Taking Up Our Cross

Second Sunday in Lent (Year B)

Mark 8.31-38

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 13:40)

 

A couple of weeks ago, when we talked about the Transfiguration, we talked about how that was a pivot point in Jesus’ life and ministry. When his focus changed from being about his ministry of teaching and healing to being about his journey to Jerusalem. The journey we make with him during the season of Lent. Well, the real shift actually took place six days before the Transfiguration, in the events we hear in today’s Gospel. When Jesus tells his disciples for the first time that he will undergo great suffering, be killed, and then rise again. The first of three Passion predictions.

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Do We Really Need To Do Lent This Year?

First Sunday in Lent (Year B)

Mark 1.9-15

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 14:00)

 

Here we are. The start of another Lenten season. The beginning of another Lenten journey. The 40-day period when we specifically focus on repenting of our sins both individual and communal; with the threefold practices of prayer, fasting, and charity; and a time that we often associate with austerity and deprivation. Looking at the last 11 months, is what we have been through so different than what we associate with Lent? Only it did not come to an end after 40 days. No, here we are at Day 340 of the official “lock down” that we have lived through with varying degrees of intensity. What seems to be a never-ending Lenten season. In fact, when we began this pandemic existence, we were in the middle of Lent 2020. Our last in-person worship was March 15^th, the third Sunday in Lent. Sure, we switched to online worship and completed the liturgical season of Lent 2020, doing Holy Week and Easter services in a new way. But it still didn’t quite seem like Lent was over. Even though we celebrated Easter, it still felt like Jesus was in the tomb. Even though we celebrated Pentecost online, there did not seem to be much of a new spirit in the land. Even though we celebrated Advent, preparing for, anticipating, longing for new birth, the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas just was not the same. Throughout it all, there was the specter of COVID. There was the reality of a global pandemic. There was an ongoing sense that we were in a time far more akin to Lent than to Easter or Pentecost or Advent or Christmas.

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Taking Up the Mantle

Last Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B)

2 Kings 2.1-12; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6; Mark 9.2-9

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 12:00)

 

Today we come to the last Sunday in the season after Epiphany. As we noted at the beginning of our Epiphanytide journey, the term Epiphany comes from the Greek, meaning “manifestation” or “appearing.” And in our Christian context, the Feast of the Epiphany and the season that follows focus on how Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God is revealed. Well, what happens today in our Gospel reading is the epitome of those revelations.

 

Just to set the stage, six days before going up the Mount of the Transfiguration, Jesus had revealed to his disciples for the first time that he would “undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mk 8.31). Now, six days later, for some inexplicable reason Jesus takes his inner circle, Peter, James, and John, up a high mountain. As we heard, while there, “he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white . . . and there appeared to them Elijah with Moses” (Mk 9.2b-4). As if Jesus being transfigured and the two greatest prophets in Jewish history appearing out of thin air to chat with Jesus weren’t enough to demonstrate who he was, a voice came from a cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved: listen to him” (Mk 9.7). You can’t get a much more dramatic or definitive revelation of Jesus’ true identity. Well, you can, but we have to wait for Easter for that.

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Healing, Restoration, and Hope

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B)

1 Corinthians 9.16-23; Mark 1.29-39

St. Gregory's, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 13:55)

 

I can’t help but feel sorry for Jesus. In today’s Gospel reading, we are told that he and his disciples left the synagogue and went to Peter’s house, where they find Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Jesus heals her. Then, later in the day, he is inundated with those who “brought him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around him.” (Mk 1.32-33). This was obviously going to be a long day. Lest we forget, even as today’s passage begins, Jesus has already put in a long day’s work. Today’s passage is just a continuation of what we heard last week, where Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath and was confronted by a man with an unclean spirit, which Jesus promptly dispatched.

 

And this was literally Jesus’ first day on the job. As I noted last week, the scene at the synagogue was Jesus’ first recorded actions in his public ministry. You’d think Jesus would want to ease into his ministry. Instead, there was so much to be done the poor guy hardly had a chance to catch his breath. And I’m guessing this was all pretty draining on him. Just teaching to a crowd can be pretty draining. Add on top of that having to deal with an unclean spirt, which I assume engaging and casting out demons is also a draining activity. It is certainly implied in other passages of scripture. So, I’m sure that when Jesus left the synagogue after a very busy morning, he just wanted to go back to Peter’s place, relax, and have a nice, quiet Sabbath meal. But no. Instead, he must deal with the sick mother-in-law. Then came the crowds wanting to be healed. They had probably heard about what happened at the synagogue, so came to see if they, too, could be healed by Jesus. Welcome to your public ministry, Jesus. A Messiah’s work is never done. And the way he deals with the events of this, his first day of public ministry, essentially sets the tone for the rest of his ministry.

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With Authority

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B)

Deuteronomy 18.15-20; 1 Corinthians 8.1-13; Mark 1.21-28

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 14:15)

 

In recent weeks and months, we have become all too familiar with the precarious relationship we have with the concept of authority. And we have become increasingly aware that the recognition of authority—of rightful, duly conferred authority—can be a touchy thing. Particularly in a system that confers authority based on the will of the majority. And even more so on a system where the definition of that majority is open to interpretation. Leading to struggles over authority. We’ve just lived through one of the most contentious elections in our nation’s history, which saw—and still sees—fighting over acknowledgment of who has legitimate authority to lead this nation for the next four years. A fight that was so contentious it resulted in the only instance of our fellow citizens seeking to forcibly take control of the federal government. An act which has far-reaching implications as our government considers actions that will minimize the likelihood of such events in the future. Or, at least, that is the hope. But what about when we have no direct say in who has authority?

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Immediately!

Third Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B)

Jonah 3.1-5, 10; Mark 1.14-20

The Rev. Michael K. Fincher

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 12:35)

 

“And immediately [Simon and Andrew] left their nets and followed [Jesus].” And then, when Jesus and his first two disciples come upon James and John, “Immediately he called them.”

 

Immediately. This is the tone of the call narrative in Mark’s Gospel. Yes, another Sunday of call narratives. Perhaps we hear so many call narratives in this season after Epiphany because Epiphany is about the ways Jesus is revealed to humanity. And while his identity as the Son of God, as God in the flesh, is most fully revealed in such events as his baptism and in some of his miracles, one of the ways that he is revealed is through the work of those whom he calls to be his disciples—of those he calls to follow him. And this side of the Resurrection, he continues to be revealed through those who follow him. Through those who are called to carry on his mission and ministry as the Body of Christ in the world.

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You Are Called

Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Year B)

1 Samuel 3.1-10; John 1.43-51

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 14:15)

 

In many ways, the theme of today’s readings is just a continuation of what we discussed last week. As you hopefully recall, last week we talked about how Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, as Beloved of God, was revealed through his baptism. In my sermon, I noted that there was more to Jesus’ baptism than just the revelation of his true identity. Through his baptism, Jesus was showing a sign of solidarity with humanity. In doing so—in the way that he did it—he was also inviting us to share in his identity. He is inviting us to be members of the Body of Christ, whereby we live in accordance with his values.

 

Today’s readings, particularly our Old Testament and Gospel readings, are more of the same. Only more so. Only more specific. Last week was a general invitation to all humanity to share in Christ’s identity, whereby being members of the Body of Christ becomes our true identity. Today, we take that invitation to the next level. Or rather, Jesus takes the act of inviting to the next level. Today we are not just invited into a new identity. We are invited to live into that identity in specific ways. In ways that are unique to the individual.

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Breaking Through

First Sunday after the Epiphany/Baptism of Our Lord (Year B)

Mark 1.4-7

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 10:45)

 

Liturgically speaking, we are in an extended celebration of the Epiphany that began last Sunday and wraps up today. The term Epiphany comes from the Greek, meaning “manifestation” or “appearing.” Now, strictly speaking, the Feast of the Epiphany is only one day—January 6^th, which was this past Wednesday. Historically, the Feast of the Epiphany included the celebration of three events, all of which were “firsts”: the visit of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ first recorded miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. These three events were celebrated together as each one revealed a significant truth about who Jesus was and is. In more modern times, the celebration of these firsts and of what they reveal about Jesus are broken up to focus on each individual event. The coming of the Magi is the focus of the Feast of the Epiphany, although we included it in our celebration of the Second Sunday after Christmas, last Sunday. Our lectionary now has the baptism of Jesus as a separate focus on the Sunday after the Epiphany. And the miracle of the wedding at Cana is relegated to a lesser position, only being remembered once every three years on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany in Year C of our lectionary. We’ll get that Gospel on January 16^th of next year. So, as you can see, the way things fell out this year, this week, beginning last Sunday and ending today, has essentially been a week-long celebration of various aspects of the Epiphany.

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New Beginnings

Second Sunday after Christmas (Year B)

Matthew 2.1-12

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 13:45)

 

Today we get two celebrations for the price of one. Or really, three. From a liturgical standpoint, today is the second Sunday after Christmas. Or to be more precise, this is the second Sunday after Christmas but before Epiphany. Epiphany being the start of a new liturgical season. But this day is far more than a continuation of the Christmas season, as evidenced by the theme of the Gospel reading for today. Because Epiphany falls in the middle of next week and next Sunday, by virtue of being the first Sunday after Epiphany, is the commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord, we don’t really have a clear opportunity for a Sunday celebration of Epiphany. Thankfully, the lectionary obliged and provided several possible readings for today. I obviously selected the story of the Magi precisely because it is also the designated Gospel reading for Epiphany. So, that means we get to continue our celebration of Christmas with one of the beloved images of that season—the coming of the Wise Men—and we get to (sort of) celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. And the third celebration is the fact that it is the beginning of the New Year. Always worthy of recognition, but particularly so given the year we just lived through.

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Symbols of Christmas

Christmas Eve

Luke 2.1-20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 27:50)

 

Symbols are important to us humans. They help shape and provide meaning in our lives. A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a video on the internet that left me in absolute disbelief. A video that illustrates the importance of symbols, how they can be misunderstood, and how incredibly important they can be. Particularly during challenging times. It was the story of a dispute between a couple in Raleigh, North Carolina, and their homeowners’ association. The couple placed a six-foot wooden cross on their lawn for Christmas. They had originally put up the cross for Easter. People in the neighborhood really liked it because they saw it as a symbol of hope. So, the couple decided to put it back up for Christmas. As the couple noted, for them, the cross stands for the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So why not put it up at Christmas?

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