OUR Father

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 12 (Year C)

Luke 11.1-13

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at  23:15)

 

The disciples were very familiar with Jesus’ relationship with God. That God—at least, according to Jesus—was his father. Now, how literally they took that is anyone’s guess. Did they really believe that Jesus was the actual, physical, Son of God? Or did they believe that Jesus, as the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One chosen by God to be his chief messenger, was the metaphorical son of God? Just as we would recognize any person—regardless of their messianic status—as a son or daughter, as a child, of God. Regardless of their own understanding, the disciples had certainly become accustomed to hearing Jesus refer to God as Father. In fact, there are places in the Gospels where Jesus refers to God as Abba, which we translate as “Father,” but is more accurately translated as “Daddy” or some other more intimate and familiar term for father. So, yeah, it would have been pretty obvious to the disciples that Jesus had a close and intimate relationship with God as his Father.

 

While we are used to thinking of God as Father, such thinking would not have been commonplace, or even normal, for Jesus’ disciples. It may be okay for Jesus to think of God as Father, but they most likely would not have been comfortable viewing God as their Father. In that time and culture, the role and place of “father” was viewed very differently than we commonly view it today. In a time when women were second-class citizens at best and often viewed as property, and children were even lower in status than women, the father as head of the family had absolute power over the lives of family members. Far-reaching and coercive power that even extended to control over adult children. Now, how that authority was wielded, how the father actually dealt with the members of his own family, varied father by father, family by family. And we certainly see throughout the Old Testament examples of fathers who were kind, loving, and benevolent toward their children. But the absolute authority that came with the role of father would have been there, in the back of the mind of those subject to their father. As my own father once noted with respect to who has authority over whom in the military, the one with the superior rank never thinks about it and the one who is subordinate never forgets it. In other words, awareness of who has authority over you becomes a part of you.

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Driven to Distraction

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 11 (Year C)

Luke 10.38-42

St. Gregory's, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 18:45)

 

Six years ago, I was looking for a job. One of the places I was in the search process was St. Gregory’s. In fact, I was one of the finalists for the job as your Rector. And six years ago yesterday, I had my formal interviews with the Vestry. The interviews that would determine whether I would become the fourth Rector of St. Gregory’s, or whether one of the other candidates would have that honor. I remember that day well. All too well.

 

That Saturday morning, as I got ready for the interview, I was feeling all excited and self-confident. And a little nervous, of course. But I was prepared. I had brought my best suit to wear. I brought a clergy collar and the accessories to fasten it to my clergy shirt. I brought a cross to wear. I had everything I needed to make a good impression. To dress the part of the parish priest. And then came the horrible realization that I forgot to pack a clergy shirt. A critical piece of the priest’s “uniform.” As I was getting ready to leave the day before, I had become so distracted, so worried, about beating the Friday afternoon traffic that I had not doublechecked to make sure I had everything I needed.

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Go and Do Likewise

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 10 (Year C)

Luke 10.25-37

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 18:20)

 

Things were going so well. This lawyer comes to Jesus and asks “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” A noble question. In asking something of that nature, the man must have really wanted to live a good and righteous life. Good for him. In typical Jesus fashion, he turns it back to the man: “What is written in the law?” Probably trying to see if his response might give an indication of where the man’s heart really was. Whether he was sincere, or whether he was just trying to game the system. Jesus obviously felt that turning to the Jewish law would be a good starting place. The man answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Ding, ding, ding! Perfect answer. He hit all the salient points of the law. “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

 

Instead of going and doing likewise, the man goes into lawyer mode. He asks, “and who is my neighbor?” Now, we have no way of knowing the intent behind the follow-up question. Was the lawyer trying to cover his bases and wanting to make sure he knows what is meant by “neighbor,” so that he can squeak by with minimal effort, with only loving those that he absolutely had to love in order to obtain eternal life? Or did he somehow sense that the key to all of this was in the definition of “neighbor” and so he was seeking to be as inclusive as possible?

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Instructions for Ministry

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 9 (Year C)

Luke 10.1-11, 16-20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 20:15)

 

Ministry is hard. Sure, sometimes things go really well. People are receptive to hearing the Gospel. Sometimes—most of the time—people are appreciative of the work that we do on their behalf. But that does not mean that it is always easy. It takes a lot of work. A lot of time and energy. A lot of resources. But, when it goes well, it is all worth the effort. We walk away from those situations with a sense of satisfaction. With a sense of having fulfilled our purpose. With a sense of having truly lived the Gospel as Jesus commands us to do. That we “nailed it.”

 

And then there are those times when ministry can feel like we’re beating your head against a brick wall. When things just don’t go the way we planned. When, despite our best efforts, they are not appreciated. Those are the times when it is easy to question, “why bother?” When we walk away from those situation with a sense of failure. With a sense of not doing what God called us to do. With a sense of not having lived the Gospel as Jesus commands us to do. Thankfully, those times are generally few and far between. And generally, not because of our lack of trying, because of our lack of commitment. Although, in the moment, it is easy to think that things fell apart because we were not good enough, that we are not cut out for this. But the reality is that sometimes, for whatever reason, those whom we seek to minister to just don’t want to hear what we have to say. Don’t want a part of what we have to offer.

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Commitment and Resolve

Third Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 8 (Year C)

1 Kings 19.15-16, 19, 21; Galatians 5.1, 13-25; Luke 9.51-62

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 20:55)

 

Our Gospel reading for today opens by telling us that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” This is a transition point for Jesus. Thus far, he has been traveling throughout Galilee preaching, teaching, and healing. That he “set his face to go to Jerusalem” is a term that is often used to describe a shift in focus to his ultimate destiny—to his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension—which will occur in Jerusalem. This change in focus does not mean that he ceases to preach, teach, and heal. That will continue until his dying day, and beyond. But this is the point where the trajectory of Jesus’ ministry begins to take turns that will be necessary to accomplish his mission. Setting his face to go to Jerusalem entails multiple turns. A geographic turn, as he begins to slowly work his way south toward Jerusalem. A theological turn, as he slowly, sometimes subtly, seeks to expand the circle of those whom he ministers to, of those who are included in God’s kingdom—expanding beyond his initial Jewish-centered audience to include Gentiles as well. And a programmatic turn, as he begins to focus more on the education and formation of his disciples, preparing them for the time when they will be called upon to take up his mantle. It is this latter turn that is of particular concern to us, not only today, but throughout the remainder of this season after Pentecost, where we walk alongside Jesus, learning from him as he makes his way to Jerusalem. As he prepares his disciples—and us—for what is to come.

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Casting Out Demons

 Second Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 7 (Year C)

Luke 8.26-39

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 22:35)

 

At first glance, our Gospel reading for today may seem to be a bit archaic. A bit irrelevant to life in the 21^st century. I mean, demons? Really? We don’t generally think of people as being possessed by demons in our own day and age. Other than in “The Exorcist” and similar movies. Indicating that, in our time, demons have been relegated to the realm of pure entertainment. But is that really a fair assessment? If we really look around, aren’t there people in our own time who could be considered demon-possessed? Aren’t there conditions or situations which could be considered demonic? And no, I am not talking about your inconsiderate neighbor who plays loud music at two in the morning or that political figure you love to hate. I’m talking demonic in the true sense of the word. As implied in our Gospel account of the Gerasene demoniac.

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Invited Into the Work of the Trinity

Trinity Sunday (Year C)

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 17:30)

 

Early in my life as a priest, when Trinity Sunday inevitably rolled around, I felt that I had to provide some sort of explanation of the Trinity. What it is and how it operates. Which, inevitably proves to be an exercise in futility, as we just cannot understand the “new math” involved when it comes to the Trinity: Three in One and One in Three. That our one and only God is comprised of three “persons”: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And that, despite being manifest as three “persons,” as three unique entities, they are each comprised of the same substance and nature, making each “person” fully and completely God. All three “persons” being our One God. Three in One and One in Three. It’s enough to make your head hurt. And if your head hurts trying to sort all that out, just imagine how much my head hurts trying to come up with new ways to explain the doctrine of the Trinity every year.

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Jesus' Prayer for Us

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C)

John 17.20-26

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 19:00)

 

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Next Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. Which means we are in the home stretch of this Eastertide marathon. This last week of Eastertide is a bit unique in its feel because, from the perspective of the disciples, Jesus is gone. Out of the picture. This past Thursday we celebrated Jesus’ Ascension into heaven. During the last six weeks, between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension, he has been preparing his disciples for this eventuality. And always quick to reassure them that he was not abandoning them. That he would send his Spirit—the Holy Spirit—to be a guide and companion in their ongoing mission and ministry. We know that it was a mere ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit did arrive. But they don’t know that at the time. So they find themselves in a liminal time of waiting. They are a bit at a loss as to what is happening. Not unlike the uncertainty and sense of loss they experienced during another liminal time just seven weeks before. During that time between Jesus’ death and his resurrection.

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The Peace the World Cannot Give

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

John 14.23-29

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

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

 

Wednesday morning I attended a meeting of CLUE—Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. An interfaith organization that “educates, organizes, and mobilizes the faith community to accompany workers and their families in their struggle for good jobs, dignity, and justice.”[i] As is pretty common at meetings of such organizations, you start off giving your name and the organization you represent. And more often than not, there is some sort of check-in question. The question at the start of Wednesday’s meeting was “How is your soul doing?” I don’t normally care much for check-in questions, finding them to be a bit contrived. But this question really resonated with me that morning. And I have returned to that question several times since then, sort of checking in, not with a group, but with myself. Checking in with my soul. Before I go any further with my sermon, I’m going to stop for a moment and ask you to ponder that same question. How is your soul doing?

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Who Are We to Hinder God?

Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Acts 11.1-18; John 13.31-35

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 20:40)

 

I don’t think it would come as a shock to anyone here that we have an “us” versus “them” problem. I’m not specifically talking about here at St. Gregory’s. I’m speaking in general terms. That societally we have an “us” versus “them” problem. Virtually everywhere you turn, the prevailing messaging is about how “we” and those who are like us or who agree with us are good, and “they,” “them,” “those,” and others like them or who agree with them are bad. Or if not bad, at least need to be viewed with suspicion. This is most evident in the political sphere. Increasing division between liberals and conservatives, between our political parties. With each “side” having its core positions that one has to agree with in order to be considered one of “us.” Identity politics playing out in the once-sacred halls of our governmental institutions, not to mention on the nightly news, in social media, in our streets, and even around our family dinner tables. Just look at the issues occupying all these forums in recent days and weeks. Some being pretty clear-cut, like the war in Ukraine. Definitely “us” and “them”—Russia attacking Ukraine on the spurious pretense of liberating the Ukrainian people from their allegedly neo-Nazi government. Or closer to home, the vast increase in racial tension over the last couple of years. A very visible “us” versus “them” based on color of skin and stereotypes about behavior and character that supposedly go with skin color. Then there are the divisions based on deeply held beliefs, be they religious or otherwise. The most current being pro-life versus pro-choice, as we await the United States Supreme Court’s impending decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Or throughout the pandemic, those who believe the science around COVID-19 versus those who think its all a hoax. And the related issues of requiring vaccinations or masking, boiling down to protection of public health versus perceived individual rights. And there are so many more “us” and “them” issues out there. Some that impact our society as a whole, and some that impact only a subset of our population. Divisions that are perhaps more insidious and potentially more dangerous as they often go virtually unseen by most people. Resulting in an attitude of “why should I be concerned with that if it doesn’t directly affect me?”

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