31 Oct - Willing To Share Jesus

Dear Friends,

In today’s gospel, Luke 19:1-10, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and he passes through Jericho. Many of the citizens hear that Jesus is coming and they turn out to see him. Among them is a man who is both pathetic and formidable. He is formidable because he has been given great power by the Roman authorities. He is pathetic because his authority has placed him outside the respect or affection of anyone in this town. This man, Zacchaeus, is a chief tax collector. And for some reason, he is determined to see Jesus.

Zacchaeus is “small of stature,” as Luke puts it. As he tries to see the famous Rabbi, the crowd makes it impossible. In desperation, Zacchaeus scrambles up a tree, and when Jesus stops beneath him, greets him, and suggests dinner, Zacchaeus is ecstatic! Something happens between the two men that evening that transforms Zacchaeus’ life. We know the reason for this desperation to meet Jesus. He had come to one of the “turning points” in life that can make all the difference if the right conditions are present. This time they are, Jesus claims this “teachable moment,” and the man’s life is turned around.

The other people in the story are the religious folk of Jesus’ time. They grumble about Jesus’ willingness to meet and eat with the wrong people, with sinners, even with this tax collector! Then there is Zacchaeus, thrilled to welcome this unconventional Rabbi to his home. Happy to be accepted and loved. Happy to learn. Happy, in time, to throw off his old life, to part with some of his wealth to the benefit of others in need, and to begin anew! And there are the grumblers in the crowd, pious and fearful, determined to stifle the Teacher, Jesus, and his new ideas. And there is Jesus, friend to the curious, the open-minded, threat to the closed-minded, Jesus, doomed to die on a cross.

We will close with a question for all of us today: How does it feel to see Jesus reach out into the crowd, reaching beyond us, reaching as far as a notorious sinner, this guy, Zacchaeus, whom we think is surely beneath us? We can’t believe that Jesus would show grace to somebody like that! I think this story leaves us with an assignment. If we are going to stay close to Jesus, share bread and wine at his table, then we better be willing to be close to sinners: sinners on the inside of the church, and sinners on the outside.

Jesus has come to seek and to save the lost. So, if we want to be close to him, we’ll have to be willing to share him with the lost. By such sharing, and by such scandalous Grace, salvation comes to MY house, and to YOUR house, this day, and always.

Peace,

Fr. Bob+

24 October

In today’s Gospel lesson (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus uses a parable to teach his followers. This story focuses on two familiar figures in the society of Jesus’ time: a Pharisee, a respected person who strives to preserve the laws governing human behavior, and a tax collector, usually despised person because of the burdens imposed on people and, quite often, unfair practices. In the parable, we see the two men offering prayers. The Pharisee gives thanks because he is better than other people. The tax collector acknowledges his sinfulness before God and asks for mercy.

Parables are wonderful teaching tools. Because they present ordinary people, we are drawn into them. We see aspects of ourselves reflected in the characters. Both of the characters in this story demonstrate our own humanness. The desire to feel good about ourselves, often by comparing ourselves to others. We live in a society that encourages us to make such comparisons. Advertising urges us to buy products that will make us “better” than others. And then there is the other part of ourselves. The honesty that admits our tendency to selfishness, to moving away from God.

Each time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to confess our sins. To recognize the Pharisee and the tax collector in ourselves. To be forgiven and reconciled with God once again. That is good news indeed!

Peace,

Deacon Sue

Pentecost 21

I take comfort from two parts of today’s parable of the unjust judge and the widow. The first is justice is possible. Sometimes we need to be persistent and keep at the system that works so slowly. In the words of today’s sequence hymn (# 711):

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness,
And all these thing shall be added unto you;
Allelu, alleluia!

Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall find,
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you;
Allelu, alleluia!



The second comfort is that even grouchy, haughty people do the right thing sometimes. The unjust judge certainly did not rule in favor of the widow because she had a good case or because he believed it was the right thing to do. He did it so she would stop pestering him! I believe that is the work of the Holy Spirit and one of the many ways the mystery of God is manifest. Alleluia indeed!

Peace and Blessings,

M.E.+

10 Oct - Running Towards Fullness of Life

Nine healed lepers ran from Jesus.

I’m quite sure that if someone had asked, they might have slowed down long enough to say that God was really swell to do this for them and that Jesus was the most wonderful person in the whole world. But it would have been hard to catch them. There was so much to do, so little time.

No, the issue wasn’t gratitude. The issue wasn’t feeling good about Jesus or anything like that. The issue was that those who had received so much were running so hard in the wrong direction.

They were so full of what they had received, of their gift, that there was just no room for the giver, the source of the gift. They weren’t ungrateful, they were just busy. That’s all; they were just terribly busy. There we are. There is our world. There is our life, in one small, bitter nutshell.

It’s impossible not to see ourselves. It’s impossible not to ask questions such as : What direction are we running? What are we running toward? What are we leaving behind? How often do we stop, or even slow down, long enough to pay some attention, not only to our gifts, not only to all we have and all we have to do, but also to the giver, to the source of it all? Are we so busy running, so busy using what we have, that we can see no farther?

All ten were healed, all ten were given their lives, but Jesus had more to give than that. That’s why he watched and waited, that’s why coming back was so important – because Jesus had more to give. But you had to be there. So only one was made whole, only one was fully made well. All ten were given their lives back; but only one was given the fullness of life.

Direction matters. Let's run towards fullness of life!


The Rev. James Liggett
Rector of St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas
Sermons That Work

3 Oct

We launched our year-long reading of the Bible (in the version called The Story) today. Rev. Frank Yamada led introduced us to the Bible and facilitated some discussion of what the Bible means to us. What words, what feelings, and what beliefs we associate with the Bible. I sensed a powerful energy in the room as people shared their thoughts—first in small groups of 2-3 people, and then in the larger group. I was impressed and moved by people’s curiosity about this important resource in our Christian tradition and a heartfelt desire to learn about it. I think we are in for an exciting time.

Next week we will begin reading and learning together in the Sunday morning Adult Forums after the 10:00 service. We will start with Chapter 1 of The Story, focusing on Genesis. In recent weeks, I have talked to many parishioners who have expressed excitement about this learning project, but some have expressed concern that they have to miss some sessions because of other commitments. We are exploring ways that we people can be involved in active learning, even if they cannot always attend a Sunday morning session. Perhaps one of the most accessible ways will be use of the Internet—some kind of group discussion format, a Facebook page on which people can post questions or observations, or email.

As we begin our work together, I ask that we remember that it is now, and will be throughout the year, a “work in progress.” We will learn by doing, what works best. So, in addition to your reading of the chapters in The Story, I ask you to be active learners. Come with questions. Come with observations of what is working for you and what isn’t. Help us to make this a great experience for everyone.



Peace,

Deacon Sue