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.
Today, I’d like to tell you what I believe. Now, I believe a lot of things-- Each one of us does. But Today, I’d like to tell you about one thing-- One thing-- That I truly, desperately believe. What I believe with every fiber of my being. Today, I want you to tell you that I truly, DESPERATELY, Believe that God is doing something amazing. Today’s Gospel reading speaks to this. Although not quite directly. This reading from the Gospel is a strange one. First of all, it’s SUUUUPER long. And it’s not your normal story about Jesus-- Where Jesus does something incredible. Or where Jesus teaches us something—offering some sort of wisdom. Instead, today’s story tells us about two fairly unknown people who offer up their own wisdom. Wisdom that expresses that God is doing something AMAZING. Wisdom that expresses that Jesus—still a little baby-- Will do something AMAZING. But first, we have to understand what’s going on in this story. Today is yet another Church holiday, called “The presentation of our Lord in the Temple.” “The presentation” reminds us of the Jewish law from Exodus Which is: That every firstborn son had to be dedicated to God in memory of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt, The deliverance when the firstborn sons of the Egyptians died and those of Israel were spared. Mary and Joseph, presented Jesus in the Temple. Their offering to God was two young pigeons-- A poor families offering. And something amazing happens. They meet two elders in the temple. One by the name of Simeon, The other an old woman named Anna. And upon seeing Jesus-- Both Simeon and Anna instantly know that through Jesus-- God will do something amazing. And these two elders have a lot to teach us. They did not look down on Mary and Joseph because they brought a small offering—a poor offering. They did not lecture Mary and Joseph on how to raise the child. They did not lord over any power or authority. Instead, they offered their gentle wisdom-- Loving wisdom. Wisdom that recognizes both the joy and the pain of human life and love. Wisdom that recognizes that God is doing something amazing. Yet my heart aches every time I read or hear Simeon’s words to Mary. He says to her, “and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” This is the amazing power of love. Every parent, in one way or another, knows this pain of a sword to the soul. It’s not a condemnation. But it’s the truth. The true power of what it means to truly, deeply, love another. And sometimes, of what it means to let go. We know what’s coming. We know the end of the story. That Jesus will die on the cross—for the sins of the whole world. Jesus—dying on the cross—will BECOME the new offering in the temple. Jesus will become the ONE AND ONLY offering. No more need for pigeons and doves. Yet a sword will surely go through Mary’s soul. But that’s not the end of the story. Because Jesus will also be resurrected from the dead-- Offering resurrection and eternal life to all people. Offering eternal joy to all people. And these elders—Simeon and Anna—These Wisdom-bearers: Had the foresight to see the fullness of pain-- And the fullness of joy to come. Even though, they didn’t know exactly how the story would end. They still felt that somewhere, somehow, God was doing something amazing. But today I want to tell you about what I believe. That I believe that God is doing something. That God’s amazing work does not end on the cross. That God’s amazing work does not end with Jesus’ resurrection. God is doing something amazing. In our world. In our church. Right now. And as I’ve been telling you lately: I’m not exactly sure WHAT it is that God is doing. But I KNOW that it’s something. And I desperately believe that it’s something AMAZING. We’ve found ourselves in this funny time: A sort of “liminal space” Of waiting to discover what god has in store for us. And I know this would all be so much easier if I could just “Figure it out.” If we could just suddenly understand what God is doing, And what our role in it is. But that’s not the way it works. And if we look at the Gospel story today, we can see the honest truth: In these wisdom bearers who meet Jesus in the temple. The honest truth is that even Anna and Simeon didn’t know exactly what God was doing. But they desperately believed that it was SOMETHING BIG. We can see small glimpses of God’s amazing work: When people come together. When people give to one another. When people share their vulnerability. When people share their joy. But I have to believe, like Anna and Simeon, That God is doing something even more. Something even bigger. Something that is so terribly amazing, we can’t yet comprehend it. And that something allows us to see life in its fullest. It’s fullest sword piercing pain, and its fullest greatest most complete and utter joy. But let me be clear: That doesn’t come out of nowhere. We can’t will it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. So let me leave you with one other important detail in today’s Gospel story. We’re told that the Holy Spirit Rested upon Simeon. He came to the temple that day because the Holy Spirit guided him to do so. I want the Holy Spirit to rest on US: To guide us and teach us the way of the Lord: To open our eyes to the amazing things that God is doing in our midst and beyond. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to renew and revive us: To help us discover the amazing work that God has in store for us. Let us pray: Holy and Gracious God, Maker of all things: You alone are the source of light and life: And for that we are supremely grateful. Send us your light and your truth. In the name of Jesus: Dispel the darkness covering us, Destroy the darkness around us. Drive out all evil: And bring us your eternal flame of light. We cry out for you and your great light. Come Lord Jesus: Come heavenly light: Come celestial brightness. Renew us. Enlighten us. Revive us. Give us the Wisdom of Anna and Simeon. Send us your Holy spirit: And bring us into being. Create in us something new: All in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From Cannon Scott Leannah after his visit with St. John's on 1/25/25
Where Love Meets Service Dear Friends, “I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you offered me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked, you clothed me, sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me”. - See Matthew 25: 31-ff) “I have a couple of announcements this morning,” the Sr. Warden at St. John’s Parish, New London, said this past Sunday morning. “First, we have received a note from Feeding America letting us know that in 2024 they sent us just shy of 47,000 pounds of food. This food, plus donations from our own parish and others, allowed us, through our pantry, to give the equivalent of 39,000 meals in the past year.” “I have a couple of announcements this morning,” the Sr. Warden at St. John’s Parish, New London, said this past Sunday morning. “First, we have received a note from Feeding America letting us know that in 2024 they sent us just shy of 47,000 pounds of food. This food, plus donations from our own parish and others, allowed us, through our pantry, to give the equivalent of 39,000 meals in the past year.” The 25 people present at worship responded with applause, smiles, and nodding heads. During the fellowship, many shared how, despite being small, St. John’s feels like it has a significant presence and a vital role in New London. After taking my leave, I took a little drive in New London. Having visited the church and their priest, Portia Corbin, this past summer, I had an idea of where I was going. If you drive to the heart of the city's historic side, at 209 South Pearl Street, you’ll find a modest storefront with the words Christian Food Pantry on the front window. Inside are rows of shelves, freezers, and refrigerators filled with food. Hundreds of people receive food from this pantry every week. A few blocks away, the St. John’s Thrift Store (labeled “Segunda” in the window) at 107 W. North Water Street offers affordable clothing and goods. Proceeds from the store support the pantry, and both are staffed by parishioners and volunteers from the community. When I asked, “How is New London doing as a city?” some parishioners talked with me about area businesses and schools and a growing sense of positivity. A few highlighted the Haitian and Latino communities, noting how their presence strengthens the town. Examples and stories of different experiences of connection, acceptance, and appreciation were shared. As Christians, our vocation is to seek and love Christ in our neighbor. This is explicit in the Baptismal Covenant and woven into so much of our shared prayers. This is expressed through engaging in service. Loving Christ in our neighbor also means recognizing, naming, and lifting the sacred humanity of all people, no matter how different they may be from us. It’s about caring for those who are powerless and advocating for them. Loving Christ has about as many forms as there are people! In this small parish in a small Wisconsin city, I witnessed loving service and acceptance. As we strive for justice and peace, stand up to coercive and abusive power, and advocate for those with no voice, we also lift and celebrate the many ways God’s people show love and serve. This has always been the case. As we work and pray for justice and peace, may we find strength and encouragement in the countless examples of Christ-like love and service that surround us.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorEnjoy the weekly sermons at anytime. Archives
February 2025
Categories |