Transfigured

Last Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)

Exodus 34.29-35; Luke 9.28-36

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 17:50)

 

Today we are at a transition point. Both in terms of the liturgical calendar, as well as in the stories of both the Hebrews’ forty-year journey in the wilderness and Jesus’ own journey through his life and ministry. As to the liturgical calendar, this is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany—where we wrap up our Epiphanytide focus on the many ways that Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and we begin to turn our attention to the season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. The readings appointed for this day, particularly the Old Testament reading from Exodus and the Gospel reading from Luke both have themes that relate to this shift in focus from Epiphany to Lent. Stories that help us make the transition from the time of revelation we experienced over the last two months to the time of living into what that revelation means to us in our own lives of faith.

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Sharing the Gift of God's Love

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)

Genesis 45.3-11, 15; Luke 6.27-38

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

 

Today’s Gospel reading is a continuation of the Sermon on the Plain which we began last week. As you (hopefully) recall, Jesus starts this sermon with a series of four “blessed are” statements and four counterbalancing “woe to you” statements. I ended my sermon on Jesus’ sermon by noting that his words are intended to be a tool, a guide, to help us assess where we are in our lives and how that affects our lives of faith. How where we are affects our relationship with God and with one another. That we are invited to live a Christ-centered life by finding ways to be a blessing to others, and that in so doing, we ourselves are blessed. In today’s Gospel, Jesus shifts his focus, moving from the theoretical to the practical: providing instruction on how to live a blessed life. And it all boils down to love. Although, I’m sure you have gathered from what we just heard, this is easier said than done.

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Blessed Are . . .

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)

Jeremiah 17.5-10; Psalm 1; Luke 6.17-26

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:45)

 

We’re all familiar with the Beatitudes. The series of pithy sayings, each beginning with “Blessed are,” recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Today, we hear Luke’s version of this sermon, which is slightly different. While Matthew has this sermon taking place on a mountain, Luke notes that this sermon happened “on a level place.” Hence, this is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. There are other notable differences, as well. Namely in the structure of the sayings delivered by Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records nine sayings, all beginning with “Blessed are.” Luke, however, records eight sayings. But only four begin “Blessed are.” The other four begin “Woe to you.” With the “woe” statements being the opposites of the “blessed are” statements. Some scholars believe these may be the same sermon, just that the details were remembered differently. After all, both Matthew and Luke were written about 60 years after the fact and were not even written by eyewitnesses to the events; both relying on secondhand accounts and possibly other source documents now lost to us. Others think they may be different sermons with common themes. The themes presented were certainly part of Jesus’ core teachings, so he undoubtedly repeated himself a lot over the three years of his public ministry.

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Whom Shall I Send?

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)

Isaiah 6.1-8; Luke 5.1-11

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:45)

 

All of our readings today deal with the subject of “call.” Of being called to ministry. Quite appropriate for the day on which we are holding our annual parish meeting. Quite appropriate for the day on which we celebrate the ministries—and more importantly, the ministers—of this parish. And when I say ministers of this parish, I am not talking about myself. As the Catechism in The Book of Common Prayer asks, “Who are the ministers of the Church?” Answer? “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons” (BCP, 855). Notice that you—the laity—are listed first. Because you are the most important ministers of the Church. The Catechism then goes on: “What is the ministry of the laity?” Answer? “The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church” (BCP, 855).

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