tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56234088506734065052024-03-15T20:09:58.597-05:00Sowing Seeds in the Wildernessor at least in the cornfields...Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.comBlogger623125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-74132765719155430742024-02-29T10:24:00.001-06:002024-03-05T10:25:36.225-06:00Destroyed ourselves, picked up our crosses, and keep following Him!<p> <span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I saw the confusion</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do not worry</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We had a bit of a printing error this week</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sarah printed the Lent 1 readings in our Order of Worship</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I assumed she had made a mental note about us celebratin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">g Quintard last week and just thought we were picking up with Lent 1</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It turns out Candida’s list of readings and servers had Lent 1 in there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The scarier thing, of course, is that three of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">us read it by Thursday of last week, and none of us caught the mistake</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I caught some footnotes and removed them, but I did not catch the readings</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The good news, though, is that you have all read what you would have heard</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at a church that was doing normal Lent 1 activities and heard what should be happening today</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I told 8am folks that they would help steer me for you</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I would preach on Lent 2, but I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">would be comfortable with the suggestion to back up a week</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was a unanimous recommendation that I </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">not preach</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a different week and sermon for you. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{4533f018-34b8-49a2-8de8-61975b223bc8}{56}" paraid="305482868" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I shared with them that at the beginning of the week, I wanted to preach on laughter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The OT reading appointed for the day deals with Abraham and Sarah being told that they are going to have a baby in their late 90’</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Their response is to laugh at God’s promise. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I know we are in the season of Lent and laughter seems inappropriate when we are bewailing our manifest wretchedness, but we never enter Lent without knowing how this story ends</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTBweCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIycHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMCAyIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgeG1sbnM6eGxpbms9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzE5OTkveGxpbmsiPgogICAgPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IFNrZXRjaCA1Ny4xICg4MzA4OCkgLSBodHRwczovL3NrZXRjaC5jb20gLS0+CiAgICA8dGl0bGU+aW5zaWdodF90ZXh0dXJlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9Imluc2lnaHRfdGV4dHVyZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+CiAgICAgICAgPGcgaWQ9Ikdyb3VwLTItQ29weSI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyIj48L3JlY3Q+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xLDEgTDUsMSIgaWQ9IkxpbmUtNCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjNzE2MEU4IiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjIiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJyb3VuZCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, in spite of ourselves.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> For some, the Gospel may produce a great deal of awe, but we should also understand the joy and laughter that should come as we revisit Holy Week and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">are reminded of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus’ love of each one of us, </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in spite of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> our wretchedness, and His Will to free us from the oppression of sin.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{994dad84-6aa9-4637-a6c5-c1a0275e8c95}{50}" paraid="25714436" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> By the end of the week, though, God had pushed me back into the Gospel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reading</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> again</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What made it ironic was the fact that Brian and Joshua and I did not do Greek this week, as Brian and Valerie were visiting their son out in Califor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Habits die hard, though, and I found myself playing around with my Greek even as the Church around us was struggling with what it means to be a disciple of Christ</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In that way, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">this is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">probably a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> vaccination against some of those discussions that dishonor Christ in the world around us and a bit of attunement for you to have ears that hear the questions asked by those wh</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">om you </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">encounter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in your daily life, work, and socializing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">At 8am, I warned them that all this was contingent on me being attuned to God and His message for us this day, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">but they all brushed aside that warning during coffee</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">So, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> worry that you do not have the reading</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> my job</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to make sure you can follow along.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6a2ed785-e4e3-4035-81ce-df4b95e4d8c7}{51}" paraid="1817159575" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Our assigned reading comes from the end of Mark 8</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That means it is right before the Transfiguration of Jesus and eight chapters after </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">most of the stories we read during the season of Epiphany</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Understand, Peter and the disciples have had eight chapters worth of watching Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and listening to His instruction</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just like you and me, they had their favorite miracles which proved to them that Jesus might be the Messiah, God’s chosen One to lead H</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have reminded us all repeatedly that Pilate put to death somewhere around 275 false messiahs</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What would it take for you to believe that this Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in light of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> all those false prophets</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">All those with Jesus have come to at least hope, if not believe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that Jesus is the One chosen by God </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in spite of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Roman oppression and </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in spite of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the false clai</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">mants.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f2ca435d-c584-4bd5-a11f-84a0d9ed231c}{237}" paraid="1750385478" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The story takes place in Cesarea Philippi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That is significant because it was a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> goal of Herod the great to turn the area into a destination city on the eastern side of the Mediterranean</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Can’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> get to Rome and see the beautiful temples there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Come to Cesarea Philippi and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">see glory that outstrips that of Rome</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As a reminder that people are people and that there is nothing new under the sun, the emperor </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">gave the city to Herod the Great, who </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">proceeded</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to undertake a marbelization of the city and to build a glorious temple to Caesar</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yes, politicians scrat</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ching each other’s backs and aggrandizing one another is not a unique, modern American problem</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the midst of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> these beautiful and popular pagan temples</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, Peter has confessed Jesus to be the Messiah.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2312a9d0-b40e-4970-b387-55b8b6b71b1a}{121}" paraid="41379401" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Like Peter, Jesus’ question is emphatically posed to you and me and every disciple who follows in the footsteps of Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As you are all tired of hearing, the Greek verb </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">contains</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the pr</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">noun su</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bject</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Think </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ego </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">eimi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">—I, I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">am. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">When Greek writers </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">add a pronoun to the verb, the pronoun is being emphasized</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus has asked all His discip</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">es who they think He is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He does not want to hear what others are saying, He wants to know Who those with Him think He is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2d2dfff1-ad55-4f2c-9c6c-d1b8720f75ba}{94}" paraid="1143830880" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The same question is put to you and me</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Who is Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus is not interested in us parroting what others say about Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He wants us to answer this question for ourselves</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our answers have all kinds of implications</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do we know what a Christ or Messiah truly </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is, if</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that is our answer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If not, why do we give it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If so, why do we not live our life as if we believe our own answer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Put a bit harsher in this season </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of Lent, if we believe He is who He says He is, why do we resist His authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Why do we not live as He instructs and commands us?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"335551550":6,"335551620":6}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{68b37ccb-edd0-4156-9213-da72f2c3cafa}{149}" paraid="1646420737" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> After that confession, Jesus begins to teach His disciples for the first time that He will go to Jerusalem, be betrayed by those in power in Jerusalem, killed, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rise from the dead on the third time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He will teach them this three times in total before the events happen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">All will struggle with this until it happens</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Rome excelled in killing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They knew how to make people suffer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And those whom they killed were not like Wesley in The Princess Bride, they were all dead!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{27472eac-ae60-4f2f-b66c-3c6273868970}{186}" paraid="1415731645" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Peter, who has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">witnessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> miracles enough to believe Jesus is the Messiah, then protests</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus rebukes Peter for saying something </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">along the lines of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> “Lord, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let this never happen to you.” We can all understand Peter’s statement</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Peter does not yet understand how God will be glorified in Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Peter expects a glorious King rather than </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Suffering Servant</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What’s worse, Peter knows that dead people do not rise from the dead after three days.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> It simply does not happen.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{5e6eaf2d-6b29-4bbe-9eb4-685ca8b8f9dc}{71}" paraid="1830151462" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> For His part, Jesus is rebuking Satan as much as Peter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Satan has tempted Jesus, as you all read in your Orders of Worship this morning, with the opportunity to avoid the pain and suffering and still </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">gain glory</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Unfortunately for Satan, but fortunate for you and me, Jesus understands that the glory offered by Satan is vain and pales in comparison to what God offers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">God will bless and raise Jesus, </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in spite of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the humiliation, torture, and death that He will experience precisely because He was obedient</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And that glory </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and authority </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He gives to Jesus </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">will be eternal</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If death cannot </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">contain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Jesus, what will?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{09beb468-8b82-45e2-83ce-fa4507980a72}{119}" paraid="775793002" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Make no mistake, though Peter and the others are well-meaning, they are absolutely wrong.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> If Jesus does not experience what He first tells them here, God’s plan of salvation will not be completed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he stakes are enormous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And they are so focused on the way the world does things, they cannot perceive that God has His own way of doing things</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">God values the suffering servant in a way that the world cannot under</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">stand nor tolerate, whether one lives under 1</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Century Roman oppression or 21</span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Century America.</span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6e70ffc4-7693-426a-8f55-acacdefa77a5}{222}" paraid="1571456398" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Then comes the meat in Mark’s story today</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">After the rebuke and reminding us that Peter’s and our efforts to protect J</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sus are of Satan rather than God, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus brings His disciples together and begins to teach them what it means to be His disciples</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those in the Church around us are still misunderstanding </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or willfully ignoring Jesus’ instruction, right? On the one hand, we have people proclaiming to be disciples of Christ insistent that God is calling them to rule in His Name, that we are being called as a nation to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">be a Christian nation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Such people unironically believe that America is the new Israel, the people of God, but are so out of step with what God demands and expects of His people that they miss</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the dangers inherent in such a claim.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> “Christian” politicians unironically claim that God has called them to rule in His name as He did the judges of old. Somewhere along the </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">long</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, they have forgotten the lessons of the Judges. Could they turn Israel back to God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? Every now and again. But really turn the people back to God in their hearts? No</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. That</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> was a task for Messiah. Somewhere along the line those politicians have forgo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tten Jesus’ instructions and Paul’s reminders, or simply choose to ignore them because they are inconvenient.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c61814bd-ea91-47c5-a9cb-9f596ff5c7c9}{188}" paraid="874904113" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Just to remind you, what happens when God’s people </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in the OT </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sin, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> repent, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> catch the warning signs or meanings of the curses, and willfully </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">continue on</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> their way? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Exile. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> God holds His people accountable. How often does God judge Israel for ignoring Him, for doing things according to the world’s teaching rather than </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">His</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> torah? D</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> we as a nation really want that kin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d of responsibility?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Do we Christians in America really want that responsibility and the consequences of disobedience</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And by the way, whose</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> denominational flavor provides the right seasoning for such work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I am guessing the ladies here and those men who recognize that women are created in the image of God might not think </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a number </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTBweCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIycHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMCAyIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgeG1sbnM6eGxpbms9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzE5OTkveGxpbmsiPgogICAgPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IFNrZXRjaCA1Ny4xICg4MzA4OCkgLSBodHRwczovL3NrZXRjaC5jb20gLS0+CiAgICA8dGl0bGU+aW5zaWdodF90ZXh0dXJlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9Imluc2lnaHRfdGV4dHVyZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+CiAgICAgICAgPGcgaWQ9Ikdyb3VwLTItQ29weSI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyIj48L3JlY3Q+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xLDEgTDUsMSIgaWQ9IkxpbmUtNCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjNzE2MEU4IiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjIiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJyb3VuZCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> recent </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">statement</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">by ”Christian</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">” leaders or politicians who self-identify as Christian represent the mind of Christ or in any way, shape, or form glorify Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do we want them governing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But I am equally sure they would not want me or you </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">governing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They think we cannot say a prayer unless it is written down nor do anything without a martini in our hands, right? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And heck, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> be honest, many would not even count </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">us as Christians</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As long as</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> we are so divided, who can best </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">represent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> God to our country</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Who can best </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">represent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> what are God’s instructions to His people and their own denominational rule?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cc17ca1d-ed8d-4080-a8be-8d79ef196886}{30}" paraid="2006380163" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Thankfully and mercifully, Jesus gives us the instructions in our pericope today, but He does it in a unique way</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now, teachers among us be patient</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We are going to violate the rules of English grammar</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Y</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ou and I are all big o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n subject verb agreements and avoiding tense shifts in our writings and conversations</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Greek is not bound by those rules as are we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark writes that Jesus gave three verbs to describe true discipleship</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Interestingly, the first two verbs are written </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in the past tense and the third verb is written as an ongoing action</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That means the first two are spoken of as having happened to completion in the past, but the third verb is ongoing i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">definitely</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Were we to be more faithful to Jesus’ words, and they would be in red letters in some Bibles, our translation today would be something along the line of denied yourself and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">your cross picked up, keep following </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Me. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">pesky</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> word we translate as deny is much stronger in Greek than English</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">almost literally</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> “destroy.”</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Now, I get why our translators use softer language, but Mark chose his words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to teach us what Jesus taught him and the other Apostles</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">“Dest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">royed yourself, picked up your cross, keep following Me.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{29cb7a42-74fd-4de8-9cec-3971362c29df}{48}" paraid="449738848" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> All of us have egos, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We all want to think we are super important to God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He proved that to us by coming down to us, living among us, and dying for our sins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We know just how much He values </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">each one of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and this is a hard lesson for some of us, He is unwilling to leave us as we are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just as we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> good</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> parents try </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">our best </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to help our children grow up to be goo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d adults, God is always parenting us to grow into the stature of how He created us before we chose our ways over His. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Put differently, our sin, and the sin of the world around us, has marred the glory</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> or blurred His image in us that He intended for each and every one of us</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to bear</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">!</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> But we get so attached to who we are in this world, we get so seduced by the false glory of the world, that we trade lasting glory for things the world values</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus reminds us here that m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ust be destroyed in us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He says it softer in other places – you cannot serve two masters, for example</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But Mark has no time for dissembling</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus in his Gospel is always </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">immediately</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> on the way to the Cross. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We must destroy ourselves before we can become truly Christ-like</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f1c32807-c9b6-433e-870d-638aab68e3d8}{33}" paraid="1185742125" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Luckily for us, we have the Sacrament of Baptism in our BCP</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">At our best, churches are always drawing people into relationship wit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">h Christ, we are always baptizing in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But in the course of that liturgy, we destroy ourselves, right?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We ask them if they intend to turn from sin and to God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Once they express their assent, the celebrant pronounces that they have been baptized into Christ’s death and promised a share in His Resurrection, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yet how counter cultural, and how counter </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">church here in the United States, is this idea that we destroy ourselves to become disciples of Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And the more privileged we are, the more comfortable we are, how much more difficult than for those oppressed or on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the margins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yet, what is </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> instruction here?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{028e36bd-2fa8-4261-9ad7-a5e831cdc090}{233}" paraid="1845151160" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The same is true for the picked up our cross</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I live in 21</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Century America</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We cannot understand the agony and the humiliation of a cross because it is simpl</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">y not part of our culture</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On those instances where we allow capital punishment, we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">endeavor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to be “humane.” We may differ over our definitions of humane, but we are not big into suffering</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our goal is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">generally to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> provide as quick a death and as painful a death as possible</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Rome had other goals</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They wanted those crucified to suffer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They wanted their loved ones to be humiliated by the punishment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Rome was </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">power</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Crucifixion is what happened when one took on the throne</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And there was nothing anyone could do to stop them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Even at the end, on what we call Good Friday, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">it appears that Rome</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> has conquered yet another messiah in Judea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Want to call yourself your God’s appointed ruler in our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Empire</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We will crucify you naked as a spectacle for all to see</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And there is not a thing in the world that you can do, or your God can do, to stop us.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We will nail you naked to a tree and no one, absolutely </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">no one</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, will help you.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{52818199-4b8c-4e59-a812-811c8fa58ff7}{50}" paraid="1730737983" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Cross bearing is hard, my friends</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Cross bearing is costly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is, as we would say using Mark’s grammar, what helps destroy us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The outside world sees it and mocks us for it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We get our fifteen </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">minutes of fame in this world by heroic or, far more likely, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">extreme</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and scandalous behavior</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But Jesus instructs us, those among us who have been baptized into His death and promised a share in H</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is Resurrection, to bear the pain, to bear the suffering, to bear the humiliation of a cross in imitation of His salvific work among us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How many of those “Christian” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">leaders bear crosses for Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How do they suffer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How do they alleviate oppression</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How do they call the world to the saving embrace of Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And we wonder why fellow citizens are repulsed by their clai</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ms to be “the one” or “the ones” to govern in His Name.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{0490beba-4e51-48d4-b051-9077bc71f54f}{96}" paraid="1687651776" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The good news, of course, is that Jesus instructed His disciples, all of us from Peter to those not yet born, knowing that we would fail</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus instructed us knowing we had stubborn hearts and slow minds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And still, He went obedient to that Cross on our behalf</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Still, He endured all that suffering and humiliation upon which we focus during Holy Week, that you and I and all in the world who were drawn to Him, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">might be freed from the oppressions of our sins and be reconciled to our Father, that we might become the person whom He created and fashioned when we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> were yet unborn, that we might become that image bearing child He wants us to be!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{1101ef4f-4c05-4418-a490-48d83862ff23}{124}" paraid="993718686" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Again, our Baptism and Eucharist liturgies reinforce this ongoing nature of following Him. Until He calls us home or until He returns</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, this</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> following Him is always ongoing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. We try to do those things He calls us to do, and we try to avoid those things He commands us not to do. What happens when we fail in either? </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTBweCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIycHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMCAyIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgeG1sbnM6eGxpbms9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzE5OTkveGxpbmsiPgogICAgPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IFNrZXRjaCA1Ny4xICg4MzA4OCkgLSBodHRwczovL3NrZXRjaC5jb20gLS0+CiAgICA8dGl0bGU+aW5zaWdodF90ZXh0dXJlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9Imluc2lnaHRfdGV4dHVyZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+CiAgICAgICAgPGcgaWQ9Ikdyb3VwLTItQ29weSI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyIj48L3JlY3Q+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xLDEgTDUsMSIgaWQ9IkxpbmUtNCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjNzE2MEU4IiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjIiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJyb3VuZCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We repent and return to Him and try again.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That call to repe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tance is in our Baptismal liturgy and our Confirmation liturgy. Nobody fails to be reminded of that call in our church! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The outside world cannot understand </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">what happens </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">as a result of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> God’s grace and indwelling Holy Spirit, right? “You mean you just say </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">you’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> sorry and try again? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> stupid.” Good, I see nods. Repentance is more than “I am sorry,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">” right? It means we recognize what we are doing leads us and others from God. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">W</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e will to turn back to God and do things or avoid things, trusting in His guidance and instruction even when we do not fully understand.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> And educated a bit by good preaching, we hope, encourage</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> by those in fellowship with us, and nourished by His Body and Blood, we are sent back out into the world to do the things He has given us to do. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We repeat that, we repeat Jesus’ instructions in Mark 8 today, </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">each and every</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> time we gather, right?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> But how many of us pay attention to it? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How many of us notice it? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And if we, whose very liturgy recalls to mind Jesus’ instructions from Mark today, pay no attention, how well do we think those in the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> wider Church, who hear only upon what the pastor wants to focus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, are reminded</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? And we wonder why “Christians” pick up guns to guard our borders </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and shoot undocumented immigrants</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and think it God honoring</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. We wonder why pastors con their congregations into buying them more jewelry</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and think it God-honoring. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We wonder why our local “Christian” politician thinks the meaning of Christmas is a family picture complete with their weapons. And we wonder</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> why others are not drawn to the love and mercy of God.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{9e8ce847-280e-40e5-825c-ada0abbca1d1}{135}" paraid="1960201881" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Thankfully and mercifully, my friends, the Church somehow makes Her way from generation to generation in history. I will sometimes joke tongue in cheek that THE biggest miracle </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">before us is that the Church still exists. God has depended upon men and women and boys and girls like you and me to share His Gospel. God has depended upon </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">men and women and boys</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and girls like us to destro</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">y ourselves, to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">destroy ourselves, to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">pick up our crosses, and to keep following Him. Yet despite our tendencies, despite our innate desire to do things our way rather than </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">His</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, still He continues His plan of salvation in the world around us! </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Heck,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> be honest. He carries out His plan of salvation through us, despite all our shortcomings, our sins, and even our disbeliefs. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He carries out His plan no matter how much we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rebel. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">uch is His </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">power</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and such is HIs mercy that He can use people like us to draw others into His saving embrace.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We, who know our faults, who know our sins, who know our failures intimately, can be used by God in His magnificent plan of salvation! All we must do is de</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">troy ourselves, pick up </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">our Cross, and follow the One, Jesus of Nazareth, who </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is the pattern of holy living, and who lived the life instructed by God, that all might return to Him. And freed from those pressures of success, reminded of His deep love for us </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">despite ourselves, you and I are sent back out there to draw others into this incredible promise and hope. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{206c67e3-679e-45e2-9401-889305ff1764}{172}" paraid="825924403" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> All of it begins with these instructions of Jesus. Destroyed yourself, picked up your cross, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">follow</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> me. The rest is truly up to Him!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d877099d-00e3-4437-8676-27d4c8b07641}{59}" paraid="904706703" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d877099d-00e3-4437-8676-27d4c8b07641}{69}" paraid="1810324965" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In His Peace,</span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW264921721 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW264921721 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d877099d-00e3-4437-8676-27d4c8b07641}{132}" paraid="1485510751" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Brian</span><span class="EOP SCXW264921721 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-74388467437419082722024-02-22T16:59:00.002-06:002024-02-22T17:00:49.555-06:00Adventers--lights in their generation in the midst of oppressive darkness<p> <span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Good morning. I am guessing everyone is really discombobulated </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">this</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> morning. I see those nods</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If the change to Lent did not get you, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or our observance of The Great Litany, or the unexpected readings that have nothing to do with Christ’s Temptations in the Wilderness, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">maybe you</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> just are not paying attention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As the calendar has it this year, we started Lent this past Wednesday</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But Friday was the Feast Day of Charles Todd Quintard, our second rector and the second </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bishop </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Tennessee</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I'll let y’all decide which role was more glorious in God’s eyes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I certainly think I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> know which one involves more work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Good, we are all laughing nervously</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We wanted both to mark Quintard’s life and witness and the beginning of Lent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some on the Liturgy & worship Committee asked about a return of The Great Litany, which differs from the Pe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nitential Order we have all come to love and expect during Lent, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For my part, I was a bit annoyed that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">it was phrased, “Can we use it like we used to before you got here?” I asked everyone when I got here to leave things unchanged</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was easier for me and my family to adapt to the way Advent worshipped than f</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or y’all to adapt to my preferences for worship</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yet here we are, nine years into this, and I am just hearing about something you miss</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">UGH!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{fdc7c54a-9ab6-42cf-b626-4b3aa96c536f}{193}" paraid="435327900" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> good you are laughing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It sounds like Carola</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">† </span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">put an end to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the use of The Great Litany during her interim period here</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">apparently could</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not tell her why it was used, and she rightly slaughtered what she thought was sacred cow</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at Advent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, something done for</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> no reason than “we’ve always done it this way</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">” But it makes for a memorable event today, as we gather in worship on the first Sunday in Lent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Make no mistake, given the number of us who did not make it to church on Ash Wednesday, neither I nor the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">members of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Lit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">urgy & Worship committee </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">had any false expectation that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> would turn out for a second weekday service on Friday</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I will not ask if our assumption was correct</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> For those newer to the parish and wondering about what I am </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">talking</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we have an </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> who is recognized by our wider church as a saint</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Char</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">les Todd Quintard is his name</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is understandable that you have never heard of him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I did not hear of Quintard until my second February here</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But once we finish today, I expect few of us will ever forget him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On the Wednesday noonday Eucharists we hold each week, I </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">had inherited</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the custom of celebrating the lives of the saints who have come before us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I simply look up the saint and readings and we learn a bit about their service to God and their neighbors</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">One </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">particular Wednesday</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> years ago, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I sat I my desk reading about Charles Todd Quintard</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The blurb about him in the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sancitorial</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">calendar began with the words, “Charles Todd Quintard was the second rector of the E</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">iscopal Church of the Advent.”</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">made it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a few more sentences before it hit me</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He was the second rector of the parish in which I serve as rector</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">To double check what I read, I went down the stairs there where we keep the portraits and picture</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s of former rectors and bishops</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sure enough, guess whose portrait is hanging there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Since then, we have celebrated his day as a patronal feast day of </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sorts, and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I do some digging to be able to teach us all more about him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{44}" paraid="1954285373" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Some of you gathered today might think it inappropriate to celebrate the life of a saint in the church during Lent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> worry, we will not be singing alleluias nor focusing on the manifestation of God’s gra</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ce in his life this year</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We will learn about him in the context of Lent.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{56}" paraid="1053485537" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Quintard was born in the northeast between NYC and Hartford</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He trained to be a doctor, and upon graduation from Columbia’s M</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dical Col</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">lege, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he moved to coastal Georgia to hang out his shingle</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now, y’all know doctors could not stay single for too long in the South during the 19</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Century, right? </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It did not take too long before an industrialist </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in the Savannah area took a liking to Quintard, noticed his bachelorhood, and made designs to marry a daughter off to this young doctor.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> After some </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> they decided to mo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ve west, and they settled here in Nashville where, once again, Quintard opened a doctor’s office.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{86}" paraid="1204916883" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Life </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">seemed to be</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> going well for them until Bishop Otey came to know young Quintard</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Bishop Otey was absolutely convinced that Quintard was called by God to be a priest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I suppose we would say that Bishop Otey’s disce</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rnment was proved correct</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That is not to say that Quintard was easily convinced</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Quintard liked taking care of people as a surgeon</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Eventually, though</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we would say God and Bishop Otey won out</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Quintard submitted and was eventually ordained a priest by Bishop Otey</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">His first call was to serve as rector of Church of the Advent at our Church Street address.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{102}" paraid="1805019534" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Those of you unaware of our history may be interested to learn that Advent is one of a handful of churches that have survived two moves</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our spiritual ancestors left what is now Christ Church Cathedral </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">over a fight about Pew Rents</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our predecessors disagreed with making people pay to sit in a box at the back of services, but most in the congregation could not conceive of any other way to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">budget</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Quintard inherited that bunch of what some in the church labelled as financially ignorant or worse.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{112}" paraid="38641212" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Quintard went to work and set about implementing this new strategy of why you and I think </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> as pledges, tithes, and offerings and living within a budget</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was, though, the 1850’s and there were other pressing concerns</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Chief among those concerns was whether God cared about the souls of slaves</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Under the leadership and encouragement of now Rector Quintard, Advent’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Vestry voted to allow their own slaves to come worship with them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In a perfect world, we know they would sit side by side and serve one another and worship God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Nashville and Church of the Ad</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nt</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in the 1850’s was not perfect</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yes, the slaves sat upstairs </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the balcony or stood at the far back</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">There was no intermingling</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in the 1850’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">were</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> very much into decorum</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Make no mistake, though, how counter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-cultural </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">allowing slaves to come and worship</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> were whispered about in Nashville</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Most were called “Yankee Sympathizers” by those in the diocese and in the city</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The ringleader of those Yankee Sympathizers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, of course, was Rector Quintard</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now, you and I might not think that Yankee Sympathizer was horrible name</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">calling by today’s standards</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, but place yourself in the 1850’s and 60’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Even</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in 21</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Century Nashville, the name Yankee is spoken with scorn</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Think of the division that existed in the countr</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">y that would lead to us killing one another</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">There were only a few worse nicknames, and those were not fit to print in newspapers and other documents</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And our forebears carried all that name calling in </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> daily life and work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Why</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Because they thought their slaves were loved by God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What a terrible notion, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But our forebears bore that cross in obedience to God and encouraged by Rector Quintard.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> men and their rector tried t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o join the local regiments</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Quintard, as you might expect, offered his services as both a chaplain and a surgeon</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> were denied the oppo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rtunity to serve. . . at first</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yes, even Quintard’s offer of service was declined. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As gathering and training of the 1</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Regiment continued, though, thos</span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e serving became more and more discontented that their commanding officers had denied them a surgeon and a chaplain.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> While there was no mutiny, there was grumbling and complaining</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A lot</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And the commanders eventually </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">figured out that they needed to allow Quintar, and other men of the parish, to serve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{2dca9494-5011-4205-b557-e25e67c6f47e}{250}" paraid="1086540668" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Those men were soon in battle in and around our area</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Perhaps the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> most famous battle might be the one up in Versailles, KY</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); 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I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> will leave it to our military historians to help us discern which were the most important or most vicious</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But Quintard found himself crazy busy tending to the medical and spiritual needs of wounded or d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ying soldiers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">most nutty</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> behavior in the eyes of some was his determined willingness to treat Union POW’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some grumbled that he was clearly a Yankee Sympathizer, since he off</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ered his services and counsel to the captured enemy, but few were willing to call him names to his face, for fear that they might one day need his </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">expertise</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">coun</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sel.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{505629bb-5776-46fd-b75c-110364a554b6}{29}" paraid="154518384" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Eventually, the war ended, and the veterans headed home to rebuild their lives, their communities, and their churches</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those who know diocesan history </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">pretty well</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> might remember that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Bishop Otey, beloved by most in the diocese, had died</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now that the war was over, Episcopalians needed a bishop</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And in a bittersweet part of our history, Rector Quintard was </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">elected</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to be Bisho</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">p Quintard, the second bishop in the diocese of Tennessee.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" paraeid="{505629bb-5776-46fd-b75c-110364a554b6}{47}" paraid="1927297465" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Those who know Episcopal Church history better might remember that our General Convention </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">continued to meet during the Civil War</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Famously, the northern delegates kept the seats of their southern brethren empty but </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">set up</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The hope in the church was that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">after the war, the northern and southern diocese would reunite. The work of reconciliation, though, as many of us know, is challenging, hard, cross-bearing work.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Some northern bishops refused to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">participate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in the consecration of a man who had served faithfully in a Confederate regiment. It makes sense. All they knew was that Quintard was</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a rebel or confederate. Then a curious thing happened. Northern bishops began to receive letters from Union soldiers who were wounded and/or ca</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ptured during the war. The soldiers wrote their bishop recounting how Quintard had ministered to their souls, even as he worked to repair their bodies. Some of those bishops</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> were moved by the letters of their soldiers and decided to go. And </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> when a strange and glorious thing happened. For the only time in the history of the Episcopal Church, we made page three of The New York Times. You know, open the first page and we were on the righ</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t side. No one had to go far to read about the consecration of Quintard as a bishop in The Episcopal Church. Better still, an </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">author</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> added the observation that, if </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he Episcopal Church</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’s deep divisions could be healed, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">perhaps there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">was</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> hope for our tattered and frayed country.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Think of that! The Episcopal Church gave hope to our nation at its darkest time.</span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{193c9338-403a-4cb8-ad0b-2bf5ddbd0d26}{34}" paraid="822784919" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Were</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the story of Quintard to end there, most of us would be impressed and proud, right? God, though, often does more than we can ask or imagine. Bishop Quintard’s f</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">irst work was the rebuilding of Sewanee. Sherman had visited it and burned it to the ground. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Quintard thought it absolutely essential that the school be rebuilt.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Education was necessary for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">personal growth, necessary skills, and any number of reasons. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> gave the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">initial</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> money for the construction of his bishopric on the Holy Mountain, as we locals like to think of Sewanee. Though faced with </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">priva</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tion, and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> serving in an area ravaged by war and carpetbaggers, Quintard was able to raise incredible sums of money. You and I can see proof of his ingenuity and dedication by taking a drive for an hour or so to our SE</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{f01788d5-141c-4a86-bafc-5c303527a03e}{238}" paraid="819047795" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Quintard was also assigned by the House of Bishops to stem the flow of freed slaves out of The Episcopal Church. Though the AME was not yet formed nor recognized, many freed slaves and their families </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">were leaving The Episcopal Church which, in the South, had supported slavery in most locations.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Agin, with his </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">mitre</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> out, Quintard set about raising funds to build what you and I consider the great historic black churches in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Out of breath yet</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, considering the work of our forebears and our former rector? Too bad, we are not done.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3276c12c-48ca-44b2-9ca0-0da57f5ffd74}{59}" paraid="689650473" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> In his conversations with freed slaves, Quintard came to the pastoral understanding that the freed slaves could not be expected to worship with the sons of the plantation owners who had raped the women in their lives</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, split their families, and whipped them like dogs. Though he lamented the need, Quintard built the first black seminary here in Nashville</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> on the campus of Meharry and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Fisk, where some of our modern Advent brothers and sisters work during the week</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Those paying attention to Rick Britton</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">†</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and I on Facebook this weekend may have seen him mentioning that it did not last too long</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Rick</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> is correct, but Quintard did</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">found</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> it to last forever. His heart was at Sewanee, the school he had rebuilt! He wanted all his priests to have the same experience of attending the glorious institution some of us might say he saved. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He envisioned a time when the sons of plantation owners and slaves could be reconciled in Christ and so lead the world in works of reconciliation.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2cc5b1ef-fe61-4417-a300-1769ea5a3fb4}{92}" paraid="448432224" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Those paying attention to geography</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> might have noticed I have left out the western end of the diocese. That famous </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjRweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgNCIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTYuMiAoODE2NzIpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2guY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPnNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9IkZsYWdzIiBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIHN0cm9rZS13aWR0aD0iMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIC0yOTYuMDAwMDAwKSIgaWQ9InNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPGcgdHJhbnNmb3JtPSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIDI5Ni4wMDAwMDApIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDMgQzEuMjUsMyAxLjI1LDEgMi41LDEgQzMuNzUsMSAzLjc1LDMgNSwzIiBpZD0iUGF0aCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjwvcmVjdD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Bishop Bill Sanders would not come around for more than a century. Quin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tard discerned he needed to pay closer attention to the other end of his diocese. He wrote the </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sisters</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of Humility in NY state and offered them </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">his bishopric, the one our forebears helped build. The sisters accepted his offer, and some moved south. The most famous of those who lived there was a nun named Const</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ance. She had some companions who died a martyr’s death, and who are remembered annual by our wider church, because they came to Bishop Quintard’s aid during the Yellow Fever in Memphis.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{106bb8dd-8fa5-4093-9a96-274e62bc248a}{166}" paraid="2074893254" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Imagine the God-incident at play in this! Quintard moves to Memphis. He is a bishop, and he is a surgeon. When the fever started scaring the rich and powerful to leave town, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">he had the heart to care for the “left behind” of Memphis. At times he treated, but his more significant work was keeping hospitals, schools, and orphanage</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s functioning. He wrote the convent at Sewanee; he published pleas for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">assistance</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in many </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">norther</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> newspapers. Amazingly, some of those former soldiers whom he had saved or shepher</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ded during the war, from both the North and the South</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> came </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> his call. For some, </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">they</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ultimate cross they bore was their lives. But we, the wider church, and those who have called Memphis their home</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> never </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">forget</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> their work and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">their</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> sacrifice.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{52b38849-0d03-46ab-b958-2698c39323c8}{41}" paraid="2137410133" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> There are, of course, lots of little stories to share. There are some failures and successes that may be suitable for other occasions. Today, though, we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjRweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgNCIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTYuMiAoODE2NzIpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2guY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPnNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9IkZsYWdzIiBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIHN0cm9rZS13aWR0aD0iMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIC0yOTYuMDAwMDAwKSIgaWQ9InNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPGcgdHJhbnNmb3JtPSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIDI5Ni4wMDAwMDApIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDMgQzEuMjUsMyAxLjI1LDEgMi41LDEgQzMuNzUsMSAzLjc1LDMgNSwzIiBpZD0iUGF0aCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjwvcmVjdD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ceelbrate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the First Sunday of Lent. We are in that intentional season when we focus on our sins, both individually and corporately, and of our need for a Savior. Today I have highlighted a time in our</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> collective history when racism and slavery plagued our nation and our community, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a time </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">when wars and rumors of wars were destroying our citizens </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and our lands</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, a time when there seemed never to be enough money to do the work it was obvious to which God was calling His people to do, a time when a pandemic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">killed thousands and scared however many more, a time when the rich and the powerful fled to their country castles rather than face the dangers afflicting those whom they had sworn to lead and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">serve, a time when privation seem to have the upper hand. But more importantly, I have descri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ed a time in which God called </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, men and women just like you and me, to fight evil in His Name, trusting that they would share in His glory because of their simple act of obedience.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I see no writings in our Archives that they expected to end slavery. I see no writings in our Archives that they expected they could stop the War. But they trus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ted in God that He would give meaning to their work, a value that would span the centuries!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Were</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I not to mention the Civil War, all those other evils I just </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">mention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> exist today. We watch and read of wars in Ukraine at the hand of Russian aggression; we see Hamas and Israel </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">trying to justify their brutal oppression of each other’s citizens with that gussied up phrase we all knew as children, “well, he/she hit me fir</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">st!” We are working through the latest version of the pandemic. We are dealing with issues of economic privation. In short, the evils to which our f</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rebears were called still exist</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> today. And like all those who came before us </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> this place we call Advent, we understand that our call is to labor faithfully and diligently until His return! We understand that we can answer His call on our lives to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">confront impossible evil in His Name, to remind people in our communities that this is not all that there is, that their loving father has entrusted us to bear the glorious hope and promise of His redemptive grace </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in our lives!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{82a0354a-ffc3-4450-b7f5-8ab234cd4911}{138}" paraid="308425889" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> My friends, we will not end food insecurity or modern slavery or economic privation or racism or any other of those evils we tackle in His Name </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and to His glory. We are not equipped. But because He is, and it is His Will to empower us and to share His glory with us, we know that we can tackle what the world thinks is impossible. We can labor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> like </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> who came before us, and trust that if we do not end the evil, He will One Glorious Day. But even in our failures, we know His redemptive power will be at work. An</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d just as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> who came before us were recognized as lights in their generation, God just might call the world around us to see Him in us.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{76807541-d708-425f-8651-0c383a507aaf}{59}" paraid="1925348763" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> If </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> can be instrumental in changing the workings of the Church, the attitudes of races to other races, to faithful service in times of conflict, t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o any number of the evils I discussed today, what </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">can’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> our Lord do with you and with me!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6bbd3877-9e9c-44ab-bd01-219105610bb0}{11}" paraid="695321042" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{022d1261-601d-4bbc-9da1-6e0c6f45b72a}{102}" paraid="1232065737" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In His Redemptive Power,</span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW9614473 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{6bbd3877-9e9c-44ab-bd01-219105610bb0}{24}" paraid="561211583" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Brian</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW9614473 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">†</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW9614473 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":279}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-38774445411950026872024-02-13T12:52:00.001-06:002024-02-20T12:53:56.706-06:00Transfiguration and the glorious intimacy to which He calls us . . .<p> <span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We stop our slow consideration of Mark 1 this week to speed ahead all the way to chapter 9</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It might seem out of place to us, particularly those of us who like to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">proceed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> linearly in the books that we read</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our lectionary editors, however, had theological considerations to address on this, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Church</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> we sometimes call it Transfiguration Sunday, but then we confuse ourselves as we sometimes read about the transfiguration twice in a liturgical year</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Certainly, the story has caused some questions for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jim Martin once challenged me how Mark knew the two figures were Moses and Elijah</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I told him I had always assumed it was clear from the conversation between them and Jesus or that the Apostles had later asked Jesus who they were on the way down the mountain. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I was fairly sure they were not wearing name tags, though, so I could not be for sure.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The Apostles finding out a couple names, though, always seemed no big deal to me; but it bugged Jim to no end</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Others have spent some time wondering about the word transfigured</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Why that word</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What does it signify</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And still others have wondered why Peter wanted to build tents, or why Jesus tells them to keep silent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I see a few nods</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maybe we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> will cover some of those questions this morning.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{29}" paraid="215700772" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I mentioned a second ago that our lectionary editors had theological truths to consider when crafting our lectionary</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have mentioned over the season of Epiphany that Mark is mostly concerned with the events of Holy Week</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just as we get much of our corporate memory from Matthew and Luke when it comes to the Nativity</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> get a great deal of our Holy Week memory from Mark</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That is not to say that all the Gospel writers are not concerned with everything, but rather that each writer had a focus and an intended audience</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For his part, Mark wants the reader and hearer to understand that Jesus’ work in Holy Week, on the Cross, and in the Tomb was the work that freed us from the oppression of sin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark even ends his Gospel with that “and they were afraid to tell anyone anything” line</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If the women were afraid to tell anyone that Jesus had been raised from the dead, how are we reading or hearing about it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But more on that in Holy Week.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{40}" paraid="328719395" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> One theological reason this is our reason today is that we are transitioning from the season of Epiphany to the season of Lent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In Epiphany, we focus a great deal on Jesus’ manifestation to the rest of the world</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Better still, good preachers remind us that we are called, by virtue of our baptisms and confirmations, to manifest God’s glory in our lives, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Beginning Wednesday, our focus will shift to our need </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the Savior</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We spend six weeks intentionally focusing on our sins, their consequences, and our need for someone to redeem them, as we can never begin to redeem them ourselves</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As I call you to a Holy Lent, I am hopeful that we will all spend time focusing on our habits or foci that cause us not to attune ourselves to God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">After six weeks of dwelling on our wretchedness, we are usually ready to celebrate Easter morning</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But the question will surface </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">time and time again</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, “How do I know that Jesus is the Savior?”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{51}" paraid="1784136980" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Skipping the Resurrection for a moment, which is the big answer to our question or reminder that Jesus really was and is the Son of God, look at Mark’s argument</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">At the beginning of Epiphany, I pointed out how Mark begins his book with Jesus coming to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptizer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark describes what happens as personal experience of Jesus rather than something </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">witnessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> by the crowd</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The heavens are torn open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the voice of God announces He is pleased with His Son</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Then Jesus begins HIs ministry on earth</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus faces HIs Temptations, calls His Apostles, and heads out in ministry </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">demonstrating</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> His authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yes, it should be obvious after 8 chapters who Jesus is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But human beings are human beings</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We often miss the obvious</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How many of us here today believe the whisper of the enemy or the false teachings of others that God is not active in the world today</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> some of us doubt God’s Will, Purpose, and Power despite the Resurrection and despite the unfathomable provision of Body & Soul in our own corporate life, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a big example of His activity in all our lives, and still we are blind or seduced by the enemy and the world.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{62}" paraid="1528342172" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Mark reminds us intentionally in Chapter 9, right before Jesus begins the big salvific work He came to do, that Jesus is the Son of God and that what is about to happen was God’s plan from the beginning</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus takes the four Apostles up the mountain and is transfigured</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The writer describes it as His face shining like the sun and His clothes becoming whiter than any fuller </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">could ever make wool</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I guess you and I would say today that His clothes became whiter than any combination of bleach and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Oxyclean</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and who knows what else could ever make our whites.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{73}" paraid="42539003" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Just as significant to the change in His appearance is the appearance of two </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">important figures</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Moses</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and Elijah</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Moses was known as the Lawgiver or Torah-giver, the one chosen by God to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt and into a closer relationship with God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The Pharisees with whom Jesus deals in the Gospel stories considered themselves the inheritors and arbiters of Moses’ instruction</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Elijah </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">represents</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the prophets and a significant messianic strand in Hebrew culture</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was Elijah who confronted Ahab and Jezebel in God’s name</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was Elijah who battled the prophets of Baal, once again </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">demonstrating</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> God’s power to Israel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It was Elijah who imparted the hard lesson that God is often heard better in the still, small whispers rather than the destructive tempests</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And it was Elijah who was carried up to heaven by the fiery chariots and fiery horses in the sight of Elisha and the company of prophets</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For that last reason, some thought that Elijah would return to lead God’s people out of oppression and into the blessed inheritance of God.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{84}" paraid="1274856973" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Not insignificant</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for us, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nearly 2000</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> years later, the fact that they appear to the Apostles and converse with Jesus is a foretaste, a reminder, that those who believe and trust in God will share in an intimate relationship with Him for all eternity</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What were they saying to Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We do not know</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark did not think the conversation was worth recording when he set his Gospel to pen and papyrus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark was concerned about what </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to happen in his narrative</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Namely, Jesus will be crucified for the sins of the world and make possible full communion with God for those who proclaim Him Lord</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The Resurrection will serve as the exclamation point on all of this, but all of Jesus’ ministry, miraculous works, and even this conversation with Moses and Elijah testify to that singular Truth.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{95}" paraid="1942584969" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Mark does tell us that Peter was terrified and did not know what to say</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Such a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> fear is understandable</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What happens when sinful human beings </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">come into contact with</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a Holy God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They are terrified</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How many times does God or His messengers, the angels, </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">have to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> tell humans not to be afraid</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Every single time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is the natural response</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The apostles have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">witnessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the glory of God in Jesus in a unique way.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{106}" paraid="79880452" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Make no mistake, Peter’s offer is not crazy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">There is a feast that takes place five days after the Day of Atonement called the Feast of Booths</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is a commanded feast, meaning that all native-born males were commanded to celebrate. The feast lasted 8 days</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those attending the 8-day feast were expected to offer burnt offerings and give thanks to the Lord for their deliverance from Egypt AND to look expectantly to that time when He would dwell again among His people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In other words, Peter rightly recognizes what is happening, even if His timing is a bit off</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus still has more work to do, but the result of Jesus’ work is that we will be restored to intimate communion with God, if we accept the Lordship and authority of His Messiah, Jesus.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{117}" paraid="294625536" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Now to the important part</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I know, I know</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is all important</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That Jesus is Transfigured by the glory of God, that the Apostles were allowed to see Him in some way as He was before He condescended to His Work as the Incarnation, that Moses and Elijah appear and converse with Him—it is all important</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But remember our discussion of Mark’s account of Jesus’ Baptism way back on Epiphany 1</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You better; it has not been that long</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark records that the heavens being torn open, the vision of the Spirit like a dove, and the voice were a private experience for Jesus during His Baptism</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">No one else heard or saw what Jesus heard and saw</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Following that, Jesus entered the wilderness for His Temptation and then began His earthly ministry</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">God’s people were supposed to discern Jesus by His work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Moses and the prophets laid out all the signs</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those really paying attention to God and His instructions to His people should have recognized Jesus as the Messiah</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those best positioned in theory, the Temple leadership and Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes, ironically are the ones who fight against the work and authority of God’s Messiah and will be the ones responsible for what is about to happen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But before this all </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">begins,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> those present see the glory of Jesus and hear the voice of God proclaiming Jesus is His Son and instructing them to listen to Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus has been patiently instructing them now for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nearly three</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> years</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Everything He has taught them is from God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now, as He instructs them that what is about to happen is also from God, they are to believe Him, that He will die and that He will rise from the dead</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have already mentioned how the story ends in Mark’s Gospel today, but we are all familiar enough to realize that none of the Apostles, none of the disciples, understand what Jesus means</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He will be betrayed by those who should know His identity and handed over to death, but He will rise again on the Third Day</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Were they to listen attentively, they would know that everything about to happen had to happen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But, like us, they are all too human</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They will not understand this completely until the Resurrection!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{128}" paraid="1238671472" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> But why do we remind ourselves of this story </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTBweCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIycHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMCAyIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgeG1sbnM6eGxpbms9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzE5OTkveGxpbmsiPgogICAgPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IFNrZXRjaCA1Ny4xICg4MzA4OCkgLSBodHRwczovL3NrZXRjaC5jb20gLS0+CiAgICA8dGl0bGU+aW5zaWdodF90ZXh0dXJlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9Imluc2lnaHRfdGV4dHVyZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+CiAgICAgICAgPGcgaWQ9Ikdyb3VwLTItQ29weSI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyIj48L3JlY3Q+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xLDEgTDUsMSIgaWQ9IkxpbmUtNCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjNzE2MEU4IiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjIiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJyb3VuZCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">every Last</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Sunday after the Epiphany? </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What is the truth and pastoral reminder that we need as we transition from the season of Epiphany into the season of Lent?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Though there are many different lessons for us to learn this day, I want us to pay particular attention to the intimacy to which God calls </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">each and every</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> human being</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I live in a world which loves tearing down the other</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We live in a world which likes to assert that if someone is not exactly like us, they are our enemies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Our two political parties have too many members who call members of the other </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">party,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> enemies and destroyers and all kinds of names</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">They call Americans enemies and traitors</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We live in a religious community who speak in the same way of other members of the Church in the same way, except we like to add satanic to those titles, meaning that if you do not understand God the way I do, you are clearly satanic, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I live in a world that sees conspiracies in high profile entertainment figures dating</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I live in a world that describes those oppressed by hunger, by ill-health, by homelessness, or by any other evil as lazy, stupid, or worse when it comes from “Christians,” accursed by God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I could go on and on, and I am certain the Holy Spirit has already helped you add to my list</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But we are reminded on this day before we head into that season of self-reflection that we are called to a glorious intimacy with God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I are reminded this day that it is the grace of God dwelling in normal people like you and me that makes us prophets, Apostles, and saints in the lives of others</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I are reminded that we were created to commune with God, to talk about all those things that interested us, like precocious child with a loving mother or loving father, but that we turned aside from that intended purpose</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And though we rightly deserved death for our sins, our Loving Father was unwilling to leave us separated from Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Does God take sin seriously</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Absolutely</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He takes it so seriously that He sent His Son, His Beloved, that you and I might be restored to His presence, that you and I might be able to look upon His face without fear, that you and I might dwell with Him and He with us, not for a few hours on a mountaintop or in church, but for all eternity! Best of all, He did all this knowing we would sin, knowing we would not see, and knowing we would not hear</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He did this knowing we could not do it ourselves!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{139}" paraid="952331433" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> As we head into this season of Lent with wars and diseases and economic privations abounding, with people calling each other names and unwilling to humble themselves before God, it might be tempting to us to ignore the glorious promise of the Transfiguration. But the glory of Christ’s Transfiguration stands much like our steeple here at Advent. Those of you who have been here forever are reminded that our steeple was built by our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ancestors in the dark ages to be seen all the way </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Antioch. Our steeple was meant to be a light in the darkness, a bright reminder that Christ was worshiped here! Our steeple was meant to draw others into that worship of God, that all might fight comfort and solace and freedom from the oppressions of their lives and hope in Christ for their futures. In the same way, as we enter what some think of as a dark season, you and I are intentionally reminded by the Apostle Mark of the glorious to which God calls </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">each and every</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> one of us and those we meet and serve outside these walls. We are intentionally reminded that Jesus did all this work knowing both who we were and who we could be. We are intentionally reminded when we may discover ourselves hard to love in our own eyes, that the eyes of our Father in Heaven and our Beloved Redeemer Jesus, we were loved in ways we cannot begin to understand. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And maybe, maybe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> if we pay </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">attention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> this day, we are reminded that we are no different than any of His faithful, that only One </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">truly understood</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Him, but that in believing in Him we might one day ourselves come to know Him as intimately as He knows us! And reminded of that truth, we ar</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e properly prepared to </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">enter into</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a Holy Lent, seeking to attune ourselves to the one who loves us and invites us to that loving </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and glorious </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">intimacy that illumin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ed the Apostles and those who have come since!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{150}" paraid="1519634112" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{161}" paraid="8807792" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In Christ’s Peace,</span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW186022995 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW186022995 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{866bf2ce-fe96-429d-8943-22813f0d1cab}{172}" paraid="391248600" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Brian</span><span class="EOP SCXW186022995 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Courier, Courier_EmbeddedFont, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-56358739555574368932024-02-08T10:47:00.001-06:002024-02-15T10:48:48.199-06:00Becoming the Image He calls us to be . . . <p> <span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> This week’s sermon runs the risk of railing at some in the wider church and not addressing the needs of our congregation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As desperately as I wanted to return to the OT, though, I became more certain as the week went on that I needed to remain in Mark’s Gospel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just to remind us of where we are in Mark’s story, we are covering only verses 29-39 of the first chapter today</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">literally been</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> mining the details of Mark’s first chapter, except for our quick sojourn into John, this season of Epiphany</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Last week, we looked at the question of authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">More specifically, I reminded each of us that only One Person in all human history should be authoritative in our lives: Jesus of Nazareth</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b26f916a-cfc2-4d1c-b879-dfbab68a92bb}{193}" paraid="1145169529" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> As I predicted last week, I had some fun discussions last week as people argued with what I said and with what I did not say</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Though I warned us all that my voice might not be the voice some of us would hear, some heard specific names mentioned</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">While it is true that I reminded </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that politicians</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, friends, bosses, parents, and who knows who else do not use authority for our well-being or benefit, I was not naming names</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those who thought I named names were listening to another voice, in some cases the Holy Spirit’s I think, trying to get their attention and draw them back to the truth of the Gospel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I have been here long enough that all y’all should know I have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">very little</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> trust in politicians as a class</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Most </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">seem to care</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> little for good governing and for our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">well being</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and too much for their own self-aggrandizing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Only Jesus proves Himself worthy of authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Only Jesus does what is best for those under His authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Only Jesus has the power to redeem our mistakes and sins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Everyone clear on my positions about authority and politicians</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Good.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{4}" paraid="2096282602" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Visitors are wondering what they missed last week, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ok</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You are all caught up on our consideration of Mark this season.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{20}" paraid="674341653" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> As soon as Jesus casts out the demon from the man in the synagogue, He leaves for the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">When they arrive, Mark tells us that Peter’s mother-in-law was </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">abed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> with a fever</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark relates that Jesus came to her, took her hand, lifted her up, and cured her</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We are told this story by Mark, in part, to demonstrate </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> authority over nature</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">These claims are coming quickly, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">immediately</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for those of you who pay close attention to Mark and like bad father jokes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In last week’s verses, Mark told us that Jesus had authority over Scripture and over the supernatural</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In Mark’s hurry to get us to the events of Holy Week, he will instruct us that Jesus has authority over everything.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{62}" paraid="1787395327" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We tend to downplay the idea of fevers in our modern world</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the age before the pandemic, many of us would go to work with fevers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We did that in part because our bosses expected us to attend, but unless our fevers are high, we tend to think of them as nuisances more than dangers to life, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the ANE, though, fevers were dangerous, or at least respected as potentially dangerous, particularly to the lives of the elderly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We know now that fevers are a sign of infection and that our doctors </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">look</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for the cause</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Fortunately, our doctors are </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">pretty good</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at diagnosing and treating the causes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But even today, with all our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">knowledge and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">expertise</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and medicines, if the cause of fevers </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">remain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> undiagnosed, they can become dangerous to life</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Medicines can treat symptoms but allow the underlying infection to ravage our bodies.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{114}" paraid="330776300" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> That ravaging was present in Antiquity</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Could Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l have had a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">low grade</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> fever because of a minor infection</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sure</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">She could also just as easily </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">had</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a higher fever signifying something far more dangerous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the end, it does not matter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">She is sick and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">abed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But her illness is costing her more than health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As we learn in the reading of the pericope, Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l is unable to fulfill her expected role as the matriarch of the family</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Worse, she is isolated from both her family and her support group of friends</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We like to think we are so much smarter than those who came before us, but those in Antiquity were much like us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">When people got sick, isolation was often practiced </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to prevent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the spread of disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We have learned, thanks to science, that not all infections are contagious</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But for those of us who have contracted COVID in 21st Century Nashville, what is the first thing we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">do.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We isolate ourselves from those who are especially at risk of contracting the virus, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Both times I contracted it, I did not come down here and celebrate the Eucharist because I did not want to cause y’all to catch it, especially those who are more likely to be severely affected by the virus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Y’all did the same for those in your lives, too, I hope.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{202}" paraid="419645493" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Isolation, of course, is one of the great evils of the pandemic</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As we continue to put some distance between the outbreak and today, social scientists are telling us </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">more and more</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> about the cost of isolation experienced by those around us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l could give us a similar observation, but with shame.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{334fc643-5efe-4ef9-8664-46225b0d9cd5}{224}" paraid="1653799981" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Many ANE cultures were honor/shame cultures, meaning they took claims of honor and dishonor very seriously</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">You and I live in a culture that has no shame, where many around revel in behaviors and attitudes that would </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">likely make</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> their forebears </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">grimace, but</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> make them money or fame</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l, as the senior woman in the family, would have had the responsibility of hospitality</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Those of you who have known Jewish matriarchs know what I mean</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If you do not know any, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">maybe think</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of Helen of the Armenian congregation that meets here.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{7}" paraid="1627436885" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The Armenian men would claim all kinds of authority both in private and public, but especially in worship, but were it not for Helen, would their celebrations on Sunday afternoon be as glorious as they are?</span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{13}" paraid="127425107" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Make no mistake, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">being in charge of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> hospitality does not mean one does everything</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just as Helen drafts volunteers and assigns them tasks, Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l would also direct family traffic</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Susan, make the beds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Johnny, set the table</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Peter, get the jug of red wine out</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">She would be directing traffic in the family to make sure that guests’ needs were met</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How do we know that this was what she wanted to do?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{51}" paraid="1330171251" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> One of the dangers I faced preaching this passage this week were some of the uninformed sermons being preached in our wider church this week</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Each of you would be shocked by the number of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">clergy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> who are preaching that Jesus sinned because He only valued her ability to serve Him and the other Apostles</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some of you might be surprised at the number of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">clergy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> who shamed Jesus in their sermons today for not letting the poor old woman rest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In some sense, I get the perspective</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Many of us are trying to be more attuned to misogyny in our lives and in the world around us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But as we reminded ourselves last week, Jesus is the only Person who uses His authority for our benefit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just as you and I were created in His image, so too was Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l and every human being we encounter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Heck, is there a woman at Advent who is unsure whether she was created in the image of God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I sure hope not</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I also hope we men understand that about the ladies in our lives.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{105}" paraid="1105353496" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> One challenge we have in this story is the nature of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the healing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If you or I go to the doctor, and they prescribe medicines accurately, how long does it take us to be restored to health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It takes time, right</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And even when our doctors are certain they have prescribed the right pills or shots, what do they still tell us to do</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> right, take it easy for a week or two</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For all our wonderful medical advancement, it takes time for the medicine to work and for the afflicted bodies to recover.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{135}" paraid="1853117965" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Look at Jesus’ healing of Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He takes her hand, and she is completely healed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Not only has the disease or infection and fever left her body, but her body is completely restored</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">She is herself, again</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Completely</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Totally</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Restored</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And how does she respond</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">She gets back to her role as the matriarch of the household by serving them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For his part, Mark uses the word from which we get the word deacon to describe what she is doing for the men</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We do not want to get too far ahead in our story and of how the word will come to be used to describe the ordained work of Funmi and Suzie in our midst, but we must also acknowledge that Mark could have chosen other words to describe her work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yet Mark intentionally chose a word in the church that is used by Jesus to describe the reason for His Incarnation and to describe all servant ministry done in joyful gratitude for what He has done for us and to His glory</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Understanding that, most of us would describe Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l’s service as a thank offering to God for what Jesus has done for her</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus has completely healed her, restored her, and enabled her to do those things about which she is passionate.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{201}" paraid="603704184" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Mark goes on to tell us that, as word spreads from what happened at the synagogue earlier in the day, the whole city gathered around the door of Peter’s house, bringing those who were sick and possessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just to remind you again, Mark is mostly counter-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">cultural</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> describing people as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">possessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> by demons</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jews were very accepting of the idea that demons and supernatural forces could attack them in ways to cause them to turn from their faith in Yahweh (think Job as THE example of this), but possession was not something </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">generally accepted</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> or possible</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark reminds us again that Jesus has power over the demons to force them to come out of those </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">possessed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and to remain silent, such is His absolute authority over the supernatural, just as He </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is able to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> cure many diseases because of His authority over nature.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{b50e5ba9-6c84-4a62-850b-f617bfe1e22a}{239}" paraid="1093486787" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> At some point, the crowd </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">thins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and everyone retires </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">for</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> sleep</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus, though, awakes before dawn and heads to a deserted place to pray to God, to attune Himself to the Father’s Will</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Once Peter and the others awoke and discovered Jesus had left, they searched for Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In response to Peter’s statement that everyone is searching for Him, Jesus tells the Apostles it is time to go to the neighboring towns to proclaim the message to them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark sums up all the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">subsequent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> work with the simple statement that Jesus proclaimed the message in their synagogues and cast out demons in their midst.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{7c8f73db-529c-4806-a321-2714bf61d74e}{18}" paraid="918480846" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> One question which came up in pastoral conversations this week was the difference in how Jesus uses authority and how other human beings use authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Part of the challenge for us reading and hearing Mark is accepting what we are being taught and told, particularly when our own experience is so different</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Adventers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> during the week complained that bosses misused their authority, that politicians from the “other” misused their authority, that clergy misused their authority, that commanding officers misused their authority, that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">pretty much anyone</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in authority misused or abused their authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mark and we should all say, “duh.” What do we expect</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is precisely for that reason that we all know the importance and example of Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus used and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">uses</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> His authority for our benefit, for our own sakes.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{7c8f73db-529c-4806-a321-2714bf61d74e}{54}" paraid="1248040302" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The Gospel, of course, would not be the Gospel were the news not even better than we first hope</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What is the benefit to us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Salvation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sure</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Saving us from Satan or judgement</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ok</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The real benefit of His authority, though, is His power and will to free us to be the human being He created each one of us to be, His desire for us to reflect His heart and His grace to those in this world who desperately need it, even if they do not yet know of their need. We rightly speak of Jesus as freeing us from the oppression of our sins, but that is only part of the work that He does for us, that is only part of the authority He wields on our behalf</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The wonderful news of the Gospel is that in the act of freeing us He also empowers us to be and do those things for which we were initially created by Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">When you and I focus on the freedom of sin or the going to heaven or whatever language we like to use in discussing what Jesus did for us, we sell His work on our behalf short, we forget the authority He has for our lives!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{7c8f73db-529c-4806-a321-2714bf61d74e}{92}" paraid="909993735" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> When we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">enter into</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> His family through baptism, He swears an oath with us that He will glorify Himself in our lives</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Christians use different language to express this</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some may say “Jesus or the Holy Spirit dwells in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">there</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> hearts.” Others may He empowers them for Kingdom living</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I think many</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> are striving to explain that Jesus not only frees us from evil but empowers to do His Will in the world around them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He promises to use the individual gifts with which He created us for His purpose of salvation in the lives of those around us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It is both </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a heady</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and humbling to consider our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">role, if</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> we are obedient</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Artists are freed to be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">creative,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> problem solvers tackle the issues that seem chaotic or unsolvable, exhorters encourage us, intercessors pray, those like Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l host and serve, and the list goes on and on and on and are as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">numerous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> as there are individuals</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Somewhere along that path we call sanctification or attunement to God in our lives, we begin to realize the possibilities, the freedom, and the sheer excitement of being used by the Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, to manifest His grace and love in the world around us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And because He </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">seems to take</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> pleasure in exercising His redemptive power in our lives and in the world, we can tackle any evil to which He directs us confident our labor is not in vain, that if we screw something up with the best of intentions, He will gladly and joyfully redeem our mistakes!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{7c8f73db-529c-4806-a321-2714bf61d74e}{164}" paraid="112498554" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Some of you listening today are skeptical</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I get it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We have all had bad examples of authority in our lives</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">And many of us are fearful of the freedom exemplified in Peter’s m-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-l today</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Too many of us worry we lack the right words or the right training or the right perspective to be of significant use to our Father in Heaven</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus’ Will to stay on the Cross </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in spite of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> our fears and failures testifies to His certain love of each one of us and to His longing desire to use </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">each and every</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> one of us to His glory</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Certain of His Will for us and Redemptive power, we are </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">truly free</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to do the work He has given us to do</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How we are used depends on our discernment, our attunement to Him</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But I was reminded in my sermon prep this week of a theologian’s discussion of this I had not heard since my days in seminary</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A great place</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to start is in those </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">places</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> your passion and the world’s great need meet, where you have eyes to see and ears to hear the need of His Light and His Truth for the benefit of the world</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Where is that place for you</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What evil has He given you passion to work against, speak against, pray against faithfully in His Name</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What He has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">demonstrated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to us as a body confronting hunger in His Name, He is willing to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">demonstrate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to you and to me individually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Best of all, He has promised to exercise that authority given to Him that we might become those heralds of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Gospel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> He created us to be, long before we ever knew Him or the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">authority</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> He wields for all our sakes!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{a3609d37-1a18-438f-89d5-7f0194273d7c}{5}" paraid="143955947" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.575px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{a3609d37-1a18-438f-89d5-7f0194273d7c}{9}" paraid="628830135" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In His Peace,</span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335559738":0,"335559739":0}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW81784342 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW81784342 BCX0" paraeid="{a3609d37-1a18-438f-89d5-7f0194273d7c}{15}" paraid="738692707" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Brian†</span><span class="EOP SCXW81784342 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 26.7375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-37973951675291010252024-01-30T12:36:00.000-06:002024-01-30T12:36:09.158-06:00Whom do you serve? Or, Whose Authority do you trust?<p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">This was
one of those weeks where I knew where God wanted me to be focused and I was
fighting Him every bit of the way.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">You
might ask why?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you knew where God
wanted us to focus today, Brian, why would you ever argue with Him? </i><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Of course, if you are asking that
question aloud, you are clearly new to the parish or visiting.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Adventers who have been attending for more
than a few months understand that I, but I am certain many clergy, spend significant
time wrestling with God.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I like to think
it’s conscientious or good clergy that wrestle with Him the most, but of course
I would think that, right?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s ok to
laugh.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">There’s more than a kernel of
truth in that statement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My real
wrestling with God was over the follow up work, the pastoral care we would say,
as people hear my words and start their own wrestling with God over the
question raised by Mark today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
illustrations that I assume God gave me rather quickly are low hanging fruit,
but I recognize such low hanging fruit will challenge some of us to be
reflective in ways that we do not like to reflect upon ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are often loathe to look at ourselves
through the lens provided by Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Occasionally, we might reflect in Lent because we HAVE to, but in
Epiphany?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that is to say please pay
attention to what I say and what you hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I say it, please, come on in and let’s hash it out together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I don’t say it and you hear it, realize
your real fight is with God and not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are still welcome to come in and argue about it with me, but, if I
do my job well today, the Holy Spirit is the one dishing out the spiritual
wedgies this week!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pick up
Mark’s Gospel this week all the way in verse 21 of the first chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have spent 1 week of Epiphany in John, but
the rest of the season has been spent in Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mark has skipped the birth of Jesus and picked up with Jesus’ Baptism by
John the Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand that
Jesus is the Messiah because Mark has already written it for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those around Him, though, do not yet know
what to make of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has faced
His Temptations in the Wilderness and, upon the imprisonment of John the
Baptizer, has begun His earthly ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has started calling fishermen with the promise that He will make them
fishers of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazily, they have
answered His call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this happens in
just 20 verses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus and
those who have accepted His call to follow Him now go to Capernaum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells us that on the Sabbath, Jesus
entered the synagogue and taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells
us those in the synagogue were astounded because He taught as one having
authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as a society have just
come off a scandal of sorts regarding plagiarism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us outside academia probably were
not too invested in the charges leveled against the former President of Harvard
and the wife of the hedge fund manager because we are not academics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Original thoughts are the big value that
scholars contribute to the wealth of knowledge in any given field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an expected credit given to those
whose thoughts subsequent scholars quote or paraphrase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rabbis and other teachers in Israel were
famous for building upon the work that came before them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plagiarism was almost impossible because they
fastidiously reminded people that this rabbi said this and that rabbi said that
and another rabbi said this and they were adding to that understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A rabbi generally hoped to be included of the
line of rabbis or scholars who taught something because his insight was revered
or foundational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus does
nothing of the sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claims to know
what God said, why He said it, and what it means for the life of those who
follow God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you all know from other
Gospel stories, Jesus was critical of the priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, rabbis,
scribes, and anyone else who knew God’s instructions and calls and did not live
accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called those men
hypocrites, white-washed tombs, and other names which helps explain their
opposition to Him, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not know
from which scroll Jesus taught on this particular Sabbath, but those in
attendance, who do not yet know Jesus’ role like we do, were shocked by His
authoritative teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do they
respond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells us that a man
possessed by an unclean spirit immediately cried out asking Jesus what He has
to do with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand the scene
that Mark is describing on a superficial level, but let’s look deeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the man represent all or most of those
in attendance at the synagogue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the
demon simply refer to other demons among the congregation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the demon mean collectively all those
who rebelled with Satan against God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Possibly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the demon
could be referring to those possibilities and others we do not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century Western
Educated city of Nashville, some of us are probably unhappy about the thought
of spiritual warfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Paul writes
about it, but we sort of file it away in the “things they did not understand
well” file that we like to create to explain things in Scripture with which we
are uncomfortable, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s blame
mental illness or anything but demons, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily for us all, I am not called to preach on this today, but I will
remind you that Mark treats demons as real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More importantly, Jesus treats demons as real.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark is
counter cultural, though, in presenting demons as capable of possessing another
individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of our Hebrew ancestors
understood that demons could attack God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would say Job is the prime example of such
an understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Demons could and
frequently attacked God’s people trying to harm them in a fit of rage or to
turn them from faithful adherence to the torah of Yahweh; but, for the most
part, possession was not widely considered or accepted in that culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice how Mark describes this as a possession
and treats it like a disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for
lepers, do we blame people when they have a virus or cold or cancer or
whatever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have enough medical types in this
congregation to understand even lepers should not be blamed for their
disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, Mark is not laying
blame at the foot of the man in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His words are the responsibility of the demon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man is oppressed by the demon judge as
other are oppressed by poor health or poverty or any other oppression we might name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice,
too, Mark’s description of the spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He calls it an unclean spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unclean should call to mind our understanding of the purity instructions
in the torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One had to be clean in
order to come into the presence of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other side of that coin was that uncleanness meant that one was cut
off from God and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the
menstruating woman who grabs the fringe of Jesus cloak or the story of the Good
Samaritan where the “religious guys” avoid the possibly dead body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncleanness was spread from person to person
and required time, energy, and resources in order to be purified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Y’all remember those and other such stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This spirit, Mark says, means that the man in
question cannot be in the presence of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a spirit, we might say, that destroys the intimacy with God that
He desires with each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
neither Mark nor Jesus blame the man in this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing
our deep dive, the unclean spirit names Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In antiquity knowing a name meant having power over someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we hear that phrase, we probably
understand it wrongly and think that someone is able to compel another person
by their name, like some sort of controlling magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what is being described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us our married, and all of us know
married people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we men get too puffed
up in ourselves, because we all know the ladies here never have that problem,
what do we think when our spouses say they know us better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are laughing a bit, and yes, gentlemen, I know the ladies can
sometimes behave like us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let’s be
fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a gender, we struggle with
that, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you had that gulp in
your throat or remember such conversations in your past, you understand what
the demon is implying here—you have also learned, in part, why God uses “to
know” when describing many sexual relationships in the Scriptures and why He
chooses to use marriage as an illustration of the intimacy to which He calls
all humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The demon is claiming an
intimate knowledge just as a husband or wife has intimate knowledge of his or
her spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a question that we can
at times consider when thinking about spiritual warfare.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the
demon know who Jesus is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He adds the “Holy One of God” title at the
end to make it clear that he thinks he knows Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the demon is really a fallen angel, it
makes perfect sense, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as it
makes no sense that the man in question, unlike us, does not yet know who Jesus
is or His mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, and this is a
pressure point in these discussions, does the demon understand what Jesus is
really doing right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that, I mean,
the demon clearly understands that Jesus has the power and authority to destroy
him and them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is that why Jesus is
the Incarnate One at this time in salvation history?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus came to save this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When He returns in power and glory, that will be when He judges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So is the demon correct that He has intimate
knowledge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells
us that Jesus silenced the unclean spirit and made it come out of the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice again, Jesus does not act according
the authority and power the spirit rightly understands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than destroying the demon then and
there, Jesus commands the demon to leave the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the demon cries in a loud voice, it
cannot disobey Jesus’ command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice,
too, Mark’s use of that cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked
at the beginning of Epiphany how our categorical over-simplifications of
Scripture are not always accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John
is thought of as the poetic and thoughtful Gospel writer; the others are more
simple storytellers, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, as I
have pointed out, those simple storytellers have a literary flair, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark is creating another one of those
literary bookends in his Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
will a loud voice cry out again in his Gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right, when Jesus gives up His spirit on the Cross in fulfillment of His
mission to save us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to
chapter 1, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does the crowd
respond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, they are amazed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian and Joshua can tell you about the
difference in the two words used by Mark in this pericope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our purposes, though, we understand they
are amazed at Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, Jesus has
demonstrated authority over the supernatural realm, and the demon has obeyed
Him command.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark’s
Gospel today causes us to face the question of authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in a country that is suspicious, if
not outright hostile, to authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tiktok and YouTube are full of videos of people who refuse to listen to
any authority, be they police, teachers, airline personnel, parents, you name
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in a country that is full
of everyday thoughts and reactions to authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of our candidates for the office of the
President has made four years of claims that he is the rightful authority, that
Republican and Democratic poll workers, normal people like you and me but of
differing political party affiliations, conspired together to steal the
election, to steal his authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
consequence, we have a swath of Americans who believe the current authority is
not really the authority, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse,
the means by which we correct our government, voting, has lost its authority in
the minds of some.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chuckled
early this week when a former co-worker and friend posted the newest nonsense
out of Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Governor signed an
executive order that plagiarized the language of previous proclamations that
led to the Civil War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, it’s Texas
and I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karen and I lived there a
few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greg and Jeri lived there
longer and I am sure have far more tales to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one of the newest consequences impacts
the Church because a group of “Christians,” I use the air-quotes intentionally
because of the “call,” are taking it upon themselves to pick up their weapons
and go defend the border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went looking
in my translations of the Sermon on the Mount to find that verse where Jesus
instructed His disciples to pick up their AR-50’s and shoot immigrants in His
Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not in my KJV nor my Greek Bibles, and I
am certain it is not in any of your translations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But their claim is that God is giving the authority
and responsibility to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Locally, we
are fighting over taxes and how to pay for a football stadium for a billionaire
owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is in charge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who gets to decide?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who has the authority?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our school boards are fighting over what is
taught and who gets to teach it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again,
who has the knowledge and the authority to do what is best for the youth in our
community?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
churches are not immune to such struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are far too many “pastors” who seem to think the flock exists to
serve them or empower them in some way, rather than it is they who are called
to model Christ’s behavior by serving, discipling, those in their cures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could go
on and on with examples of us questioning authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assume the Holy Spirit has reminded each of
you of your own personal examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
you have chafed at a boss or rebelled against a parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not matter because our questions of
authority are questions of trust and of power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who can I trust, and who can accomplish those things with which I entrust
them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all ask those questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our fear, part of our worry is that,
when we are truly reflective about ourselves, we understand that we would not
entrust levels of authority to ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if we cannot trust ourselves, then who can we trust?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully
and mercifully, the One person in all history who truly served you and me and
all humanity is the same One who has power to accomplish all that He
promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, He wants what is
best for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All authority
under heaven and on earth was given to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did He use it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To redeem each
one of us and all those in the world we encounter out there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know He loved us because He had to will
Himself to stay on that Cross even when Satan and we crowds tempted Him to come
down and save Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remind
ourselves in Holy Week that He was so focused on doing the will of the Father
that He refused the sponge that was meant to help numb the pain and relax the
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know He did all of that knowing
we would be who we were and are, that we would sometimes glorify Him in our
lives and often dishonor Him despite His work for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is precisely because of His Will and focus
that our Lord gave Him all authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, how often do we
bristle at His instructions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often
do we dismiss His claims on our own lives because we are still in rebellion
against Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often are we those
“Christians” who give no thought to the dishonor we try to bestow upon Him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understand it is hard to accept authority for some of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even understand the reasons why many of us
balk or chafe when someone takes authority upon themselves to do what is best
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you and I have been called
by the One person is this history of the cosmos who has used the authority
given to Him to save you and me and everyone who has ever or will ever
live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have, in the waters of baptism
and the laying on hands by a bishop in confirmation, accepted that call and
pledged ourselves to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call Him
Lord and Master and other authoritative words because He has earned those
titles in our eyes and hearts, and we have chosen to try and do as He
instructs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And such is His love and
grace for each one of us that, when we call Him those titles, He acknowledges
their truth but reminds us He calls us friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving Him
such authority in our lives is cross-bearing and counter-cultural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world has its understandings and wisdom,
but it fails utterly when compared to God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have seen how a food pantry run the way God would run it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the wisdom of the world correct?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have we really been teaching people to be
lazy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if someone has been stealing
from God, are the others we are serving going hungry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of our discussions of local restaurant
owners and their discovery that the economics of the restaurant world are not
nearly as good as the economics of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We know these things and so much more, and we still fail to trust Him in
all that we do; is it any wonder that those who do not know Him make such
terrible decisions and oppress others?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel
news my friends is that the One person who demonstrated His love for you and
served you at the cost of His life is the One to Whom all authority has been
granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All authority!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No exceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not a singular cubic inch of this
expanding 16.2 billion light year across cosmos that is exempt from His claim
of authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for reasons known only
to Him and to the Father and to the Son, they have called each one of us into
an intimate relationship with them, that we might manifest His glory in the
world around us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has authority
over every aspect of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His is
our Lord in the workplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is our
Lord in recreation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is our Lord in
school, and on the highway, and in our homes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everywhere we go, He is our authority.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
even better news of the Gospel is that such is His authority that there is no
end to what He can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark reminded us
today that Jesus is the authority of the torah and of the supernatural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is His authority that He can take
sinners like you and me and turn us into saints in the lives of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can take the human beings that we were
when we first made our claims to submit to His authority and transform us into servants
who manifest His heart to those He is trying to reach in the world around
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, Jesus has authority to
take men and women like you and me and transform us into those whom He calls
friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whom or
what will you serve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The powers and
principalities of the world which seek to oppress you and those whom you know
and love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who claim authority for
themselves and make you live according to their whims or false wisdom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or will you do your best to serve the One who
died for you and promises in His authority that all your sufferings in His Name
will be redeemed and that, as His friend, you will share in His glory forever?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-30415518853100496092024-01-23T14:16:00.001-06:002024-01-23T14:16:14.663-06:00Keep on repenting and believing . . . and you will manifest God's glory around you and discover faith.<p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I know some
of us get tired of me using Body & Soul as an illustration of God’s
redemptive grace in our life together.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some have said overuse.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But I
have a new one today!</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The last time we
had a significant snowstorm was my first year here.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I held services, and only a couple people
could attend each service.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But now,
thanks to the pandemic, look at everyone online!</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We are old pros at using digital platforms
thanks to the beginning of the pandemic and our continuing use of hybrid
services.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And I see a couple folks are
not sharing their camera, which tells me some are still in their jammies and
have really mastered this new technology.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">See, they would turn on their cameras to prove me wrong, right?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Can you imagine being able to gather more online
than in-person 9 years ago and being able to worship and be comfortable enough
to laugh together?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Me either.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But God is good all the time, right?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s good
that we have that illustration because I was fairly confident where God was
calling me to preach this week, but I could not, for the life of me, come up
with any illustrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, that meant
my sermon would be more like a homily, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And there is a bit of irony in that because today we get Jonah’s 8-word
sermon that causes the city of Nineveh, the largest city in the Assyrian
Empire, to repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I am way
past 8 words already, so you know I was probably not called to preach on Jonah
today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading
from Mark today takes place after the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We jumped from Mark to John last week, and
this week we jump back to Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice a
couple interesting tidbits from Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is the precipitating event that causes Jesus to begin
preaching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrest of John the
Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who like dates
will not be happy about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But part
of Mark’s teaching is that God is behind all of this, that God sets the date,
that God calls Jesus out of seeming nowhere, and that God’s idea of a Messiah
differs radically from Israel’s understandings of a king with military or
supernatural support casting off Roman oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What matters to Mark is that this is all
God’s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the beginning of Jesus’ ministry does
not begin until the one crying out in the wilderness has completed his mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Mark
tells this with an interesting flare or use of literary device, our wordsmiths
might say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word which our
translators call “arrested” really means “handed over.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark will bookend his Gospel again by using
the word toward the end of the book by stating that Jesus was handed over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that when we get to Holy Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember it, too, when we celebrate the Eucharist
in a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remind ourselves each
time that Jesus was handed over to suffering and death, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark says
that Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God and saying “The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, we are reminded that God is as much in
control of time as He is of anything He created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John the Baptizer has been handed over, so
now Jesus, God’s Messiah, can get on with His work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’
announcement that the kingdom of God has come near has been the subject of
great debate and conjecture in the Church, and not a few PhDs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does Jesus mean by that statement, and
why does Mark not clarify it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it
mean that Jesus, the Incarnation and Son of God, has physically come near?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Mark skips the Incarnation bit at the beginning of his Gospel,
though we learned from at Jesus’ baptism that the Father called Him the Son and
was well-pleased in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complicating
matters more, how is Jesus’ kingdom coming near in any way, shape, or form a
kingdom in our own minds, let alone the minds of those who heard Jesus’
voice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rome was still in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse, by the end of the story, Pilate does
not consider Jesus’ claim to be God’s King a threat to the emperor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine, a governor who has put to death more
than 200 false messiahs is of a mind to flog this one, the Messiah, because He
is not a perceived threat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth, of
course, is that God’s kingdom is not like the kingdom of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its King truly cares about His subjects and
goes so far as to lay down His life for His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His kingdom is not oppressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we would say His kingdom is the very
opposite of oppression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
semicolon in our translation comes our focus today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will warn you that this discussion could go
on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in seminary at Wycliffe
Hall in Oxford, we had a rousing discussion about this, so much so I ended up
doing my final paper on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that is
to say, I am overprepared and will touch on the highlights, but feel free to
come in and argue or discuss with me as you are interested.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
instruction given by Jesus we covered back in our discussion of our Lord’s
Baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Greek word for baptism has
a physical component that English has lost, or rather we have lost through poor
discipling in the Church, I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear
repentance and think “I’m sorry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
only half the equation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance
rightfully describes that’s that true sorrow in Rite 2 language or bewailing in
Rite 1 language that we hold towards our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, and this is the big but, the Greek word also reminds us that we
turn toward God or turn toward His ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We begin that turn toward Him in our liturgy by repenting of those
things we did which sinned against God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we ask God
to send His Spirit to confirm us or strengthen us in goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we are immediately nourished by His Body
and Blood, reminding us of the handed over for our sakes and His Death, His
Resurrection, and His Ascension, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This understanding of repentance, turning from our selfish desires and
ways and to God, was so important that the Church, in Her guidance by the Holy
Spirit, has always incorporated that turning in Her liturgy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put more
bluntly, and perhaps in the language of our time, what would people outside the
Church think of us if we were truly sorry and truly trying to do what God said
to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would those outside the
Church think of us were we more concerned with our sins and prayers to do God’s
Will and less concerned with telling them they were going to Hell?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
beautiful aspects of the Greek, which only Brian, Larry, and Joshua know, or
knew, is the on-going nature of tense used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>English teachers among us would describe the verb as present, active, imperative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t panic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are not going back to the nightmare English classes of our
youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In English, we rightfully
translate it as a once-off command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus is instructing those in the sound of His voice to repent, turn from
their selfish ways and to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
beauty of the Greek, though, is that it is also can be a continuing action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, “Keep repenting.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does “Keep
repenting” suggest to us that we lose in the often preferred translation of “repent”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one, it reinforces Jesus’ instruction
that He did not come to judge, this time, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reinforces the Church’s understanding that
this is an on-going process in our lives, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only come to a Eucharist when we are
repentant before God and at love and charity with our neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single time we celebrate the Eucharist,
we say the Confession and we pass the Peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every single time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit
and instructed by Jesus, understood that repenting is an ongoing action for
those who follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until we die, we
are always repenting because we are always sinning, sinning against God and our
neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This process continues our
whole lives, a process we come to know as sanctification, but a process that we
learn and inwardly digest is an evidence of grace in our own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know who we are, if we are honest before
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the world thinks we are
righteous or holy, we know it is not our work but His in us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in case
anyone is feeling a bit depressed that they sin a lot, you are in great
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all sin a lot, whether we
share our sins with each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of
the Bible’s instruction for us is how God uses men and women just like us, full
of all kinds of desires and fears and whatevers not of God, but who honestly
agree to do His Will, accomplishing great things in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think Peter or Moses or Abraham & Sarah
or Jacob or Matthew or Paul or any other of your favorite biblical heroes ad
heroines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as He worked through
them, He can work through us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that
work begins with our repentance, our continuing repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second imperative
given by Jesus in this clause is the “believe in the Good News.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the first commandment, this one can also
be faithfully translated as “Keep believing in the Good News.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s where the real fight begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In English, we conflate faith and belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My guess is that if I asked each of you
online or in person to explain the difference, you would struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not ask for a show of hands, but I see
some nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ok, all of us have that
struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, I said their were
doctoral theses on the distinction and not a few passionate discussions in
classrooms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How to
differentiate quickly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Belief is a kind
of intellectual assent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I
mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s take a couple examples we
all know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who are science
oriented understand that physicists, astrophysicists in particular, assume that
gravity is the same everywhere, the force of attraction between two masses is
constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they call that force
of attraction the gravitational constant, and it is plugged in as such in all
kinds of formulae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use it to plan
orbits of satellites and discover planets and moons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They, and we, believe gravity is
constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But do we know it is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our universe is about 16.2 million light
years in diameter and expanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
sent probes around our solar system and are pretty confident that in our solar
system the force of attraction is constant, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We science as if it is, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how can we know what the force of
attraction is around Alpha Centari, our closest neighboring star at just over 2
light years away, let alone black holes or quasars or somewhere near the
perceived edge of the expanding universe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And for that matter, if gravity is constant, why is the universe still
expanding?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s look
a little closer to home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in an
election year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part, our
country breaks down into two beliefs, two widely accepted ways to govern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize that I am oversimplifying, but I
want to make this short. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general,
Republicans believe that smaller government is better, that citizens can and
should govern themselves and their communities better because they know their
needs and strengths better than those in a centralized far off place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Democrats believe that the government is
responsible for caring for citizens on the margins, for providing a safety net,
and limiting the selfishness of those with the most money and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority of our fights, and the bulk
of our sausage-making in Congress, is between those to ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who can and should govern an issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is our response to that issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So-called independents gravitate toward one
party or another in any given election, nudging the country one way or another
on the important issues of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
when the independents think a party has gone too far or over-reached or
ignored, what do they do with their vote?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right, they vote the other way nudging us in that direction as a
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Politically speaking, neither Republicans
nor Democrats are evil – don’t get me started on God’s perspective,
though!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They simply start from a
different belief.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is
different than belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith connotes an
experience that confirms belief and trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we went to a ¼ of the universe and found the force of attraction the
same, our belief would begin to trend toward faith and trust that our
observations are universally true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if
our politicians truly governed and addressed the issues we send them to
address, rather than lining our pockets and manipulating our emotions and
keeping themselves in office, how much more faith might we have in them and in
our governments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true of our
relationship with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, He
understands that better than us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’
commands this week are too keep repenting and keep believing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time we gather for worship, each time we
enter into prayer with Him, we are to keep repenting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens over time, if we do as He
instructs us, is that we come to learn just how misguided we are and just how
gracious He is to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true
of the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are times, like at
untimely deaths or at horrible suffering or at those things or people which
frustrate us, that we grit our teeth and remind ourselves we believe in the
Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Feast of the Holy Innocents,
which we used for our community right after the Covenant shooting, is a great
recent example of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hurled our
complaints and cast our mourning on God, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did we look to our politicians and government to redeem, prevent, or
comfort us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because our walk with God, over time, has proven to us that Jesus is, as
Paul reminds us in Hebrews, the only One worth faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because He is the Messiah, because He is Ascended
to the Father, we have faith in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
know, on some level deep within us, He will redeem all our suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is His promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may not redeem our suffering the way we
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will likely even use our
suffering to reach others, but He promises that He will redeem all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because He was raised that glorious Easter
Morning, we know He has the power to keep His promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because we come to Him in Baptism and the
Eucharist, because we continue to repent and to believe, at some point our
belief becomes faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, the
longer we obediently follow Him, the more we realize the follies of the world
and the lies of the great Deceiver.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brothers
and sisters, it is glorious News we have to share!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord does not demand perfection from
within us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord had no expectation we
would “get it all right” as He willed Himself to hang on that Cross; yet that
is precisely what He did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He willed
Himself to submit to the powers and principalities that seemed in control of
the world and our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even gave up
His life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in that Resurrection that
we celebrate when we gather each time to give Him thanks and praise, we are
reminded that all He asks of us is to keep repenting and to keep
believing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who faithfully
and constantly do as He instructs are encouraged that, one day their belief
will become faith, that one day they will learn however opaquely or in shadows
in this world, who He is and how much He loves us, and that, in the end, we
will learn completely who He is, how much He loves us, and how proud He is to
call us a brother or a sister, a disciple who has done those tasks assigned by
Him to each one of us well!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in that
process which we call sanctification in the Church, He is using us, those who
are sinning and repenting and who sometimes struggle even with believing, to
manifest His redemptive grace and glory in the world around us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ’s Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-25500413374079869112024-01-18T09:59:00.001-06:002024-01-21T10:00:11.487-06:00Y'all have seen, that others may see in you. . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">One of the
interesting things of being in a parish for a length of time, to me at least,
is the ability to look back and see where we have looked at the Scriptures over
so many turns of the lectionary.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today
marks the fourth time that this set of readings has come up during my time at
Advent.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I would hope that I would have
preached on three of the texts previously, making one reading more likely to be
my focus, but I seem to have been drawn to the calling of Samuel often in our
past.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">That is part of the reason I will
focus on John today.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Another part is the
fact that I have already told you to pay close to Mark and the interludes of
John as we work our way through the liturgical calendar this year.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And perhaps most importantly, clearly God
wanted me in John today.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">As I have been
telling Funmi, the most important part of sermon preparation is discerning what
God’s message for the congregation is.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">So, back to John’s Gospel . . .</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading
takes place three days after Jesus’ baptism in the river Jordan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John has introduced Jesus with the well-known
and recently well-read in the Christmas season Prologue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is being given titles by John, John the
Baptizer, and those whom He encounters as He goes about His work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John has named Jesus the Word who was with
God and is God in the beginning, John the Baptizer has identified Jesus as the
one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and Jesus has asked those He encounters
what they are seeking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you
paying close attention may realize with some surprise that all this, and a bit
more, has occurred in the first 42 verses of John’s Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, shall we say, densely packed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So on this
third day after His baptism, Jesus encounters Philip and says follow Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John tells us that Philip was from the same
hometown as Andrew and Peter, which may explain Philip’s quick willingness to
do as Jesus commands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John continues his
story by sharing that Philip finds Nathanael and says that the have “found him
about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph
from Nazareth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philip’s description of
Jesus is a way of saying that Jesus is the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind, nearly 300 false messiahs have
been put to death under the sword of the Roman Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That fate for some many messiahs likely
explains some of Nathanael’s disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you were to go home and turn on the television and some pastor was
claiming Armageddon was happening tomorrow, how likely would you be to believe
him or her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just to remind you,
there is conflict not too far south of Megiddo as we gather for worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if that same pastor said it last summer
or last spring?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would your
disbelief had been like then?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathanael’s
disbelief is such that he famously asks whether anything good can come out of
Nazareth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to remind you, Judea was
thought by some in the Roman Empire to be the Alabama of the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody wanted to be assigned there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were “promoted” and assigned there,
most people did not think of it as a promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was better for one’s future and influence to remain at a lower level
and serve in a better province or the city of Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judea was unruly and rural, by civilized
standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, Robert is not here to
chastise me for picking low fruit and naming Alabama, so I’ll use a better
illustration to describe Nathanael’s attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everybody knows I’m from WV, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In my youth we used to brag when we beat Louisiana or Mississippi in
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the government measured
anything, those three states were at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d get excited when we were 49<sup>th</sup>,
and it was near a state holiday when we came in 48<sup>th</sup> on any
measures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all are laughing, but we had
no false illusions we would be #1 in education, income, health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were just glad not to be last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathanael’s picking on Nazareth is something
like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine someone from
Louisiana bragging they are better than Mississippi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who in NY or CA or TX is gong to care?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that kind of attitude expressed by
Nathanael.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philip
ignores the jab and tells Nathanael to come and see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the two
return to Jesus, Jesus announces that Nathanael is an Israelite in whom there
is no deceit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathanael is rightfully surprised
or curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the two of them have
never met, how can this guy know he has no deceit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus answers Nathanael by telling him that
He saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fig
tree reference is woefully misunderstood today, but it was important to those
living in 1<sup>st</sup> Century Judea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the wider ANE cultures, fig trees were associated with abundance and
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fig trees figure prominently in
the OT, though, especially symbolically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God will often use fig trees as a symbol of Israel, and woe to the
Israelite who does not hear prophets’ or Jesus’ warning about the fate of
barren fig trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time of the mid
70’s AD, after the utter destruction of the Temple by the Roman Legion, fig
trees were where one traditionally sat to study the Scriptures both to learn
and to advertise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was being
advertised, you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either that one was
a rabbi taking on students or one was a student looking for a rabbi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of it as a kind of billboard or
commercial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was fig tree near a
village or town, one could sit under it and convey meaning to those passing by
on a near-by road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I know some
scholars like to believe the tradition just cropped up instantly by 75AD, but
y’all know human beings, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
makes more sense, fig tree torah studying just began in the 70’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or were the people in the now destroyed
Jerusalem and surrounding towns using a practice more accepted in rural parts
of the province?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will never know for
sure this side of the Resurrection, but it does make sense, especially in light
of the later historical record and the preceding Scriptural use of the fig tree
and, don’t forget, Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that statement, Nathanael goes from a
sarcastic quip about those from Nazareth to proclaiming that Jesus is the Son
of God and the King of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
identifiers are, of course, correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus is the Son of God, as John has described in his Gospel
already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newest title, the King of
Israel, appears for the first time in John’s Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understand, John has not concerned himself
with the Nativity .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John starts his
Gospel in the beginning and then skips to Jesus’ baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bloodlines do not figure into John’s
Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does Nathanael declare Jesus
the King of Israel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot know for
sure, as Scripture does not tells us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Philip, we might say, prepared the way a bit by declaring Jesus the One
declared by Moses and the prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
imagery thus far speaks to rabbis and torah, and, to be fair, the king was
expected to read, learn, and inwardly digest the torah, to use our language, in
order that he might teach and model for God’s people how they were to live in
the Covenantal relationship with Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, unlike Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus does not
declare that the Holy Spirit has revealed this role to Nathanael.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we do know that John’s intent to write
this Gospel is to teach us that Jesus is the Messiah and that by believing in
Him we will have life in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
first time, Jesus is declared to be the King.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathanael,
though, will not be the only one to declare Jesus is the King, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will remind ourselves during Holy Week of
Pilate’s sign nailed above Jesus on the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pilate will write King of the Jews in three languages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Temple leadership will protest and tell
Pilate to write “This man said he was the king.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Pilate will famously tell them that what
he has written, he has written.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing
on our reading, Jesus moves past the fig tree image with a kind of teaser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus asks if Nathanael believed because He
saw Nathanael under the fig tree and then moves to a “You haven’t seen anything
yet” turn of phrase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus states
Nathanael, and all hearing and reading this, will see greater things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They and we will see the heavens opened and
the angels ascending and descending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully,
everyone here remembers our discussion last summer as we read about Jacob, and
I am sure those on Sunday mornings who watched the movie about Jacob remember
this scene and our discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But some
of us may have missed, and some of us may need our memories jostled a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On his way to encounter Laban and to get a
couple brides, Jacob famously uses a stone as a pillow and dreams what we all
think of as “Jacob’s ladder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see many nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I preached on it last summer, I reminded
people that the culture around Jacob would be unsurprised by Jacob’s
vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ziggurats themselves were
stairs to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Priests tended the
places at the top so that the gods and goddesses would be able to transition
between the two worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such transition
was thought to require food, drink, and even sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jacob has this vision, he knows what he
is seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s angels are coming down
this ladder to do God’s will on earth and up this ladder to report their work
accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob names the spot
“Bethel,” which means house of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob
gives the name to the place because he knows that spot is important to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is in that place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
instructs those hearing and us reading that we will be like Jacob, seeing the
angels ascending and descending, which, to be fair, is much more impressive
than Him seeing a guy under a fig tree, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I
think I was drawn to preach on this passage today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you might be wondering what its impact
on your life is or should be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oooh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple slow nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One, I am certain God wants you to know that this passage is for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, we are all good little
Episcopalians, and we all know that all Scripture is good for teaching,
reproving, correcting, and training us in righteousness, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all accept that on some level, maybe
intellectual or general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in a more
grammatical way, God is reminding each one of us that the passage is for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grammar of John’s Gospel
switches from the singular “you” to the plural “you” at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, Jesus is addressing Nathanael
specifically at the beginning of the passage and address the y’all when it
comes to seeing these greater things, the angels ascending and descending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ assertion is not meant for Nathanael
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those who follow Him will see
this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, Brian,
I have never seen angels ascending and descending, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s your next question or statement,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ok, those of you nodding are
telling the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have we not,
though?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all just come through
the season of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the
place that we know God dwells?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, to
put it a bit more simply, what distinguishes the Incarnation from you and
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ok, you can say “Oh!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us not connecting the dots,
Jesus is the place where God dwells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
some level the Incarnation remains a mystery to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We accept and sort of understand that Jesus
is fully man and fully God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does
that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does it play out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one level we might say that while on earth
the focus of God was on the Person we call Jesus, but do we really believe that
God was not doing anything else anywhere in the world far away from Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To complicate matters more, and this is in
part why heresies arose in the early Church, we say that God condescended and
limited Himself to being a human being, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did only human Jesus, and I am bordering on Modalism to make a
point, see Nathanael under the fig tree in our passage today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, if you prefer, how does human Jesus know
what is in the hearts of those around Him?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end,
we remind ourselves that God was dwelling in Jesus, that Jesus was fully divine
and fully human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we also remind
ourselves that a Holy Mystery means we cannot fully grasp or understand the
Incarnation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, those who saw Jesus
saw God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Jesus demonstrated to the
world that He was here to do the Will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, as some of our Easter prayers and blessings remind us, there was
something of value in each one of us, that God would become human and take that
fully humanness back to the Trinity when He ascended to the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus becomes our Great High Priest, our
Mediator, the One in Whom we can have full confidence because He, and He alone,
did the Will of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all of
this, even what might seem a bit innocuous at first glance—just a calling of a
couple more disciples, contributes to John’s, and hopefully our own,
understanding of Who Jesus was and is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, back
to your unanswered question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When have
you seen angels ascending and descending? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some among us have had mystical visions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not share names and visions because
they are theirs to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you have
all seen the results of those angels descending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our low hanging fruit this morning is not a
fig, but a ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have shared the
work of Body & Soul so often because it serves a number of purposes in our
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go back in your minds four
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you have any idea that we
would easily be able to distribute 1000 pounds of food a month?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And do not lie to yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think back to your thoughts about the
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1000 pounds seemed like a lot,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, think about what we have
given away and how little of our resources have been spent to make that
quantity available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some among us have
been privileged to offer the food insecure steaks, lobster, shrimp, and a host
of things like tongue that we might not value or find appetizing, but that some
of those whom we serve in God’s Name treat as a delicacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our best month, September of last year, saw
us giving away 15-20,000 pounds a week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since we did not purchase that stuff, who provided all of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right, God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those of us who serve at Body & Soul are quick to give God
credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know we did not plan,
provide, prepare it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this provision
is just one facet of the gem we call Body & Soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But from the perspective of those whom we provide
food in His Name, who are we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And many
are familiar enough with our Scriptures to think that sometimes angels appear
like normal human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us
have forgotten our CARES work from the beginning of the pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we made sure people who qualified were
able to keep a roof over their head, their utilities on, and that they were
fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did that happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure, we know the government invited us because of our work at our
pantry, but do any of us really think our government is “holy”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attuned to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, just as a reminder, when I got the call,
I had been researched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was warned that
my BOM experience prepared me for what would happen in this program, that if we
participated in or encouraged fraud, it would cost us money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it would also dishonor God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we did the job legally and
faithfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for our faithfulness,
God provided some funds for some of our much-needed deferred maintenance items,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But people at risk in our
community know us as a community of Christians who try to do all that they can
to ameliorate suffering and oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
week, I get a couple calls asking if we can help because we helped in the past
or helped a friend in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
can always offer food in God’s Name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what of
the assistance we provide to other ministries in our community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outreach Ministry Sunday gained a reputation,
y’all gained a reputation, among those working to fight oppression in our midst
such that they accosted the bishop from time to time asking him to make me let
them present to the parish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all cannot
understand the loneliness and challenges of silo ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as the financial or volunteerism
support they received from our parish, the ministries that presented before the
pandemic loved the affirmation and encouragement we gave them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now that it has relaunched, I seem to
have no shortage of directors and leaders asking to present at Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you appear in their eyes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you appear in the eyes of those whom
they serve?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth, I
could go on and on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish we had
a collector and writer of Body & Soul stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish y’all had the patience to let me share
all the stories that popped into my mind about your work this as I prayerfully
composed this sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect the Holy
Spirit is speaking to each of us individually as I preach, about how our work
is not unlike that of the angels of God, that we are supposed to be doing His
Will here, in the wildernesses or shadows of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our work, empowered by the Holy
Spirit, is to do these works, these ministries in God’s Name, that the closing
verse might be fulfilled in those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone we encounter is included in Christ’s invitation and promise
this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do these things not to
earn salvation, not to esteem ourselves, but to point others to One in Whom God
dwelt among us, to give thanks to God for His willingness to save each one of
us, and to mirror the incredible grace offered by God through the saving
embrace of our Lord Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as He
promised, all of you have seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now He
asks that you do the works He has given each one of you to do, both individually
and corporately, that others may see, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or, to put it in the words of one of our Epiphany blessings, He offers
to be manifest in you, that your life and our lives might be a light unto the
world around us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace and Empowering Grace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-15289074947517537122024-01-09T14:29:00.005-06:002024-01-09T14:29:53.712-06:00On Re-creating and writing more about His story . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today we
are in one of those transitional times in the Church and in the parish.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We have sped through Advent and the Season of
Christmas and are now in the season of Epiphany.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In fact, those present with us last night
celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ to the
Gentiles.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today is celebrated as the
Baptism of Jesus, which is not to be confused with the Holy Name of Jesus on
January 1 or, as I reminded Funmi earlier, the Presentation of Jesus, which she
preached on last Sunday.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Part of the
challenge or liturgical whiplash is the fact that we bounce around the
times.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We pay close attention to John
the Baptizer and Mary the Mother of Jesus in Advent.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then we celebrate the Nativity.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then we remember the Feast of the Holy
Innocents.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then we go back to the
Epiphany.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then we fast forward about 28
years or so to remember Jesus’ Baptism.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Liturgically speaking, we are a bit all over the place.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And, much like the Marvel Multiverse, our
timeline is all out of whack!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as you
have seen and heard from the readings, we are celebrating the Baptism of Jesus
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event is so significant that
we read about it the 1<sup>st</sup> Sunday after the Epiphany in each of the
three liturgical year cycles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year,
we get Mark’s version of the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully, this version will remind us that some of our “categories” of
understanding are not entirely accurate or distinct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be easier to see, given that we
read John’s Prologue a couple times right after the Nativity and I preached on
it for Christmas Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John gets credit
for being theological and artistic, while the Synoptic authors get credit for
giving us the eyewitness accounts, as if John did not see or witness those
stories he shares with his reader to convince us that Jesus is the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the
artistic flair of Mark that we miss, particularly when we do not study the Old
Testament Scriptures, is the setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness and is baptizing people in
the Jordan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we understand that John’s
ministry is to call out the coming of Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are not surprised at His description at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Mark’s audience, however, the wilderness
is full of meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilderness was the
opposite of civilization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilderness was
the opposite of tame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilderness was the
opposite of creature comforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wilderness was also the place where God shaped His prophets and His
people to depend upon Him and His provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think the Exodus 40 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
remember His work with Moses or Elijah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is in the wilderness that God’s people learn both God’s will to
provide for them and His power to accomplish His will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of
power, the Jordan should remind us of the figures who led God’s people into His
Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joshua, Elijah, and even
Elisha, empowered by God, all stop the Jordan in its courses so that the people
and they might enter into the blessings God has prepared for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those in Larry’s Bible study spent time on Gilgal
and its symbol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crossing of that
river as if dry ground should always bring God’s people back to the Red Sea and
the Exodus, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will deliver His
people and nothing, not even chaos, can prevent Him from His purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marks’s audience would see this symbolism,
would understand its meaning, and recognize that Mark was claiming God was on
the move again!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark’s
Gospel is often described as a Crucifixion story with a bit of prologue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see a couple nods, but I see some
confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that, Mark’s Gospel is
incredibly focused upon the Crucifixion of Jesus, and the Gospel that bears his
name only has a few chapters of introduction before it gets to the arrest of
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see what experts mean
when they say it by looking at the opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Matthew and Luke give us the details we are told about Jesus’
birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark has none of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark does not talk about the Annunciation, the
Virgin birth, the birth of Jesus, the shepherds, the star, the coming of the
Magi, the slaying of the Innocents, or anything else that caught your eye or
attention just thirteen days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
English teachers would likely even mark Mark’s story down for his overuse of
the word “immediately.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark moves
immediately from one story to the next until he gets to the Crucifixion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to other writers, Mark seems in a bit
of a rush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark’s account begins with
the appearance of John the Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
might seem a strange way to begin such a magnificent story, but the author seems
to be concerns with the what happens as a result of God becoming Incarnate
rather that His coming into the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the author Mark, what is important in Salvation History is that John
the Baptizer is proclaiming the coming of the One, upon whom John is unworthy
to perform the most menial of tasks, and who will baptize people into the Holy
Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, in verse
9, Mark shifts his focus to Jesus with the formulaic announcement “In those days.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt some of you are trying to remember
when you have ever heard that introduction and why I call it formulaic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who have studied Judges and
Samuel should be familiar with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
phrase is used to introduce the fact that God is about to change the way things
are – God is going to act in history for the benefit of His people, even though
they do not see or understand or even want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Judges, everyone does as he or she sees fit; the same is happening at
the beginning of Samuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God has
plans for His people, and He will not allow them to wallow in their sinful
rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will send them a prophet
who will speak God’s word to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh,
they will not always listen to the prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But some will some of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And God’s plan of salvation will continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is introduced by Mark in that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coming of the Messiah, finally, is
unremarkable and unnoticed even among those who are supposed to be looking for
Him, preparing the people of God to see and follow Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark gives
us a couple other details about this rather unremarkable looking fellow,
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait, why is Messiah not from
Rome?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or Jerusalem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or some other important town in the
world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nazareth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of Mark’s colleagues will wonder aloud if
anything good can come out of that place, rightfully so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be like someone in our area today
bragging about being from Tullahoma rather than Nashville or Memphis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, Please, most of the country thinks there
are only three cities in Tennessee, and I bet all y’all claim you are from
Nashville when travelling, rather than Brentwood or Gallatin or Spring
Hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, I would have used Alabama,
but Robert tells me it’s long-hanging fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everybody offended now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, just
a member of the crowd from an unimportant town, is baptized by John, giving us
our first big worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is Jesus being
baptized into a baptism of repentance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Jesus is sinless, isn’t this unnecessary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or are the non-Christian pundits who argue
Jesus sinned and was not fully God correct?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer is a matter of perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think to your own baptism or, if you were baptized as an infant, your
Confirmation or the baptism of a loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What happens in that Sacrament?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It all hinges on that word repentance, which you have probably been
reminded over and over through the years means turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, when we are describing baptism to
people quickly, we talk about turning from our selfish desires, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talk about how we need to quit selfishly
focusing on our desires, our wants, our passions and turning from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might say that understanding is the “negative”
perspective of baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are turning
away from our sins and Satan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to Whom do we turn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might for argument’s sake say this is the
positive perspective of the Sacrament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
undertake to do those things God intends for us to do and avoid those things He
teaches are unhealthy or immoral for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good, I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are asked a
series of question to remind us both what we are turning from and that to which
we are turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We turn from selfish
desires to the Breaking of Bread, the fellowship, and the prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, perhaps, we promise that when we
sin, when we stumble and turn back to the way we were rather than struggling to
live the way we are called by the One who created each one of us, we repent and
try again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything we do here is
meant to teach us about what it means to have chosen God over the world or the
self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I am addressing why Jesus
was baptized and why we are baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last night, we talked about manifestation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two, of course, are inter-related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are baptized into God’s family so that we
might manifest His grace in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put in more Christmas-y language, we are
baptized so that we might incarnate in the world around us the saving grace of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, here’s
the peek ahead in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are we
empowered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone said the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad you are paying attention to Mark
this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us raised in other
denominations might express it differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus promises to dwell in our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We become sons and daughters by adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit empowers us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language is all pointing to the same idea
that God dwells with His children and uses them in His efforts to save all in
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, back
to the unanswered question about why does Jesus get baptized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, we would say Jesus is accepting God
the Father’s call on His life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talk
about the Holy Mystery of the Incarnation, so we realize we cannot fully
understand how it all works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus
has free will just like all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
may talk more about His free will next week when we ponder the Temptations of
Christ, and we will certainly wonder at it in Gethsemane when He accepts the
Cup, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus has a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His choice is to do what God planned for Him,
knowing the suffering and rejection and death that was to be faced by Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the baptism of repentance is not for any
sins but to acknowledge the will of the Son to do the will of the Father, the
will of the Son to be obedient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As good
Episcopalians, we would say this is the outward sign of the inner spiritual
grace of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since Jesus is a pattern for Holy living
for us, ponder those implications.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark,
though, forges ahead in his story of this baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jesus is coming up out of the water, He
sees the heavens torn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice the
emphasis by Mark on the personal, private experience of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody else seems to see this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who wonder where Mark heard this, where
do you think he heard it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spent three
years with Jesus listening to His stories and teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also spent years listening to John the
Baptizer’s disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they hear the
thunder?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they see the Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they even know what they were seeing or
hearing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For his part, Mark uses the
word schizo to describe the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put
in modern vernacular we might say “All heaven is breaking loose.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are laughing, but that is a fair understanding
of what is occurring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark uses the word
here, at the beginning of the Gospel and one more time near the end of the
Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same word is used to
describe what happens to the curtain surrounding the Holy of Holies upon Jesus’
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The curtain or veil is torn from
the top, signifying to all who see it that it was God’s work and that the
relationship for humanity has changed as a result of this Jesus’ death on the
Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locus of God is no longer in
that special place in that special building in that special city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God dwells with all His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or to use our Baptismal language, He empowers
His people through His Spirit to do His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And His Will is that His people will be a blessing to the world!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spirit
is described by Mark as descending like a dove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Notice, it is not a “dove-like” spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those of us who want to think that Jesus is merely a hippy dippy cool
guy who tapped into some level of consciousness that we all need are
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, by virtue of His baptism,
has committed Himself to God’s plan of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Him, that means three years of work,
three years of frustrating misunderstanding and rejection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Betrayal by one of His Twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Betrayal by those who should have identified
who He was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Torture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not an easy path
for Him, to be sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But His path is
purposeful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His path is the means by
which humanity will be restored to a possible intimate relationship with their Father
in Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His path is the means by
which the curse of sin, the distrust of the Father’s instruction as what is
best for each one of us, will be redeemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That Spirit will allow Him to work the miracles you and I love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Spirit will enable Him to feed the
crowds, heal the crowds, teach the crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And on occasion, that same Spirit will empower Him to criticize those
who are wolves among the sheep and even flip over tables in the Temple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, perhaps most of all and more to the
point why Mark describes it here, the Spirit will be the sign of the
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, this seemingly
unremarkable Man, from nowhere significant, is identified by the Spirit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That same Spirit that brooded over the waters
in Genesis, as we just read, now is described as descending like a dove to this
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes
the voice, again according to Mark, a private experience for Jesus’ ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“you are My Son, the Beloved; with You I am
well-pleased.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was God’s son
initially, at least from our perspective, our study of the Old Testament?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No guessers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does God describe
Israel when He calls them from bondage in Egypt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God describes Israel as His son throughout
the OT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when Israel does what God
instructs, He is pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Israel
ignores Him, let’s just say He is disappointed, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like a loving Father, He instructs, He
fusses, He even disciplines, but He does so to help His son mature, to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Israel’s
part, how have they done with their part of the relationship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many ways, they are no different than you
and I, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have turned from the
Father to do things their own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have ignored His warnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
received the curses of the Covenant that are meant to call them to repent and
return to Yahweh, but they still have not inwardly digested what He has taught
in His torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now, as this story
takes place, Israel is oppressed by another conquering empire, Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can they do to cast off the
oppressor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing, themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rome is too powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rome is too big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why many expect or want Messiah to be
a conquering, liberating figure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
agreeing to do God’s Will, Jesus becomes the Seed of Abraham the Israelite who
will do what others cannot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no
mistake, God was never surprised by our rejection in the Garden of Eden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was not shocked that Israel ran lukewarm
and cold to His teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was not
grasping for plans when each one failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, this was the plan from the beginning, but it required that Jesus be
born, agree to walk this path, to do the Will of His Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This day in Scripture, which we call the
Baptism of Jesus, marks the day that Jesus begins that intentional work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To speak a bit more from our own experiences,
this is the day that Jesus takes the first step on that path laid out before
the foundation of the world!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice one last change in perspective
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this at the beginning of the
story, is presented to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might
say the tearing of the heavens, the descent of the Spirit, and the praise of
the voice were privately for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens, though, as a result of His decision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All that unfolds, including the Crucifixion, happens publicly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ willingness to do what the Father
planned in private, is very much lived out in public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The miracles and teachings that Mark includes
in his story, the rejection and threats of the leadership, the betrayal, the
rejection, and even His death, are very public events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are seen by all in that place and in
that time so that all may make their own decision, come to their own conclusion
about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens when we are baptized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in
some respects similar to this pattern established by Jesus, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make a decision, be it at Baptism or
Confirmation, to try and do those things which glorify our Father in Heaven and
avoid those things He declares to be sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That decision which we make in private, though, is played out in
public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It begins with the liturgy of
the Sacrament of Baptism, where we state our allegiance and purpose and make
our oath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what happens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God promises to dwell with us and promises
each one of us that He shares our honor and dishonor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of our lives becomes that struggle between
our desire to follow God and the desire to follow the devices and desires of
our own hearts, to use familiar language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What happens to those who faithfully and intentionally live as God calls
them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They become heralds of God’s grace
in the world around them; they become the saints in the lives of those whom
they are trying to reach in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our ascent, like Jesus’, is lived out in the world us, that others may
make the decision to accept His embrace from the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because of that public nature of our
work, we know our sins dishonor the Lord who saved us when we could not save
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know there is a
consequence to how we act, how we speak, and how we behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us seeks that or even thinks about it
as we begin that walk with God in Baptism or reaffirm it in Confirmation, do
we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, as we approach the end of our
walk with God in this place, what is our desperate hope?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That when we meet Him face to face He will be
a friend and not a stranger, that He will pronounce upon each one of us that “well
done, good and faithful servant,” that we will each enter into the blessed joy
of intimacy with Him for eternity, that we will join the great cloud of
witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no
mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark will remind us this year
that our walk, our journey, is full of cross-bearing and suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mark will also remind each one of us that
we get to write the next chapter in the Gospel that bears his name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you go home and start perusing through the
Gospel of Mark, or even studying it, you will see his true artistry at work at
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This great story that starts
with a prophet coming out of the wilderness to baptize the Messiah from
Nazareth has a curious ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark
tells us at the end that the ladies who went to the Tomb found the stone rolled
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon entering they encounter a “man”
dressed in white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man instructs them
that Jesus, who was crucified, has risen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are to go to His disciples and Peter and tell them that Jesus is
going ahead of them to Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
they will see Him, just as He promised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How does Mark’s Gospel end?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
told nobody anything because they were afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those reading or hearing the Gospel are meant by Mark to reflect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they did not tell anyone, how did this
story make it to me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as the story
made it to us from those whom we respected and loved, we are to share it with
others, that they might choose Christ over the world, God over the enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though words can be powerful tools, they
pale in comparison to lives lived as if these words are true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends, our lives, by virtue of our
Baptisms, become the next chapter in Mark’s story and God’s plan of salvation
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For reasons known only to Him,
perhaps, He entrusts this amazing hope and promise and power to us and invites
us to follow Him, wherever He may lead us, knowing that one day, one glorious
day when He returns to finish the re-Creation He has started, we will dwell
with Him for eternity!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace and in His Promise!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-69915990472052408482023-12-29T10:14:00.001-06:002024-01-17T10:15:36.464-06:00On our anxieties and our tragedies and God's redemptive promise . . . <p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I know I had
threatened not to hold this service in January of last year.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">It seemed a service that was needed for a few
years but had run its course, in terms of participation by Adventers and those
in the community around us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">That was, of
course, before the Covenant shooting happened, Hamas’s attacks of October 7,
and Israel’s response to those attacks.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those who were here back in late March/early April might remember that
we used this service to pray for the victims of the shooting and their families,
to pray for the Covenant community, our neighborhood, and the family of the
shooter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If my follow up conversations
with those who attended are any sign, not only was it needed, but it was very
well received.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Many Christians in our
area think it a sin to complain to God, and a few were worried that laments
were unworthy of people who have great faith.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If nothing else, we had a chance to teach some in other churches that
God encourages to come to Him with our pains, our hurts, our fears, our doubts,
our angers and frustrations, and even our hopelessness.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In light of all that, we decided to observe
this feast, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, again this year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many of us
outside the liturgical traditions, such an observance this week seems out of
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just celebrated the Feast of
the Nativity on Sunday, a few of us went to church on Christmas Day to give
thanks to God for the birth of Jesus, and it seems to me that many in the wider
Church are realizing that Christmas is a short season, and not just a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess I love it when people confess they
have “never heard of such a thing,” and I get to remind them that of course
they have, and then I see the light bulb start t brighten as the realize the
carol, Twelve Days of Christmas, has been teaching them that all their
lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do understand the seeming
whiplash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who grew up in
non-liturgical churches are unaware of the rhythm of the Church and how that
rhythm reinforces much of the teaching about the Incarnation and our Lord’s
purposes of Holy Week and Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FWIW, this
is NOT the first martyrdom we remember in the Church this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Feast of St. Stephen, one of the first
deacons in the Church and the first martyr, is celebrated on December 26.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine attending a church named for Stephen
and celebrating his feast day the day after Christmas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as I said, all of this is to remind us
that Jesus came into the world of darkness and would be rejected by those whom
He came to save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the Gospel ends
on an amazing note of power and hope and promise, we are constantly reminded of
the sin and death and evil that permeates the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such an
observation and realization should not be shocking t God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prophet Jeremiah had the wonderful
God-appointed task of declaring the Exile to God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prophets, as most Adventers have heard now
for nine years, were supposed to be honored in Israel’s culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was a speaking God, and He chose to speak
through individuals such as Jeremiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The prophet was the only real check on the king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a king determined to do something, and the
prophet said “Thus says the Lord, Don’t,” the king was supposed to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, neither Israel nor her kings
listened to the prophets very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worse, they refused to be guided by God’s torah and stone those
self-declared prophets whose prophesies did not come true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For their part, all Israel recognize that
Jeremiah was God’s prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just
refused to listen to him, really to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, the king tossed Jeremiah in a cistern to imprison and silence
God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading
tonight begins with the recognizable formula.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeremiah is declaring that these words are the words of Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A voice is heard in Ramah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is Ramah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally, the word could just suggest a
height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as so often the case, poetry
allows for a number of interpretations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ramah was the place where the first prophet, Samuel, was buried and
where Rachel, the beloved favorite wife of Jacob, was buried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord is calling to memory through
Jeremiah’s prophesy a great deal of history and imagery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who do not pay close attention to
the OT might not remember Rachel’s struggle with infertility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her sister Leah kept having children for
Jacob, but she was unable in the beginning of their marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of what we remember tonight is the grief
and frustration and anger of the death of the oppressed or innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine what it was like for Rachel to lose
Joseph when the brothers reported they found his coat torn and bloodied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some among us have no need to imagine
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few among us have lost children or
even grandchildren to untimely or unexpected deaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That feeling of rage and impotence and who
knows what else was experienced by them just like Rachel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God is using that image to prophesy how
all Israel will feel about their upcoming Exile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That prophesy of
Exile allows for yet another interpretation of Ramah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess where the people of Israel were sorted
and assigned as they were dispersed throughout the kingdom of Babylon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, Ramah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jeremiah will remind us in just 10
chapters or so, families and clans were divided in Ramah and dispersed
throughout the empire as a way to protect the empire against future uprisings
and revolts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine the grief and
shame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah goes on
to describe the lamentation of Rachel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Indeed, he instructs us that she cannot be comforted because her
children are no more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wonderful
poetry reminds us of the grief and rage and frustration we all have toward
unjust suffering and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the
Hebrew itself, when pronounced correctly, is not unlike the sound of sobbing we
make when we are inconsolable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
the emotions at work and the sobbing in Israel when the words of Jeremiah
proved true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God swore His Covenant with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God promised
that their descendants would be numerous and a blessing to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made Israel special was that God chose
them to be His People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been
instructed, through the torah, what it meant to live in relationship with a
holy God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been instructed that,
when they went astray, He would send a prophet to speak correction and warning
with His voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been instructed
that signs would be given them by Him when they were straying from the
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of all, He promised them
that if they failed to repent in spite of all these warning, He would cause the
Land He gave them to reject them, to spit them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah had the unenviable task of telling
his brothers and sisters that God’s patience had been exhausted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His people were going to be carried off into
oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God’s people responded
by ignoring Jeremiah’s warnings and tossing him into a cistern in
Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can all imagine that
bitter shame as it came true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many ways,
some of our stories are just as tragic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of us wrestle with disease and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, as a nation we are into our third year
of pandemic living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have experienced
deaths in our community and in our families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worse, many of us are uncomfortable when challenged by others in our
lives as to why God allowed the pandemic or death, if He is so powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us live with more anxiety about war, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple years ago, none of us probably gave
the “rumors of war” a second thought, unless family was serving in the
military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now . . . how many of us
are giving thoughts to nuclear war for the first time since we hid under our
desks in school?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us are
genuinely worried about WW3?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wrong
move by Putin or Iran could turn regional conflicts into worldwide conflagration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let’s not forget about our favorite
little dictator in North Korea, who seemingly shakes his fist and throws a
tantrum whenever he thinks the world is not properly fearing his might and
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who among us can stop such
escalations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we really protect
ourselves against such oppression?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of
oppression, how many of us, and our loved ones, have been battered by economic
forces beyond our control this year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inflation has gone crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oil has
spiked, yet again, thanks to these wars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As badly as we have been hit, and let’s be honest, most of us are
economically privileged, the real economic oppression has been felt by those
least able to deal with it in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of those whom we serve through Body
& Soul work three and four part-time jobs trying to make ends meet, and
they cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Locally, of
course, we have all experienced more oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already reminded us of the Covenant
shooting that took place late last March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of us did not give mass shootings and school shootings much thought
until they happened here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at least
we have our politicians working to solve all these problems, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what of
those untimely deaths?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a community,
we have all grieved the loss of MC and Jim, and many of us mourned with Gregg
and Lynn as they buried a grandson, a grandson some of us fed or taught as a
child in this parish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us
complained they did not know what to say to them or ourselves over those
tragedies?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, but
maybe more important to us, what of those individual oppressions, traumas, and
tragedies we have experienced but I have not named?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies among us have suffered
miscarriages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many among us have lived
through cracking and breaking relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many among us have had dreams replaced by anxieties through personal
traumas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other diseases besides COVID
have plagued us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cancer has not taken a
break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither has shingles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t bother to ask who is recovering from
injuries, but you know who you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
of us are dealing with heart problems, vision problems, and attacks by our
immune systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What of all those?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is God in the midst of those?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, and
mercifully, God’s words through Jeremiah ends with hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah promises them that one day they will
come back from the land of their enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day, Israel will be restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though these various oppressions will happen, God will not forget the
promise He made to their fathers and mothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One glorious day He will restore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That same
promise of hope and freedom from oppression is proclaimed to us, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as we hurl our complaints and laments at
God in this liturgy, you and I should also hear that still small voice
reminding us of His promise of redemption and restoration, that we will one day
dwell with Him and He with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as
we struggle with worldwide, national, local, and personal oppression, we are
reminded by His covenant with us that nothing will separate us from Him or His
purposes, that nothing we suffer is beyond His power to redeem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though this event, the deaths of the toddlers
at the command of an enraged, unfaithful king of God’s people did not take
place for some two years after the birth we celebrated Sunday night, we
celebrate it in the season of the Incarnation to remind us both of the evil
that we face and God’s Will to redeem that evil in the lives of those who
proclaim Him Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded in
this season of God’s incredible love for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded in this season that God
become fully human, that we might see and know Him clearly in the flesh, that
we might see lived out a pattern of holy living in our midst, and that we might
begin to see our need for a Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are intentionally reminded in this season that even though we ignore, reject,
betray, and mock Him, still He loves us enough that He wills Himself to hang on
that Cross for our sakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Incarnation,
without that reminder of Easter and the path that led to His death, is
meaningless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because God
demonstrates His power over suffering and death in Christ Jesus, you and I know
that no oppression, no suffering, can separate us from God’s power, love, and
Will to redeem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is His promise to
us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, my friends,
my brothers and sisters in Christ, hurl your complaints at Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sob your lamentations in His ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are so inclined, lay the complaints
and anxieties of those whom you love at His feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But also remember His promise to you that He
made at your baptism and confirmed in the life and death and resurrection in
our Lord Christ as you are anointed for healing or eat of His flesh and drink of
His blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that your cries do come
to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that it is His Will that
His Light shines in the shadows that oppress you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that it is His Will and promise that one
glorious Day in the future, all will be restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All our hurts, our pains, our bruises, and
even our deaths will be wiped away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
cannot imagine how such promises can be fulfilled to make any of us not shed
any tears for our sufferings, but such is His unending promise to each one of
us gathered here tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, to put it
more simply, none of us can assuage our sufferings and complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us can assuage the sufferings and
complaints of those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thankfully and mercifully, though, we know the One who can, Lord Jesus
Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him we serve and Him we
proclaim, trusting in His promise and His redemptive power!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace and Power!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-5006272447887722002023-12-25T11:23:00.001-06:002023-12-27T11:24:16.324-06:00From Speaking to Enfleshment and Our Joyful Hope!<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> We have reached the end
of the big rush of the season. That, at least in part, explains why we
are an intimate group this Christmas morning. It’s probably just as
well. The sermon idea that I had for this morning was a bit, I thought, .
. . esoteric. But now that I see our small group, maybe it really was
from God. By that, I mean, I can promise you all that none of you have
thought of the Gospel of John in this way, as it is something that popped into
my head over the last week as I was doing Greek with Joshua and Brian.
But each of you has turned out for your third service of Thanksgiving in the
last twenty-four hours. You have braved Nashville traffic in the rain,
dodged the flock of turkeys who keep crossing Lakemont, and girded yourselves
for a normal “boring” Christmas message, right? Be careful about patting
yourself on the back too hard. Nathan can tell you shoulder surgery rehab
is neither fun nor pleasant! But this odd sermon that was coursing
through my head since last Wednesday is likely only to land with those who both
take their faith seriously and need a bit of reassurance, given the testimony
of the world out there.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Now that I have your attentions,
I’ll explain. I am certain all of you noticed that I read the Prologue of
John in lieu of the Nativity story of Luke. Part of that decision arose
from the fact that I focused on Luke last night at both Nativity services,
focusing on imagination at the early service and on the focus on “you” at the
late service. Both of those followed a discussion about transformations
in the Advent 4 services. Each of you heard two of those four sermons
and, I trust, still remember them. Good. Unlike the other synoptic
Gospels, John has a different perspective. In particular, as we read the
Prologue last night after the late Eucharist and again this morning, John is
focused on the idea that Jesus, the Word of God, is the beginning of the
re-creation promised by God. In some ways, we might say that John’s
prologue serves as a Genesis of the New Testament. With me so far?
Good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> There is a progression about God
that is unfolded during the Advent season, and we reminded ourselves of it
yesterday and this morning. The progression, as John reminds us this
morning, begins with logos. Logos is a Greek word that is full of all
kinds of understanding, pun intended, and almost as much nuance. The
quick definition would be something along the lines of divine reason or
ordering of chaos or understanding. There are a number of Christian
theologians who argue that the imago dei, the image of God, that is in us is the
logos. Our ability to think and understand and solve is that part of God
that separates us from the animals of the world, or, for those of us feeling
creative this morning, the spark that jumps from God to Adam in Michelangelo’s
ceiling on the Sistine Chapel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> To speak particularly
anthropomorphically this morning, logos is the thinking or idea in God’s
mind. With me so far? Good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I say we are speaking particularly
anthropomorphically because we understand what is revealed through our own processes.
Logos is kind of like an idea or understanding that you and I have in our
heads. But something changes when that idea or understanding is
expressed. Generally, for us, we begin to make or describe or to solve
something. There seems to be a bit of change in the nature of things, at
least so far as the authors of Scripture are concerned, between what is in
what’s God’s head and what happens in the cosmos around Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Think back to yesterday morning and
the angel’s emphasis to Mary that what God has spoken cannot NOT happen.
Our translation rendered it poorly as “nothing is impossible with God.”
As Brian and Joshua will tell you, that translation captures the basic meaning
of what is behind the grammar, but there is still more to meaning we
lose. Specifically, we lose the emphasis of the double negative in the
Greek and on the reminder about what God has spoken must occur. Luke
could have chosen all kinds of way to express “nothing is impossible for God,”
but, and we assume inspired by the Holy Spirit, Luke chose HIs words to reflect
something being revealed by God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Specifically, think of the role of
the prophet among God’s people. The prophet was elected to instruct the
king when the king went astray because the king’s primary responsibility as a
steward of God was to lead the people of God into right relationship with
Him. As a consequence, there were usually prophets among the people of
Israel for most of the Old Testament. The prophet spoke the logos of God
hoping for a return to God’s instructions. More often than not, though,
the people and kings ignored the voice of the prophet, that which was
spoken. Some might say that Israel did not fully understand how dependent
they were on God’s voice in their midst until it disappeared in the time
between Malachi and John the Baptizer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> For our part, such an understanding
source of hope in the promises of God. If God has spoken something
through the prophets or Scripture or even in His communications with us, then
we know it will happen, or, as Gabriel told Mary, it cannot NOT happen.
To the extent that things do not happen, we understand the fault is with
us. Either we have misunderstood or misapplied what God has spoken.
Because He has spoken and because what He has spoken cannot NOT happen, we know
the problem lies with us and not Him. We are not attended to Him
correctly. Just to be clear, we are no worse than those who claimed to
preach or teach or instruct in His voice throughout history. One of the
ways that God’s people were to judge prophets was by whether what the prophet
said happened. If it did, then the people knew the prophet was of
God. If not, the false prophet was to be stoned. Imagine how
carefully we should claim to be prophets of God if the consequence of our
misunderstanding, assuming good intentions, was a stoning! Yet how many
“false prophets” are among us in the Church today!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> For his part, John the Apostle
captures this understanding well. John instructs us about the
Logos. Specifically, John instructs us about the Word of God that dwells
with the Father in the beginning, the Word who is with God and is God. He
even instructs us about the silence and our need for God’s voice in our life as
we live and work in the darkness. He reminds us that there was another
John who proclaimed that the Word, the Logos of verse 1, outranked him because
He was before Him. Yes, John’s Prologue helps us understand the Trinity
better, not completely, but there is another teaching going on. John the
Baptizer comes after 270 years of God’s silence to proclaim that the Logos was
coming into the world, the Logos that was with God and is God in the beginning!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Now for the fun part for us.
Again, speaking anthropomorphically about God, if there is a double negative
emphasis on the fact that what God has spoken cannot NOT happen, what do we
make of what we celebrated last night and this morning and for the next twelve
days? John tells us in verse 14. This Logos that was with God and
is God, which has been spoken through the prophets until this point in
salvation history, became flesh and lived among us. Better still, in this
Word made flesh, we are able to see the glory of Him whose glory before this
moment in salvation history would blind and even destroy us were we to see Him
in His glory unmediated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I see some pondering faces.
Now you know why I said this was not for those who do not steep themselves in
their attunement to God in worship and study and prayer. There is a
progression in God’s revelation that ought to reassure us or comfort us or be a
source of hope that cannot be quashed. If what God has spoken cannot NOT
happen, how much more meaning is attached to His enfleshment and dwelling among
us? Put in simple English, rather than Johannine language or Greek, as
much emphasis as the angel places on the “cannot NOT happen” about God’s spoken
words, how much more emphasis must there be upon His enfleshed Word? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> We know the answer, of
course. This Babe whose birth we celebrated last night and this morning
comes to restore the intimacy we lost in the Garden and through our sins.
This Light that has entered the darkness of the world will be scorned,
rejected, tortured, and eventually killed. But even then, when it looks
like the world has won, the Father acts and raises His Son from the dead and
speaks, reminding each one of us who proclaim His Son the Lord of our lives
will share in HIs Resurrection. And as much assurance as we find in God’s
spoken words through the prophets, how much more so are we reassured by His
Incarnation, Resurrection, and Ascension!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> My friends, we are sent back out
into a crazy dark world. Our politicians rule for their own
aggrandizement and not those whom they serve or the One who grants them
authority. Nature itself seems chaotic with floods and tornados and
volcanos and earthquakes far too common. And, lest we forget, the
microbes of nature are working a triple whammy on us even as we gather a God’s
people remembering the awe and mystery of the Incarnation this morning.
Economically speaking, there is a shift happening before our eyes, a shift
whose outcome none of us can accurately forecast. For two years we have
gathered as God’s people when wars, rather than rumors of war, have reared
their heads. Some of us who understand human nature and the willingness
of human beings to treat other human beings as less than, recognize both the
tragedies unfolding in real time before our eyes and the dangerous
possibilities of escalation. And I have not yet even drawn your attention
to the discord and suffering on our individual lives. How many of us face
challenges of family dynamics during this joyful season, dynamics that were
stoked by events of Thanksgiving? How many of us are pouring the deaths
of loved ones? How many of us are struggling with our own aches and pains
and sufferings or those of loved ones in our lives? The list of darkness
goes on and on. And what of the unaddressed evils in the world.
Misogyny was not fixed by #metoo; racism was not cured by Black Lives
Matter. Oh, and lest we forget, we get the wonderful privilege and
experience of living through another presidential election next year, and all
the positive, nation-building advertisements that will stream on our devices or
be heard on radio or seen on television as commercials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Yes, the darkness is real.
The world is oppressive. But because God’s Logos has become enfleshed and
lived among us, you and I have a source of hope that reminds us, encourages us,
exhorts us, that God will not fail us! The rest of the world might reject
our work, might mock us for our faith, but we know both God’s purpose and power
in this event we call the Incarnation. And because we know how He promises
this story will end, we know we can work in any darkness, minister in the midst
of any oppression, confident that, if God has called us to such work, we, and
He, cannot fail. Even if such work takes our life and we appear defeated
to the world around us, we know One glorious day He will return and finish what
He began in earnest with the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Best of
all, we who trusted, who proclaimed Him Lord, worked to accomplish His will in
the world around us, and who repented when we failed, have been proclaimed
heirs by His Apostle and promised a share in the Resurrection begun in His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. And armed with that understanding and comfort, we
are sent back out into the world with those candles we lit last night, trust that
God will use our flickering flames to draw others in our lives to His saving
embrace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has spoken; God has
enfleshed Himself and dwelt among us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
cannot and will not fail!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brian</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">†</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-3039549325727508752023-12-24T16:00:00.001-06:002024-01-11T15:16:49.037-06:00On Nicholas and Imagination . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Look at
you!</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Everybody is looking nice but
fidgeting.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>What’s that mean?</i></span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, in the dark ages before the internet,
my teachers would say we were acting like we had ants in our pants.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It sounds like a few moms and dads and
grandmas and grandpas heard the same example.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Fidgeting means we just can’t stop moving.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We are too excited, to nervous, too worried,
and we just have to move to get rid of that extra energy.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s an exciting day! Christmas is tomorrow.</i><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I know.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s an exciting day.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When you
are a kid, it might be the best day of the year, although one or two of you
might say the last day of school is the best day, right?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’ll let you in on a little secret.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s a pretty good day, too, when you are a
mom or dad.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Most of us love seeing our
children excited and happy, so we get a kick out of watching our kids open
presents.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What if you are a grandpa?</i><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I figure it’s twice as good, since you still
have kids and then grandkids opening gifts and squealing with laughter, but I’m
not entirely sure, yet. I'm old, but not THAT old.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you
all for taking turns decorating the creche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know it is hard to use manners when we get excited, but y’all did a
great job letting everyone have a turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So thank you for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Well,
he’s checking his list twice.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am going to assume
y’all chose to use your manners because you are good kids and maybe try hard to
be like Jesus rather than just because of a naughty list once a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we ask the parents and grandparents if
I’m right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>NO!!!!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm. Now I am having second thoughts about
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fair enough, though. I won't ask.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the
reason I called you up here was to have you all help me with a sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they call it a children’s homily or
sermon in the Orders of Worship, but it has to be for everyone here or everyone
gets fidgety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>That would be funny if
we all moved like this!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we will do that next
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’ll have you teach a
Fortnite dance or something fun to the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
back to the homily, I invited you up to help me teach the adults and maybe
learn something yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, before
we get started, I need to make it clear that the ideas that follow may not be
my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I’m launching from a
sermon given by Bishop John a couple weeks ago, as he tried to inspire the
clergy to do a good job over Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>You
mean you are cheating?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>No, but
that’s a great question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the adults
are hearing on the news all the time, it is cheating when you do not give
somebody credit for something they said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we gathered as clergy to celebrate the life of St. Nicholas, and the
bishop preached about Nicholas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
sermon kinda gave me the idea for this one, and I have told you he gave me the idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, my
first question is does anyone know who St. Nicholas was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Sometimes that’s what people call Santa
Claus</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But does anybody, except Katie & Abby and
Hannah & Joshua, know much about Nicholas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We talked about him this morning, so that’s why they are giggling and rasining their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nicholas was a bishop around 1700 years ago
who is famous for a couple things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
is about a fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>A fight?!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, a fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was another bishop for a while, named Arius, who wanted the Church
to teach that Jesus was not the Son of God or God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted the Church to teach that Jesus was
just a normal human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s craaazzy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Well, remember it was a long time ago and
people were still trying to figure our stuff you and I take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, most of the bishops kept saying that Jesus
was one of the Three Persons in the Trinity, and Arius kept arguing that He was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, Nicholas is said to have gotten
up and done one of two things: either he punched Arius in the nose or he hit
him with his crozier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>What’s a
crozier?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>The crozier is the
shepherds crook that bishops carry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those here a few weeks ago saw Bishop John, our bishop, carry his
crozier when he visited. Remember?<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet he got
in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get yelled at when I punch
my brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet he was in trouble.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, few people like it when people fight,
especially parents when their kids fight; and I am certain Jesus is not proud of
us when we fight in the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But your
parents may have seen memes about Nicholas punching heretics on their social
media pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s kinda silly for us
adults, thinking about a bishop punching another bishop, and so we laugh a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
reason Nicholas is famous, though, is that he was a very generous bishop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have lots of stories in the early Church
where Nicholas is said to have provided clothes and food to children whose
parents did not have much money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we
have stories of Nicholas even giving small toys or presents to children who
didn’t have many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>That’s why he is
Santa Claus!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorta, it’s a bit more
complicated than you want to hear and I want to say tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, to be fair, Nicholas did lots of good
things for adults, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a
different lesson for you and the adults today, though.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bishop
Nicholas, like us, was criticized by some people for his generosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If kids were hungry, why not give them more
food?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they needed clothes, why not
more clothes instead of toys?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
people fuss at us here for giving lobster or shrimp or steaks to those whom we
serve at Body & Soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and
again someone will fuss when we give away toys or bath salts or lotion or
things like that, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want us only
to give people food because they think that’s all we are doing and all that God
wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are trying to remind
people how much God loves them, that He loves them so much He sent His Son, on
this night a long time ago as a matter of fact, to show us. It's part of why Ms. Nancy and Ms. Hilary decided to name it Body & Soul rather than Advent Food Pantry or something like that. <i>Oh, that's how it got its name. Coll, they got to name it?!</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we
give kids toys and lotions and clothes, do you think, if we are running a food
pantry for those who do not have enough food?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Surprises are nice!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>True.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>I’m sad when I don’t have nice
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Me, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>It’s like Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Why do you say that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>It’s just the best when we get gifts.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, it makes you feel special or loved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Yes!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, I understand what you mean, but we are all Christians, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all supposed to know that we are loved
and created by Him, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So maybe our
gift-giving reminds us of how God loves us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Maybe?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all sound
unconvinced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you learn it as you grow because too
many in the world around us do not feel loved and do not know that God loves
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s part of what makes this
night so special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>And Santa
Claus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>And Santa Claus, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t forget him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think
there’s another cool reason this gift giving night is popular, especially among
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>What’s that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we read about St. Nicholas and the passages of the Bible associated
with him, we read those passages where Jesus tells the adults they need to be
childlike to become children of God and where Jesus tells His Apostles that the
kingdom of God belongs to children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
y’all know those passages?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>What’s
that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s neat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i>I am glad you asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, we preachers will talk how we need to be like children and
trust God the way children trust good parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes we preachers will tell people they need to be like children
and do as they are told like good children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Sometimes I do, but sometimes I don’t listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I am playing games and just don’t
hear.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But do you know another way children are like God, a way we don’t talk
about much?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>No. We are not
strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not that smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are kinda creative, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Great answer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get the gold star tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody
knows God makes each one of us special, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Church says that we are all made in the image of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever heard that term?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No. No.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe that God
creates us to show others what He is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us can think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us
have bodies that are not unlike Jesus’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
of us can make people laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us
have sympathetic ears and shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
that creative characteristic is another gift He gives us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call it imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the ways you and I are made is that
most of us are given good imaginations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, who uses their imagination the best, children or adults?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kids.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, that is
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, do we think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see that’s a toughie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, how about this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are old, we adults have been taught
what we can do, how we should do it, and why other ways do not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you all know all that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>No.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So what do you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>We try lots
of things and lots of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>That’s
right, you use your imaginations to figure things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You explore, maybe pretending the trees in
your back yard are a great forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
play with dolls or build things with legos or play video games you pretend are
real, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imaginations seem to be
very important to God, and they seem to be used best by children.<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you
ever thought that your imagination was something given by God and important to
Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>No.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But think about tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How amazing is God’s imagination?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think adults might have imagined God
becoming a human being?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think
adults might think to have the Babe be born outside Jerusalem or another
city?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think adults might have the
imagination to use people like the shepherds or like you and me to tell people
how much God loves them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Who would?<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Maybe
Nicholas was onto something in his efforts to give toys to kids, in his work to give them an outlet for their imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When do you practice using your imaginations
the best?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>At Christmas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe part of your work tomorrow, then, is to remind people of God’s
imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s your jobs to
show your parents and grandparents just a little part of how imaginative God
is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s your job to set an
example that they can better understand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And all the while, as you are trying on new clothes or playing with new
toys, you are joyful and excited as you do your work tomorrow, which is just
how God tells us adults that’s how we should be at Church or serving
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, God is so imaginative
that he can use kids like you to teach adults like them and like me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome! <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
tonight and tomorrow will be crazy with excitement and fun and maybe good
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you will visit with family
or they will visit with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want
you all to remember when you settle into playing with whatever you play with or
dressing up however you dress up that your imagination is a wonderful gift from
God, that your imagination reminds the adults in your life of the creativity of
God and the imaginations He gave them, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe, if you really have heard
what I said, as you grow and adults and teachers accidentally try to squash
that characteristic in you as you grow to adulthood, you remember how important
creativity and imagination is to God, and you determine to use that gift He
gave each of you to share His love with those around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe, if your imagination is really good, other kids might be sitting
around a priest in 1700 years not talking about Nicholas, but about one of you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>How cool would that be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whoa!</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, let’s
get back to our parents and grandparents and celebrate the very best gift we will ever be given
and the very best imagination we know—God’s!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ’s Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-41227292516885146412023-12-24T10:30:00.001-06:002024-01-03T14:59:47.028-06:00Speaking into and Transforming our lives . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> We continue our
annoying liturgical mash up with the story of the Annunciation. For those
of you wondering why I use the term “mash up,” you might have needed to be here
last week to appreciate fully how we need to work to line up our liturgies and
readings. Last week we lit the pink candle in the wreath and celebrated
“Mary Sunday.” Naturally, our readings were about John the Baptizer . . .
for a second time this Advent. Better still, in the suggested Advent
candle lighting liturgy, our focus was on . . . the patriarchs.
Apparently, it is really hard to coordinate candle colors and readings and
themes. Now, I can wrap my head around how the fruit of Mary’s consent
enables the fulfilment of God’s promises to the patriarchs and matriarchs of
the OT, but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why we can’t read about
Mary on her day as we light the pink candle. But that’s a rant for
another day. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The Gospel story
today, of course, is well known. Those who have attended Advent for the
last eight years know its importance for us to comfort and encourage our
sisters even as we correct our brothers’ attitudes toward women. If you
are newer or visiting, there exists in some corners of the Church the idea that
women are responsible for sin entering the world. Since Eve ate the
forbidden fruit, women are responsible for bringing sin into the world. Genesis
does not make that claim. Adam eats of the fruit even though God has
instructed him directly not to eat the fruit. But, if we have friends and
coworkers and others in our families who hold to that non-biblical perspective,
the Annunciation serves as a correction or, even better, redemptive story of
that line of thinking. Mary, in her answer to the angel Gabriel, consents
to bearing the Baby, thus the means of salvation enters the world through
her. So, if people want to blame Eve, they must credit Mary. Y’all
are attending an Episcopal church, and Church of the Advent at that. We
are well established in our fight against misogyny in the church. We have
not entirely stamped it out, but at Advent, we are not surprised that God uses
women to lead the parish or do His work in the world around us. And if
some men of a certain age trend toward misogyny, they have at least learned to
keep such thoughts to themselves, right? I’m glad even you guys are
laughing at that. But on a very serious note, I am sure all of us know
women who have heard that Eve blame as a theological justification for
misogyny, both from the pulpits and in their homes. Mary’s consent at the
Annunciation is really a good way to tend to our sisters and brothers who
misunderstand God and forget that He created us all in His image.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Like all great
biblical stories, though, there are lots of teachings for us to explore in the
Annunciation. Just to place us all in the context, I’ll remind us of the
wider story as we look at the specific Annunciation. In the bigger
background, God has been silent for nearly 270 years. Malachi is the last
recognized prophet who spoke with God’s voice. Now, the people of Israel
are dealing with the reality that God does not speak to them and they have been
subjugated by foreign powers. By the time Mary the Mother of Jesus
appears, Rome is the oppressive empire. The big pastoral problem facing
the priests and rabbis is the silence of Yahweh. Prior to this period of
silence, Yahweh was a God who spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
spoke to particular figures, but He also spoke to all the people through the
voice of the prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of their
circumstance, the people of Israel wonder whether God is still honoring the
Covenant He made with their ancestors. It makes sense to us. Israel
is not experiencing the blessings of the Covenant at all and God is silent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A little closer to
home and just a few months before our story, Elizabeth and Zechariah have been
told they will give birth to the one who will announce the birth of the
Messiah. Their son will be the one crying out in the wilderness.
For her part, Elizabeth is thrilled. She has lived her life accursed by
God, insofar as her neighbors are concerned. Barrenness was a sign of
God’s curses in those days. You know this, even if you have forgotten.
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is the first woman in Scripture whom we encounter
who is desperate for an heir. Others appear, perhaps Rachel and Hannah
the next most famous. And we should all remember Naomi’s misfortune of
losing her husband and two sons in her older age. Good. I see some
nods.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Some of us may be
scoffing at the stories in our heads. A few of us may even be thanking
God in our heads that He does not cause us to have babies later in life.
That’s ok to doubt. You are not alone. Zechariah, Elizabeth’s
husband is a priest. The angel tells him that he will have a son who will
introduce Messiah and whose name will be John. Zechariah scoffs and gets
nine months of silence for doubting God’s plan. We talked a bit last week
about the unique ministry of John the Baptizer. His primary job was to
announce the coming of the Messiah. But because He spoke with the voice
of God, because he was a recognized prophet, the people flock to him to hear
his preaching and teaching and to be baptized. For their parts, the
Temple leadership does not know what to make of the child announced to
Elizabeth and Zechariah. The Temple leadership sends their subordinates
to listen to John’s preaching and teaching and report back to them.
Cynically, when later confronted by Jesus on the nature of John the Baptizer,
the leadership is unwilling to state they believe that John’s authority comes
from God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s our big background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
has been silent for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now He
has spoken to two women, Elizabeth and Mary, and asked that they play
significant roles in the redemption of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With me so far?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s one other background of which I want to remind us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the Gospels was written with the
redemption of the world through the Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But each of these books
was written, inspired by the Holy Spirit, by authors with particular foci or
goals in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, Luke pays a
lot of attention to the healing miracles of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke was a physician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew gives us some of those numbers and
wealth parables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, it makes sense to
us since he was a tax collector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Church has held for nearly 19 centuries that Luke spent years interviewing the
major witnesses to God’s work in Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the stories, like this one, has interesting observations because
Luke had the opportunity to ask the Apostles and early disciples what they
experienced, what they felt, and what they thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we read Luke commenting on such
things, he was likely told these during his interviews of the one described in
the Gospel that bears his name or in his sequel we call Acts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, look at our passage from Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mary gets this weird greeting from the angel Gabriel declaring her
blessed among women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does Luke say
she responded to the greeting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
“much perplexed” is a pretty good translation of the participle used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet she was troubled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine if an angel appeared to us and
declared we were blessed among women or among men or among children, how would
we feel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, put some decades between
the event and an interview with Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How would you describe your thoughts and feelings at the time?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The angel goes on and tells Mary she will conceive in her womb a son
whom she is to name Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her son, the
angel goes on to tell her, will be called the Son of the Most High and will
inherit the throne of His ancestor David and reign forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary, for her part, wonders how this can be,
since she does not know a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
there is a lot of discussion around the song “Mary, Did You Know” on social
media right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few people have come
into talk about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time we just
give thanks that it did not make it into our hymnal, as there are some
troubling misogynistic attitudes and claims in the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then we talk about whether she did
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My answer is a little bit of yes
and a little bit of no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did she
understand the sword that would pierce her own heart, to use a reading coming
up later in the Christmas season, in the way that it did?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She watched her son, miraculously conceived
through the power and Spirit of God, crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What could have prepared her for that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And would she have done it had God spelled it all out for her in advance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would any of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she understands how babies are made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Knowing a man” is an idiom for being a
virgin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She likely knows that if she
gets pregnant, there will be rumors and gossip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But she is willing to submit to God’s plan and do what is asked of
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young lady is a true model of
faith and heir of Abraham.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is, of course, not to say that she has no doubts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has already questioned how she will give
birth without knowing a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke tells
us she was perplexed by the angel’s greeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who knows what else she was thinking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, the angel addresses her doubts and concerns with the emphatic
double negative that nothing spoken by God cannot not happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By speaking, God causes His Will to occur, no
matter what experience or nature teaches us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And reminded of the power and speaking of God, Mary consents to play her
part in salvation history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We know how it all ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
most of us will return tonight to celebrate the Incarnation announced in this
pericope, as will a number of visitors and friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this morning, we are reminded of the
impact of God’s spoken word in a unique way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each of us is reminded today that when God speaks of us, whatever He
intends cannot not happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That first
spoken word of us is likely our creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When God breathes life into us, we are indelibly stamped in His
image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know, of course, that His
image is in some way infinite, so we are unsurprised that we may differ by appearance
or by temperament or by passions or by talents or anything else we might use to
distinguish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that God speaks life
into our very being is a foundational understanding of our existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To use the language of Prayer C, by His Will
we are created and have our being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do we know God knows us and cares for us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because our very existence and continued existence is upon His Will!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In some ways, that should likely be enough for us, but God knows our
needs before we ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His next spoken
word about us is at our Baptisms and Confirmations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God reminds us in that Sacrament and Rite
that by virtue our acceptance of His Will in our lives, to use the language of
Mary today, we are heirs of His promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To put in easier language and of the language of today, we understand
that God cannot not redeem those who have come to the water of baptism in
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about surety! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That does not mean that our lives will be
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does mean that God will redeem
all our suffering and even our deaths because He has spoken that covenantal
love over us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like His Son, whose
Incarnation we celebrate tonight, our lives may not resemble what the world
values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may even call us, in
imitation of His Son, to lay down our lives for His sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the promise us there that our sufferings
will be redeemed and cannot not be redeemed!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lastly, and perhaps a bit buried in our story, is the transformative
nature of His grace on our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Elizabeth, an older lady presumably past menopause, becomes pregnant and
births the last of the Old Testament prophets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mary, a young virgin, becomes pregnant and gives birth to that Holy
Mystery we call the Incarnation, the fully human and fully divine baby who will
grow to become the Savior of the world, even when the world rejects Him and His
purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By virtue of our Baptisms and
Confirmations, you and I are grafted into that amazing story of salvation
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I are promised that we
can become vessels of His saving grace in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded that we can do whatever He
asks of us because what He speaks cannot not happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can tackle evil in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can fight injustice in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can fight privation in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can do anything that He asks of us because
of the certainty with which He made each one of us, promised each one of us,
and chooses to dwell with each one of us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And perhaps, on this the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as we wrap up our
patronal season and reminder of our spiritual DNA as a parish named after this
season, we are all corporately and individually reminded of how His dwelling
with us transforms us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God took an older
barren lady and transformed her into the most important of Old Testament
prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God took a younger lady and
transformed her into the God Bearer, to use the language of our Orthodox friends
and neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even transformed the
way He relates to us by virtue of that Holy Mystery we call the
Incarnation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because humans could see
and hear Him, because He came and dwelt among us, we are reminded of His heart
for all human beings and for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And remind of all that, what can He not do for and with us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-3024750107256083202023-11-14T13:43:00.001-06:002023-11-28T13:44:28.172-06:00Keep awake, you wise bridesmaids . . .<p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I suppose
this is one of those weeks I mis-discerned where we needed to be as a
community.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I knew Monday I wanted to be
in Joshua, but God had other ideas.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Rick
& Morty replayed the dinosaur return episode a couple times this week, and
then Forbes pointed out how our exports had reached highs not seen since the
Obama Administration.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then came the
discussions and observations with or of colleagues who were really struggling
with the Gospel passage this week.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">A
number of colleagues outside the diocese were expressing how Matthew’s parable
could not really be a part of Jesus’ teachings.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jesus is radically welcoming and the idea that he would lock virgins out
of a feast clearly false teaching.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">A few
even went the route of “Hey, I think the real lesson is that the wise virgins
are the evil ones in the story.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What do
y’all think?”</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">A few even tried to tie
the wisdom and foolishness to the sleeping.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">To be fair, Jesus is exhorting His disciples to be alert or awake in
this section of the Gospel, and He does fuss at the Apostles for their weak
flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane; I think most of us, however, realize that
both the wise and the foolish virgins are treated the same for their
sleeping.”</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">All of that raises the
question, though, of what is going on and why Matthew would relate the
passage.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And don’t worry if, now that
you have re-read it, you are a bit confused or worried.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If the professionals are struggling that
badly, or teaching it that poorly, God knows.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an
aside, though, before we begin, I do want to point out to us all that, were the
proposal of the Advent Project to be accepted by the wider church, today would
be the First Sunday or Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that
means Christmas is only 43 days away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whoa, that is a lot of murmuring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also means, though, that we are nearing the end of the Season after
Pentecost and that our readings will be taking us on a quick sojourn through
the eschaton, or then end of the age as we like to call it in Christian
circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Adventers, we should not be
surprised nor worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our
spiritual DNA is that we have an eye on Christ’s first Advent and expectant eye
on His next Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We look to the past
as a source of encouragement and to the future as to an impetus to do the work
He has given us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the
Church, well the parts that use the lectionary, will be intentional in the
looking forward and looking back for the next few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll let you all discern whether you think
our readings are influenced by the colors on the altar or of our stoles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to our
lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first issue we have in the
reading is simply one of context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
we are Christians and have been taught, whether we have internally digested it
or not, that marriage is the image which our Lord uses to describe His
relationship with His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the NT,
this is mostly expressed as “Jesus is the Groom; the Church is the Bride,”
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The image of marriage, though, is well used in the OT. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God often describes Himself as a faithful
Groom and Israel, His chosen people, as adulterers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not nearly as many nods.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our
challenge is understanding the importance of a marriage in the culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, in our culture, it is far more performative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brides are encouraged to be a princesses for
a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Experts and influencers tell them
what that means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, it comes down
to dollars and cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first
discussions I have in pre-marital counseling is how stupid that really is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, according to the experts, the average
wedding costs $26,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average
wedding cost $26,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of that
number for just a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the nods
and a few elbows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a wedding
party to clothe, a cake to have baked, a dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And let’s face it, money does not go as far as it once did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you who have recently walked
granddaughters through a wedding know all about the other expenses, such as
venue, reception, and who knows what else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It adds up quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose,
all things being equal, it would be easier for us to stomach if we knew that
the money spent was in direct proportion to the expected length of the
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who among us would not spend
extra money if we knew it would help our sons’ and daughters’ marriages last? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, I’d be happy if the church venue would
increase the likelihood that the marriage will last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, venue does not seem to
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God declares it so important,
you’d expect Christians to do a better job in marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is, though, we are no better at
marriage than the heathens around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost half of all Christian marriages will end in divorce, and God
describes it as representative of His relationship with His people and as
indissoluble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine what our
marriages would be like, absent His teaching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
challenges we have, though, is understanding how important a wedding was in
Ancient Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have tried and tried
to teach you how to understand Israel’s emphasis on the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Israel, marriage was not just a social
construct or economic relationship, as the world around us tries to describe
marriage today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ownership of the
Promised Land had an eschatological hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simply put, if one could not be alive when God’s chosen one, the Messiah
or Christ to use our language, ascended the throne, one could only make sure
his or her family would participate in the joyful blessing of that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marriages were how the eschatological promise
could be experienced by any family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
families often comes the hope of children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Children means another generation will be there, if Messiah comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have explained that our best way to
understand this would be to pretend if I excommunicated you, you really
believed you were cut off from God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are Americans and Episcopalians, so we have a difficult relationship
with excommunication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do it, and
the bishop can ratify it, but how many Episcopalians or Americans will not just
“look for another church” were I to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are well
read enough and imaginative enough to understand the threat
intellectually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Priests and bishops do
have the authority, but do we really understand the authority as significant to
us or our relationship to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For their
part, those of Ancient Israel understood that ownership of their land was the
guarantee that they would participate in Messiah’s reign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why children, or barrenness, was so
important in Ancient Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Owning the
family plot, so to speak, was proof that they were part of God’s chosen people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, the whole community treasured
weddings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In villages where everybody
knew everybody, everybody celebrated marriages because of their significance in
the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With me so far?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to
oversimplify, but imagine who took control of these events in the days before
wedding and event planners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
right, the mom’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general, the mother
of the bride oversaw what you and I would call the nuptials, and the mother of
the groom oversaw the wedding feast or reception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once everything was ready for the feast, the
groom would be told to go and get his bride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The groom and others would process to the house of the bride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bride would be waiting for the groom to
show up so that they could be married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, everyone at the nuptials would process back to the groom’s house
for the great celebration, the wedding feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I
live in an age where venues and people are overscheduled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be scandalized would either party
not show up early for a wedding, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would assume there was a problem were one or the other significantly
late for their wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, I have to
remind everyone in the wedding party not to show up drunk or high or late at
rehearsals or for the event itself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good, I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have all
seen shows and headlines that talk about the moms of brides and grooms who do
their very best to make sure the event is about them rather than the couple,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine, though, if the wedding
and the reception were held at your house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Imagine our favorite matriarch hosting the reception for her son or
daughter and celebrating God’s promises alive in her family as a result!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would that celebration look like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food has to be ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wine has to be good, and the toasting wine
great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The servants and slaves have to
be ready to do their jobs and wash feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lights have to be lit and the tables set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grooms could not get their brides until
everything was just so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as an aside,
maybe you understand a bit better by God’s declaration that the eschaton will
begin with THE Wedding Feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to the
procession and especially the job of the virgins, or bridesmaids as our
translation calls them today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
groom went to get his bride and the rest of the bridal party, it was all done
on foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be hard for us to
understand this part because we live in motorized Nashville, but imagine
yourself in the country, so street lights every tenth of a mile, having to walk
from one location to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will
you need to keep you from stumbling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What will you need to keep the predators at bay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will you need to help protect you against
bandits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like you listened to Funmi’s
Gospel reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, in the
Gospel reading, what do you think was the job of the bridesmaids, based on what
you just heard?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, they
provided the light for the procession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I am sure that many mom’s intended for marriages and feasts to start
earlier in the evening, but remember this is an honor culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an enormous thanksgiving event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a Covenant Reminder event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, yeah, and lest we forget, it is a bit of
a social competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone wants to
have arranged the most memorable celebration, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, human beings are human beings, and
mothers like to outdo one another every bit as much as fathers, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to be
clear, as Joshua and I had a discussion in Greek this week, the lamp of this
verse is a different lamp from Jesus’ description of hiding it under a
bushel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is a traveling lamp, a <i>lampas</i>;
that one is table lamp, a <i>lychnos</i>, for those who want to do extra
research this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They serve different
functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A table lamp might well have
a larger reservoir for the oil because it is not going anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be heavier because no one had to
carry it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a limit for most
people as to how big a lamp and reservoir they could carry, so that was often,
though not necessary, difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in
this story, we are talking about younger girls rather than weightlifters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your job
is to light the way, what are your responsibilities?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trimming the wick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe flint,
in case the light goes out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A covering,
in case it is windy or rainy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could
probably name more responsibilities if I gave you time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if you know what is necessary sitting in
Nashville 2000 years later, do you think people understood what was necessary
2000 years ago in Ancient Israel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where Jesus’
judgment comes into play.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls
one set of bridesmaids wise and the other set foolish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am guessing everyone here now knows why the
one set is foolish and the other wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One group took its job or responsibilities seriously, and the other did
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be folks who hear
sermons trying to justify Jesus’ harsh words, in their minds, saying that His
issue was their sleepiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not both
the wise and the foolish fall asleep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That cannot be the divider between wise and foolish behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be folks who hear sermons trying
to explain that Matthew was caught up in judgment, but not Jesus, as if Matthew
did not travel and study under Jesus for three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if there is anything Matthew insists
upon, it is how Israel, and especially the Temple leadership, is judged by
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is the parable that hard,
once we understand the background?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s push
it just a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the denial by the
wise bridesmaids seem harsh to our ears?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s ok, be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s right, we know Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves
and to serve others in God’s Name, trusting He will give us what is necessary
to glorify God in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, though,
we are well before Jesus’ enthronement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We know Jesus’ instructions are all true, because He has been raised
from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As crazy as some sound in
our ears, and how poorly many of us try to keep them, how do you think they
sounded in the ears of His disciples before His Death, Resurrection, and
Ascension?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This illustration would not
be one of those hard teachings, though.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s say
the wise bridesmaids feel sorry for the foolish bridesmaids and give them
oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much oil have the wise bridesmaids
secured beforehand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, enough
to get them to groom’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens if they divide their oil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Imagine, you are in a wedding party proceeding to the great reception,
and the lamps burn out plunging you in darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have failed in your one
responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have embarrassed
your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have put everyone at
risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind, it is not like us
forgetting to turn our headlights on while traveling Franklin Pike at
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is long before most ambient
lighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that the wise
bridesmaids were being mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew
that that their light would be necessary to get the bridal party to its
destination safely and without stumbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ten lights would be better for this group; but five is much better than
none.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the Lord’s response when they
return with oil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t He seem
harsh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all due respect to Owen
Wilson and Vince Vaugh, wedding crashers have probably been around since
weddings were first celebrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
face it, all the angst surrounding weddings have probably been around since the
very first wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us may have
experienced wedding crashers at our own weddings or that of our children or
grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they were
strangers; maybe they were just uninvited extended family or acquaintances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bigger and better the wedding and
reception, and the more important the families involved, the more everyone
wants to be at the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there
were nefarious motives for attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Maybe
if everyone gets drunk, I can pick their pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I can find some goodies in the house
that fits in my pockets.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an
inconvenient and sometimes dangerous thing to open your doors after dark in
antiquity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be more common sense
not to open one’s door after the wedding party has arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone should have been inside once the
bride and groom entered the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
southern 15 minutes late was not a virtue in those cultures!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, given the size of this party, remember
it takes 10 bridesmaids to conduct everyone to the groom’s house, it is very
possible that the groom, or the father of the groom, truly did not recognize
the voices of the late arriving bridesmaids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
admitted challenges posed to modern readers of the Gospel of Matthew is its
focus on the eschaton, on the judgement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The eschaton seems to consume far more of Matthew’s attention than any
other NT writer other than maybe John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much
of Matthew’s focus is on who is in and who is out of God’s kingdom, to be
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Matthew spends a great deal of
energy pointing out to his audience, us, that it is incredibly difficult for us
to discern who is in and who is out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
wheat and the tares grow together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes the Gentiles respond better to the Gospel than Israel, God’s
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, those who should know the
mercy of God the best are the ones most determined to weigh down others with
their own rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only One fit to
judge is the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He alone knows the
heart; He alone knows who belongs to Him and who rejects Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew’s
Gospel today is made a bit more challenging because we can identify with the
wise and the foolish bridesmaids during the course of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were the story not a parable, we might fall
rightly into the belief that we earn salvation, that we are responsible for
being adopted into God’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
is a parable, and so we try to figure out why Jesus would have shared it, why
Matthew would have remembered and recorded it, and what application it has for
us today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are further challenged by
Matthew’s teaching that Christ is paradoxically the narrowest door but the most
wide-open invitation possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
hard for us to accept that others, whoever the others are in our lives, will
receive the same blessing, the same salvation as us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
that famous line in Spider Man that was well-used especially in Britain, with
great power comes great responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see a few nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evangelical
Anglicans used it to remind our brothers and sisters that we have a
responsibility to God and our neighbors because of what He has done for us in
Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To translate it into
James’ words, faith without works is dead or useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of our adoption into God’s holy
family, we have a responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
give thanks that we have been adopted, but we are reminded that it falls to us
to invite all others into that saving embrace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How we do that, of course, differs in our contexts, our charisms, and
our internal digestion of how blessed we truly are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dale’s gifts are different than Jane’s gifts
whose gifts are different than Jean’s whose gifts are different than my
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have different gifts and passions and
experiences that make us perfect ambassadors in one sub-culture but make us a
bit less perfect for another sub-culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To use the language of the day, we all have work to do given us by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we do that, though, is very personal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To use the
image of Scripture and the Church, we try to let the light of Christ shine forth
in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we do that most
effectively?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through attuning ourselves
to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go to worship, we pray, we
study the Scriptures, we fast, we serve—there are lots of ways in which we can
attune ourselves to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might say,
to use the image of this day, that we are gathering oil for the flame that is
supposed to be within us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us
sitting here know there are times when we have acted wisely and have acted
foolishly when attuning ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
of us likely have periods in our lives when we feel like we would be counted
wise by the Lord when he arrived, but all of us likely have periods in our
lives when we worry that He might judge us fools and leave us outside the
feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to
be careful when we read parables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, the examples used by Jesus need to be contextualized for us
to understand them better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My colleagues
who struggle with the groom’s judgment in this parable simply do not understand
the importance of light bearers in a dark world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense, as our world, for the most
part, is full of street lights and other lights, especially in our urban
settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But another problem with
parables comes when we ignore what has been handed down from those who heard
the parables—what we Episcopalians and other like-minded Christians call
tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We receive these parables in
a tradition, and Christ’s disciples and Apostles shared their meanings with
later audiences, who later shared them with others, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in any game of telephone, we have to be
careful that the message we hears corresponds to the tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we read works righteousness in this
parable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we assume that the groom was a jerk,
based on our context?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we even be focused on the wrong part of
the story and miss the forest for the trees?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You bet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, do those
interpretations or misfocuses align with what has been handed down or with the
Gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s the rub.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus tells
the story, in part, to remind us of our need to keep alert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps we would do well to read the passage
on Advent 1 when we focus on keeping alert and staying awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we Christians are warned, admonished,
encouraged, whatever language you want to use, by our Lord that we must pay
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the bridesmaids of our
story, we do not know when the Groom is coming to retrieve His Bride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any inattention on are part can have
disastrous consequences, and not just for others, but even for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just like the bridemaids needed to have
oil, trimmed wicks, coverings, and who knows what else for their job, you and I
are called by God to be prepared for the work that He has given us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are nourished by the Sacrament, instructed
by His word, attuned to Him through prayers and other disciplines—all for the
purpose of doing the work that He has given us to do as we head back outside
these walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, when we
discover ourselves to be foolish, when we discover ourselves to be inattentive
to His call on our lives, we repent and endeavor to attune ourselves to Him
better, that we might glorify Him in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in the end, those who live seeking to glorify Him in their lives,
which includes that repentance for inattention or foolish behavior, are the
ones who will be judged wise when He comes again, as they were the ones who
lighted the paths of others to His saving embrace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends,
you and I are those to whom it falls to live and to speak as if His words are
true and worthy to be believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Church, the Bride of Christ, is called to live as if She believes His return
can happen any moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His instruction to
be alert, to pay attention, should motivate us to live each day as if He might
come and that we desire to be found by Him like the wise bridesmaids of our
reading today, prepared for His appearing no matter the hour or the day,
knowing that, when that Day finally happens, we will find ourselves at the Wedding
Feast, celebrating the work of salvation He has accomplished in our own lives
and those around us who claim His as Lord and Savior!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-3056741452497011222023-10-11T14:25:00.001-05:002023-10-18T14:26:52.903-05:00Instruction for God's people . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Our Exodus
reading should sound familiar in our ears, though for reasons known only to
committee minds, our reading is not quite what the lectionary editors intended
when they put together the reading for today.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes, one can tell what the thoughts were of the committee by what
was omitted.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">This was not one of those
times.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I say that because we should all
be familiar with the Ten Commandments or Ten Words, as I will more likely call
them today.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Many Episcopalians use the
Penitential Orders during the season of Lent, and so we spend some intentional
time reminding ourselves of God’s Instruction, </span><i style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">torah</i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">, to His
people.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just to make sure we are paying
attention in Lent, we read this passage during Sunday worship during the B and
C seasons.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I forgot to look in season A,
so if somebody gets bored, feel free to look for me and let me know
afterwards.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But we are intentional in
our reminder of God’s instruction during the course of our worship in the
season of Lent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, of
course, we are still in the Green Season of after Pentecost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our focus is not on sin in the same way that
it is during Lent, so I think the editors did well in picking this reading
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wish they did the whole
pericope rather than cutting parts out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quit looking for the cut parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
used the rector’s discretion and had us read and hear the whole section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all should know by now I am not a fan of
cutting up readings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to print the
whole reading, though I admit that sometimes space causes me to go with the
editors’ decisions every now again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we jump
into what I think will be the meat of my sermon today, I need to do a bit of
vocabulary work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was reminded during
the feast of Francis that some among us are relatively new and have not heard
stories and foundation work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some of
you, this will be a review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for
others, it is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have for my
time here tried to get Adventers to Anglicize some Hebrew and Greek words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ironic that we get Paul’s use of
skubala in his letter to the Church at Philippi today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our translators render it “rubbish,” but a
lot of Adventers remember that it is a far more earthy word than rubbish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, some among you are giggling and
elbowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How fallen are we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Anglicize and remember the dirty words,
but not the other more important words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
those newer to the parish, think of a word much closer to the s-word in
English, and that is closer to what Paul is writing about his “fleshy” goods
and why your pew neighbors are giggling like middle schoolers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our real word today
I wish we would Anglicize is torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Torah is the word that our Hebrew brothers and sister use when
describing what many Americans call law or commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though torah can have the understanding of
law or commandment, there is way more nuance there than many of us like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means instruction and direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great way to describe it according to one
scholar I read a couple decades ago, was to think of healthy parenting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We teach our children do’s and don’t’s, not to
be capricious, but to keep them safe from harm and to help them grow up to be
healthy adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they laws?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some sense, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There usually a punishment for
disobedience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they are not just
laws, which we tend to think of as limiting our freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, those of you who want to test how
much we like our freedom and hate any limitations, go for a drive on I-65 after
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t stay on it long if
you are driving the legal speed limit, please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have had more than enough funerals recently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
understanding of torah is important because it reminds us that God is the
loving Father in heaven who directs us for our own benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All 613 of the instructions in the torah of
the Pentateuch are meant for our good, are meant to help us live like a people
who intend to honor Yahweh in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We may not understand the purpose of one of the instructions of the
torah, but that is our problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is
evidence of our child-like immaturity before our Lord God rather than a problem
with the torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we argue with God’s
torah, when we complain He is not fair, or when we doubt whether He has our
best interest at His heart, we are like little children who do not understand
there is a reason one does not grab at boiling pots on the stove or stick
things in outlets or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody
understand now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I intend to call it torah for the rest of
this, but if I slip, you understand it is the culture in which we live that
trips me up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to our
reading in Exodus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I warned us, our
culture views laws and commandments as limiting, an infringement on our
personal rights, to use the language of our Libertarian friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are too far down the Hobbes/Locke
discourse to climb out of this on our own, much like Ancient Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing of which we need to remind
ourselves is that Israel asked God what it meant to live in communion with a
holy God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think back several weeks
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God instructed Moses to tell
Pharaoh to let His people come to the holy mountain that they might worship
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What followed was a result of
Pharaoh’s rejection of God’s words spoken through Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the reason for the Ten Plagues is to
teach Israel, Egypt, and anyone who heard about the plagues, including us, is
that God is truly God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other god or
power or principality can thwart His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cosmological “battle” that the ANE world thought was happening was
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yahweh was the Creator of all
that is, seen and unseen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All powers and
nature bow to Yahweh’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human
beings are called by God into relationship with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, after the
plagues and after Pharaoh’s decree that Israel leave Egypt, after the crossing
of the sea with a wall of water on their right and on their left, after the
utter destruction of the Egypt’s chariots, after the provision of manna, of
quail, and of water, Israel has come to the mountain to worship God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There they ask God what it means to be His
chosen people, what it means to be in full communion with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The resulting answer is the torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to be holy like God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Want to live a sinless life in full accordance with God’s approval?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Notice, though, the words are given to a people already redeemed by a
God who knows they we be unable to keep it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Heck, we will read next week how they cannot even keep these
instructions while Moses is speaking to God on the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words are not given as a way to earn
salvation or redemption or escape from oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has already delivered them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of
their deliverance, the Exodus experience, they know God’s power and will and
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they grumbled about food, He
gave them food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they grumbled about
meat, He gave them quail meat until they were sick of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they worried about thirst, He gave them
water from a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t forget how
He freed them from any retribution from Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Israel has no need to worry about Egypt because their best and most
overpowering weapon, their chariots, have been destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not one Israelite had to risk their life in
battle, so complete was God’s deliverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not a sandal or piece of clothing has been worn out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, even their flocks have made it through
all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever part of this experience
was most impressive to them, they have seen with their own eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now they ask God what it means to be His
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The First
Word, as our Hebrew brothers and sisters, speak to what should be Covenant
loyalty to His awesome power and merciful grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they doubted and complained, God still
provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever they needed, He made
sure they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should their
response be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolute recognition of the
fact that God is faithful and worthy of worship and praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should trust He has their best interest
at heart as He has demonstrated that fact time and time again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result of
that experience and understanding ought to cause His people to be loyal to Him,
despite the instruction of the First Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But God, knowing the human heart, instructs His people, reminds His
people of how they should behave toward Him, given His covenant faithfulness to
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice,
though, we are speaking in terms of relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specifically, we are speaking in terms of
covenant relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why highlight
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, God has delivered His
people and they have asked what living in relationship with a holy God is
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has not thundered from Sinai
that the world HAS to live like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has thundered from Sinai that this is what living in relationship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I understand that all of God’s torah is
for our benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all humanity lived
under His instruction and guidance, this world would truly be like the
next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to our
concerns in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of our
brothers and sisters in Christ get really upset when the world chooses to
remove monuments to or list of the Ten Commandments from courthouses and public
squares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They loudly proclaim this is a
Christian nation and such removal is a sign of our acceptance of Satan or other
nonsense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would the world ever want these
instructions, this torah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they have
no experience of God’s deliverance, if they have no relationship with God, no
understanding of His faithfulness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
they do not have that relationship, or they do not yet understand that
relationship is possible, how can they ever respond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can they want to live as a people already
delivered?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a priest in
Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, I am both unsurprised and
not disappointed when the Ten Commandments are removed from the public
sphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America is NOT God’s covenant
nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever town we name is not
God’s covenant town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who claim Jesus
as Lord, those who have been baptized into Christ’s death and raised into His
Resurrection are those who should be asking God the same question asked at the
foot of Sinai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The members of the Body
of Christ are those who should be seeking how to live in communion with God,
not people who do not know Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
shocked or ready to argue, think of the plan of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God chose Abraham and his descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was nothing special about them other
than the fact that God chose them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
God chose them for His purpose, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were to be a blessing to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did that play out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
redeemed people instructed about God and who experienced God’s deliverance,
they were to live as He taught them at the foot of Sinai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they were dispersed into the world, they
were to live like redeemed people serving God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The expectation was that the Gentile nations would see what they had,
their hope or peace or however we want to describe it, and ask how they could
get it, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was that
Gentiles would join God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound
familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the job of the
Church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We give thanks and praise to God
for the redeeming work He has done for us in Christ Jesus, the fulfilment of
His promises to Abraham way back in Genesis, and to love and serve others in
His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We expect people to be drawn
by our love and service of them into the saving embrace of God, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, like our Lord, honor peoples’ choice or
free will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want them to commit to
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want them to join us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we should never try and make them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives all human beings free will, and we
are always reminded of that truth and gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just because they reject Him today does not mean we keep serving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we remind ourselves in the parables, God
is always wooing those who do not yet choose to accept His offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Loving and serving others is our cross bearing for His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we try to force others to join us or
serve Him, how does it work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absent that
experience of deliverance from choosing Him, how can one ever expect to
understand the torah and its meaning?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That leads me
to a second discussion about the torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I promise you I could bore you all to sleep today discussing the so-call
uses of the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theologians have long
argued whether the torah is meant to remind us of our need for a Savior, for
deliverance, or whether the torah is a stick by which we measure our works or
sanctification, or whether the law is meant to restrain evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Christians, we would acknowledge that the
torah likely does all that and even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, and this is a huge BUT, with what is God truly concerned?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can one live the torah and have a hardened heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the chuckles and elbows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course one can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus had lots to say about such individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can one make appropriate sacrifices and still
have a hardened heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is concerned with our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, understand, in the ANE, the heart was
the seat of the will, not emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
God, or the prophets, or Jesus speak about hearts, we need to hear “will.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants people to want to live holy
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants people to want to be
servants of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants people to
want to glorify Him in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we do
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Jesus did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in that want, is the means of reconciliation
with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we realize we have
sinned, when we realize that we have not lived as God instructs, what do we
do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We acknowledge our guilt before God and ask
Him, as members of His Son’s Body, to forgive us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, though, we ask ourselves the question,
are we truly sorry, do we truly repent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we do, God offers forgiveness through His Son our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we are sent back out into the world
as heralds of His love and grace, having experienced yet again, His deliverance
of us, His shattering of those chains that oppress us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that,
of course, is a reminder of just how much we need Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us learn pretty quickly that we
cannot, by force of will, do those things pleasing to God and avoid those
things displeasing to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us
will not make it through the day without sinning, and none of us will make it
to next week, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is God
surprised by our failure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, was He surprised by
Israel’s inability to keep the torah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
addresses this for us, though, when He instructs His Apostles and disciples and
us that everything in Scripture is about Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the torah points to our need of His saving grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spend so much of our time focusing on the
torah during Lent that I think we sometimes view it as limiting or use it to
beat down ourselves and remind us of our unlovable selves before God that I am
thankful we get to pay attention to it from another angle during the “green”
season of after Pentecost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The torah,
just like Christ, is given to a people already redeemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So great is God’s work for us in His beloved
Son our Lord that all we bring to the relationship is the willingness to commit
to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t earn our way in to His
saving grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no score-keeping
which makes some of us more redeemable or more sanctified than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is given unconditionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as His grace works on our hearts, as we
begin to understand just what God has done for us, we are shaped, molded,
formed as heralds of His mercy and His love, redeemed as princesses and princes
in His incredible household, and sent back out there to tell others of the
saving works He has done in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put
differently or perhaps more uncomfortably, you and I are the little “I” images
and little “m” monuments to God’s faithfulness and love of His chosen
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living as if we truly believe
it, including repentance, we become those who draw people into God’s saving
embrace and those who help others understand the salvation that He offers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-57553735338066491452023-09-28T12:49:00.003-05:002023-09-28T12:49:41.187-05:00On Jim's words and life and faith . . . <p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Are we safe for the illustration I told
you, JoAnne?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">On behalf of the Martin family, but
especially JoAnne and his sons Andy and David, I would like to thank you for
joining us today as we mourn Jim’s death and remind ourselves again of God’s
promises to us.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I say again because we
Adventers have lost a couple defining personalities or characters over the last
few weeks in the deaths of Mary Clyde and Jim.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you are not an Episcopalian, you might be surprised at the
readings.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Truth be told, some
Episcopalians might be surprised at the Gospel reading as it is not one of the
suggested Gospel readings in our BCP.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Of
course, if you did not know Jim well, you might be surprised there is a
Christian burial to begin with.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jim was
not at all bashful about expressing his opinions about the Church and about the
parish.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you took his comments at face
value, you might think he hated the Church.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In truth, Jim mostly wanted Her members to live as Jesus commanded and
lived Himself.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And sometimes, he said
what he said because he knew it gave others around him an opportunity and the
freedom to say what they wanted to say or ask what they needed to ask.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only knew Jim 8 ½ years, so I cannot
speak to older Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some of you
present knew him from work or from art or from some other social gatherings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim was incredibly entrepreneurial, creative,
and inquisitive in the time I knew him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
served on the Vestry while I was here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has sung in the choir for more than two decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he was my co-conspirator in getting
the choir to sing for the early service on Easter mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He promised that as long as I pumped them
full of mimosas, he would make sure they came and sang joyfully!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an enormous supporter of Body & Soul,
our food pantry, even though it caused him to question some of his own personal
assumptions about God, specifically those assumptions about how active God was
in the day to day life of humanity and individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could never get him to do anything about
the drying up lake in Chad, of which he was quite passionate, but he combined with
Robert to launch a group which they later named Wrestling with Faith that tried
to do what its name suggests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that
is to say that Jim had an active faith and membership which might surprise some
people, given some of the words that came out of his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my perspective, Jim’s best criticism
was absolutely constructive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim had no
respect and little love for churches and Christians who publicly dressed
themselves in their faith with words but lived as if Jesus never gave us the
Lord’s Prayer or the Beatitudes, which, as y’all no doubt have figured out
brings us back to the Gospel reading today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passage is famous enough that many
non-Christians know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is often
referred to as the Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That latter name, of course, served as one of
Jim and my discussions over the “conflicts in the Bible,” as he would sometimes
describe them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew writes that Jesus
went up a mountain to preach to the crowd; Luke writes that Jesus gave this
sermon on a plain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim’s big question
was “which version is correct or true?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I reminded him that Matthew wrote from his own memories years after
Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension and that Luke wrote from his interviews with
the Apostles and early disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
reminded him as I do you now, our idea of a mountain in Middle Tennessee is a
bit different from many of those in the Holy Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those modern tourist trap places in
Israel that claim to be the site of this sermon is more a hill than a mount,
but Sermon on the Hill does not have the same panache or cause people to travel
out of their way to spend their money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
both agreed that humanity is so stupid that Jesus probably taught this
instruction in many different places and many different times, expecting us to
realize its importance because of His frequent teaching and His life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, maybe both accounts are absolutely true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That the sermon is in two Gospels and ignored
by so many “Christians” certainly speaks to its importance in our Lord’s mind
and also to our own stubborn hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our part, we are often consumed with
the trappings of fame and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To put
it in Jesus’ language, we are interested in the trappings of glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the glory that we chase, the
glory by which we are distracted, are those things which the world around us
pursues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like the shiny, vain baubles
which dissipate quickly, and forget the lasting glory offered by our Father in
Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for all of us, Jesus did
not forget.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those whom Jesus taught were like us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When will the kingdom of God come?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When will the injustices be corrected?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will the economy work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will the social order be
constructed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ answer to those
questions are surprising and, perhaps, nonsensical to much of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can those who mourn Jim’s death, or the
death of other loved ones, ever be truly comforted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can the meek ever inherit anything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to fight for what is ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who wants to show mercy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us, if we are truly honest with
ourselves, want the power to exact vengeance rather than the heart to show
mercy to those who have wronged us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see some squirms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing I am not going to preach about
those who are persecuted for being jerks, huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In that, Jim found a kindred spirit in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It drove us both nuts that Christians
complain they are treated “harshly” for being jerks – to be fair, Jim and I
used other earthy language in these discussion that might offend your gentle
ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus reminds us in this teaching we
are blessed when we are persecuted for doing what He commands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meet too many Christians who can’t
understand why waiters and waitresses don’t like those fake $100 bill tips that
say “the best tip is Jesus” or why the should not berate service personnel for
trying to do their jobs or for giving the finger or cussing out drivers because
they are in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are cursed
for doing the things Jesus commands—mourning, being merciful, being a
peacemaker and the like--, you are blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you are cursed for being a jerk, you are not blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ teachings here and in Luke’s
version, of course, are counter cultural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But His teachings instruct us in His ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I and all those who claim Jesus is
Lord of our lives are expected by Him to live as if that is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to help others, to live as if
we believe our Lord was serious when He described the Kingdom’s values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to live as if we believe Jesus
is serious when He promises that all who are baptized in His Name die to themselves
and are promised a resurrection into His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are called to live as if we truly believe that the path to lasting
glory is the Cross and our own crosses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make no mistake, my friends, these are all crosses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet so many who claim the mantle of
Christianity forget the example that He set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How many of us chase wealth, as if it is the only security we can have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us chase power, as if our ability
to influence or command others is anything other than fleeting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us Christians act and live as if
we are entitled to our glorious inheritance without first bearing our own
crosses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was that hypocrisy that
drove Jim nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was that hypocrisy
that caused him to criticize churches and the Church and those who had the
bully pulpits of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I
mean?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you paying close attention might
have heard me asking JoAnne if we were ok to use an example before I
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see some nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When JoAnne came in to talk about the
readings and expressed her desire to use the Sermon on the Mount rather than the
reading she had chosen begrudgingly, I told her I already had a Beatitude
sermon illustration or two involving Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told her what I am about to shared with y’all, but I told her I was
worried about the other party in this story showing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not want him and his relationship with
Jim negatively impacted by learning the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>JoAnne promised to help me keep an eye out for whether he showed up for
Jim’s funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, just in case he is
here, neither of us have seen you, if you are here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not use names and too many identifying
details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And please understand Jim was
trying to be a true friend to you, honoring both your own attitudes and
feelings and meeting a need in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have said repeatedly, and many of you
have nodded, of Jim’s lack of tolerance for those self-identified Christians
who ignore the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer as they live their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who knew Jim superficially might well
have thought he hated Christianity, given his criticisms and a lack of
context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, a few acquaintances
and others have decided its their job to worry about Jim’s salvation and my
participation in a burial service for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, by the way, were he with us today, you would find yourself in his
ire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, those taking that
decision upon themselves are being the very hypocrites that both Jesus and Jim
liked to call out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is appropriate,
as we remember God’s promises to Jim that we remember our Lord’s instructions
to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our job is not to judge the
salvation or state of the soul or eternal destination or whatever you want to
call it of any other human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
job is to glorify God in our lives, and He reminds us this day, through Matthew’s
recount of the Sermon on Mount, that we glorify Him chiefly by mourning when
appropriate, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, exercising mercy, making
peace, and all the other instructions contained in these twelve verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s our job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest is up to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thankfully, because Christ was raised
from the dead on that third day, we know the Lord has power and will to do the
rest!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to our job, well, Jim’s really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a few backup illustrations of how Jim
lived his life in accordance with what he understood from a few decades of
Scripture readings and sermons, a enormous number of hymns sung in worship, and
even some discussions with Adventers and strangers about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when JoAnne asked about the Beatitudes,
an easy one jumped out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a year ago, a friend of Jim’s lost his
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned of it because Jim called
to tell me and had a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he sent
the friend over to the pantry, would I meet him and pretend not to know him or
his needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim’s plan was to tell him
that he supported Body & Soul but never used it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This friend could in his place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job, according to Jim, was to see how else
we could help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim’s big worry was
that the friend would not want to accept help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jim’s worry was that this friend needed assistance but was unwilling to
ask for or accept help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make a long story short, I “bumped into”
the gentleman at the pantry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
asked how he was doing, he shared what had happened and how hard it was for
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim had tossed me the alley-oop, so
I just dunked the ball and asked if there was any way we could help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some . . . let’s call it passionate
discourse over whether everybody needs some help from time to time, the friend
agreed to let my church help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
would let my church pay a cell phone bill while he looked for another job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What nobody else knew, of course, was that
Jim was reimbursing my discretionary funds to make this possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For about a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim went so far as to call our financial
admin and have her set up an automatic withdrawal because he might forget to
pay the bill from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
around, I am pretty certain that few people knew Jim was like that in his
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see your elbows and whispers
and shocked expressions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all his
frustrations with the Church, for all his love of science and explanation in
favor of miracles, Jim took seriously the commands of our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A neighbor was in need, and he was in a
position to address the need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When so
many of us Christians would choose to ignore the need and step over the
unfortunate, Jim literally put his money where his heart was and is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, he did it in a way that only His
Father in Heaven, his priest, and his wife knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim helped the friend because he loved him
and trusted God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew how such experiences
can crush a human spirit, and he tended even to that in his friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are, as I said, many other such
stories by which I will remember Jim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
may come out over the years; some may not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jim’s cantankerousness was easy for me to take because it was motivated
by a love of God and a love of the parish and a love of those around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it a wonderful and joyful irony that
a man who could be so . . . well, Jim, wishing the Church would quit paying
attention to the unbelievable miracles of Scripture, could be so moved and
bathed in God’s Holy Spirit that he missed the miracle happening in his own heart
and his own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what I wouldn’t
give to have seen the look on his face when he learned that all those miracles,
all those promises of God, were true!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
I strongly suspect we will all have that same silly look for a few centuries
after our own resurrections, as God is always doing more than we can ask or
imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim’s family, I hope you know he loved and
treasured each one of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim fussed
and fumed about those things important to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He shared some of his frustrations, some of his hopes, and some of his
failures with many of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways,
if you found yourself on the receiving end of Jim’s rants or arguments, you
have some knowledge of how much he cared for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not to say he was a perfect father, a
perfect husband, a perfect brother, a perfect grandpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew he was not, and his failures
frustrated him far more than each of you did him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adventers, and especially members of the
choir, I know this has been a tough season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have lost steadfast members, steadfast characters and personalities, whose
journey is no longer the same path as our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet it was for moments like this, seasons like this, that our Lord came
down, in the ultimate expression of steadfast love, that we might stand at the
graves of loved ones, certain in the hope that we will all one day be reunited
with them and God, and sent back out into the world out there to do the tasks He
has given each of us to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who are struggling with
the questions with which Jim wrestled, those who are seeking God, maybe even
those Christians who have forgotten that the path to the glory we are called to
seek is available only through cross-bearing lives, through lives that reflect
the teachings of our Lord, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage
you to pay more attention to Jim’s actions in your life than perhaps his
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, his words were sometimes scandalous
and sometimes confusing, but insofar as they related to God and faith, many of
those spoken words served God’s purposes, allowing those struggling the freedom
to ask questions they were afraid to ask and leading those perhaps too self-righteous
to a bit of self-examination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
Anglican luminaries have taught us that real faith is an inward conviction that
involves the whole activity of a human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think it fair to say Jim’s activities reflected such a faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all his bluster, for all his opines, he
was washed in the waters of baptism, he was nourished by Christ’s Body &
Blood in the Sacrament, he led us in joyful praise and singing, he was a true
lover of his friends and neighbors, he led his parish when called, and he was not
afraid to repent when he realized his errors or sins—for decades!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends, his activity among you
demonstrated his faith and his longing, that those promises of God are
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would that when our lives are remembered
when death has called us home, that the same will be said of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ’s
Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-28817431514092454532023-09-28T12:10:00.001-05:002023-10-05T12:32:52.780-05:00On perspectives and horizons . . .<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One might say our readings today are a
God-incident or God-ronic.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How else do
we explain that these are our readings on Jim’s birthday the day after we
celebrated his funeral?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Oh, I know.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A committee got together and chose readings
for each Sunday during the church year.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I made the choice that we were doing the history tract rather than the
prophetic track during the season after Pentecost.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">People who are born have birthdays eventually
die.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We can explain everything that
happen in some way, shape, or form; but even Bartimaeus could see the
coordination is beyond our abilities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are visiting and wondering why
people are chuckling, we buried a long-standing member and character
yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim was famous or notorious,
depending on your mood, for some of his discussions about miracles in the
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It drove him a bit nuts for me to
accept them as real and teach them as such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Were he here with us today, I would naturally poke the bear and point
out how manna might have made great birthday cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it made great bread, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been fun to compare the
psalmist’s recollection of events in Scripture with what really happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author of Genesis makes it clear that
God’s people are unhappy and complaining all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, they complain they are starving, so God
meets that need, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The psalmist
leaves the complaining out of his or her re-telling of that event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit, I was tempted to preach
on Matthew thanks to my Greek work<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with
Joshua and Brian this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent
some time talking about the idling workers whom the owner of the vineyard
continues to invite throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Brian said, the English does not make it as clear that these workers
invited subsequently were seen idling by the owner throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about how that understanding might
inform evangelism better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is so
gracious that He is extending that hand to humanity, and will be, right upon
until His Son’s return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our job,
as stewards, is both to extend His invitation and remind ourselves that workers
came before and after us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all,
we should celebrate that others join us, no matter the time they spend working
with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I felt called to preach on the letter
to the Philippians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specifically, I felt
called to preach on Paul’s perspective and how it should inform our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By way of a bit of history, Paul’s letter is
written to a church in a community of the far NE of Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a town of some significance,
tactically speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forget its
original name, but Phillip of Macedon renamed the town after himself, after he
conquered it and cemented his reign in the ANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For those of you thinking his name sounds familiar, it should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the father of Alexander the Great.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town entered world history again
during the last great civil war of the Republic of Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Julius was assassinated, the elites
divided and fought among themselves for power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The simple version is that Octavian’s troops fought troops loyal to Mark
Antony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know your history well
enough to know that Octavian troops won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was proclaimed emperor and changed his name to Augustus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you who are too young to have
learned this history in school yet, think Palpatine’s efforts to turn the
republic into an empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This effort just
involved shields and spears and swords rather than light sabers and laser guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Star Wars teaches history?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the Civil War was over, Augustus
settled his victorious troops in nearby Philippi, gave them all citizenship,
and charged them with representing and defending Rome on the frontier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since so few people were actually citizens of
Rome, and entitled to the privileges and responsibilities of that citizenship,
the new citizens took their job very seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some might say they tried to outrome Rome, to prove they were up to the
task and thankful to the newly crowned emperor for his largesse and trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Augustus, of course, knew what he was
doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody in Rome wanted veteran
soldiers in Rome with nothing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s how emperors get overthrown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philppi enters the Church picture in Acts
16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul travels to NE Greece, planting
churches along his journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those
who want to learn more about his work, join us on Tuesday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In another God-incident, guess what chapter
we are staring in our Acts Bible study?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know too much about the church in
Philippi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can surmise a great deal by
virtue of our understanding of Roman culture and Paul’s exhortations and
instruction in the letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have
been tough in Philippi to declare Jesus the Son of God and Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Augustus was the son of a god and the lord of
the empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cult of emperor worship
likely flourished there, making Christians a distinct, almost treasonous,
counter cultural group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pressure to
blend in would have been intense, especially if any of the veterans or their
descendants were members of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading jumps into the middle of
chapter one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul makes this statement
in verse 21 that for him, living is Christ and dying is gain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds like a crazy perspective even to
our ears in the modern Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of
the money we spend trying to fend off death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Heck, a number of you are engaged in that work through your vocations in
the medical part of our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
betting it would not take much prodding to get some of you to describe patients
who were terrified of the prospect of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yep, I see the nods already.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be about this time I would
pretend to be a mind reader and tell Jim to relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not encouraging anyone to go play
hopscotch on I-65 this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
Jim’s BIG complaints was the focus of Christians on the eternal rather this
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why on earth would Paul think
that death is not a bad thing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One reason Paul thinks it is not a bad
thing would be his experience on the Road to Damascus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to that moment in his life, Paul is
enemy number one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he is
described by others and himself as the chief persecutor of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His goal is to stamp out this blasphemous
notion that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of Yahweh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On his way to Damascus, however, Paul has an encounter with the Risen
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People often wonder of the
encounter is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at Paul before
and after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What explains his complete
reversal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What better explains him going
from being the chief persecutor of the Church to the Apostle to the Gentiles
other than a mystical encounter with a Resurrected Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just to remind us all, this encounter
shakes Paul to his very core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
he knew to be true has to be re-examined in light of this encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spends three years of his life trying to
account for this Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spends three
years wrestling with the torah in light of his encounter with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wrestling, of course, explains his well-developed
theology that is found in his various letters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything in the torah points to Jesus as the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It simply took the Resurrection for Paul to
understand that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But back to our question about how Paul can understand that dying is
gain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we have reminded ourselves now
twice in a couple weeks, we understand that death is but a horizon, and a
horizon is simply beyond our seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
if Jesus’ Resurrection is true, then His disciples have nothing to fear about
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, if Jesus’ Resurrection
is true, we have reason to be excited about death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the soul-sleep folks are right, the worst
thing that happens is that we get a rest from our labors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we go to be with Him immediately, we are
just the early arrivals to the Marriage Feast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither of those prospects are bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because Paul has met Jesus, after His crucifixion and death, Paul knows
that all who trust in God are alive in His Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is, after all, the God of the
living!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding that in an
experiential way that many of us lack, it is no wonder that Paul does not mind
the idea of dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, as Paul goes on to reflect in our passage, he realizes that
so long as he is alive here, he has work to do for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though he knows that being with Christ is the
far better choice, he accepts that God knows the Philippians need Paul’s guidance
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Paul knows that God is
working all things to His glory, and Paul knows he will share in that glory for
his joyful obedience, he trusts that God will use him until He calls Paul home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Modern Christians, especially modern Christian Americans often forget
that this is not our home, that we, too, like our father Abraham are wanderers
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose we are reminded that we
are in but not of this world more, but if we pay close attention to God’s
instruction of us, we realize we are sojourners, wanderers, ambassadors, and
all kinds of other language that denotes this place, as good as it may be for
us, is not our home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That language of home and being with God has bookended our summer in
some ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you present near the
beginning of summer may remember our discussion of being at God’s bosom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Genesis and John’s Gospel both reminded us
that our Father in heaven wants to hold us to His bosom, not unlike the way a
father or grandfather holds a child closely in his lap or a mother holds a nursing
baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an intimate, loving
description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul, for his part,
understands that Jesus is the way to that intimate, loving existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those things that he valued prior to that
encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus are skubala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman citizenship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the tribe of Benjamin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A zealot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is all worthless compared to what God offers through His Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Paul, that encounter makes this the focus
of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not an academic
exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a “pleasant
thought.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Paul goes on, he reminds the Philippians to live their life in the
manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of them are living in a culture not that different from our
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among those in the world at that
time, they are blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
wealth, citizenship, the favor of the emperor, and even security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many are veterans of one of the largest
battles ever fought up until their day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who in their right mind would dare tangle with them or threaten their
city?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be tremendous peer
pressure to blend in, to act like others, to worship the emperor, and who knows
what else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Paul reminds them of
their loyalty to Christ Jesus and encourages them to live their lives in a
manner worthy of Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would that American Christians would internalize Paul’s
instruction!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would be our response
to immigration?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To poverty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To systemic injustices?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To homelessness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To mental illness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that list could go on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we live our lives worthy of the Gospel of
Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we hold our “Christian”
politicians to that standard when we cast our ballots?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ouch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understand this though, when we live our lives
dishonoring the Gospel of Christ Jesus, it impacts the world around us
negatively.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Understand, too, Paul is not writing that the church in the Philippi needs
to revolt against the current leadership or seek power to do its job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church is like the yeast in bred dough or
salt in food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her work is powerful, even
if the world does not notice it; Her work is transforming even if the
individuals in Her care do not understand the purposes of their labors or
sufferings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives the purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives the meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul goes on in verses 28 and 29 to instruct them that they will make
enemies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who is an enemy of God
will choose enmity with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they,
and we, should not be surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, Paul reminds them and us that when we attract enemies for doing the work
of the Gospel, for glorifying God in our own lives, and the sufferings and
humiliations that come with those enemies, we should see ourselves as
privileged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do we believe in
God and Christ, but we are given a share of His suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We become little i incarnations, testifying
to world the truth of the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if
we truly believe that this is not our home, if we truly accept that the things
of the world are vainities, the world will see and hear the same instruction as
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those in the world may reject that
instruction, but we should not be surprised that they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, they put to death the One whom God
sent, just as they stoned and rejected those whom He sent for generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would we expect to be treated any better?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul’s perspective, of course, hinges on the Resurrection of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had Paul not encountered Jesus on that road
to Damascus, it is likely he would have continued doing his best to stomp out Apostles
and disciples and those who believed their message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Paul did meet Jesus, and that meeting had
profound implications for Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t
know whether Paul expected a militaristic messiah who would cast off oppression
or a political messiah who would lead God’s people to glory or one of the other
accepted descriptions of messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we
DO know is that Paul did not expect the Suffering Servant of Isaiah to be the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet in that encounter on that road at
noonday, Paul came face to face with God’s redemptive power and redemptive
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul experienced the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resurrected Jesus, and it changed everything
for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of us, of course, complain to God that we need the same
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim would sometimes complain
bitterly that the wider Church got so consumed by the rewards and punishments
of the afterlife that She missed her job for this life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So would Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so would our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the end, of course, all our perspective, all our meaning, everything
we are and we are called to be hinges on the Resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is true, then we should not be of this
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should know that we are
journeying, passing through, headed for somewhere and someone far more
glorious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no mistake my
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard work; it is
cross-bearing work; it is a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God knows that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul understood
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Jesus reminded us that we are
blessed for believing and not seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it all hinges on that amazing moment in the Garden, when Mary was
asked why she looked for Jesus among the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We look back on these accounts and wrestle with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We listen to the descriptions of those who
shared the Gospel with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We evaluate
whether we think they are true or crazy and we decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Episcopalians call it a reasonable faith
in our worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ask ourselves what
could cause Paul to change so dramatically?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What could cause our loved one to share this Gospel so intently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could cause shalom in the midst of death
or suffering or anything else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we
explain the need and the provision of thousands and thousands of pounds of food
each month?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do explain the fact that
the Church continues to survive despite Her clay members?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might not have the experience we want, but
we each have all the experiences we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has seen to that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because
He has seen to that, we, too, can see, can believe, and can hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My friends, I understand our mourning and our fears and our
challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have spent fifteen minutes
or so speaking about a corporate experience and understanding and have said
very little indeed to the individual sufferings some of you have shared and many
of you have kept secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel news,
of course, is that He sees, He knows, and best of all He cares and promises to
redeem, especially in the lives of those who try to live their lives in a
manner that glorifies His Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reminded
of His power and reminded that He cares, and fortified by the food He gives us,
we are sent back out there, into the struggle, that the world around us might
hear the same invitation we heard, and choose to seek the home that our Lord
created for all who call Him Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-23071840299677799752023-09-14T12:19:00.003-05:002023-09-14T12:19:24.711-05:00For our benefit . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Before we
dive back into Exodus this morning, I want to remind people that I do not try
and cover everything that is in Scripture intentionally.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My job as a pastor is to discern prayerfully
both what lesson we need to hear and what part of those lessons we need to
hear.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">That is not to say I am ignoring
parts of readings because I am unaware or because I am mean.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s more a case of “how long will they sit?”</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But, I was moderately excited this week as a
couple Adventers came into my office this week to talk about the name of God
and the JEDP authorship of the Pentateuch.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Most of you have no idea about what I am referencing, but there used to
be an accepted modern theory that four authors wrote, or strongly edited Moses’
writings.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It has since fallen mostly out
of favor, though Funmi shared at 8am that a couple professors at Sewanee still
strongly professed their belief in that understanding.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, could I have preached about it or
included it in the sermon?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sure.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Would it have helped most of us understand
anything about God being the Great I AM?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I did not think so.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">That being
said, Adventers are always welcome to come in and chat about sermon tangents or
Scripture tangents or even the other Scripture readings.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I love those conversations way more than much
of the stuff I have to do.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And, yes, I
understand that most Adventers are well-educated.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some of you use spare time to educate
yourself on other matters, like Scripture.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">So I often look forward to such discussions as everyone brings their
perspectives and experiences to those discussions as we flesh out what God
wants us to know.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And just because I
think the parish needs its attention drawn to something does not mean I do not
expect the Holy Spirit to speak to individuals about something else.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We skip
ahead this week several chapters in the book of Exodus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, for those of us familiar with
Charlton Heston’s version of Moses, we skip the entirety of the plagues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made an offhand comment today at 8am and
four of those at worship grabbed me for more discussion, so I will give y’all
more background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plagues serve as a
polemic against the gods of Egypt and against the accepted cosmology of much of
the ANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ANE understood that what
happened on earth was reflected in heaven and vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That meant that if a god or goddess was
defeated in the heavens, their people would be defeated on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The corollary was also true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a people were defeated on earth, the
victors’ god/goddess would conquer in the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That understanding made locations, especially
temples, super important in these cosmological battles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a god lost his or her temple on earth, he
or she lost part of her power in the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now you know why Babylon and Rome destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and
elsewhere when they conquer various peoples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For those of you who have visited Rome, now you know why the Temple Row
exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the point of a sword, Rome
invited the priests of defeated nations to serve at a temple to their god in
Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, now you know why
Israel does not take the prophets’ threat seriously when they prophesy the
Exile and the destruction of the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, of
course, will do what He wants to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing will stop Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel,
Egypt, and we need to begin to inwardly digest that understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to remind ourselves, Egypt is the
super-power of the day when this all happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are the United States of the ANE as this unfolds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they are the strongest military and
the largest economy and all the other benefits, the rest of the world perceives
them as blessed and favored by the best and strongest gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they know this is all true of
themselves, they <b>know</b> they are favored by the strongest gods in the
heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With me so far?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, God brings plagues, one after another,
that demonstrate Egyptian gods’ impotence to fight Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us spend too little time studying
Egyptian mythology, so I will not bore you with names you do not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we all know they worshipped the Nile god,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hapi was the god’s name, for those of us who
care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Nile god was responsible for
the annual flooding which brough fertility to Egypt – remember, Egypt was the
breadbasket of the ANE because of the Nile floods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God turns the Nile to blood, He is
attacking the Nile god where the Nile god is supposedly the strongest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the Nile god is truly in charge of the
Nile, no foreign god should be able to exercise authority in the god’s demesne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only does the God of Israel exercise
power over the Nile god, but the priests and magicians are unable to help
strengthen the Nile god in the fight against Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, and we all know this one, the
darkness that covers the land is an attack on Ra, the god of the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Egypt, Israel,
the rest of the ANE, and even we in Nashville, TN are instructed by these
plagues that God is truly God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To use
the words of Paul, nothing, no power or principality, can separate us from God
or thwart God in His purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What strikes
some of us weird, and where I think God wanted our focus today, though, takes
place after the prophesy of the tenth plague but before its execution – pun
intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before our reading today,
God informs Moses that He will kill every firstborn of Egypt, from human beings
to animals in the fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
amazingly, no Israelite will be harmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wailing of Egypt will never be forgotten, but neither will the
safety of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God makes a
distinction between His people and the Egyptians and executes His judgment
accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God then
gives these instructions to Moses about what will come to be known as the
Passover Meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because many of you
attend Holy Week services, the rubrics of the meal, to use our terminology from
the BCP, does not surprise you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
who have sat through Larry’s lecture on the calendar and those who have watched
Charlton Heston will also be familiar with all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An unblemished lamb is chosen for the
sacrifice and tended for two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After the two weeks, the lamb is slaughtered at twilight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives cooking instructions and
instructions about attire and even that the lamb will be consumed quickly by
all in the household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any leftovers will
be burned in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Famously, the
blood from the lamb will be put on the doorposts and the lintel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God promises that when He comes to execute
judgment on Israel, He will pass over the houses that keep the Passover
Meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, He commands the Meal
as a perpetual remembrance for all generations!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was
preparing for the sermon this week, I ran across a couple commentators who
pointed out just how weird and out of place this seems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To one, it was clear evidence that the book
of Exodus had been edited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some later
scribe must have come along and written this in there to justify the meal to
later generations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the middle of this
crazy narrative about plagues, God gives instructions about a meal; and then
the story continues with the execution of the first born of Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be
told, I did not look up anything about the authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they are not a fan of miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they have an over-developed hermeneutic
of suspicion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even wondered if they
were so focused on their expertise that they could not see the forest because
they are looking too closely at the tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I assumed their attitudes about the meal could be because they were not liturgical
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, if you are not fed by liturgical
worship, much of what happens seems weird or out of place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, think of the first time you worshipped
using the BCP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, most of us do not
even crack the book, the prayers and responses are so well known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the beginning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those first few months?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the calisthenics made it worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>I have to speak words and do the hokey
pokey?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laugh, but those of us
laughing remember just how lost we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we need, from time to time, to be reminded why we do what we
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we worship this way and not
that way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we say this prayer then
and not later?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s the big job of
a pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scholars teach us knowledge,
but pastors have to answer the why’s and <i>what does that mean for me</i>
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does
God take a time out in the middle of these plagues and give His people a
meal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several answers to that
question, and I will likely not cover them all this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope my answer provokes some further
conversation, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chiefly, you and I
would say that this meal is a type and shadow of the Eucharist that we
celebrate when we gather for worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good,
I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we are liturgical
Christians and repeat the same actions week after week, season after season,
year after year, we understand how the Passover Meal pointed to the Eucharist
instituted by our Lord Christ on Maundy Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once a year, we remember intentionally that
institution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are invited to the Table
like those who were with our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
feet are washed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded of what
our Lord has done for us, how He acted like a servant rather than the
King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words of institution sound differently
in our ears because of the liturgical actions and readings and prayers of the
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each week we gather in
remembrance of Christ’s death, we proclaim His Resurrection, and we await His
Coming in glory, we are living in that perpetual command. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is all somehow different on that night,
that night before we remember His crucifixion and death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, and I
think this may be even more important than the type and shadow aspect of the
meal, you and I are reminded of a truth that was first unveiled to Jacob, then
Moses and Israel, and then to Christ’s Apostles and disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the events of the Passover and Maundy
Thursday occur in the midst of great suffering and death and judgment, of
seeming confusion, frustration, and doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God intentionally instructs Moses before He executes the firstborn of
Israel to eat that meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
intentionally instructs His disciples to share this bread and this cup before
He is betrayed, tortured, crucified, and buried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember,
part of what is happening in the Pentateuch, and Exodus in particular, is the
unveiling of more about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel, and
we, are learning more about the things He values and His character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God goes from being the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob to the Lord who is abounding in steadfast love, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the stories, we are learning about our own
character, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does any of us merit the
faithfulness of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time and time
again, humans will do things their own way and turn from God, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do the exact same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in those moments where you and I struggle,
where we wonder if God is still with us or for us, we have our liturgy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope we
are all reminded this morning that God does not need our worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is not sitting out there in time and
space needing His ego stroked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs nothing from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can do what He wants to do when He wants
to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if worship is not for Him,
for whom must it be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship helps us remember
the lessons and truths He taught Jacob at the bottom of the ladder, the lessons
and truths He taught Israel and Egypt and the world in the Exodus of Israel,
the lessons and truths He taught His disciples during His time dwelling among
us, and the lessons and truths He teaches us still!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is among us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of why
worship exists is so that you and I will be reminded of the truth that God is
involved in the events of the world, that God cares deeply about what happens
to us, and that God will accomplish His purposes despite the actions and
attitudes of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put differently,
worship is like the Sabbath which will be given in a few chapters; it exists
for our own benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
gather for worship, what do we do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray
together collectively and individually in our attempts to attune ourselves to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read the stories and teachings
of Scripture to remind ourselves of the history of God’s people and God’s
revealed truths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make our
intercessions and thanksgivings through prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We confess our sins to God and receive absolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we celebrate the Eucharist that our
Lord instituted before He faced betrayal, rejection, torture, and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you read the words of God today in Exodus,
notice the similarities to the Meal described by Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of what we are teaching Funmi is not to
leave any leftovers on the altar, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We eat His flesh and drink His blood knowing we are sent back out into
the world to do the work He has given each of us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember the freedom from oppression that
He gives us, in our context the freedom from the oppression of sin rather than
empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for some brothers and
sisters around the world, that freedom from empire is almost as important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some cases, we remind ourselves that
because we are washed in Christ’s blood, God will pass over the judgment we
deserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We intentionally remind
ourselves of these truths each and every time we gather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember His death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We proclaim His Resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We await His Coming Again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we remind ourselves that this event we
call worship is really for our benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our sacrifice is merely a sacrifice of what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Praise and thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
sacrifice, on some levels, does not approach that described by God in this
pericope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Hebrew brothers and
sisters tended their lamb for two weeks before they sacrificed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much tending of The Lamb do we do?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship,
might friends, should never be understood as something we do for God’s benefit
or because He is some mega-ego in the sky who needs affirmation from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship exists for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gave us worship so that we might know
that He is truly among us, that He truly cares for us, and that He desires
nothing more than to draw all of humanity into that same loving embrace for
which we should all long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When things
seem crazy threatening, such as in the Passover, God is there to remind us that
He will see us through, that He snorts angrily at the idea that His children
face evil and even death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When things
seem to be going well, when we seem to think our material blessings are proof of
His care and concern for us, worship reminds us that the material things are
not the proof—it was His love and guidance and eventual sacrifice for us that
demonstrates His love for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When things seem confusing or hard to understand, worship exists to
remind us that our Lord understands, and better still, has power to shepherd us
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, when things seem
hopeless, worship exists to remind us of the hope that we should have because
of that care and concern and power demonstrated by our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
community, I am mindful that we have had two untimely deaths that touch everyone
here today except our visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our
visitors are like many of us in that they, like us, have faced untimely deaths,
maybe even some recently, in their more personal sphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we are reminded over and over and over
again in Scripture and in the world around us, the great oppressor seems to be
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death is that one human condition,
if I might use that turn of phrase, that seems unsolvable or unconquerable to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People spend crazy amounts of money
seeking ways to put death off or even be revived after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no matter how much money we throw at it,
no matter how much we study it, no matter how much we fight it, we find our
efforts futile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is in worship
that you and I are reminded of the reality of death, of both its cause, namely
sin, and its close presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is
also in worship that you and I are reminded of the glorious power of God, and
of His glorious will to exercise that power for our benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in worship that we are reminded that only
God can conquer death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still,
because He has sworn this covenant with us, that all who believe in His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, we know that He will exercise that power and give us
back our lives, even those lives seemingly overpowered by death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because He has THAT kind of power, we are
reminded when we worship that He has power to overcome everything in our lives,
that when we are experiencing whatever troubles or confusion or vicissitude, we
are truly being used by Him like a son or daughter to reach those around
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not understand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because we are bathed in His suffering
for our sake in our worship, because we are constantly reminded of His salvific
and redemptive work in worship, because we are nourished by His Body and His Blood,
we are each uniquely prepared to face the work that He has given us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And reminded of those truths and nourished by
the Sacrament, we are prepared to carry that Gospel of hope and love into a world
that desperately needs to hear and see it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-81423565892499139502023-09-07T13:09:00.005-05:002023-09-07T13:09:52.790-05:00On dwelling and belonging and joy!<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I know sermons are creatures of God
when prayed discerned and given.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I
know y’all hate it when I preach two different sermons at the two gatherings on
Sundays.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No, I did not have time to
write them out this week.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I
understand it almost makes more work for me during the following week as I deal
with people who want to know why I preached one sermon at 8am and another at
10:30am and the contents of both.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And,
yes, I understand when I give what I feel is a “meh” sermon, God will sometimes
still use it to reach whom He needs to reach.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I realize that this sermon will be different from the earlier
service, but life and death has changed our context!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now that all of that is out of the way, we
can jump right into Exodus, at both services, today, but maybe look at Exodus
in a bit different light.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story itself is very well known, even
outside those who self-identify as the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call it the Burning Bush story in most
Christian contexts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, for most of us
gathered, it was the voice from the Burning Bush in the movie The Ten
Commandments that was only recently replaced by the voice of Morgan Freeman as
the voice of God in the minds of many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why the grumbling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have a
lot of George Burns fans here today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am almost ready to change my sermon and go down that rabbit hole—whose voice do
you hear when you read God speaking in Scripture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t that be fun to talk about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe a rector’s forum would be better!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any event, as you have just heard and know
from countless viewings of the Ten Commandments, God has just called and
commissioned Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses has seen the
bush burning and not being consumed off in the distance, and so he has gone
closer to examine what he has perceived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From that bush, God speaks to Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God instructs Moses to come no closer and to take off his shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this serves as one of those “different
lights” of which I was talking a few minutes ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was to ask you to name Moses’ tribe,
how would you assign him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
importantly, would the tribe to which you assigned him on the day of the
Burning Bush accept him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His story is
well known, but do we place close attention to such details?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if we declared Moses a Hebrew,
would the Hebrews that God commissions him to free from Pharaoh accept him as
one of their own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was raised a prince
of Egypt in the royal household, their oppressors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think they would claim him as Hebrew
before he’s led them to freedom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses has his doubts, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asks God what answer he should give to
Israel when they ask what God’s Name is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moses realizes that they will be incredibly suspicious of him and his
motives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though he is Hebrew by birth,
he has not had their hard life of oppression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you called him an Egyptian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they accept him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last couple weeks of OT readings has made
it clear that Egypt fears and despises Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pharaoh commands the midwives to put the male babies to death and then
drafts all Egypt into that effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
probably would not accept him either, huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean, he is one of them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That only leaves one other tribe,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the Midianites accept him
as one of their own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has married into
Jethro’s family, and Jethro is well respected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moses has become a good, if not great, shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, they mostly think of Moses as an
Egyptian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses crossed the great desert from Egypt at
the beginning of his exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would
they not think of him as an Egyptian?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three tribes, but none to claim his own
and none to claim him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost as if
Moses is a wanderer like some other figure in history, traveling, but with no
home to call his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have missed
too many weeks this summer, I am referencing Abraham, the wandering Aramean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we think on Moses, we tend to think
on Moses after the Exodus, don’t we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
tend to think of the guy who parted the Red Sea or was given the torah by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we study the Scriptures a bit
more, we might think of the snakes or the quail or the manna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we generally think about Moses after God
has called and used him in His redemptive purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone wants to claim Moses as their own by
the end of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the beginning,
though?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I point that out for a reason here as he
approaches the burning bush and hears the voice of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses has been bereft of his identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses has been dependent upon the tolerance
and hospitality of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, as Moses
comes into the presence of God, how is he treated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God tells him to take off his shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, I know, it is hallowed or sacred
ground because God is present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in
these ANE cultures around which Moses has bounced, there is a bit more at work
other than God being present, which, let’s face it, is incredible for some to
accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking off one’s sandals was a
meaningful act in what you and I call hospitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be invited into the dwelling of one meant
one was being extended the protection of the host.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, if I invited you into my
dwelling place, you were under my protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Were anything to happen to you while you were under my protection, I
would be dishonored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone attacked
you, they had to get through my men first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such was the obligation of hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In taking off ones shoes, the one being
shown hospitality was accepting the offering of the giver and exhibiting trust
in their protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The preparedness
for battle was no longer necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, guests would often have feet washed and other ministrations in order not
to soil the dwelling of the host.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking
of the sandals was a sign that both parties were entering into this social
covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean, given his wandering
existence, his identity crisis to use modern language, to be invited by God
into His dwelling place and instructed to take off his shoes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, you get it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hear the murmurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, as Jim would complain were he with us
today, almost too fanciful to believe or accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would the Maker of all that is, seen or unseen,
make such a gesture to a wandering human?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The truth, of course, is that He makes that offer to all humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every human is offered the opportunity to
dwell in the household of God for all eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such an invitation and opportunity is made possible through the work and
person of Christ Jesus, but the opportunity is available to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, while I know we are too
influenced by the apocalyptic teachings of Left Behind and other such fictional
works, how do the Scriptures describe our existence with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As real existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus teaches about the right robe for a
feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prophets remind us that it is
better to dwell at the threshold of God’s dwelling place than in the luxurious
tents of the wicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Garden of Eden
imagery is like that of a manse or Babylonian palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, when we bury Jim we will long for the
day when God’s people are gathered as one flock under One Shepherd, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest promise of Scripture is that
God’s people will dwell with Him and that He will dwell with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would seem fanciful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would God want to dwell with people like
us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But over and over and over again,
God makes that promise to His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And over and over again He instructs His people to go into the world
living as if they trust in His promise and to invite those whom they
encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another facet of the gem we
call the Gospel is the reminder that God, the Maker of all that is seen and
unseen, made every person and stamped each person with His image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every person we encounter in the world,
therefore, has unsurpassable worth in His eyes and ought to in our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Scripture starts off with us dwelling with God, calling Him Andy to harken
back to my Baptist roots, and trusting Him to provide everything we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the book is how we get back to
that relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The promise at the
end is that He will bring it to be for all who claim His Son as Lord of their
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have already touched on this a bit, but the
Name of God is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have worked
our way through the patriarchs and matriarchs of Genesis this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning of this generational
narrative, God is known as the God of Abraham, then Abraham and Isaac, then
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a
Name in the sense of the gods and goddesses of the ANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the story of Jacob’s ladder, though, we
begin to be revealed a bit more about this God of Abraham and Isaac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is above and beside Jacob in his
struggles, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, in this story
with Moses, God tells Moses that His Name is I Am.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During Easter season this year, we talked extensively
about that and I reminded you then of this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Name, which in Hebrew is unique because
it has no vowel sounds, simply translates as I AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in Easter I taught you that the rabbis
chose <i>Ego eimi</i> to translate this Name of God into Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see a couple nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever
Jesus makes the statement “Ego eimi . . . .” in Greek, it has theological
overtones that we, native English speakers, miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Ego eimi harkens back to this event and
the Holy Name of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus says “Ego
eimi”, His audience would hear the theological claim that we miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a few conversations the week after that
sermon that some Adventers finally were beginning to understand why the priests
hated Jesus so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In claiming that
Name for Himself, Jesus was identifying Himself with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intentionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the priestly and rabbic and scribal
elite, the claim would not be missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, it would be perceived as blasphemous, as Jesus calling Himself God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Great I AM of the burning bush
narrative, though, is hard for us to grasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In English, we like to fully describe it through nine permutations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am that I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am that I will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was that I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see lots of nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word has
an understanding that we would say is physical, theological, and even
polemical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the ways of an answer, we would say God’s
answer to Moses is not exactly helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel
was oppressed by people who worshipped Ra and Osiris and countless other gods,
to say nothing of Pharaoh’s opinions of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean in that context for Israel
to hear that the God of their ancestors was I AM, that I AM sent Moses to free
them to worship Him, that I AM was still keeping the covenant He made with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning, it is likely not
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel does not believe Moses is a
prophet called by I AM in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Egypt and Pharaoh certainly do not believe it either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes time for everyone to come to the
understanding that I AM is God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
Israel and Egypt will believe it, at least in part, because I AM beats the
major Egyptian gods in their strongholds and despite the efforts of their
magicians and priests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, when
Pharaoh choses to kill all the firstborn males of Israel, I AM uses that
judgment against Egypt even as He protects Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time all of that plays out, both
Israel and Egypt understand that I AM is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More importantly, both understand that I AM is the God of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yet, God is not done revealing His
Name and His character to Israel or us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the themes of the book of Exodus is how God is revealed and
understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning, He simply
IS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, He will declare Himself a
jealous God, demanding covenant loyalty of His chose people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, as His chosen people figure out
their inability to keep their end of the Covenant, He will reveal Himself as
exceedingly merciful, that when He entered into this Covenant relationship with
Abraham, He knew they could not and that He would pay the price of their
disloyalty or sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that brings us back to that fancy
word, relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a word
that has been on the lips of Adventers a lot over the course of the last few
weeks as we dealt with the death of Mary Clyde and now Jim, as the Psalms Bible
Study has been wrestling with Psalm 73, as we have talked about the true impact
of the feeding ministry, of Insight’s work, and who knows what else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even obliquely referenced it when we spoke
of hospitality a few minutes ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though
there are any number of great miracles to get our attention in the stories of
Genesis and Exodus, the most wonderous part of those stories is the fact that
God invites humanity into relationship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It begins in the Garden, and we reject it on
His terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But from that moment on, God
is always wooing His people, all humanity, back into relationship with
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Creator, we would say He has the
right to demand our faithfulness, but such is His mercy and love that He asks
for it instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, He asks
for it in ways that we can hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case of Moses today, He invited
Moses into relationship in a meaningful way, a way that would not impact you or
I the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, He invites those
whom we serve in His Name through Body & Soul into that same
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He invites those with whom
we partner; He invites those to whom we rent space; He invites all those we
encounter in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, of
course, He invited us, each one of us, in ways that were meaningful to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because we accepted, because we have come
to know Him and His faithfulness through both these stories and the stories of
those whom we serve and the stories of our own lives, we know the wonder and
awe of such an invitation and of such faithfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know the joy of knowing that, no matter
what tries to come between us and I AM, because He is, we, too, will be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know in a way that makes no sense to the
world that it is ok if we are out of step with the wisdom of the world, if we
seem financially nuts for giving away tons of food each week or not charging “market
rates” as landlords, if we seem crazy for believing that I AM can overcome
every evil in our lives, even death itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But because HE IS, and has bound Himself to each one of us in His Son our
Lord Christ, we know that we, too, will always be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To use the words of the Prayer Book, we can
rest in His eternal changelessness, certain of His purposes for each one of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remind us of that call to relationship
and of how God meets us where we are as we mourn the loss of Jim as a
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are visiting or
started attending after the start of the pandemic, Jim had strong opinions and
was never afraid to express them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
now you have heard the chuckles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among Jim’s
strong opinions was the need to get rid of miracles in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim unabashedly thought Thomas Jefferson was
on to something cutting out the miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jim started a group, after drafting Robert, to wrestle with such
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From time to time, Jim would say
things that polite Episcopalians found scandalous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth, I was never sure at any given
moment whether he really believed what he was saying or he was just making
space for others by being the focal voice for doubts and struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim was sensitive to the message conveyed by
the Christians who garnered attention on social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many ways, I would say his heart seemed
aligned with the heart of Christ, though like any human he sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When folks would come to complain or tattle
or struggle with something Jim had said or reportedly said, I often found
myself more laughing than groaning inwardly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, I might curse him under my breath for the extra work, but it was
usually important work that needed to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People would hear what he said, sort of, but forget his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything he said was always in the context
of having been an active member of this parish for more than two decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For however many years, Jim joined the choir
in leading us to lift our voices in song, or a joyful noise at least, to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Week in and week out; month in and
month out; year in and year out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
professional Christian, I would say God reached Jim’s heart, in part, through
music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim was never sure how important
some of these teachings were, and he was always disappointed in our conversations
to learn that his brilliant new thought had been addressed by the Church over
and over and over again for the last 2000 years, or by God’s people for the
last 6000 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he came until his
body began to fail him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite his
aversion to miracles, he came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I share Jim’s background by way of one of
our last group meetings on Thursday nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jim was in a snit about life after death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say Jim wanted Christians more
focused on life in this world, but the perceptions of others may differ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any event, Ingrid finally asked Jim what
would happen if he was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would he
be disappointed to find out that all of it, even the miracles, were true?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim had that moment of being poleaxed, of
being silent for a few seconds—yet another miracle in our collective life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then he thoughtfully acknowledged that if
it was true, it would have to be something incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ingrid just smiled and said she wished she
could see the look on his face when that day comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim promised her that if it was true, he’d
probably be wearing that expression for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I share that story because I found myself
laughing when I received the text between the services that he had died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had visited him on Wednesday in the ICU, and
he did not think himself near death then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In truth, he was feisty and complaining that his body’s failure
sucked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he asked for anointing and a
prayer of healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not want to
risk the Eucharist contributing to his esophageal and lung issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it another one of those experiences
in my life where God had met me before I knew He was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should have been a profound moment of
shock and mourning this morning for me was one of comfort and laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no mistake, I mourn for JoAnne and David
and the rest of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mourn for
his neighbors and those whose lives Jim impacted because he tried to live what
Jesus taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my mind went back and
forth from Ingrid’s challenge that Thursday night to that prayer of healing and
to trying to imagine the look on his face this amazing morning, even as we gather
to thank God for the work He has done in Christ for each one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am certain Jim received the healing he was
promised and has the craziest look on his face!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began this morning reminding us of our
tribal identity and of what it means to be in relationship with I AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the earlier service, I reminded them that
we are wanderers looking for that Promised Land, just like Abraham and all those
who came before, that we are the ultimate recipients of I AM’s unveiling
revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because we know Christ
Jesus as Lord, we will, one glorious day, find ourselves dwelling with
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will know ourselves loved and in
a community of those who, like ourselves, chose to follow where He led, even
when we seemed out of step with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We will know we belong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will
know that we have finally come home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
Jim’s death also reminded me that I should have shared with them of that surpassing
joy and laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I focused them on the
peace of being known and loved and belonging, but I forgot the joy and
silliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, as funny as I found
it to imagine Jim’s face this morning, I started wondering about my face and
yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will we look when we see I AM
face to face?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will we look when we
truly internalize that what He intends for each of us is beyond our askings and
imaginations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, how will
those whom we invited in His Name perceive us, even as they are confronted by
the fulfillment of such promises?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That,
my friends, is a glorious hope of our calling and redemption, and maybe the
best part of taking His commands seriously and working hard to draw others into
His saving embrace!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-85437029697590943232023-08-24T12:11:00.002-05:002023-08-24T12:11:21.377-05:00On Mary Clyde and He who gives meaning to our suffering . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Before I
get started trying to summarize Mary Clyde in a homily, I do want to take a
moment and thank each of you for attending.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you find the service is hitting you “just right” or reminding you of
things about God that you needed, you should know that Mary Clyde meticulously
planned this service once she made the decision to stop fighting the infection.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">There are likely one or two things in here
for each and every one of us in attendance, and that was intentional on Mary
Clyde’s part.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">For me, of course, she gave
a wonderful slow arcing softball pitch right over home plate by choosing Job as
one of her readings.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Many of you present
do not know it, by I did a MA in religion on the book of Job.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mary Clyde knew it, and she knew that reading
and Psalm 46, in particular, would speak to those who are struggling with the
seeming injustice of her death, those who are railing against God that it was a
secondary infection that took her rather than the cancer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
even as she was choosing Job to make things easy for me, she had to goon me
from the grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Clyde served on
Liturgy & Worship at Advent for almost forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew how mad I get at lectionary editors
for cutting and carving out of pericopes in the Scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what did she do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She chose a recommended reading from Romans
that has two or three sections cut out of it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like the Gospel lesson she chose, the passage reminds us of God’s
glorious covenant He swears with those who call upon His Name, that not even
death can keep God from fulfilling all the promises He has made to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a million other NT readings that
teach the same, but she wanted to cut up a passage for us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her musical
choice was likewise intentional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
songs are all songs she liked to sing and to hear sung, but they also carry
deep meaning for those who stand at the grave of a loved one, making alleluias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because many of you are not Episcopalians
and do not know the right tunes for some of the songs she chose, her brothers
and sisters in the choir agreed to sing during the summer recess, to help make
sure another version of the hymn did not accidentally get sung!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are mostly laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot
say I am at all surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning,
as I was talking with a couple people over in the parish hall during the
visitation, I called Mary Clyde a character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of those in conversation with me loved that description of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody had a fun story or three to tell
about Mary Clyde, and her range of friends covered amateur geologists to
stampers, those who worked in government to those who try to encourage us to
read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let’s be real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the various ways in which we came to
know Mary Clyde and regardless of whether we are even Christian, was anybody
really surprised to see knights with copes and swords standing guard over her
body this morning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have not even
started talking about chickens and Cursillo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More than one of you have mentioned how you will never be able to look
at chickens the same way ever again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
laughing, and that is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
not want to diminish the grief that we will all feel at her absence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As events and life goes on, all of us
gathered will think on her, miss her, maybe wonder how she would have livened
things up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is appropriate that we
mourn her death and miss her presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as one
self-described lapsed Christian confessed a few days before she finally
succumbed to the infection, May Clyde had an infectious joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Clyde was the kind of Christian you
liked to hang out with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
silly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was fun loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had what I call a healthy charism of
sarcasm, though there are those who disagree with my personal esteem of
sarcasm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to say one
wonders, but I don’t really wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
more Christians lived as if they were free, as their Father in heaven claims,
how many more Christians would there be in the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of Mary Clyde’s testimony was to remind
people of the joy, the laughter, the silliness of being saved by Christ
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many of our brothers and
sisters are so serious, and live as if they cannot accept the joy, and in so
doing become those who off-put others from following God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways, her life was a testimony of the
joy we should all have, even in the face of death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the
low-hanging fruit that Mary Clyde offered today and decided to have us all hang
out in the story of Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us know
the story of Job well enough to know that Job is a righteous man who suffers at
the hand of Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan takes Job’s
family, Job’s wealth, and even Job’s health, but none of Satan’s works cause
Job to sin, to turn from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
book that was composed, in part, to instruct all humanity that life does not
work the way we think they should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the Church, or in any of God’s people, we like to believe that God blesses His
chosen people and accurses the wicked, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The big question becomes “who are His people?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Christians are too quick to forget that
God calls His people and equips them to be a blessing to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse, too many of us forget that the way to
glory and blessing is through suffering and the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want desperately to get to the end, the
glory and blessing, but we forget the sufferings that help shape our
understandings of God, sufferings that teach us both of God’s faithfulness and
God’s ability and willingness to redeem all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job’s story exists to challenge some of our
assumptions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close
readers of the story know that the beginning of the narrative begins in the
heavenly council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God asks Satan in
front of other heavenly beings where he has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan answers that he has been walk to and
fro’ all over the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God points out
His faithful servant Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan
dismisses Job’s faithfulness as a consequence of blessing or divine favor in
front of the council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God says Job is
truly faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan asks for and
receives permission to test God’s assertion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us
who read the story for the first time might be shocked that there is a heavenly
council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who gets to attend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is Satan allowed in a heavenly
council?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it just the Trinity being
described as a council?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are the angels
and archangels in attendance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s
going on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes us uncomfortable in
the twentieth century to take a claim seriously, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heavenly council!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those outside the Church like to claim that
gods and goddesses are myths, made up stories for people who cannot understand
events in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians are
quick to remind us that there is only one God, that idols are false and
powerless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet here is Scripture
treating these other figures, powers and principalities perhaps, as real
figures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us
who pay attention to the world know lots of people who worship false gods,
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America, in most corners,
worships mammon, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, we call
mammon by a new name, capitalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
dress him up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the effect is
the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we even go so far as to
convince one another that capitalism is a merit-based god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rewards us based on are hard work or
ingenuity or other esteemed qualities, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do not like to acknowledge in America that luck and privilege play a
big role in blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not like to
admit in our country that we practice corporate welfare, rather than real
capitalism, because we bail out those companies failing in our midst even as we
let those unfavored “others” suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether
capitalism is a “real” god or not, many Americans treat capitalism as
real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans and other nationalities
treat any number of gods as if they are real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our “worship” of these false gods and goddesses affects the lives are
those around us in our cities, states, country, and the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we should not be shocked that God treats
these gods and goddesses as if they seek to draw people from Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our passage picks up after Job has lost his
family, his wealth, and his health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has lost even more, though, as has become apparent in these last few passages
of the book named after him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
“friends,” have become adversaries; Job is no longer an honored friend in their
eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Job has lost everything,
they are certain God is mad at Job now; they are certain that Job is accursed
by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They encourage Job to
repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when Job insists that he has
done nothing wrong, they get serious in their attempts to get him see his
error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Job is accursed and
suffering, Job is clearly unrighteous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His insistence that he has done nothing wrong simply confirms their
opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few weeks before our story,
those friends would have taken Job’s claims seriously because his circumstance
was so different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would say that Job has lost even his
honored place among his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job
recognizes that his friends are not really supporting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like God, he complains, they are not
satisfied with his flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes the
beginning of the beauty in the book of Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Job longs for an advocate, a vindicator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Job knows he has done nothing to merit these curses in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has continued to be faithful to God, in
spite of his wife’s advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He longs for
someone, anyone to take up his case before the heavenly throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazily, despite circumstances to the
contrary, Job knows his vindicator lives and will stand upon the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more strange to our ears, Job announces
that even after his skin has been destroyed, he will see God in his flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can Job see God in his flesh, if his
flesh is destroyed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
great subtle beauties of the book of Job is that it addresses the seeming
discontinuity of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, the
righteous really do suffer; often, the wicked seem to be blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we begin to notice such things, we
struggle to reconcile what we know about God with what we observe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, a number of you came in or
called to speak about Mary Clyde and what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A number of you railed at the injustice that
she was likely dying because of bad care, of a secondary infection, rather than
the cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>If God is good and all
powerful, why did He not cure the infection, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God loves us, or notices us at all, why
would He allow her to die in this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where is the justice in her death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where is God’s love in her death?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see some
squirming, so let’s address that right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God teaches us in Scripture that imprecations are not sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can hurl accusations at Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can complain that He seems asleep at the
wheel or unmoved or distant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
acknowledge that our circumstances do not reflect the promises that He has made
to us, and such complaints are not sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, such complaining is entering into a more mature relationship
with our Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to
understand why things are the way they are; we want to know His perspective on
perceived evils in our life; we want to know He truly loves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to know that God is unlike the powers
and principalities and idols worshipped by others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to know He is real and that His
promises are sure!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so He teaches us
to notice such things and how to seek Him in the midst of such sufferings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
buried treasures in Job is the polemic against these false gods worshipped in
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a subtle, but powerful
polemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways, the polemic is
best captured by the Name of God in the mouths of the speakers in this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Job’s part, God is really only called by
two names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first Name of God used by
Job in his discussions with his friends is the covenantal Name Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most often, we in English translate that name
as LORD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Name captures the
understanding that God will be honored when we are honored and dishonored when
we are dishonored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also captures that
reminder that you and I who claim to be among God’s people are called to honor
God in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we do honors or
dishonors Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our LORD, we are
called always to honor Him, and repent when we sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
name used by Job as the word Eloah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
simple understanding, it is the singular of the plural name for gods, Elohim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eloah is used less than sixty times in the
Hebrew, and almost ¾’s of the times the name is used in the OT occur in this
book!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is going on in the use of the
names by Job is this interesting back and forth between LORD and THE God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we think about it for a second, it makes
sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job is the one who accepts God’s
blessings and God’s seeming curses and does not sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His friends have this understanding of God as
one in control or creating, but not with them as they go about their daily life
and work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They use other, what you and I
call less relational names, to describe God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Job wants an Advocate to argue before God, because he knows he is faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His friends think he is crazy to think that
God would allow unjust suffering in His Creation, let alone care were it shown
to exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this, of course, is
taking place long before the work and person of Jesus of Nazareth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow, long before the shadow of the Cross
will be cast upon earth, Job knows that he needs God to stand before God to
make his case, that somehow he will see God even after his skin is destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job does not one of the minor members of the
heavenly council to represent him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, Job is certain that, even after death, God will represent and vindicate
him!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For his
part, Job is vindicated by the end of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God appears in the whirlwind and tells the friends that Job has spoken
of Him correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tells them that
only if Job intercedes for them will He spare their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine the collective gulp of the
friends?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here you have been trying to
defend God, and God tells you you’re a dead man unless your friend, whom you
have been accusing, makes intercession on your behalf!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for them, Job is a righteous man and
friend; he makes the intercession on their behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of
the reason, I think, we Christians avoid this book so much is that we like
things neat and tidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to believe
that God blesses the righteous and curses the wicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to believe that the world works in a
predictable order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem, of
course, is that the world does work in a predictable order, just not an order
we want or like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world almost always
chooses darkness rather than the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world prefers chaos over order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we all want to believe that we can sneak things past our Father in
heaven, that we can get away with any number of sins as He is monitoring the
planets in their orbits or calamities affecting people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The great
news, the Gospel news and reminder, of course, is that God always notices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows what is happening to each and every
single person on earth at any given instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows that much of the suffering on earth is a direct result of our
sinful behavior and attitudes, our unwillingness to live as if we believe He
notices or cares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even though we
often deserve our sufferings, He was not willing to leave us without hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sent His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, not
just to be an atonement for sin but a pattern of holy living, as our Collect
this week reminds us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because
Jesus was faithful, we have hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because Jesus trusted the will of the Father in spite of His life’s
circumstances, we get to realize the fulfilment of Job’s desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that God Himself is that Advocate who
places Himself between the judgement we deserve and the hope all humanity
should desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because we know God
has acted in Christ Jesus, we, like Mary Clyde and all those saints who came
before us, are free!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We and they are
able to celebrate with joy, the certainty of our redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God who bound Himself in honor to His
people continues so to bind Himself today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because Mary Clyde was His daughter in baptism, we know that she will
see Him in the her flesh as a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Better still, as she reminded each one of us in her life and even in her
death, that same opportunity is promised to each of us who call upon His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, we fully understand how God used
this seemingly cruel or senseless death for his redemptive promises, and how
Mary Clyde willing bore that cross given her, trusting in His redemptive power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today,
though, may not be that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get how
the ending is, for now, unsatisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I understand why we hate the way her story looks today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am certain she chose Job for that reason,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After God has told Job to gird up
his loins and contend with God, and after Job has made intercession on behalf
of his friends, and after Job has been doubly blessed by God with riches and
family, we are left with an uncomfortable situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job never learns why he suffered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God never tells Job that he suffered because
Satan was convinced it was the blessings that Job loved, and not God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, the readers and the hearers, know the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Job lives the rest of his
life unaware of the cosmic battle that has played out in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we are in Mary Clyde’s story, we may
not know all the why’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We certainly
will not know all the ways in which God used her suffering to reach
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because He was with her in
her suffering, and because He bound Himself to her in her baptism, we know that
God Himself will vindicate her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were
this the end of her story, He would be dishonored.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
glorious Day, however, God will cause all who ridicule her faithfulness, who scoff
at her joy, who pity her circumstance as foolishness, to acknowledge her before
her Lord, a faithful daughter who sought only to glorify Him in her life and
who, when she screwed up, repented and tried again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was His promise to her and His promise
to all who choose to enter into relationship with Him through the waters of
baptism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Clyde understood that God
was serious when He proclaimed that we are buried in Christ’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She understood that God uses the suffering of
His servants to reach others just as He used the suffering of His only Son to
redeem the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She faced her death as
one confident and hopeful that she would share in His Resurrection, and that
all of this would be given meaning by the One who called her to new life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
weeks and months to come, my friends, we will all have opportunity to reflect
on her life and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will all
likely be given some insight as to how God used her suffering to reach
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prayer for us, though, is
that perhaps we pay a bit more attention to her joy and her character, that we
embrace the joy and freedom to which our Lord calls each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the best way we can honor Him, and in
so doing honor her, live as if we know our Redeemer lives and that we, too, one
day, will see Him face to face, as our friend and our Eloah!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-40460220649998226312023-08-17T12:37:00.001-05:002023-08-24T12:38:11.290-05:00Sent out into the chaos . . . <p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I had intended to preach on dysfunction
families, and especially spoiled brats, from today’s lesson in Genesis and on
Jacob’s children.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I really enjoy this
section in Genesis, and not just because I am the older brother like
Reuben.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adventers will come in to share
their family dysfunctions, and, unsurprisingly, some will complain about their
spoiled brat of a younger sister or brother.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am always sympathetic because I have a younger sister.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I would describe her behavior as a brat; she
would have a different perspective.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You are laughing.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Why not!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I mean, if we cannot laugh at ourselves, think of all the humor on which
we miss out!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Adventers do not read this story any
more than they do the other stories of the dysfunctional holy family, you know,
Jesus’ great great grandparents and aunts and uncles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is here, and it serves as a great
reminder that God can redeem bratty younger siblings as well as conniving older
siblings, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some rabbis in
antiquity referred to this as the redemption arc of Reuben rather than the
story of Joseph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reuben goes from our
story today to a man who is willing to lay down his life for his younger
brother, Benjamin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, he decides
later to sleep with Jacob’s concubine, Bilhah, and earns a terrible consequence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer is he given the inheritance of a
firstborn son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judah gains the
inheritance to which Reuben was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, the only two significant figures from Scripture to come from his tribe,
Dathan and Abiram, are famous for plotting against Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not exactly the fame one would
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as a further sign of his
descendants’ willingness to stray from God and the Covenant, they choose to settle
in land on the other side of the Jordan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at faces, I can see some of you do
not know these stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah, well, they
will come up again in six years’ time, unless someone changes the lectionary
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just remember that God can change
even spoiled brats and entitled older siblings and use them for His purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
event which caused me to switch to Matthew, though, was the death of Mary Clyde
early yesterday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uh, oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like a few people did not see it on
social media or read the e-mail blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am sorry that you learn the news in a sermon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it might be appropriate in the case of
Mary Clyde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of her life was a
sermon, so it makes sense that her death might be in one, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the pastoral conversations had died
down the last two weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the
couple weeks before that more than made up for the calm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adventers, co-workers, hobbyists, and friends
were railing at God for her ignominious end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>Why would God let her beat cancer and then let a secondary infection
take her life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the justice in
that, if God is good and all-powerful?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>None of the questions were inappropriate or evil, so relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People in her life were watching her live her
life as a faithful daughter of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
when she needed God, He seemed unaware or uncaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My work was to remind people that, not only
was God aware of what was happening to Mary Clyde, He was snorting in anger at
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That He chose not to miraculously
cure her means there was a redemptive purpose in her death, a redemptive
purpose that could only be served by someone, or several someones, watching her
die in her faith in much the same way as she lived in her faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Mary Clyde was willing to be used by God
in His redemptive purposes in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More on that in a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I realized pretty quickly yesterday
that the bratty and conniving siblings sermon was not going to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to be in Matthew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our story takes place today right after
the feeding of the 5000 men, besides women and children and the news that Herod
has executed John the Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
sends His disciples in a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heads up the mountain to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was praying when interrupted by the crowds
and ended up teaching and then feeding the crowds that led to the miracle which
distinguished Him against Moses, Elijah, and all who interceded with God on
behalf of God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus takes,
blesses, and breaks the bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then He
instructs the disciples to distribute the bread and fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no interceding like the prophets or
priests before Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some who witnessed
Jesus’ provision would have argued that He did it wrong, much as healing on the
Sabbath near the Temple was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eyes
we have but cannot see, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
provides because He is the Son of God and here to do the will of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not Intercede because His Will aligns
with the Will of the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our story picks up with Jesus instructing
His disciples and Apostles to head across the lake in a boat while He dismissed
the crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jesus heads up the
mountain to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mountains in the Old
Testament figure prominently in encounters with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us watching Abraham during Sunday
school just watch Abraham and Isaac go up the mountain last week to offer Isaac
as a sacrifice, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses meets God
in the Burning Bush on a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Elijah battles the priests of Ba’al on a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list goes on an on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High places figure prominently in most
cultures’ worship in the ANE.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Jesus is praying and communing with
the Father, though, Jesus’ followers are having a hard time on the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind, many of these folk were
fisherman, or worked fisherman adjacent jobs, so when we read they are having a
hard time with the boat and the weather, this is a special storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For their part, all of the surrounding
cultures would have accepted that bodies of water were the dwelling places of
chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the gods and goddesses had
different names, but they were chiefly known for their seeming random behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such makes sense to us, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever been on a beach in the US when a storm
comes through?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, it’s
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day the wind and
rains are crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once the storm is
passed, it is generally beautiful again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now pretend you live in an age where satellites cannot warn you about
approaching storms or fronts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get the
idea?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, lest you think this focus on chaos is
a waste of time, how does God describe Himself in relationship to chaos?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He broods over the waters of creation and
brings order to chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He parts a body of water to deliver His
people from slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is always
reminding His people that He has power even over chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometime between, say 3am and 5am
according to the Greek, Jesus goes walking to those in the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This drives Jim Martin nuts, who thinks these
miracles stories make Jesus seem more fictional, as if rising from the dead is a
normal occurrence in everyday life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus comes walking on the water to the boat in which He placed His
followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the purpose of the
miracle is to remind us of His power over the natural order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as you have no doubt figured out, part
of the purpose behind the miracle is the polemic against the power of
chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waters, and the wind driven
rain and waves, can do nothing to stop Jesus’ inexorable walk to His disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
their part, they realize this storm is dangerous and out of the ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they see Jesus, they think Him a ghost
or death incarnate or chaos incarnate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It makes sense, given the understanding of the cultures of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should interest us, though, is that this
is the second time in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus demonstrates His power over
water and storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the last
time, Jesus was sleeping and the disciples panicked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wakes and silences the winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples are astonished at that miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls out in the midst of their
terror that it is Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember at the
beginning of summer we talked about the theological significance of the the <i>ego
eimi?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the name that the
rabbis who translated the Old Testament into Greek gave to God in the story of
the Burning Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was the Great I
Am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally, it means, I, I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever Jesus uses the name, it has an unmistakable
theological overtone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is
identifying Himself with the God revealed in the Burning Bush, specifically,
and intentionally, when He tells them not to be afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter hears Jesus through his terror and
the exclamations of those around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
asks Jesus if it is really Him, command me to come to Him on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew records that when Peter realized the
strong wind, he became frightened and started to sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter cries out “Lord, save me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus grabs Peter’s hand and asks why
Peter doubted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the two get back in
the boat, the wind ceased, and those in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Truly
you are the Son of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer are
they astonished by His works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know
who He is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only God can bring order to
chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only God can bend nature to His
will and His power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the reasons I think God changed my
mind on the sermon today is the work that will be upcoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is much anger, disappointment, and
other emotions surrounding her death in the community around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not to say Adventers do not have some
strong emotions, but we have the liturgy and one another to help us remember
who we are and, far more important, who God is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I understand the bitterness and anger directed at God over Mary Clyde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why let her beat cancer and then die because
of the subsequent infection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why let her
go through all that pain for 18 months and then let her die?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If He loved her, why would it not be quick
and involve no suffering?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have a lot of people come to pay
their respects and share their stories of Mary Clyde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way we can honor her life as a
disciple of Jesus is to help others mourn her loss and share her faith and our
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us gathered this morning,
know that our faith is cross-bearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a fairy tale, in the sense that
prosperity gospellers or the world wants to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, God sends His people down from those
mountaintop experiences back into the chaotic messes of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Clyde was no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, He sent her to Oak Hill city offices
for many years, and some of you know the chaos there first-hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mary Clyde always went where God
called or instructed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew that
when chaos happened or suffering happened, God was doing something
significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her mind, the
significant act was for those around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such was her walk with God that she knew, she had learned from
experience, that even when she doubted and called to her Lord to save her, He
was always willing to reach out a hand and remind her not to doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not surprising to those of us who
knew her, then, that Mary Clyde chose to face her death in the same way she
faced her life –trusting God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laughed
on more than one occasion that she could not imagine that all she suffered
would be not even worth a tear in the world to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God, did she hurt. And the idea that God had plans for her so marvelous,
so wondrous, that all this skubala surrounding her death would not be worth a
tear seemed impossible, but no less so that walking on the water or raising
someone from the dead!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, for me, I know of two
individuals who watched all this closely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They expressed anger and frustration and all kinds of unsatisfied
emotions in conversations with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
one in particular, remarked how Mary Clyde lived as a one full of joy and
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That one remarked how Mary Clyde’s
role in his life was to remind him that Christians should be joyous, should be
fun to be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of all, because
we know ourselves to be loved by God and bound to Him in baptism, we know He is
with us through whatever work He sends us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ended our conversation with the beautiful
observation that Mary Clyde faced her death much like she faced life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he reflected on it with me, he decided it
was appropriate, even though he did not like it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing my job, I asked if he had that peace
and joy, too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he was not
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reminded him that Jesus is
always reaching out that hand to him, to let him know that He would walk beside
him in whatever life through his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
Peter and Mary Clyde and all those who have come before, He was always reaching
out that saving hand to those who called upon Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he appreciated my time and my
perspective, and he promised he would be here for her funeral when it happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends, Mary Clyde lived and died as
one who trusted God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because she went
where He led, and her weird sense of humor, her impact was significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we gather next weekend to remind
ourselves of God’s promises to her and to us, there will be people drawn here
for reasons they do not understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
will want the peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others will want
the joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others will want a should or
ear to help them make sense of this chaotic thing we call life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way that you and I can honor her
life’s work is to be attentive to those drawn by her this close to Christ’s
saving embrace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way that we can
all honor our sister in Christ is to share our grief, our own hurt, and the
unfailing promises of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the one to whom we minister next week
will be another Peter, asking the Lord to save him or her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we will get the honor of watching our
Lord reach down that hand from heaven and save them when they call?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe, as we pay attention to the stories
and the emotions, you and I will be reminded ourselves of God’s power to bring
order to chaos, to bring redemption to suffering and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, perhaps we will be reminded of
His Will to do all that through common, ordinary, everyday people like Mary Clyde
or us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His
Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-41284665734808435132023-08-10T13:24:00.002-05:002023-08-10T13:24:20.129-05:00On Feeding Thousands and communities dedicated to God . . .<p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">After the
first service, I had a couple Adventers ask me about polemic.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">They remembered that I had talked about it in
light of the story of Jacob’s ladder, and I used it today in the description of
the Gospel lesson in a number of ways.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Simply put, and according to our dictionaries, a polemic is a critical
attack on something on someone.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the
case of Jacob’s ladder, God is revealing to Jacob, and those who come after,
that Babylon is not the gate of the gods.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">There is only one God, the Lord, and He reigns over the cosmos even as
He is beside His faithful in whatever they do or experience.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today’s Gospel is critical of several things
about the world and people today.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I may
or may not touch on all of them.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But
none of us should be surprised that God is critical of human beings in their
efforts to rule themselves and others.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Most of us get that, when the world had the chance to follow Him, we put
Him to death on a Cross, right?</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I know,
I know.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s early.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s a bit early for that slap in the face.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But the time does not make it any less
true.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Humanity, far too often, creates
idols that it worships, idols which actually enslave us, and all in contrary
living to the God who created us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I
mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s start with one of Matthew’s
over-arching themes, <i>koinonia</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those who have taken some classes or finished EFM know it means
community or fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s partly
correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is missed in the English
translation of Matthew’s vocabulary, among other things, is the purpose part of
this gathering or community. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew
will spend most of his Gospel explaining this word to us, so I will not do it
complete justice today, but koinonia exists to glorify God in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I am an American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like most westerners, I am far more steeped in individual rights than
the needs of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
where our Armenian brothers and sisters, as well as our Orthodox brothers and
sisters up the pike, have an advantage on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They understand that we are called into community for the purpose of
glorifying God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of you
should be too shocked by that reminder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We talk about the distinction between the West and the East when it
comes to the Trinity, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
understanding runs through Rome, which focused on the persona, literally the
masks, of the Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Orthodox brothers
and sisters are usually more focused on the communal nature of the relationship
we call the Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find it
challenging in some corners to believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
can always be working to the same purpose or same will. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Orthodox brothers and sisters understand
that the Three Persons in One Unity can act in no other way, desire to be in no
other way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as we
pay attention to Matthew’s reading this morning, remember this purposeful
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that God is calling
together people to glorify Him in their community, in their life together, for
the benefit of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
pericope begins today with Jesus withdrawing in a boat to a deserted place by
Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened to cause
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, in the story right before we
read today, John the Baptizer has been famously executed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to refresh our memories, Herod’s
stepdaughter-to-be has just danced a sexy dance in front of the king and all
his courtiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod famously offers her
anything she desires, up to and including half his kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salome, after conferring with her mother,
Herodias, asks for the head of John the Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod is described in the Scriptures as regretting
the death of John, but he cannot abide what his attendants will think of him if
he does not keep his oath.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to
remind ourselves, Herod is the king of Israel while Jesus is on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod is not king by right of birth or
anointing by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is king because he
has bribed officials to support his claim and because he pays taxes to
Caesar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might say he sits on a
precarious throne, to put it mildly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an
interesting twist, however, Herod has some respect for John the Baptizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod, and all Israel, recognized that John
was a prophet of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kings, as y’all
know, were told to listen to God’s prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Very few indeed ever accorded the prophet the respect they were due, let
alone listened to them, but Herod was unwilling to stoop to the levels of some
of David’s offspring and kill the prophets that warned them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the
warning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod wanted to marry
Herodias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John the Baptizer told Herod
that God forbade it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now you
remember why Herodias wants John’s head on a platter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wants to be the queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, thanks to her daughter’s sultry dance,
she can fulfill her desire and get rid of the obstacle between her and the
throne.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should
also see now why Herod struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
knows John is the first prophet of God in nearly three centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For almost 300 years, God has been
silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This silence has been unnerving
for Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always speaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now He no longer speaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has God given up on Israel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has God revoked His promises to David and
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do the gods
really favor Rome?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, for
His part, is never able to withdraw by Himself for very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick your favorite miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now imagine telling your friends and
neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now imagine them telling you
what they heard or saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The buzz would
have been off the charts, as we might have said a couple decades ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Need a disease cured?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go see Jesus of Nazareth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Need an exorcism?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God see Jesus of Nazareth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever Jesus goes in the Scriptures, the
crowds always seem to be able to locate Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew
tells us that on this day Jesus had compassion on the crowd and cured their
sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the day drags on, though, the
disciples and Apostles encourage Jesus to send the crowd away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in danger of having to feed the
crowds, and they were in a deserted place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Feeding so many would be impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus tells His followers that the crowds do not need to go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, He instructs His disciples to give
the crowd something eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His disciples
and Apostles have a big problem, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have only five loaves and two fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are nowhere near close to having enough food for the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a world
beset by hunger, one cannot overestimate the miracle that now occurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus takes the loaves, blesses them, breaks
them, and gives them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand that it hard for us, on this
side of Maundy Thursday, not to see the Eucharistic overtones in this
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not think it a Eucharist,
however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has not yet instituted
that for His followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meal will
inform our Eucharist, but it has a different purpose in Matthew’s Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’
actions are a polemic in that He is demonstrating to all who see and hear about
this meal that He is unique in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Moses and all the prophets ask God for provision, who does the
providing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a miracle in the Old Testament where
a prophet takes credit for God’s activity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where a prophet mistakenly believes he or she is able to accomplish the
miracle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In every case the prophets intercede, and God
chooses to act wondrously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prophets
make that absolutely clear to God’s people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
though, in much the same way as He teaches, feeds the people with authority. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not ask God to intervene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not appeal to God or complain to God
that the people are hungry and about to kill Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He simply blesses, breaks, and
distributes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The miracle comes from Him
and by His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I know, thanks
to the Resurrection, that He is God’s Son, but the crowds and those who hear
about this meal have no such understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, those who are avid followers of the teaching of Moses would be
shocked and offended by Jesus’ activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In their minds, Moses was the great prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses had to intercede.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus of Nazareth is doing this all wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even
those who are looking for Elijah to return as Messiah would be bothered by this
miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Elijah prays for food for
the widow and her son, or even to raise the son from the dead, does Elijah do
those wonderful works according to his own power, his own will?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, He beseeches God to act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gets the credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is the source of all his miracles, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, Jesus would be doing this all wrong in
their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much as when He heals on the
Sabbath or dines with sinners and, dare we say it, tax collectors!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus does
not intercede with God because He is God Incarnate, dwelling among them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does this miracle, like all the others,
because He has the power and authority of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Demons cannot stand against Him; heck, they cannot even speak when He
chooses to silence them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The natural
order is upended when He chooses to upend it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When He cures, when He walks on water, and now when He feeds, He can do
whatever He desires, whatever He wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is in no way, shape, or form limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the results speak for themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
crowds have had their fill, not a bite, but their fill, Jesus instructs the
Apostles and disciples to gather up the leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From five loaves and two fish, Jesus has
given the crowd their fill and had enough leftovers for twelve baskets!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every Hebrew in the crowd would have noticed
the twelve baskets, and not because they were full and there were so many
leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to the faith of Jacob,
the one in our OT lesson today, Israel will always associate the number twelve
with itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob’s twelve sons will
give rise to the twelve tribes that will make up the kingdom of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
faithful among the crowd will see Jesus’ claim in a light that you and I
sometimes miss, unless someone like me points out the significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At their best, all the descendants of Israel
understood that God had chosen them to be a blessing to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What made Israel special was the fact that
God chose them and gave them purpose, but that purpose was for the benefit of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the world, the Gentiles,
were to be drawn into relationship with God, thanks to the way Israel lived,
the way Israel behaved, the way Israel acted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God chose them, created them, to be a blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, in their midst, something wondrous has
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus of Nazareth has provided
food to sate their appetites and still have twelve baskets of leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The symbolism is unmistakable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
story is not done with its polemic yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We began our reminder with the dance Salome and the execution of John
the Baptizer at a state dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod
has invited the rich and powerful, the men and women in the kingdom who keep
him on his throne, to a lavish banquet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aside from the servants and slaves attending them, there are no common
people there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“King” Herod cares not for
his subjects or their condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“King”
Herod can do nothing to sate those whom he rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this nobody from Nazareth can, and of His
own authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who figure out
Jesus’ role in God’s Kingdom will be reminded of the major difference between
human kings, human rulers, and God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
desires all the world to be fed, to have their hunger sated; and He chooses to
make that happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod can do no such
thing, especially if he is worried about losing the support of the rich and the
powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus feeds about 20,000
people – it’s 5000 men plus women and children, so the miracle is more than we
often think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is blessing Israel,
reminding them of their calling, the purpose of their calling, to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the
quick focus on the story today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and
I live in a world that rejects the claims and authority of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in a country where we cynically
expect our politicians to be enriching themselves and their families and
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know better; God has taught
us better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in this polemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yet, we accept the status quo rather
than holding our leaders accountable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And before one of you has that internal argument with God and says your
politician is better than the politician from the other side, is your
politician <b>really</b> better?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your
favorite politician at whatever level truly ruling to serve all people, even
the least?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s worse, does your
favorite candidate claim to be a Christian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does your favorite candidate publicly proclaim to be a follower of Jesus
of Nazareth and truly follow Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is
your favorite candidate more concerned with the next election, the next office,
the honoring of himself or herself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he
or she calling themselves a Christian to trick you and others out of your and
their vote?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And before
we start thanking God that we are not politicians and enemies of God, let’s
look at our own guilt, our own willingness to accept these conditions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When is the last time we voted out a
hypocrite in office?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When is the last
time we demanded our politicians govern us according to the faith they claimed
on the campaign trail or in front of television cameras?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When is the last time we remembered our
calling, and where God has placed us, and voted as if we believed God is
serious about His concern for all humanity?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ouch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Twice in one day is not fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
before you start arguing with God again, look at how He opened your eyes, in
community dedicated to glorifying Him, to other issues, other possibilities,
when conventional human wisdom told us there was nothing to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The low fruit of that discussion is Body & Soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most of us gathered today remember its
incredible start, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those newer to
Advent should hear plenty of sarcasm in that “incredible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We launched with 1000 pounds of food a month
and no Hilary or Nancy running it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of us bought all the myths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>You need
to limit people from coming to the pantry because they will rob you blind/take
advantage of you/never work to get off the help you provide for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Has that proven to be the case at
all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had maybe 2 individuals that
most of us would call grifters, but even the grifters had families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it right to harass a grifter and make
life harder for the family members, especially the children?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>If you open your pantry to those outside
your zip code, you’ll never have enough food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those same lazy people will drive everywhere looking for a handout</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, again, I push the arguments to the
extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was a crazy thing to
complain that lazy people would never get off the support of the pantry while
thinking they drive all around Middle Tennessee looking for handouts,
especially given the inexpensive price of gasoline and the wonderful conditions
of our roads and the friendliness of other drivers, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been warned about our food being too
good, remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>You can’t give away
steaks or lamb or lobster or thick cut bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those people can’t appreciate good things like that.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were warned we would be bankrupted by this work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were warned we would attract “those
people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conventional human wisdom
thought it was so smart, and many of us accepted that wisdom despite what we
knew Jesus did and taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to
live God’s provision much like those in our story today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And along
the way what happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a koinonia we
learned that those whom we served were people like us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned they had stories, hopes, dreams,
fears not unlike our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned our
government falls short in helping those whom it accepts as refugees and
immigrants, even for those who served us in their home country at risk to
themselves and their loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
learned about the desperation of those undocumented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was a political football to many of us in
the beginning has now become familiar faces to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, best of all from those concerned about
finances, as the need has grown, God’s provision has been a step ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hilary and Nancy will spend maybe $8000 this
year of Advent’s hard-earned money on food for those whom we serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put another way, we might be responsible for
a whopping 50,000 pounds of the food we distribute this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, those of you doing the math have figured
out we are the tithe in that provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But at least none of you is arguing or thinking that the rest is not
provided by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know ranchers in
Illinois are not beating down the doors in TN to provide butcher cows to the
food insecure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know restaurants love
to give away that which they could sell for money and profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know the stories of provision and how God
makes it obvious that He is the One providing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have lived His provision every bit as much as those from Matthew’s
story today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now,
having been convinced as a community dedicated to glorifying God in our midst,
we are being asked by other churches to address the secular wisdom of the
age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get to tell them the stories of
those whom we or others have served.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
get to tell them the stories of God’s provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get even to tell them of our amazing screw
up’s, and how God redeemed each and every one of those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we get to tell them the lessons that God
has taught each one of us as we have served others in His Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How far will that ripple?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will be the impact on the world around
us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask those
participating in the ministry the impact on local politicians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a couple candidates in the recent city
elections who wanted the photo shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I have the wonderful opportunity to warn them, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You better be serious about living your
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this is a hollow gesture on
your part, I promise you it will COST you votes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This idea
of community dedicated to the glory of God, though, can be small, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a bit, I will celebrate the Eucharist at
the Fountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you unaware,
we celebrate a Eucharist the first Sunday each month at an assisted living
facility in Franklin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was first
approached, their director of spiritual care remarked how no one celebrated a
Eucharist for residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clergy would bring
communion for a private Eucharist, and pastors would offer other church services
with no liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, they had a number
of residents who were from liturgical traditions that mentioned how much they
missed Communion services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, I
agreed to the services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been a
part of my ministry for all my ordained life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Vestry also supported my decision, which means it is a ministry
supported by Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we pray
for those requesting prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Altar
Guild is responsible for making sure I have everything I need to celebrate a
Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chalice Bearers go to offer
the Chalice and assist me by offering the intercessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joshua goes to be the psalmist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is another corporate ministry of Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it has a small footprint.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
beginning, it was small work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobbie Krieger
managed to draft three other ladies pretty quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think of those four as our core group down
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they loved that I celebrated
a service with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobbie was the only
Episcopalian, but they all loved the liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually, they shared the service with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over time, the ministry has grown and
shrunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get as low as 4 individuals
some Sundays and as many as the mid 20’s at the peaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For their part, attendees like to wrestle a
bit with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always preach a homily
or sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always try to speak to
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wrestle with the idea
that God can use them even as their bodies are weakening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my jobs is to remind them that they
live in a context where death is a companion and terror for others around
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are in a place that takes
mortality very seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death cannot
be avoided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So their harvest is truly
plentiful, and the workers are more frail than few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God wants workers in that field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they
connect with other residents, the number of attendees grows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As death claims them, though, the numbers
shrink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, as long as they are an
intentional community dedicated to glorifying God in their lives, I get to remind
them, they have nothing about which to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just sharing God’s redemptive power in the face of death, just sharing
God’s love for all whom He created, is work enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yet, they would tell you they know God
can do far more than they can ask or imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
men they attracted to their koinonia was named Bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill was not liturgical inclined earlier in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Bill confessed on more
than one occasion he was not sure what he believed or who to believe in his
youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill would interrupt the service to ask
questions liturgical Christians might take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for him, or ordained for Bill, this
clergy was raised in a congregational setting and could easily translate his
questions into liturgical language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
his fellow congregants accepted his interruptions for what they were, a man
trying to figure out whether the Gospel was true, whether one could have a
reasonable faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill
eventually became the greatest evangelist I have known in my brief time at
Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not so much a criticism
of other Adventers as an acknowledgement of Bill’s passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill fell so in love with the Eucharist, fell
so in love that he could wrestle with God, that he could not help but invite
everyone he met to come and see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
sought out every new resident to invite them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When he heard struggles over the cafeteria table, he knew the One who
could help them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, he loved to argue
with them whether God cared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not
want you to think Bill was a man of super faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like any Adventer, he skipped church when the
Titans were on tv.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like any Adventer, he
had to struggle with the idea that his lack of faith might have been directly
responsible for Titan losses, especially when his pastor was in a snarky
mood!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he loved the arguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved the chuckling and the laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he loved the image that we were stuck at
the kids’ table waiting on the real Feast to begin, that what God called him to
was greater than anything he could ask or imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since our
Lord did not return, He called Bill home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope I have made it clear in these few moments that what I valued
about Bill was his passion to introduce others to God or to the liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all other respects, he was a normal
guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His questions were normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His struggles were normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, like all men or women of a certain age,
he had some baggage, baggage of which he was certain made him unlovable by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he learned, however, that God
loved him and understood his baggage, understood him, he responded passionately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ministered hard to a group of people who
needed to hear what he had heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
God was not done yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Bill
died, he left instructions asking if I would bury him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the only question he never asked me in
a service was that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His dad called
to find out who this pastor was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As God
would have it, it was a gentleman in government who was familiar with my work
and who wanted me to make sure my congregation knew he hated slavery in prior
elections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had that surprising moment
when the politician was surprised to learn I did normal ministry to men and
women like his father, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn a politician was
born rather than hatched!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lol<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, we had some fun with this discovery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Bill
was buried and we celebrated his life and faith in good liturgical fashion, the
son reminded me and those present that if they ever needed anything, and it was
within his power, he would fight for them in thanksgiving to how they had
ministered to his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, that gathering
of cast-aside people, in their minds sometimes, have an understanding that God
really can use them, even in such a setting as the Fountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, because of their faithfulness and
willingness to reach out to others, they have one of the most powerful
politicians in the state of Tennessee indebted to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one of them knows that they can write or
e-mail Bill’s son, remind him who they are, and will be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the son won’t have direct control to fix
any issue, but they know he will help them or steer them because he knows they
loved his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because they live
in the world around us, they know how they will handle any objections should
they need the son’s help – <i>I know a Son of a Father who was faithful, and
look how God elevated Him, are you sure you want to risk not being faithful to
both that Father and your own?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
giggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a wonderful a story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so wonderful that we recognize it is
beyond our scope and planning and efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I certainly did not expect to be ministering to that politician’s
father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Vestry certainly had no idea
that the congregation gathered there would peak and ebb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those gathered there had no idea that they
still had value, that they still could be used by God to reach others in their
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while none of them to my
knowledge has taken advantage of that politician’s offer, they know the offer
was, at least for a time, was heartfelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They know they have an ally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
know that their service has resulted in their own elevation in the world around
them, that should they be called to use their connection to change the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that
points us back to the Gospel lesson this morning and the Covenant that God
swore with Abraham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way back when God
called Abram into relationship, He eventually revealed to Abram that He would
bless the world through his descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ve all just read the stories since Pentecost, so they should be
bouncing around fresh in our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
talked about how God’s people, living as God called them to love Him and love
their neighbor as themselves, would lead to others joining them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we spoke mostly of how Jesus was the
ultimate descendant, the Seed of Abram’s faith, that would truly bless the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast
forward into the life and work of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each of our Gospel writers shares those wondrous acts which testify to
Jesus’ role in salvation history and help us decide whether He is Who He claims
to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our story today reminds us that
Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah and anybody else who must ask God to
intercede. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus does what He wills
because He is the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
those who witness and struggled with what they saw, though, you and I have the
perspective of the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the wonder of
Pentecost made possible because of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In some ways, it is easier for us to understand His authority because we
know He was raised from the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just
because it was easier does not mean it is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You and I should, to use Matthew’s words, expect as a gathered community
in faith to glorify God in our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that glorifying is cross bearing; that glorifying means rejecting
the darkness of the world and embracing the instruction and manner of living of
our Lord, knowing that the world too often chooses darkness and foolishness
over God’s wisdom and God’s desire for His people and, through them, all
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, man, it is hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world and the enemy of God fights us,
discourages us, mocks us at every turn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I
are blessed to have several first-hand examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have named two significant ones in our corporate
life together, ones that most of us have some knowledge or experience with, but
I am betting the Holy Spirit has placed a couple more examples in your own
minds and your own hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But each of
those examples I have named or you have remembered reminds you of God’s
purposes for you and for His communities!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each example serves as a moment of encouragement in the midst of hard,
cross-bearing Gospel work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each wondrous
activity, where we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not our genius,
not our strength, not our wisdom at work, reminds us of the truth of our
calling, reminds us that God calls ordinary men and women, ordinary youth and
children, to follow where He leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
like Jacob, like Abraham, like those disciples and Apostles who came before us,
He will glorify Himself in us and through us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He will put to shame the wisdom of the world, and show that the
foolishness of any Adventer, the weakness of any faithful Adventer, can be used
by Him in all His redemptive purposes, can be used by Him to pint the way to
His Son our Lord, through Whom all things are possible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best of all, if He can work His redemptive
purposes through men and women and youth just like us, why would we not want
the world to know that power, that love, and that purpose!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ’s Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-68164028283863158942023-07-18T14:40:00.004-05:002023-07-18T14:40:43.873-05:00Lessons for His family . . . <p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Before I
get started, I will apologize that the sermon is not as connected to life
around Advent as normal.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those at 8am
reassured me it was different, but good, but we all acknowledged it misses some
of the normal applicable illustrations.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those visiting are probably wondering what is going on.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The preacher is telling us his sermon is
not as good as normal? His members
criticize his sermons?</i><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I have been
on vacation for the last three weeks, well for two weeks it was a
vacation.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The place where we stay in
Maine has no dependable internet access, and we simply did not bother even to
turn on the television.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">So when I say I
was unplugged, I mean I was tuned out of the world eating seafood and ice
cream.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> For my
part, my time back has been far more focused on pastoral care. I’ll talk more about that in announcements,
and I promise it will all make sense.
But as they say, my mind, since my return, has been focused on other
things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Speaking of
the two weeks one week, I do bring greeting from the Vestry and people of St.
Mark’s Berkeley Springs, WV. Once
Michelle found out I would be in town visiting my dad on the way home, she
reached out to see if I would celebrate a Eucharist for them. This was their first Eucharist this calendar
year. Y’all had two weeks of Morning
Prayer, so you can more easily imagine the hunger and thirst for the Eucharist better. But imagine getting only two Eucharists a
year. Like many rural parishes across
our country, it is an unfortunately common experience. They are very grateful you don’t make me rush
home to celebrate another Eucharist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Thank you
also for allowing Rev. Funmi an opportunity to officiate and preach without too
much hazing. Given the way things worked
out timing wise, this was tossing her into the deep end, but everybody seems
mostly to have behaved themselves. So I
am thankful to find her still willing to serve today!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Our reading
from the Old Testament is known among our Hebrew friends as the <i>toledot</i>
of Isaac. It is the generations or
descendants or offspring of Isaac. Those
who paid attention to my sermon on the birth of Isaac in the age before my
recent vacation will remember that Isaac’s name means laughter or laughing, as
in Sarai and Abram have a baby at ages 99 and 100, respectively. To put it in our vernacular, Stuart and
Phocian would both have to wait a few more years before they were forced to
change diapers and care for an infant.
Do not worry, ladies, I am not stupid enough to try and figure out which
of you is closest to Sarai in age. As
far as I am concerned it will be decades for each of you! Those of you laughing at all this understand
why Sarai chose the name for her son.
Can you imagine? I’m in my mid 50’s
and I cringe. How would one get down on
the floor to play with a child? I guess
the real problem would be getting up, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Those who
pay attention to the story will notice some similarities to the story of Abram
and Sarai. That brings me to the
commercial break. In Sunday morning
Bible study Larry has us watching movies on the patriarchs and matriarchs. They are well-written, well-acted, and
faithful to the Scriptures. Ted Turner
was clearly atoning for something. If
you like watching movies or videos better than reading, and you like learning
about the Bible and the ANE, join us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Now, back
to our programming. One of the first
things you will notice is the fact that God does not bless Isaac and Rachel
with a child for a long time. Remember
how Abram and Sarai had to wait 26 years for God’s promise of a child? Isaac and Rachel have to wait only 20
years. That means she has had to live
with the same whispers as her mother-in-law for nearly two decades. That means Isaac has had to listen to the
same loving counsel to put aside his wife, much like his father heard for 26 years. Our Sunday morning movie captured that very
well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We do not
know if it took Isaac 20 years to intercede.
Maybe the two of them were trying all the “helpful” advice about conceiving
a child from others in their family. We
have a lot of medical folks at Advent, but no fertility specialists. I am sure, nevertheless, that our doctors and
nurses have heard crazy stories from patients.
I have heard nutty thing from fertility doctors over the years, so I
know how well-meaning but horribly wrong advice can be sincerely given and tried.
Maybe God was teaching the holy family
the value of persistent prayer? Scripture simply does not tell us why God
answers this prayer of Isaac. It tells
us simply that Isaac interceded with God on behalf of his wife. Isaac’s concern was for Rachel, not
himself. So his prayer, his conversation
with God, is a bit different than that of his father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> As is so
often the case, we need to be careful what we pray for. I guess as Episcopalians we would say that we
serve a God who does more than we can ask or imagine. God blesses Rachel with twins. Quickly, though, this blessing begins to
cause problems. The twins are never
resting. Rachel complains that they are
always wrestling in her womb. Her
discomfort gets so bad that she inquires of God to find out why the twins are
so restless. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> God tells
her that two nations are in conflict in her womb. This revelation will serve for many of God’s
people as an instruction as to why the descendants of Esau and the descendants
of Jacob are always fighting. So much of
genealogies instruct us that these geo-political conflicts are really family
squabbles. It explains, in part, why
they go on and on and on and why they are so bitter. Can anyone fight better or harder or longer
than siblings? I see a few knowing nods. God reminds His people, which means us, that
we all share common ancestry. On some
level, we are all family. But in this
case, they are much close family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Notice,
too, God’s declaration about the older serving the younger. As we work through the story this summer, or
some of us watch the movies, we will be uncomfortable at the blatant favoritism
shown Jacob by Rachel, the mother of both Esau and Jacob. We live in a world that values fairness. We cringe when we see her plotting to help
Jacob because in her plotting to help Jacob, she is plotting to hurt Esau. Before we judge her too quickly, though, how
would you respond if God told you He had great plans for one of your
children? Would you not likely not pay
closer attention to the one that God has favored? We would all still love all our kids, I have
no doubt, but I bet most of us would pay extra attention to the one singled out
by God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The boys
are born and named Esau and Jacob, for the red hair and grabbing of the
heel. Then, we skip to young adult
twins. Esau comes back from a day out
hunting and is starving to death.
Understand, Esau is not literally starving. His father is the richest man in the area. As the first born son, Esau is destined to
become the richest man upon the death of his father, now Abraham. Esau has been out hunting and has had no
luck. The text makes it clear he is exaggerating
his hunger. If he ended up not eating this
day, he would still live. But like most
of us, he likes to satisfy his desires immediately. He is hungry.
And Jacob has made some good-looking stew, red stuff. So he tells his brother to give him some.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Jacob says
not so fast. He tells Esau he can have
the stew if he will give him his birthright.
Esau is famished and does not see any value in a birthright, and so he
makes the deal. From that time forward,
Esau will be described in Scripture, and in our reading today, as one who
despised his birthright. It might seem a
harsh judgment to our ears, but is it?
Esau has grown up hearing the stories from grandma and grandpa, mom and
dad, and others in the holy family. Like
his brother Jacob, he should value his birthright. He should be the inheritor of the Covenant,
but he is willing to trade it for some stew.
As the knight says in Indiana Jones every time I watch it at the grail
scene, he chose poorly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Our story
today contains several important lessons to which I want to draw your
attentions. First, consider the lesson
on patience or perseverance. We live in
an age where we get things our way, almost immediately. Everything from food to major purchases can
be done rather quickly. As a result, we
have lost the virtues of patience and perseverance. We, the people of God, forgot that time is
yet another creation of God, that we are called to be stewards of it just like
the rest of His creation. The culture
around us beats on us and hammers us with the idea we need always to be in a
hurry or rushed. We cannot afford to eat
a sit down meal with family. We cannot
afford to wait too many minutes to receive our food at a restaurant. Our time is too valuable, and we need to
remind the servers of that truth, right?
And heaven forbid you lack money for a weekend trip or major purchase. Credit cards are there for a reason,
right? Notice in just two easy examples
how we, and those around us, become enslaved to our flesh, to use Paul’s words
this morning, or enslaved to those who hold our debts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> God, for His
part, has a great reminder for us today.
He is the Creator of all this is, seen and unseen. He can dd whatever He wants whenever He
chooses to do it. A few minutes ago we
were all placing ourselves in Sarai’s and Abram’s places. Well, we were trying to. What would it really be like to have a child
at their ages? As the Scripture made
clear when we read that story in June, what would it be like to be able to have
all the plumbing working to have the possibility of a child? Quit squirming. Don’t be prudes. Sarai names Isaac Isaac in part because she
knows people are going to laugh at her and her husband knowingly. And she shares in that laughter, in that joy. She, who gave her husband Hagar the handmaid
as a solution to God’s inability to keep His promise, learns first hand that
nothing, not even old age or faulty plumbing, can thwart God’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The next
lesson I want to point out today is our impotence. It would be better had you all heard my
sermon on Isaiah last week at St. Mark’s, but you should have some
understanding of the fact that we are insufficient for far too many things in
our lives. We like to think that hard
work or brilliance or any number of other activities or qualities enable us to
overcome life’s problems. Scripture, for
its part, is most concerned with our inability to get back to God in the garden
because of our sin. How do we learn to
trust God? How can a sinful human being
be restored to a holy God? Most of us
gathered here today understand our need for Jesus’ faith, for His willingness
to go to the Cross, for His trust in the Father’s goodness, for us to be
restored to God, at least on some level.
But notice how much in life is beyond our power, our intelligence, our
hard work, our whatever. Who can stop
wars? Who can stop droughts? Who can end slavery? Who can end infertility? The list of our insufficiency goes on and
on. But we are reminded today in this
story that God can. More importantly, we
are reminded that God has the will or desire to do away with all evil even as
He uses evil for His own purposes. Do
any of us think that Sarai had any idea that people in Nashville would be laughing
with her at her newborn predicament some 4000 years later? Do any of us think that Esau had any idea we
would be talking about his foolish choices even as we remember his re-embrace
of his conartist brother in a couple decades?
But these stories were caused to written by God to instruct us, to reveal
to us, these characteristics of God. In
this case, we are taught that His redemptive power is sufficient for all
things, even things the world says is impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Related to
that power, though, is another important lesson. Though we are only starting the third
generation of the holy family, we have learned how God works on the
margins. He is always in the business of
drawing those on the fringes into His embrace, into the community of His
people. Part of why we invite the food
insecure into our midst is because we have learned, we have internally digested
if I might make a pun of sorts, the certainty that such is always the work of
God. Those whom society ignores are the
very people whom God seeks. And God
often uses the insignificant in society’s eyes to accomplish great things. The best reminder, of course, is Jesus. He had nothing remarkable about Him, from the
eyes of society. He was not famously
handsome or chiseled. He was not born
into power in a palace. Heck, He was
expected to be a tradesman. But
Scripture is full of other examples of a nobody in the world’s eyes being a
somebody in God’s eyes and a glorious example of His redemptive grace in our
eyes, beginning with Abram and Sarai and their long trek to the Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Another
important lesson is the detail to which God is paying attention. I will let you all in on a little
secret. When you come into my office
complaining about your family, and I tell you to go read something between
Genesis 12 and 49 or so, it’s because the holy family experienced your same
dysfunction. Nothing with which you struggle
in families is not present in the holy family.
And I can always tell who read the story and who did not. The Adventer who did not read the story gives
me skubala-filled answers about how the lesson was encouraging. The Adventer who read the story is shocked to
learn that the author of Ecclesiastes was right, there truly is nothing new
under the sun. And I usually have to
remind the latter Adventer that the story they read was about the holy family,
about Jesus’ great-great-great however many times grandfather or uncle or
mother or whatever. God is keenly aware
of our dysfunction and is still willing to use us for His glory, if we are
willing to let Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> There’s one
last lesson to which I want to draw your attention. It might be the most important on this day
since we are celebrating the baptism of Mara today. In celebrating her baptism, though, we should
all be reminded of our own baptisms and the consequences of the covenant that
God makes with each one of us, despite our insignificance and despite our
dysfunctions. I began this sermon by
naming this the generations or descendants of Isaac. The word was toledot. Good.
Some of you have not fallen asleep!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> The focus
in Scripture shifts from the relationship of God with Abraham to His
relationship with the descendants of Isaac.
Being a human family, some in the holy family make some seriously stupid
or unwise choices, just like Esau today.
But through this family and despite their dysfunction and horrible
choices, God will work His plan of salvation.
We know, of course, that His plan of salvation is fulfilled in the life,
death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the ultimate Seed of God’s promise
to Abraham and to Sarah. But as is so
often the case, the Good News is even better than we first imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Today,
Robyn and Patrick will make a pledge to God in front of us and Him that they
will raise Mara to know God, to instruct her in His redeeming love, and to help
her turn away from all those things which lead her from God. It is a weighty promise, to say the
least. She is their firstborn
child. How many mistakes have they
already made? How will they shepherd her
through her toddler years, when she seems intent upon giving mom and dad lots
of grey hairs? How will they get her
through the willful years we call teenage?
How can they fight social media?
How can they overcome her friends who do not share the same values? What if there are drunk drivers or speeding
drivers? What if there are natural
disasters? What if they are given
another child? You are laughing, and
rightfully so, many of us were too stupid to understand the responsibilities of
parenthood when we became parents. And
we got so focused on washing bottles or pacifiers to keep dirt out of our kids’
mouths that we missed the real dangers, those things which caused us to realize
the responsibility God had given each of us in the care and instruction of that
beloved daughter or son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> For their
part, Donald and Caitlin will vow to do the same. As Godparents, their job is to support
Patrick and Robyn in their efforts to raise Mara to know just how beloved she
is of God. It sounds easy in our ears. They are the support. The back up.
How many of us, though, had effective Godparents in our lives? How many of us were effective Godparents in the
lives of our Godchildren? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> We, of
course, will all vow to God to do all in our power to support young Mara, and Robyn
and Patrick, in their lives in Christ. We
will vow to celebrate with them, mourn with them, struggle with them, pray with
and for them, that God’s purposes for young Mara will be fulfilled, and that
she will grow into the full stature as a beloved daughter, a princess, of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> All these
vows, though sincere, as with all things human, will fail. And it is there that we all will do the truly
heaving lifting of discipling and catechesis.
When we fail, we will repent and return to God, modeling to little Mara
the true life of a disciple, the life of one who gives thanks to God for the saving
faith of Jesus, for His willingness to do the hard work that we could not do to
save ourselves or others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> It is in
that living, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, that we
will become a testimony and example to Mara of God’s unfailing promises to each
of His children. By virtue of all our baptisms,
we are grafted into the descendants of Isaac!
The stories about which we read this week become our stories. The promises which God makes to these
individuals that we read about each week become the same promises that He makes
to each one of us. And that redemptive
power about which we read becomes our glorious inheritance. Because we are part of the holy family,
because we know God loves and wills to redeem us, we can depend upon Him to see
us through the trials of this life. And
though events in this life may not go the way we would like, we know that one
glorious Day, all our struggles, all our failures, all our hurts will be washed
away as we sit at the lap of our Father who loves each one of us dearly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> And as a
people generated from Isaac, we become a people of laughter and of joy! We become a people who know what it is to be
loved, to be in community with others who are loved and love, and to know the
freedom of having been redeemed. We
become a people who give true joyful thanksgiving. We become a people who get to invite others
to share in that love and freedom, to experience the same joy and wonder as we
have known, and to reserve a place at that Marriage Feast where the food, the
drink, and the dancing are prepared for those who love Him and accept His
calling on their lives! Perhaps best of
all, His story of redemption becomes our story, and our story becomes part of
His story. God takes each one of us who
comes to Him in faith in baptism and promises to redeem us and to use us as He
woos all in the world to choose Him! It
is a heady promise, to be sure. It is a
weighty responsibility, to be sure. But
because Christ has done the hard and weighty work, we are assured of God’s
ability to keep that promise He makes to Mara this day just as He promised to
each one of us however long ago!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brian†</span></b>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-81141486736194909502023-07-14T12:30:00.001-05:002023-07-25T12:35:43.044-05:00For prisoners of hope, a promise . . . <p><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is good
to be among you all again today.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you
missed me last year or are surprised by the fact there is a Eucharist today, my
name is Brian McVey.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some of you
probably know my father, George, through Trump & Trump.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">All of you know my son, Nathan.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">On behalf of his family, thank you for that
cross you bore welcoming Nathan into your midst!</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s ok.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t look so shocked.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We love
him, but we know him, too!</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I am a priest
serving as rector of the Church of the Advent in Nashville, TN.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My family has just finished a two-week
vacation in Maine, and we are headed off to Nashville Wednesday, after we take
a side trip to Philadelphia to help our daughter move tomorrow and a visit to
see Nathan in DC.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
served on Episcopal Boards of Directors in two dioceses, so I understand the
challenges facing congregations on the margins, especially in rural areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan and Michelle have told me you only had
Eucharist twice last year, once on my visit and once on the bishop’s
visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been known to chew out
retired clergy who visit congregations and do not offer Eucharists in place of
Morning Prayer in various counsels of the church, so this is a bit of God reminding me of some of my words in the
past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's ok to laugh ruefully. I am sure He has done the same to you! </span>But I also understand that faithful people
in such circumstances hunger and thirst for the Eucharist, they yearn to be reminded of God's promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I am enthusiastically willing to
celebrate the Eucharist with you at St. Mark’s, as we give thanks and praise to
God for the work He has done for each of us in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I
launch off on the sermon, though, I want to thank Michelle for her work making this all
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all should thank her for
fending off Nathan’s demand that we celebrate a high Rite 1 Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had Nathan won that particular battle, we
would not be using Rite 2 Prayer A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We'd be using Rite 1. </span>Of
course, Michelle knows Nathan much like you and likely steeled herself, with a bit of God's grace, to that
battle!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I shared
last year, one of the big challenges for me as a visiting preacher is not
knowing the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sermons, for
me anyway, are far better when the preacher is able to bring God’s Word into
daily life and work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I apologize in
advance, if I do not connect God’s word to your life, but that is my failure
and not God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if I do connect them,
then we all know it is truly from God, because I have not been working with and
counseling you as is usually the case in Episcopal churches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will also
tell you ahead of time that I will be preaching the Gospel from the prophet
Zechariah this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you may
want a sermon about yokes and light burdens, but I am a big fan of preaching
the Gospel from the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus, in His instructions to His disciples and Apostles, claimed
everything the prophets wrote was about Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because He was raised from the dead, we know His claim is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have noticed that many Episcopal clergy
are loathe to preach on the OT, and many of those who do, preach moralistic
sermons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Be like David, not like
Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be like Jacob, not like Esau.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That does no one any good because none of us
can determine to be good, and even those heroes from the OT have some serious
sins plaguing their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But about 2/3
of Scripture is Old Testament, so there is a lot we skip when we ignore it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading
from Zechariah today might have you confused. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably 90% of Episcopalians would recognize
this passage from the Palm Sunday liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good, most of you are nodding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each year when we gather to begin Holy Week, we are reminded of this
prophesy in our liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wave palms
and sing All Glory, Laud, and Honor as we process into the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, then, are we reading the OT basis on the
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
thought it was a good idea to kind of repeat the reading?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth,
you and I are in the green season of after Pentecost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly half the Church year is spent in this
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because its color is green, some
clergy like to remind us it is the growing season of faith, where we dive a bit
deeper into the consequences of Jesus, birth, life, death, resurrection, and
ascension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us might say it
answers the question of <i>What now?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Christ is truly raised from the dead, as we all proclaim when
baptized and when we celebrate the Eucharist, what does such an event mean for
us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case, of course, we are more recently reminded of both Pentecost and of Trinity
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kick off this season
reminding ourselves that because Jesus has Ascended to the Father, we have been
sent the Advocate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, because
such is the will of the Father, because we welcome Christ as Lord of our lives,
you and I are drawn into that relationship we describe as the Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I know, none of us will ever experience
the full benefit of being in that relationship with God until He returns or
until He calls us home, but we do get hints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You and I are called to minister in His name, to represent Him in the
world around us, and God promises that we will be glorified in that work that
intends to glorify God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world thinks
we think we will be celebrated and praised and blessed as we do this work in
His Name, but because we know our Lord Christ called us to take up our cross
and follow Him, we understand the glory, the blessing, might not come until
later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
great challenges for those who follow Jesus is the fact that discipleship is
cross-bearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many preachers like
to proclaim what we call the prosperity gospel, which is, of course, not good
news, let alone great news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no
mistake, there are some big gatherings of people who proclaim that God wants
them to have a mansion and fancy car and healthy bodies and who knows what
else, which is true on a certain level, but then they remind congregants that,
if they do not have a particular blessing they want, it is always because of
their lack of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they ask for
more money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
laughing, and that’s good, but I hope they are frustrated laughs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that you have been shaped by the liturgy
we use to understand that the true path to glory is through the Cross, that the
true path to blessing is through obedience to God and His instructions to us,
that our ability to keep even the least of His commandments, to use the words
of our collect today, is due to His work and His grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dearly hope that your hunger and thirst
which exists for this Eucharist primarily because you know that in this
celebration, we remember His death, we proclaim His Resurrection, and we await
His Coming again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good, I heard a few
murmurs with me there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry, we’ll
all say it again in a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to
Zechariah, though. Zechariah is one of those places in the Old Testament
prophets that prophesies the coming of Jesus as the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it is rather overt in its prophesy,
we would say, so much so that we use it in our liturgy each and every Palm
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is, however, an important
teaching in our passage, a passage that helps us see why God’s people were
unable to recognize Messiah when He walked and taught and worked among them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A passage which points us to our own futility
and for the need to understand that God’s ways are not our way and that God can
even overcome our ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a prophesy
today that should shock and confuse us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the end of our appointed reading, God proclaims through the mouth of
the prophet “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare
that I will restore to you double.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will not ask for a show of hands, but ask yourself which confuses you more, the
idea that God’s people can be prisoners of hope or that God will restore us double,
especially in light of our scoff at the prosperity gospellers a moment ago?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our
passage today, I hope you see some of the misunderstandings about Messiah and
the root of those misunderstandings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am going to hope that you have all heard sermons or read articles how God’s
people had a couple different prevailing understandings of how to spot
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One image was that of a
conquering war figure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such figure rode
war horses and commanded armies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
Jewish brothers and sisters craved a hero who would cast off the bonds of
oppression belonging to whichever culture was oppressing them at any time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some even took this understanding to the
supernatural level by insisting that Messiah would have an army of angels at
his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense that one would
need supernatural help when fighting a super-power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were understandings that Elijah would
return and either rule in God’s Name or advise the king about questions of
rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there was the lineage
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could a son of David rule,
when others had claimed the throne?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
understand, I am oversimplifying for brevity’s sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I have all been taught about the
three-fold nature of Christ’s role in salvation history: He is Prophet, Priest,
and King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget,
or we do not know, that a lot of energy was put to figuring out who Messiah
would be and how His reign would come to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was not an academic question to God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were oppressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were the inheritors of God’s promises to
Abraham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can God be in charge if His
people are allowed to remain enslaved and oppressed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further muddying the waters were the number
of men claiming to be messiah to the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of why it is remarkable that Pilate listens to Jesus is the fact
that under Pilate’s reign along, more than 250 false messiahs were put to
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time Pilate meets Jesus of
Nazareth, he has already condemned more than 250 men to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes Jesus special in his eyes?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I share
some of this so that you might begin to understand the prisoner of hope
reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel knew She was God’s
chosen people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel knew She would
freed from Her oppressors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel knew
there were lots of false prophets, teachers, and even messiahs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How were they to understand God and His plans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human beings being human beings, they
imagined how they would manage things or how they would accomplish goals and
attributed such ideas to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the
Messiah be a war leader?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the
Messiah be a prophet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the Messiah
rule like other kings around us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human
beings took their experiences and understandings and created a system of what
to expect, not unlike how Christians have developed a rather complex, and often
disputed, understanding of the eschaton, in spite of Christ’s warning not to
worry about the when and God’s instruction that He will do more than we can ask
or even imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This system, or cord,
if you would allow the word nerd pun, is called <i>tiqvah</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiqvah is a
word that is usually translated into English as hope, but, as is so often the
case in translating, hope does not fully capture all the nuance of the
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you I made a pun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that none of you understood it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the word literally means a cord made up
of threads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who sew will understand
this nuance better, but the idea of a rope will work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should picture a rope made up of many
twisting fibers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those fibers contribute
to the strength and utility of the rope; all those fibers or strands are
integral to the function of the rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good, I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would do
better to realize that our Jewish brothers and sisters had an idea of Messiah that
was made up of various strands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending
on their need, depending on their experience, and even depending upon their understanding
of the Exodus and Exile and of the monarchy, they had an expectation of
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those sorely oppressed craved
freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who wanted to be like the
other ANE nations wanted to have a king like other nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many wanted God to take charge because He was
the One who promised their ancestors to going with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The consequence was that they were too caught
up in their hopes and expectations, Zechariah would say they were imprisoned,
that many missed Messiah when He walked and taught and worked in their midst.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It drives
some in the Church nuts that Jesus does not give a “straight” answer to the disciples
of John the Baptizer when they ask, on behalf of John, is He the One, or are
they to wait for another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus answers
them straight and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do they
see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do they hear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They saw and heard the same miracles as those
around them, the same miracles about which you and I read in Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lame walk; the deaf hear; the dead are
raised—these are signs of the Messiah given by God through His recognized
prophets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many, though, miss the
signs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some complain about Jesus’
pedigree because He was not born in a palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some complain about His teaching because He claims authority rather than
building on teachings, the systems, created by those who came before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some cannot see the proof because they are
blinded by His willingness to speak with, dine with, or acknowledge the marginalized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are prisoners of hope, because they
cannot see Him when He is among them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lest you
think this is a polemic against the Hebrews, they are no different than the
rest of humanity throughout time and the world, including ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your best ministry to the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ok to speak, I asked the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone is using the same ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How does this ministry work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often do you do this work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many do you serve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Y’all made this too easy for me—I cannot tell
you the number of times I have had to speak against this tiqvah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the tiqvah of the world and of many
in churches regarding such work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
serving 122 people a month a sit down meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ever heard anyone complain that you are making the recipients lazy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever heard anyone complain that you are naïve
and being taken advantage of, that you are enabling grifters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you doing the work faithfully,
have you ever met anyone who did not need the help, who thought your cooking
was a way to get Michelin Star food for free?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great, tell me about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I
am hearing in your example is that some who are lonely come for the fellowship
at that meal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So maybe the meal is doing
more than feeding the food insecure in your midst?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I asked
questions, though, most of you were nodding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have heard those stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
have heard that advice and expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How many in the Church are trapped by tiqvah and unable or unwilling to
do the work to which God calls them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
many are prevented by their own wisdom from devoting themselves to the purposes
of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of your work, whether you recognized
it before now or not, is to serve as a pattern of discipleship even for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, while you are feeding the food
insecure, you accidentally created community and you are serving as witness to
your brothers and sisters in the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How about the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do they
see month in and month out, year in and year out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you run out of food?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you run out of energy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s almost as if you really believe that God will provide what you need
to serve others in His Name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going
to stop there because I am sure some backsides are getting sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are all out of practice of suffering
through long sermons and teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can certainly continue the discussion of your ministry after services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think most of you see how we can be
seduced and trapped by human wisdom and power just like our spiritual predecessors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have the advantage of being born AFTER
Messiah, AFTER His rejection and betrayal, His suffering, His Cross, His death,
His Resurrection, and His Ascension!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
know that He is the Messiah despite the fact that we might wonder at God’s plan
of salvation because of our tiqvah!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember
when you were a bit confused by the “restore to you double” promise before you
understood what it meant to be a prisoner of hope?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That promise of God, to restore to us double,
is not just a prosperity promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The double
portion inheritance belonged to the first born son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first born sone received a double portion
of inheritance for several reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One,
of course, was the expectation that he would become the patriarch of the
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another was that the first born
son needed the extra portion to care for those for whom he was responsible, be
they widowed mothers, extended family members, or even slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is promising through the words of
Zehcariah today that He will make us all firstborn sons, that we will all
inherit a double portion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one sense
it is an amazing promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The make of
all that is, seen and unseen, promises each and every one of us the opportunity
to be treated as a first born son and all that comes with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In another sense, it seems impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mathematicians <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would rightly tell us that if we all receive a
double-portion, we are all receiving the same amount, no one is receiving
double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such would be true were we
trapped by human understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can
we all be treated like first born sons?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can we all be treated like princes and princess?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot explain it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is His promise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
promise is assured by the events that we remember each Palm Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though He rides on a donkey and is praised by
the crowds, we are fickle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within days
the crowds will join the chorus of “Crucify Him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crucify Him!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we work our way through Good Friday it will appear that God’s plan
failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His trusted friends abandoned Him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women are wracked by grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then comes the full extent of God’s
redemption power!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all human
wisdom, despite all human knowledge, despite all human effort, God raises Jesus
from the dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ Resurrection reminds
us that God’s ways are not our ways and that His power is exponentially beyond
our own power!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He accomplishes that
which we could not accomplish ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But even as we wrestle with that miracle, much like you wrestled this
morning with the effects of your feeding ministry, so much more is
happening!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like a gem with glorious
facets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we turn it in our hands, it
continues to sparkle and cause us to marvel and wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
those great sparkles is His promise that those who accepted Christ’s work and
person will be made first born heirs of His kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that this is not yet His
kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that the riches of this
world are not what He values and what He esteems, even as we understand we will
buy food and drink without money, to paraphrase the words of another prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we know, we absolutely know, that we are
inheritors because we belong to the Messiah, the Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has promised, and God always keeps His
promises, even when things look utterly defeated, even when death seems to be
and claims it is the last word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
comforted by that reminder, and for today at least, nourished by that pledge in
His Sacrament, you and I are sent forth to do the work He has given each one of
us to do, you in the metropolis called Berkeley Springs and me in Nashville,
but each of us assured that One Glorious Day, we will all share in the
blessings He intended for each one of His sons and daughters when He first
created the heavens and the earth!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ’s Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-84686787349720412912023-05-09T12:38:00.001-05:002023-05-23T12:39:56.795-05:00Who would not want to be be where He is?<p> <span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Our Gospel
lesson this week, the fifth Sunday of Easter, is, unfortunately, very familiar
to most of us.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is one of those
well-chosen suggested passages for funerals.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Even if you have not been an active Episcopalian, you can still hear
this passage when Hollywood does funerals using our rite.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Of course, when we gather for a funeral, our
chief focus is pastoral.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We are trying
to mourn with and support the family over the death of a loved one even as we
remind ourselves of God’s promises in the midst of such hurt.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We specifically remind ourselves that death
is but a horizon and the limit of our sight and that God has promised we will
see our loved ones who believe in Him again, despite how the finality of death
appears.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today,
though, we will take a look at the passage with a different set of eyes, a
different focus, if you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I do my
job well, today, it will change the way you hear the passage in the future,
even at funerals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to
remind ourselves where we are in John’s Gospel, we are back on Maundy
Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may seem odd for us to go
back in time, back before the Resurrection of our Lord, while we are in the
middle of the season of Easter, but there is a real purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to remind you, in case you have
forgotten the events of Maundy Thursday over the last six weeks, Jesus has
already announced to His gathered apostles and disciples that He will be
betrayed by one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has washed
their feet and instructed Peter about the need to be washed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has instituted the Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has instructed the betrayer to go and do
what he is doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has told Peter, who
boldly proclaimed at the table that he would follow His Lord to death, that
Peter will deny Him three times before the cock crows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night will end in Jesus’ arrest, after
the prayer in Gethsemane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see mostly nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
midst of this, Jesus gives a set of teachings and instructions, some of which
elicit responses by those with Him, and further teaching by Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professional students and teachers of John’s
Gospel call this the Farewell Discourses of John’s Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ooh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
see some nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not boor you too
much this morning, but farewell discourses were a common genre in the ANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most famous today might be Socrates’
speech concerning his death, but there were many others in Antiquity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John drew on that genre as he related the
events of Holy Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Farewell
Discourse of John’s Gospel, Jesus knows what is about to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing surprises Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tells those present with Him what will
happen, why it is necessary that it will happen, and, although they will mourn
at first, they will receive joy that will never be lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
selection today begins with Jesus telling them not to let their hearts be
troubled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearts were the seat of will,
not emotion, in the ANE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is encouraging
those who claim Him as Lord, those who hope He is the Messiah, not to lose
their focus in what is about to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make no mistake, those who followed Jesus knew death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can make an argument, given the world in
which they lived, that they understood death far better than us today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us blithely walk through life seldom
considering the fact that we are mortal, unless we are touched by the death of
a loved one, or a tragic event, or are forced to remind ourselves of its
reality through the religious observances of our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dead people do not just come back to
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just does not happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it more than a touch disappointing
that so many of our brothers and sisters on social media have spent time the
last four weeks trying to convince others that the Resurrection was not real
and, in their minds, unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
those who were with Jesus were no different than us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They understood the might of the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They understood the fragility of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew that once one died, that was the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here’s Jesus talking about
rising to life after His death, just as the Father ordained.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus goes
on to give that wonderful phrase that can be translated faithfully as either a
command or a statement of reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
translators chose to go with both verbs in the imperative conjugation meaning
it sounds like a command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect we
hear it just as John wrote it, depending on our circumstances when we read the
passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps at funerals, we hear it
as a command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death seems final and we
need to hear our Savior’s command to keep the faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, perhaps some of us hear it as a gentle
reminder of our faith, that we believe in Him and in the Father, that we know
ourselves to be heirs of His faithful promises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus goes
on to instruct those with Him on Maundy Thursday that there are many dwelling
places in His Father’s house and that He goes to prepare a place for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, He reminds His friends and
followers that, if He goes to the trouble to prepare a dwelling place for them,
He will return and take them to Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of us grew up in churches that loved to proclaim the idea that
Jesus is building mansions for us in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to use the
contexts in which we are placed to describe what is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe Jesus is building us each a mansion in
heaven, but I think the instruction here is far more significant than
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll return to it in a moment, as
that will, I hope, be my focus for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus then
tells them all that they know the way to the place where He is going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thomas, for His part, has the courage to
interrupt Jesus’ instruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cannot
know how to get to Jesus because he does not know where Jesus is going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, Thomas would tell Jesus he needs an
address for Waze or Google Maps or other GPS services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus uses
the <i>ego eimi</i> to, once again, claim identity with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ego eimi, just to remind us all present, or
perhaps teach those present for the first time since they joined when it has
come up, was the name given to God by the rabbis when they gathered to
translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rabbis, when tasked with conveying God’s Name from Moses’ encounter
with the Burning Bush, you know the GREAT I AM, went with <i>ego eimi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Like many languages in the world, Greek
verbs have a pronoun reference included in the verb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By itself, <i>eimi</i> means <i>I am</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pairing the verb with the subject pronoun
form increases the emphasis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might
rightly think of this as “I, I am” when translating it into English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That “I, I am, the rabbis thought, was the
best way to convey the claim made by Yahweh when answering Moses’ question
about who it was that sent him to Egypt to lead the Hebrew people to the holy
mountain to worship God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single
time Jesus uses <i>ego eimi</i>, there is a theological claim that we simply do
not hear in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is literally
taking the Name of God and claiming it for Himself, about Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case, Jesus claims He is, God is, the way, the truth, and the life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear the words too often to really give
them much thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the truth is, it
is likely not a necessary focus at funerals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But John’s Gospel has a particular focus on the work and person of
Jesus, beginning with the Prologue and ending with the reminder that the
stories are shared so that we will believe and have life in His Name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the
Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much of the Hebrew understanding
of God, and His instruction, is wrapped up in the Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times does God remind His people in
the OT that His instruction is the way for life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times do the psalmists remind us
that our only sure footing is to be found in God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many times do the prophets remind us that
following the ways of our own hearts leads to death and destruction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a common metaphor that the Jews
described the early Christians as “followers of the way” rather than as
Christians or disciples of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
their part, the Jews thought the followers of the way were crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One did not get to God through a cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only blasphemers died on trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no one, literally no one, could ever
claim themselves to be equal to God, the GREAT I AM, and not expect God to
treat them like a blasphemer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here’s
Jesus, claiming identity with God and that living and dying as He instructed is
the way to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put in simpler language
for us, picking up our own crosses is the only way that leads to God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrying our own crosses is the only way our
footing will be sure!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus goes
on to claim He is the truth, again with that self-identification with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth, as we all know, is a loaded word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one claims to have the truth today, one
gets shouted down quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our age,
though, is no less pluralistic than that of the ancient world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowadays people like to talk of “my truth”
and “your truth,” as if truth is relative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a result, we live in an age where facts, observable truths, are not
allowed to get in the way of opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For John,
of course, truth is inseparable from Logos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those of us who attend church on Christmas Eve are introduced to that understanding
in John’s prologue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>In the beginning
was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The modern Church picks up on that understanding
and proclaims that Jesus is the Living Word of God, that He embodies or
Incarnates the <i>Torah </i>of God, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we read John’s Gospel, or any of them for that matter, how does the
world respond to God’s Word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard a
“not well.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s an understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are we kidding, God’s people reject His
word constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why should we be
shocked that those who do not recognize Him fail to accept His word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of self-described Christians
worshipping God in our community today who have rejected the idea that
following Jesus is cross-bearing work, who think the dwelling place is granted
on this earth as a sign of true faithfulness, who think others suffer as a sign
of their unfaithfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus understood
this perfectly, as John reminds and instructs us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the world came into being through
Jesus, the world did not recognize Him and rejected Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even though the world rejected Him, His
teaching, His wisdom was not invalidated as “just another truth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, indeed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God raised Him from the dead demonstrating to the world that His truth
is the Truth!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last
claim made by Jesus, again with that GREAT I AM overtone, is that He is the
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, we live on this side of the
events for which He is preparing His apostles and disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that He is life in a way, no pun
intended, that those present during this discourse could ever imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, I know there are a few Adventers who
are just as insistent that the dead cannot live again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as we remind ourselves in that wonderful
collect each year, Jesus is not just the Savior, He is the pattern for holy
living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does living a life as a
disciple look like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is supposed to
look the way Jesus lived His life: feeding the hungry, clothing the poor,
visiting the imprisoned or shut in, healing the sick, and all those other
activities that the world tells us is crazy or dangerous or just plain wrong,
all those activities that when human beings stand before His judgment sheep, He
tells them as they did to the least to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ya, that one makes us squirm, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is low
fruit, but I am going to pick it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
many times have we heard “If you let people come to your pantry when they are
hungry, they will take advantage of your generosity”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally, I even get “You guys are part
of the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are teaching people
to be lazy,” as if a vast majority of the people in the world are craving what’s
being offered in most food pantries—you know, wilting produce, dented cans,
bread that might have mold, rice and pasta out the wazoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those newer to the parish or visiting can
hear the obvious scorn in my voice about it, we have heard it so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck other churches and other non-profits
severely limit the availability of food to those in their area because of such
fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those same organizations will
prey on the emotions of those not food insecure in order to secure their
funding to serve the 1/5-1/4 of those in Tennessee who are food insecure,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hilary and Nancy, with a bit of
prompting from the professional Christian and the Holy Spirit, made the wiser
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted that the Creator
and Maker of all things, visible and invisible, really is the Creator and
Maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted that Jesus was
serious when He said they would do greater things in His Name because the
Father wanted to glorify the Son in our work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Y’all know all the volunteers in this work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the witnesses to this, to use the
upcoming Pentecost language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what
happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year we gave away over
300,000 pounds of food we did not purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Either by the working of God or through some weird coincidence, take
your pick, people and businesses and organizations gave us more than 150,000
tons of food to distribute for them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
told you this was low fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was our
budget impacted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside maybe from sore
knees and backs from all our lifting, was our worship of God impacted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about our marketing program for donors
and clients?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to remind ourselves,
we must be doing something right that honors God, that testifies to the fact
that we take Jesus’ instructions and claims seriously; otherwise, no one would
take notice and give us that food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one would come to us hungry in search of food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the work depends utterly and totally on word of mouth, on
relationship, you know, just like the way the Gospel spreads.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When His
disciples live like He instructed and like they belief He was raised from the
dead, the world notices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, in
today’s world, they wonder why such Christians are not like the jerk Christians
with the bully pulpits and always condemning on social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God provides both the way to live and the
daily bread needed to live, whatever that bread is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if the world takes the life of that
faithful disciple, God promises through His Son that the faithful disciple will
have His life restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though better
suited for a sermon on another day, how much easier would the Resurrection be
to believe, were more of us living as He instructed? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many more groups like us would be feeding
the hungry in our midst and testifying to the provision of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jesus reminded us on Good Shepherd Sunday,
He provides the way to abundant life, not just scraping by, not fighting for
scarce needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But far too many of His
sheep do not believe Him, do not live as if He came out of the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we disciples cannot believe it, why
would the world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though
it should be apparent how this is experienced in the life of the believer from
the Body & Soul illustration, we struggle with the idea that the disciple
will do greater works than our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
see some nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, Jesus served 5000
and then 4000 men, besides women and children in the feeding miracles,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot do that, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We fed somewhere between 35,000-40,000 individuals in Christ’s Name last
year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are on pace to top 50,000
individuals this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is not feeding
35,000 individuals greater than Jesus’ feeding, in terms of numbers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would not 50,000 be greater than 35,000, in
terms of numbers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, you and I might find Jesus’ provision
more impressive, as it come directly from His power and authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He takes the fish and loaves and multiplies
them Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what of those who eat
from His provision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think those
whom we serve in His Name find that provision any less miraculous, any less
meaningful to their lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course
not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just to make it absolutely
clear, all that we have, all that we give, comes from Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not providing it ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at all
the healers in our congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
many of our doctors and nurses have prevented deaths in patients?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many have administered vaccines or
antibiotics that saved lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
have convinced patients to amend habits of eating or exercising to lengthen
lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many have caught diseases in
early stages?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many have removed
tumors or administered radiation or chemotherapy to extend lives that, just a
generation ago, would have ended too quickly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How many have repaired or treated injuries that improved quality of
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many have caught mistakes of
other healthcare workers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Jesus
walked the earth, He healed an impressive number of sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But He was only One Incarnate Man doing that
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense that, in sheer
numbers, our two or three dozen healthcare workers would have prevented the
death of more individuals over the work of three or four decades in healthcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that not greater?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it is!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, just
when you are inspired and noticing this passage in a different way than the
normal pastoral way at funerals, I am going to give you real grist for the
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the place Jesus is
going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in an age far too
influenced by the Left Behind series and the imagining of Heaven in earthly
terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us have heard a
funeral sermon on this passage and been reminded by the preacher that Jesus is
preparing a mansion on a street paved with gold for each person who has died in
the faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe He is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really care because whatever I am
going to come up with pales in comparison with what He can do, but . . .
because we hear this in funerals so much, I think we miss a big chunk of the
meaning of what Jesus is about to make possible through His Death and
Resurrection, at least as the Apostle John understood it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We miss a chunk of the discourse between
Jesus and Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
already reminded ourselves about John’s prologue, where John begins to teach us
about the “why” of the Incarnation, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We read it every single year after the Feast of the Nativity as we light
our little candles from the great Paschal candle, reminding us that we carry
that little light planted in us by The Light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is Jesus described in verse 18 of John’s
first chapter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>No one has ever seen
God, but the only begotten at the Father’s bosom has made Him known.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Greek is actually an idiom that means
something along the lines of at the breast or on the lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth, it probably includes a bit of both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning, the only-begotten was on
the lap/at the bosom of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also
in the beginning, Adam and Eve shared intimate communion with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walked and talked with Him all the
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, of course, they
sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan convinced them that the
Father was not worth trusting, that He did not really intend good things for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, that intimate
relationship was shattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
kicked out of that Garden and forced to toil in the dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of this was intended by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a consequence of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As was death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were not expected to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
reminded ourselves of this in Lent when Jesus snorted angrily at the death of
Lazarus, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see nods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now stick with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From where
did Jesus come and to where is Jesus going, according to John’s Gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, the bosom or the lap of the
Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, some translations like
to avoid what the text says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes us
uncomfortable—we do not want to talk about bosoms in church, but it really
should not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us are parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us have been children a long time ago,
believe it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember what
it was like to hold your child at your bosom or in your lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember what it was like to be held
to the bosom or in the lap like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know parents make mistakes, they are sinners like us, but most of us remember
that safe space, that place where we knew, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt,
everything was going to be ok, where we knew we were loved and valued, where we
were protected and cared for, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When John
is talking about the Son being at that place in the Father, that’s what he is
talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When John recounts Jesus’
Farewell Discourse and Jesus instructs them that He is going back to the Father,
that is the place to which He is going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we talk about the Son condescending to become fully human, that is part of our
understanding of what Jesus did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got
down from the lap, pushed away from the bosom of the Father, and entered the
world that would ultimately reject Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But He did this all knowingly and intentionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was willing to give all that up to bring
you and me and everyone we encounter in the world into that intimate experience
with the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understand, the image makes us uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much like any toddler, we are a bit squirmy the more we are there, the
more we imagine ourselves there, I should say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that squirmy comes from the security our toddlers experience in our
bosoms and laps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more protected we
feel, the more courageous we feel, and we get down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problems happen when we forget where we
belong, when we start trusting in ourselves rather than the One who loves us,
protects us, provides for us, nurtures us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On this side of Creation and death, we hear the whispers of God’s
enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wonder whether He really loves
us and wants those good things for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For His
part, our Lord wants us to trust Him willingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a gentle Father or loving Mother who wants the young child to know
they are loved and valued beyond measure, so our Lord wants that for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ work
has made that experience possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because He condescended to become fully human and live as God
instructed, and because we believe Him, we are promised that ultimate experience,
we are promised that He has made it possible for all of us who believe in Him
to be gathered at the Father’s bosom or in the Father’s lap or however you want
to understand that idiom, not for a few minutes, but for all eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends,
we are rapidly speeding through the season we call Easter, when we remind
ourselves of God’s power and willingness to redeem all evil in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it good, however, that we spend a
brief amount of that time focusing on the end He intends for all humanity who
decide to trust Him, who choose to believe in His wonderful story of
redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, I find it
energizing for us that we get to pay attention to a well know passage in an
unfamiliar context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than hoping
those who leave us are in a great McMansion in the sky or strolling on golden
streets, we will all likely remember that the best of that which is to come is
the promise by our Lord Christ that we will all one day be where He was, where
He is, and where He will be found—at the bosom or on the lap of our Father who
created us, who loved us, and did everything to redeem us, that we might
experience that amazing sense of fulfillment for ever><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Name,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623408850673406505.post-45524011699105729432023-05-04T13:43:00.001-05:002023-05-11T13:44:05.444-05:00"I am the door!"<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today is one of
those unofficial feast days in the Church.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those who pay attention to the calendar know that we read about the Good
Shepherd on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, causing many to assume this is the
Feast of the Good Shepherd.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is not;
today is simply the Forth Sunday of Easter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those paying even closer attention will notice that today we do not read
about Jesus calling Himself the Good Shepherd.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We read John over the course of the three-year lectionary cycle, roughly
dividing the chapter into thirds.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
year we read the beginning of chapter 10 and miss the explicit claims of Jesus
found later in the chapter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">That may
disappoint some of you as I focus on what some might call a tangent of the Good
Shepherd, but what I think John wants us to understand in light of Jesus’
claims, claims which are, of course, verified by God in His Resurrection of
Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To begin with,
our reading today takes us back several weeks to the story of the man born
blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just to refresh your memories
because a lot has happened in the world since then, Jesus healed a man blind
since birth on the Sabbath in the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The healing takes places as a teaching moment for those who ask Jesus
whether the man was punished or accursed for his own sins or the sins of his
parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus proclaimed that the man
was blind to show forth His redemptive and healing power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what should
have been an amazing sight to behold, if you will pardon the pun, the
leadership in Jerusalem chose instead to criticize and condemn Jesus’ actions
and the testimonies of those who witnessed the miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They try to claim to the masses that Jesus is
a blasphemer and has no respect for what they have been taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work is forbidden on the Sabbath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet here is this guy, Jesus, healing on the
Sabbath and doing it on the grounds of the Temple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see some recognition of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the
harder background question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John tells
us that this teaching we are reading and associate with Good Shepherd Sunday
occurs during the Feast of the Dedication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anybody remember what the Feast of the Dedication re-called?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just don’t forget it in three years when it comes up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Jewish brothers and sisters know the
celebration as Hanukah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know most of
us think it is simply an eight-day celebration where our Jewish friends give
one another gifts, much like some describe Christmas about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is far more significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though we like to think of the Greeks as
often wearing white hats in history, we know history is a bit more
complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Greeks conquered
Judea, and the rest of the Mediterranean, they set about trying to stamp out
all other cultures or, if you prefer, making everybody Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Israel’s case, that means they profaned
the Temple, did their best to cause the Jews to forget Hebrew, and tried hard
to get Israel to worship the gods and goddesses of Olympus rather than
Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were rather thorough and
successful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that
beginning in the third century BC, so few Jews spoke their native language that
the Rabbis gathered to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I call that resulting work the
Septuagint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that the Jews were
forbidden to circumcise their males.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
know the Greeks even forced the Jews to eat pork, thereby proving their
assimilation to the new culture and authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also know that there were a number of attempted revolts against Greek
rule, the most famous of which was the Maccabean revolt in the second century
BC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Led by Judas Maccabee, the Jews rose
up against their Greek conquerors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
ragtag band of freedom fighters defeated the super-power of the day, and its
maybe as many as 60-70,000 soldiers, and evicted them from their
homelands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the Greeks were driven
out, the Maccabeans worked to re-dedicate the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most famously, there was only enough
consecrated olive oil to keep the great Menorah burning for a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet God caused the Menorah to burn for eight
days on the little oil, allowing the Jews to consecrate more oil over the next
eight days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That feast, and all the
stories of oppression and God’s redemption, also serve as background to what we
read today in Jesus’ instruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
would have understood the rededication by the faithful as a type and shadow of
what would be ushered in by Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One last image
present in our story this day in the Middle East was the claim by kings to be
shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kings claimed to be doing
what was best for their people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>I
know you don’t like the taxes, but I really do need the money to accomplish
what is best for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you do not
like the idea of warfare, but I really do need to put down our enemies before
they harm us.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think modern
politicians who claim to be public servants while self-aggrandizing or self-enriching
themselves at our expense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t
really want to do it, but they need to accumulate power so that can make real
change for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BTW – that’s the biggest
/s we may here day in and day out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that
background brings us to our lesson today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus begins by speaking of sheepfolds and how one enters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many villages, it was not uncommon for
there to be a village sheepfold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sheepfold was an area where animals, in this case sheep, could be safely kept
at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, such pens were manmade
or took advantage of the natural features or topography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those studying Hosea with Larry heard a bit
about a big one, Petra, which has a small opening but enormous area enclosed by
cliffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of that on a much smaller
scale.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each village sheepfold
would have a narrow placed gated or barred with at least one man charged with
guarding the pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning, the
shepherd would come to the communal pen and call his sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such was the relationship that the sheep knew
the voice of their shepherd; the shepherd, of course, knew his sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though modern ranchers tell us we should
never name our livestock, some do and did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The shepherds would call or sing or do whatever was necessary to
separate their sheep from the big herd of the village and head off to lush
grazing or drinks from gentle moving water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus’ point would have been well understood by many in the
audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shepherd goes to the gate
and tells the gatekeeper he wants to take the sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was done openly and in the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gatekeeper knew the shepherd and that
some of the sheep belonged to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice, too,
Jesus’ criticism of those who try to enter another way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls them a thief and a bandit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thieves were those who tried to con someone
out of something by stealth or subterfuge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think of somebody putting their arm around you as they reach into your
robe to take your wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be
hours before you discover its loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Heck, you might even think it fell out rather than was stolen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bandits, of course, used forced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of good old-fashioned hold up’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know you are being robbed because it is
happening at the point of a sword of the end of a fist or club.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In light of the
healing of the blind man, who are the thieves and the bandits and the one entering
through the gate at the light of day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you better understand why the authorities plotted to kill Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the shepherd
goes ahead singing or calling or doing what he does, the sheep follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus goes on to remind his audience and us
that the sheep will not follow a stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All that makes sense, but John tells us that the audience did not
understand the figure of speech Jesus used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of the time, we think Jesus’ parables are challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case, John uses the word, <i>paroimia</i>,
which is only used four times in the New Testament, to describe the confusion
on the part of His audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
audience is having a hard time applying the shepherding image, the metaphor, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the spiritual teaching given by Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only our younger members will truly
understand this, but they are like Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The metaphor goes over their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, told you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mature Adventers can ask the younger members
to explain all that at coffee hour—lol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
listening to Jesus do not understand Jesus’ authority in spite of all that they
have seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has healed on the Sabbath
next to the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In ANE cosmology,
Yahweh would have been more powerful the closer one got to His Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea that a blasphemer could do something
opposed to Him at His seat of power and authority would have been crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gods HAD to defend their temples, else they
ran the risk of losing their power and worshippers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For their part,
the Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes are acting the part of thieves and
robbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are working hard to
convince the people that Jesus is evil, that Jesus is opposed to God, even
though all remark that no one ever did anything like His signs, especially
healing a man blind from birth . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on
the Sabbath . . . at the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as
the healing story ends and our reading today begins, they scoff at Jesus’
attempts to teach them, proudly declaring that they see, and hearing Jesus’
pronouncement that their sin remains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus continues
the explanation for His audience and us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His explanation, unsurprisingly, is offensive to the Jews, though we do
not hear it today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus declares
Himself to be the door, but He makes the claim in a unique way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Greek text, <i>ego eimi thuros</i>,
contains the name given by God to Moses at the burning bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Moses asks who he should say is sending
him to Moses, God replies in Hebrew “I am that I am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Rabbis who translated that into Greek
make God the great I am, <i>ego eimi</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is an emphatic statement, <i>I, I </i>AM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time Jesus makes a pronouncement “I, I
am . . . “ faithful Greek speaking Jews cannot help but think of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That <i>ego eimi</i> is so tied to the
burning bush that faithful Jews would be offended by Jesus’ claims, were they
to reject the signs, and understand Him to be a blasphemer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, His sheep know His voice and see
His signs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They, like us, have their
favorite miracle that convinces them that Jesus is who He claims to be, the
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, lest we forget, John
reminds us at the end of the Gospel that bears his name that these stories are
shared so that we might know Jesus is the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
particular part of the pericope, Jesus is instructing and promising that all
who enter through Him, the Door, that they will be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better still, those who enter through Him
will go in and out and find pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
so often think of doors as dividers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s what keeps one room separate from another, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the doors we have to keep the outside
. . . well, outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Jesus does
speak of He and His angels separating the sheep and goats at the eschaton in
other places, this is not that place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is about shepherding in the here and now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is the Door through which His sheep
enter the sheepfold for safety and security and fellowship and through which
they exit to find pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus sums
this all up with an amazing promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
came so that His sheep may have life, and have it abundantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a glorious, though subtle promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how many of us miss its implications
because we are so wrapped up in the shepherd imagery or the claims of some
loudmouth Christians who claim our sole focus, and God’s focus for that matter,
is on the Day of Judgement and the Age that follows?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us are like Drax?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were
comparing notes this week about potential sermon illustrations at
colloquium—some of us do talk shop when we gather like that—we were reminded
that there are some important, though subtle teachings in Jesus discussion of
Himself as the Door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps most
obvious to all is the idea that the way back into that intimate relationship
with God we should all desire, to undo the damage of the separation caused by
our sin in the Garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance to
the Garden is blocked by the angel with the flaming sword; Jesus, however,
makes it possible for us to begin to re-enter that place, makes it possible for
us to begin to experience hints and types and shadows of the intimacy
experienced by Adam and Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no
mistake, we are still impacted by sin, so we will not experience the intimacy
afforded Adam and Eve until we receive our new bodies in the new creation, but
you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those efforting to
enter the door will experience intimacy with God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ image here
is a subtle reminder of the authority that He has, and will have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He approaches the gate, and the attendant
opens the gate for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
argument, no “produce your credentials” on the part of the guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guard knows who Jesus is and knows Jesus’
sheep will follow Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice, too,
that it is a flock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Americans love
our independence; no one is more individual than American Protestant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God calls us together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not surprise us Episcopalians, that
we are called together for our own benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We worship together, we fellowship together, we mourn together, we
celebrate together—we recognize that the koinonia of Scripture is important to
our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, who among us is surprised that experts
are discovering that isolation is one of the great evils resulting from the
pandemic?!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you observe
that Jesus is the protector?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in
a day and age where Christians think it necessary to arm themselves to protect
themselves, even at church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
professional pastor I am always amazed at the number of self-described
Christians who feel it is the God-given obligation to carry a weapon to protect
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways, it is not
their fault, as they are often poorly discipled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus tells us elsewhere to pick up our
crosses and follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our baptismal
rites remind us that we have died to self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter reminds us that all who believe in Him will be given back their
life by our Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
it, then, that causes us to think this life is so important, that we must take
up weapons so as to be able to shoot others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, just by way of reminder, if we are killed because of our faith,
where do we go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go to be with the
martyrs who sit closest to the throne and encourage God to start the party!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can wolves and
thieves get in and harm the sheep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But can they do lasting
harm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can do no damage, including kill us, that
He cannot undo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another not so
subtle but seemingly often-overlooked teaching in the pericope is how Jesus
leads rather than commands His disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the disciples discuss elsewhere, the leaders in the world are far
more wont to command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do that.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus instructs them and us that He came this time to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He washes the feet of His disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He feeds the hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heals the sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray each year reminding ourselves that He
is not just our Savior, but the pattern for holy living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we desire to be holy, how should we be
living?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing the things that He did
when He was in the world as the Incarnate Son, by efforting to honor Him in our
daily life and work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be clear, how
does the Good Shepherd lead His sheep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He calls them by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
of us, when we are suffering because of privation or disease or pain or
isolation or any other evil, hear the whisper of the enemy just as Adam and Eve
heard the voice in the Garden?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Does
God really care about your suffering?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you really matter to Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God loved
you, He would take away your pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
God really loved you, He would give you what you want.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t squirm too much; we all hear that
temptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an amazing reminder we
get today that our Lord knows us by Name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, to be sure, we remind ourselves from time to time that He created
us, that He breathed into us our <i>nepes </i>that makes each one of us
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus reminds us today that He
knows all who enter His sheepfold by name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, Jesus
ultimate promise in all this is that we will have abundant life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The life we are promised is not just
subsistence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not promised we will
just get by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, Jesus promises that by
entering through Him we will have abundant life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a temptation, of course, only to
think of this in terms of the Second Coming, that we will not experience abundant
life until after we are with Him on the other side of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus’ whole pattern of life is one of
sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His entire life is
sacrificial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does He receive for
His sacrifice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honor, authority, glory and all those other
accolades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, if you
will, though, the nature of sacrifice in God’s kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it cost us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think back to our talks of Temple
worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should have been the
greatest tailgate party ever, putting FL vs. GA or OSU vs MI to shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were we living in OT times, you would come in
with your animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would show you how
to kill it quickly and humanely, but you would do the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would start the butchering of the animal
and place the required offerings on the grill and then give the rest of the
animal to the assistants for further butchering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would deduct what was supposed to be
given to the Levites and then grill the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once finished, you’d be given your meat and head back out of the Temple,
laden with grilled meat in a world that ate meat sparingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, you would invite others to share in
the joy that God had allowed you to atone for your sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine the bounty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smell?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The opportunity that, no matter how poor you were, you might be afforded
the opportunity to eat meat?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget, of
course, that that event was the type and shadow of our Eucharist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not ask for hands, but how many of us
were joyful to roll out of bed and come to church today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our gatherings are meant to reflect the
worship at the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them are
meant to be a shadowy reflection of the worship that is occurring THE Temple,
the one where God is now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We offer to
God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We give to Him that bread and that wine from
His creation, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What have we really
sacrificed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what do we receive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some would say they are spiritually nourished
by the Sacrament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others might say they
are reminded of God’s promises to them in the midst of their mourning or
suffering?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others might have different
answers, but none of that costs us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God,
through His Son, made that available to us, if we but choose to enter through
Him, the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paid the cost, the
sacrifice, of our admission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our
gathering and celebrating today is meant to remind us of that eternal truth,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember His death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We proclaim His Resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We await His coming in glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we don’t feel excited about coming,
we remind ourselves of that truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
in the midst of suffering and mourning, we remind ourselves of that truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we give thanks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joyful thanks, if we understand Him properly,
if we understand that it truly through Him that we enter into His care, His
provision, and His salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to
guess, looking at some faces, that there is some disappointment this
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some of you came wanting
to hear a shepherd sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wanted
the warm fuzzies of a pastoral setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
couple of you asked me to re-preach “Away to Me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But our readings today are a prelude to that instruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we remind ourselves that Jesus is the
door through which we enter into intimate relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, we are reminded of some of those Good
Shepherd lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves us and calls
us by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are part of a flock, not disparate
or even desperate individuals, that He is not a thief conning us nor a bandit
forcing us, that He wants to give us abundant life, and, perhaps most
importantly, that He loved each of us to make it possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And wrapped in that knowledge and in His
instruction, we know the end is joy, even if, perhaps, today was a bit more
challenging than we would like it to have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But because He is the door and He has opened for us, we can be certain
and comforted by the remembrance, even in a reading that we might wish
otherwise, of our Lord’s tender care and love for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we live and move and have our being in a
world that rejects Him and His authority, we know who He is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the Father’s only begotten Son, come to
love us, to draw us into His kingdom, and to restore the intimacy that we
lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the world might conspire to
keeps us deaf and led astray, He came and called each of us by name, that we
might have abundant life through Him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
friends, that is a reminder that needs re-telling more than once every three
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a reminder that we should
hear and every time we gather in His Name!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In His Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brian†<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fr. Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081463456152003936noreply@blogger.com0