Making room for new things
April 3, 2011
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Given while serving as a seminarian
Fourth Sunday in Lent – Year A (RCL) – 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41
We often joke when talking about going to therapy that at some point it always boils down to the realization that “It’s all our parents’ fault.” For anyone who thought that this was a NEW concept, you need to look no further than today’s gospel when some two thousand years ago we hear the disciples ask Jesus, “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Now for some of the parents out there, the ones who are inclined to carry this kind of guilt, and you know who you are… this question may have been enough to send your mind wandering, so you probably missed Jesus’ response. I’ll repeat it for you because it is good news, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.”
Then Jesus precedes to make mud, mixing dirt with his own saliva, spreading it on the eyes of the blind man and telling him to “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” The beggar went and washed and when he returned he was able to see, but Jesus was nowhere to be found. This man was now, on his own, having to explain what had happened.
His neighbors, those who had seen him everyday begging in the street, weren’t even sure this was the same person. Even when the man himself was saying “I am he,” they continued to question if this was truly the blind beggar. Read the rest of this entry »
Joseph, a radical example for Jesus
January 2, 2011
Emmaus House Episcopal Chapel, Atlanta, GA
2nd Sunday after Christmas – All Years (RCL) – Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a, Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
This was the first Christmas in my life that I was not with my family on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. For some of you that may seem unfathomable and for others you still can’t imagine what it would be like to spend Christmas without your family or that special circle of friends.
Now, that’s not to say I didn’t celebrate the holiday with my family. We are a pretty practical bunch, so since everyone was traveling to Houston for a wedding before Christmas we had our holiday meal and gift exchange a week ahead of schedule. It was a wonderful time filled with laughter.
I knew that upon my return to Atlanta I would be embarking on a Christmas of another kind… an Emmaus House Christmas! During the week I was introduced to this community’s traditions… elves of all ages wrapping and sorting gifts, decorating a tree with fruit instead of traditional ornaments, and volunteers gathering on a cold Christmas Eve morning to bring joy to many who might otherwise not have much under the Christmas tree. And although being part of this wonderful event was gratifying, it still wasn’t my Christmas tradition. Read the rest of this entry »
Active Waiting
November 28, 2010
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Sermon on Matthew 24:36-44, given while serving as seminarian.
First Sunday of Advent – Year A (RCL) – Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a great day with my family in Houston, and because one Thanksgiving meal is never enough, I had a second one with friends in Galveston on Thursday evening. As you can imagine, by nightfall my pillow was calling my name.
And as I went to sleep on Thursday night, powerful winds were rattling the windows, foretelling a dramatic change ahead. Throughout the night I could hear the howling winds as they continued to shake the windows and the eighty degree temperatures of Thanksgiving Day in Texas were replaced by chilly morning air and a cold soaking rain. A change of season was at hand.
Unlike Atlanta, where the vibrant orange and red leaves have been ushering in the seasonal change for several weeks, in southeast Texas there aren’t many visual signs of a change in season. The trees stay green most of the year, and if leaves are going to fall, they seem to do so overnight.
The visible change of seasons I’ve experienced since moving to Atlanta last January remind me of my college days in Ohio. I had forgotten just how much I love to see the visual diversity of God’s creation.
Like the variations in the seasons of nature, with icy snow, blooming flowers, scorching sun and falling leaves, the liturgical calendar also has different moods and theological emphases. These are revealed not only in the colors used at the altar and in the vestments, but also in the scriptural readings, the hymns we sing, and our prayer routine. Read the rest of this entry »
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