Sermon: Proper 17 RCL A - "Just Lift"

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Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

A certain Priest who was very fond of horseradish — the real thing, not the adulterated stuff that is half horseradish and half turnip — carried a bottle of it with him when he went on holiday. While he was eating dinner in a hotel restaurant, another diner at the next table said he was from a far away country and was curious about the bottle in front of the Priest’s plate… “Try some”, said the Priest… The stranger needed no second invitation. He placed some of the horseradish on his plate, and then put a heaped spoonful in his mouth. His face immediately turned red, his eyes bulged, and tears ran down his face. He swallowed convulsively two or three times, and grabbed a glass of water, which he immediately poured down his throat, followed by a second, and a third… Looking reproachfully at the Priest, the stranger said, “I have known many men of God who have preached hellfire and damnation, but you, sir, are the first I ever saw who carried a sample right along with him!”

This past week someone was good enough to point out something about the last two sermons… They believed – erroneously – that during the sermon a few weeks ago that I essentially referred to everyone as “dogs” and then this past week I was kind enough to imply that we were all “prostitutes” of a sort… I suppose I need to stay away from those Baptist hell fire and damnation web sites… But it was suggested that I might consider easing up a bit… Not that I actually said those things.. I think it had more to do with a guilty conscience than anything I may have said, but, none the less, I had to agree.. and so have chosen for this week a topic that is a bit more genteel.. so the text I’ll be working from today is the from what Jesus spoke in our Gospel, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”.. Can I get an “Amen!?”

Actually.. why don’t we start from there and see where it leads us.  Our Gospel reading last week was Matthew 16:13-20… the reading this week is Matthew 16:21-28.. it is a continuation of the conversation between Jesus and his disciples… Last week we said that Peter got the Gold Star for answering Jesus question correctly… Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?”… Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” … Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven”…. Less than four verses later, Peter has his Gold Star snatched away… "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

What happened?... Peter misunderstood.. when Jesus had blessed him he also said, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”  Peter heard those words and probably thought to himself, “Hooraah!  We’ve got our king and now we are going to be kicking some behinds and taking some names!”.. but then Jesus starts talking about how he must die.. and Peter can’t understand how they can form a kingdom without Jesus at the lead… but as we all know.. and as Peter would later understand.. Jesus was not talking about an earthly kingdom.. but the heavenly one.. and this kingdom will not be won with sword and shield.. but instead by taking up our own cross – as Jesus has done – and following him.  It is a battle for the soul.. not the body… and the battle for the soul is won in the way of the cross.. and that is not an easy battle and not everyone is up for the task. 

As Thomas a Kempis writes, “If you were but worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus, what great glory would be in store for you, what great joy to all the saints of God, what great edification to those about you! For all men praise patience though there are few who wish to practice it.”  But it is in the suffering of the cross that we find our victory… Again, Brother Thomas writes, “In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection from enemies, in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is highest virtue, in the cross is perfect holiness. There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.”… Dare to become a holocaust in the bearing of your cross.. and bear it patiently as Jesus bore his..

For most in the Christian faith and a great many outside of it.. this is nothing new.. You will always hear someone say, “Well, we all have our cross to bear.”.. but within the Christian faith.. it doesn’t end there.. because just when we’ve about figured out how to bear our own cross.. then it seems that God calls on us to be a Simon of Cyrene… Who’s he?..  “After they had mocked Jesus, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.  As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.”

“My goodness.. I’ve got enough on my plate without having to put up with this nonsense… Fr. John.. have you SEEN the size of my cross?  Do you have any idea how heavy it is.. and now you are telling me I’m going to have to help someone else with theirs?  You’ve GOT to be kidding?” – Nope.

What did we hear in our Old Testament reading today – Fr. John’s translation – “Hey Moses.. I know you’ve got all these sheep to tend.. family.. all that.. but I want you to head on down to Egypt land and help my people carry their cross.”… What did Paul say to the Romans.. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”… In other words.. Get in there and help others with their crosses.. and as God was with Moses.. He will be with you also… and just as you bear your own cross patiently.. bear this one patiently as well… Let me explain that one…

There are days when we all need help with our own cross.  There WILL be days when we are the ones calling out to God and anyone else who will listen to help us with our cross and there is nothing wrong with that – If there is a day when you need help with your cross and you DON’T call on me – as soon as your done hurtin’.. I’m gonna’ hurt you all over again! 

.. but if you are the one being called in to help.. then don’t be the one making the most noise!  You know what I’m saying?... ____ calls you up and needs you to be a Simon of Cyrene.. Their cross is too much (and yes, there are some whose cross is ALWAYS too heavy for them to bear – but that’s another sermon), but for those who sincerely need you—How do you respond?  Well, sometimes we end up making more noise than the one calling… “Oy vey! .. would you look at the size of this cross I have to bear.. and now.. now.. I’m needed over here.. I just don’t know if my back can take anymore”.. affectionately known as the martyr syndrome.. Don’t do that… just get in there.. put your back into it.. and lift.. lift… As you become a holocaust in bearing your own cross.. do the same in your zeal to assist others with theirs. 

What is the result of becoming a holocaust for the Cross of Christ?  I would like to tell you that your own burdens will become lighter … truth is.. they won’t.. it will definitely make your work a bit more difficult.   I would like to tell you that you will receive extra special blessings from God.. maybe a couple hundred years off purgatory.. or a bigger mansion in heaven.. but that’s not likely to happen  either.  Truly.. the only thing that will happen.. is that you will learn.  What will you learn? … you will learn a bit more about what it means to love as Jesus loves… For some.. that is no reward… but for others – those true lovers of the Cross of Christ – it is the only reward worth… dying for.

Let us pray… Take courage, beloved, let us go forward together and Jesus will be with us. For Jesus' sake we have taken this cross. For Jesus' sake let us persevere with it. He will be our help as He is also our leader and guide. Behold, our King goes before us and will fight for us. Let us follow like soldiers. Let no man fear any terrors. Let us be prepared to meet death valiantly in battle. Let us not suffer our glory to be blemished by fleeing from the Cross.  Amen.

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And just in case you need a bit more hellfire and brimstone, I leave you with this...

RIP: Bennie Lee Smets

Obituary for Bennie Lee can be found here.

Sermon: Proper 16 RCL A - "Freedom"

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

In 1979 the band Supertramp released their album Breakfast in America… A true classic that won two Grammys and had songs like “Take the Long Way Home” and “Goodbye Stranger”… One of my favorites is the “Logical Song”.. here’s a bit of the lyrics…

When I was young

It seemed that life was so wonderful

A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical

And all the birds in the trees

Well they'd be singing so happily

Joyfully, playfully watching me

But then they send me away

To teach me how to be sensible

Logical, responsible, practical

And then they showed me a world

Where I could be so dependable

Clinical, intellectual, cynical

There are times when all the world's asleep

The questions run too deep for such a simple man

Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?

I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am

I suppose it’s a bit like that for all of us.. as the St. Paul writes, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”.. yet.. in that process we lose a bit of who we actually are.  We become different things for different people and situations.  At work we may be the control freak.. and at home we may transform into the couch potato.. and who we really are remains a small mystery.  However, when we are honest with God, ourselves.. and the world around us.. we most likely know exactly who and what we are.

The play, Man of La Mancha, is based on the story of Don Quixote… in it there is a rather remarkable dialogue between Aldonsa and Don Quixote… Aldonsa is.. well she’s a floozie.. having slept with every man in the prison.  Sometimes she slept with them for money.. other times for pleasure.  It didn’t really matter, but she hated herself for it.  It is while in this state that Don Quixote comes into her life.. and instead of seeing her as a floozie he sees her as someone of great worth.. and so he attempts to win her over as his own, but she shoots him down at every turn… he begins calling her Dulcinea, which means “my sweet little one” and My Lady.  He describes her hair as gold, her hands as ivory and on and on.. thinking none could compare to her.  One day he calls to her “Dulcinea, My Lady!” and that’s when she flies off the handle… she rails at him.. I was born in a ditch.. I have no idea who my father is.. and I’ve spent most of my life on my back with a man on top of me… and she concludes by saying to him, “Blows and abuse I can take and give back again, but tenderness I cannot bear… I’m just a whore.”  In God’s eyes, her own eyes, and the eyes of the world around her she thought she knew exactly who she was… I’m just a whore.

In our Gospel reading today.. Jesus takes the twelve off by themselves to a place called Caesarea Philippi… and there he asks them a few questions.. first.. “Who do the people say that I am?”  The apostles give him a few answers.. John the Baptist.. Elijah.. or a prophet like Jeremiah.. but then he makes the question a bit more personal, “But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."… Jesus responds, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”… Simon Peter got the gold star that day.. he answered the question perfectly.. and the answer was not one that he could have known himself, but one that was revealed to him by God… but (and yes, that’s one of those big buts).. Peter could not have known that answer unless he first honestly knew himself.. and he did…

Did you notice in our Old Testament reading that we finished up the story of Joseph and now are moving into the story of Moses?  Joseph was a savior of the Jews during the seven year drought.. and over time their numbers grew while living in Egypt.  They grew so much that the Egyptians became afraid of them.. made them slaves.. killed their male children.. yet one was safely floated down the river.. Moses.  Like Joseph, Moses will also become a savior of the Jews… It will be through Moses that God’s Law will be given and it will become a savior of the people… Do this.. do that.. follow the Law to the letter and God will keep you under the shade of his right hand… do evil and you’re on your own… Another savior of the people was Esther.. but in the end.. we all know how that story worked out… time and again they failed.. they were sent into exile.. returned.. failed again.. sent into exile again.. they were conquered.. beat down.. by the time Jesus came on the scene they were living in the Promised Land.. but only as an occupied country.. this time the Romans.  God had given them saviors over the years, but.. in the end they had failed, unable to remain holy in the eyes of the Lord…

I said that Peter knew who he was.. and he did.  He knew the history of his people as well as his own.. and they were all failures of a sort.. like all those that had gone before him, he was unable to remain holy in the eyes of God… I don’t know that Peter ever looked at himself and said with Aldonsa, “I am just a whore,” but I suspect that he might have said something close… and it was only in this knowing of himself.. that he was able to answer Jesus question, “Who do you say that I am?”… Think that’s true?...

Consider again the parable I shared with you last week, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’   “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 

Did the Pharisee see anything wrong with himself?  Did he recognize the fact that he even needed a savior?... No… But what about the tax collector?... “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”… Was his recognition of himself any different than that of Aldonsa, “I’m just a whore… a sinner?”… The same was true with Peter – He knew who he was and so he could answer Jesus.

Now, please don’t get me wrong, this scripture is about Jesus.. it is about who He is and what He is.. but in order for you to know Jesus as the Savior.. as the Messiah as Peter did.. you must first know yourself, because it is only in honestly knowing yourself that you are able to recognize your need for a savior.

Consider this passage from Matthew’s Gospel… While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  For I have not come to call the righteous.. but the tax collectors.. the failures.. the whores.. the sinners… but before you know you need a doctor, you must first recognize and admit that you are sick… before you know you need a savior, you must first recognize and confess that you are a sinner… and in recognizing your need for a savior.. God will make known to you your Savior… His Son – Jesus...

When Aldonsa declared to Don Quixote, “I am just a whore,” he responded to her, “The past is over and done.  We all stumble on the way to maturity.  We all look for love in the wrong arms, happiness in the wrong places.  But out of it, you’ve become real.  You’ve got a heart of immense compassion for the brokenness of others.  You are utterly incapable of hypocrisy and I am deeply in love with you.”… the silence follows.. and finally Aldonsa answers, “From this day forward my name is no longer Aldonsa.  I am Dulcinea.”.. My Lady.

We come before God and say to him.. I am a sinner.. a tax collector.. a whore.. a ___.. you know what you are.. and in our confession Jesus responds to us… “The past is over and done.  We all stumble on the way.. you are My Father’s child.. and I am deeply in love with you.”.. and it is from that day forward we can say to him, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" and know in our hearts that we are free.. free to love and be loved by God.”

Let us pray… O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who, by the will of the Father, with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, have by Your death given life to the world, deliver us by this Your Most Sacred Body and Blood from all sins and from every evil. Make us always cling to Your commandments, and never permit us to be separated from You. Who with the same God the Father and the Holy Spirit, live and reign, God, world without end. Amen.

Sermon: Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A man reports walking across a bridge.  He says, I saw a man standing on the edge of the bridge, about to jump off. I immediately ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!" … "Why shouldn't I?" he said. … I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" … "Like what?" … "Well ... are you religious or atheist?" … "Religious." … "Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?" … "Christian." … "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?" … "Protestant." … "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?" … "Baptist." … "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" … "Baptist Church of God." … "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" … "Reformed Baptist Church of God." … "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" … "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" … To which I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.

Ever notice how much Christians have to argue over?  From the dating of Easter to the proper liturgical color for the seasons, we will argue.. and if you want to get folks riled up on all sides all you need to do is mention the Blessed Virgin Mary… and that fight has been going on for a while now… The Roman Catholic tradition has always held her in high esteem…however.. except for the high churchmen of the Episcopal / Anglican church… she is politely forgotten…. The more Protestant churches during the Reformation basically demonized her… and during the 16th century statues of her were burned or hacked to pieces after they had been paraded through brothels.. but why?  As Martin Luther stated… “Mary suckled God, rocked God to sleep and prepared broth for God to eat.”… but for the most part in the more modern times… she has been pushed aside… as one theologian put it … “we drag Mary out at Christmas and then pack her safely back in the crèche box for the rest of the year.”… However.. this church is a testament as to why that shouldn’t be so…

      (Here I will walk the congregation through the various stained glass windowns in the church, as well as, other depictions of the BVM)

-         Annunciation

-         The nativity and the visitation of the Magi

-         At the dedication with Simeon and Anna

-         Not biblical –  Cousin Elizabeth / John / Jesus

-         Present at first miracle

-         Found Jesus in the temple

-         Circle / sword will pierce your heart

-         The crown – Queen – lilies

-         Our Lady of perpetual help

-         Our Lady of Guadalupe

-         4^th Station – Jesus meets his mother

-         13^th Station – Jesus is placed in mother’s arms

From these images and the related scriptures… it is very clear that Mary’s role and position is being elevated... I don’t press anyone into believing this.. but for me.. I have to ask the question, “If Mary appeared in the Gospels so much and was so significant to the life of Jesus.. then shouldn’t she also be important and significant to me as well?”

At the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified… scripture says that “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." … Many scholars agree that in saying to John… Here is your mother… that Jesus was speaking to us all… and declaring his mother to be the Mother for all believers...

I’m not silly enough to believe that we are all of the same opinion on the significance of the role of Mary… but I think that we can agree that we should not only be able to recognize in her something worth aspiring to… but we should also see her as one… who... like all the other saints… can assist us in our daily lives.

She is known as the Mother of God… Queen of Heaven… Bride of Christ… Mother of Mercy… and She can assist us by interceding for us in our daily prayers and by standing beside us in our times of trial.  She understands the sorrows of the world better than any… especially after having stood by the cross and experienced her own deep sorrow in witnessing the death of her son Jesus.

Today.. on this feast of the Mother of our Lord…the Blessed Virgin Mary…  I encourage you to consider her as not only as an example to follow… but as the mother of us all… who is full of compassion and mercy… It is alright to speak to her and to call out to her as one of her children.. for in your deepest need… she will embrace you in the same manner that she embraced the very Son of God.

It was Mary who gave birth of Son of God.. and it is through the baptismal font that we are given a new birth in Him.. so let us begin to prepare our hearts with a song as we anticipate welcoming Paige into our family.

Sermon: Proper 15 RCL A - "Justice and Mercy"

Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

The early days of Montana were such as to try men’s souls… and.. The year 1863 was a frightful one.  The desperadoes were leagued together in a secret band for the purposed of robbery and murder.  How thoroughly and efficiently they were organized was not known till afterwards, when it was disclosed that Plummer, the lawfully elected sheriff and the civil officer sworn to preserve order, was the actual leader of the band.  He was a man of attractive address and polished manners; in the language of the mountains “a perfect gentleman,” and so won his way to the post of honor in the shrievalty.  But his heart was black with the indulgence of all criminal passions, and when roused to anger or revenge he was a demon.  He was accounted the best and quickest pistol-shot in the mountains.  A secret band of highwaymen, led by such a man, was a most formidable agent of violence and murder.

Something had to be done.. so a few brave men in Virginia City and in Bannack got together and said, “This must be stopped.”  The met and planned and counseled and the “Vigilance Committee” was formed… On December 18th the first of the desperados was arrested – George Ives.. a robber and murder.  His trial lasted three days and on December 21st the verdict was given by a 24 member jury – “Guilty.”  Trouble was.. there was a large number of desperados and everyone was aware that they would attempt to bust Ives out, so Col. Wilbur F. Sanders made a motion – “I move that George Ives be forthwith hung by the neck until he is dead.”… the motion passed.. and.. as Bishop Daniel Tuttle further reports… Within fifty-eight minutes from the close of Sanders’ speech the ghastly body of Ives was dangling lifeless in the moonlight.

The Vigilantes went on to capture and execute 29 of the desperados.  Bishop Tuttle reports, “I do not see how the wholesome work could have been done any other way.”

I’ve probably told you before, Bishop Tuttle is a bit of a hero of mine… I kind of like the way he thinks.  It seems to me that the type of justice that was served was a lot different back then.  Where as today we try and protect the rights of the criminals.. it seems that back then we protected the rights of the innocent.  It seems that we had the right idea about what justice actually was supposed to be.  Now a commentary on the ills of the justice system is not a road I’m prepared to go down today, but this idea of justice is.

In the Old Testament.. especially when you get into the parts about the Law.. God is very exact and swift in what He considers justice.  For example, “if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.”.. or .. “anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death.”.. and on and on the list goes.  The penalty for a crime is not always death, but there really seems to be know gray area on what the penalty might be… but there is another word that appears in Holy Scripture that balances out this exacting Law of God.. and that word is “mercy.”… time and time again the Psalmist cries for mercy, “Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.”.. or.. “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.”

How do justice and mercy work together.. David committed adultery with Bathsheba.. and Leviticus 20:10 declares, “If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.”.. very simple.. Yet, neither David nor Bathsheba were put to death.. and we find out partly why in Psalm 51, David cried to God for mercy, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”  God’s justice condemned David to death.. God’s mercy saved him.

This summer we once again brought Shakespeare in the Park to Anaconda and the play performed was the Merchant of Venice.  In the play, Antonio the merchant makes a deal for a loan of money with Shylock… In the event that he is unable to repay on time Antonio agrees to put up a pound of his flesh for collateral.. Well it is Shakespeare and Antonio is unable to pay on time.  Shylock calls for justice.. he calls for his pound of flesh.. and even though other arrangements can be made – up to three times the amount borrowed being returned to Shylock – he still refuses.. he demands justice.. his pound of flesh.  It is then that we have one of the most famous speeches on justice and mercy given by the young woman Portia who is posing as a lawyer…

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest:

it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice …

That, in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation: we do pray for mercy.

We have no means to live in the face of God’s righteous and perfect justice… none of us would have salvation if His justice were meted out as the Law requires.. but as the Apostle James declares, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”… to that verse St. Chrysostom responded by saying, Mercy “breaks chains, dispels darkness, extinguishes fire, kills the worm and takes away the gnashing of teeth.  By it the gates of heaven open with the greatest of ease.. In short.. mercy is a queen…”.. and mercy has a name – Jesus.

The question then is not whether God’s judgment is just.. or whether or not he extends His great mercy to us… the answer is “yes” to both… the question is how do we go from one to the other?  How do we go from being the rightful recipients of his exact and swift judgments.. to those who are blessed by his great mercy?

Our Gospel today provides the answer… A Canaanite – a gentile woman came to Jesus and began.. not speaking.. but shouting at him, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David”.. when that didn’t work, she ran forward and knelt before him saying, “Lord, help me.”… she even willingly accepted the label “dog” from Jesus – he was not trying to be cruel in  calling her that, but only making a point to those around him by playing to their preconceived ideas about who this woman was… He called her a dog just as they would have expected him to call her a dog.. but then he did the UNexpected… He showed mercy.

To go from being under God’s righteous judgment to receiving his limitless mercy is such a simple thing.. all it takes is kneeling before Jesus.. and saying.. “Have mercy on me… Help me”.. and in that one simple act you will turn away God’s wrath and receive His mercy…

Consider this parable of Jesus… “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’   “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The tax collector bowed before God and called for mercy.. and Jesus says that he went away justified – made right, before God.  Such a simple thing… and perhaps the most difficult thing you will ever do…. “I’m no dog!  I’m no tax collector!  I may not be a saint, but God will be lucky to have me in Heaven.. and if not.. well that’s fine too.. I’ll give my pound of flesh and go on about my way.”… Thing is.. your pound of flesh is not enough to make you justified before God… It is Jesus’ flesh – his and his alone – that makes you justified.. that imparts God’s mercy on us… If there were another way, I would be happy to share it with you, but there is not… If you are not convince of that.. then I would encourage you pray before a crucifix and ask yourself the question, “If there had been another way, would Jesus have had to endure this.”

Let us pray… Saviour, Majestic Redeemer of mankind, through Your kindness and forgiveness, You secured what was rightfully Yours. Having sinned against Your greatness, lured away by the prince of darkness, Your mercy released us from bondage. Grant us the insight of this great mercy, that we may understand the sinful nature and be as merciful as Your Holy Grace. Merciful Lord, anchor our souls to Heaven, never letting them out of Your sight, ensuring our eternal presence with You!  Amen.

RIP - Rev. William Fay

Obituary can be found here.

RIP - Carra Brolin

Obituary for Carra

Sermon: Proper 14 RCL A - "Walking on Water"

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Who here knows what the Kobayashi Maru is?  Anyone?  To know the answer means that you are a Trekkie.. that is.. one who enjoys Star Trek and the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the rest of the gang who go where “no man has gone before.”

The Kobayashi Maru is a star ship that lost power and drifted into Klingon.. that is enemy.. territory.  To do nothing to rescue the ship is to condemn the almost 400 passengers to death.  To attempt a rescue is to cross into Klingon territory and start a war… the scenario is a no-win—either way the consequences are very severe.

Well this event—in Star Trek world actually happened and it would later become a final test for those training to become star fleet commanders.  Therefore, Captain James T. Kirk had to take the test while in the academy.  He took it three times, failing the first two, but miraculously passing the third.  How?  He cheated.  He reprogrammed the test so that he could win.. even so.. he later admits that the test is a true no-win scenario.. not designed to find a solution, but instead designed to test the character of the one being tested.

Now.. you don’t have to be a Trekkie to encounter a Kobayashi Maru.. a no win situation.  In seminary.. during the second year of pastoral ministry.. the professor presented a pastoral Kobayashi Maru… The scenario went a bit like this… You, as a caring individual desiring to help humankind, encounter a man on a bridge.  The bridge is spanning a deep crevice of about one hundred feet with a raging river below.  Looking over the edge is enough to give just about anyone a case of the nerves.  The man on the bridge is holding about fifty feet of rope and asks you if you will hold one end of it.  You being the caring sort agree to do so.  He then proceeds to tie the other end of the rope around his waste.. and.. jumps off the bridge…. There.. dangling fifty feet below the bridge and fifty feet above the raging water.. the man yells up at you, “If you let go of the rope, I will die.”  You, being the caring, kind person.. What do you do?  Do you stand there forever holding the rope?  Do you tie him off to the bridge and walk away?  Do you yell back down at him, “I hope you can swim,” and let go of the rope?  The question in being asked is not trying to find the right answer, its about character: as a priest.. as a Christian.. how do you respond?

Christoph Cardinal Schönborn does a beautiful job of helping us to understand our Gospel reading today… he tells of the hill above Tabga, the place of the miraculous multiplication of the loaves – which is what took place immediately proceeding the events described in today’s Gospel.. and there in the hills above Tabga.. is a cave.  Local tradition says that Jesus withdrew into this cave to pray in solitude.  From this small grotto, a magnificent view over the entire Sea of Gennesaret is offered.  With this, we can well understand the setting of today’s Gospel.  While the disciples are already in their boat on the sea, probably traveling homeward in the direction of Capernaum, Jesus takes leave of the many people who have followed him on foot to this lonely place on the seacoast and who, for their part, are now returning home, richly rewarded with what they have heard and received from Jesus. 

But where is Jesus at home?  Where does he rest after work is completed?  It says he remained there alone on the seacoast and withdrew to the mountain overlooking the sea, “by himself to pray.”  If we want to get to know Jesus, then we will best find him where his heart is, where he is at home: in intimate contact with God, whom he calls “Father.”  He lives from this center; he draws his power from this source.

On the mountain with God, he nevertheless does not lose sight of his own.  He sees how they row with difficulty, for in the meantime one of the frequent severe winds arises that makes the sea so dangerous even today.  (Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, My Jesus: Encountering Christ in the Gospel, p. 103-4)

From his vantage point, Jesus sees all of this.  In the world as we know it.. it is a Kobayashi Maru.. a no-win scenario.  He could swim out there in the stormy waters and try to save them, but would likely drown in the process.. or he could do absolutely nothing and watch the storm eventually overcome the boat and have them drown… but in this no-win situation, what does Jesus solution demonstrate to us about His character?

Some might say that He was like Captain Kirk and cheated.. he reprogrammed the situation so that he could win.  I’ll just change the world so that I can walk ON the water and beat the system… But Jesus could not do that.  Yes, He was fully God, but He was also fully human – with our same limitations.  Therefore, if we can’t reprogram the world around us, then neither could He… He had to work with the same tools and conditions that we work with… yet that didn’t stop Him from walking on the water.

So.. what does this demonstrate to us about Jesus’ character?  It demonstrates to us.. not some special character trait.. but instead.. it demonstrates to us Jesus absolute perfection of character.  Jesus walking on water is not only about who He is.. it is about who we are not.  Does that make sense?  Jesus walking on water is not only about who He is – perfect.. it is about who we are not – perfect…. Remember that quote from St. Josemaria last week?  “Don’t say, ‘That’s the way I am—its my character.’  Its your lack of character.  Esto vir!—Be a man!”…. Now please don’t walk out of here today all worked up saying, “Fr. John says we have a lack of character.. He can kiss my royal behind.”  It may have sounded like it, but I didn’t say that… Jesus is the only one to have ever walked on water, so everyone who has ever lived has a lack of character – a lack of perfection – by comparison… except for Peter.. who had it for a minute… which only goes to prove one thing – You can have it too.

Jesus isn’t concerned with beating the Kobayashi Maru.. or the Mariachee Kaboose.. or whatever.  He is about showing us a different way—God’s way.  Jesus walked upon the water.. not to be a showoff.. and show you that he could do it.  Jesus walked upon the water.. to show you.. that you could do it… He walked out on that water and says to you.. just as he said to Peter, “Come.”.. come and experience the ways of God.

You all are probably thinking I’ve lost it today.. talking about walking on water for crying out loud.  But think back to the time that Jesus said to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.”.. It was then that the Pharisees and Sadducees got all worked up and scripture says, Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”.. And that man got up and walked.

I’ve never turned water into wine, but I know that it is a far sight easier to turn water into wine than it is to overcome my addictions.  I’ve never healed a paralytic, but I’m thinking that it would be much simpler than sacrificing myself for a perfect stranger.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve never tried to feed 5000+ people at one sitting, but I think I would rather do that than to forgive my enemies and pray for those who hate me.

Walking on water… You can walk on water.. its all the other “little things” that we have so much difficulty with.. but again.. Jesus says to us, “Come.. and I will show you how.”.. Its not that you can’t.. its just a matter of being bold enough.. and courageous enough.. to step out of the dang boat.

Jesus came to show us another way.. God’s way.  So, step out of that boat and try His way.. and know with confidence that if you fail he will be there to take your hand and save you – not so that you can tie that rope around your waste and jump off the bridge and tell Him, “Its all up to you now.” – He’ll save you.. so that you can begin again… so that you can begin again to be perfect as He is perfect.

Let us pray… Father of love, hear our prayer.  Help us to know Your Will and to do it with courage and faith.  Accept our offering of ourselves, all our thoughts, words, deeds, and sufferings.  May our lives be spent giving You glory.  Give us the strength to follow Your call, so that Your Truth may live in our hearts and bring peace to us and to those I meet, for we believe in Your Love. Amen.