Weekly Lessons and Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
You would think, given all of the images of sheep and shepherds today, that
It was Good Shepherd Sunday! It feels like a replay of that Sunday in the Easter season, where we consider Jesus the Good Shepherd. Sheep or Shepherds are mentioned in THREE of our four readings today. And in those three texts, we see that there can be good shepherds, and bad shepherds. The good shepherds are those who lovingly care for their sheep: Those who lead the sheep to still waters, And to rest in green pastures. Good shepherds bring comfort, And food, And calm all fears. Good shepherds provide safety and security. Bad Shepherds, Like those mentioned in our first lesson from Jeremiah, Scatter, and even destroy their sheep. Bad shepherds are inattentive, They drive the sheep away, rather than draw them in. And then there are the sheep that have no shepherd at all. Not a good shepherd, and not a bad one: But sheep who are wondering lost, who might long for comfort, safety, and security. In today’s gospel story, There’s a great crowd: That is just that. Sheep without a shepherd. And Jesus: Who is not only a good shepherd: But the GREATEST shepherd of all: Saw that they were sheep without a shepherd, and he had compassion for them. I love the shepherd sheep image for a lot of reasons. First, and most obviously, because there’s great comfort in knowing that “The Lord is my shepherd.” But we’re also not ONLY sheep of the great shepherd. There are times in our lives, when we are also the shepherd of others. There are times when we are a “good shepherd” offering comfort , compassion, and security. And then there are times when we’ve been the “bad shepherd”: inattentive, and pushing our sheep away. There are even times that we feel like sheep without a shepherd. The point is: We’re all human. We have good shepherd days, We have bad shepherd days. We have days when we feel lost without a shepherd, And days where its much easier to trust our Lord and shepherd. And no matter what day it is: It’s okay. Because the hard and beautiful truth if it all is that: Being a Christian doesn’t mean that every pain or worry diminishes. And that’s where the 23 rd Psalm really holds its power. Hear the Psalm again: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, And leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul, And guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me, You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This Psalm has power. For a number of reasons. But most significantly because it acknowledges the “valley of the shadow of death.” The valley of the shadow of death is real. I can’t help but be astonished: That we would get this famous Psalm this week: When many of us are grieving the loss of Joe: a member of our flock. We prayed, We kept vigil, And we saw this week, that sorrow is real. That the valley of the shadow of death is real. We will all go through that valley. Some of us many times, Some of us fewer: Yet we will all go through it at one time or another. And when you’re in that dark valley, It’s easy to feel like you’re all alone: A sheep without a shepherd. Even the most faithful among us, can feel lost and alone in the dark valley. And that’s why we need the 23 rd Psalm. There’s a famous Anglican theological principal that states “Praying shapes believing.” It comes from the Latin, “Lex orandi, Lex Credendi”, Which literally means “the rule of prayer is the rule of belief.” It means that our habits of prayer shape our beliefs. We sometimes assume that it’s the other way around: That we believe first, And then our prayers come out of our believes. But this primary principal of our theology in the Episcopal Church: And in our prayerbook, Tells us that we don’t HAVE to believe first. And that our praying can shape our believing. You don’t have to have your beliefs perfectly in order to pray to the Greatest Shepherd of all. You CAN be uncertain, You CAN be unperfect. You can feel utterly lost. You can even feel like you might not believe. And you can pray anyway. Because our prayers shape our beliefs. So if you’re feeling like a sheep without a shepherd: It’s okay. Pray the 23 rd Psalm. Pray it like you believe it, even if you’re having a hard time believing it: because our praying shapes our believing. If you’re feeling pretty good because you’ve been a compassionate and loving shepherd to others: Pray the 23 rd Psalm: Pray it to remember that the truest, kindest, most faithful shepherd is not you: But our Lord God, alone. Pray it because our praying shapes our believing. And if you’re feeling like you’ve been a bad shepherd? Pushing people away-- Responding to your own wants above the needs of others: Pray the 23 rd psalm: Be led to the still waters that revive your soul, And set you back on the right path: Because our praying shapes our believing. I invite you today, To pray the 23 rd Psalm wherever you find yourself. Whether you’re feeling smug about being a great disciple of Jesus, Or feeling guilty because you know you’ve done wrong, Whether you’re in a deep dark valley, Or even feeling like a sheep without a shepherd, Pray the 23 rd Psalm. Because praying shapes believing. Pray the 23 rd Psalm wherever you find yourself in the moment: If you find yourself as a sheep, Or you find yourself a shepherd, good or bad: Pray to the Greatest shepherd of all: No matter where you are. And the more you do it: The more your prayers will shape you: Form you: OOZE into you. And maybe: JUST MAYBE: The next time you find yourself in the shadowed valley: You’ll know that you’re never alone. I invite you now to come as you are, And pray the 23 rd Psalm with me one more time today: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, And leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul, And guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, For you are with me, Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; You have anointed my head with oil, And my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
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Herod Said: “John, whom I’ve beheaded, has been raised!”
He must have been terrified. Herod: a guy who relied on treachery, questionable political moves: and wealthy power: is confronted with his worst nightmare. He knew John was dead. He saw John’s head: On a platter no less. But this Jesus, obviously a man of power himself, is becoming known throughout Herod’s kingdom. And who is this Jesus? Could it really be John, raised from the dead? John, the man Herod killed because of a grudge, a grudge he held against John for telling the truth? Here: Fairly early in the Jesus story: We hear already some of the most significant elements of the story: Death, Resurrection, and Power…… Lots of power dynamics… How very sad. How very tragic. And yet, because of what we’ve seen in our own lifetimes: of the consequences of misused power, political greed: and society’s belief that “it’s all about me:” maybe Herod has something to teach us. Herod is an interesting character. What Benedict Arnold is to the word “traitor,” the name Herod has become to the word “evil,” but a sad kind of evil. In Herod we see a man desperate to be king. Desperate for power: So desperate, he would even kill his own relatives: Let alone someone like John the Baptist or Jesus: who posed another threat to Herod’s power. Herod was a weak man. Who relied on earthly power as the only real means of success. John the Baptist knew differently: And lost his life because of it. But John isn’t the only one messing with Herod’s understanding of power and success… Because there’s also Jesus. Herod had to have been terrified. Is it John back from the dead to haunt him? Or is it yet another who would challenge Herod’s authority? We know the answer and Herod would soon find out. Jesus was known by most as a man who taught with authority: Who broke the roles made up by weak men who were afraid of losing power. Jesus: who spoke the truth without fear: and who placed his own power in God alone: preaching to all of the possibility of becoming God’s children. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians mirrors what people were saying about Jesus in Herod’s time: How we are connected to God through Jesus. And of the amazing gifts that we are given because God loves us: Not because God holds authoritative power over us. Instead of being afraid, Paul says: “Blessed be God … who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens!” There’s no fear here, just deep and joyful gratitude that we are empowered by God’s blessings. And Paul goes on to tell us what some of those blessings are: adoption as God’s children, redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgiveness for our sins and grace lavished on us. God’s grace being lavished on us… None of these things are worldly gifts: Like those that Herod craved. They are all of a heavenly nature: But we can use them here in our earthly lives. These gifts give us a spiritual power that we must use to do good: To spread the Good News among all people. And there’s no comparison between this kind of power and authority, And that of people such as Herod, or even Pilate: Who later in the story: has the same kinds of weakness for power: Based out of fear and treachery. Our power comes from the deep and abiding love of God. And this is our inheritance. But sometimes: We can get sucked in. With people like Herod and Pilate all around us, Fighting for power: Even in the Church: power, fear, and authority, can corrupt our spirits. We, too, can be fixated, here on earth: With deciding who gets to heaven and who doesn’t. There are parts of us that want to judge. Want to control. Want to have some power… Because its what society tells us is important. Maybe this gospel about Herod hits a little too close to home. It’s certainly not a sweet and adorable story: As we are forced to picture the image of John’s head carried into a party on a platter. And Herod’s weakness for power may remind us of how we come up short. Maybe we’re not yet thrilled with Paul’s words of the blessings of God’s grace: But we can strive to want it more and more: And if only we’d know that it’s already happening. Unlike Herod and others like him: We won’t have to fight, connive, and fawn over others: So that power would be ours to abuse. We have the power of a loving God supporting us. We have the inheritance of the saints of light. We have the example and teachings of Jesus to show us the way. And it’s a much better power. A much more loving and peace-giving authority. Earlier this week: A pastor friend of mine posted on facebook: SERIOUSLY!?! The beheadding of John on the day that we have a baptism!?! But maybe it is appropriate. To get this weird, and tragic story: Even if you’re celebrating a baptism. Because this story reminds us of where the real power comes from: That we too can lavish our care on God’s world, and on God’s people: Instead of buying into society’s worldly perception of power and authority. Maybe we can remember that the powers of society and earthly authority can’t hold us: Because as Paul tells us: We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. We are destined to be God’s people. It’s who we are: The ones who inherit the only real power. The only real power of abundant grace and love for all. We celebrated Morning Prayer today. Ponder the readings and pray.
See you next week.
One thing that I love about the Bible:
Is that it reminds us that human suffering is nothing new. People are just people. And they’ve always been so. Our hardships are not unique to our times. Wars, hunger, natural disasters, Illness, pain, and loss… All of it is nothing new. Yet when we’re in it: We sometimes feel as if we are alone in our pain: As it’s weight seems crushing. But then we read today’s Gospel story. Where TWO suffering people, Come to Jesus. And we hear a man’s cry: His begging, pleading pain-filled words: “Jesus! My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And a woman: With nothing else left: Except to hope that if she could only touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be made well. And when we read all of that, We are reminded that we live in a world that has always had profound tragedy. That our experiences are not unique: That throughout the history of time: People have begged and pleaded in pain and sorrow. And yet: Through it all: All the suffering and grief: All of the destruction, plagues, illnesses, and starvation: Human beings continue to multiply and survive. And the people continue to need God. We know that suffering and pain is real. We don’t need to look around for it. Far too often, it’s right in front of our eyes. Look at the people who wait for Jesus in today’s Gospel story. A story about a grieving father and his dying daughter, Sandwiched by a sick woman longing for relief. This was during a time in Jesus’ ministry when Jesus was highly popular. Hundreds of people were following him around everywhere that he went. At the beginning of these stories, Jesus is walking along, on his way to dinner. And the leader of the synagogue barges in begging for the healing of his dead daughter. Jesus immediately gets up and follows the father: But is then bombarded with others: who are in need of healing, and words of hope. People who are sick and need to be healed: People like us today: who are longing for a way out of the pain, grief and suffering of the human world, And probably some people who are just plain curious. A stooped woman approaches and touches his cloak. It’s not a big deal. Jesus is surrounded by hundreds of people: And so she is sure that nobody would notice. And yet, she is so desperate, that she is convinced that the touch alone will heal her. And it does. In another version of this story, Jesus stops and says, “Who touched my cloak?” Because he could feel the power leaving him, and healing her. And Jesus says to her: “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.” There was something about that woman’s incredible faith: Her total conviction that after years of suffering, TWELVE years, in fact: She had finally found the cure in Jesus. And the energy of that faith was more powerful than all of the shoving and pulling of the crowd. One single touch of utter faith calls forth the creative power of God, And healing occurs. And all of this happens super quick: While Jesus is rushing to meet another person’s need. The connection of Jesus to the source of life and love, To God the father: Is so intense and unbroken, That it’s like electricity. Jairus: the father of the dying girl, Plugs into that power and receives hope. The sick woman plugs into it and receives healing: Nothing else matters, And nothing interferes with Jesus’ purpose. Fame doesn’t distract him. Physical exhaustion doesn’t hinder him: The clamoring crowd, with its multitude of desires doesn’t get in the way. Two people with very specific needs have reached out to him. Two people , crying out to God. In the following scene in the little girl’s room: Death has already arrived. The mourners have gathered. The Gospel writer tells us that there Jesus “saw flute players and a crowd making a commotion.” Why is the father still bringing Jesus to the house when he has been informed that his child is dead? What good can the healer do now? Why doesn’t he just leave Jesus to attend to the hundreds of others in the crowd? Because a grieving father never gives up. A grieving father cries out to the Lord. And as he usually does: Jesus turns it all upside down. He turns to the grief-stricken father and says: “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laugh at him. So Jesus goes in, Takes the little girl by the hand, And she gets up. Jesus seems to be the only one who is free from the terrible bondage of fear: Over and over again, he commands all who follow him to not be afraid. There’s a whole lot of fear in our world today. Fear of disease, Fear of “the other” Fear of losing a job, Fear of people with guns. Fears of not succeeding. Fears that are never-ending. But our God is a god who can conquer all fear. So trust. Depend. Know that the one who brought us to new life, Has the power to wipe our fears away. To hold us in our grief. To be near to us in the day of trouble and sorrow. Go and touch his garment. Amen.
Announcements: Save the Date - August 18th outdoor service, pet blessing and pot luck meal to follow. Smoked pulled pork sandwiches provided. Happy Birthday to Chris and prayers for healing.
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Birthday Portia & Dan! We welcome Fr. Wilson next week Blessings to Portia and her family as they attend KinderCamp and to Eden as she attends junior camp at EpiscoWisco Diocesan Camp Save the date: Outdoor service, pet blessing and potluck picnic afterwards.
Have you ever gone to the doctor, or to the dentist:
And lied just a little bit? Seriously: Maybe you said you exercise more than you really do. Or that you that you floss every day (even if you don’t). I for one, am terrified to admit that I’m a miserable flosser. Maybe you said that you hardly ever have ice-cream or chocolate late at night (when really that’s a little bit of a lie). Or maybe you aren’t quite honest about how many beers you drink in a week. Maybe you just don’t want to admit or disclose all of your symptoms. But here’s the thing: The doctor, the nurse, or the hygienist asks you these questions for YOUR sake. The doctor doesn’t ask about these things because he or she wants you to feel bad about yourself. Or so that they can laugh at you, and gloat about how poorly you’re taking care of yourself. The nurses and doctors and hygienists ask you these questions so that they can get the fullest picture of your health and habits: So that they can ultimately help you be you best and healthiest self. Now, I know you’re wondering why I’m bringing this up. Because I’m the first one to admit that I’m FAR From a doctor or a nurse. But stay with me. I thought about all of this after reflecting on our first reading from the book of Genesis: We know this story well. It’s one of the first stories that kids learn about in Sunday school. But there are some details in the story that we don’t think about. After eating from the forbidden tree, Adam and Eve hear God walking in the garden (at the time of the evening breeze) When they hear this sound of the Lord God walking, they hide from God amid some trees. But God calls to Adam and says “Where are you?” Do you ever think about THAT part of the story? It’s nuts!! God asks Adam a question: But God doesn’t actually need to ask, Because God KNOWS the answer. And God asks the question anyway: Not for God’s sake, But for ADAM’s sake. Let’s continue to recap this story: with all of it’s details: Adam responds to God’s question by saying, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” God responds with two more questions that don’t really need to be answered: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” And Adam doesn’t TOTALLY answer the question. He says, “the woman whom you gave to be with me, SHE gave me fruit from the tree and I ate.” God then turns to Eve and asks a question that AGAIN God already knows the answer to: “What is this that you have done?” And just like Adam, Eve doesn’t TOTALLY answer the question: She says: “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” God didn’t need to ask any of these questions. God already knew the answers to all of them. Like your doctor or nurse or hygienist: God doesn’t ask these questions to gloat, or to point fingers, or to bring shame. God asks these questions for Adam and Eve’s SAKE: In order to get them to think about who they really are. What they’ve really done: And to accept the full truth and reality of the mess that they’ve made: And that there’s a way OUT of that mess. Neither Adam and Eve are willing to fully answer God’s question and admit what they’ve done. Both of them want to blame someone else. Neither of them want to take responsibility. And God KNOWS this: And asks them anyway. Because God wants them to be honest with themselves: In order to help them become their fullest, best, and healthiest selves. God wants them to tell the truth for THEIR sakes, Not for his. Because it’s only when we tell the truth: About our mistakes, About our failures, About our fears: That we can move past them into a life of joy. How often have we too lied about what we’ve done? (And I don’t just mean lies about how often you floss your teeth) When we lie (to others or to ourselves) about what we’ve done: or DIDN’T DO: It doesn’t feel good. There’s always a lingering bit of shame. Of fear. Of regret. And maybe even the belief that we aren’t worthy of love or forgiveness. Lying about what we’ve done (or didn’t do) Also doesn’t change the reality. If you lie to your doctor about how much you exercise, It doesn’t make you more fit. It only makes you feel doubly shamed: First: For not doing what you know you should’ve done, And then: Secondly shamed: for trying to cover it up. But when it comes to God: Lying is particularly useless: As God already knows the answer to every question. God’s questions are for OUR sakes. Admitting our sins and wrongdoings are for OUR SAKES: Not for making us feel worse: But to release us from the hold that sin can have upon us. The Psalmist today totally gets it. The Psalmist says: “Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.” The Psalmist is telling the truth! The truth from the depths of his or her being: Begging God to hear the angry, desperate, maybe even sin-filled cries of truth telling. The Psalmist continues: “If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, O Lord, who could stand?” Notice, When God walks through the garden, Already KNOWING what happened: God still asks the questions of Adam and Eve. God does not (as the psalmist puts it) NOTE the very big mistakes that Adam and Eve made: Instead, God hopes that they will answer honestly: Fully admitting to God and themselves what has taken place. And finally, the Psalmist proclaims: “For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared.” Isn’t that fascinating? FEARING forgiveness? Scripture, the tradition of the church, and many liturgies point to the fact that forgiveness is offered to those who are “truly penitent” In other words: We are forgiven only when we fully admit our wrongdoings: We are forgiven when we quit lying to our doctors and nurses, When we quit lying to God and to ourselves. And that is a SCARY thing to do. To dig deep into our selves, Into our hearts, And notice and admit the places where we’ve gone astray. But I can promise you, That no matter how far you have strayed: No matter how big your sins, No matter how many lies: God is still walking in the garden: Calling out to you: And asking a question that he already knows the answer to: It’s your job to answer the question honestly: As God continually calls out to you saying: “where are you?” Amen.
It’s been a busy and exhausting week!
I know a few of you started off your week with a middle of the night phone call about a water alert here at the church! Working together, our wonderful team was able to make sure that everything was fine, and make any fixes that needed to be made. In my house, We had all of those “Last week of school” Activities and commitments. It seemed that between my husband and I, one of us had an evening meeting every night: While our kids were bouncing off the walls in excitement for summer. And I just returned last night, from Eau Claire, after attending an ordination of our Church’s newest deacon. Not to mention that the ordination service started nearly an hour late, because the Bishop arrived late after hitting a deer on his way: totaling his car! He was blessedly unhurt, for which we can all be very grateful. After a long and event-filled week, it’s a delight to take some time to reflect on: And enjoy the Sabbath. TWO of our lessons today focus on the Sabbath. The first, from Deuteronomy is a reminder of God’s commandment to “Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” The second, is a story from the Gospel of Mark, where the Pharisees are disturbed to find Jesus’ disciples “plucking heads of grain” on the sabbath: Leading up to Jesus curing a man with a “withered hand” And setting the Pharisees straight about what the Sabbath is actually about. But what IS the Sabbath actually about? Modern American Culture will have us believe that the concept of “sabbath” or of “weekends” in general: is to do your home chores, mow your lawn, buy your groceries, and lay on your couch while scrolling online or watching tv: All so that you can get up on Monday morning and get back to the grind. The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice, a priest in Missouri suggests that the power of the sabbath is that it is sort of “beautiful and holy purposelessness”. Think about that very first Sabbath day. God rested after creating the world and all that is in it. God did not rest on the seventh day for the purpose of getting right back to work on the eighth day. God rests on the sabbath day and commands us to the same because the sabbath has its own value: Completely apart from work. It’s always been funny to me: that people primarily describe the Sabbath day as a day of rest from work. It doesn’t play out that way for me. I go to work on Sundays! And Sunday’s generally leave me more exhausted than any other day of the week! Sabbath is so much more than that. And much harder to practice than a mere “day off from work.” And this passage from Dueteronomy today shows us that. THIS appearance of the Sabbath is not tied to rest after the creation of the world. It’s more than that: And its directed to the specific people of Israel, And their liberation from slavery in Egypt. This time: Keeping the sabbath, Having a day without work, A day of rest, Is enjoyed by EVERYONE: Including the weak and the powerless: Including the overworked slaves, Sabbath is for EVERYONE. In a world like Egypt, Or later Greece or Rome: Or even in our world today: It’s assumed that leisure and rest is for the elite: Those with enough status to be ABLE to take a day off of work: But here we are: In a commandment from God: That EVERYONE---should receive the grace of rest. It’s rest and grace available to everyone. For no other reason, than to just rest in the grace that God gives to everyone. And in our other lesson today, Jesus tells us that the sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath. Sabbath is not about following a set of rules: Checking a box so that you can get into heaven. Sabbath was made FOR YOU: And for everyone else: To receive the grace of rest: And receive further connection to the God who made us and loves us enough to give us such beautiful and glorious rest. When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, That man may have had the first REAL sabbath rest he has ever had. Jesus made the space for him to finally be able to rest in that grace. We are similarly called to take our sabbaths: And make space for everyone else to take that time too. But There’s one more parallel to these two stories today about the sabbath: And I think it’s an important one. Generally, when Jesus heals, he reaches out to touch someone and heal them. But in our story today Jesus says to the man “stretch out your hand” The man stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Jesus invites, Even COMMANDS the man to reach toward him, And in that reaching the man is healed. And there’s a parallel in the Deuteronomy story. God tells the people to remember their time enslaved in Egypt, That the “Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” In one reading, Jesus tells a man to stretch out his hand, And in another, God reminds the Israelites that God saved them with an outstretched hand. On the sabbath: God outstretches God’s arm to YOU. On the sabbath: God outstretches his arm to EVERYONE. God outstretches his arm in order to connect with us: And at the same time: Jesus invites US to stretch out our own arms toward God: Resulting in the two arms meeting. Sabbath is much deeper than avoiding work. Sabbath is a time where God reaches out, And we reach out, And we are united. And it’s all that matters. I invite you to take some time this week: To Stretch out your hand in rest: And allow others to stretch their hands out as well: So that you might feel the fullness of God’s healing grace and rest: The grace and rest that was made FOR YOU. Amen. 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