Matthew 28: 16-20 (Leisure World Sermon)

 When Jesus gathered the 11 disciples on the mountain top one phase of their life

together was ending, and another was about to begin.

The disciples had come a long way since those first days near the Sea of Galilee.

They had listened to Jesus and they had learned.  They came through tests
together, endured hardships , witnessed miracles and shared meals with one
another . Through their three years together, their lives had been changed, for the
better . Now, they were facing one of those significant transition points in life.
Saying good bye to what was familiar and to someone they love.

 

If we could have asked those disciples that day, I imagine that they would
rather have had Jesus stay with them.

Like so many of our launching-into-the-future stages and passages in life, this one
was surrounded with a sense of awe, mystery and I imagine some sadness. There
was something sacred about this time with Jesus.  His resurrection gave
understanding to new life in ways that the disciples couldn’t have imagined.

Beneath the surface of this revelation, "some doubted." That is what Matthew tells

us in the gospel today:

“When they saw him they worshipped him , but some doubted!"

Under the circumstances, the state of their hearts and souls may have  mixed with

awe, mystery, sadness, understanding and confusion - so  it is not surprising that
some doubted.  They probably doubted that they could make it on their own;
doubted that they were up to the task; doubted that their tight-knit group would
even stay together now that their leader was apparently taking his leave. Loving is
wonderful and loving is hard.

That kind of feeling is not uncommon. Imagine anticipating the arrival of that

special moment, that singular event when your life will take on a different
character, a different goal, a different setting and not always one of our choice or making. Sometimes we leave in our own time and way. Other times we are catapulted into the new horizon set forth for us and when we are about to leave those comfortable, familiar surroundings with their protective environment there is a bit of doubt in the back of your mind.

Jesus didn’t want the disciples to get too give into doubt or to get too comfortable. 
He always seems to pushing everyone out of their comfort zone. There was work
to do. Jesus told them that they weren't supposed to stay, either.  Jesus spoke the
words:

"Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

The next part of his instructions echoed that baptism is not the end of becoming a

Christian. It is only the beginning of who we are all called to be in Christ.  Jesus 
entrusts the disciples to teach everything that he has commanded while reminding
the disciples that they were not alone that he is always with them.

 This story. The story of Jesus and the Great Commission is a story of keeping

promises. From the beginning, God enters into a covenant with humankind and
remains loyal to that bond, promising us that he is always with us. He is the - I am.

We are gathered here today as the covenant of Jesus in the promise of the

resurrection as disciples of Jesus. Jesus continues to ask us to accept  life
changes.  

It is Jesus who walks toward us reminding us that he is always with us, giving us

the courage to go forth.

We pray together for each other during these changes in our life asking God for  

the strength and courage to accept whatever he gives us always looking to God to
be our steadfast hope.

Just as our community of faith celebrates each changing season of the church year,

each of us experience seasons and cycles of our own lives. We all feel the
restrictions of our bodies that are changing every day. This gathering of
community connects us once again  to that very day on the mountain with the
disciples. God’s promises new life that we witnessed this Easter.

Throughout his life on earth, Jesus himself depended on the care of many around

him. He was nurtured by Mary, his mother; tended by women disciples; and
accompanied by twelve good friends. Angels sustained him in the wilderness and
God gave him strength often as he removed himself to pray.  Even at the end when
it seemed that he was abandoned , a man named Joseph shared his own tomb for
Jesus’ burial. 

As we move through life on earth, we are often dependent on others to support us,

to care for us and even do for us. Like Jesus we are nurtured, sustained, and
accompanied by friends.   It is the ministry of the love of Jesus which gives
us strength to both give of ourselves in this way and to receive that care with
graciousness and humility. 

When Jesus gathered the  disciples on the mountain top one phase of their life
together was complete, and another was about to begin. Jesus blessed the
disciples with courage to go forth out of  their comfort zone  How many times in
your life have you experienced completion and then having something new start?

The disciples had come a long way since those first days near the Sea of Galilee.

They had listened to Jesus and they had learned. Reflect on your own spiritual
Journey since your first days of listening ,learning and discovering your relationship with Jesus?

The disciples came through tests together, endured hardships , witnessed miracles

and shared meals with one another . Through their three years together, their lives
had been changed, for the better .

Haven’t we all come through tests together with Jesus, enduring hardships ,

witnessing miracles and sharing meals with one another?

Today we are on the mountain with Jesus . Our faith and trust in the promise of

Jesus always being with us gives us comfort , guiding us and  filling us with hope
to embrace the new life and experiences that we are blessed with. The is the
resurrection stretching out before us.

Jesus gave this care and love to his disciples graciously and with humility blessing

them to be a blessing to others, equipping them for ministry at each stage of their
lives, just as we are blessed and equipped today for what God asks of us in this
moment of our lives.

Each month when we share this time together at our Eucharist Service. We feed one another with love and compassion as our story continues to unfold as we go forth as resurrection disciples.

Tom and Jeanne.  Your special friendship blesses one another with companionship and care. Sharing your gift of music entertains and ministers to those who hear your sweet melody touching hearts in many ways.  Tom your reading and sharing of scripture is a testimony to your faithfulness. You continue to live the gospel in this way. Discipleship.

Tom and Eleanor.  Your wisdom, knowledge and kindness are gifts of the spirit that you share so lovingly. You continue to live the gospel in this way.  Discipleship.

John and Mary
Your devotion to one another and to God is an example of steadfast faithfulness and honoring the sacrament of marriage.You continue to live the gospel in this way. Discipleship.

Rose

Your independence and gentleness creates a welcoming presence of gracious hospitality. You continue to live the gospel in this way.  Discipleship.

Rev Mary Kay
You have been called as God’s servant to stand in his house and to serve at his altar. You are an instrument of God’s grace to the people, entrusted in your care. You continue to live the gospel in this way.  Discipleship.

Jesus equips us all with his enduring presence to go forth throughout each stage of

our lives as we are continually commissioned to teach and lead by example as
disciples, as conduits of his love and commandments.

Amen.

Matthew 13: 10-17 "Listening Hearts"

I want us to take a moment and close our eyes and just listen to the sounds around us on this beautiful summer day?
What do you hear?

Possibly the sound of nature outside: the birds ,
the gentle breeze?
The movement of paper?
The quiet?
The humming of the air conditioning?
The breath of the person next to you?

Our human ears hear many sounds in the language of everyday events, like the ones we hear today.

 nature and creation
 movement
 the gift of life
 the peace in quiet and stillness

There is a deeper kind of listening that results in spiritual understanding. This is listening with our hearts.

This is what Jesus was talking about in today’s gospel, listening with our hearts  
to the word of God. The Spirit of God lives in each of us and this living spirit blesses us with a spiritual connection to understand the parables and the teachings of Jesus. Jesus tells us:

      “ to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.”

“To you it has been given” is a big deal. This is a gift that Jesus freely gave to his disciples and to us.

Jesus was a great story teller. He was practical and he was smart.
Jesus uses parables in order to judge unbelief, as a fulfillment of the prophecy
of Isaiah, and to show forth the sheer grace of the gospel : To those who have some revelation, more revelation will be given.

 After many people began rejecting him as the Messaiah,
Jesus spoke in parables. He knew if he spoke directly he could have offended
 the leaders and been crucified almost immediately but by speaking in parables he could continue to instruct his followers who believed in his teachings , while at the same time  avoiding his opponents in parables, gave Jesus opportunities to illuminate the truth,
 not to hide it.

This is an important point . We need to remember that God is not trying to
make a relationship with Him  more difficult for us, he is not hiding from us . . .
He is present in all things  …in the good, the bad and the ugly.
He is here with us today.    

God is calling out to us to see if we can find him.  When we are open to the movement
 of the spirit,the message from God will become clear to us.

Jesus uses the ordinary in his parables ,

weeds

a Mustard seed

yeast

a hidden treasure

a pearl merchant

a fishing net

sheep and goats

a Samartian  

ordinary people and things revealing and doing extraordinary things.

Isn’t this what Jesus asks of us? To listen with our hearts to his word and let it

melt into every cell of our body, revealing what God intends it to, for each of us so

we too can live the gospel?
 

Sometimes it is hard to live the gospel when we may feel that God
 is far from us or we don’t understand what he is asking or doing
in our lives. It would be easier if God just gave us a straight answer instead
of what I call the gobbly gook…you know what I mean, the word and things
he asks of us that  sometimes challenge us, stretch us w-a-y out of our comfort zone  and confuse us.

Maybe things in your life have you confused right now.

Maybe you wonder if He cares, or if He even exists.

Jesus wants to help you find the truth/his love and promise through the
Word of God. He wants you to know that He loves you.

Does this mean life won't sometimes be confusing, frustrating and hard?  Not at all.

There are circumstances in life that challenge us and break our hearts.

the death of people we love

the breakup of relationships

a friend who hurts us

a child who doesn’t visit us as much as we would like
unexpected expenses that come like a tidal wave into our lives

illnesses and limitations that allow someone to exist but not to enjoy life

These things can baffle us, challenge us and break our hearts.  It is not that God

doesn't want us to understand, He does want us to understand . . . sometimes we

are unable to understand. We are unable to see the "big picture". We can't

comprehend what God is doing.

It is during these times that we must cling to God's track record, His character, and

His actions toward us in Christ, so he can work in our lives.  We must trust what

we do know and understand.   In that, in our faithful, loving, listening hearts God

will reveal more of his plan for our lives to us.

These words of  Mattthew’s gospel today also serve as a warning .  

It is possible to hear the truth, to listen to God’s Word , to hear God calling to us and yet ignore it.

It is possible to be surrounded with evidence yet refuse to acknowledge that evidence.  

It is possible to hear about the gospel all our lives and still not trust Christ.  

but when we embrace what Jesus tells us in today’s lesson:

 

“ to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.”

we truly are open to this spiritual connection with deep listening hearts and

we learn to trust rather than worry

we learn to forgive rather than resent

we learn to give rather than accumulate
we learn to serve rather than demand
we learn to laugh rather than grumble
we learn to love

If we keep listening with our hearts and seek to follow where He leads us, if we

keep seeking to understand what He tells us, we will see Jesus more clearly .

“Blesssed are your eyes, for they see and blessed are your ears, for they hear”

Amen.
 

         

Pentecost

Breathe.
Breathe in the breath of God.
Breathe in the breath of God and exhale peace.
Breathe in the breath of God and exhale love.
Breathe.

Scriptures tells us over and over how God breathes with us and through us. Genesis and the creation story tells us how God formed us and then breathed life into us. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones that come to life with new flesh and with the spirit that is breathed into them. The disciples in the upper room  were filled with  the Holy Spirit breathing upon them.

I love the story of Pentecost.

I love the reality of Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit , the breath and fire of life within us, among us and through us. We celebate this day, the birthday of the church, as a reminder of our responsibility and commissoin to go out in the world.  We no longer are  followers but leaders to preach and live the gospel in all that we do.

The Holy Spirit doesn't sit still.

The Holy Spirit is always moving and shaking things up... adding new life and new understanding to the depth of  our souls. God calls us to love. God calls us out of our comfort zone. God calls us to something new. God calls us to live with out fear.  God calls to dream his dream for us, for our communities and for the world.

That energy, that love and  that passion that lights up you soul is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
Can you feel it?

The following quote from SSJE explains it so well.

Blessed Pentecost!

Open yourself to the gift of the Spirit, whose power will enable you to live your baptismal vows with integrity and truth. Be agents of God’s love in the world, channels of God’s peace, bearers of God’s compassion to all you meet.

Dear John

Dear John,

Today we celebrate your birthday.

I celebrate you.
   You - my friend
   You - my husband
   You - my lover.
   You - the father of our children
   You - the fixer of all things
   You - the chef
   You - the practical ying in my sometimes not so practical yang
   You - my wine tasting bud
   You - my backyard sunset gazing companion
   You - who holds my heart

Across our vowed threshold lies a life that we have created together.
A life that is spacious and free to explore our individual  journey and our journey together. A life where we can challenge our choices, embrace them and love each other through them. This vowed threshold draws us deeper into our life together even if it unearths us, unmakes us, lays us bare, and creates us again...renewing and celebrating our life together until  eternity.

I thank God on this day for creating you and birthing the possibilities of your tomorrows.

Happy Birthday!
Love,
Maureen

March Liturgical Madness

        I often refer to Holy Week as "March Liturgical Madness".  I work at a church so my humor is justified and helps with what can be exhausting and sometimes frustrating preparation: deadlines not being met, printer jamming, internet crashing, preparing service bulletins with different music and readings, changes and there is always little drama too! Yet, it is a labor of love. Ask anyone who works at a chruch, they will say the same thing.

      Anyway, our March Madness bracket begins well before the start of Holy Week with preliminary prep beginning on Ash Wednesday extending through Lent. We read the stories. We hear the lessons. We worship. We serve.  We reflect. Lent is a time to work on our spiritual muscles.

     The Lenten journey is a time of spiritual growth and if we are lucky we move from one state of being to another, one point of view to another, or perhaps from one interpretation of life to another...one bracket to the next.  One can choose to sit on the side lines or one can choose to  participate. Participation is risky. You are wide open for things to happen. Your spirit is an open court . So, do you grab the ball and run with it? Or do you dance around with what is your truth only to get knocked down again because you weren't paying atention?

     Lent  is all about the journey.  We journey in Lent through Scripture that speaks to us, through songs that touch our despair or joy and lift us , through prayers that open coversation with God and/or rituals that bring comfort and understanding. Sometimes like Jesus we are in a wilderness all alone.  Sometimes we are in a wilderness within the crowd of our life. Either way we journey on.

     Then we arrive at Holy Week on Palm Sunday and it begins.  With trepedation we approach the final four: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Tenebrae, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. We know how the story will end but we have to go through the aches and pains; the misery, the hearbreaks and the joys. There is no other way. There is no other way to take up the cross and follow Jesus. There is a Cinderella story here too.  Jesus is that player, the underdog to many, who advanced much further than anyone anticipated.

    ( The term Cinderella story was used by Bill Murry in the 1980 hit movie Caddyshack where he pretends as the announcer to his own golf fantasy: "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greens keeper, now, about to become the Masters champion." )

     For Christians everywhere our Cinderella story is Jesus. Outta nowhere. A former carpenter, is our Saviour, our King, our champion!

     Slam dunk!

Being Present

It has been quite awhile since I have written. The past months have been busy with getting my youngest off to college, John and I adjusting to having our three children in college, working on the Restoring Eden Garden Project at St. David's, work and losing our beloved dog Max. In the midst of all of this, somehow God called out to me, telling me to be present to each moment. I'm glad he did.

Being present had me slow down to take it all in. Slowing down for me meant I was going to intentionally be present to God, to my family and to those around me. Slowing down enabled me to discover God's presence across my existence, in my life, in the life of my family, my work, in the garden, on my walks, in the quiet of each day and as Max took his last breath in my arms.  The voice of His love has whispered to me, reminding me that He is present in all things.  I am learning that I am responsible for the extent that I will be present to God.

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you" James 4:8

I choose. We all choose. When we choose we draw the focus of our minds and hearts upon Him and we will find His presence in that moment. That is amazing, holy and sacred and available to everyone who invites God in. 

Am I present to God all the time? in every moment? Am I present to my family, friends and work all the time? in every moment?  I wish I was. I want to be. I think having the desire for that communion pleases God. 

I invite you slow down and be present to the loving whispers God will place on your heart.

Namaste'
Maureen

Witness Outside Walmart

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these

who are members of my family, you did it to me."

                                                                              Matthew 25:40

 

A few months ago I read one of those life changing books. Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski is an amazing journey of faith. Mike Yankoski decided to embark on his journey after being challenged by his pastor during a sermon to “be the Christian you say you are.” He was joined in the project by Sam Purvis and these friends lived on the streets of cities across the country for half of a year. Mike and Sam experienced the discomforts of not knowing where they would sleep, and of not knowing what they would eat. Frequently hungry, they learned to trust God to provide.

As I was reading I knew this book was having an impact on me. This book informed and engaged me. The most disturbing part of this book for me, was the frequency with which faith communities and people who profess their faith as Christians ignore, reject, and even persecute the homeless in their own church yards and neighborhoods. It made my heart ache. Would that be me? My faith community? My family?

It was me. It was Christians I knew.

Back in April I was having dinner at a restaurant with fellow chaplain interns. We talked about our goals, dreams and God's call on our lives. After dinner we were were walking to our cars and  I noticed a homeless man asking for money. I knew I didn't have any cash and I felt badly. Do I get money? I looked for a bank but didn't see any. My instinct was to take the yummy dinner left overs that one of my colleagues had and give it to the homeless man. I didn't. My mind swarmed with thoughts of " Look at us, we are chaplains and we are doing nothing", we kept walking, "Am I the only one who sees this?" Though I saw this , I did nothing and in my mind as I drove home that evening I heard over and over:

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these

who are members of my family, you did it to me."

I knew this evening affected me. I let myself down and I knew I let God down. I could feel it.  I promised myself and God that I would be more aware, more tolerant and help when I was able. I would live my faith more intentionally. You know "live the gospel" that we often think we are  really doing. But are we?

FAST FORWARD.

Last week I was witness to neighbor helping neighbor - the gospel in action.  The caring that was passed on took my breath away. So much so, that it has taken me time to write about it.

I stopped on my way home from work to pick up a few things at Walmart. I do not frequent this way home often because of the downtown Leesburg traffic at this hour. I ran in for fishing wire and came out with some groceries I really didn't need but since I was there I picked up a few items. As I was driving out of the parking lot, there on the corner was a family holding a sign that said "Homeless, Traveling and Hungry. " They were hot, hungry and thirsty.  Remember the heat last week? 99, 100, 102! The light changed to red and I was stopped.  I rolled down my window and handed the man what groceries I had, cheese string, mac and cheese, bagels, some Gatorade. I apologized that  I didn't have more. The man was so thankful and as the two small children dove into the bagel bag and began eating , it was clear that they were very, very hungry. While this was happening the car behind me was honking their horn repeatedly (I suppose the light turned green ), the man thanked me and as we turned from each other there were two additional cars that had stopped. One woman was carrying water bottles and fruit and another with a bag of food.  No words were exchanged between the family in need, myself or the two additional angels who stopped and provided food and water. Our eyes scanned and met one another. The only words spoken where from the man and his family who asked God to bless us. I got in my car and left.

Bless us? I wonder if he had any idea how the interaction with him and his family was a blessing to us?

I cried on my way home that night knowing that God was in that moment in many ways and I am thankful. I am thankful to the two woman who stopped and provided for this family, letting God's spirit lead.  I am thankful for the car behind me that honked their horn and was a captive witness to the gospel in action. I am thankful that God trusted us to be the incarnational presence that was needed that day in Leesburg.

I pray that this family will be safe and they will experience loving thy neighbor as Jesus loves us, over and over.

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori writes in her book, The Heartbeat of God , that

"God gives us a new heart to do his work and every time we gather to do it, God offers a pacemaker jolt to tweak our hearts rhythm." The challenge is this: Will our heart respond with a strengthened beat, in tune with God's own heartbeat, sending more life out into the world?"

With God's grace/jolt I know mine will and this is my prayer for the angels who stopped, the person who was was honking their horn and for everyone who reads this.

Namaste'
Maureen

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