It's All a Matter of Perspective

26^th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28B)

Mark 13.1-8

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 23:55)

 

As you go through the process toward Holy Orders, to becoming a deacon or a priest—what is often and ominously referred to as “The Process”—you are required to undergo various evaluations. Interviews by the Commission on Ministry, a background check, a physical exam, and not one but two mental health evaluations. When you start into “The Process,” there is a detailed psychological evaluation entailing many hours of testing. Then, after going through all the hoops of the multi-year “Process,” the candidate for ordination undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. This one is less time-consuming and onerous than the psychological exams, generally entailing an hour session with a psychiatrist. I know that the purpose of these evaluations is to make sure that the candidate is fit for ministry and not an obvious potential danger to those they will engage in ministry. Although my personal theory is that you have to be crazy to want to become a priest, so the psychiatric evaluation is to make sure that if you were not crazy when you entered “The Process,” you are by the time you complete it.

Read more!

Response to the 2024 Election

25^th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 27B)

Mark 12.38-44

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 23:50)

 

As I prepare to preach today’s sermon, I have a profound sense of déjà vu. Eight years ago—November 13, 2016—I stood in this spot, at this ambo, and prepared to preach what would only be my second sermon as Rector of St. Gregory’s. A sermon in which I felt the need to address what had happened the previous Tuesday: the day Donald Trump was elected to his first term as President of the United States. To speak to a group of people I had just met less than two weeks before and to try to provide some guidance as to how we as a parish, with differing political perspectives, were to move forward following what was one of the most divisive elections in our nation’s history.

 

Little did I know that, eight years later, I would be called upon to preach a comparable sermon. And yet, here we are. In many ways, what was true then continues to be true now. The president-elect is the same, although his opponents were different. Some of the issues were the same, although some were different. Some of the campaign tactics were the same, although some were different. Perhaps the biggest difference is that we now have a lived experience of what his first presidency was like. And in many ways, we have a different social and political landscape than we did eight years ago. Partially due to the pandemic, although largely due to the ramifications of actions taken during that first term in office. So, while things are very similar in so many ways, there are also profound differences. Particularly in terms of what many of our sisters and brothers are feeling this time around.

Read more!

Becoming Saints

All Saints’ Sunday

John 11.32-44

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 22:00)

 

Today we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday. All Saints’ Day was actually November 1^st—this past Friday. Although The Book of Common Prayer classifies All Saints’ Day as one of seven Principal Feast of the liturgical year, making it a pretty big deal. Making it an even bigger deal is the fact that All Saints’ is the only Feast that may be observed on the following Sunday, in addition to its observance on its fixed date. That should tell us that there is something particularly significant about this day, this celebration, if we are given two chances at its observance.

 

It is believed that the commemoration of all the saints on November 1^st originated in Ireland, spread to England, and then on to Europe. In the early ninth century, the Pope urged the widespread observance of a festival commemorating all the saints. However, historical writings indicate that there had been localized commemorations of all the saints as early as the third century. Such celebrations were due to “the desire of Christian people to express the intercommunion of the living and the dead in the Body of Christ.”[1] Recognizing that there is some profound mystical connection between us and the saints who have gone before. Something that is important to our own lives of faith.

Read more!

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25B)

Mark 10.46-52

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 16:00)

 

In recent weeks, our journey through the Gospel according to Mark has allowed us to accompany Jesus and his disciples on their trek from Galilee to Jerusalem. What will prove to be Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Very shortly, in a matter days, Jesus will make his triumphal journey into that city, where he will be hailed as King. The events we have come to know as Palm Sunday. The beginning of Jesus’ Passion, leading to his death and ultimately to his resurrection.

 

Knowing what awaits him, Jesus takes the opportunity throughout this journey to prepare his disciples. He has told them three times what will happen. Although, they do not quite seem to get it. But then again, who would—who could—fully comprehend such horrific news? They are, understandably, in denial. And yet, Jesus perseveres. Throughout the journey he continues to teach them about what it means to be his followers. Preparing them to take up the mantle of his mission and ministry once he has departed.

 

On the surface, what we hear in today’s Gospel is just another story of Jesus healing a blind man. We’ve heard so many stories of Jesus healing those who were infirmed. Including other stories of giving sight to the blind. In many ways, it is just more of the same. And yet, occurring where it does, this story contains a deeper meaning, has a deeper significance. You see, today’s Gospel reading is the final story before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As such, it is a transition. A gateway, if you will, to what is to happen once Jesus enters the gates of Jerusalem. Before Jesus, through his resurrection, enters the gates of heaven. While there are a few more lessons before that actually happens, today’s story of the healing of Bartimaeus serves as a summary of Jesus’ teachings thus far and provides insight into what is to come. Not for Jesus, but for those who follow him.

Read more!

Do For Us Whatever We Ask

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24B)

Mark 10.35-45

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 22:15)

 

Okay, when a conversation begins with “I want you to do whatever I ask,” you can be pretty certain it is going to be something you don’t want to do. Or that, in reality, you are not able to do. Personally, I’m always extremely cautious when someone starts with something along the lines of “will you do me a favor?” Striving to be a man of my word, I don’t want to commit to anything without knowing what I’m getting into. I don’t want to commit to something that I feel uncomfortable with or am not capable of doing. So, I immediately go into defensive mode with my standard response being “that depends.” I try to be open and will, if possible, see what I can do to accommodate the request. But I’ll tell you right now, I draw the line at helping people get rid of bodies.

 

You kinda get a similar sense from Jesus in today’s Gospel. Not the part about getting rid of bodies. But about the caution, even apprehension, at being blindsided with “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

Read more!

Put Your Money Where Your Faith Is

21^st Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22B)

Mark 10.17-31

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 24:20)

 

Last week was the start of our annual stewardship campaign, with the theme of “Walk in Love.” Over a seven-week period we will explore, through reflections by parishioners, what it means for us to Walk in Love—with God and with our neighbors. We will explore what part St. Gregory’s plays in that walk of love. Or we could make it easy, reduce the stewardship campaign to one day by simply following Jesus’ directions to the rich young man: “sell what you own, and give the money to the poor.” Or in this case, give the money to the church. Let us take care of distributing it to the poor. After all, that is one of the primary ministries of the church.

Read more!

Models for the Kingdom of God

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22B)

Mark 10.2-16

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 25:25)

 

Once again, the Pharisees are testing Jesus, trying to trick him into saying something blasphemous, something they could use as evidence of heresy. And once again, Jesus sidesteps the trap and, in the process, turns the tables on the Pharisees, presenting a masterful, albeit subtle condemnation of the religious authorities. This time, the subject of discussion is marriage and divorce. While Jesus ultimately succeeds in making marriage and divorce a metaphor for relationship with God, before we go there, we need to take a look at some of the nuances of marriage and divorce as viewed in Jesus’ time.

Read more!

Not Us and Them, Only Us

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21B)

Mark 9.38-50

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

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

 

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of last week’s reading, in which the disciples, on a journey to Capernaum, argue among themselves about who is the greatest. As you may recall, Jesus attempted to settle the argument by telling them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9.35). One of Jesus’ quintessential statements about the nature of his ministry, about what it means to be his followers. That his purpose—their purpose, our purpose—is not about seeking to be served, but rather to serve. It is not about seeking glory and exaltation, but rather about seeking to humble ourselves in service so that others may be glorified and exalted.

Read more!

Invited Into Spirit and Life

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16B)

John 6.56-69

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 22:00)

 

For the last three weeks we have talked about Jesus’ “Bread of Life Discourse.” The overall discourse spans a total of 38 verses. A pretty hefty chunk of scripture. Certainly more than can really be digested at one time—particularly considering that it is the Gospel according to John, which is, in general, very dense theologically. Wisely, the framers of our lectionary chose to divide it up into bite-sized chunks. Each section containing valuable insights into who Jesus is. Each week we have gone deeper and deeper, with Jesus revealing himself first as the Son of Man, then as the bread of life, then as the living bread that came down from heaven, then as the one who gives eternal life.

 

While we have had the luxury of taking the bread of life imagery in more manageable portions, Jesus’ original audience did not have that option. They had it thrown at them all at once. Like drinking from a firehose. No wonder then, that today, following Jesus’ wrap-up of the “Bread of Life Discourse,” we hear his audiences’ response as being “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” Not, “Good job, Jesus. Great explanation. You really nailed it! Now we totally understand who you are and why you were sent by God.” Instead, it is more along the lines of, “What? What are you talking about? We don’t get it.”

Read more!

“Those Who Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood Abide in Me, and I in Them”

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15B)

John 6.51-58

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 21:05)

 

Throughout the “Bread of Life Discourse” which we have been examining the last couple of weeks, Jesus’ comments become increasingly provocative, to say the least:

 

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6.27).

 

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn 6.35).

 

“I am the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6.41).

 

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (Jn 6.51).

 

This last statement being the bridge between last week’s Gospel reading and today’s. A statement that certainly causes a great deal of consternation, if not revulsion, on the part of his original audience, who by now are pretty agitated. And rightly so because of the cannibalistic implications of the most recent pronouncements. As if that is not enough, as if he couldn’t get any more provocative, Jesus takes it to a whole other level: “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” The idea of eating human flesh was disgusting enough. But adding to that the idea of “drinking his blood” was beyond the pale. The idea of consuming blood—the blood of any animal—was a transgression of the most fundamental taboos in Jewish dietary laws. Laws given by God himself. So not only is the very notion just so unthinkable and repulsive, to have such words uttered by a man claiming to be sent by God, to have come down from heaven, was just over-the-top. And yet, he keeps going from there. “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” Further explaining. And undoubtedly, further upsetting his audience.

Read more!