR NAMEWE ARE BAPTIZED IN THEIR NAMEWE ARE COMMISSIONEDTO BAPTIZE ALL NATIONSIN THEIR NAME.
I PUT IT TO YOU
WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TRINITY.
IT IS A PRINCIPAL OF SCIENCE
THAT ONE CAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND A MYSTERY
BY STUDYING ITS EFFECTS
USING SUCH A PRINCIPAL
MAN DISCOVERED THE ATOM
LONG BEFORE HE COULD SEE IT
EXPLODE IT
OR USE IT TO MAKE ELECTRICITY
MAN USED SUCH A PRINCIPAL
TO DISCOVER PLANETS
OUT ON THE EDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
BEFORE THERE WERE TELESCOPES
STRONG ENOUGH TO SEE THEM.
AND LONG BEFORE WE HAD ROCKETS
MAN KNEW
HOW HE WOULD TRAVEL
TO THE MOON AND BACK.
SO LET US EXPLORE THE TRINITY
THE FATHER LOVED US SO MUCHHE SENT HIS ONLY SONTO SUFFER AND DIEFOR US
THE SON OBEDIENT TO THE FATHER
WILLINGLY GOES TO THE CROSS
BUT THE SON TAKES NO GLORY TO HIMSELF
BUT RATHER SAYS
TO HAVE SEEN ME IS TO HAVE SEEN THE FATHER
THE SON SENDS THE COUNCILOR
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
WHO COMES
NOT TO DO HIS OWN WILL
BUT THAT OF THE CREATOR
AND THE SAVIOR
IF I WERE LOOKING AT A FAMILY
THAT ACTED THIS WAY
I WOULD SAY
SEE HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER
AND THAT IS WHAT THE TRINITY ISA LOVE RELATIONSHIP
AND TO THAT RELATIONSHIPWE HAVE BEEN CALLEDBY BAPTISM
AND WE HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONEDTO BRING ALL MEN TO THAT RELATIONSHIP
LOVE IS THE ANSWER
TO ALL OUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE TRINITY
AND HOW IT SHOULD INSPIRE US TO LIVE.
LOVE IS THE ANSWER
ON THIS WEEKEND
WE ALSO CELEBRATE A CIVIC HOLIDAY
CALLED MEMORIAL DAY
OR AS WE USED TO CALL IT
DECORATION DAY
IT WAS STARTED AFTER THE CIVIL WARTO COMMEMORATE ALL WHO DIED IN THAT WAR
GRAVES WERE VISITED
DECORATED WITH FLOWERS
AND FLAGS
EVENTUALLY MONUMENTS WERE RAISED
ENGRAVED WITH THESE WORDS
THAT THESE DEAD SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
THAT THEIR SACRIFICE
WOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN
THAT THERE WOULD BE A BETTER WORLD
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTSTO THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTS
TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR
THE GREAT WAR
THE WAR TO END ALL WARS
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTSTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTS
TO THE KOREAN WAR
AND BELATEDLY WE RAISED A MONUMENTTO THE VIETNAM WAR
AND MAYBE WE SHALL RAISE A MONUMENTTO KUWAIT AND SOMALIA
AND ON ALL THESE MONUMENTS
THE SAME WORDS
THOSE THESE DEAD
SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
I WOULD WITH ALL MY HEART PRAY
THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BEANOTHER DEAD SOLDIERBUT I KNOW IN MY HEARTI PRAY A FOOL'S PRAYERFOR I KNOW THERE ARE TIMESWHEN WE HAVE NO CHOICEBUT TO FIGHT
BUT WHERE THEN IS THE BETTER WORLDWE PROMISED ALL OUR DEAD
I SAY IT IS IN OUR HEARTSWHEN WE TURN TO ONE ANOTHERAND SAYI LOVE YOU
BETTER
WHEN WE TURN TO ONE ANOTHERAND ACT IN A LOVING MANNER
TO QUOTE A SIXTIES SONG
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTHAND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME
SO I CHALLENGE YOUAS I CHALLENGE MYSELF
LET ALL HATRED GO
I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM
PERSONAL OR WORLDWIDE
THAT HAS BEEN SOLVED BY MORE HATRED
RATHER BE KIND AND LOVING
THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE TRINITY
KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES
WHEN YOU HAVE LOVEONE FOR ANOTHER
WE OWE IT TO GODWE OWE TO OUR DEAD
THE WORDS
THOSE THESE DEAD
SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
SHOULD BE ENGRAVED UPON OUR HEARTS
THEN MAYBE ONE DAY
THERE WILL BE NO LONGER A NEED
FOR MONUMENTS
EACH MORNING IS A NEW DAYAND A NEW BEGINNING
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGSIN THE NAME OF THE FATHERAND THE SONAND THE HOLY SPIRITAMEN.
WEEKS AFTER MY BIRTH
I WAS BAPTIZED
AND GIVEN MY NAME
FRANK ANTHONY
I BAPTIZE YOU
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
AND I AM A MEMBER OF A CHURCH
FOUNDED BY CHRIST
AND MANDATED BY HIM
TO GO OUT
INTO THE WHOLE WORLD
AND BRING THEM TO HIM
BY BAPTIZING THEM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
AND AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH
MAY SOMEONE SAY TO ME
RETURN SOUL
TO THE LIVING GOD
TO GOD THE FATHER
WHO MADE YOU
TO GOD THE SON WHO SAVED YOU
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO LED YOU
AMEN.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TRINITY
ON THIS SUNDAYDEDICATED TO THE TRINITY
THE TRINITY AS WE KNOWIS A MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH.
THE FATHER IS GODAND EQUAL TO THE SONBUT IS NOT THE SON
THE SON IS GOD
AND EQUAL TO THE SPIRITBUT IS NOT THE SPIRIT
THE SPIRIT IS GOD
AND EQUAL TO THE FATHER
BUT IS NOT THE FATHER
I HAVE A BOOK ON THEOLOGY AT HOME
THE ARTICLE ON THE TRINITY
TAKES UP SIXTEEN PAGES
OF SMALL PRINT
TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY
BUT IT'S LIKE TRYING
TO COMPREHEND THE BEGINNING
OR ENDING OF ETERNITY.
IT USUALLY MAKES ME
GO TO SLEEP.
BUT WE BEGIN ALL THINGS IN THEIR NAMEWE ARE BAPTIZED IN THEIR NAMEWE ARE COMMISSIONEDTO BAPTIZE ALL NATIONSIN THEIR NAME.
I PUT IT TO YOU
WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TRINITY.
IT IS A PRINCIPAL OF SCIENCE
THAT ONE CAN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND A MYSTERY
BY STUDYING ITS EFFECTS
USING SUCH A PRINCIPAL
MAN DISCOVERED THE ATOM
LONG BEFORE HE COULD SEE IT
EXPLODE IT
OR USE IT TO MAKE ELECTRICITY
MAN USED SUCH A PRINCIPAL
TO DISCOVER PLANETS
OUT ON THE EDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
BEFORE THERE WERE TELESCOPES
STRONG ENOUGH TO SEE THEM.
AND LONG BEFORE WE HAD ROCKETS
MAN KNEW
HOW HE WOULD TRAVEL
TO THE MOON AND BACK.
SO LET US EXPLORE THE TRINITY
THE FATHER LOVED US SO MUCHHE SENT HIS ONLY SONTO SUFFER AND DIEFOR US
THE SON OBEDIENT TO THE FATHER
WILLINGLY GOES TO THE CROSS
BUT THE SON TAKES NO GLORY TO HIMSELF
BUT RATHER SAYS
TO HAVE SEEN ME IS TO HAVE SEEN THE FATHER
THE SON SENDS THE COUNCILOR
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
WHO COMES
NOT TO DO HIS OWN WILL
BUT THAT OF THE CREATOR
AND THE SAVIOR
IF I WERE LOOKING AT A FAMILY
THAT ACTED THIS WAY
I WOULD SAY
SEE HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER
AND THAT IS WHAT THE TRINITY ISA LOVE RELATIONSHIP
AND TO THAT RELATIONSHIPWE HAVE BEEN CALLEDBY BAPTISM
AND WE HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONEDTO BRING ALL MEN TO THAT RELATIONSHIP
LOVE IS THE ANSWER
TO ALL OUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE TRINITY
AND HOW IT SHOULD INSPIRE US TO LIVE.
LOVE IS THE ANSWER
ON THIS WEEKEND
WE ALSO CELEBRATE A CIVIC HOLIDAY
CALLED MEMORIAL DAY
OR AS WE USED TO CALL IT
DECORATION DAY
IT WAS STARTED AFTER THE CIVIL WARTO COMMEMORATE ALL WHO DIED IN THAT WAR
GRAVES WERE VISITED
DECORATED WITH FLOWERS
AND FLAGS
EVENTUALLY MONUMENTS WERE RAISED
ENGRAVED WITH THESE WORDS
THAT THESE DEAD SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
THAT THEIR SACRIFICE
WOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN
THAT THERE WOULD BE A BETTER WORLD
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTSTO THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTS
TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR
THE GREAT WAR
THE WAR TO END ALL WARS
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTSTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR
AND THEN WE RAISED MONUMENTS
TO THE KOREAN WAR
AND BELATEDLY WE RAISED A MONUMENTTO THE VIETNAM WAR
AND MAYBE WE SHALL RAISE A MONUMENTTO KUWAIT AND SOMALIA
AND ON ALL THESE MONUMENTS
THE SAME WORDS
THOSE THESE DEAD
SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
I WOULD WITH ALL MY HEART PRAY
THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BEANOTHER DEAD SOLDIERBUT I KNOW IN MY HEARTI PRAY A FOOL'S PRAYERFOR I KNOW THERE ARE TIMESWHEN WE HAVE NO CHOICEBUT TO FIGHT
BUT WHERE THEN IS THE BETTER WORLDWE PROMISED ALL OUR DEAD
I SAY IT IS IN OUR HEARTSWHEN WE TURN TO ONE ANOTHERAND SAYI LOVE YOU
BETTER
WHEN WE TURN TO ONE ANOTHERAND ACT IN A LOVING MANNER
TO QUOTE A SIXTIES SONG
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTHAND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME
SO I CHALLENGE YOUAS I CHALLENGE MYSELF
LET ALL HATRED GO
I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM
PERSONAL OR WORLDWIDE
THAT HAS BEEN SOLVED BY MORE HATRED
RATHER BE KIND AND LOVING
THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE TRINITY
KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES
WHEN YOU HAVE LOVEONE FOR ANOTHER
WE OWE IT TO GODWE OWE TO OUR DEAD
THE WORDS
THOSE THESE DEAD
SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN
SHOULD BE ENGRAVED UPON OUR HEARTS
THEN MAYBE ONE DAY
THERE WILL BE NO LONGER A NEED
FOR MONUMENTS
EACH MORNING IS A NEW DAYAND A NEW BEGINNING
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
AMEN
SUMMER CAMP
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO
AT A CONFIRNATION CAMP
I WAS A COUNCILOR
WE HAD THIRTY CHILDREN
WE TOOK THEM TO MT. DESERT ISLAND FOR A WEEK
OUR THEME WAS THE CREED
THE ONE WE SAY EACH SUNDAY
WE BROKE IT DOWN
INTO THREE SECTIONS
FIRST I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
SECOND I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
HIS ONLY SON
OUR LORD
WHO REDEEMED US
THIRD I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO SANCTIFIES AND GUIDES THE CHURCH IN THESE DAYS
WE ADDED ANOTHER DIMENSION HOWEVER
FOR OUR THEME WAS
I BELIEVE
SO WHAT
WHAT DOES MY BELIEF DO
HOW DOES IT
OR SHOULD IT
MAKE ME ACT
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY BELIEF
TO MYSELF
OR OTHERS
I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW WITH YOU THAT WEEK
AT SUMMER CAMP
FIRST WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IS THE VOICES OF CHILDREBN
WITH ADULTS HELPING
THE ADULTS WERE ALL PASTORS OF LOCAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES EXCEPT MYSELF
AND MY TITLE IS AND WAS --JUST PLAIN FRANK
FIRST WE TALKED ABOUT CREATION
IN WHICH GOD FORMED MAN
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND
LIKED HIS CREATION,
LOVED HIS CREATION,
BREATHED OUT A SIGH OF LOVE
AND MAN GASPING LIKE A NEW BORN CHILD
BREATHED IN GOD’S BREATH
AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL
. THE CHILDREN’S CONSENSUS
WAS THAT GOD HAD CREATED US
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO LOVE
AND TO HAVE SOMEONE
WHO WOULD LOVE HIM.
AND IN ORDER THAT IT WOULD BE A FREE OFFERING
HE GAVE US THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
OUR GIFT OF LOVE
WOULD BE OF OUR OWN CHOOSING.
AND THAT ACT OF CHOOSING CAME
WHEN ADAM AND EVE SYMBOLIZING ALL OF US.
CHOOSE OUR OWN DESIRES
OVER GOD.
WE CHOSE TO LOVE OURSELVES
RATHER THAN TO LOVE GOD.
AND FOR SUCH CHOSING
THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS CLOSED TO US.
AND WE SLUNK FROM GOD’S SIGHT,
NAKED IN THE TRUTH
THAT WE HAD OFFENDED
OUR BEST FRIEND.
BUT GOD THE FATHER
SO LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGIOTTEN SON
TO REDEEM IT
WHICH IS THE SECOND PART OF OUR CREED
FOR I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
WHO REDEEMED US
TO THE CHILDREN
CHRIST’S REDEMPTION
OPENED THE GATES OF THE GARDEN AGAIN
AND A MAN COULD GO HOME
SALVATION WAS FREE
HE ASKED ONLY OUR LOVE
AND IF WE WOULD NOT LOVE HIM
HE WOULD STILL FORGIVE US
HE WOULD STILL LOVE US
AND HE WOULD WAIT LIKE A LONELY MOTHER
STANDING AT THE WINDOW
LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD
FOR HER WAYWARD CHILD TO RETURN
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
JUST BEFORE JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO WAIT IN JERUSALEM.
FOR HIS FATHER HAD PROMISED THEM A GIFT.
THEY WOULD BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND WITH THAT BAPTISM
MEN WHO COWERING IN A ROOM
BECAME BOLD
AND WENT OUT AND PREACHED THE GOODNEWS.
IT IS WRITTEN THAT 3000 JOINED THE CHURCH
THAT DAY.
THEY WERE INFLAMED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
AND A NEW SYMBOL WAS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH
AND THAT SYMBOL WAS
THAT EVERYMAN WHO HEARD THE APOSTLES SPEAK
COULD UNDERSTAND THEM
NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPOKE.
BECAUSE GOD HAD HEALED THE WORLD AGAIN.
THE DIVISION OF LANGUAGES
THAT HAD OCCURRED
AT THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHEN MEN HAD CHALLENGED GOD AGAIN
WAS HEALED.
BECAUSE MAN WAS GIVEN A NEW LANQUAGE
AND THAT LANGUAGE WAS LOVE
AND HOW DO WE SPEAK THAT LANGUAGE,
HOW DO WE OBSERVE GOD’S COMMANDEMNT
TO LOVE.
NOT BY MAKING IT DIFFICULT.
LISTEN TO DEUTERONOMY
THE COMMAND THATN I AM GIVING YOU TODAY
IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT OR BEYOND YOUR REACH.
IT IS NOT UP IN THE SKY.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ASK.
WHO WILL GO UP
AND BRING IT DOWN FOR US
SO THAT WE CAN HEAR IT
AND OBEY IT.
NOR IS IT ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE OCEAN.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ASK,
WHO WILL GO ACROSS THE OCEAN
AND BRING IT TO US
SO THAT WE MIGHT HEAR IT
AND OBEY IT.
NO IT IS HERE
WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW IT
AND CAN QUOTE IT,
SO THEN OBEY IT’.
AND WHAT IS THIS
THAT WE KNOW SO WELL
WE CAN QUOTE IT.
IT IS FOUND IN OUR GOSPEL READING.
A MAN WENT OFF ON A JOURNEY
AND FELL AMONG THIEVES.
LYING WOUNDED BY THE ROADSIDE
IMPORTANT MEN PASSED HIM BY.
UNTIL FINALLY
ONE OF THE LOWEST
OF THE SOCIETY
IN WHICH HE LIVED,
CAME BY,
BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS
TOOK HIM TO A INN TO RECUPERATE,
PAID FOR HIS LODGING.
AND JESUS ASKED
WHO WAS NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN
WHO FELL AMOMG THIEVES,
WHO WAS NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN
WHO SHOWED HIM LOVE
AND WE ANSWER
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE QUOTE
THE ONE WHO SHOWED MERCY WE ANSWER
AND JESUS SAYS
TO ALL OF US HERE GATHERED
GO
AND DO LIKEWISE
AT A CONFIRNATION CAMP
I WAS A COUNCILOR
WE HAD THIRTY CHILDREN
WE TOOK THEM TO MT. DESERT ISLAND FOR A WEEK
OUR THEME WAS THE CREED
THE ONE WE SAY EACH SUNDAY
WE BROKE IT DOWN
INTO THREE SECTIONS
FIRST I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
SECOND I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
HIS ONLY SON
OUR LORD
WHO REDEEMED US
THIRD I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO SANCTIFIES AND GUIDES THE CHURCH IN THESE DAYS
WE ADDED ANOTHER DIMENSION HOWEVER
FOR OUR THEME WAS
I BELIEVE
SO WHAT
WHAT DOES MY BELIEF DO
HOW DOES IT
OR SHOULD IT
MAKE ME ACT
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY BELIEF
TO MYSELF
OR OTHERS
I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW WITH YOU THAT WEEK
AT SUMMER CAMP
FIRST WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IS THE VOICES OF CHILDREBN
WITH ADULTS HELPING
THE ADULTS WERE ALL PASTORS OF LOCAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES EXCEPT MYSELF
AND MY TITLE IS AND WAS --JUST PLAIN FRANK
FIRST WE TALKED ABOUT CREATION
IN WHICH GOD FORMED MAN
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND
LIKED HIS CREATION,
LOVED HIS CREATION,
BREATHED OUT A SIGH OF LOVE
AND MAN GASPING LIKE A NEW BORN CHILD
BREATHED IN GOD’S BREATH
AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL
. THE CHILDREN’S CONSENSUS
WAS THAT GOD HAD CREATED US
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO LOVE
AND TO HAVE SOMEONE
WHO WOULD LOVE HIM.
AND IN ORDER THAT IT WOULD BE A FREE OFFERING
HE GAVE US THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
OUR GIFT OF LOVE
WOULD BE OF OUR OWN CHOOSING.
AND THAT ACT OF CHOOSING CAME
WHEN ADAM AND EVE SYMBOLIZING ALL OF US.
CHOOSE OUR OWN DESIRES
OVER GOD.
WE CHOSE TO LOVE OURSELVES
RATHER THAN TO LOVE GOD.
AND FOR SUCH CHOSING
THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS CLOSED TO US.
AND WE SLUNK FROM GOD’S SIGHT,
NAKED IN THE TRUTH
THAT WE HAD OFFENDED
OUR BEST FRIEND.
BUT GOD THE FATHER
SO LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGIOTTEN SON
TO REDEEM IT
WHICH IS THE SECOND PART OF OUR CREED
FOR I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
WHO REDEEMED US
TO THE CHILDREN
CHRIST’S REDEMPTION
OPENED THE GATES OF THE GARDEN AGAIN
AND A MAN COULD GO HOME
SALVATION WAS FREE
HE ASKED ONLY OUR LOVE
AND IF WE WOULD NOT LOVE HIM
HE WOULD STILL FORGIVE US
HE WOULD STILL LOVE US
AND HE WOULD WAIT LIKE A LONELY MOTHER
STANDING AT THE WINDOW
LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD
FOR HER WAYWARD CHILD TO RETURN
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
JUST BEFORE JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO WAIT IN JERUSALEM.
FOR HIS FATHER HAD PROMISED THEM A GIFT.
THEY WOULD BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND WITH THAT BAPTISM
MEN WHO COWERING IN A ROOM
BECAME BOLD
AND WENT OUT AND PREACHED THE GOODNEWS.
IT IS WRITTEN THAT 3000 JOINED THE CHURCH
THAT DAY.
THEY WERE INFLAMED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
AND A NEW SYMBOL WAS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH
AND THAT SYMBOL WAS
THAT EVERYMAN WHO HEARD THE APOSTLES SPEAK
COULD UNDERSTAND THEM
NO MATTER WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPOKE.
BECAUSE GOD HAD HEALED THE WORLD AGAIN.
THE DIVISION OF LANGUAGES
THAT HAD OCCURRED
AT THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHEN MEN HAD CHALLENGED GOD AGAIN
WAS HEALED.
BECAUSE MAN WAS GIVEN A NEW LANQUAGE
AND THAT LANGUAGE WAS LOVE
AND HOW DO WE SPEAK THAT LANGUAGE,
HOW DO WE OBSERVE GOD’S COMMANDEMNT
TO LOVE.
NOT BY MAKING IT DIFFICULT.
LISTEN TO DEUTERONOMY
THE COMMAND THATN I AM GIVING YOU TODAY
IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT OR BEYOND YOUR REACH.
IT IS NOT UP IN THE SKY.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ASK.
WHO WILL GO UP
AND BRING IT DOWN FOR US
SO THAT WE CAN HEAR IT
AND OBEY IT.
NOR IS IT ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE OCEAN.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ASK,
WHO WILL GO ACROSS THE OCEAN
AND BRING IT TO US
SO THAT WE MIGHT HEAR IT
AND OBEY IT.
NO IT IS HERE
WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW IT
AND CAN QUOTE IT,
SO THEN OBEY IT’.
AND WHAT IS THIS
THAT WE KNOW SO WELL
WE CAN QUOTE IT.
IT IS FOUND IN OUR GOSPEL READING.
A MAN WENT OFF ON A JOURNEY
AND FELL AMONG THIEVES.
LYING WOUNDED BY THE ROADSIDE
IMPORTANT MEN PASSED HIM BY.
UNTIL FINALLY
ONE OF THE LOWEST
OF THE SOCIETY
IN WHICH HE LIVED,
CAME BY,
BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS
TOOK HIM TO A INN TO RECUPERATE,
PAID FOR HIS LODGING.
AND JESUS ASKED
WHO WAS NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN
WHO FELL AMOMG THIEVES,
WHO WAS NEIGHBOR TO THE MAN
WHO SHOWED HIM LOVE
AND WE ANSWER
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE QUOTE
THE ONE WHO SHOWED MERCY WE ANSWER
AND JESUS SAYS
TO ALL OF US HERE GATHERED
GO
AND DO LIKEWISE
EASTER SERMON OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
Bishop of Constantinople
349-407 AD
WHOEVER IS DEVOUT
AND A LOVER OF GOD,
COME, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL
AND RADIANT FEAST OF FEASTS.
WHOEVER IS A GOOD
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
REJOICE,
AND ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.
WHOEVER IS WEARY OF FASTING,
RECEIVE NOW YOUR RECOMPENSE.
ALL WHO HAVE LABORED
FROM THE FIRST HOUR,
LET THEM TODAY
RECEIVE THEIR JUST REWARD.
THOSE WHO HAVE COME
AT THE THIRD HOUR,
WITH THANKSGIVING
LET THEM KEEP THE FEAST.
THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
AT THE SIXTH HOUR,
LET THEM HAVE NO MISGIVINGS;
FOR THEY SHALL SUFFER NO LOSS.
THOSE WHO HAVE DELAYED
UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR,
LET THEM DRAW NEAR
WITHOUT HESITATION.
THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
EVEN AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
LET THEM NOT FEAR
ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR DELAY
.
FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS,
AND RECEIVES THE LAST
EVEN AS THE FIRST;
GOD GIVES REST
TO THE ONE
WHO COMES
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
JUST AS TO THE ONE
WHO HAS LABORED
FROM THE FIRST;
TO THE ONE
GOD IS JUST,
AND TO THE OTHER,
GOD IS GRACIOUS.
GOD BOTH HONORS
THE WORK
AND PRAISES
THE INTENTION.
ENTER,
ALL OF YOU,
THEREFORE,
INTO THE JOY OF OUR LORD,
AND
WHETHER FIRST
OR LAST,
RECEIVE YOUR REWARD.
0 RICH AND POOR,
ONE WITH ANOTHER,
DANCE FOR JOY!
0 YOU ZEALOUS
AND YOU NEGLIGENT,
CELEBRATE THE DAY!
YOU THAT HAVE FASTED
AND YOU
THAT HAVE DISREGARDED THE FAST,
REJOICE TODAY!
THE TABLE IS RICH-LADEN,
FEAST ROYALLY,
ALL OF YOU!
THE CALF IS FATTED,
LET NO ONE GO FORTH HUNGRY!
LET ALL
PARTAKE OF THE FEAST
OF FAITH.
LET ALL
RECEIVE
THE RICHES OF GOODNESS.
LET NONE LAMENT
THEIR POVERTY,
FOR THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM
HAS BEEN REVEALED.
LET NONE MOURN
THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS,
FOR PARDON HAS DAWNED
FROM THE TOMB!
LET NO ONE FEAR DEATH,
FOR THE SAVIOR'S DEATH
HAS DAWNED FROM THE TOMB!
JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN BY DEATH,
HAS ANNIHILATED IT!
JESUS DESCENDED INTO HELL,
AND TOOK HELL CAPTIVE!
JESUS EMBITTERED HELL
WHEN IT TASTED HIS FLESH!
AND ANTICIPATING THIS,
ISAIAH EXCLAIMED, "
HELL WAS EMBITTERED
WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED YOU
IN THE LOWER REGIONS."
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS ABOLISHED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS MOCKED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS PURGED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS DESPOILED!!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS BOUND IN CHAINS'!!
HELL LAID HOLD OF A MORTAL BODY,
AND FOUND
THAT IT HAD SEIZED GOD!
HELL LAID HOLD OF EARTH,
BUT CONFRONTED HEAVEN!!
HELL SEIZED WHAT IT SAW,
BUT CRUMBLED
BEFORE WHAT IT HAD NOT SEEN!!!
"0 DEATH,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?
0 HELL,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND HELL IS OVERTHROWN!
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE DEMONS ARE FALLEN!
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE ANGELS REJOICE..
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND LIFE REIGNS!!!
CHRIST IS RISEN - -
AND NOT ONE DEAD REMAINS IN THE TOMB!!!
FOR CHRIST
BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD,
HAS BECOME
THE FIRST FRUITS
OF THEM THAT SLEPT.
TO HIM BE GLORY
AND DOMINION
THROUGH THE AGES OF AGES!
C. AMEN.
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!
Bishop of Constantinople
349-407 AD
WHOEVER IS DEVOUT
AND A LOVER OF GOD,
COME, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL
AND RADIANT FEAST OF FEASTS.
WHOEVER IS A GOOD
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
REJOICE,
AND ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.
WHOEVER IS WEARY OF FASTING,
RECEIVE NOW YOUR RECOMPENSE.
ALL WHO HAVE LABORED
FROM THE FIRST HOUR,
LET THEM TODAY
RECEIVE THEIR JUST REWARD.
THOSE WHO HAVE COME
AT THE THIRD HOUR,
WITH THANKSGIVING
LET THEM KEEP THE FEAST.
THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
AT THE SIXTH HOUR,
LET THEM HAVE NO MISGIVINGS;
FOR THEY SHALL SUFFER NO LOSS.
THOSE WHO HAVE DELAYED
UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR,
LET THEM DRAW NEAR
WITHOUT HESITATION.
THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED
EVEN AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
LET THEM NOT FEAR
ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR DELAY
.
FOR THE LORD IS GRACIOUS,
AND RECEIVES THE LAST
EVEN AS THE FIRST;
GOD GIVES REST
TO THE ONE
WHO COMES
AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR,
JUST AS TO THE ONE
WHO HAS LABORED
FROM THE FIRST;
TO THE ONE
GOD IS JUST,
AND TO THE OTHER,
GOD IS GRACIOUS.
GOD BOTH HONORS
THE WORK
AND PRAISES
THE INTENTION.
ENTER,
ALL OF YOU,
THEREFORE,
INTO THE JOY OF OUR LORD,
AND
WHETHER FIRST
OR LAST,
RECEIVE YOUR REWARD.
0 RICH AND POOR,
ONE WITH ANOTHER,
DANCE FOR JOY!
0 YOU ZEALOUS
AND YOU NEGLIGENT,
CELEBRATE THE DAY!
YOU THAT HAVE FASTED
AND YOU
THAT HAVE DISREGARDED THE FAST,
REJOICE TODAY!
THE TABLE IS RICH-LADEN,
FEAST ROYALLY,
ALL OF YOU!
THE CALF IS FATTED,
LET NO ONE GO FORTH HUNGRY!
LET ALL
PARTAKE OF THE FEAST
OF FAITH.
LET ALL
RECEIVE
THE RICHES OF GOODNESS.
LET NONE LAMENT
THEIR POVERTY,
FOR THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOM
HAS BEEN REVEALED.
LET NONE MOURN
THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS,
FOR PARDON HAS DAWNED
FROM THE TOMB!
LET NO ONE FEAR DEATH,
FOR THE SAVIOR'S DEATH
HAS DAWNED FROM THE TOMB!
JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN BY DEATH,
HAS ANNIHILATED IT!
JESUS DESCENDED INTO HELL,
AND TOOK HELL CAPTIVE!
JESUS EMBITTERED HELL
WHEN IT TASTED HIS FLESH!
AND ANTICIPATING THIS,
ISAIAH EXCLAIMED, "
HELL WAS EMBITTERED
WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED YOU
IN THE LOWER REGIONS."
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS ABOLISHED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS MOCKED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS PURGED!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS DESPOILED!!
HELL WAS EMBITTERED,
FOR IT WAS BOUND IN CHAINS'!!
HELL LAID HOLD OF A MORTAL BODY,
AND FOUND
THAT IT HAD SEIZED GOD!
HELL LAID HOLD OF EARTH,
BUT CONFRONTED HEAVEN!!
HELL SEIZED WHAT IT SAW,
BUT CRUMBLED
BEFORE WHAT IT HAD NOT SEEN!!!
"0 DEATH,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?
0 HELL,
WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND HELL IS OVERTHROWN!
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE DEMONS ARE FALLEN!
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND THE ANGELS REJOICE..
CHRIST IS RISEN,
AND LIFE REIGNS!!!
CHRIST IS RISEN - -
AND NOT ONE DEAD REMAINS IN THE TOMB!!!
FOR CHRIST
BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD,
HAS BECOME
THE FIRST FRUITS
OF THEM THAT SLEPT.
TO HIM BE GLORY
AND DOMINION
THROUGH THE AGES OF AGES!
C. AMEN.
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
P. CHRIST IS RISEN!!!
C. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!
2ND EPIPHANY
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US.
LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY
WHICH IS THAT TIME OF THE CHURCH YEAR
BETWEEN CHRISTMAS
AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT.
THE WORD EPIPHANY MEANS
TO SHOW.
THE CHURCH USES THIS SEASON
TO COMMEMORATE
THE TIME WHEN JESUS
WAS BEGINNING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.
WAS BEGINNING
TO SHOW THE WORLD
WHO HE WAS.
SO LAST WEEK
WE HAD THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMAN CAME.
MEN DRAWN BY A STAR
HERALDING THE BIRTH OF A KING.
THAT KING BEING JESUS.
THIS SUNDAY WE HAVE
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
DURING WHICH GOD THE FATHER
SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
DECLARING
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN
BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW
THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
THERE FOR HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING
BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING
SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE
AND JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM
UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH
WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH
OUR FIRST READING TODAY
LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
THE LORD'S SERVANT
THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.
I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.
HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."
AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH.
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES;
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATIONS.
YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS.
THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."
THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING
KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE
KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM
BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION
LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE
AND LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL
TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO BECOME THE PERSON PAUL WOULD DESCRIBE IN OUR SECOND READING
HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM
WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER
SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY
BUT JESUS SAID
LET IT BE DONE
SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM
AND FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE
THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
AND THE VOICE SAYS
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED
AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER
AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
COMES TO THIS ROOM WHERE WE ARE GATHERED
AND SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY
YOU
YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US.
LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY.
EPIPHANY
WHICH IS THAT TIME OF THE CHURCH YEAR
BETWEEN CHRISTMAS
AND THE BEGINNING OF LENT.
THE WORD EPIPHANY MEANS
TO SHOW.
THE CHURCH USES THIS SEASON
TO COMMEMORATE
THE TIME WHEN JESUS
WAS BEGINNING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.
WAS BEGINNING
TO SHOW THE WORLD
WHO HE WAS.
SO LAST WEEK
WE HAD THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY ITSELF
WHEN THE WISEMAN CAME.
MEN DRAWN BY A STAR
HERALDING THE BIRTH OF A KING.
THAT KING BEING JESUS.
THIS SUNDAY WE HAVE
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
DURING WHICH GOD THE FATHER
SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
DECLARING
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.
THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN
BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW
THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
THERE FOR HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING
BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING
SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE
AND JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM
UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH
WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH
OUR FIRST READING TODAY
LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
THE LORD'S SERVANT
THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.
I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.
HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."
AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH.
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES;
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATIONS.
YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS.
THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."
THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING
KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE
KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM
BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION
LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE
AND LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL
TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO BECOME THE PERSON PAUL WOULD DESCRIBE IN OUR SECOND READING
HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM
WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER
SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY
BUT JESUS SAID
LET IT BE DONE
SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM
AND FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE
THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
AND THE VOICE SAYS
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED
AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER
AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
COMES TO THIS ROOM WHERE WE ARE GATHERED
AND SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY
YOU
YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED
2ND LENT
SECOND SUNDAY LENT
TODAY AS YOU KNOW
IS THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
IN TODAY'S GOSPEL
WE HEAR THE PHARISEES
TELL JESUS
THAT HEROD THE RULER
WANTED TO KILL JESUS
THEY DID THIS FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST JESUS WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
WHERE HEROD WAS RULER
AND HE WAS ATTRACTING CROWDS
WITH HIS TEACHINGS
AND HIS TEACHINGS
WERE THREATENING
THE PRIVILEGED POSITION
OF THE PHARISEES
SO THEY WOULD LIKE HIM
TO GO ELSEWHERE
TO GO ANYWHERE AND PREACH
BUT LEAVE THEM ALONE.
SECOND THEY HOPED
THAT JESUS WOULD GO TO JERUSALEM
AND GET CAUGHT UP
IN THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE
THAT WAS RAMPANT IN THE CITY
AND AS A RESULT
THE ROMANS WOULD KILL HIM.
THE HEROD
THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT
WAS THE SAME HEROD
THAT HAD PUT
JOHN THE BAPTIST TO DEATH
SO THE THREAT OF DEATH WAS VERY REAL.
BUT JESUS ANSWERS
TELL THAT FOX
THAT I WILL CAST OUT DEMONS
AND WILL HEAL PEOPLE
TODAY,
TOMORROW
AND ON THE THIRD DAY
WHICH IS THE HEBREW WAY
OF SAYING
I WILL STAY HERE
UNTIL I ACCOMPLISH MY PURPOSE.
IT IS ALMOST AN ECHO
OF LUTHER
SAYING HERE I STAND
I CANNOT BE ELSEWHERE.
WHAT JESUS
IS SAYING TO HEROD
AND TO ALL THE HERODS
OF THE WORLD
HERE I STAND
TO BRING SALVATION
YOU CANNOT CHASE ME AWAY.
HERE I STAND
LIKE A SIGN.
POINTING THE WAY
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT SIGNS
A WOMAN DRIVES HER CAR
ALONG THE HIGHWAY
SHE SEES THE MANY SIGNS
THAT EDGE OUR ROADS,
SCHOOL AHEAD
GO SLOW,
THE NEXT CITY - WEST OSSIPEE
THE MILEAGE, 12 MILES
LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA-PIZZA
SHE SEES WASH
HANGING ON THE LINE,
SHE SEES OTHER CARS IN FRONT
OR IN THE CAR MIRROR
OCCASIONALLY
WHEN THE LIGHT IS RIGHT
SHE SEES
HER OWN FACE
REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD
SHE IS DRIVING BY A CLIFF,
SET BACK FROM THE ROAD.
IT IS A STEEP CLIFF.
SO STEEP
THAT WHEN SHE SEES THE SIGN,
SHE WONDERS
HOW ANYONE COULD CLIMB
THE CLIFF'S FACE
AND PUT IT THERE.
THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
WRITTEN IN LARGE CLUMSY LETTERS
WITH WHITE PAINT,
THAT TRICKLES DOWN
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTERS
AS IF THE LETTERS
WERE FALLING APART
OR MELTING
OR MAYBE CRYING
THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
THAT'S ALL.
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
OF THE HIGHWAY,
LIKE RIGHT TURN ONLY,
TOLL BOOTH AHEAD,
THE SPEED LIMIT
AND DESTINATIONS,
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
WAS THIS SIGN "JESUS SAVES"
AND THE WOMAN
LIKE MOST OF US
FELT AWKWARD WITH THE SIGN,
FELT AN INTERNAL SQUIRM
AT THE MESSAGE
EVEN THOUGH
LIKE MOST OF US
SHE KNEW IT TO BE TRUE,
SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGN
AND ITS' PUBLIC MESSAGE
LIKE SAYING GRACE IN PUBLIC
GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT KIND OF PERSON
MUST HAVE CLIMBED UP THERE,
WITH A BUCKET
AND A BRUSH
TO SPLASH THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFF:
MAYBE MAN
MAYBE WOMAN,
MAYBE YOUNG OR OLD,
DRUNK OR SOBER,
IN DAYLIGHT OR IN THE DARK
GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT DROVE THE PAINTER
TO PAINT THIS SIGN;
SIN OR REDEMPTION,
JOY OR REMORSE,
POSSIBLY A DARE,
POSSIBLY A PRAYER
WHAT EVER THE REASON,
IN OUR STRANGE TIMES,
AMONG PEOPLE LIKE US
AMONG PEOPLE JUST LIKE US,
AMONG US,
THE EFFECT
0F THE MESSAGE ON THE HILLSIDE
THAT "JESUS SAVES"
MAKES US SQUIRM.
AND I THINK
WE SQUIRM
BECAUSE WE ARE EMBARRASSED
AND WE ARE EMBARRASSED
FOR MANY REASONS
EMBARRASSED
PERHAPS
BECAUSE THE WORDS
REMIND US OF OLD TIME RELIGION,
OF SHOUT AND HOLLER,
OF PULPIT POUNDING,
OF GOD'S GONNA GET YOU,
.
WE SQUIRM
BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING
IN THE NAME JESUS ITSELF
THAT EMBARRASSES US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED
AND ALONE
JUST JESUS
BY ITSELF
WITHOUT A TITLE
LIKE A FRIEND'S NAME.
IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE WOULD ACCEPT
CHRIST SAVES"-
THAT'S HIS JOB.
BUT JESUS SAVES
AS IN JESUS SAVES FRANK
OR BARBARA OR ALICE
OR JOE OR FRED OR WADE
OR WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS,
IS LIKE A LOVER
CARVING HIS AND HIS LOVED ONE'S NAME
ON A TREE
IT HAS AN AIR ABOUT IT
LIKE A LOVE SONG.
MAYBE "JESUS SAVES"
WRITTEN ON THE CLIFF
IS EMBARRASSING
BECAUSE RELIGION
IN SOME WAYS
HAS BECOME EMBARRASSING
MAYBE OUR WINCING
IS A WAY
TO HIDE OUR EYES
TO STOP UP OUR EARS,
BECAUSE WE SOMEHOW KNOW
THAT IF THE MESSAGE GOT THROUGH,
IT WOULD SAY DIRECTLY,
CLEARLY,
UNMISTAKABLY
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
THAT WE,
YOU AND I,
NEED TO BE SAVED.
RICH MAN, POOR MAN,
YOUNG WOMAN, OLD WOMAN,
EDUCATED,
UNLETTERED,
RELIGIOUS, UNRELIGIOUS,
ALL OF US,
YOU AND I,
ALL OF US,
NEED TO BE SAVED.
AND THAT
IS OFFENSIVE. TO US
FOR WHAT IT SAYS
IS
YOU HAVE NO PEACE
WITHIN YOUR SKIN-
YOU ARE NOT HAPPY,
YOU ARE NOT WHOLE"
OUR HUMANITY
REACTS AGAINST THE THOUGHT,
OUR SELF SUFFICIENT HUMANITY
WHICH CONTINUALLY
WANTS THE APPLE
MORE THAN IT WANTS THE GARDEN,
REACTS
AGAINST THE THOUGHT
WHAT FOOL
WOULD CLIMB THAT CLIFF
TO WRITE A MESSAGE
THAT OFFENDS ME.
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO GIVE ME SUCH ADVICE
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO QUESTION
MY SELF-SUFFICIENCY
IF YOU HAD SAID
GOD SAVES,
I COULD ARGUE WITH GOD.
BUT YOU SAID
JESUS
AS IF TO SAY
FRIEND
AND I SEE THAT FRIEND
FOR WHAT THE WORLD
HAS MADE HIM,
A FOOL
DESPISED AND REJECTED,
A LAUGHING STOCK AMONG THE NATIONS,
WITH HIS RIDICULOUS SLOGAN
LOVE ONE ANOTHER".
AND I AM
EMBARRASSED BY HIM
AND THE SIGN ON THE CLIFF
THE BAD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE LEFT
SAID IN A TAUNT
IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US."
HOW LIKE HIM WE ARE,
WHEN OUR LIFE'S ACTIONS
HANG US ON THE LEFT CROSS,
WE CRY
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US.
OH, WE ARE NOT SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN.
BECAUSE WE DO NOT ALWAYS NEED YOU,
ONLY WHEN ALL THE APPLES,
WE HAVE EATEN FROM THE TREE
MAKE US SICK
THEN WE NEED YOU.
SAVE US, SAVE US
ME MORE THAN YOU,
SAVE US.
BUT THE GOOD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT,
REBUKED THE BAD THIEF
FOR HIS ARROGANCE,
THEN SPOKE
WITH ALMOST THE SAME ARROGANCE,
WHEN HE SAID
JESUS, REMEMBER ME
WHEN YOU COME IN TO YOUR KINGDOM
TWO ARROGANT PETITIONS
BUT FROM DIFFERENT HEARTS,
ONE SPOKEN IN ANGER,
ONE SPOKEN IN TRUST
AND HOPE
AND TO THE TRUSTING,
HOPEFUL HEART
HE SAID
TRULY,
TODAY
YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."
I WONDER
WHAT THE GUARDS THOUGHT
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS CONVERSATION
DID IT INTERRUPT THEIR DICE GAME,
WERE THEY PERHAPS EMBARRASSED
BY THE GOODNESS
OF THE MAN THEY WERE KILLING
OR DID THEY THINK
THAT THE PAIN
OF THEIR TORTURE
HAD ROBBED HIS MIND OF REASON
HOW COULD THAT ONE
SAVE ANYONE,
NAILED TO THE TREE
WITH GOOD STOUT NAILS
WITH THE SIGN ABOVE HIS HEAD
WHICH MOCKED HIM AS KING
THEY'D BEEN WITH HIM,
WHEN THEY'D WHIPPED
AND CROWNED HIM,
AND THEY HAD HEARD
NEITHER CURSE NOR WHIMPER.
NO KING HE,
A LAMB MAYBE,
QUIET IN HIS SLAUGHTER,
BUT NO KING-
HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
PAINTED ON A CLIFF-
HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
CARVED ON A TREE BY LOVERS,
AND IN THIS NAME
THE NAME OF JESUS
WE ARE EMBARRASSED.
WHY?
PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE
WE THINK
THAT WE ARE UNLOVABLE
WE DO NOT DOUBT
THAT GOD CAN SAVE US,
BUT WE DO DOUBT
THAT SOMEONE COULD LOVE US
SO MUCH
AS TO DIE FOR US-
TO DIE FOR US
NOT FOOLISHLY,
BUT FULLY KNOWING
OUR UNWORTHINESS
AND STILL WANTING TO SAVE US
I SUSPECT
THAT THE REAL REASON
WHY THE NAME
JESUS'
MAY EMBARRASS US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED BY ITSELF,
IS THAT IT PUTS US
ON A FIRST NAME BASIS
IT REMINDS US
OF OUR OWN NEED FOR SALVATION,
OUR OWN NAKEDNESS,
OUR OWN NAMES
FOR JESUS HAS COME
TO SAVE D-GUY,
SAVE JJ AND PAULA,
SAVE THERESA,
SAVE MARY,
SAVE KAREN AND PETER,
SAVE MARCIA,
SAVE ALL OF US-
NOT FOR OUR JOBS,
NOT FOR OUR TITLES,
NOT FOR OUR TITHING,
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE RETIRED
OR WORKING,
MARRIED,
SINGLE OR DIVORCED.
NOT FOR ANY REASON
EXCEPT HE LOVES US
HE MADE US.
WE ARE THE WORK OF HIS HANDS
AND GOD DOESN'T MAKE JUNK.
HE LOVES US.
END OF SENTENCE
HE LOVES
US
THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFFSIDE
CALLS US BY NAME,
CALLS ALL OF US, BY NAME
IT SAYS
UNCOVER YOUR EYES,
OPEN YOUR EARS,
I BRING TRUTH AND HOPE
FOR ALL THE NEEDING-TO-BE FILLED
PLACES IN YOUR LIVES.
BE LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
AND KNOW THE PAIN OF SURRENDER,
THE PAIN OF KNOWING
THE HELPLESSNESS
OF TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF
CALL ON ME,
CALL ON ME,
LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
CALL ON ME
SAYING
JESUS, REMEMBER ME,
WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU'
JESUS SAYS "I WILL".
AND WHETHER IT SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS
IN OUR JUDGMENT
OR EMBARRASSING,
THE SAME GOD
THAT SAVED THIEVES
HANGING JUSTLY ON THE CROSS,
ALSO SAVES CLOWNS LIKE YOU
AND ME,
NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON,
THAN THAT HE LOVES US.
SO WHEN
THE PHARISEES SAY TO HIM
LEAVE NOW
BEFORE THEY KILL YOU
HE REPLIES
I WILL STAY FAITHFUL
TO MY TASK
TODAY
TOMORROW
AND THE DAY AFTER
WHICH MEANS
ALWAYS
FURTHER
JESUS SAYS
COME TO MY SHOP
WHERE THERE IS A SIGN
THAT SAYS
JESUS
CARPENTER
MAKER OF EASY YOKES
WE MAKE YOUR BURDEN LIGHT.
COME IN
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
LET ME PROVE IT.
AND AS WE ENTER
WE CATCH OUR IMAGE
IN THE WINDOW
OF HIS SHOP
AND WE ALSO SEE
THE REFLECTION OF THE CLIFF
WITH THE SIGN
JESUS SAVES".
AND WE KNOW THE MESSAGE
IS PERSONAL AND FOR US.
AMEN
TODAY AS YOU KNOW
IS THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
IN TODAY'S GOSPEL
WE HEAR THE PHARISEES
TELL JESUS
THAT HEROD THE RULER
WANTED TO KILL JESUS
THEY DID THIS FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST JESUS WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
WHERE HEROD WAS RULER
AND HE WAS ATTRACTING CROWDS
WITH HIS TEACHINGS
AND HIS TEACHINGS
WERE THREATENING
THE PRIVILEGED POSITION
OF THE PHARISEES
SO THEY WOULD LIKE HIM
TO GO ELSEWHERE
TO GO ANYWHERE AND PREACH
BUT LEAVE THEM ALONE.
SECOND THEY HOPED
THAT JESUS WOULD GO TO JERUSALEM
AND GET CAUGHT UP
IN THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE
THAT WAS RAMPANT IN THE CITY
AND AS A RESULT
THE ROMANS WOULD KILL HIM.
THE HEROD
THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT
WAS THE SAME HEROD
THAT HAD PUT
JOHN THE BAPTIST TO DEATH
SO THE THREAT OF DEATH WAS VERY REAL.
BUT JESUS ANSWERS
TELL THAT FOX
THAT I WILL CAST OUT DEMONS
AND WILL HEAL PEOPLE
TODAY,
TOMORROW
AND ON THE THIRD DAY
WHICH IS THE HEBREW WAY
OF SAYING
I WILL STAY HERE
UNTIL I ACCOMPLISH MY PURPOSE.
IT IS ALMOST AN ECHO
OF LUTHER
SAYING HERE I STAND
I CANNOT BE ELSEWHERE.
WHAT JESUS
IS SAYING TO HEROD
AND TO ALL THE HERODS
OF THE WORLD
HERE I STAND
TO BRING SALVATION
YOU CANNOT CHASE ME AWAY.
HERE I STAND
LIKE A SIGN.
POINTING THE WAY
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT SIGNS
A WOMAN DRIVES HER CAR
ALONG THE HIGHWAY
SHE SEES THE MANY SIGNS
THAT EDGE OUR ROADS,
SCHOOL AHEAD
GO SLOW,
THE NEXT CITY - WEST OSSIPEE
THE MILEAGE, 12 MILES
LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA-PIZZA
SHE SEES WASH
HANGING ON THE LINE,
SHE SEES OTHER CARS IN FRONT
OR IN THE CAR MIRROR
OCCASIONALLY
WHEN THE LIGHT IS RIGHT
SHE SEES
HER OWN FACE
REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD
SHE IS DRIVING BY A CLIFF,
SET BACK FROM THE ROAD.
IT IS A STEEP CLIFF.
SO STEEP
THAT WHEN SHE SEES THE SIGN,
SHE WONDERS
HOW ANYONE COULD CLIMB
THE CLIFF'S FACE
AND PUT IT THERE.
THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
WRITTEN IN LARGE CLUMSY LETTERS
WITH WHITE PAINT,
THAT TRICKLES DOWN
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTERS
AS IF THE LETTERS
WERE FALLING APART
OR MELTING
OR MAYBE CRYING
THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
THAT'S ALL.
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
OF THE HIGHWAY,
LIKE RIGHT TURN ONLY,
TOLL BOOTH AHEAD,
THE SPEED LIMIT
AND DESTINATIONS,
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
WAS THIS SIGN "JESUS SAVES"
AND THE WOMAN
LIKE MOST OF US
FELT AWKWARD WITH THE SIGN,
FELT AN INTERNAL SQUIRM
AT THE MESSAGE
EVEN THOUGH
LIKE MOST OF US
SHE KNEW IT TO BE TRUE,
SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGN
AND ITS' PUBLIC MESSAGE
LIKE SAYING GRACE IN PUBLIC
GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT KIND OF PERSON
MUST HAVE CLIMBED UP THERE,
WITH A BUCKET
AND A BRUSH
TO SPLASH THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFF:
MAYBE MAN
MAYBE WOMAN,
MAYBE YOUNG OR OLD,
DRUNK OR SOBER,
IN DAYLIGHT OR IN THE DARK
GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT DROVE THE PAINTER
TO PAINT THIS SIGN;
SIN OR REDEMPTION,
JOY OR REMORSE,
POSSIBLY A DARE,
POSSIBLY A PRAYER
WHAT EVER THE REASON,
IN OUR STRANGE TIMES,
AMONG PEOPLE LIKE US
AMONG PEOPLE JUST LIKE US,
AMONG US,
THE EFFECT
0F THE MESSAGE ON THE HILLSIDE
THAT "JESUS SAVES"
MAKES US SQUIRM.
AND I THINK
WE SQUIRM
BECAUSE WE ARE EMBARRASSED
AND WE ARE EMBARRASSED
FOR MANY REASONS
EMBARRASSED
PERHAPS
BECAUSE THE WORDS
REMIND US OF OLD TIME RELIGION,
OF SHOUT AND HOLLER,
OF PULPIT POUNDING,
OF GOD'S GONNA GET YOU,
.
WE SQUIRM
BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING
IN THE NAME JESUS ITSELF
THAT EMBARRASSES US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED
AND ALONE
JUST JESUS
BY ITSELF
WITHOUT A TITLE
LIKE A FRIEND'S NAME.
IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE WOULD ACCEPT
CHRIST SAVES"-
THAT'S HIS JOB.
BUT JESUS SAVES
AS IN JESUS SAVES FRANK
OR BARBARA OR ALICE
OR JOE OR FRED OR WADE
OR WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS,
IS LIKE A LOVER
CARVING HIS AND HIS LOVED ONE'S NAME
ON A TREE
IT HAS AN AIR ABOUT IT
LIKE A LOVE SONG.
MAYBE "JESUS SAVES"
WRITTEN ON THE CLIFF
IS EMBARRASSING
BECAUSE RELIGION
IN SOME WAYS
HAS BECOME EMBARRASSING
MAYBE OUR WINCING
IS A WAY
TO HIDE OUR EYES
TO STOP UP OUR EARS,
BECAUSE WE SOMEHOW KNOW
THAT IF THE MESSAGE GOT THROUGH,
IT WOULD SAY DIRECTLY,
CLEARLY,
UNMISTAKABLY
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
THAT WE,
YOU AND I,
NEED TO BE SAVED.
RICH MAN, POOR MAN,
YOUNG WOMAN, OLD WOMAN,
EDUCATED,
UNLETTERED,
RELIGIOUS, UNRELIGIOUS,
ALL OF US,
YOU AND I,
ALL OF US,
NEED TO BE SAVED.
AND THAT
IS OFFENSIVE. TO US
FOR WHAT IT SAYS
IS
YOU HAVE NO PEACE
WITHIN YOUR SKIN-
YOU ARE NOT HAPPY,
YOU ARE NOT WHOLE"
OUR HUMANITY
REACTS AGAINST THE THOUGHT,
OUR SELF SUFFICIENT HUMANITY
WHICH CONTINUALLY
WANTS THE APPLE
MORE THAN IT WANTS THE GARDEN,
REACTS
AGAINST THE THOUGHT
WHAT FOOL
WOULD CLIMB THAT CLIFF
TO WRITE A MESSAGE
THAT OFFENDS ME.
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO GIVE ME SUCH ADVICE
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO QUESTION
MY SELF-SUFFICIENCY
IF YOU HAD SAID
GOD SAVES,
I COULD ARGUE WITH GOD.
BUT YOU SAID
JESUS
AS IF TO SAY
FRIEND
AND I SEE THAT FRIEND
FOR WHAT THE WORLD
HAS MADE HIM,
A FOOL
DESPISED AND REJECTED,
A LAUGHING STOCK AMONG THE NATIONS,
WITH HIS RIDICULOUS SLOGAN
LOVE ONE ANOTHER".
AND I AM
EMBARRASSED BY HIM
AND THE SIGN ON THE CLIFF
THE BAD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE LEFT
SAID IN A TAUNT
IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US."
HOW LIKE HIM WE ARE,
WHEN OUR LIFE'S ACTIONS
HANG US ON THE LEFT CROSS,
WE CRY
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US.
OH, WE ARE NOT SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN.
BECAUSE WE DO NOT ALWAYS NEED YOU,
ONLY WHEN ALL THE APPLES,
WE HAVE EATEN FROM THE TREE
MAKE US SICK
THEN WE NEED YOU.
SAVE US, SAVE US
ME MORE THAN YOU,
SAVE US.
BUT THE GOOD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT,
REBUKED THE BAD THIEF
FOR HIS ARROGANCE,
THEN SPOKE
WITH ALMOST THE SAME ARROGANCE,
WHEN HE SAID
JESUS, REMEMBER ME
WHEN YOU COME IN TO YOUR KINGDOM
TWO ARROGANT PETITIONS
BUT FROM DIFFERENT HEARTS,
ONE SPOKEN IN ANGER,
ONE SPOKEN IN TRUST
AND HOPE
AND TO THE TRUSTING,
HOPEFUL HEART
HE SAID
TRULY,
TODAY
YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."
I WONDER
WHAT THE GUARDS THOUGHT
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS CONVERSATION
DID IT INTERRUPT THEIR DICE GAME,
WERE THEY PERHAPS EMBARRASSED
BY THE GOODNESS
OF THE MAN THEY WERE KILLING
OR DID THEY THINK
THAT THE PAIN
OF THEIR TORTURE
HAD ROBBED HIS MIND OF REASON
HOW COULD THAT ONE
SAVE ANYONE,
NAILED TO THE TREE
WITH GOOD STOUT NAILS
WITH THE SIGN ABOVE HIS HEAD
WHICH MOCKED HIM AS KING
THEY'D BEEN WITH HIM,
WHEN THEY'D WHIPPED
AND CROWNED HIM,
AND THEY HAD HEARD
NEITHER CURSE NOR WHIMPER.
NO KING HE,
A LAMB MAYBE,
QUIET IN HIS SLAUGHTER,
BUT NO KING-
HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
PAINTED ON A CLIFF-
HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
CARVED ON A TREE BY LOVERS,
AND IN THIS NAME
THE NAME OF JESUS
WE ARE EMBARRASSED.
WHY?
PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE
WE THINK
THAT WE ARE UNLOVABLE
WE DO NOT DOUBT
THAT GOD CAN SAVE US,
BUT WE DO DOUBT
THAT SOMEONE COULD LOVE US
SO MUCH
AS TO DIE FOR US-
TO DIE FOR US
NOT FOOLISHLY,
BUT FULLY KNOWING
OUR UNWORTHINESS
AND STILL WANTING TO SAVE US
I SUSPECT
THAT THE REAL REASON
WHY THE NAME
JESUS'
MAY EMBARRASS US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED BY ITSELF,
IS THAT IT PUTS US
ON A FIRST NAME BASIS
IT REMINDS US
OF OUR OWN NEED FOR SALVATION,
OUR OWN NAKEDNESS,
OUR OWN NAMES
FOR JESUS HAS COME
TO SAVE D-GUY,
SAVE JJ AND PAULA,
SAVE THERESA,
SAVE MARY,
SAVE KAREN AND PETER,
SAVE MARCIA,
SAVE ALL OF US-
NOT FOR OUR JOBS,
NOT FOR OUR TITLES,
NOT FOR OUR TITHING,
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE RETIRED
OR WORKING,
MARRIED,
SINGLE OR DIVORCED.
NOT FOR ANY REASON
EXCEPT HE LOVES US
HE MADE US.
WE ARE THE WORK OF HIS HANDS
AND GOD DOESN'T MAKE JUNK.
HE LOVES US.
END OF SENTENCE
HE LOVES
US
THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFFSIDE
CALLS US BY NAME,
CALLS ALL OF US, BY NAME
IT SAYS
UNCOVER YOUR EYES,
OPEN YOUR EARS,
I BRING TRUTH AND HOPE
FOR ALL THE NEEDING-TO-BE FILLED
PLACES IN YOUR LIVES.
BE LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
AND KNOW THE PAIN OF SURRENDER,
THE PAIN OF KNOWING
THE HELPLESSNESS
OF TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF
CALL ON ME,
CALL ON ME,
LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
CALL ON ME
SAYING
JESUS, REMEMBER ME,
WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU'
JESUS SAYS "I WILL".
AND WHETHER IT SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS
IN OUR JUDGMENT
OR EMBARRASSING,
THE SAME GOD
THAT SAVED THIEVES
HANGING JUSTLY ON THE CROSS,
ALSO SAVES CLOWNS LIKE YOU
AND ME,
NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON,
THAN THAT HE LOVES US.
SO WHEN
THE PHARISEES SAY TO HIM
LEAVE NOW
BEFORE THEY KILL YOU
HE REPLIES
I WILL STAY FAITHFUL
TO MY TASK
TODAY
TOMORROW
AND THE DAY AFTER
WHICH MEANS
ALWAYS
FURTHER
JESUS SAYS
COME TO MY SHOP
WHERE THERE IS A SIGN
THAT SAYS
JESUS
CARPENTER
MAKER OF EASY YOKES
WE MAKE YOUR BURDEN LIGHT.
COME IN
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
LET ME PROVE IT.
AND AS WE ENTER
WE CATCH OUR IMAGE
IN THE WINDOW
OF HIS SHOP
AND WE ALSO SEE
THE REFLECTION OF THE CLIFF
WITH THE SIGN
JESUS SAVES".
AND WE KNOW THE MESSAGE
IS PERSONAL AND FOR US.
AMEN
REFORMATION SUNDAY
TODAY IS REFORMATION SUNDAY
ON THIS DAY
WE COMMEMORATE
LUTHER'S ACTION
OF POSTING HIS 95 THESES
ON THE CHURCH DOOR.
MUCH IS MADE OF THE DRAMA
OF THIS MOMENT
BUT REALLY
IN LUTHER'S MIND
AT THAT TIME
WAS HIS DESIRE
TO DEBATE WITH OTHER SCHOLARS
QUESTIONS OF THEOLOGY
AND CHURCH PRACTICE.
IN THOSE DAYS
POSTING A REQUEST FOR DEBATE
IN A COLLEGE TOWN
WAS AS COMMON
AS POSTING A BEAN SUPPER
ON A CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD.
THE ACTION WAS NOT DRAMATIC
BUT THE QUESTIONS WERE.
LET US REVIEW THE HISTORY
THAT BROUGHT LUTHER
TO THIS ACTION.
IN THE 14TH CENTURY
THE BUBONIC PLAGUE
HIT EUROPE.
TWO OUT OF THREE PEOPLE DIED.
YOU COULD BE WELL IN THE MORNING
AND DEAD BY NIGHT.
PARTS OF YOUR BODY WOULD TURN BLACK.
HENCE IT'S OTHER NAME
WAS THE BLACK DEATH.
IN THOSE DAYS
BEFORE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE,
PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT GOD
WAS PUNISHING THEM
FOR THEIR SINS.
THERE EVOLVED A PICTURE,
NOT OF A LOVING GOD
BUT OF A SADISTIC GOD
WHO COULD NOT WAIT
TO DO HARM TO HIS PEOPLE
FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INFRACTION.
BY THE TIME LUTHER
WAS BORN IN 1483,
THIS PICTURE OF A VENGEFUL GOD
WAS DOMINANT
IN CHRISTIAN THINKING.
IN FACT, A PLAYWRIGHT
HAS LUTHER SAY THIS
ABOUT HIMSELF.
WHEN I WAS A LAD
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY
WHEN I WAS A CHILD LIKE YOU
I HAD BEEN TAUGHT
I HAD BEEN TOTALLY TAUGHT
BY THE LEARNED PEOPLE OF THAT TIME
PRIESTS IN THE PULPIT
PARENTS IN THE HOME
TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL
BY THE TIME I WAS A YOUNG MAN
I HAD BEEN TAUGHT
THAT GOD HATED SIN
AND, THEREFORE, GOD HATED ME.
I WAS AFRAID OF GOD
I WAS TRAPPED LIKE AN ANIMAL
TRAPPED IN A ROOM WITH MOVABLE WALLS
TRAPPED IN A ROOM WHOSE WALLS HAD VOICES
ONE WALL CRIED OUT
CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN
NOOOOOOOOOOOO
ANOTHER WALL
IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGEMENT
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
ANOTHER WALL
IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE FINAL WALL
WILL BE DAMNED FOR YOUR SINS
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
AND OVER MY HEAD LIKE THE SOUND OF THUNDER
WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD
WAS GOD'S VOICE
CRYING
VENGEANCE IS MINE
VENGEANCE IS MINE
THIS WAS LUTHER ON THE FIRST REFORMATION SUNDAY
A MAN AFRAID OF HIS GOD
UNTIL HE READ ROMANS AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME
THAT HE WAS SAVED NOT BY WORKS
WHICH HE KNEW WERE NEVER ENOUGH
BUT BY GRACE
READING THAT,
LUTHER FINALLY REALIZED
THAT GOD WAS NOT HIS ENEMY
NOT A TORTURER
WANTING TO INFLICT PAIN
BUT A LOVER OF HIM
A LOVER OF HIM JUST THE WAY HE WAS.
THE REAL STORY OF REFORMATION SUNDAY
IS THAT A MAN AFRAID OF HIS GOD
FOUND OUT THAT GOD WAS HIS FRIEND
NOT HIS PUNISHER
AND IN THE PEACE OF THAT KNOWLEDGE
HE LIVED THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
ON THIS DAY
WE COMMEMORATE
LUTHER'S ACTION
OF POSTING HIS 95 THESES
ON THE CHURCH DOOR.
MUCH IS MADE OF THE DRAMA
OF THIS MOMENT
BUT REALLY
IN LUTHER'S MIND
AT THAT TIME
WAS HIS DESIRE
TO DEBATE WITH OTHER SCHOLARS
QUESTIONS OF THEOLOGY
AND CHURCH PRACTICE.
IN THOSE DAYS
POSTING A REQUEST FOR DEBATE
IN A COLLEGE TOWN
WAS AS COMMON
AS POSTING A BEAN SUPPER
ON A CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD.
THE ACTION WAS NOT DRAMATIC
BUT THE QUESTIONS WERE.
LET US REVIEW THE HISTORY
THAT BROUGHT LUTHER
TO THIS ACTION.
IN THE 14TH CENTURY
THE BUBONIC PLAGUE
HIT EUROPE.
TWO OUT OF THREE PEOPLE DIED.
YOU COULD BE WELL IN THE MORNING
AND DEAD BY NIGHT.
PARTS OF YOUR BODY WOULD TURN BLACK.
HENCE IT'S OTHER NAME
WAS THE BLACK DEATH.
IN THOSE DAYS
BEFORE MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE,
PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT GOD
WAS PUNISHING THEM
FOR THEIR SINS.
THERE EVOLVED A PICTURE,
NOT OF A LOVING GOD
BUT OF A SADISTIC GOD
WHO COULD NOT WAIT
TO DO HARM TO HIS PEOPLE
FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INFRACTION.
BY THE TIME LUTHER
WAS BORN IN 1483,
THIS PICTURE OF A VENGEFUL GOD
WAS DOMINANT
IN CHRISTIAN THINKING.
IN FACT, A PLAYWRIGHT
HAS LUTHER SAY THIS
ABOUT HIMSELF.
WHEN I WAS A LAD
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY
WHEN I WAS A CHILD LIKE YOU
I HAD BEEN TAUGHT
I HAD BEEN TOTALLY TAUGHT
BY THE LEARNED PEOPLE OF THAT TIME
PRIESTS IN THE PULPIT
PARENTS IN THE HOME
TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL
BY THE TIME I WAS A YOUNG MAN
I HAD BEEN TAUGHT
THAT GOD HATED SIN
AND, THEREFORE, GOD HATED ME.
I WAS AFRAID OF GOD
I WAS TRAPPED LIKE AN ANIMAL
TRAPPED IN A ROOM WITH MOVABLE WALLS
TRAPPED IN A ROOM WHOSE WALLS HAD VOICES
ONE WALL CRIED OUT
CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN
NOOOOOOOOOOOO
ANOTHER WALL
IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGEMENT
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
ANOTHER WALL
IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE FINAL WALL
WILL BE DAMNED FOR YOUR SINS
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
AND OVER MY HEAD LIKE THE SOUND OF THUNDER
WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD
WAS GOD'S VOICE
CRYING
VENGEANCE IS MINE
VENGEANCE IS MINE
THIS WAS LUTHER ON THE FIRST REFORMATION SUNDAY
A MAN AFRAID OF HIS GOD
UNTIL HE READ ROMANS AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME
THAT HE WAS SAVED NOT BY WORKS
WHICH HE KNEW WERE NEVER ENOUGH
BUT BY GRACE
READING THAT,
LUTHER FINALLY REALIZED
THAT GOD WAS NOT HIS ENEMY
NOT A TORTURER
WANTING TO INFLICT PAIN
BUT A LOVER OF HIM
A LOVER OF HIM JUST THE WAY HE WAS.
THE REAL STORY OF REFORMATION SUNDAY
IS THAT A MAN AFRAID OF HIS GOD
FOUND OUT THAT GOD WAS HIS FRIEND
NOT HIS PUNISHER
AND IN THE PEACE OF THAT KNOWLEDGE
HE LIVED THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
PENTECOST
June 11, 2000 - The Day of PentecostActs 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WHOSE BIRTHDAY YOU MIGHT ASK
IT’S ALL OF OURS
BECAUSE PENTECOST IS THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOT
IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY
THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE
JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS
BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW
THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN
BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS
AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE
FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM
I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM
BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED
WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT
FOR JOHN BAPTIZEDYOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES
GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS YET TO COME
WE ARE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHRISTIANS
AND YET WE ARE OFTEN NO MORE AWARE OF GOD’S PLAN
THAN THE APOSTLES WERE AT THIS TIME
LET US BEGIN OUR STUDY
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THING
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
WHO MADE TIME BEGIN
LET US LOOK AT GOD THE FATHER
WHEN I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE.
I STUDIED
PASSED A TEST
AND WAS GIVEN MY DRIVERS LICENSE
WHEN I WANTED TO BECOME AN ENGINEER
I STUDIED,
PASSED TESTS
AND WAS GIVEN MY DEGREE
WHEN I BECAME A PARENT
THE NURSE HANDED ME A BABY
AND SAID
HERE’S YOUR CHILD
NO OWNERS MANUAL
NO WEB SITE
NOTHING
ONLY HERE’S YOUR CHILD
IN JEWISH TRADITION
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
IS OFTEN READ
WITH THE THOUGHT
THAT GOD IS A NEW PARENT
LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE A CHILD
LET’S LOOK AT THE STORY OF GENESIS
IN THAT LIGHT
GOD MAKES ADAM
BUT ADAM IS MADE WITH A DESIGN FLAW
WHERE ALL THE OTHER ACTS OF GOD’S CREATION
LOVE GOD INSTINCTIVELY
ADAM GOD THINKS
I SHALL MAKES DIFFERENT
THIS CREATURE
THE PEAK OF MY CREATION
IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO LOVE ME
OR NOT.
BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE
FROM HIM
THE LOVE OF A FREE PERSON
NOT THE SERVILE FEAR OF A SLAVE
OR THE UNTHINKING LOVE OF AN ANIMAL
GOD PUTS ADAM
IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
CALLED PARADISE
AND SAYS TO HIM.
EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT
EXCEPT FOR THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE.
IF YOU EAT THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
SURELY YOU WILL DIE
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
ADAM ATE OF THAT TREE
AND INSTEAD OF INSTANT DEATH
LIVED 970 YEARS
SO MUCH FOR PARENTAL THREATENING
THEN GOD’S CHILDREN
CONTINUED TO DISOBEY GOD
SO HE SENT A FLOOD
TO PUNISH THEM ALL
EXCEPT FOR NOAH
WHEN THE FLOOD WAS OVER
GOD THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE
HE HADN’T MADE THE RIGHT DECISION
SO HE PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY
A WARRIOR’S BOW AIMED AT HEAVEN
TO REMIND HIM NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN
BUT MAN KEPT DISOBEYING
HE TRIED TO BUILD A TOWER TO THE SKY
THINKING
IF I REACHED THE SKY
I WILL BE LIKE GOD
AND NEVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM AGAIN
I WILL BE FREE OF GOD
SO GOD CONFUSED THEM
SO THAT EACH PERSON
SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER
THEY BABBLED
THEY COULD NOT FINISH THE TOWER
BUT INSTEAD THEY SCATTERED
OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH
CARRYING THEIR NEW LANGUAGES WITH THEM
THEN GOD THOUGHT
MY SCOPE IS TOO LARGE
LET ME START OVER AGAIN
WITH ONE PERSON
SO HE PICKS ABRAHAM
AND SAYS OBEY ME
AND YOUR CHILDREN
WILL BE AS NUMEROUS
AS THE SANDS ON THE BEACH
AND AS A SIGN OF MY POWER
I SAY TO YOU 97 YEAR OLD MAN
THAT YOUR WIFE SARAH
BARREN IN HER OLD AGE
WILL HAVE A CHILD
HEARING THIS
ABRAHAM FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING
AND SARAH
HIDING BEHIND A DOOR TO LISTEN
LAUGHED TOO
AND GOD
PLAYING WITH HIS CREATION
SAID TO HER
YOU LAUGHED
IN FEAR
BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN STANDING BEHIND THE DOOR SARAH SAID
NO I DIDN’T
AND THEN FOLLOWS
THAT VERY HUMAN STORY
OF GOD AND SARAH TALKING LIKE THIS
YOU LAUGHED
NO I DIDN’T
YES YOU DID
UHUH
UNUH
UHUH
UNUH
AS FAR AS I KNOW
THEY COULD STILL BE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION
BUT A CHILD WAS BORN TO SARAH AND ABRAHAM
AND THEY CALLED HIM LAUGHTER
A NICE NAME
IN HEBREW HE WAS CALLED ISAAC
THEN GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM
I REQUIRE A SACRIFICE
I REQUIRE THE LIFE OF ISAAC
AND ABRAHAM LOADED ISAAC
WITH THE WOOD FOR THE SACRIFICE
TOOK HIM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ABRAHAM BOUND ISAAC
AND WAS READY TO SLAY HIM
THE KNIFE WAS IN THE AIR
THE SUNLIGHT GLISTENED ON IT
BUT GOD STAYED ABRAHAM’S ARM
FOR GOD HAD THOUGHT
IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MAN TO SLAY EACH OTHER
NO I WILL SEND MY SON AS THAT SACRIFICE
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE SON
WHOM WE CALL JESUS
HE LEAPED DOWN FROM HEAVEN
TO BE OUR SAVIOR
TAKING ON HUMAN FORM
AND AS A HUMAN
HE WAS BORN
LIVED
SUFFERED
DIED
AND WAS BURIED
AS PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS
HE ROSE TRIUMPHANT FROM THE GRAVE
AND LIVED WITH HIS APOSTLES
FORTY MORE DAYS
HE IS OUR REDEEMER
AND AS HE LEFT US
TO RETURN TO HEAVEN
HE SAID I WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO COMPLETE MY WORK
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO IS TASKED
WITH BRINGING TO HARVEST
ALL GOD’S PROMISES
WHO IS THE FULFILLER
THE ENABLER
THE INSPIRER
WHO IS CHARGED
WITH RECREATING GOD’S CREATION
TO BRING IT ONCE MORE TO GOD’S DREAM
HOW SHALL WE KNOW
WHEN THE SPIRIT IS AMONG US
WHEN WE SEE IN OUR SOCIETY
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHICH ARE LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL
WHEN WE SEE THAT IN OUR SOCIETY
WHETHER THAT SOCIETY BE TWO PEOPLE
TWENTY PEOPLE
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
TWO MILLION PEOPLE
CITIES
COUNTRIES
NATION
WORLD
TO THE EXTANT
THAT WE SEE THESE GIFTS IN OUR SOCIETY
THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE MISSING
THEN WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO BRING IT ABOUT
FOR WE ARE THE CHURCH
AND THAT CHURCH IS COMMISSIONED
THAT CHURCH IS COMMANDED
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH ONE STEP
I WOULD LIKE TODAY
WITH YOUR HELP
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
TO MAKE ONE SMALL STEP
REMEMBER THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHERE TONGUES WERE CONFUSED BECAUSE OF SIN
AND REMEMBER THE TONGUES OF FIRE
OF PENTECOST MORNING
WHICH SIGNIFY A NEW LANGUAGE
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
WELL IN OUR LIVES
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE
WITH WHOM WE FIND IT HARD TO COMMUNICATE
SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY
SOMEONE OUTSIDE OUR FAMILY
PERHAPS EVEN GOD
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN MIND
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR DEEPEST HEART
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SAY THESE WORDS
WITH ME
AS I SAY THEM TO THAT PERSON
I MYSELF FIND IT HARD TO LOVE
LET US BEGIN
WHOEVER YOU ARE
THAT I FIND IT HARD TO TALK TO
FOR WHATEVER REASON
I PROMISE THAT I SHALL TRY
TO ONLY SPEAK LOVE TO YOU
TO CURB HATRED AND ANGER
I PROMISE FURTHER
THAT WHEN I FAIL
I WILL TRY AND TRY AGAIN
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED IS NOT EASY
CHRISTIANITY
PROPERLY LIVED
IS NOT EASY
BUT THEN I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM IN LIFE
CURED BY MORE HATE
WE ARE THE CHURCH
WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO SPEAK LOVE
LET US MAKE IT OUR NATIVE TONGUE
GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WHOSE BIRTHDAY YOU MIGHT ASK
IT’S ALL OF OURS
BECAUSE PENTECOST IS THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOT
IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY
THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE
JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS
BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW
THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN
BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS
AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE
FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM
I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM
BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED
WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT
FOR JOHN BAPTIZEDYOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES
GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS YET TO COME
WE ARE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHRISTIANS
AND YET WE ARE OFTEN NO MORE AWARE OF GOD’S PLAN
THAN THE APOSTLES WERE AT THIS TIME
LET US BEGIN OUR STUDY
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THING
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
WHO MADE TIME BEGIN
LET US LOOK AT GOD THE FATHER
WHEN I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE.
I STUDIED
PASSED A TEST
AND WAS GIVEN MY DRIVERS LICENSE
WHEN I WANTED TO BECOME AN ENGINEER
I STUDIED,
PASSED TESTS
AND WAS GIVEN MY DEGREE
WHEN I BECAME A PARENT
THE NURSE HANDED ME A BABY
AND SAID
HERE’S YOUR CHILD
NO OWNERS MANUAL
NO WEB SITE
NOTHING
ONLY HERE’S YOUR CHILD
IN JEWISH TRADITION
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
IS OFTEN READ
WITH THE THOUGHT
THAT GOD IS A NEW PARENT
LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE A CHILD
LET’S LOOK AT THE STORY OF GENESIS
IN THAT LIGHT
GOD MAKES ADAM
BUT ADAM IS MADE WITH A DESIGN FLAW
WHERE ALL THE OTHER ACTS OF GOD’S CREATION
LOVE GOD INSTINCTIVELY
ADAM GOD THINKS
I SHALL MAKES DIFFERENT
THIS CREATURE
THE PEAK OF MY CREATION
IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO LOVE ME
OR NOT.
BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE
FROM HIM
THE LOVE OF A FREE PERSON
NOT THE SERVILE FEAR OF A SLAVE
OR THE UNTHINKING LOVE OF AN ANIMAL
GOD PUTS ADAM
IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
CALLED PARADISE
AND SAYS TO HIM.
EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT
EXCEPT FOR THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE.
IF YOU EAT THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
SURELY YOU WILL DIE
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
ADAM ATE OF THAT TREE
AND INSTEAD OF INSTANT DEATH
LIVED 970 YEARS
SO MUCH FOR PARENTAL THREATENING
THEN GOD’S CHILDREN
CONTINUED TO DISOBEY GOD
SO HE SENT A FLOOD
TO PUNISH THEM ALL
EXCEPT FOR NOAH
WHEN THE FLOOD WAS OVER
GOD THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE
HE HADN’T MADE THE RIGHT DECISION
SO HE PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY
A WARRIOR’S BOW AIMED AT HEAVEN
TO REMIND HIM NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN
BUT MAN KEPT DISOBEYING
HE TRIED TO BUILD A TOWER TO THE SKY
THINKING
IF I REACHED THE SKY
I WILL BE LIKE GOD
AND NEVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM AGAIN
I WILL BE FREE OF GOD
SO GOD CONFUSED THEM
SO THAT EACH PERSON
SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER
THEY BABBLED
THEY COULD NOT FINISH THE TOWER
BUT INSTEAD THEY SCATTERED
OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH
CARRYING THEIR NEW LANGUAGES WITH THEM
THEN GOD THOUGHT
MY SCOPE IS TOO LARGE
LET ME START OVER AGAIN
WITH ONE PERSON
SO HE PICKS ABRAHAM
AND SAYS OBEY ME
AND YOUR CHILDREN
WILL BE AS NUMEROUS
AS THE SANDS ON THE BEACH
AND AS A SIGN OF MY POWER
I SAY TO YOU 97 YEAR OLD MAN
THAT YOUR WIFE SARAH
BARREN IN HER OLD AGE
WILL HAVE A CHILD
HEARING THIS
ABRAHAM FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING
AND SARAH
HIDING BEHIND A DOOR TO LISTEN
LAUGHED TOO
AND GOD
PLAYING WITH HIS CREATION
SAID TO HER
YOU LAUGHED
IN FEAR
BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN STANDING BEHIND THE DOOR SARAH SAID
NO I DIDN’T
AND THEN FOLLOWS
THAT VERY HUMAN STORY
OF GOD AND SARAH TALKING LIKE THIS
YOU LAUGHED
NO I DIDN’T
YES YOU DID
UHUH
UNUH
UHUH
UNUH
AS FAR AS I KNOW
THEY COULD STILL BE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION
BUT A CHILD WAS BORN TO SARAH AND ABRAHAM
AND THEY CALLED HIM LAUGHTER
A NICE NAME
IN HEBREW HE WAS CALLED ISAAC
THEN GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM
I REQUIRE A SACRIFICE
I REQUIRE THE LIFE OF ISAAC
AND ABRAHAM LOADED ISAAC
WITH THE WOOD FOR THE SACRIFICE
TOOK HIM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ABRAHAM BOUND ISAAC
AND WAS READY TO SLAY HIM
THE KNIFE WAS IN THE AIR
THE SUNLIGHT GLISTENED ON IT
BUT GOD STAYED ABRAHAM’S ARM
FOR GOD HAD THOUGHT
IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MAN TO SLAY EACH OTHER
NO I WILL SEND MY SON AS THAT SACRIFICE
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE SON
WHOM WE CALL JESUS
HE LEAPED DOWN FROM HEAVEN
TO BE OUR SAVIOR
TAKING ON HUMAN FORM
AND AS A HUMAN
HE WAS BORN
LIVED
SUFFERED
DIED
AND WAS BURIED
AS PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS
HE ROSE TRIUMPHANT FROM THE GRAVE
AND LIVED WITH HIS APOSTLES
FORTY MORE DAYS
HE IS OUR REDEEMER
AND AS HE LEFT US
TO RETURN TO HEAVEN
HE SAID I WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO COMPLETE MY WORK
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO IS TASKED
WITH BRINGING TO HARVEST
ALL GOD’S PROMISES
WHO IS THE FULFILLER
THE ENABLER
THE INSPIRER
WHO IS CHARGED
WITH RECREATING GOD’S CREATION
TO BRING IT ONCE MORE TO GOD’S DREAM
HOW SHALL WE KNOW
WHEN THE SPIRIT IS AMONG US
WHEN WE SEE IN OUR SOCIETY
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHICH ARE LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL
WHEN WE SEE THAT IN OUR SOCIETY
WHETHER THAT SOCIETY BE TWO PEOPLE
TWENTY PEOPLE
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
TWO MILLION PEOPLE
CITIES
COUNTRIES
NATION
WORLD
TO THE EXTANT
THAT WE SEE THESE GIFTS IN OUR SOCIETY
THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE MISSING
THEN WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO BRING IT ABOUT
FOR WE ARE THE CHURCH
AND THAT CHURCH IS COMMISSIONED
THAT CHURCH IS COMMANDED
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH ONE STEP
I WOULD LIKE TODAY
WITH YOUR HELP
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
TO MAKE ONE SMALL STEP
REMEMBER THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHERE TONGUES WERE CONFUSED BECAUSE OF SIN
AND REMEMBER THE TONGUES OF FIRE
OF PENTECOST MORNING
WHICH SIGNIFY A NEW LANGUAGE
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
WELL IN OUR LIVES
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE
WITH WHOM WE FIND IT HARD TO COMMUNICATE
SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY
SOMEONE OUTSIDE OUR FAMILY
PERHAPS EVEN GOD
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN MIND
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR DEEPEST HEART
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SAY THESE WORDS
WITH ME
AS I SAY THEM TO THAT PERSON
I MYSELF FIND IT HARD TO LOVE
LET US BEGIN
WHOEVER YOU ARE
THAT I FIND IT HARD TO TALK TO
FOR WHATEVER REASON
I PROMISE THAT I SHALL TRY
TO ONLY SPEAK LOVE TO YOU
TO CURB HATRED AND ANGER
I PROMISE FURTHER
THAT WHEN I FAIL
I WILL TRY AND TRY AGAIN
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED IS NOT EASY
CHRISTIANITY
PROPERLY LIVED
IS NOT EASY
BUT THEN I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM IN LIFE
CURED BY MORE HATE
WE ARE THE CHURCH
WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO SPEAK LOVE
LET US MAKE IT OUR NATIVE TONGUE
MY FRIEND NICK
MY FRIEND NICK
I AM HERE BECAUSE NICK WAS MY FRIEND
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS
WE WERE DIFFERENT
HE WAS CONSERVATIVE
I AM LIBERAL
BUT WE WERE ACTIVE IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD
AND THAT BOUND US TOGETHER
I DID THE FLASHY JOBS
I PREACHED
SANG IN THE CHOIR
PRESIDED AT SERVICE
NICK DID THE QUIET JOBS
THE CAN BOXES OUT IN THE ENTRYWAY
ARE A TESTAMENT TO HIM
AND TO HIS WIFE BETTY
WHO DID THIS UNGLAMOROUS JOB
THEY GATHERED THE BOTTLES THE PEOPLE BROUGHT
TOOK THEM TO THE RECYCLING AGENCY
RECEIVED MONEY
AND WITH THAT MONEY
THE CHILDREN'S GYM OUTSIDE WAS BUILT
A VCR WAS PURCHASED
NOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE ALTAR SOCIETY
THEY HELPED WITH THE CLEANING
THEY HELPED IN THE KITCHEN
THEY KEPT THE KITCHEN AND CHURCH SUPPLIED
NICK WORKED QUIETLY AND DILIGENTLY IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD
AS A CONGREGATION I THINK WE CAN HONESTLY SAY TO HIM
WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
WELL DONE
I AM HERE BECAUSE NICK WAS MY FRIEND
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS
WE WERE DIFFERENT
HE WAS CONSERVATIVE
I AM LIBERAL
BUT WE WERE ACTIVE IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD
AND THAT BOUND US TOGETHER
I DID THE FLASHY JOBS
I PREACHED
SANG IN THE CHOIR
PRESIDED AT SERVICE
NICK DID THE QUIET JOBS
THE CAN BOXES OUT IN THE ENTRYWAY
ARE A TESTAMENT TO HIM
AND TO HIS WIFE BETTY
WHO DID THIS UNGLAMOROUS JOB
THEY GATHERED THE BOTTLES THE PEOPLE BROUGHT
TOOK THEM TO THE RECYCLING AGENCY
RECEIVED MONEY
AND WITH THAT MONEY
THE CHILDREN'S GYM OUTSIDE WAS BUILT
A VCR WAS PURCHASED
NOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE ALTAR SOCIETY
THEY HELPED WITH THE CLEANING
THEY HELPED IN THE KITCHEN
THEY KEPT THE KITCHEN AND CHURCH SUPPLIED
NICK WORKED QUIETLY AND DILIGENTLY IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD
AS A CONGREGATION I THINK WE CAN HONESTLY SAY TO HIM
WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
WELL DONE
MILLENIUM
MILLENNIUM
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS WITH YOU
ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM
FIRST
THE WORD ITSELF
COMES FROM THE LATIN MILLE
WHICH MEANS ONE THOUSAND
AND ANNUS, WHICH MEANS YEAR
SO MILLENNIUM IS A THOUSAND YEARS.
THE THOUGHT OF MILLENNIUM
IS FOUND IN REVELATION, CHAPTER 20
IN WHICH JOHN WRITES.
"AND I SAW THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST
OR HIS STATUE,
NOR ACCEPTED HIS MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD
OR THEIR HANDS
THEY CAME TO LIFE AGAIN,
AND THEY REIGNED WITH CHRIST
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS".
THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN CALENDARIUM
WHICH MEANS A MONEYLENDERS ACCOUNT BOOK
THE LATIN WORD FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
IS CALENDS
SO ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
(THE CALENDS)
YOUR DEBT WAS DUE TO THE MONEY LENDER
WHO KEPT HIS RECORDS OF YOUR PAYMENT
IN AN ACCOUNT BOOK
CALLED THE CALENDARIUM
A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE FOR MEASURING TIME
BY DAY, WEEK, MONTH, YEAR, CENTURY
AND TEN CENTURIES IS A MILLENNIUM.
TO THE CHINESE WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 4396
TO THE JEWS WE ARE LIVING IN YEAR 5760
TO THE MOSLEMS WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1377
AND TO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1999
SO TO MUCH OF THE WORLD
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE Y2K COMPUTER PROBLEM
THERE WOULD BE NO MILLENNIUM PROBLEM.
AND FOR CHRISTIANS
IT IS NOT THE MILLENNIUM.
BECAUSE CHRIST WAS NOT BORN ON DEC 25
YEAR ONE AD, 2000 YEARS AGO
HE WAS BORN
MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE
IN THE YEAR 6 BC
IN THE SPRING OR THE FALL
WHY DO WE SAY SPRING OR FALL.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELL US
THE SHEPHERDS WERE IN THE FIELDS ABIDING
AND IN PALESTINE
THAT MEANT SPRING OR FALL
IN THE WINTER IT WAS TO COLD TO LIVE OUTDOORS
IN THE SUMMER THE GRASS WAS GREEN
CLOSE TO THEIR HOME
AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PASTURE THEIR FLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN
NEXT NEW YEARS EVE
MOST LIKELY NOTHING
DICK CLARK WILL HOST THE TIME SQUARE PARTY.
WE WILL ALL COUNT DOWN THE LAST TEN SECONDS,
BLOW HORNS,
KISS OUR LOVED ONES,
MAKE RESOLUTIONS
AND WONDER
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF ME
AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD,
WHAT DOES HE REQUIRE OF A PEOPLE
WHO CANNOT EVEN GET HIS SON'S BIRTHDAY CORRECT
WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US
IS TO REMEMBER
THAT BEFORE TIME BEGAN
WHEN ALL THAT EXISTED
WAS ONLY ETERNAL GOD
THAT, THAT SAME GOD
LOVED US BEFORE HE CREATED US,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD FAIL HIM,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD SLAY HIS SON,
LOVED US KNOWING HIS SON'S DEATH
WOULD AVENGE OUR GUILT
ALL HE ASKS IS OUR LOVE
THIS IS THE DEBT HE DEMANDS OF US
THIS IS THE DEBT
HE WILL MARK
IN HIS MONEY LENDERS BOOK,
HIS CALENDARIUM
AND IN RETURN FOR THIS DEBT
THAT WE OWE HIM
HE WILL BE OUR FATHER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED,
HE WILL BE OUR SAVIOR
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED,
HE WILL BE OUR COMFORTER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED.
FOR AS PAUL SAYS IN CORINTHIANS
NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME
NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION
OR AS IN THE PSALMS
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE,
LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT
SO THE MILLENNIUM
SHOULD NOT BE
A TIME OF FEAR FOR US
FOR THE GOD WHO LOVED US
BEFORE TIME BEGAN,
WHO LOVES US NOW
AS DAYS BECOME WEEKS,
AS WEEKS BECOME MONTHS,
AS MONTHS BECOME YEARS,
AS YEARS BECOME CENTURIES,
AND AS CENTURIES BECOME MILLENNIUMS,
THIS GOD
THROUGH ALL THE CIRCLE OF ETERNITY
PAST THE POINT WHERE TIME SHALL CEASE
WILL LOVE US STILL
SO WE SHOULD EMBRACE GOD'S LOVE
NOT WITH FEAR
THAT GOD IS COMING TO PUNISH US
AT THE START OR END OF A MILLENNIUM
BUT RATHER WE SHOULD RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE
AS A FAVORED CHILD
WHO KNOWS THAT GODS HEART
AND CAPACITY FOR LOVE
IS GREATER THAN HIS OR HER ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT
SO ON Y2K
COMPUTERS MAY CRASH
BUT GOD'S LOVE
AND GOD'S WORD
WILL GO ON
AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS WITH YOU
ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM
FIRST
THE WORD ITSELF
COMES FROM THE LATIN MILLE
WHICH MEANS ONE THOUSAND
AND ANNUS, WHICH MEANS YEAR
SO MILLENNIUM IS A THOUSAND YEARS.
THE THOUGHT OF MILLENNIUM
IS FOUND IN REVELATION, CHAPTER 20
IN WHICH JOHN WRITES.
"AND I SAW THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST
OR HIS STATUE,
NOR ACCEPTED HIS MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD
OR THEIR HANDS
THEY CAME TO LIFE AGAIN,
AND THEY REIGNED WITH CHRIST
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS".
THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN CALENDARIUM
WHICH MEANS A MONEYLENDERS ACCOUNT BOOK
THE LATIN WORD FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
IS CALENDS
SO ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
(THE CALENDS)
YOUR DEBT WAS DUE TO THE MONEY LENDER
WHO KEPT HIS RECORDS OF YOUR PAYMENT
IN AN ACCOUNT BOOK
CALLED THE CALENDARIUM
A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE FOR MEASURING TIME
BY DAY, WEEK, MONTH, YEAR, CENTURY
AND TEN CENTURIES IS A MILLENNIUM.
TO THE CHINESE WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 4396
TO THE JEWS WE ARE LIVING IN YEAR 5760
TO THE MOSLEMS WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1377
AND TO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN THE YEAR 1999
SO TO MUCH OF THE WORLD
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE Y2K COMPUTER PROBLEM
THERE WOULD BE NO MILLENNIUM PROBLEM.
AND FOR CHRISTIANS
IT IS NOT THE MILLENNIUM.
BECAUSE CHRIST WAS NOT BORN ON DEC 25
YEAR ONE AD, 2000 YEARS AGO
HE WAS BORN
MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE
IN THE YEAR 6 BC
IN THE SPRING OR THE FALL
WHY DO WE SAY SPRING OR FALL.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELL US
THE SHEPHERDS WERE IN THE FIELDS ABIDING
AND IN PALESTINE
THAT MEANT SPRING OR FALL
IN THE WINTER IT WAS TO COLD TO LIVE OUTDOORS
IN THE SUMMER THE GRASS WAS GREEN
CLOSE TO THEIR HOME
AND THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PASTURE THEIR FLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE
SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN
NEXT NEW YEARS EVE
MOST LIKELY NOTHING
DICK CLARK WILL HOST THE TIME SQUARE PARTY.
WE WILL ALL COUNT DOWN THE LAST TEN SECONDS,
BLOW HORNS,
KISS OUR LOVED ONES,
MAKE RESOLUTIONS
AND WONDER
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF ME
AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD,
WHAT DOES HE REQUIRE OF A PEOPLE
WHO CANNOT EVEN GET HIS SON'S BIRTHDAY CORRECT
WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US
IS TO REMEMBER
THAT BEFORE TIME BEGAN
WHEN ALL THAT EXISTED
WAS ONLY ETERNAL GOD
THAT, THAT SAME GOD
LOVED US BEFORE HE CREATED US,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD FAIL HIM,
LOVED US KNOWING WE WOULD SLAY HIS SON,
LOVED US KNOWING HIS SON'S DEATH
WOULD AVENGE OUR GUILT
ALL HE ASKS IS OUR LOVE
THIS IS THE DEBT HE DEMANDS OF US
THIS IS THE DEBT
HE WILL MARK
IN HIS MONEY LENDERS BOOK,
HIS CALENDARIUM
AND IN RETURN FOR THIS DEBT
THAT WE OWE HIM
HE WILL BE OUR FATHER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED,
HE WILL BE OUR SAVIOR
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED,
HE WILL BE OUR COMFORTER
LONG AFTER TIME IS ENDED.
FOR AS PAUL SAYS IN CORINTHIANS
NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME
NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION
OR AS IN THE PSALMS
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE,
LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT
SO THE MILLENNIUM
SHOULD NOT BE
A TIME OF FEAR FOR US
FOR THE GOD WHO LOVED US
BEFORE TIME BEGAN,
WHO LOVES US NOW
AS DAYS BECOME WEEKS,
AS WEEKS BECOME MONTHS,
AS MONTHS BECOME YEARS,
AS YEARS BECOME CENTURIES,
AND AS CENTURIES BECOME MILLENNIUMS,
THIS GOD
THROUGH ALL THE CIRCLE OF ETERNITY
PAST THE POINT WHERE TIME SHALL CEASE
WILL LOVE US STILL
SO WE SHOULD EMBRACE GOD'S LOVE
NOT WITH FEAR
THAT GOD IS COMING TO PUNISH US
AT THE START OR END OF A MILLENNIUM
BUT RATHER WE SHOULD RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE
AS A FAVORED CHILD
WHO KNOWS THAT GODS HEART
AND CAPACITY FOR LOVE
IS GREATER THAN HIS OR HER ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT
SO ON Y2K
COMPUTERS MAY CRASH
BUT GOD'S LOVE
AND GOD'S WORD
WILL GO ON
AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED
FIRST LENT
FIRST LENT
LAST WEDNESDAY
I
AND MANY OTHER CHRISTIANS
HAD ASHES
IN THE FORM OF A CROSS
PLACED ON OUR FOREHEAD
AS THE ASHES WERE BEING PLACED
THE MINISTER SAID THESE WORDS
REMEMBER
THAT YOU ARE DUST
AND BACK TO DUST
YOU SHALL RETURN
WE WERE PERFORMING A RITUAL
AS OLD
AS THE OLD TESTAMENT
WHENEVER
THERE WERE MOMENTS
OF GREAT SORROW
OR REPENTANCE FOR SIN
ASHES WERE PLACED
ON THE HEAD OF THE ONE
SEEKING FORGIVENESS
AS CHRISTIANS
WE HAVE STARTED LENT
WITH THIS GESTURE
A GESTURE
THE CHURCH USES
TO HELP US RECALL
WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT PRICE JESUS PAID
TO REDEEM US
WE ARE DUST
BUT PRECIOUS DUST
AS THE POET WROTE
AFTER SEEING THE WIND
SPIN DUST IN A CIRCLE
DOES THE WIND KNOW
THE VALUE OF THE DUST
IT WHIRLS INTO A COLUMN
IS IT TRYING TO MAKE A MAN
IF IT SUCCEEDED
WOULD IT BLOW ITS CREATION AWAY
ON A WHIM
WOULD IT LOVE ITS CREATION
WOULD IT DIE FOR HIM
WOULD IT HOVER OVER HIM
LIKE A MOTHER HEN
FUSSING FORGIVING
TIME AND AGAIN
FOLDING HIM TO HER BOSOM
OR WOULD IT
AS SO MANY GODS BUT ONE
FADE FALTER
AND GO AWAY
THE GOD WHO CALLS US
TO REPENTANCE
AND TO SORROW FOR OUR SINS
WILL NOT FORGET US
HE HAS PAID TOO HIGH A PRICE
FOR US
NOR IS HE INTERESTED
IN OUR CONDEMNATION
BUT IN OUR SALVATION
HE LOVES US SO MUCH
HE BECAME HUMAN.
THAT HE MIGHT EXPERIENCE
ALL THAT IT TAKES
TO BE HUMAN
AND PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
IS FAILURE
OF NOT MEASURING UP TO THE MARK
OF MISSING THE MARK
AS THE ARCHER
MISSES THE MARK
WITH HIS ARROW
THE WORD FOR SIN IN THE BIBLE
MEANS MISSING THE MARK
SO JESUS LIKE US
WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL
WAS TESTED BY THE DEVIL
AND HE PASSED.
HOLD ON TO THIS THOUGHT
JESUS BEAT THE DEVIL
BY USING THE BIBLE
WHEN THE DEVIL SAID
TO THE HUNGRY JESUS
MAKE BREAD OUT OF STONE
JESUS REPLIED
MAN DOES NOT LIVE
BY BREAD ALONE
WHEN THE DEVIL
OFFERED JESUS
UNLIMITED POWER
JESUS SAID
THE ONLY POWER IS GOD.
AND WHEN SATAN
SAID TO JESUS
MAKE MAGIC
JESUS REPLIED
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD
DO NOT NEED MAGIC.
ALL THESE ANSWERS
THAT JESUS GAVE SATAN
ARE FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURES
THE LAST LINE
OF OUR GOSPEL READING TODAY
SAYS
THAT WHEN THE DEVIL
HAD FINISHED
ALL HIS TEMPTING
ALL HIS TESTING OF JESUS
HE LEFT HIM
TILL THERE WOULD BE
A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME
AND TO THIS DAY
THE DEVIL GOES AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR
PUTTING CHRIST TO THE TEST
IN THE FORM OF US
FOR WE ARE CHRIST
IN THE WORLD TODAY
TO US
IS GIVEN THE TASK
TO BE CHRIST-LIKE
IN THE WORLD
IN WHICH WE LIVE.
AND THAT'S
THE PURPOSE OF LENT
TO HELP US REMEMBER
WHY WE ARE HERE,
WHY AND HOW
WE WERE SAVED
WHY AND HOW
THE DUST
THAT THE WIND PLAYS WITH
IS SO PRECIOUS
AND TO DENY SATAN
HIS OPPORTUNE TIME
BY DOING
AND GIVING BACK TO GOD
OUR BEST
THIS GIVING OF THE BEST
IS WHAT IS CALLED FOR
IN OUR FIRST READING
FROM DEUTERONOMY
WHERE MOSES SAYS
GIVE GOD THE BEST
THE FRESHEST YIELD
FROM YOUR GARDEN
DO THIS
BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED YOU
FROM SLAVERY
AND GIVEN YOU A NEW HOME
THAT IS WHY
WE ARE ASKED
AS PART OF LENT
TO GIVE GOD OUR BEST
BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED US
FROM SLAVERY
AND GIVEN US
A NEW HOME- HEAVEN
WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THE LENTEN CONCEPT
OF GIVING THINGS UP
LIKE CANDY, ICE CREAM, MOVIES
BUT I SUGGEST
WE DO
WHAT WE NORMALLY DO
BUT TRY TO DO IT BETTER.
SO WHATEVER
IS A SORE SPOT IN YOUR LIFE,
WHATEVER IN YOUR LIFE
DOES NOT LOOK LIKE
CHRIST IN ACTION
WHATEVER IS NOT YOUR BEST
IN WHATEVER WAY
YOU ARE MISSING THE MARK
STOP
PRAY
AND RE-AIM YOUR ARROW.
SUGGESTIONS
HUSBAND AND WIVES
REDUCE FRICTION.
CHILDREN DO YOUR SCHOOL WORK
AND CHORES WILLINGLY
OR LEAST WITHOUT GRUMBLING
ALL OF US EAT
WHAT WE'RE SERVED
WITHOUT GRUMBLING
ALL OF US
TURN OFF THE TELEVISION
AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.
ALL OF US MAKE TIME
FOR REGULAR PRAYER
ALL OF US
READ A CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE DAILY.
REMEMBER JESUS BESTED SATAN
WITH ANSWERS FROM THE BIBLE
IN ALL THINGS
BE GENTLE WITH EACH OTHER
AND WITH YOURSELVES
WE ARE PRECIOUS DUST
REDEEMED BY CHRIST
BECAUSE GOD LOVES HIS CREATION
AND WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US.
WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU,
WHAT IS BEST FOR ME
FINALLY
THESE FORTY DAYS OF LENT
REPRESENT
THE LAST DAYS AND WEEKS
OF LIFE OF JESUS
WHEN THE FORCES OF DARKNESS
WERE TRYING
TO FIRST SILENCE HIM
AND WHEN THAT FAILED
TO KILL HIM
THE CLOUDS ARE GATHERING
AROUND JESUS
AS THE ENEMY CIRCLES
MANY ARE LEAVING JESUS.
IT IS A LONELY TIME.
HE ASKS US
COULD YOU NOT
WALK
THESE LAST FEW DAYS
WITH ME
COULD YOU NOT
FOR THESE LAST FEW DAYS
THESE FORTY DAYS
GIVE ME YOUR BEST
NOT FOR PROFIT
NOT FOR GAIN
NOT FOR MERIT
BUT BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
CAN WE SAY YES TO HIS PLEA
LAST WEDNESDAY
I
AND MANY OTHER CHRISTIANS
HAD ASHES
IN THE FORM OF A CROSS
PLACED ON OUR FOREHEAD
AS THE ASHES WERE BEING PLACED
THE MINISTER SAID THESE WORDS
REMEMBER
THAT YOU ARE DUST
AND BACK TO DUST
YOU SHALL RETURN
WE WERE PERFORMING A RITUAL
AS OLD
AS THE OLD TESTAMENT
WHENEVER
THERE WERE MOMENTS
OF GREAT SORROW
OR REPENTANCE FOR SIN
ASHES WERE PLACED
ON THE HEAD OF THE ONE
SEEKING FORGIVENESS
AS CHRISTIANS
WE HAVE STARTED LENT
WITH THIS GESTURE
A GESTURE
THE CHURCH USES
TO HELP US RECALL
WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT PRICE JESUS PAID
TO REDEEM US
WE ARE DUST
BUT PRECIOUS DUST
AS THE POET WROTE
AFTER SEEING THE WIND
SPIN DUST IN A CIRCLE
DOES THE WIND KNOW
THE VALUE OF THE DUST
IT WHIRLS INTO A COLUMN
IS IT TRYING TO MAKE A MAN
IF IT SUCCEEDED
WOULD IT BLOW ITS CREATION AWAY
ON A WHIM
WOULD IT LOVE ITS CREATION
WOULD IT DIE FOR HIM
WOULD IT HOVER OVER HIM
LIKE A MOTHER HEN
FUSSING FORGIVING
TIME AND AGAIN
FOLDING HIM TO HER BOSOM
OR WOULD IT
AS SO MANY GODS BUT ONE
FADE FALTER
AND GO AWAY
THE GOD WHO CALLS US
TO REPENTANCE
AND TO SORROW FOR OUR SINS
WILL NOT FORGET US
HE HAS PAID TOO HIGH A PRICE
FOR US
NOR IS HE INTERESTED
IN OUR CONDEMNATION
BUT IN OUR SALVATION
HE LOVES US SO MUCH
HE BECAME HUMAN.
THAT HE MIGHT EXPERIENCE
ALL THAT IT TAKES
TO BE HUMAN
AND PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
IS FAILURE
OF NOT MEASURING UP TO THE MARK
OF MISSING THE MARK
AS THE ARCHER
MISSES THE MARK
WITH HIS ARROW
THE WORD FOR SIN IN THE BIBLE
MEANS MISSING THE MARK
SO JESUS LIKE US
WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL
WAS TESTED BY THE DEVIL
AND HE PASSED.
HOLD ON TO THIS THOUGHT
JESUS BEAT THE DEVIL
BY USING THE BIBLE
WHEN THE DEVIL SAID
TO THE HUNGRY JESUS
MAKE BREAD OUT OF STONE
JESUS REPLIED
MAN DOES NOT LIVE
BY BREAD ALONE
WHEN THE DEVIL
OFFERED JESUS
UNLIMITED POWER
JESUS SAID
THE ONLY POWER IS GOD.
AND WHEN SATAN
SAID TO JESUS
MAKE MAGIC
JESUS REPLIED
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD
DO NOT NEED MAGIC.
ALL THESE ANSWERS
THAT JESUS GAVE SATAN
ARE FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURES
THE LAST LINE
OF OUR GOSPEL READING TODAY
SAYS
THAT WHEN THE DEVIL
HAD FINISHED
ALL HIS TEMPTING
ALL HIS TESTING OF JESUS
HE LEFT HIM
TILL THERE WOULD BE
A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME
AND TO THIS DAY
THE DEVIL GOES AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR
PUTTING CHRIST TO THE TEST
IN THE FORM OF US
FOR WE ARE CHRIST
IN THE WORLD TODAY
TO US
IS GIVEN THE TASK
TO BE CHRIST-LIKE
IN THE WORLD
IN WHICH WE LIVE.
AND THAT'S
THE PURPOSE OF LENT
TO HELP US REMEMBER
WHY WE ARE HERE,
WHY AND HOW
WE WERE SAVED
WHY AND HOW
THE DUST
THAT THE WIND PLAYS WITH
IS SO PRECIOUS
AND TO DENY SATAN
HIS OPPORTUNE TIME
BY DOING
AND GIVING BACK TO GOD
OUR BEST
THIS GIVING OF THE BEST
IS WHAT IS CALLED FOR
IN OUR FIRST READING
FROM DEUTERONOMY
WHERE MOSES SAYS
GIVE GOD THE BEST
THE FRESHEST YIELD
FROM YOUR GARDEN
DO THIS
BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED YOU
FROM SLAVERY
AND GIVEN YOU A NEW HOME
THAT IS WHY
WE ARE ASKED
AS PART OF LENT
TO GIVE GOD OUR BEST
BECAUSE HE HAS RESCUED US
FROM SLAVERY
AND GIVEN US
A NEW HOME- HEAVEN
WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THE LENTEN CONCEPT
OF GIVING THINGS UP
LIKE CANDY, ICE CREAM, MOVIES
BUT I SUGGEST
WE DO
WHAT WE NORMALLY DO
BUT TRY TO DO IT BETTER.
SO WHATEVER
IS A SORE SPOT IN YOUR LIFE,
WHATEVER IN YOUR LIFE
DOES NOT LOOK LIKE
CHRIST IN ACTION
WHATEVER IS NOT YOUR BEST
IN WHATEVER WAY
YOU ARE MISSING THE MARK
STOP
PRAY
AND RE-AIM YOUR ARROW.
SUGGESTIONS
HUSBAND AND WIVES
REDUCE FRICTION.
CHILDREN DO YOUR SCHOOL WORK
AND CHORES WILLINGLY
OR LEAST WITHOUT GRUMBLING
ALL OF US EAT
WHAT WE'RE SERVED
WITHOUT GRUMBLING
ALL OF US
TURN OFF THE TELEVISION
AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.
ALL OF US MAKE TIME
FOR REGULAR PRAYER
ALL OF US
READ A CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE DAILY.
REMEMBER JESUS BESTED SATAN
WITH ANSWERS FROM THE BIBLE
IN ALL THINGS
BE GENTLE WITH EACH OTHER
AND WITH YOURSELVES
WE ARE PRECIOUS DUST
REDEEMED BY CHRIST
BECAUSE GOD LOVES HIS CREATION
AND WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US.
WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU,
WHAT IS BEST FOR ME
FINALLY
THESE FORTY DAYS OF LENT
REPRESENT
THE LAST DAYS AND WEEKS
OF LIFE OF JESUS
WHEN THE FORCES OF DARKNESS
WERE TRYING
TO FIRST SILENCE HIM
AND WHEN THAT FAILED
TO KILL HIM
THE CLOUDS ARE GATHERING
AROUND JESUS
AS THE ENEMY CIRCLES
MANY ARE LEAVING JESUS.
IT IS A LONELY TIME.
HE ASKS US
COULD YOU NOT
WALK
THESE LAST FEW DAYS
WITH ME
COULD YOU NOT
FOR THESE LAST FEW DAYS
THESE FORTY DAYS
GIVE ME YOUR BEST
NOT FOR PROFIT
NOT FOR GAIN
NOT FOR MERIT
BUT BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
CAN WE SAY YES TO HIS PLEA
FAVORITES
GOOD MORNING
I'D LIKE TO START
BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES
IN MY MOTHER'S COFFIN
WERE PLACED FOUR ROSES.
ATTACHED TO THEM WAS A CARD
THAT SAID
FROM YOUR FAVORITES.
A SEMI-SERIOUS GAME
MY THREE SISTERS
AND I HAVE PLAYED
MOST OF OUR LIVES
THE GAME OF
WHO WAS MOM'S FAVORITE.
I HAVE RECEIVED BIRTHDAY CARDS
FROM MY SISTERS
THAT SAID FOR MY BIRTHDAY
MOM GAVE ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
WHAT DID SHE GIVE YOU.
OR HAS MOM TOLD YOU YET
THAT YOU WERE ADOPTED
IT WAS A SILLY GAME
IT WAS A FUN GAME
MOM ENJOYED IT.
THOUGH IN SECRET
SHE TOLD ME
THAT I WAS HER FAVORITE.
LATELY I'VE SUSPECTED
THAT SHE TOLD MY SISTERS THE SAME THING
MY SECOND STORY CONCERNS
LUTHER AS A YOUNG MAN.
AS A YOUNG MAN AND AS A YOUNG MONK
HE CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK HIMSELF
AS GODS FAVORITE.
LUTHER AS A RESULT
OF HOW HE WAS TAUGHT RELIGION
HAD EVOLVED A SET OF FOUR QUESTIONS
FROM WHICH HE COULD NOT ESCAPE
THEY WERE
CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN
NO HE ANSWERED
IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGMENT
YES HE ANSWERED
IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN
NO HE ANSWERED
WILL YOU BE DAMMED FOR YOUR SINS
YES HE ANSWERED
LUTHER HAD NO TROUBLE
UNDERSTANDING TODAY'S LESSON
IN WHICH GOD IS QUOTED AS SAYING
BECAUSE YOU DAVID HAVE SINNED
YOUR CHILD MUST DIE.
THERE WAS NO LOVE IN LUTHER'S GOD
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN.
ANOTHER STORY
IS FROM THE LAST CHAPTER OF JOHN
IN WHICH JESUS SAYS TO PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
YES LORD I DO
PETER FEED MY LAMBS
AND AGAIN JESUS ASKED PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
LORD YOU KNOW I DO
FEED MY SHEEP
AND A THIRD TIME JESUS ASKED
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
TO WHICH
IF PETER HAD GROWN UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
HE WOULD HAVE SAID
YO JESUS I ALREADY TOLD YOU TWICE
BUT PETER SAID
LORD YOU KNOW EVERYTHING
YOU KNOW MY HEART,
YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
AND JESUS SAID FEED MY LAMBS.
THIS SCENE TO ME
IS ONE OF THE TENDEREST SCENES
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
I VISION PETER
AS A BIG INARTICULATE BEAR OF A MAN.
GIVEN TO RASH ACTION.
STRIVING HARD TO FOLLOW THE LORD
SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AS HE GOES.
SUFFERING FROM FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE
AS WITNESSED BY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
FOR PETER TURNS AROUND
AND SPIES JOHN
RUMORED TO BE JESUS' FAVORITE
AND HE SAYS
WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN
AND JESUS SAYS
WHAT IS THAT TO YOU
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GOES PETER.
GO PETER
EVERY MORNING WHEN I WASH MY FACE
I THINK I SEE PETER.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GO PETER
MY LAST STORY
IS ONE WE ALL KNOW
THERE WAS A MAN
WHO HAD TWO SONS.
THE YOUNGER ONE SAID
FATHER GIVE ME ALL THAT IS MINE
I WANT TO LEAVE.
THE FATHER DID AS THE SON REQUESTED
AND THE YOUNG MAN WENT OFF
SPENT ALL HIS MONEY
ENDING UP EATING WITH THE PIGS.
HE SAID TO HIMSELF
MY FATHERS SERVANTS LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.
I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER
AND BEG HIM TO LET ME BE ONE OF HIS SERVANTS.
EVERY EVENING SINCE THE SON HAD LEFT
THE FATHER HAD CLIMBED A HILLSIDE
FOR A BETTER VIEW
AND HAD WATCHED
AND WAITED FOR HIS SON TO RETURN.
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AND RECOGNIZED HIS WALK
AS ONLY A PARENT CAN KNOW A CHILD'S WALK.
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
HE RAN TO HIM LAUGHING
AND CRYING
AND SHOUTING
MY SON HAS RETURNED
THE ONE I THOUGHT WAS LOST
HAS RETURNED
AND HE RAN TO HIM
EMBRACED HIM
BEAR HUGGED HIM SO TIGHT
THAT THE SON'S MUMBLED
I WANT TO BE ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS
WAS NEVER HEARD
WAS NEVER HEARD
IN THE FATHER S EXUBERANT JOY
HIS COMING HOME
WAS MESSAGE ENOUGH
NOW COMES INTO THE STORY
YOU AND I
AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIVES
WE ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.
THE ONE WHO DID EVERY THING RIGHT.
WE SEE THE HAPPINESS OF THE FATHER
AND HOW THE FATHER HAS RESTORED
THE YOUNGER BROTHER
TO AT PLACE OF HONOR
AND WE ARE JEALOUS.
I THINK IF THIS WASN'T A BIBLE STORY
WE WOULD ALL THINK
THAT THE OLDER BROTHER
WAS POORLY TREATED
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO THINK
ABOUT THIS STORY.
LEFT TO OUR OWN JUDGMENTS
THE YOUNGER SON
WOULD HAVE BEEN BANISHED FROM THE FARM
AND ALL HONOR GIVEN TO THE OLDER SON
WHO HAD DONE NO WRONG.
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING
TO KILL THE BABY TOO
BECAUSE SIN NEEDS PUNISHMENT
IN OUR MIND
BUT JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW
THAT WHAT WAS
IS NO MORE
THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH
AND RESURRECTION
THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES
HAS BECOME IRRATIONAL,
DOES NOT GO BY RULES
BY WHICH WE FEEL COMFORTABLE
THAT WHEN GOD LOOKS AT US
THAT WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY
GOD'S FAVORITE
THAT HIS FORGIVENESS IS THERE
BEFORE WE SIN
WHILE WE SIN
AND AFTER WE SIN.
THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS ASK FORGIVENESS
AND TRY TO SIN NO MORE
THIS IS THE LESSON MARTIN LUTHER LEARNED
WHILE STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES
WE READ TODAY
GALATIANS AND JOHN
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
INDIVIDUALLY AND TOTALLY.
THAT FORGIVENESS WAS FREE
AND FREELY GIVEN
THIS IS THE LESSON PETER LEARNED
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
GOOD TIMES AND BAD.
WHETHER STRONGLY DEFENDING JESUS
WITH A SWORD
OR COWERING BEFORE A SERVANT MAIDS GLANCE
HE WAS LOVED BEFORE
DURING
AND AFTER
HE WAS LOVED
THIS IS A LESSON MY MOTHER
TAUGHT MY SISTERS AND I
I WILL LOVE YOU TOTALLY
AND INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL MY HEART.
AND THIS IS THE LESSON I DECLARE TO YOU TODAY.
I CAN DECLARE IT
BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED IT FIRST
AND THAT IS
THAT EACH OF US
INDIVIDUALLY
IS GODS FAVORITE
THAT WHEN HE LOOKS ON US
HIS CREATION
ALL IS FORGOTTEN
AND FORGIVEN
EXCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US
OUR GOD HAS CARVED OUR NAME
ON THE PALM OF HIS HAND
THAT OUR NAME MIGHT ALWAYS BE BEFORE HIM
THAT EACH OF US HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART
AND OVER THE DOOR
OF THAT PLACE
IS A SIGN THAT SAYS
HOME OF MY FAVORITE
I'D LIKE TO START
BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES
IN MY MOTHER'S COFFIN
WERE PLACED FOUR ROSES.
ATTACHED TO THEM WAS A CARD
THAT SAID
FROM YOUR FAVORITES.
A SEMI-SERIOUS GAME
MY THREE SISTERS
AND I HAVE PLAYED
MOST OF OUR LIVES
THE GAME OF
WHO WAS MOM'S FAVORITE.
I HAVE RECEIVED BIRTHDAY CARDS
FROM MY SISTERS
THAT SAID FOR MY BIRTHDAY
MOM GAVE ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
WHAT DID SHE GIVE YOU.
OR HAS MOM TOLD YOU YET
THAT YOU WERE ADOPTED
IT WAS A SILLY GAME
IT WAS A FUN GAME
MOM ENJOYED IT.
THOUGH IN SECRET
SHE TOLD ME
THAT I WAS HER FAVORITE.
LATELY I'VE SUSPECTED
THAT SHE TOLD MY SISTERS THE SAME THING
MY SECOND STORY CONCERNS
LUTHER AS A YOUNG MAN.
AS A YOUNG MAN AND AS A YOUNG MONK
HE CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK HIMSELF
AS GODS FAVORITE.
LUTHER AS A RESULT
OF HOW HE WAS TAUGHT RELIGION
HAD EVOLVED A SET OF FOUR QUESTIONS
FROM WHICH HE COULD NOT ESCAPE
THEY WERE
CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN
NO HE ANSWERED
IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGMENT
YES HE ANSWERED
IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN
NO HE ANSWERED
WILL YOU BE DAMMED FOR YOUR SINS
YES HE ANSWERED
LUTHER HAD NO TROUBLE
UNDERSTANDING TODAY'S LESSON
IN WHICH GOD IS QUOTED AS SAYING
BECAUSE YOU DAVID HAVE SINNED
YOUR CHILD MUST DIE.
THERE WAS NO LOVE IN LUTHER'S GOD
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN.
ANOTHER STORY
IS FROM THE LAST CHAPTER OF JOHN
IN WHICH JESUS SAYS TO PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
YES LORD I DO
PETER FEED MY LAMBS
AND AGAIN JESUS ASKED PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
LORD YOU KNOW I DO
FEED MY SHEEP
AND A THIRD TIME JESUS ASKED
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
TO WHICH
IF PETER HAD GROWN UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
HE WOULD HAVE SAID
YO JESUS I ALREADY TOLD YOU TWICE
BUT PETER SAID
LORD YOU KNOW EVERYTHING
YOU KNOW MY HEART,
YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
AND JESUS SAID FEED MY LAMBS.
THIS SCENE TO ME
IS ONE OF THE TENDEREST SCENES
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
I VISION PETER
AS A BIG INARTICULATE BEAR OF A MAN.
GIVEN TO RASH ACTION.
STRIVING HARD TO FOLLOW THE LORD
SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AS HE GOES.
SUFFERING FROM FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE
AS WITNESSED BY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
FOR PETER TURNS AROUND
AND SPIES JOHN
RUMORED TO BE JESUS' FAVORITE
AND HE SAYS
WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN
AND JESUS SAYS
WHAT IS THAT TO YOU
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GOES PETER.
GO PETER
EVERY MORNING WHEN I WASH MY FACE
I THINK I SEE PETER.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GO PETER
MY LAST STORY
IS ONE WE ALL KNOW
THERE WAS A MAN
WHO HAD TWO SONS.
THE YOUNGER ONE SAID
FATHER GIVE ME ALL THAT IS MINE
I WANT TO LEAVE.
THE FATHER DID AS THE SON REQUESTED
AND THE YOUNG MAN WENT OFF
SPENT ALL HIS MONEY
ENDING UP EATING WITH THE PIGS.
HE SAID TO HIMSELF
MY FATHERS SERVANTS LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.
I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER
AND BEG HIM TO LET ME BE ONE OF HIS SERVANTS.
EVERY EVENING SINCE THE SON HAD LEFT
THE FATHER HAD CLIMBED A HILLSIDE
FOR A BETTER VIEW
AND HAD WATCHED
AND WAITED FOR HIS SON TO RETURN.
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AND RECOGNIZED HIS WALK
AS ONLY A PARENT CAN KNOW A CHILD'S WALK.
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
HE RAN TO HIM LAUGHING
AND CRYING
AND SHOUTING
MY SON HAS RETURNED
THE ONE I THOUGHT WAS LOST
HAS RETURNED
AND HE RAN TO HIM
EMBRACED HIM
BEAR HUGGED HIM SO TIGHT
THAT THE SON'S MUMBLED
I WANT TO BE ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS
WAS NEVER HEARD
WAS NEVER HEARD
IN THE FATHER S EXUBERANT JOY
HIS COMING HOME
WAS MESSAGE ENOUGH
NOW COMES INTO THE STORY
YOU AND I
AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIVES
WE ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.
THE ONE WHO DID EVERY THING RIGHT.
WE SEE THE HAPPINESS OF THE FATHER
AND HOW THE FATHER HAS RESTORED
THE YOUNGER BROTHER
TO AT PLACE OF HONOR
AND WE ARE JEALOUS.
I THINK IF THIS WASN'T A BIBLE STORY
WE WOULD ALL THINK
THAT THE OLDER BROTHER
WAS POORLY TREATED
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO THINK
ABOUT THIS STORY.
LEFT TO OUR OWN JUDGMENTS
THE YOUNGER SON
WOULD HAVE BEEN BANISHED FROM THE FARM
AND ALL HONOR GIVEN TO THE OLDER SON
WHO HAD DONE NO WRONG.
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING
TO KILL THE BABY TOO
BECAUSE SIN NEEDS PUNISHMENT
IN OUR MIND
BUT JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW
THAT WHAT WAS
IS NO MORE
THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH
AND RESURRECTION
THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES
HAS BECOME IRRATIONAL,
DOES NOT GO BY RULES
BY WHICH WE FEEL COMFORTABLE
THAT WHEN GOD LOOKS AT US
THAT WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY
GOD'S FAVORITE
THAT HIS FORGIVENESS IS THERE
BEFORE WE SIN
WHILE WE SIN
AND AFTER WE SIN.
THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS ASK FORGIVENESS
AND TRY TO SIN NO MORE
THIS IS THE LESSON MARTIN LUTHER LEARNED
WHILE STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES
WE READ TODAY
GALATIANS AND JOHN
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
INDIVIDUALLY AND TOTALLY.
THAT FORGIVENESS WAS FREE
AND FREELY GIVEN
THIS IS THE LESSON PETER LEARNED
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
GOOD TIMES AND BAD.
WHETHER STRONGLY DEFENDING JESUS
WITH A SWORD
OR COWERING BEFORE A SERVANT MAIDS GLANCE
HE WAS LOVED BEFORE
DURING
AND AFTER
HE WAS LOVED
THIS IS A LESSON MY MOTHER
TAUGHT MY SISTERS AND I
I WILL LOVE YOU TOTALLY
AND INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL MY HEART.
AND THIS IS THE LESSON I DECLARE TO YOU TODAY.
I CAN DECLARE IT
BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED IT FIRST
AND THAT IS
THAT EACH OF US
INDIVIDUALLY
IS GODS FAVORITE
THAT WHEN HE LOOKS ON US
HIS CREATION
ALL IS FORGOTTEN
AND FORGIVEN
EXCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US
OUR GOD HAS CARVED OUR NAME
ON THE PALM OF HIS HAND
THAT OUR NAME MIGHT ALWAYS BE BEFORE HIM
THAT EACH OF US HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART
AND OVER THE DOOR
OF THAT PLACE
IS A SIGN THAT SAYS
HOME OF MY FAVORITE
DOUBTING THOMAS
DOUBTING THOMAS
REFRAIN:
AMEN ALLELUIA
HE IS RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED
AMEN ALLELUIA
HE IS RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED AMEN
MEDITATION:
I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHAT THIS SUNDAY MEANS TO ME.
IN SOME CULTURES
THIS SUNDAY
IS CALLED LOW SUNDAY.
FROM THE IDEA
THAT NO SUNDAY
COMING RIGHT AFTER EASTER,
CAME CAN COMPARE
TO EASTER.
IT IS LIKE A SECOND CHILD
THAT,
TRY AS HARD AS IT WILL,
CAN NEVER MEASURE UP
TO THE OLDER BROTHER.
OR SISTER
SO IF EASTER SUNDAY
IS THE LORD'S DAY,
OUR OLDER BROTHER'S DAY,
THEN LOW SUNDAY
IS FOR US,
THE ONES
WHO DO NOT QUITE MEASURE UP.
IN THE ROMAN RITE
THIS DAY IS CALLED
QUASIMODO SUNDAY
FROM THE FIRST WORD
OF THE LATIN ENTRANCE HYMN.
IN VICTOR HUGO'S NOVEL
"THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME"
THE HUNCHBACK'S NAME
IS QUASIMODO.
IN BOTH CASES
THE WORD TRANSLATES
AS ALMOST.
A FITTING TITLE
FOR A SUNDAY,
NAMED FOR US...
ALMOST.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW,
THINGS ABOUT WHICH
I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
IN SCRIPTURE STUDY WE ARE TOLD
THAT ANYTHING WHICH WAS ORDINARY IN LIFE
LIKE EATING, DRINKING, WALKING, SLEEPING
WERE NOT MENTIONED
ONLY WHATEVER WAS CONSIDERED
BY THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS
AS EXTRAORDINARY WERE MENTIONED.
LET ME TELL YOU OF THINGS
I FEEL FROM THE HEART
ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
FIRST MY HEART TELLS ME
THAT THE FIRST PERSON JESUS SAW
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
WAS HIS MOTHER.
I SAY THIS
NOT FROM MY HEAD
BUT FROM MY HEART,
FROM OUT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I CALLED MY MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE
WEEKLY,
NOT SO MUCH TO ASK
HOW SHE WAS,
BUT TO TELL HER
THAT I WAS WELL.
SHE WORRIED ABOUT OUR WEATHER,
THE SNOW, THE STORMS,
WERE WE WARM,
WAS I HAPPY.
NO MATTER
THAT SHE HER SELF
WAS SICK,
SHE WANTED TO KNOW
THAT HER SON WAS SAFE.
SO I CALLED HER
AND TOLD HER
THAT I WAS MUCH LOVED
BY MY WIFE
AND BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE CHURCH
TO WHICH I BELONGED.
AND MY MOTHER RESTED EASY.
HER SON WAS SAFE.
MY HEART SAYS,
JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER
TO TELL HER HE WAS WELL.
SECOND MY HEART TELLS ME
WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER
WHEN THEY FIRST MET
AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
IN MY HEART THE CONVERSATION
GOES LIKE THIS.
FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER, FEED MY LAMBS.
I AM TRULY SORRY LORD.
PETER, FEED MY SHEEP.
HOW CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER I LOVE YOU.
I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING.
I DO NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS MET HIS MOTHER,
OR WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER.
BUT THIS I DO KNOW.
THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS
OF WHICH I AM SURE OF.
THEY ARE.
THAT JESUS LOVED HIS MOTHER.
THAT JESUS LOVED PETER,
BEFORE,
DURING
AND EVER AFTER
HIS BETRAYAL.
AND THAT JESUS LOVES US,
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY
HAS TAKEN
TO THIS MOMENT.
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY
WILL TAKE
AS WE GO ON.
JESUS HAS,
DOES
AND ALWAYS WILL
LOVE US.
FINALLY
I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT THOMAS.
POOR THOMAS,
NO MATTER
HOW LONG HE WOULD LIVE
OR
HOW MUCH
HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH
HE WOULD BE KNOWN
AS DOUBTING THOMAS.
MY HEART SAYS
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS WITHOUT QUESTION,
WHO RAN FROM THE TOMB
WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT
THE APOSTLES THOUGHT HER HYSTERICAL.
I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY.
BUT MY ENGINEERS HEAD
SAYS I WOULD HAVE BEEN
LIKE THOMAS.
MY HEAD SAYS,
IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THE LAB,
IN THE WIND TUNNEL,
BY TEST FLYING THE AIRPLANE.
IT IS THE WAY OF MEN TO MEASURE.
THE BOOKKEEPER ADDS HIS NUMBERS,
THE SHOPPER FIGURES COST,
THE STOREKEEPER ADDS PROFIT,
THE LAWYER ASSESSES LOSS,
THE MOTHER COUNTS THE MEALS,
THE TRAVELER WONDERS HOW FAR.
WE MEASURE THINGS AS MEN.
EVEN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POEMS
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SPEAKS OF LOVE THIS WAY.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
I LOVE THEE TO THE DEPTH
AND BREADTH
AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH
WHEN FEELING OUT OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING
AND IDEAL GRACE.
MEN MEASURE.
PERHAPS
IT'S BECAUSE,
BY SIN,
DEATH
CAME INTO THE WORLD.
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE
ARE LIMITED.
SO WE MEASURE
EVERYTHING
AGAINST THE FINAL
NIGHTFALL.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
AND JESUS SAYS,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
I LIKE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE YOU BETTER,
BUT I LOVE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS,
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS PASSIONATELY,
WITHOUT QUESTIONS.
BUT LISTEN, TO WHAT HE SAYS TO HER,
IN HIS HASTE, TO BE WITH US.
HE SAYS TO HER
DO NOT CLING TO ME,
BUT GO TELL MY DISCIPLES,
I AM COMING".
HE WAS EAGER
TO BE WITH THE ONES
WHO NEEDED HIS LOVE,
THE EMPTY,
BROKEN,
HURTING PEOPLE.
MARY KNEW SHE WAS LOVED,
THE OTHERS STILL WERE IN DARKNESS.
HE HAD TO BE WITH THEM.
WITH PETER WHO BETRAYED HIM
WITH THOMAS WHO DOUBTED HIM
WITH ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUN AWAY.
GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO PICK
BROKEN PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK.
HE PICKED MOSES WHO STUTTERED
DAVID AN ADULTERER AND MURDERER
JACOB WHO STOLE AND CHEATED
NOAH WHO DRANK AND GOT DRUNK
GOD'S ALMOST PEOPLE.
HE SAYS,
WITH YOU I WANT TO BE.
MY ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY GOD,
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
WE ARE BETRAYERS,
DOUBTERS,
IMPERFECT,
ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, HE SAYS.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN WE SAY,
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE US GOD
SHOW US HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN
HE REPLIES, THIS MUCH. (EXTEND ARMS)
REFRAIN:
AMEN ALLELUIA
HE IS RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED
AMEN ALLELUIA
HE IS RISEN INDEED
RISEN INDEED AMEN
MEDITATION:
I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHAT THIS SUNDAY MEANS TO ME.
IN SOME CULTURES
THIS SUNDAY
IS CALLED LOW SUNDAY.
FROM THE IDEA
THAT NO SUNDAY
COMING RIGHT AFTER EASTER,
CAME CAN COMPARE
TO EASTER.
IT IS LIKE A SECOND CHILD
THAT,
TRY AS HARD AS IT WILL,
CAN NEVER MEASURE UP
TO THE OLDER BROTHER.
OR SISTER
SO IF EASTER SUNDAY
IS THE LORD'S DAY,
OUR OLDER BROTHER'S DAY,
THEN LOW SUNDAY
IS FOR US,
THE ONES
WHO DO NOT QUITE MEASURE UP.
IN THE ROMAN RITE
THIS DAY IS CALLED
QUASIMODO SUNDAY
FROM THE FIRST WORD
OF THE LATIN ENTRANCE HYMN.
IN VICTOR HUGO'S NOVEL
"THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME"
THE HUNCHBACK'S NAME
IS QUASIMODO.
IN BOTH CASES
THE WORD TRANSLATES
AS ALMOST.
A FITTING TITLE
FOR A SUNDAY,
NAMED FOR US...
ALMOST.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW,
THINGS ABOUT WHICH
I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
IN SCRIPTURE STUDY WE ARE TOLD
THAT ANYTHING WHICH WAS ORDINARY IN LIFE
LIKE EATING, DRINKING, WALKING, SLEEPING
WERE NOT MENTIONED
ONLY WHATEVER WAS CONSIDERED
BY THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS
AS EXTRAORDINARY WERE MENTIONED.
LET ME TELL YOU OF THINGS
I FEEL FROM THE HEART
ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
FIRST MY HEART TELLS ME
THAT THE FIRST PERSON JESUS SAW
AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
WAS HIS MOTHER.
I SAY THIS
NOT FROM MY HEAD
BUT FROM MY HEART,
FROM OUT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I CALLED MY MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE
WEEKLY,
NOT SO MUCH TO ASK
HOW SHE WAS,
BUT TO TELL HER
THAT I WAS WELL.
SHE WORRIED ABOUT OUR WEATHER,
THE SNOW, THE STORMS,
WERE WE WARM,
WAS I HAPPY.
NO MATTER
THAT SHE HER SELF
WAS SICK,
SHE WANTED TO KNOW
THAT HER SON WAS SAFE.
SO I CALLED HER
AND TOLD HER
THAT I WAS MUCH LOVED
BY MY WIFE
AND BY THE MEMBERS
OF THE CHURCH
TO WHICH I BELONGED.
AND MY MOTHER RESTED EASY.
HER SON WAS SAFE.
MY HEART SAYS,
JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER
TO TELL HER HE WAS WELL.
SECOND MY HEART TELLS ME
WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER
WHEN THEY FIRST MET
AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
IN MY HEART THE CONVERSATION
GOES LIKE THIS.
FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER, FEED MY LAMBS.
I AM TRULY SORRY LORD.
PETER, FEED MY SHEEP.
HOW CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME LORD.
PETER I LOVE YOU.
I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THOUGHTS
ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING.
I DO NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS MET HIS MOTHER,
OR WHAT JESUS SAID TO PETER.
BUT THIS I DO KNOW.
THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS
OF WHICH I AM SURE OF.
THEY ARE.
THAT JESUS LOVED HIS MOTHER.
THAT JESUS LOVED PETER,
BEFORE,
DURING
AND EVER AFTER
HIS BETRAYAL.
AND THAT JESUS LOVES US,
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY
HAS TAKEN
TO THIS MOMENT.
NO MATTER WHAT SHAPE
OUR JOURNEY
WILL TAKE
AS WE GO ON.
JESUS HAS,
DOES
AND ALWAYS WILL
LOVE US.
FINALLY
I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT THOMAS.
POOR THOMAS,
NO MATTER
HOW LONG HE WOULD LIVE
OR
HOW MUCH
HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH
HE WOULD BE KNOWN
AS DOUBTING THOMAS.
MY HEART SAYS
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS WITHOUT QUESTION,
WHO RAN FROM THE TOMB
WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT
THE APOSTLES THOUGHT HER HYSTERICAL.
I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY.
BUT MY ENGINEERS HEAD
SAYS I WOULD HAVE BEEN
LIKE THOMAS.
MY HEAD SAYS,
IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THE LAB,
IN THE WIND TUNNEL,
BY TEST FLYING THE AIRPLANE.
IT IS THE WAY OF MEN TO MEASURE.
THE BOOKKEEPER ADDS HIS NUMBERS,
THE SHOPPER FIGURES COST,
THE STOREKEEPER ADDS PROFIT,
THE LAWYER ASSESSES LOSS,
THE MOTHER COUNTS THE MEALS,
THE TRAVELER WONDERS HOW FAR.
WE MEASURE THINGS AS MEN.
EVEN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POEMS
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SPEAKS OF LOVE THIS WAY.
HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.
I LOVE THEE TO THE DEPTH
AND BREADTH
AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH
WHEN FEELING OUT OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING
AND IDEAL GRACE.
MEN MEASURE.
PERHAPS
IT'S BECAUSE,
BY SIN,
DEATH
CAME INTO THE WORLD.
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE
ARE LIMITED.
SO WE MEASURE
EVERYTHING
AGAINST THE FINAL
NIGHTFALL.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS.
AND JESUS SAYS,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
I LIKE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE YOU BETTER,
BUT I LOVE YOU,
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS,
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS PASSIONATELY,
WITHOUT QUESTIONS.
BUT LISTEN, TO WHAT HE SAYS TO HER,
IN HIS HASTE, TO BE WITH US.
HE SAYS TO HER
DO NOT CLING TO ME,
BUT GO TELL MY DISCIPLES,
I AM COMING".
HE WAS EAGER
TO BE WITH THE ONES
WHO NEEDED HIS LOVE,
THE EMPTY,
BROKEN,
HURTING PEOPLE.
MARY KNEW SHE WAS LOVED,
THE OTHERS STILL WERE IN DARKNESS.
HE HAD TO BE WITH THEM.
WITH PETER WHO BETRAYED HIM
WITH THOMAS WHO DOUBTED HIM
WITH ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUN AWAY.
GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO PICK
BROKEN PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK.
HE PICKED MOSES WHO STUTTERED
DAVID AN ADULTERER AND MURDERER
JACOB WHO STOLE AND CHEATED
NOAH WHO DRANK AND GOT DRUNK
GOD'S ALMOST PEOPLE.
HE SAYS,
WITH YOU I WANT TO BE.
MY ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY GOD,
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
WE ARE BETRAYERS,
DOUBTERS,
IMPERFECT,
ALMOST PEOPLE.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US.
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, HE SAYS.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN WE SAY,
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE US GOD
SHOW US HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US.
IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN
HE REPLIES, THIS MUCH. (EXTEND ARMS)
ALL SAINTS
ALL SAINTS
WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
THERE WAS A WEEK LONG FESTIVAL IN AUGUST
CALLED OBON
WHICH IS A FESTIVAL FOR THE DEAD
DURING THAT TIME
THE JAPANESE BELIEVED THE DEAD CAME BACK
TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES
THERE WERE PLACES SET AT THE TABLE FOR THEM.
EACH NIGHT THERE WERE BONFIRES LIT
AND EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE
DANCED AROUND THEM
BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL DANCE
BECAUSE THE STEPS RESEMBLED THE MOTIONS
PEOPLE MADE WHILE WORKING
SO THERE WERE MOTIONS FOR FISHING
OR DIGGING OR SEWING OR COOKING
THESE MOTIONS IMITATED THE LIVES OF THE DEAD
WHEN THEY WERE LIVING
I LEARNED THE DANCES.
AND MY JAPANESE FRIENDS AND I
WOULD DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
THEY WERE HAPPY THAT I WAS WITH THEM
BUT MORE ESPECIALLY THEY WERE HAPPY
THAT THEIR BELOVED DEAD WERE VISITING THEM
AT THE END OF OBON
CANDLES WERE PLACED ON TINY RAFTS
AND FLOATED OUT TO SEA
THEY WERE TO SHOW THE DEAD
BACK TO THEIR RESTING PLACE
IT WAS A TENDER BEAUTIFUL MOMENT
TO FEEL THEIR LOVE
FOR THEIR ANCESTORS
AND TO SEE THE THOUSANDS OF CANDLES
MAKING THE RIVER A GOLDEN PATH
ANY READER
OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWS THAT FESTIVALS OF THE DEAD
ARE COMMON TO ALL CULTURES.
MANY OF THE FESTIVALS ARE KIND AND GENTLE
AS IN JAPAN
THE DEAD ARE NOT FEARED.
IN OTHER CULTURES
THE DEAD ARE THE GHOSTS
THE GOBLINS THE WITCHES
THE THINGS TO BE FEARED IN THE NIGHT
IN EUROPE
AS THE PAGANS THAT LIVED THERE
WERE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM
THIS FEAR OF THE DEAD
THE CHURCH TO COUNTERACT THIS FEAR
INITIATED THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
FOR NO ONE WHO HAS DIED IN CHRIST
SHOULD BE FEARED
THERE ALSO EVOLVED
THE CONCEPT
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
WHICH IS PART OF THE CREED
WE SAY ON SUNDAYS
SIMPLY PUT
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS MEANS
THAT ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD
BELONG TO ONE BODY.
THOSE WHO REST IN HIS BOSOM
AND THOSE OF US
WHO ARE STILL PILGRIMS ON THE WAY
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
ARE ONE BODY
ONE COMMUNION,
ONE COMMUNITY
REMNANTS OF FEAR OF THE DEAD
LINGER IN THE COSTUMES WE WEAR
ON HALLOWEEN
GHOSTS GOBLINS SATAN
HALLOWEEN MEANS ALL HALLOW'S EVE
OR THE NIGHT BEFORE ALL HALLOWS DAY
HALLOWED AS IN THE LORDS PRAYER
MEANS BLESSED
.
SO ANOTHER NAME
FOR THIS FEAST DAY
WOULD BE
ALL THE BLESSED ONE'S DAY
AND WHO ARE THESE BLESSED ONES.
THEY ARE OUR PARENTS
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES,
SPOUSES,
SOMETIMES SADLY OUR CHILDREN
THEY ARE RULERS OF THE WORLD
THEY ARE THE POOR.
THEY ARE THE BRIGHT
THEY ARE THE ILLITERATE.
THEY ARE THE BOLD
THE BASHFUL
THE SAINT OCCASIONALLY
BUT MOST OFTEN THE SINNER
BUT THEY ARE ALL JOINED NOW
AND HELD SAFELY IN GOD'S HAND
THEY ARE YOU
AND I
WHEN OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
BUT BEFORE OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE.
WALK THE ROAD BEFORE US
IN SUNNY OR RAINY WEATHER,
ON FLAT GROUND OR UP A MOUNTAIN
OR EVEN DOWN INTO A DEEP VALLEY.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL WALK WITH FRIENDS
OR LOVED ONES
BUT EVEN WHEN WE WALK ALONE
THERE WILL BE TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
BECAUSE JESUS IS WALKING THE ROAD WITH US,
AND JESUS GAVE US A CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR THAT ROAD
THEY ARE CALLED THE BEATITUDES.
AND THEY ARE
HOW HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THOSE WHO DO NOT CRAVE
MONEY
POSSESSIONS
POWER
BUT USE
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM
GENEROUSLY
JESUS SAYS
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
HAPPY THE GENTLE
THEY SHALL HAVE THE EARTH
FOR THEIR HERITAGE
HAPPY
THOSE WHO MOURN
THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED
HAPPY THOSE WHO HUNGER
AND THIRST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED
HAPPY THE MERCIFUL
THEY SHALL HAVE MERCY SHOWN THEM
HAPPY THE PURE IN HEART
THEY SHALL SEE GOD
HAPPY THE PEACEMAKERS
THEY SHALL BE CALLED
CHILDREN OF GOD
HAPPY THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED
IN THE CAUSE OF RIGHT
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER
AS THE COLORS OF THE TREES
GO FROM GOLD TO BROWN TO BARE
AND THE WIND HAS A BITE TO IT
THAT GOES THROUGH US,
WE ARE REMINDED
OF THE FINALITY OF OUR LIVES
IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
WE ARE ALSO ASKED
TO REMEMBER OUR DEAD
IN THE TV. SHOW "ARCHIE BUNKER"
AFTER EDITH HIS WIFE DIED,
AFTER THE FUNERAL
ARCHIE SPIES HER SLIPPER
UNDER THEIR BED AND HE CRIES
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
.
WE ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS DAY
TO DO THAT
TO SAY WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LOVE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE LAUGHTER AND THE TEARS
THEY GAVE US.
NOT THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR IT.
THERE IS NO PAIN WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE
NEED TO SAY IT.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEANT TO ME.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEAN TO ME.
MAY I BE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.
AND IF THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
WITH WHOM
THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS
NEVER CALLED BACK
NOW IS THE TIME
FOR FORGIVENESS
AGAIN NOT THAT THE DEAD NEED IT
BUT WE NEED IT.
WE NEED TO SEND FORGIVENESS
IT WILL GO FROM US
LIKE A CANDLE
ON A RIVER
MAKING THE RIVER GOLD.
FINALLY
THERE IS IN MOST OF OUR LIVES
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
HAVING LIVED A LIFE
THAT WE FEEL
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
AND THAT THOUGHT
LIES UNEASY
ON OUR HEARTS
LET US REMEMBER
THAT GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY
IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT
ON THIS AUTUMN DAY
CLOSE TO WINTER
MAY GOD'S LOVE
KEEP US WARM.
AMEN
FRANK A VOLLMER
WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
THERE WAS A WEEK LONG FESTIVAL IN AUGUST
CALLED OBON
WHICH IS A FESTIVAL FOR THE DEAD
DURING THAT TIME
THE JAPANESE BELIEVED THE DEAD CAME BACK
TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES
THERE WERE PLACES SET AT THE TABLE FOR THEM.
EACH NIGHT THERE WERE BONFIRES LIT
AND EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE
DANCED AROUND THEM
BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL DANCE
BECAUSE THE STEPS RESEMBLED THE MOTIONS
PEOPLE MADE WHILE WORKING
SO THERE WERE MOTIONS FOR FISHING
OR DIGGING OR SEWING OR COOKING
THESE MOTIONS IMITATED THE LIVES OF THE DEAD
WHEN THEY WERE LIVING
I LEARNED THE DANCES.
AND MY JAPANESE FRIENDS AND I
WOULD DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
THEY WERE HAPPY THAT I WAS WITH THEM
BUT MORE ESPECIALLY THEY WERE HAPPY
THAT THEIR BELOVED DEAD WERE VISITING THEM
AT THE END OF OBON
CANDLES WERE PLACED ON TINY RAFTS
AND FLOATED OUT TO SEA
THEY WERE TO SHOW THE DEAD
BACK TO THEIR RESTING PLACE
IT WAS A TENDER BEAUTIFUL MOMENT
TO FEEL THEIR LOVE
FOR THEIR ANCESTORS
AND TO SEE THE THOUSANDS OF CANDLES
MAKING THE RIVER A GOLDEN PATH
ANY READER
OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWS THAT FESTIVALS OF THE DEAD
ARE COMMON TO ALL CULTURES.
MANY OF THE FESTIVALS ARE KIND AND GENTLE
AS IN JAPAN
THE DEAD ARE NOT FEARED.
IN OTHER CULTURES
THE DEAD ARE THE GHOSTS
THE GOBLINS THE WITCHES
THE THINGS TO BE FEARED IN THE NIGHT
IN EUROPE
AS THE PAGANS THAT LIVED THERE
WERE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM
THIS FEAR OF THE DEAD
THE CHURCH TO COUNTERACT THIS FEAR
INITIATED THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
FOR NO ONE WHO HAS DIED IN CHRIST
SHOULD BE FEARED
THERE ALSO EVOLVED
THE CONCEPT
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
WHICH IS PART OF THE CREED
WE SAY ON SUNDAYS
SIMPLY PUT
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS MEANS
THAT ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD
BELONG TO ONE BODY.
THOSE WHO REST IN HIS BOSOM
AND THOSE OF US
WHO ARE STILL PILGRIMS ON THE WAY
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
ARE ONE BODY
ONE COMMUNION,
ONE COMMUNITY
REMNANTS OF FEAR OF THE DEAD
LINGER IN THE COSTUMES WE WEAR
ON HALLOWEEN
GHOSTS GOBLINS SATAN
HALLOWEEN MEANS ALL HALLOW'S EVE
OR THE NIGHT BEFORE ALL HALLOWS DAY
HALLOWED AS IN THE LORDS PRAYER
MEANS BLESSED
.
SO ANOTHER NAME
FOR THIS FEAST DAY
WOULD BE
ALL THE BLESSED ONE'S DAY
AND WHO ARE THESE BLESSED ONES.
THEY ARE OUR PARENTS
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES,
SPOUSES,
SOMETIMES SADLY OUR CHILDREN
THEY ARE RULERS OF THE WORLD
THEY ARE THE POOR.
THEY ARE THE BRIGHT
THEY ARE THE ILLITERATE.
THEY ARE THE BOLD
THE BASHFUL
THE SAINT OCCASIONALLY
BUT MOST OFTEN THE SINNER
BUT THEY ARE ALL JOINED NOW
AND HELD SAFELY IN GOD'S HAND
THEY ARE YOU
AND I
WHEN OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
BUT BEFORE OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE.
WALK THE ROAD BEFORE US
IN SUNNY OR RAINY WEATHER,
ON FLAT GROUND OR UP A MOUNTAIN
OR EVEN DOWN INTO A DEEP VALLEY.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL WALK WITH FRIENDS
OR LOVED ONES
BUT EVEN WHEN WE WALK ALONE
THERE WILL BE TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
BECAUSE JESUS IS WALKING THE ROAD WITH US,
AND JESUS GAVE US A CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR THAT ROAD
THEY ARE CALLED THE BEATITUDES.
AND THEY ARE
HOW HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THOSE WHO DO NOT CRAVE
MONEY
POSSESSIONS
POWER
BUT USE
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM
GENEROUSLY
JESUS SAYS
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
HAPPY THE GENTLE
THEY SHALL HAVE THE EARTH
FOR THEIR HERITAGE
HAPPY
THOSE WHO MOURN
THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED
HAPPY THOSE WHO HUNGER
AND THIRST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED
HAPPY THE MERCIFUL
THEY SHALL HAVE MERCY SHOWN THEM
HAPPY THE PURE IN HEART
THEY SHALL SEE GOD
HAPPY THE PEACEMAKERS
THEY SHALL BE CALLED
CHILDREN OF GOD
HAPPY THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED
IN THE CAUSE OF RIGHT
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER
AS THE COLORS OF THE TREES
GO FROM GOLD TO BROWN TO BARE
AND THE WIND HAS A BITE TO IT
THAT GOES THROUGH US,
WE ARE REMINDED
OF THE FINALITY OF OUR LIVES
IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
WE ARE ALSO ASKED
TO REMEMBER OUR DEAD
IN THE TV. SHOW "ARCHIE BUNKER"
AFTER EDITH HIS WIFE DIED,
AFTER THE FUNERAL
ARCHIE SPIES HER SLIPPER
UNDER THEIR BED AND HE CRIES
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
.
WE ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS DAY
TO DO THAT
TO SAY WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LOVE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE LAUGHTER AND THE TEARS
THEY GAVE US.
NOT THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR IT.
THERE IS NO PAIN WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE
NEED TO SAY IT.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEANT TO ME.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEAN TO ME.
MAY I BE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.
AND IF THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
WITH WHOM
THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS
NEVER CALLED BACK
NOW IS THE TIME
FOR FORGIVENESS
AGAIN NOT THAT THE DEAD NEED IT
BUT WE NEED IT.
WE NEED TO SEND FORGIVENESS
IT WILL GO FROM US
LIKE A CANDLE
ON A RIVER
MAKING THE RIVER GOLD.
FINALLY
THERE IS IN MOST OF OUR LIVES
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
HAVING LIVED A LIFE
THAT WE FEEL
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
AND THAT THOUGHT
LIES UNEASY
ON OUR HEARTS
LET US REMEMBER
THAT GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY
IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT
ON THIS AUTUMN DAY
CLOSE TO WINTER
MAY GOD'S LOVE
KEEP US WARM.
AMEN
FRANK A VOLLMER
NINETEENTH
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY TELLER JESUS IS
IN ONE SHORT PARAGRAPH
HE HAS CALLED TO MIND
SEVERAL LIFE SITUATIONS
THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO HIS LISTENERS
THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE LIVES
OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE FIRST CENTURY
THAT ARE IMPORTANT
IN DIFFERENT WAYS
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TWENTY –FIRST CENTURY
THE ELEMENTS OF HIS STORY ARE
THAT THERE WERE TEN LEPERS
THAT ONE WAS A SAMARITAN
AND THAT THERE WAS
A LACK OF GRATITUDE SHOWN
FIRST HE MENTIONS LEPERS
WHO IN THE FIRST CENTURY
WERE TREATED
AS IF THEY WERE ALREADY DEAD
THE STORY SAYS
THAT THEY KEPT THEIR DISTANCE
BECAUSE A LEPER COULD NOT APPROACH
A HEALTH PERSON CLOSER THAN FIFTY FEET
SO FROM A DISTANCE OF FIFTY FEET OR MORE
THE TEN LEPERS
LIVING IN A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW LEPERS
ISOLATED FROM NORMAL SOCIETY
DISFIGURED HORRIBLY BY THEIR DISEASE
SEGREGATED FROM
SPOUSE
CHILDREN
FRIENDS
CALLED OUT FROM 50 FEET OR MORE
JESUS
MASTER
HAVE MERCY ON US
HE HEALS THEM
SENDING THEM TO THE PRIEST
WHO ALONE HAD THE AUTHORITY
TO ALLOW THEM TO RE-JOIN
NORMAL JEWISH SOCIETY
TO ONCE MORE
LIVE WITH SPOUSE
CHILDREN
FRIENDS
WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY
CERTAINLY REJOICING
ONE LOOKED AT HIS HEALED BODY
AND FILLED WITH GRATITUDE
HURRIED BACK TO JESUS TO THANK HIM
THEN JESUS MAKES MENTION
THAT THE ONE RETURNING
WAS A SAMARITAN
THAT HE WAS A SAMARITAN
A RACE OF PEOPLE THE JEWS HATED
THIS WAS A RECURRING THEME WITH JESUS
TO MAKE THE HERO OF HIS STORY
A SAMARITAN
OR SOME OTHER KIND OF PERSON
THAT THE JEWS HATED
HE WANTED TO IMPRESS UPON HIS AUDIENCE
AND UPON US
THAT IN GOD’S HOUSE
THERE IS NO RACIAL HATRED
OR ANY OTHER KIND OF HATRED
EXCEPT HATRED OF SIN
THAT WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
IN ONE UNITED
FAMILY
THEN JESUS MAKES MENTION
OF SOMETHING
THAT TOUCHES US ALL
THAT TOUCHES ALL OF US
WHO TAKE THE MIRACLE
OF BEING HEALED
AND GO OFF
FORGETTING ABOUT JESUS
AND HIS GIFT OF HEALING
WE FORGET
THAT WE WERE ALL LEPERS
MARRED BY SIN
THAT WE ARE ALL LEPERS
HEALED BY JESUS
HEALED BY HIS SACRIFICE
ON THE CROSS
AND WE COME BACK TO HIM
ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN PAIN
WHEN WE ARE RE-INFECTED
AS WE ARE NOW
WITH THE EVENTS
OF SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH
AND WE CRY
AS WE SO OFTEN CRY
JESUS
MASTER
HAVE MERCY ON US
AND HE WILL
JESUS KEEPS HIS PROMISES
HOW LONG JESUS WAITED ON THE OTHER NINE
WE DO NOT KNOW
BUT LOOKING DOWN THE CENTURIES
HE SEES US
AND HE CRIES OUT
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
FOR ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU
HE CRIES OUT
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
WILL YOU COME BACK TO ME
WILL YOU COME BACK TO ME
REJOICING IN YOUR HEALING
SO I ASK YOU………………….
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
FOR ALL GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU
(RESPONSE)
I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME
WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY TELLER JESUS IS
IN ONE SHORT PARAGRAPH
HE HAS CALLED TO MIND
SEVERAL LIFE SITUATIONS
THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO HIS LISTENERS
THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THE LIVES
OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE FIRST CENTURY
THAT ARE IMPORTANT
IN DIFFERENT WAYS
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TWENTY –FIRST CENTURY
THE ELEMENTS OF HIS STORY ARE
THAT THERE WERE TEN LEPERS
THAT ONE WAS A SAMARITAN
AND THAT THERE WAS
A LACK OF GRATITUDE SHOWN
FIRST HE MENTIONS LEPERS
WHO IN THE FIRST CENTURY
WERE TREATED
AS IF THEY WERE ALREADY DEAD
THE STORY SAYS
THAT THEY KEPT THEIR DISTANCE
BECAUSE A LEPER COULD NOT APPROACH
A HEALTH PERSON CLOSER THAN FIFTY FEET
SO FROM A DISTANCE OF FIFTY FEET OR MORE
THE TEN LEPERS
LIVING IN A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW LEPERS
ISOLATED FROM NORMAL SOCIETY
DISFIGURED HORRIBLY BY THEIR DISEASE
SEGREGATED FROM
SPOUSE
CHILDREN
FRIENDS
CALLED OUT FROM 50 FEET OR MORE
JESUS
MASTER
HAVE MERCY ON US
HE HEALS THEM
SENDING THEM TO THE PRIEST
WHO ALONE HAD THE AUTHORITY
TO ALLOW THEM TO RE-JOIN
NORMAL JEWISH SOCIETY
TO ONCE MORE
LIVE WITH SPOUSE
CHILDREN
FRIENDS
WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY
CERTAINLY REJOICING
ONE LOOKED AT HIS HEALED BODY
AND FILLED WITH GRATITUDE
HURRIED BACK TO JESUS TO THANK HIM
THEN JESUS MAKES MENTION
THAT THE ONE RETURNING
WAS A SAMARITAN
THAT HE WAS A SAMARITAN
A RACE OF PEOPLE THE JEWS HATED
THIS WAS A RECURRING THEME WITH JESUS
TO MAKE THE HERO OF HIS STORY
A SAMARITAN
OR SOME OTHER KIND OF PERSON
THAT THE JEWS HATED
HE WANTED TO IMPRESS UPON HIS AUDIENCE
AND UPON US
THAT IN GOD’S HOUSE
THERE IS NO RACIAL HATRED
OR ANY OTHER KIND OF HATRED
EXCEPT HATRED OF SIN
THAT WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
IN ONE UNITED
FAMILY
THEN JESUS MAKES MENTION
OF SOMETHING
THAT TOUCHES US ALL
THAT TOUCHES ALL OF US
WHO TAKE THE MIRACLE
OF BEING HEALED
AND GO OFF
FORGETTING ABOUT JESUS
AND HIS GIFT OF HEALING
WE FORGET
THAT WE WERE ALL LEPERS
MARRED BY SIN
THAT WE ARE ALL LEPERS
HEALED BY JESUS
HEALED BY HIS SACRIFICE
ON THE CROSS
AND WE COME BACK TO HIM
ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN PAIN
WHEN WE ARE RE-INFECTED
AS WE ARE NOW
WITH THE EVENTS
OF SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH
AND WE CRY
AS WE SO OFTEN CRY
JESUS
MASTER
HAVE MERCY ON US
AND HE WILL
JESUS KEEPS HIS PROMISES
HOW LONG JESUS WAITED ON THE OTHER NINE
WE DO NOT KNOW
BUT LOOKING DOWN THE CENTURIES
HE SEES US
AND HE CRIES OUT
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
FOR ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU
HE CRIES OUT
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
WILL YOU COME BACK TO ME
WILL YOU COME BACK TO ME
REJOICING IN YOUR HEALING
SO I ASK YOU………………….
WILL YOU BE GRATEFUL
FOR ALL GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU
(RESPONSE)
I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME
SEVENTEENTH PENTECOST
September 15, 2002 -- SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (Proper 19) Genesis 50:15-21Psalm 103:[1-7] 8-13The LORD is full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8)Romans 14:1-12Matthew 18:21-35Color: Green
WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THE QUOTATION
FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
THAT READS
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
IF YOU'RE AS OLD AS I AM
YOU'VE HEARD THIS PROVERB THUNDERED
FROM THE PULPIT,
REPEATED BY YOUR PARENTS
AND TAUGHT BY YOUR TEACHERS.
FEAR OF THE LORD
IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
WISDOM WASN'T STRESSEDBUT FEAR CERTAINLY WAS.
SO THAT GOD CAME TO BE FOR MOST OF USA KIND OF A CELESTIAL SCOREKEEPER.WHO COUNTED ALL OUR FAULTSAND COULDN'T WAIT TO PUNISH US.
IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO US
IT WAS THE RESULT OF OUR SINS.
ACCIDENTS WERE BLAMED ON GOD,
NATURAL CATASTROPHES
WERE BLAMED ON GOD.
THAT WAS IN MY YOUTH
BUT NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED.
INSTINCTIVELY IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
WE FEEL THAT GOD IS PUNISHING US
FOR SOME FAULT REAL OR IMAGINED.
WHAT A HATEFUL GOD
HOW COULD ANYONE LOVE HIM.
HOW COULD WE EVER COME TO CONCEIVE
THAT THE GOD WHO CALLS HIMSELF LOVE
COULD ACT IN SUCH AN UNLOVING WAY.
IS GOD TELLING US A LIE
IS HE PLAYING GAMES WITH US
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR GOD
IS THAT SMALL
HERE ARE MY REASONS.
FIRST
THE EXPRESSION
FEAR OF THE LORD
IN HEBREW THOUGHTMEANT THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION.SO PROVERBS WOULD BETTER TRANSLATEFOR TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANSAS THE PRACTICE OF RELIGIONIS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
AND WHAT IS THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
IN GODS OWN WORDS
IT IS THE LOVING OF GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART
ALL YOUR MIND
ALL YOUR SOUL
AND THE LOVING OF YOUR NEIGHBOR
AS YOUR SELF.
THIS IS THE WHOLE LAW
BUT WE ARE CREATURES OF THE DUST
AND WHEN WE FAIL
WHEN WE BREAK GOD'S LAW
WHAT THEN.
ARE WE NOT GUILTY
AND WORTHY OF PUNISHMENT
YES THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE
WE WOULD BE WORTH OF PUNISHMENT
IF WE HAD NOT BEEN REDEEMED
BY JESUS' DEATH,
IT IS JESUS' DEATH
AND RESURRECTION
THAT SEPARATES CHRISTIANITY
FROM ALL OTHER RELIGIONS
BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
WE ARE SAVED
WE ARE FORGIVEN.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE
NOT BY OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE
WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE WANT REVENGE
WHEN WE HURT GOD
HE FORGIVES.
THE CLOSEST WE HUMANS COME
TO THAT KIND OF FORGIVING LOVE
IS MOTHER LOVE.
TOO BAD WE PICTURE GOD AS FATHER.
FATHERS TRADITIONALLY
ARE THE LAWGIVERS
MOTHERS ARE THE FORGIVERS.
GOD AS A FORGIVING MOTHER
IS MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDABLE.
IN THE LESSONS TODAYGOD CALLS USTO BE A FORGIVINGLOVING PEOPLE.
FORGIVE HE SAYS
AS I HAVE FIRST FORGIVEN YOU
LOVE HE SAYS
AS I HAVE FIRST LOVED YOU
WE HAVE TROUBLEUNDERSTANDINGTHIS KIND OF LOVE.
IF YOU WERE A PSYCHIATRISTAND GOD WAS YOUR PATIENT.YOU'D TELL HIM
HE HAD TO STOP LETTING PEOPLEWALK ALL OVER HIM.
HIS LOVING AND FORGIVINGARE NOT NORMAL.
YET WE ARE ASKEDRATHER WE ARE TOLDRATHER WE ARE COMMANDEDTO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE
IN GENESIS
HE CALLS FOR US
TO FORGIVE FAMILY SQUABBLES.
MANY OF US KNOW HOW PAINFULAND HARD THAT CAN BE.GOD SAYS FORGIVE.
IN ROMANS
GOD SAYS
THAT DIFFERENCES
SHOULDN'T KEEP US APART
THAT MATTERS OF DIET
RELIGION
TASTE
POLITICS.
WHATEVER
SHOULD NOT CAUSE DISSENSION
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HIS CHILDREN.
GOD LOVES ALL OF US
GOD SAYS TOLERATE THE DIFFERENCES
IN MATTHEWHE PUTS US TO THE CHALLENGE.
THE CHALLENGE IS THISIF I GOD HAVE FORGIVEN YOUWHY CANT YOU FORGIVE OTHERS.GOD SAYS FORGIVEAS I HAVE FIRST FORGIVEN YOU
BUT HOW MUCHDOES GOD LOVE USAND HOW MUCHDOES HE FORGIVE US
PSALM 103 SAYS
AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS
ARE ABOVE THE EARTH
SO GREAT IS GOD'S LOVE FOR US
AND AS FAR AS THE EAST
IS FROM THE WEST
IS HOW FAR GOD
HAS REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GODTHAT KEEPS SCORE DOES IT
WE ARE TRULY FORGIVEN.WE ARE ASKED TO FORGIVE OTHERS.
I WOULD LIKE
TO PLAY A GAME WITH YOU
A GAME OF LET'S PRETEND
LET'S PRETEND
THAT YOU ARE HOLDING
AN INVISIBLE PENCIL
AND AN INVISIBLE PIECE OF PAPER.
WRITE ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER
ANY SIN IN YOUR LIFE
THAT YOU THINK
GOD HAS NOT FORGIVEN
AND FORGOTTEN.
OR WRITE ON THE PAPERANY LIFE SITUATIONANY WRONG DONE TO YOUTHAT YOU FINDHARD TO FORGIVE.
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME
YOU'LL HAVE SOME OF EACH.
WRITE THEM DOWN.
I'LL PASS THE COLLECTION BASKET
YOU PUT THEM IN.
FOLD THEM IF YOU WANT TO.
SO NOBODY CAN SEE
I AM GOING TO THROW THEM
OUT THE DOOR.
BY THE WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURE
I DECLARE
THEY ARE GONE
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
THEY ARE GONE
LET THEM GO
AND LET US TRY AGAIN
AND IF WE FAIL TRY AGAIN
AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN
TILL WE HAVE TRIED
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN TIMES
LET US TRY TO ACT
AS A LOVING
FORGIVING
PEOPLE.
AMEN
WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR
WITH THE QUOTATION
FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
THAT READS
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
IF YOU'RE AS OLD AS I AM
YOU'VE HEARD THIS PROVERB THUNDERED
FROM THE PULPIT,
REPEATED BY YOUR PARENTS
AND TAUGHT BY YOUR TEACHERS.
FEAR OF THE LORD
IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
WISDOM WASN'T STRESSEDBUT FEAR CERTAINLY WAS.
SO THAT GOD CAME TO BE FOR MOST OF USA KIND OF A CELESTIAL SCOREKEEPER.WHO COUNTED ALL OUR FAULTSAND COULDN'T WAIT TO PUNISH US.
IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO US
IT WAS THE RESULT OF OUR SINS.
ACCIDENTS WERE BLAMED ON GOD,
NATURAL CATASTROPHES
WERE BLAMED ON GOD.
THAT WAS IN MY YOUTH
BUT NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED.
INSTINCTIVELY IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
WE FEEL THAT GOD IS PUNISHING US
FOR SOME FAULT REAL OR IMAGINED.
WHAT A HATEFUL GOD
HOW COULD ANYONE LOVE HIM.
HOW COULD WE EVER COME TO CONCEIVE
THAT THE GOD WHO CALLS HIMSELF LOVE
COULD ACT IN SUCH AN UNLOVING WAY.
IS GOD TELLING US A LIE
IS HE PLAYING GAMES WITH US
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR GOD
IS THAT SMALL
HERE ARE MY REASONS.
FIRST
THE EXPRESSION
FEAR OF THE LORD
IN HEBREW THOUGHTMEANT THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION.SO PROVERBS WOULD BETTER TRANSLATEFOR TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANSAS THE PRACTICE OF RELIGIONIS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.
AND WHAT IS THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
IN GODS OWN WORDS
IT IS THE LOVING OF GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART
ALL YOUR MIND
ALL YOUR SOUL
AND THE LOVING OF YOUR NEIGHBOR
AS YOUR SELF.
THIS IS THE WHOLE LAW
BUT WE ARE CREATURES OF THE DUST
AND WHEN WE FAIL
WHEN WE BREAK GOD'S LAW
WHAT THEN.
ARE WE NOT GUILTY
AND WORTHY OF PUNISHMENT
YES THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE
WE WOULD BE WORTH OF PUNISHMENT
IF WE HAD NOT BEEN REDEEMED
BY JESUS' DEATH,
IT IS JESUS' DEATH
AND RESURRECTION
THAT SEPARATES CHRISTIANITY
FROM ALL OTHER RELIGIONS
BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
WE ARE SAVED
WE ARE FORGIVEN.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE
NOT BY OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE
WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE WANT REVENGE
WHEN WE HURT GOD
HE FORGIVES.
THE CLOSEST WE HUMANS COME
TO THAT KIND OF FORGIVING LOVE
IS MOTHER LOVE.
TOO BAD WE PICTURE GOD AS FATHER.
FATHERS TRADITIONALLY
ARE THE LAWGIVERS
MOTHERS ARE THE FORGIVERS.
GOD AS A FORGIVING MOTHER
IS MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDABLE.
IN THE LESSONS TODAYGOD CALLS USTO BE A FORGIVINGLOVING PEOPLE.
FORGIVE HE SAYS
AS I HAVE FIRST FORGIVEN YOU
LOVE HE SAYS
AS I HAVE FIRST LOVED YOU
WE HAVE TROUBLEUNDERSTANDINGTHIS KIND OF LOVE.
IF YOU WERE A PSYCHIATRISTAND GOD WAS YOUR PATIENT.YOU'D TELL HIM
HE HAD TO STOP LETTING PEOPLEWALK ALL OVER HIM.
HIS LOVING AND FORGIVINGARE NOT NORMAL.
YET WE ARE ASKEDRATHER WE ARE TOLDRATHER WE ARE COMMANDEDTO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE
IN GENESIS
HE CALLS FOR US
TO FORGIVE FAMILY SQUABBLES.
MANY OF US KNOW HOW PAINFULAND HARD THAT CAN BE.GOD SAYS FORGIVE.
IN ROMANS
GOD SAYS
THAT DIFFERENCES
SHOULDN'T KEEP US APART
THAT MATTERS OF DIET
RELIGION
TASTE
POLITICS.
WHATEVER
SHOULD NOT CAUSE DISSENSION
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HIS CHILDREN.
GOD LOVES ALL OF US
GOD SAYS TOLERATE THE DIFFERENCES
IN MATTHEWHE PUTS US TO THE CHALLENGE.
THE CHALLENGE IS THISIF I GOD HAVE FORGIVEN YOUWHY CANT YOU FORGIVE OTHERS.GOD SAYS FORGIVEAS I HAVE FIRST FORGIVEN YOU
BUT HOW MUCHDOES GOD LOVE USAND HOW MUCHDOES HE FORGIVE US
PSALM 103 SAYS
AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS
ARE ABOVE THE EARTH
SO GREAT IS GOD'S LOVE FOR US
AND AS FAR AS THE EAST
IS FROM THE WEST
IS HOW FAR GOD
HAS REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GODTHAT KEEPS SCORE DOES IT
WE ARE TRULY FORGIVEN.WE ARE ASKED TO FORGIVE OTHERS.
I WOULD LIKE
TO PLAY A GAME WITH YOU
A GAME OF LET'S PRETEND
LET'S PRETEND
THAT YOU ARE HOLDING
AN INVISIBLE PENCIL
AND AN INVISIBLE PIECE OF PAPER.
WRITE ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER
ANY SIN IN YOUR LIFE
THAT YOU THINK
GOD HAS NOT FORGIVEN
AND FORGOTTEN.
OR WRITE ON THE PAPERANY LIFE SITUATIONANY WRONG DONE TO YOUTHAT YOU FINDHARD TO FORGIVE.
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME
YOU'LL HAVE SOME OF EACH.
WRITE THEM DOWN.
I'LL PASS THE COLLECTION BASKET
YOU PUT THEM IN.
FOLD THEM IF YOU WANT TO.
SO NOBODY CAN SEE
I AM GOING TO THROW THEM
OUT THE DOOR.
BY THE WORDS OF THE SCRIPTURE
I DECLARE
THEY ARE GONE
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
THEY ARE GONE
LET THEM GO
AND LET US TRY AGAIN
AND IF WE FAIL TRY AGAIN
AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN
TILL WE HAVE TRIED
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN TIMES
LET US TRY TO ACT
AS A LOVING
FORGIVING
PEOPLE.
AMEN
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