Paul explains that the life of faith is a slow and laborious process and that hope is born of character, character is born of endurance, and endurance is born of suffering. At each moment the world must be understood in its momentary revelation in order for the greater truth to emerge. Unless we allow ourselves to experience suffering, not shying away, we will not know endurance. Only by giving ourselves over to a self that values endurance will we be of character, and only for those of character does hope endure, allowing us to live with and through suffering. The cycle begins again.
Jesus, likewise, invites us to a life of faith built on slow growth, on timely revelation, saying, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot hear them now." Wisdom in God also is revealed according to the concreteness of our experience, its place in time, inviting us to see clearly the age and the faith we inhabit, to witness its limits, knowing that only in that full knowledge does continued and renewed revelation emerge.
The disciples look on in bewilderment. "We cannot hear?" they wonder, examining themselves for their own unreadiness. What is it in us that cannot hear, what in us prevents us from looking at our faith with open eyes, stepping into its mystery, its slow unfolding, patiently examining its details so that when God reveals himself anew we might know the difference?
This Trinity Sunday we are invited to stand in faith, to stand precisely where we are, in the mystery of the Trinity, in the mystery of a God revealed to us in this moment, this age, this life and this faith, a mystery that we explore, unravel and receive together, knowing that in seeing more truly, with each new revelation, we step into greater hope, greater joy, greater love, greater knowledge and communion with the three, the one.
Read Entire Sermon
- excerpt from "Sermons That Work:" Jason Sierra, Office for Young Adult and Campus Ministries, Episcopal Church Center
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
23 May - Jesus Is Everything
Dear Friends,
Am writing to you on the Eve of Pentecost, the day before we will celebrate much in the liturgy for the Day of Pentecost, including: the birthday of the Church through the coming of the Spirit upon the disciples; Holy Baptism as we welcome Annalise as the newest member of the church; and First Communion with 14 children on a very special day in their lives. So much to celebrate!
And then, on the next day, Monday, we are called to carry on the work of the Church in the world. We are not alone, since the Spirit will be with us to inspire us and support us in all of our work. And, the Church that we call home is founded on the One through whom we have all been given new life, our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I invite you to meditate this week on the names by which our Savior is known, and give thanks for being called as Jesus’ follower.
“Hope, life, way, salvation, understanding, wisdom, light,
Judge, door, most high, king, precious stone, prophet, priest,
Messiah, sabaoth, teacher, spouse, mediator,
Scepter, dove, hand, stone, son, and emmanuel,
Vineyard, shepherd, sheep, peace, root, vine-stock,
Olive tree, source, wall, lamb, victim, lion, intercessor,
Word, man, net, rock, house:
Christ Jesus is everything.”
- (Damasus, Fourth century)
God bless you as we begin this season after Pentecost, the days of “ordinary time.”
Peace,
Fr. Bob +
Am writing to you on the Eve of Pentecost, the day before we will celebrate much in the liturgy for the Day of Pentecost, including: the birthday of the Church through the coming of the Spirit upon the disciples; Holy Baptism as we welcome Annalise as the newest member of the church; and First Communion with 14 children on a very special day in their lives. So much to celebrate!
And then, on the next day, Monday, we are called to carry on the work of the Church in the world. We are not alone, since the Spirit will be with us to inspire us and support us in all of our work. And, the Church that we call home is founded on the One through whom we have all been given new life, our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I invite you to meditate this week on the names by which our Savior is known, and give thanks for being called as Jesus’ follower.
“Hope, life, way, salvation, understanding, wisdom, light,
Judge, door, most high, king, precious stone, prophet, priest,
Messiah, sabaoth, teacher, spouse, mediator,
Scepter, dove, hand, stone, son, and emmanuel,
Vineyard, shepherd, sheep, peace, root, vine-stock,
Olive tree, source, wall, lamb, victim, lion, intercessor,
Word, man, net, rock, house:
Christ Jesus is everything.”
- (Damasus, Fourth century)
God bless you as we begin this season after Pentecost, the days of “ordinary time.”
Peace,
Fr. Bob +
Sunday, May 16, 2010
16 May - The Perfect Hiding Place
Today, the 7th Sunday of the Easter season is an in-between place. Three days ago the Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension, marking Jesus’ final departure from his followers to settle in his place with God. Jesus has assured his disciples God will be with them. The gift of the Holy Spirit, which we will celebrate on Pentecost, has not yet arrived. I wonder what it was like for Jesus’ followers in that place of not knowing. What was familiar has disappeared and they do not know what lies ahead. All they have is an assurance that God is with them. I imagine them wondering to themselves, ‘So, where are we going to find God?’ This question reminds me a wonderful folk wisdom story that provides one answer. I share it with you.
“A legend tells how, at the beginning of time, God resolved to hide himself within his own creation. As God was wondering how best to do this, the angels gathered around him.
‘I want to hide myself in my creation,’ he told them. ‘I need to find a place that is not too easily discovered, for it is in their search for me that my creatures will grown in spirit and in understanding.’
‘Why don’t you hide yourself deep in their earth?’ the first angel suggested.
God pondered for a while, then replied, ‘No. It will not be long before they learn how to mine the earth and discover all the treasures that it contains. They will discover me too quickly, and they will not have had enough time to do their growing.’
‘Why don’t you hide yourself on their moon?’ a second angel suggested.
God thought about this idea for a while, and then replied, ‘No. It will take longer, but before too long they will learn how to fly through space. They will arrive on the moon and explore its secrets, and they will discover me too soon, before they have had enough time to do their growing.’
The angels were at a loss to know what hiding places to suggest. There was a long silence.
‘I know,’ piped up one angel, finally. ‘Why don’t you hide yourself within their own hearts? They will never think of looking there!’
‘That’s it!’ said God, delighted to have found the perfect hiding place. And so it is that God hides secretly deep within the heart of every one of God’s creatures, until that creature has grown enough in spirit and understanding to risk the great journey into the secret core of its own being. And there, the creature discovers its creator, and is rejoined to God for all eternity.”
From One Hundred Wisdom Stories from around the World
Peace,
Deacon Sue
Monday, May 3, 2010
2 May - I Value You
A theme of “value” seems to flow through this Sunday’s readings (5 Easter). Peter learns not to question the value of spreading the Good News to gentiles. In Revelation, John testifies that God will dwell with us and we with God; all will be made new. Even in the Gospel, Jesus’ new commandment dictates that we learn to love (i.e. value) one another.
William Slone Coffin wrote in Letters to a Young Doubter about a way to look at value I’d never thought of before. He writes:
“…God’s love doesn’t seek value; it creates it. It’s not because we have value that we are loved, but because we are loved that we have value. Our value is a gift, not an achievement. Just think: we never have to prove ourselves; that’s already taken care of. All we have to do is express ourselves—return God’s love with our own—and what a world of difference there is between proving ourselves and expressing ourselves.” (96)
I am grateful for Coffin’s words and hope that we can live into Jesus’ commandment expressing our love for all, especially God.
Peace,
The Rev. M.E. Eccles, LPC
William Slone Coffin wrote in Letters to a Young Doubter about a way to look at value I’d never thought of before. He writes:
“…God’s love doesn’t seek value; it creates it. It’s not because we have value that we are loved, but because we are loved that we have value. Our value is a gift, not an achievement. Just think: we never have to prove ourselves; that’s already taken care of. All we have to do is express ourselves—return God’s love with our own—and what a world of difference there is between proving ourselves and expressing ourselves.” (96)
I am grateful for Coffin’s words and hope that we can live into Jesus’ commandment expressing our love for all, especially God.
Peace,
The Rev. M.E. Eccles, LPC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
