Rector’s Rambling- June 2011
Perhaps some of it had to do with location, or soil type, or warm rains coming in with the Atlantic Westerlies. Or perhaps it had more to do with my expectations going in. But the greens of Ireland were unlike anything I had ever seen. They seemed to be infused with a warm interior glow, and I was reminded of those times when I happened to be in the field or on the water when a major front passed. All of nature seemed to come alive with a primal savagery for just a few seconds, and the experience was surreal. In such times of heightened awareness, it seems easier to sense the presence of God, or at least to realize that we are not really that far removed from the rest of His creation. I can easily understand why the Old Queen, looking down the valley from Ladiesview, quipped that it was one of the loveliest vistas in the British Empire.
In a sense, it is hard to imagine how such a beautiful land could have such a tragic history, replete with tribal wars and family betrayals, famines and oppression, much of which ultimately (if not with complete accuracy) gets blamed on religion. But then, I suppose our individual histories are not that different. We are all born with such incredible beauty and potential, made as it were in the very image of God. Then the circumstances of our birth, the nature of our physical attributes, our failures in relationships, and a thousand other variables intervene and we are left feeling vulnerable, alone, and afraid. We develop methods for dealing with our situations which often end up putting walls around ourselves. We wrongly imagine that we must protect ourselves from each other, and in so doing, we end up excluding God from those hidden corners of our lives as well. The image of God remains, like the Irish sunshine, but we can see nothing in ourselves but darkness and worry. We justify our situation by the most powerful magic we can muster, and that we usually call religion, faith, or spirituality.
How different our histories might be if we could see the eternal beauty of God in ourselves and in each other. How pleasant it would be to stroll in the warm sun of God’s love, enjoying the gifts he has given each of us. How uncomplicated it would be to have His law written upon our hearts as the prophets foretold, living the Gospel every day in simplicity and love for God and man. In these months of summer, I trust we will all find the grace to acknowledge our own shortcomings, to draw closer to God through prayerful attendance upon Word and Sacrament, and to experience the beauty that is all around us.
Sincerely,
Bill+
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Your Destiny...
Sermon: Second Sunday after Christmas A
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 84
Ephesians 1:3-19
Matthew 2:1-12
Preached at St John’s Lancaster
Have you ever stopped to think what you might have in common with three Zoroastrian philosophers, a Jewish carpenter, a young mother and baby, a dour but hopeful Jewish prophet, and murderously Machiavellian King? This question has the distinct sound and feel of the first line of one of those internet jokes that seem to flood my in-box, but it is far from a joke, because it reminds us all of God’s great love towards us, and of our responsibility to respond appropriately to that love.
The three philosophers are better known to us as the three kings, or three wise men. They were not Jews, but in all probability were followers of the prophet Zoroaster, a Persian prophet of the late sixth century BC. His teachings are recorded in the “Zend -Avesta,” and are based in the worship of the good god Ormazd, who is engaged with his followers in a great struggle between light and darkness. There are still Zoroastrians today in the Iranian exile community. Most of them in their homeland have, like their Christian neighbors, been killed, marginalized, or forced to flee. These philosophers were noted for their knowledge of the heavens, which they used to predict the future and to advise rulers, and they were very aware of the sacred writings of the peoples of their world. They saw a new star in the east, perhaps a comet or a conjunction of the planets, and as they compared it to their sacred writings, they came to believe that it was a harbinger of the birth of a king. And so they came to Judea looking for him.
Without doubt, one look at Herod confirmed all they had heard about him. He was a cruel and manipulative man- a man who would stop at nothing to centralize and protect his power. And so it would have come as no surprize that after they had found the child where the prophets had said he would be, they presented their gifts and “departed to their own country another way, having been warned in a dream.” The Scriptures had predicted that when Messiah came into the world as a bright and shining star that “Kings of the Earth should attend to his rising.” And so the prophesies were fulfilled in these three wise kings from Persia. Their experience seems so far removed from our own, but is it?
Joseph was just another carpenter from a small town occupied by the Romans, another town of no account. In a later age of equally dominant Imperial thought it might have been described as “south of Brownsville and east of Dover,” or merely as “beyond the pale.” But the Bible tells us that Joseph was a just man, and one who listened to God. And so he “got up” on more than one occasion and took the child, and his mother, first to Bethlehem, and then into Egypt, and then into Israel, and then into Galilee, to a city called Nazareth, “that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, namely that He shall be called a Nazarene.” And so through this simple and just man, the protector of the Holy Family, the prophesies were fulfilled. His experience seems so far removed from our own, but is it?
Mary and her son seem to be the pawns in this story. Moved about by forces beyond her control, supplied and protected by men sent in accordance with the prophecies of God. Hunted by a murderous tyrant, and forced to relocate time after time in her child’s formative years, her humility and trust in God never flagged. She remains for us today “Our Lady,” that one human being who perhaps more than any other teaches us what it means to walk humbly with the Lord our God, and to trust him every step of the way, even when our understanding is incomplete. She is what we hope to be, what we ought to be, and so often fail to be. Perhaps she is the easiest to relate to of all the characters in this account.
And so the question remains, what do we have in common with these people? St. Paul addresses the issue when he writes to the Church at Ephesus,
Ephesians 1:3-12 (King James Version)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
You see, before the foundations of the world were laid, God had a plan for the salvation of his creation. In his abounding love, He knew that the freedom with which he endowed us would be misused and misunderstood. He knew that we would fall. It was the price of making us free. But freedom was the way he chose to show his love to all creation. It was as if he thought, “If after life’s vicissitudes and difficulties, they will willingly respond to my love, and learn to share that love with each other, forgiving each other and living together successfully as my people, then all creation will see the beauty of my character and know the wonder of my love.”
But back to the question at hand. “ What do you and I have in common with these people?” Like them, before the foundations of the world were laid, God knew your name, and had a plan for involving you in the outworking of his plan for the salvation of mankind, indeed of all creation. You are as it were “predestined” for this work. Like Jeremiah, the dour prophet of Israel, we are called to sing aloud the fact of God’s love in our own lives, that the people among whom we live and work might know that God is in the process of gathering in his people, from every nation, that his creation might be made whole and reflect that love and purpose and joy and peace that is his glory. It is our vocation. It is our destiny.
But what of Herod? How does he fit into this question? Herod is a tragic example of what happens to one who rejects the possibilities of oneness with God. Like all of the others in today’s lessons, and like us, he was given the gift of freedom by a loving God. But instead of that holiness of God which shines forth in love and purpose and joy and peace, he chose power and pride and control over others and at their expense; and he forfeited his own soul.
Today, God calls you and me, all of us here, to live into that vision of wholeness illuminated by the lives of the wise men, Joseph, Mary, the Babe, and Jeremiah. He calls us to be “just” like Joseph, to be obedient and submissive like Mary, to use our minds and our skills for the accomplishment of God’s plans like the wise men, to proclaim to all by word and example the reality of God’s love in Jesus Christ like Jeremiah, and ultimately to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others for the sake of the kingdom of God, like Jesus. We are called to have these things in common with these men and women of faith. It is our destiny. Unfortunately, some among our species will choose like Herod to misuse their freedom and walk another way. But let us so live our lives that everyone we meet might see the wholeness of God in us, and be drawn to the service of Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour, our Brother and our Friend. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN.
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 84
Ephesians 1:3-19
Matthew 2:1-12
Preached at St John’s Lancaster
Have you ever stopped to think what you might have in common with three Zoroastrian philosophers, a Jewish carpenter, a young mother and baby, a dour but hopeful Jewish prophet, and murderously Machiavellian King? This question has the distinct sound and feel of the first line of one of those internet jokes that seem to flood my in-box, but it is far from a joke, because it reminds us all of God’s great love towards us, and of our responsibility to respond appropriately to that love.
The three philosophers are better known to us as the three kings, or three wise men. They were not Jews, but in all probability were followers of the prophet Zoroaster, a Persian prophet of the late sixth century BC. His teachings are recorded in the “Zend -Avesta,” and are based in the worship of the good god Ormazd, who is engaged with his followers in a great struggle between light and darkness. There are still Zoroastrians today in the Iranian exile community. Most of them in their homeland have, like their Christian neighbors, been killed, marginalized, or forced to flee. These philosophers were noted for their knowledge of the heavens, which they used to predict the future and to advise rulers, and they were very aware of the sacred writings of the peoples of their world. They saw a new star in the east, perhaps a comet or a conjunction of the planets, and as they compared it to their sacred writings, they came to believe that it was a harbinger of the birth of a king. And so they came to Judea looking for him.
Without doubt, one look at Herod confirmed all they had heard about him. He was a cruel and manipulative man- a man who would stop at nothing to centralize and protect his power. And so it would have come as no surprize that after they had found the child where the prophets had said he would be, they presented their gifts and “departed to their own country another way, having been warned in a dream.” The Scriptures had predicted that when Messiah came into the world as a bright and shining star that “Kings of the Earth should attend to his rising.” And so the prophesies were fulfilled in these three wise kings from Persia. Their experience seems so far removed from our own, but is it?
Joseph was just another carpenter from a small town occupied by the Romans, another town of no account. In a later age of equally dominant Imperial thought it might have been described as “south of Brownsville and east of Dover,” or merely as “beyond the pale.” But the Bible tells us that Joseph was a just man, and one who listened to God. And so he “got up” on more than one occasion and took the child, and his mother, first to Bethlehem, and then into Egypt, and then into Israel, and then into Galilee, to a city called Nazareth, “that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, namely that He shall be called a Nazarene.” And so through this simple and just man, the protector of the Holy Family, the prophesies were fulfilled. His experience seems so far removed from our own, but is it?
Mary and her son seem to be the pawns in this story. Moved about by forces beyond her control, supplied and protected by men sent in accordance with the prophecies of God. Hunted by a murderous tyrant, and forced to relocate time after time in her child’s formative years, her humility and trust in God never flagged. She remains for us today “Our Lady,” that one human being who perhaps more than any other teaches us what it means to walk humbly with the Lord our God, and to trust him every step of the way, even when our understanding is incomplete. She is what we hope to be, what we ought to be, and so often fail to be. Perhaps she is the easiest to relate to of all the characters in this account.
And so the question remains, what do we have in common with these people? St. Paul addresses the issue when he writes to the Church at Ephesus,
Ephesians 1:3-12 (King James Version)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
You see, before the foundations of the world were laid, God had a plan for the salvation of his creation. In his abounding love, He knew that the freedom with which he endowed us would be misused and misunderstood. He knew that we would fall. It was the price of making us free. But freedom was the way he chose to show his love to all creation. It was as if he thought, “If after life’s vicissitudes and difficulties, they will willingly respond to my love, and learn to share that love with each other, forgiving each other and living together successfully as my people, then all creation will see the beauty of my character and know the wonder of my love.”
But back to the question at hand. “ What do you and I have in common with these people?” Like them, before the foundations of the world were laid, God knew your name, and had a plan for involving you in the outworking of his plan for the salvation of mankind, indeed of all creation. You are as it were “predestined” for this work. Like Jeremiah, the dour prophet of Israel, we are called to sing aloud the fact of God’s love in our own lives, that the people among whom we live and work might know that God is in the process of gathering in his people, from every nation, that his creation might be made whole and reflect that love and purpose and joy and peace that is his glory. It is our vocation. It is our destiny.
But what of Herod? How does he fit into this question? Herod is a tragic example of what happens to one who rejects the possibilities of oneness with God. Like all of the others in today’s lessons, and like us, he was given the gift of freedom by a loving God. But instead of that holiness of God which shines forth in love and purpose and joy and peace, he chose power and pride and control over others and at their expense; and he forfeited his own soul.
Today, God calls you and me, all of us here, to live into that vision of wholeness illuminated by the lives of the wise men, Joseph, Mary, the Babe, and Jeremiah. He calls us to be “just” like Joseph, to be obedient and submissive like Mary, to use our minds and our skills for the accomplishment of God’s plans like the wise men, to proclaim to all by word and example the reality of God’s love in Jesus Christ like Jeremiah, and ultimately to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others for the sake of the kingdom of God, like Jesus. We are called to have these things in common with these men and women of faith. It is our destiny. Unfortunately, some among our species will choose like Herod to misuse their freedom and walk another way. But let us so live our lives that everyone we meet might see the wholeness of God in us, and be drawn to the service of Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour, our Brother and our Friend. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN.
On Becoming Christian
Sermon Christmas Eve 2010
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Preached at St. John’s
Tonight we, with Christians all over the world come together to hear again the old, old story; which is as fresh and new as the first time it was told. Into a world filled with uncertainty, hardship, want, injustice, and aloneness, our Heavenly Father sent his only Begotten Son to show every man and woman and boy and girl the depths of his love for us. As it is written, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Tonight, we assemble in this holy place, so full of the sounds and symbols and smells of our faith, to believe and to rejoice that Jesus of Nazareth, born in a stable in Bethlehem some two millenia ago, is in reality the long awaited one who has saved his people from their sins.
It is still a world filled with darkness in so many ways. Our brothers and sisters in the Sudan face almost certain war after the plebescite scheduled for the first of the year. Our young men and women face danger half a world away and there seems to be no end in sight. Unemployment hovers at over 9%. But the fact remains that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Things did not change overnight in the Roman or the Jewish world when Jesus was born. But on that night there was enkindled a hope of that which was coming into the world. The shepherds understood that much, and they came to adore him. The Bible tells us that his mother remembered the details of that night and hid them in her heart. Not many days later the wise men welcomed him as the object of their quest, and thus fulfilled the prophesy that kings would come to his rising.
That God would break into human history demonstrates for all time that he who made the heavens and the earth has an interest in us, in you and in me. The great things of our lives and the small details that charm us most are all of interest to him. Because you see, he is our Heavenly Father, and he cares and yearns for us as we do for our own children. On this night, he offers us his love, and invites us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Whatever burden you may carry this night, know that God has proved his love for you, and bring that burden to this his holy altar. The procedure is simple. After this homily, we will have the opportunity to stand and declare our belief that Jesus is the Christ. The Scriptures tell us that to confess and believe that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, and that he has accomplished what the Bible says he accomplished, appropriates for us the mercies of God’s grace. Then we will kneel and bring him all of our needs in the prayers of the people. As we remember the needs of our community, church, and world, envision in your mind and heart your own needs. Perhaps a loved one is in harm’s way, or you face some serious physical problem that consumes you. Perhaps finances have been tight, and the pressure of it all is eating at you. Perhaps one you love does not return your feelings of affection and trust. Tell God about your need, in specific detail, and ask for his strength, wisdom, and comfort. And boldly and in faith, ask him to meet your needs. After the prayers, we will pray to God the general confession, which acknowledges to God our own failures and acknowledges our need of him. Imagine in your hearts eye those things which you have thought or said or done, or left undone, which have harmed others, hardened your own heart, and disappointed your loving Heavenly Father. Tell him from the bottom of your heart that you are sorry. He will accept and forgive you. And then come forward to the holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you have been baptized, receive this gift of Gods enabling grace gladly, and know that as the bread and the wine touches your lips, God gives you a direct infusion of his saving and healing grace. It is as if a syringe of his mercy has been dispensed to you at that moment. If you have not been baptized in the Name of the Holy and Blessed Trinity, come forward in faith, and cross your arms over your chest. We will pray that God will extend the grace of this life-giving sacrament to you this day, and then see me after the service, and we will arrange for you to learn more about the Faith, and to be baptized at an appropriate time.
Tonight, on this festival of the birth of our Lord, God the Father offers us that same love that he offered to all the people of the world so many years ago in Bethlehem. He waits for us this night to bring him all of our needs through these simple acts of faith that I have outlined. Come to the manger this night, and find that peace and love which pass all understanding. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Preached at St. John’s
Tonight we, with Christians all over the world come together to hear again the old, old story; which is as fresh and new as the first time it was told. Into a world filled with uncertainty, hardship, want, injustice, and aloneness, our Heavenly Father sent his only Begotten Son to show every man and woman and boy and girl the depths of his love for us. As it is written, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Tonight, we assemble in this holy place, so full of the sounds and symbols and smells of our faith, to believe and to rejoice that Jesus of Nazareth, born in a stable in Bethlehem some two millenia ago, is in reality the long awaited one who has saved his people from their sins.
It is still a world filled with darkness in so many ways. Our brothers and sisters in the Sudan face almost certain war after the plebescite scheduled for the first of the year. Our young men and women face danger half a world away and there seems to be no end in sight. Unemployment hovers at over 9%. But the fact remains that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Things did not change overnight in the Roman or the Jewish world when Jesus was born. But on that night there was enkindled a hope of that which was coming into the world. The shepherds understood that much, and they came to adore him. The Bible tells us that his mother remembered the details of that night and hid them in her heart. Not many days later the wise men welcomed him as the object of their quest, and thus fulfilled the prophesy that kings would come to his rising.
That God would break into human history demonstrates for all time that he who made the heavens and the earth has an interest in us, in you and in me. The great things of our lives and the small details that charm us most are all of interest to him. Because you see, he is our Heavenly Father, and he cares and yearns for us as we do for our own children. On this night, he offers us his love, and invites us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Whatever burden you may carry this night, know that God has proved his love for you, and bring that burden to this his holy altar. The procedure is simple. After this homily, we will have the opportunity to stand and declare our belief that Jesus is the Christ. The Scriptures tell us that to confess and believe that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, and that he has accomplished what the Bible says he accomplished, appropriates for us the mercies of God’s grace. Then we will kneel and bring him all of our needs in the prayers of the people. As we remember the needs of our community, church, and world, envision in your mind and heart your own needs. Perhaps a loved one is in harm’s way, or you face some serious physical problem that consumes you. Perhaps finances have been tight, and the pressure of it all is eating at you. Perhaps one you love does not return your feelings of affection and trust. Tell God about your need, in specific detail, and ask for his strength, wisdom, and comfort. And boldly and in faith, ask him to meet your needs. After the prayers, we will pray to God the general confession, which acknowledges to God our own failures and acknowledges our need of him. Imagine in your hearts eye those things which you have thought or said or done, or left undone, which have harmed others, hardened your own heart, and disappointed your loving Heavenly Father. Tell him from the bottom of your heart that you are sorry. He will accept and forgive you. And then come forward to the holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you have been baptized, receive this gift of Gods enabling grace gladly, and know that as the bread and the wine touches your lips, God gives you a direct infusion of his saving and healing grace. It is as if a syringe of his mercy has been dispensed to you at that moment. If you have not been baptized in the Name of the Holy and Blessed Trinity, come forward in faith, and cross your arms over your chest. We will pray that God will extend the grace of this life-giving sacrament to you this day, and then see me after the service, and we will arrange for you to learn more about the Faith, and to be baptized at an appropriate time.
Tonight, on this festival of the birth of our Lord, God the Father offers us that same love that he offered to all the people of the world so many years ago in Bethlehem. He waits for us this night to bring him all of our needs through these simple acts of faith that I have outlined. Come to the manger this night, and find that peace and love which pass all understanding. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Hearing God
Sermon Advent 4A
Preached at St. Johns Lancaster
Isaiah 7:10-16
Ps 80
Romans 1:1-7
Mt 1:18-25
Years ago in France, there was a young girl who said that God communicated with her in miraculous ways. She inspired a nation, was hailed as a saint by those who could use her politically, and burned as a heretic by those whose power she threatened. Many today maintain that Joan of Ark was indeed a saint, but had we been alive then, what might we have said? Several hundred years before the visions in France, a young girl in Roman Palestina said that an angel appeared to her. Her Aunt also said she had dreams, and her uncle lost his voice for a season after an alleged encounter with a heavenly being. Her betrothed also claimed an angelic visit, recorded in today‘s gospel lesson. Several hundred years before that series of claims, the prophet Isaiah broke forth in a semi-estatic utterance which neither he nor anyone else fully understood, and again, based on the political and economic agendas of his hearers, they named him either saint, heretic, or crazy man. It all raises a very significant question for you and for me as we approach this Christmas season. How does God speak to us? While most of us hear today would count all of the individuals I have mentioned as saints, what would you say if your sister, or your neighbor’s son, or the elderly person down the block made the claims made by the players in today’s Scripture lessons? This morning, I hope that we can examine for a few minutes how God has communicated with his people in the past, and how we might exp[ect to hear his voice today.
First and foremost, God speaks to us in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God written. Jesus believed that, and so did Paul. In fact, most of the patriarchs and prophets and apostles spoke freely about the law of God and quoted freely those scriptures which had been revealed by the time they wrote. Anglicanism has always taken a direct and minimalist view to this primary form of illumination. If the scriptures say clearly that we ought to do something, then we ought to do it. If they say we sould not do something, then we ought not to do it. Whenever anyone tries to build elaborate arguments to prove that the scriptures are for or against something that they are not specifically for or against, we probably ought to thoughtfully ignore the person and the argument. In the same way, when someone works very hard to discredit the scriptures, or to re-interpret them in some new way, especially if that way endorses current social or ethical practices in the world at large, we probably out to respectfully ignore that person and that argument as well. God gives us three types of law in the Old Testament. The Ceremonial law of worship and sacrifice is a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming of the Christ, and as the book of Hebrews shows us, it is completed in him. It is no longer binding on Christians. That is why we do not sacrifice animals and have seders here at St. John’s. The legal code of ancient Israel was meant to demonstrate for us how the tenents of the law might be applied in every area of our life, and to show us what ethical and behavioral holiness is all about. In short, they were meant in a particular setting to demonstrate to us something of the character of God and of his Messiah. But their purpose is fulfilled in Christ’s coming, and that is why we don’t stone unruly children or witches. The moral law however, is binding on all people in all places and for all time. It is unchanging, and it helps us to order our ways and to understand the true nature of Christian holiness, which is the outgrowth of love for God and man. And so we look for God’s guidance in the Bible.
Sometimes, God speaks to a person directly, like he did to the people in today’s lessons. Perhaps in a dream, or with a vision or by means of a voice. It is not the norm, but it does happen. It is more likely that a follow of God might sense some urging of a conscience fine tuned by God’s Holy Spirit and by regular reading of the Bible; or perhaps a gentle nudge or leading, and inexplicable feeling whereby “his Spirit bears witness with our own that we are indeed the children of God.” But how do I know that such a communication is not in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, “a bit of undigested potato”, or worse, a sign of mental illness or excessive fatigue, or some other misleading cause? The first test is that God is one and eternal. He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” God will never tell you anything that contradicts what he has already told you in the Bible. If your “leading” does not stand the test of Scripture, it is not of God. A second check on the validity of some unexpected or ecstatic experience would be its distinguishing characteristics. Is it compatible with love? Revenge, or schemes for power or dominance are not of God, because they are not of love, and “God is love.” This check might be expanded to say, “is this leading compatible with God’s revealed character.” God might use some very bad things to draw us closer to himself, for he works in and through all things to dispense his mercy and love to his people, but he is never the author of evil. You can take it to the bank that God inspires no-one to an act of terrorism, and it is equally true that he inspires no one to a spirit of revenge against that terrorism, be it individual or national. Both terror and revenge are the products of hate, and God, as we have established, is love.
At this point, it would be good to say a word about the odd, strange, and curious. God is not limited by our understandings of what might be proper or expected. It is true that he often works through the human intellect which is a true manifestation of the image of God. Scientific and mathematical reality, rightly understood, can open to us the way of God in many ways. But, we should be very careful about dismissing a message because we think the messenger or the delivery method is not to our taste or our likeing, or to our understanding. God speaks how he will and through whom he will. A the dreams of a young girl in France or Palestina might just as well please him as a dissertation by a PhD in Biblical literature or a favorite preacher. To speak in Battalion terms, he is the Colonel, and he makes the calls. Let us wait for God in humility, knowing that his choice of messenger or delivery might be very normal and expected, or very bizarre and unexpected.
Finally, we should say a word about divine providence. God often confirms what he means us to hear by means of opened or closed doors of opportunity. This is not to say we should assume that a bit of opposition means that we have misread God’s will for us. The Bible says we will meet with opposition, sometimes even from our own families. But it is to say that where God calls, he enables, and he makes a way. Through diligent prayer, study of the Scriptures, fellowship with God’s people, receiving Holy Communion, and regular participation in all of the many means of Grace, God will give us hearts to discern and know his will, with strength and opportunity to accomplish the same. It is an inexact science, but it is based on the promise of God, and on the firm assurance that he will give us all of the wisdom and resources we need to accomplish the mission he has for each of us.
And so in conclusion, as we consider the examples of Isaiah, Joseph, Mary, and so many other of the saints of God through the ages, let us open our hearts in this holy time to hear God’s message to us as a people and as individuals. He loves you, and is not in the habit of hiding things from you that you need to know or understand. Trust him day by day, and live your lives in the knowledge that God wishes his best for you as he employs you to manifest his grace and his love to a world in need. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Preached at St. Johns Lancaster
Isaiah 7:10-16
Ps 80
Romans 1:1-7
Mt 1:18-25
Years ago in France, there was a young girl who said that God communicated with her in miraculous ways. She inspired a nation, was hailed as a saint by those who could use her politically, and burned as a heretic by those whose power she threatened. Many today maintain that Joan of Ark was indeed a saint, but had we been alive then, what might we have said? Several hundred years before the visions in France, a young girl in Roman Palestina said that an angel appeared to her. Her Aunt also said she had dreams, and her uncle lost his voice for a season after an alleged encounter with a heavenly being. Her betrothed also claimed an angelic visit, recorded in today‘s gospel lesson. Several hundred years before that series of claims, the prophet Isaiah broke forth in a semi-estatic utterance which neither he nor anyone else fully understood, and again, based on the political and economic agendas of his hearers, they named him either saint, heretic, or crazy man. It all raises a very significant question for you and for me as we approach this Christmas season. How does God speak to us? While most of us hear today would count all of the individuals I have mentioned as saints, what would you say if your sister, or your neighbor’s son, or the elderly person down the block made the claims made by the players in today’s Scripture lessons? This morning, I hope that we can examine for a few minutes how God has communicated with his people in the past, and how we might exp[ect to hear his voice today.
First and foremost, God speaks to us in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God written. Jesus believed that, and so did Paul. In fact, most of the patriarchs and prophets and apostles spoke freely about the law of God and quoted freely those scriptures which had been revealed by the time they wrote. Anglicanism has always taken a direct and minimalist view to this primary form of illumination. If the scriptures say clearly that we ought to do something, then we ought to do it. If they say we sould not do something, then we ought not to do it. Whenever anyone tries to build elaborate arguments to prove that the scriptures are for or against something that they are not specifically for or against, we probably ought to thoughtfully ignore the person and the argument. In the same way, when someone works very hard to discredit the scriptures, or to re-interpret them in some new way, especially if that way endorses current social or ethical practices in the world at large, we probably out to respectfully ignore that person and that argument as well. God gives us three types of law in the Old Testament. The Ceremonial law of worship and sacrifice is a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming of the Christ, and as the book of Hebrews shows us, it is completed in him. It is no longer binding on Christians. That is why we do not sacrifice animals and have seders here at St. John’s. The legal code of ancient Israel was meant to demonstrate for us how the tenents of the law might be applied in every area of our life, and to show us what ethical and behavioral holiness is all about. In short, they were meant in a particular setting to demonstrate to us something of the character of God and of his Messiah. But their purpose is fulfilled in Christ’s coming, and that is why we don’t stone unruly children or witches. The moral law however, is binding on all people in all places and for all time. It is unchanging, and it helps us to order our ways and to understand the true nature of Christian holiness, which is the outgrowth of love for God and man. And so we look for God’s guidance in the Bible.
Sometimes, God speaks to a person directly, like he did to the people in today’s lessons. Perhaps in a dream, or with a vision or by means of a voice. It is not the norm, but it does happen. It is more likely that a follow of God might sense some urging of a conscience fine tuned by God’s Holy Spirit and by regular reading of the Bible; or perhaps a gentle nudge or leading, and inexplicable feeling whereby “his Spirit bears witness with our own that we are indeed the children of God.” But how do I know that such a communication is not in the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, “a bit of undigested potato”, or worse, a sign of mental illness or excessive fatigue, or some other misleading cause? The first test is that God is one and eternal. He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” God will never tell you anything that contradicts what he has already told you in the Bible. If your “leading” does not stand the test of Scripture, it is not of God. A second check on the validity of some unexpected or ecstatic experience would be its distinguishing characteristics. Is it compatible with love? Revenge, or schemes for power or dominance are not of God, because they are not of love, and “God is love.” This check might be expanded to say, “is this leading compatible with God’s revealed character.” God might use some very bad things to draw us closer to himself, for he works in and through all things to dispense his mercy and love to his people, but he is never the author of evil. You can take it to the bank that God inspires no-one to an act of terrorism, and it is equally true that he inspires no one to a spirit of revenge against that terrorism, be it individual or national. Both terror and revenge are the products of hate, and God, as we have established, is love.
At this point, it would be good to say a word about the odd, strange, and curious. God is not limited by our understandings of what might be proper or expected. It is true that he often works through the human intellect which is a true manifestation of the image of God. Scientific and mathematical reality, rightly understood, can open to us the way of God in many ways. But, we should be very careful about dismissing a message because we think the messenger or the delivery method is not to our taste or our likeing, or to our understanding. God speaks how he will and through whom he will. A the dreams of a young girl in France or Palestina might just as well please him as a dissertation by a PhD in Biblical literature or a favorite preacher. To speak in Battalion terms, he is the Colonel, and he makes the calls. Let us wait for God in humility, knowing that his choice of messenger or delivery might be very normal and expected, or very bizarre and unexpected.
Finally, we should say a word about divine providence. God often confirms what he means us to hear by means of opened or closed doors of opportunity. This is not to say we should assume that a bit of opposition means that we have misread God’s will for us. The Bible says we will meet with opposition, sometimes even from our own families. But it is to say that where God calls, he enables, and he makes a way. Through diligent prayer, study of the Scriptures, fellowship with God’s people, receiving Holy Communion, and regular participation in all of the many means of Grace, God will give us hearts to discern and know his will, with strength and opportunity to accomplish the same. It is an inexact science, but it is based on the promise of God, and on the firm assurance that he will give us all of the wisdom and resources we need to accomplish the mission he has for each of us.
And so in conclusion, as we consider the examples of Isaiah, Joseph, Mary, and so many other of the saints of God through the ages, let us open our hearts in this holy time to hear God’s message to us as a people and as individuals. He loves you, and is not in the habit of hiding things from you that you need to know or understand. Trust him day by day, and live your lives in the knowledge that God wishes his best for you as he employs you to manifest his grace and his love to a world in need. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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