TCC Sermons

Sermon, January 22, 2012 "Live Lightly!"

2012-01-21T20:09:00.003-05:00

1. Good Morning. Let’spray. O Lord, may the words of mouth andthe meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and ourRedeemer. Amen.

2. OpeningComments: I’ve entitled today’sreflection “Live Lightly” and I sense that it’s what God is saying to us thoughour Scripture Readings today.

Letme set our mindset for this reflection by asking a few framing questions thatwill help each of us determine whether we are in fact living lightly or livingheavily.

Hereare the questions. Let’s see what ouranswers to them are shall we:

· How important is a sense of “peace – peace withGod” to you?

· Is it more important than almost anything else?

· Can you imagine having minimal possessions andbeing at peace?

· Think about those things that give you deepsatisfaction like your reputation, savings in the bank, insurance policies,home, children, grandchildren, your car, your many toys - your little indulgenceslike what – you name them.

Imagine now that God came to you and offered you absolute “peace”but required of you the total relinquishment of all of those things. What would be your answer?

· What of those things would you find mostdifficult to relinquish?

· Look at how tightly you are holding onto them. Can you imagine lightening your hold on them?

Today we’regoing to really explore how we can and indeed must lighten our hold oneverything so that we can come into a more intimate relationship with our God.

Thekey reading from today’s readings is from St. Paul’s firstletter to the Christians in the flourishing port city ofCorinth.

Let’slook at 1 Corinthians chapter 7 beginning at verse 29:

1Cor. 7:29 What I mean, brothers, isthat the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if theyhad none; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy,as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.For this world in its present form is passing away.

Inthese rather disturbing words Paul is challenging us to live lightly. In today’s terms Paul is encouraging us tohave a small footprint on this earth and the reason for this is that the time is short.

Nowthat’s a very interesting reason don’t you think?

People who have a large and heavy footprintson this earth aren’t thinking that the time is short are they?

I think it’s a truism that rich people diehard. Death for rich people can be veryvery hard!

Isuspect that they’re thinking that there is plenty of time. Plenty of time to get all that they want toget done – done.

Timeto grow their wealth! Time to enjoytheir wealth!

But Paul istelling us something very different isn’t he? Time is shot so live life lightly!

The Other Scriptures: Before we really bore down on this theme I wonder what else if anythingthe other readings for today might tell us.

In our Old Testament reading from the Book of Jonah weheard God commanding Jonah to go to the mega metropolis of Nineveh and to callthem to repentance.

That’s like God commanding you and me to goto the city of New York and to go from one end of it to the other proclaimingthis message,

“Repent or God Almighty will destroy this city in 40days.”

Well Jonah did this and do you rememberwhat happened? Yes, they repented!

Not only did they repent but God was trueto His word and did not destroy them.

The time was short but their repentance stopped the devastation of thatenormous city!

Time was short but they repented of their sinful lives and God did notdestroy the city!

In our Psalmreading we heard David saying:

Psa. 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;

Psa. 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and myhope is in you all day long.

Psa. 25:6 Remember, O LORD, your greatmercy and love, for they are from of old.

Psa. 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O LORD. – (and I am not!_

Psa. 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

Psa. 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

In these verses we hear a cry to God to show mercy and giveguidance.

I imagine that many of the Ninevites must have madethis plea when they heard Jonah’s proclamations of impending doom!

But Ithink the key verse was verse 9:

God guides the humble in whatis right and teaches them his way. Psa.25:9

God guides the humble! The Ninevites were humbled and repentant andready to hear from God!

Now this is very veryimportant. “God guides the humble.”

Let me stop for a second and ask us this question –Do you think the humble of this world have a light or heavy footprint in life?

Now before we dig in any deeper turn with me to ourGospel reading from Mark chapter 1 beginning atverse 14.

Before we read that I need to remind us that Markseems to be writing to a community of believers who were recently devastated bypersecution. This persecution has allbut wiped out their leadership and perhaps hope itself.

This explains the Gospel’s almost single-mindedfocus on the suffering of Jesus, and His efforts to get the disciples tounderstand the meaning of suffering and its role in overcoming evil.

Listen now to our reading from Markand see if, in the light of what we’ve been talking about, you can seesomething unfolding:

Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went intoGalilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

Mark 1:15 “The timehas come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the goodnews!”

Mark 1:16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, hesaw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they werefishermen.

Mark 1:17 “Come,follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Mark 1:18 At once theyleft their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:19 When he had gone a little farther, he sawJames son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

Mark 1:20 Without delay he called them,and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followedhim.

The disciples, to a man,responded immediately to Jesus’ call to discipleship. Simon and his brother Andrew left their netsto follow Him immediately. James and hisbrother John and they stopped what they stopped preparing their fishing nextand following Him immediately!

Let’s stop for a second to think about that . . . .

They stopped everything and followed Him. Wastheir reaction unusual?

To my understanding it was! Itseems unusual to me that tradesmen like them would stop what they needed to doto survive to follow Jesus.

I suppose that might be like Jimmy and Chase Miller dropping everythingto follow Jesus onto the mission field in Africa!

That decision would immediately impact their children. Hunter would have to come home and join themas there would be no money for her college education. In fact, all of their children would have toleave their schooling to be home schooled by the Millers on the mission field.

It would impact us at TCC. Jimmy’s Deaconate responsibilities would no longer be done and Chase’sPrayer ministry here would cease. We atTCC would feel their absence tremendously.

So their reaction tells us something about them – they were men whocould make a commitment and follow through very very quickly.

It also tells us something about Jesus – He was someone who could promptsuch an immediate commitment and response from those He called.

These men left their big footprints in their village to adopt a veryvery small footprint as itinerate preachers and healers.

Jesus once said:

Jesus replied,"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hasno place to lay his head." Matt 8:20

Now that’s a pretty light and small footprint don’t you think?

Jesus, the Son of God, Himself has a miniscule footprint. He lives very lightly upon the face of Hisearth!

Let us never forget that we call ourselves Christians which means wefollow Jesus. How many of us would bewilling to follow Jesus into voluntary poverty?

How many of us would drop everything right now and follow Jesus out ofthis Church into the future that He knew but we didn’t?

Don’t be too quick to cry out “Me! I’d follow Him anywhere He would lead me?”

That’s nice but let me change the question and get a little morepersonal.

How many of us would surrender our addictions to follow Him?

How many of us would give up our dreams for retirement, for a happy wellfed life, for a successful career and so on . . .

The actual answer is “Very few!”

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7 we read:

Butsmall is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few findit. Matt. 7:14

Only a very few of us are willing to pay the price to find the road thatleads to life! Only a very few are trulywilling to relinquish our heavy footprint on this earth for a much lighter one!

Think for a moment about that. . .

This call to live lightly is counterintuitive tothe world’s mindset. Our dominantmindset is to establish a dynasty not relinquish our dream for one!

I can hear my Republican friends saying “That’sun-American! And the sad truth is thatthey’re right. It is un-American! Sadly it us un-American!

But Paul says . . .

1Cor. 7:29 . . . the time is short. From now on those who havewives should live as if they had none; 30 those who mourn, as if theydid not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, asif it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world,as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passingaway.

So let me summarize that our Lord is calling upon us to do today:

He’s calling upon you and me

· to “leave” a lot of stuff behindto follow Him.

· to detach ourselves from anythingthat has a control upon minds, hearts or bodies.

· To relinquish the ties of familyand possessions in favor of the primary tie to Him!

Paul is not counseling us to abandon our marriages or our engagementwith the business of this world but rather he is counseling us to refuse to be absorbed insuch realities, when the only lasting reality is that of the coming reign ofGod!

Let’s pray . . .

May this Eucharist give us the strength, resources,and intelligence we need to be converted personally and socially again thisSunday.

Sermon, January 15, 2012 "I Am . . . Here!"

2012-01-14T22:54:00.002-05:00

1. Good morning. Let’s pray. O Lord, may the words of my mouth and themeditations of our hearts be pleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and ourRedeemer. Amen.

2. Opening Remarks:

Gen. 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in ourimage, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and thebirds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all thecreatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God hecreated him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said tothem, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Ruleover the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every livingcreature that moves on the ground.”

And so God created man in His image andgave him the authority and power to rule over all creation. In verse 28 of the first chapter of Genesiswe read:

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Befruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of thesea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on theground.”

God created human beings in Hisimage to be His people and establish His Kingdom on earth!

Today is the “Feast of Our Lord the Giverof Life” Sunday! CEC Churches all overthe world have set this Sunday aside to honor life and to reflect upon it.

We live in a world that seems to honormoney and power above everything else and we live in a country whose culturehas been referred to as a “culture of death” for this country – this nation -allows mothers to kill their babies in the name of “choice.”

This morning I don’t want to rail againstAbortion; I want us to think instead about how we came to this culture of deathand what it will take to change it.

I went to sleep last Sunday night thinkingabout God’s making us in His image and what connection that might have withlife and the first words that came to mind when I awoke early the next morningwere “I Am . . . Here!”

I Am . . . Here! These words haunted me until I got out of bed,went to my lap top and began to type.

Of all things, I began to write a poem! I think I chose that medium because itrequires more discipline and often helps me dig deeper than otherwise.

Let me read it to you:

“IAm . . . Here!”

“I am . . . here” is the cry

of every single soul alive.

The baby in her mother’s womb.

The unwanted toddler come toosoon.

The young woman, an object,unseen

In her provocative revealings.

The young man struggling to beseen

In his camouflage beige andgreen.

The sick man on his death-bedlying

unheard but not unseen crying

“I am here. I am here. Don’t let me die!”

Another one said “I am here.”

We silenced Him in our terriblefear.

But then heard with dulled anddeafened ears

His gently whispered “I am . . .here!”

No cry goes unheard by Him.

Every soul born of men

Is seen and heard and then remembered.

No soul is lost, no soulforgotten

To such as He – the Unbegotten.

Who alone can say “I am”

and be heard by every man?

Can we learn to hear

others crying “I am here!”

To be like Him; the hearer ofall men.

The lover, father, brother,friend.

We are all crying to be seen

but what of the voice of theunseen?

Can we cry out for hisrevealing?

Give her a voice with which tocry

“I am here! I am here! Don’t let me die

Let me discover who I am

Created in the image of TheGreat I Am!”

You see as Christians we believe that everyone of us is made in the image of God and therefore has a heavenly identity andwith that a divine dignity.

But to what end?

God blessed the first man and then said,

Gen. 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over thefish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature thatmoves on the ground.”

God blessed us and thenchallenged us to have children and rule over His creation!

This is a nation under God – It is in God we trust but do we – do wereally? I fear we have become confused; double-mindedabout who we are and what we are to do.

I hear a young woman reasoning – “Do I love freedomand all that it can bring me or do I love you – you a baby who seems to havecome too soon. You’re aninconvenience. If I care for you I won’tfinish college and perhaps become destined to live in the ignominy of relative poverty. If I bear you I will lose time; valuabletime; time for pleasure and self-actualization.”

And so it goes and men and women choose tokill the unseen in the name of freedom – freedom from inconvenientresponsibilities.

How did wecome to this?

This is the end of a long long downward winding road.

It’s the end of a long line of choices thathave brought us to the place where the life of a baby teeters on the balance ofa mother’s choice.

This is nation that agonizes over theethics of end of life choices but is the pornographic headquarters of theentire world. Lust has becomecommodified!

Think about that – the nation that holds tothe almost infinite value of the individual human life is also the nation thatleads the world in objectifying and commodifying a woman’s body.

We’re a nation that has made a work of artout of “reality shows.” What is that ifit’s not a commodifying of the prurient spirit?

We have learnt well that if we cut a holein the wall and put a sign over it that says “Don’t look” every passerby willtake a look and so “reality television” flourishes and dulls and pollutes thesensibilities of a nation that began as a grand experiment in the freedom ofthe human spirit.

In these so called “reality” shows we lookthrough the peep hole of the television camera into the lives of our fellowhuman beings and the vices of anger, greed, pride, lust and envy are thrown on ourever expanding flat screen TV’s

Talk about expanding . . . We’ve become anation that assuages its sense of meaninglessness and homelessness with the caloriesaturated supersized Big Mac. The fastfood franchises stuff an over stuffed nation with maga-calories! It seems that a bulging waistline is moreacceptable than a pregnant woman’s profile! Gluttony is a national obsession.

And what aboutgreed? We’ve come a long way down thatroad haven’t we?

Our financial leaders brought us to thebrink of financial collapse and then we bailed them out because they were toobig to fail. But lest we get too cockywe’re not much better than them. Theonly difference is that they notonly got away with it but were financially rewarded for it!

I find myself on the one hand thankful thatthere’s an “Occupy Wall Street” movement but on the other hand I’m remindedthat the Mortgage catastrophe propped up by the insane “derivitives” market wasresponding to us who wanted funding for homes we couldn’t afford. We’ve become addicted to debt; massive debtthat future generations will be burdened with for decades!

And drugs – Now there’s a roadway tohell! The very standard of living ofsome third world countries has become dependent upon the addictions of thewealthiest nation of the earth! Drugusage both illegal and proscription is at epidemic proportions and there seemsto be no turning back.

We use drugs, alcohol, food, entertainment– you name your drug of choice - to run from the struggles and pain of life andin consequence we live dream lives – not quite here and not quite there. Absent from anything and everything and eachother.

And so we come to the place where the valueof the unseen life of a baby is measured against the character of a young womanawash in the cesspool of this culture of death and wonder why abortion is sorampant.

Are we kidding ourselves! This sick world body ain’t going to be setaright by proof texting or raging sermons against abortion!

The problem is we’ve forgotten who we areand whose we are!

What will it take to awaken us all – and Iinclude the Christian community here – us – what’s it going to take to wake usup!

For me and, I believe, for God the answeris to remember who we are!

We’re His children, made in the image ofGod. Brothers and sisters of JesusChrist!

Were I not a Christian I would be withouthope but I am convinced with St. Paul:

Rom.8:38 . . . that neither death nor life,neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able toseparate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is the love of God for us, His childrenthat I am convinced will restore us to sanity for, unlike us, He hasn’tforgotten who we are and His love won’t choose for our death but rather willalways choose for our life. No one goesunseen by God.

We may kill the baby but we can’t kill hissoul. Life eternal is and will always bein the hands of God and he always and ever chooses life! May we choose with Him and may we carry hiscause in His love to the ends of His earth!

Amen and Amen!

And now let me close by reading that poemonce again:

“IAm . . . Here!”

“I am . . . here” is the cry

of every single soul alive.

The baby in her mother’s womb.

The unwanted toddler come toosoon.

The young woman, an object,unseen

In her provocative revealings.

The young man struggling to beseen

In his camouflage beige andgreen.

The sick old man on his death-bedlying

unheard but not unseen crying

“I am here. I am here. Don’t let me die!”

Another one said “I am here.”

We silenced Him in our terriblefear.

But then heard with dulled anddeafened ears

His gently whispered “I am . . .here!”

No cry goes unheard by Him.

Every soul born of men

Is seen and heard and thenremembered.

No soul is lost, no soulforgotten

To such as He – the Unbegotten.

Who alone can say “I am”

and be heard by every man?

Can we learn to hear

others crying “I am here!”

To be like Him; the hearer ofall men.

The lover, father, brother,friend.

We are all crying to be seen

but what of the voice of theunseen?

Can we cry out for hisrevealing?

Give her a voice with which tocry

“I am here! I am here! Don’t let me die

Let me discover who I am

Created in the image of TheGreat I Am!”

Let us pray . . .

Sermon, January 8, 2012 "Jesus Christ Lord of All"

2012-01-07T19:55:00.002-05:00

1. GoodMorning. Let’s pray. O Lord may the words of my mouth and themeditations of our hearts be pleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

2. Todayis Epiphany Sunday. It marks the end ofthe 12 days of Christmas. All of ourChristmas lights and decorations should be taken down and stored away. TheSeason of Christmas has officially come to an end with the day of Epiphany.

In some liturgicaltraditions, it’s the central celebration of Christmas. It commemorates not onlythe birth of Christ and the visit of the Magi, but also his baptism in theJordan and the manifestation of his glory at the wedding feast of Cana.

For us and for most ofthe Western Church the focus is on the visit of the Magi and the implicationsof that visit for the revelation of God to all the peoples of the earth.

Truly it’s the Sunday when we celebrate thefact that Christ came not only to save Jews but also to save all humanity!

As I read today’s readings I was remindedthat the coming of Christ was anticipated for many many centuries and even thenthere was a sense that this coming Savior was coming to save the entireworld. The King of the Jewish nation wascoming to reclaim the Kingdom of the entire earth.

In our Old Testament Reading in the 60^thchapter of Isaiah we are given glorious images of the coming of a cosmologicalking for whom the whole earth awaits in awe and wonder. Listen to this readings closing lines:

Is. 60:5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell withjoy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of thenations will come. 6 Herds ofcamels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing goldand incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

These few lines depict the Kingwhose heart throbs and swells with joy as the world – all of creation – come toHim with their arms filled with praises and offerings.

The Apostle Matthew and the writerof our Gospel reading for today depicts this historical happening when Magicame from the east to find this King whose arrival was signaled by the veryalignment of the Stars.

Matt. 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehemvillage, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholarscalled Magi arrived in Jerusalem from the East. 2 They asked around,“Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observeda star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage toworship him.”

By the way, we really don’t know much aboutthese wise men other than they came from the east probably on camels and thatthey were star-gazers or astrologers.

They probably would havethought that the birth of those destined to be great figures in the world wouldbe signaled by the stars. They really believed that stars influenced andcontrolled the destiny of human beings. Little did they know that the one they had come to see was Himself incharge of those very stars!

What I find sofascinating is that these wise men were true to their name – they were wise –wise enough to look with open eyes and open hearts for a sign – the portent ofsomething great happening or about to happen.

These wise men – theunbelieving Gentiles - were looking for God’s revelations! They were looking at the tablet upon whichGod wrote – the works of His hands – His creation.

St. Paul also a wise manwrote about what he saw in our Epistle reading for today:

Eph. 3:2 I take it that you’re familiar withthe part I was given in God’s plan for including everybody. 3 I got theinside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief. 5None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clearby God’s Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. 6The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heardof him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand onthe same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promisesin Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, acrossthe board.

And so today we see Godrevealing the arrival of Jesus Christ to all of humankind! Through stars and angels and ultimatelythrough the words and miracles of the very one He had sent – Jesus Christ – theLord and Savior of the world!

Now reflect with me upon what it means thatJesus is the Lord and Savior of the entire world.

If Jesus were only to be the God of theJews then there is ample room for more gods:

· theancient Hindu God like Brahma, and Krishna and Rama and Shiva;

· the ancientNorse gods like Thor and Modgud;

· the Greekgods and goddesses like Zeus and Hades and Athena:

· Whatabout the Mayan God’s of Central and South America like Hunab Ku and Cizin;

· Let’s notforget about the gods of the ancient Egypt like Isis and Aten and Amun.

· Whatabout the totemic God’s of the North American Indians and those of theAustralian Aborigines?

The list of other god’s goes on and on andon.

But today we’re reminded that at one pointin the history of this universe all of creation declared the birth of the Kingof Kings and the Lord of all Lord – Jesus Christ. Here are just a few of His Titles:

· thePrince of Peace

· the Sonof Man

· BelovedSon of God

· Co-Creatorwith God the Father of all Creation

· Authorand Finisher of our faith

· Captainof our salvation

· Cornerstone

· Counselor

· Holy Oneof Israel

· King ofGlory

· King ofKings

· Lord ofLords

· King ofRighteousness

· Light ofthe World

· Lord andSavior

· Morningstar

· Potentate

· Power ofGod

· Prince ofLife

· Sun ofrighteousness

· Wisdom ofGod

· The Way,the Truth and the Life

· The Vine

· TheWisdom of God

The one name JesusChrist Himself preferred and used most often to speak of Himself was “The Sonof Man.”

He was and is and willalways be Emmanual – God with us – God for us!

God for all of us!

Now if that is thetruth – the fundamental reality of all realities - and not just the hubris ortriumphalism of some fist century Jewish zealots then it follows that IT ISWHAT IT IS! And the role of His creation is to bow down and worship Him.

The only questionremaining is this will humanity become wise like those first wise men and lookfor and find Him in His creation and then come before Him and pay homage to himor will we be unwise of look only upon His creation for what it can give to usand thus make what which He created our gods; totems to our self-deception.

Jesus Christ is notjust one god amongst many! He is in factGod of all gods and deserves our unmitigated worship. Amen and Amen!

I want us now to watcha brief video by Pastor S.M. Lockridge and it’s entitled “That’s My God.”

This is who we love andworship.

Invite Kevinto play “That’s My God.”

After video

Let us now pray . .

Sermon, January 1, 2012 "The Blessing of God's Peace"

2012-01-01T21:49:00.000-05:00

Today Christians aroundthe world are celebrating the Solemnity of the Mother of God. So the focus of today’s reflection could beupon Mary but it’s also a day when the theme of the blessing of God’s peace is explored. All around the world Christians are prayingfor global peace.

Peace – this is a theme worthy of our reflections as we begina new year that by all indications threatens to be troubled with everythingfrom the increased probability of internecine wars throughout the middle east othe possible economic collapse of the Eurozone.

Truly this is a time when peace will be on our hearts andminds. We will certainly be praying forpeace with our enemies but also peace:

between husbands and wives.

between estranged relatives.

between Mother’s and their children.

between Father’s and their children.

And what about inner peace? Freedom fromthat ever-present inner turmoil. No morecompulsive drivenness.

The inner peace that comes with freedom from our hauntingaddictions to anger, alcohol, or any form of drugs.

Freedom from that haunting sense that we’re failures at lifeitself. And so on and so on . . . . .

The theme of peace appears today on many levels in ourreadings. In fact, it’s meaning isexplored in every one of today’s readings at one level or another.

In our Old Testament Reading from Numberschapter 6 beginning at verse 22 we read the ancient and memorable prayer forthe blessingof peace. This prayer is a veryappropriate prayer to open the New Year:

Num. 6:24 “The LORD bless you

andkeep you;

Num. 6:25 the LORD make his face shine upon you

andbe gracious to you;

Num. 6:26 the LORD lift up his face towards you

and give you His peace.”

God’s Blessing = Peace: The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. It was this Shalom that was lost at ourFall in the Garden of Eden and it is this Shalom that humankind has prayed forever since. It is the experience of thisShalom that comes when God blesses us His creation.

God’s blessing isalways His peace!

This resonatesperfectly with our Psalm reading. Listen once again to the Psalmist’s plea forGod’s blessings which will bring peace to the face of the earth:

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6,8

Psa. 67:2Then the earth will acknowledge your ways, and all nations your power to save.

3 Letthe nations praise you, God, let all the nations praise you.

5 Let the nations praise you, God, let all thenations praise you.

6 Theearth has yielded its produce; God, our God has blessed us.

7 MayGod continue to bless us, and be revered by the whole wide world.

God’sblessing of peace is also our inheritance in Christ as St. Paul reminds us inour Epistle reading from the Book ofRomans chapter 4 beginning at verse 4:

Brothers and sisters:

When the fullness of time had come, God sent hisSon, born of a woman, born under the law,

to ransom those under the law,

so that we might receive adoption as sons.

As proof that you are sons,

God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,

crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a son,

and if a son then also an heir, through God.

As adopted children ofGod, the peoples of the earth will experience the peaceof their common brotherhood and sisterhood with God and one another. All will be empowered to experience God astheir Father, indeed, as their beloved Daddy:

The beginning of a NewYear is a good time to reach out to one another and to pray for God's blessingof peace for all.

The word peace in our Gospel reading is ei˙rh/nh and it means:

Freedom from worry and it is oftenexpressed by means of an idiom, for example, ‘to sit down in the heart,’ ‘torest in the liver,’ or ‘to be quiet in one’s inner self.’

The experienceof peace is an embodied reality – to be quiet in one’s inner self. This is the focus for our reflections thismorning.

Dowe really want that embodied experience of inner quietude within one’s very selves?

Haveyou ever experienced that?

Haveyou ever reflected deeply about your fundamental desire for inner peace?

Inour Gospel reading we see the reactions of the Shepherds and Mary to thearrival of Jesus Christ whom the Prophet Isaiah calls the Prince of Peace:

Is. 9:6 For to us a child is born, tous a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christ is the Prince of Peace – theharbinger of all peace.

Lookwith me again at our Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 beginningat verse 6:

Luke 2:6 While they were there,the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to herfirstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, becausethere was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watchover their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, andthe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 Butthe angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joythat will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign toyou: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hostappeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earthpeace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone intoheaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see thisthing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary andJoseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seenhim, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:20 The shepherdsreturned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard andseen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:21 ¶ Onthe eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, thename the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

Lookwith me once again at verse 19:

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things andpondered them in her heart.

Today it is Marywho teaches us what it takes to hold, nurture and grow in this inner sense ofpeace . . . in our inner beings!

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these thingsand pondered them in her heart.

The word translated here as “treasured” is the Greek word sunthre÷w and it means:

“to exert mental effort in storing information so as to havecontinual access and use of it — ‘to cause oneself to be fully aware of, tokeep in mind, to remember.”

‘Mary exerted mental effort to keep allthese things in mind and thought deeply about them’

Shecaused herself to be fully aware of the gift of peace found in her Son JesusChrist.

Jesus Himself said,

Peace I leave with you,my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither letit be afraid.” Jn 14:27

Application:

Now think about what Mary may have pondered during those30 odds years in which she had Jesus with her.

· We were made in the image of Godand Jesus, now God incarnate, suspended in the womb of Mary while made in HisFather’s image would also have the likeness of another – a woman.

· When Jesus was born – what didMary see when she looked upon Him – something of herself and something ofAnother. What was it in that impressionof Another that so captivated her?

· What must it have been like tolook at her son – the incarnate God – and watch what a God-man lived like onthe face of the earth?

· As she watched Jesus play with theother children of the little village of Nazareth how did her God-child playwith them?

· Was there a sense of the serenityof the place from which He had come?

· Was there an aroma of heaven aboutHim?

· Did the people of Nazareth knowthat they had a very special being within their walls?

· Were there times when Mary’srelationship with her Son were strained as she and He grew up?

· And what of their conversations –their many conversations about God the Father and God the Holy Spirit?

· Did Mary ever notice in his eyesthat glint of familiarity when Jesus mentioned their names?

· Did Jesus ever thank Mary for hermothering of Him? What must she havefelt when this occurred?

· What heavenly secrets did Jesusreveal to her?

· Who taught Jesus to pray and whoprayed with Him hour after hour?

· What did Jesus teach Mary aboutprayer and relationship with the Father?

· Because Jesus had a perfectrelationship with the Father there was perfect peace between them. What then was it like living with a personwith whom God the Father was in perfect harmony?

And so the pondering may go.

Now I ask myself and I ask you - are we not to do thesame?

Is it not God’s plan for us that we too, who are filled withthe Spirit of the Incarnate Lord, to exert great mental effort to ponder allthat an intimate relationship with Him will bring to us?

So if you and I want togrow in that inner sense of peace we are being reminded today – the first dayof this new year – to ponder what we have as Christians and what we are to dowith it.

We have the Holy Spiritin us - the gift of the Spirit of the Prince of Peace enabling us to say withabsolute certainty “Abba Father.”

Do you have that sortof relationship with Jesus Christ?

To Ponder: If you wish to experience that sense of peacewhich is the birthright of every follower of Jesus Christ then we need tofollow the example of His mother – who spent her life pondering these things!

To ponder – this is ourcalling if we are ever to experience any sense of extended peace in our innerbeing – in our soul.

The Greek word translated “to ponder” is sumba¿llw; and itmeans to give careful consideration to various implications of anissue — ‘to reflect on, to think about seriously, to think deeply about, tomeditate upon, to contemplate upon.

This is what Mary did – she pondered – she carefullyconsidered various implications associated with Jesus and His ways.

Mary was a contemplative.

Jesus was different; magnificently different and Mary got towatch and learn from Him. She got tomeditate upon His words and actions.

The question to begin this New Year is this – Do you want tobe a much better person 12 months from now? Someone more and more like Jesus Himself?

Then Treasuring and Pondering are going to have to becomehabits of your heart!

Let’s begin this process with your writing down 4 questions:you want to answers to this year.

They could be:

· How can I experience more and more of Youand Your peace?

· What does Your peace feel like?

· What needs to change in my life for me toexperience Your peace?

· How can I who is driven by restlessnessever experience Your peace?

· How can I draw ever closer to You thesource of all peace?

And here are some prayersthat you could pray:

· Reveal to me what I need to let go of toexperience more of You and Your peace?

· Come close to me Lord so that I may inquireof you.

· Be to me as you were to Mary.

· Help me to become a contemplative who looksfor and finds you all about me.

· Help to stop my incessant innerchatter. Replace it with your calmPresence.

· Reveal to me sources of unrest in my soul,in my environment, in my associates, in my job, in our home, in our Church . ..

· Help me to develop prayer habits that willfight back to incursion of all unrest in my life . . .

And so let us pray . . .

Sermon, December 24, 2011 "Finding God In Everyone"

2011-12-23T23:25:00.002-05:00

Thisevening we ponder the amazing reality that God desires to be with us.

TheOT prophet Isaiah predicted it 800 years before it happened when he wrote:

Is. 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will giveyou a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, andwill call him Immanuel.

And the New Testament Gospelwriter Matthew revealed it’s historical reality when he wrote:

Matt. 1:23 “The virgin will be with child andwill give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “Godwith us.”

Ignatius Loyola, the founder ofthe Jesuit Order in the 15^th century, had one driving passion thatmarked his entire life and ministry and it was this:

“To find God who iswith us in everything.”

In other words, St.Ignatius took God at His word and decided for the rest of His life to look forand find God in everything all about him.

Why could St. Ignatius have suchcertainty that God is present with us always and everywhere?

Because Jesus said just before Heascended into Heaven:

Matt. 28:20 . . . And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Apostle Luke was convinced of this fact when hewrote:

Acts 17:28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

Our Lord is Immanuel - God withus! He is ever and always with us. He came to us in the past – He comes to us inthe present - and He will come to us again that final time when heaven comes toearth completely!

He comes to all of us – the good,the bad and the ugly.

He comes to save the lost – notjust to proper and the prim.

He is with us in this sanctuaryright now.

Evangelicals tend to look for and find Him in His Word – the Bible!

Charismatics tend to look for and find Him in praise and worship!

Sacramentalists tend to look for and find Him inthe Eucharist!

But how many of us look for and findHim in each other . . . for He is there also to be found.

Let’snever forget that we were made in God’s image – the Bible tells us that in itsfirst Book:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Gen. 1:27

The mark of God is on all human beingsand it is His heart’s desire all would come to know and love Him as theirFather.

Butto be able to do this day in and day out we need something . . . a pure heart.

Jesustold us this when he said,

Blessedare the pure in heart,

for they will see God. Matt. 5:8

Keepyour heart pure. A pure heart is absolutely essential if we are going find Godin each other.

Tothis end then I would offer you this. May it become our prayer:

To FindYou

Create in me a pureheart

Renew a rightspirit within me

So that I mayfind myself

Unbound,unfettered and free.

To find you everywhere

In everyone andeverything

That’s a prayerworth praying

A dreamworth dreaming.

To live a life ofwonderment

Amazed atfinding you

I live and moveand have my being

Immersed - afloatin you.

I find youeasily

in heavenlysacraments

But not so easily

In angry arguments.

Are you reallyhere and there

All about andeverywhere

Ever waiting tobe seen

To turn mybattles into your dreams.

Dreams andprayers of heaven on earth

Your dreams and prayersfor me and all

To live a lifesecure and free

From death andthreat to liberty.

May we thencloth ourselves

In your humble sinlessness

So that our eyesare opened wide

To find youthere and at our side.

Never alone withourselves

You stand withus Immanuel

Come now andnever cease

To come to us agift of peace.

O Lord teach ushow to pray

For purity ofheart and mind

So that ourearthy eyes can see

Through heartsinspiried by purity.

Mydear family prayer inevitably helps us to find God who is always and ever withus. Prayer helps us to purify our heartsand pure hearts only can see God!

MayI encourage us all in this coming year to purify our hearts and then to lookfor and find God all about us!

Letus pray . . .

sermon, December 18, 2011 "Say 'Yes' to God."

2011-12-18T18:54:00.002-05:00

1. GoodMorning! Let’s pray. O Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts bepleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

2. OpeningComment: It’s the Sunday before Christmas Sunday –that means there are, in children’s terms, six “sleeps” before we get ourChristmas presents! But for us parentsit’s six frenetic anxious shopping days before Christmas!!!

I had my hair cut this last week and I wasable to eavesdrop on what was going on all around me in the shop. The driving theme behind almost all of thoseconversations was the “emotional tension” that this happy season brings in itstrain. There’s going to be a great dealof “Phewing” going on in about 7 sleeps from now! Ha!

So what does Immanuel – the God who is withus, who comes to us – want to say to us on this fourth Sunday of Adventotherwise known as the “Love” Sunday?

Let’s briefly review our readings for today. As I do this keep the following words in mind– “loving kindness”and “covenant:”

In the First Reading from 2Samuel chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 we hear the LORD asserting His covenant –that’s “Berith” in Hebrew – withDavid.

“AndI will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel.”

This same readingconcluded with these prophetic words:

“I, the LORD, will be a father to Davidand he shall be a son to me. Your houseand your kingdom David shall endure forever before me; your throne shall standfirm forever.”

Withthese words the LORD established David’s dynasty for a thousand years! (between 990 and 1010 years).

In our Psalm Reading we read,

Psa.89:28 Iwill maintain my love – my chesed - to him forever, and my covenant – my berith- with him will never fail –will stand absolutely firm!

Have you picked up on any themeyet?

Yes, it’s the idea of God’sloving kindness and of his covenant – His faithful - love!

In our Second Reading from the New Testament Book ofRomans we heard St. Paul affirming in his classic doxological way the magnificent wisdom of Godwho has confirmed His promises to David in the advent – the coming - of JesusChrist!

And finally in our Gospel Reading we witnessedthe Archangel Gabriel’s visit with Mary and Mary’s humble response to hisrequest of her: “Yes, be it unto me as You have said.”

Let me read that once again:

Luke 1:26 ¶ In the sixth month the angel Gabrielwas sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virginbetrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 He went in and said to her,‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favor! The Lord is with you.’

That word “favor”in Greeks is carito/w andit means:

“to show kindness to someone,with the implication of graciousness on the part of the one showing suchkindness — to manifest graciousness toward someone.”

Sothe sense here is that God’s gracious kindness – his “chesed” – His lovingKindness - is upon Mary! Reading on:

Luke 1:29 Mary was deeply disturbed by thesewords and asked herself what this greeting could mean, 30 but the angelsaid to her, ‘Mary, don’t be afraid; you have won God’s favor – God’s “makarios!” His loving-kindness. Reading on:

Luke 1:31 Look! You are to conceive in your womband bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. 32 He will be great andwill be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throneof his ancestor David; Here we see God’sfulfillment of the promise He made to David! Reading on:

Luke 1:33 he will rule over the House of Jacobfor ever and his reign will have no end.’

Luke 1:34 Mary said to the angel, ‘But how canthis come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ 35 The angelanswered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most Highwill cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will becalled Son of God.

Luke 1:36 And I tell you this too: your cousinElizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people calledbarren is now in her sixth month, 37for nothing is impossible to God.’

Luke 1:38 Mary said, ‘You see before you theLord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’ And the angel left her.

“Letit be to me as you have said” – “fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.” "Be it done unto meaccording to Your rhema - your word."

These words inauguratedsalvation history on earth! For withMary’s “Yes” God’s plan of redeeming the world was set in place!

May’s “yes” was no casualaffirmation!

This was not a frightened littleJewish peasant overwhelmed by the visitation of an archangel! No it was the affirmation of one preparedfrom eternity for this charge.

Just as the Arch of the Old Covenant was designedand ordered to be made by divine intention so too was the Arch of the New Covenant – Mary – designedand ordered by divine intention!

Like the Old Testament Arch thatcarried the symbols of God’s covenant love for the Israelites so too now Mary –the Arch of the New Testament - will carry the incarnated love of almighty God– Jesus Christ!

No longer signs and symbols butsubstantial flesh and blood – God’s incarnated Hesed – His incarnated lovingkindness!

Application.

So let’s look a bit closer atGod’s Loving Kindness – His chesed - revealed so faithfully throughout the eonsto us!

Accordingto Nelson Glueck, a renowned Biblical and Archeological scholar, the Hebrewword “hesed,”translated here as “loving kindness,” doesn’t refer to a spontaneous,ultimately unmotivated kindness, but rather to a mode of behavior that arisesfrom a relationship defined by rights and obligations. Like those between a husband and wife or aparent to a child. It’s the sort of lovethat isn’t casual but “earthed” in the understanding of the needs of those whoare being loved. It’s the mother’s everready nurturing of her child. It’s thefather’s impulse to the protection of his family. It’s the friends willingness to take a bulletfor his or her beloved friend. It’s inthe young lovers gift giving to one another.

Ultimately it’s attentive responsiveness to the needs of the beloved.

It’s not about “What can you do for me.” But rather “What can I do for you!”

So“Hesed” is the very intentional loving kindness that’s birthed out of an inviolateor pure divine commitment to serve and bless the other. It’s an infinitely faithful loving kindnessthat will never be withdrawn!

It’snot an “if you do this then I’ll do that” sort of love but rather a one sidedcommitment to love regardless of the behavior of the beloved.

God’slove – God’s “hesed” love isn’t fickle – offered today but withdrawntomorrow. It’s based on the character ofGod and is infinitely pure – uncontaminated with conflicting affections. It won’t be withdrawn because it’s offeredwithout obligation! The obligation isnever mandated but freely given!

This is the love that Jesus cameinto earthly existence to bring to us! It’s the love that the Persons of the Trinity have for one another!

He– Jesus Christ - is the gift of Christmas! He is the incarnate “Hesed” – living flesh and blood - covenant lovingkindness!

Sowhen Mary said “Yes” she was recognizing her place in bringing such love toearth!

Nowhear this – it’s as we say “Yes” to God’s love for us that we begin a “halting”yet inexorable saying of “Yes” to love everyone else.

TrulySt. John was right when he said,

“1John 4:19 We love because he first lovedus. 20. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he’s aliar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot loveGod, whom he has not seen.” 1Jn 4:20.

NowI know how hard this is to actually do. Whether we like it or not those of us who have felt God’s indescribablelove for us are compelled by a holy compulsion to overcome every obstacle inour fallen selves and even every obstacle that other’s throw in our faces – tolove them with his unconditional love.

Nowthere is probably no better place to discover how strong this compulsion toholy love is than in a marriage!

Asone of my dear dear friends said just a few days ago –

“What an exquisite institution in whichto work out this holy calling!”

Tolove faithfully another for 20, 30, 40, 50 or even 60 years is a journey towardsthis “hesed” love.

Evenif we’re not married we are all called to this covenantal sort of love in ourfriendships.

Thechallenge is not to stop at pragmatic accommodation which sounds like this:

“He will never change so I’d betterwork at tolerating him. I must work atfinding a way to remain functional in this relationship.”

This is the most natural but the worst kind of accommodationto something less that what God gives to us and thereby calls us to!

Whetherwe like it or not God is calling each and every one of us to His “Hesed” typeof love!

It’sthis kind of love that gives us the baby Jesus!

It’sthis kind of love that died on the cross for us!

It’sthis kind of love that echoes down through the millennia and reveals any othertype of love counterfeit in it’s presence.

Youand I know when we’ve compromised on this love. We know it and it haunts us until we have surrendered and found it againor when we have deafened ourselves to it with our laborious efforts atself-deception.

Where do you find yourself today?

Areyou, like Mary, saying “Yes” to his call to live in and live out His sublimeHesed or are you loudly or even secretly uttering a surly “No” and wrappingyourself up in the cold comfort of your hurts and self-deceptions?

It’salways our choice. You see “Hesed” lovenever compels but rather woos! Itentices, encourages, never gives up.

Thislove is described by St Paul in his first letter to the wayward CorinthianChurch:

1Cor. 13:1 ¶ If I speak in the tongues of men and ofangels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1Cor. 13:2 If I have the gift ofprophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faiththat can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1Cor. 13:3 If I give all Ipossess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, Igain nothing.

1Cor. 13:4 ¶ Loveis patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

1Cor. 13:5 It is not rude, it isnot self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1Cor. 13:6 Love does not delightin evil but rejoices with the truth.

1Cor. 13:7 It always protects,always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1Cor. 13:8 ¶ Lovenever fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there aretongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1Cor. 13:9 For we know in partand we prophesy in part,

1Cor. 13:10 but when perfectioncomes, the imperfect disappears.

1Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, Italked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When Ibecame a man, I put childish ways behind me.

1Cor. 13:12 Now we see but a poorreflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part;then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1Cor. 13:13 ¶ Andnow these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these islove.

Willyou today say “Yes” to God’s call to once again step up and into His love?

Letus Pray . . .

Sermon, December 11, 2011 "Joy is to Know Who You Are to God"

2011-12-10T20:40:00.001-05:00

1. Good Morning! Let’s pray – OLord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasingto You O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

2. Opening Comments: So did younotice that I’m wearing a different colored stole this morning? I’ll be wearing a chasuble soon that will bethe same color. Yes, it’s Rose coloredand it signifies that this Sunday is Gaudete Sunday – Joy Sunday!

Over the first millenniumof Christianity the season of Advent was sort of like a late Lent. Both theseason of Lent and Advent were originally five weeks long and both were markedby fasting and penance. It should alsobe said that both of them gave their Christian adherents a day off half waythrough.

In Lent Laudete Sunday isstill half way through the five-week season. Advent, on the other hand, wasshortened to four weeks in the 10th century, and Pope St Gregory the Great lessenedthe fasting and penitential aspects of this season in the 12^thcentury, but Joy or Gaudete Sunday has remained.

“Gaudete” is Latin for“Rejoice” and takes its name from Mary’s song the Magnificat which begins withthe words “My soul ‘magnifies’ the Lord. She sang in response to her being chosen asthe Mother of Jesus – God incarnate!

Mary’s Magnificat was, bythe way, very similar to Hanna’s (1Samuel 2) song of joy in the OldTestament. Mary’s Magnificat was read tous this morning:

Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul – magnificat - magnifies the Lord 47 and my spirit gaudate’s - rejoices - in Godmy Savior, 48 for he has beenmindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for theMighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercyextends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things buthas sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful

Wouldn’t you love to be able to sing a songlike this?

To know that God has a very very specialplace for you in His plan for humanity is probably the most joyful thing ahuman being can experience. Wouldn’t youfeel amazingly special – especially anointed . . . specially chosen?

It was as I read this magnificent song ofjoy again and again that the key for this Homily came into focus.

What is it for us humans that brings us“Joy?” We hear it in Mary’s song – thekey to this magnificent joy is in this song! Can you see it? Can you hear it?

Look at it once again please.

Ask Kevin to put it up on the screen

Fromnow on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One hasdone great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends tothose who fear him, from generation to generation. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things buthas sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful

Can you see what it is? - “For the Mighty One has done great thingsfor me!” For me! The Mighty One has donegreat things!

It’s not just in “Mary’s Magnificat!” Listen for it in our First Reading fromIsaiah chapter 61 beginning at verse 1.

These, incidentally, are the same wordsthat Jesus Himself chose to launch his public ministry. Listen for the key to His joy:

Is.61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointedme to preach good news to the poor. Hehas sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captivesand release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor andthe day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soulrejoices in my God.

In these two magnificentexclamations of profound joy we hear these tell-tale phrases:

. . . the Mighty One has done greatthings for me

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me

He hassent me

my soul rejoices in my God.

Both Mother and Son – Maryand Jesus - have the same spirit of Joy in them – what’s it’s key?

THEY FEEL GOD’S SPECIAL FAVOR ON THEM! THEIR VERY IDENTITY IS SOMEHOW TIED INTO GOD!– THE MIGHTY ONE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR ME – FOR ME . . . GOD HAS DONE GREATTHINGS! MY VERY IDENTITY IS SOMEHOW TIEDTO GOD! MY LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN MEANINGBECAUSE OF HIS BLESSING UPON ME – HIS CALLING UPON MY LIFE IS THE SOURCE OF MYFEELING UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TO HIM. IT’STHE SOURCE OF MY DELIGHT – MY JOY! YES,I’M FILLED WITH JOY IN KNOWING THAT GOD LOVES ME AND HAS A SPECIAL THING FOR METO DO IN LIFE!

Listen to words again:

. . . the Mighty Onehas done great things for me

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me

Hehas sent me

my soulrejoices in my God.

MY SOUL – MY GOD – WE’REFINDING OUR IDENTITY IN GOD!!!

Our Second Reading: Wesense this same reality in our Second Reading when St. Paul concludes with thisbeautiful sentence:

“The one whocalls you is faithful,

and He will accomplish it.”

IT’S THE FUNDAMENTAL CONNECTION – THAT FUNDAMENTALIDENTIFICAION BETWEEN US AND GOD!

It was the prophet Isaiah who foretold that avirgin would give birth to a son who would be called “Immanuel! Which means“God with us!”

Jesus is Immanuel – God with us – God forus! God fully identifies with us – butdo we fully identify with Him? For thisis the very source of our eternal joy!

We were, as the Bible says, “made in Hisimage” – fully identified with God from the beginning. It’s only as we rediscover this identity –this favor we have with God - that we begin to enter more and more into the joythat is our very birthright.

And now please turn with meto our Gospel reading for it’s here that we round out our understanding of ouridentity with our Lord!

Please turn with me to the Gospel of John chapter 1 beginningat verse 6:

John1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 Hecame as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all menmight believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witnessto the light.

John1:19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priestsand Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, butconfessed freely, “I am not the Christ.’” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are youElijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” ¶ He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to thosewho sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah theprophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the wayfor the Lord.’” 24 Now some Phariseeswho had been sent 25 questionedhim, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor theProphet?” 26 “I baptize withwater,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 Heis the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy tountie.” 28 This all happened atBethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

When John, the Forerunner, proclaimed this he was very clear aboutthe fact that he was not Jesus – but he was the one destined and nowcalled to run before him proclaiming his advent!

John’s identity was clear –– He was called to prepare the wayfor the “adventing” – the coming of the Lord!

This is our fundamental identity – we’re not God incarnate –we’re not Jesus Christ – no! But we are uniquely called toprepare for his coming. This is ouridentity and this is the source of our most sublime joy for it’s only as we arebeing and doing what we were made for that we’re most joyful!

We, because of Jesus Christ, are now filled with HIS Spirit which empowers usto more and more fully identify with Him and His calling to bring the Great andGood news that God loves us – that God fully and most magnificently identifieswith us and wants us for the sake of our joy to enter into our birthright – ourcalling – to joyfully PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD TO COME INTO THE LIVES OFALL ABOUT US!

TheBaptism: Soon we will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism – Baby Claire Marie Hareswill receive this sacrament at the hands of another Christian and by thissacrament will be eternally marked by the sign of God!

She will be given her Christian identity! She will be identified with Christ. She will go under the waters of Baptism andwill arise a Child of God! . . . Forever!

This mark will identify her as Christ’s – and no oneelse’s. Full identification – that’swhat the sacrament of Baptism is all about and for the rest of her life theChurch and the Holy Spirit will call her to a faithful walk into the fullnessof her baptism! And as she does this shewill enter more and more fully into the joy of the Lord!

Application:

Now how does all of this apply to you and me today?

In the world today you and I are continually bombarded with clarioncalls to identify with this product or that charismatic personality or that“vote for me” politician. “Come now –identify with me and my cause!” “Comeaway from your boring life and discover joy beyond compare as you bask in thecrystal clear waters of shangri la!” Andon and on it goes 24/7.

What they want is what we’ve got – us and our belongings! They want all of us – they want us toidentify with them and their standard of living!

It’s all about what you have and how I can get it fromyou. Oh it’s clothed in all sorts offancy gift wrapping but now one is giving anything away for free – there’salways a pay back . . . in the form of interest and debt.

Let me share with you the greatest gift you can give yourloved ones this Christmas and every the person you meet in the supermarket thisafternoon or the person standing in the movie line this evening. This gift will release joy in the person yougive it to.

We’ve been talking about it for the last 15 or more minutes.

God gave it to Mary more than two thousand years ago. What isit? It’s to reveal to them who they areto God and then who they are to you. It’s to give them an insight into their heavenly identity – who theywere created to be.

To do this requires looking at them with your eyes of yourheart – to see more than eyes can see and hear more than ears can hear. It’s to see and hear what only the heartwarmed by God can see and hear. It’s tosee and hear who they were created to be. This is their identity.

Jesus did this with His disciples. Good lovers do it with their beloved. Good mother’s and fathers do it with theirchildren. Good friends do it with theirfriends.

Most simply it’s God inspired insights into a person’s verysoul and then to have the courage to reveal it to them. It will release delight and joy as theydiscover God’s blessings – His anointing’s upon their lives. His creator fingerprints upon the fabric oftheir very inner beings! This is whatGod did for Mary and it’s what God has done and wants always to do in ourlives.

It’s the gift of our Heavenly identity – given to us by GodAlmighty Himself!

The greatest gift you could give your beloved this Christmasis to reveal to them who they really are! It’s to give them a peek at who they were created to be and in doing sowe’re drawing them ever closer to the One who created them. To know your giftings is to know the Giftgiver and this is what Christmas is all about!

I’d like you now to think of someone you know who is unhappy .. . who is joyless.

Now think about them – look at them in your mind’s eye. See them clearly.

“Now Lord we all invite you to reveal something in them thatYou’ve placed there – a mark of your Creator hands.”

Keep looking at them – what Lord is a key element of who theyare to You?

Be still . . . wait . . . hold them in your mind’s eye. Listen and look with your heart open wide forGod’s revelation.

What is God going to say to such a request?

Of course He will give you something. Now share it with them.

Tell of the incident of Jamie – “I will never forget . . . .”

Tell of the incident with Scott . . . “

Tell of the incident with Ann Currier – healing . . .

Practice them more and more – As long as you do this for onereason and one reason only and that is to bless them – to encourage them – to revealGod’s love for them!

The source of your joy and mine is in discovering who wereally are to the One who created us, who sustains us, and who loves us!

Let’s pray . . .