A Light to All Nations

Holy Week Homily

04/16/2019

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters…" (I Cor 1:26), so writes Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul in this passage is urging his followers in Corinth, most of who were poor and from various cultures, to consider the social and ethical implications of their new lifestyle as followers of Christ. A lifestyle that must immediately abandon former ways of being, however traditional and familiar, and acknowledge the way of Christ as the only way.

Paul urges this hodge podge of Corinthian citizens to abandon, immediately, any and all established social norms not congruent with a way of life that proclaims God in Christ Jesus. Jesus who became for them - for us – a light that guides us into a way of being that demonstrates the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption from God as the source of their lives.

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters…" is a directive that can also be applied to today's reading from Isaiah and our gospel reading from John.

The prophet Isaiah cries out, "Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention you people from far away." (Isa 49:1). He is appealing to those who have experienced the loneliness and hardships of exile, urging them to recognize that their suffering has not been in vain. Indeed, God is, and has always been, with them. God has chosen them to, "…raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel." God has chosen them to be a, "…light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isa 49:6)

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters…" "I have chosen you to be a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

Finally, in John, Jesus says to those who question his authority as Son of Man, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light." (John 20:35-36)

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters…" "I have chosen you to be a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light.”

The light that Jesus sheds is not a flashlight type of light – it a light that illuminates a way of being. A way of being that is a response to the love of God for man. A way of being that could possibly be transformative for mankind – could potentially bring about world peace.

The light to the nations that God has dreamed that we his servants will shine, is also not a flashlight type of light. It is a light that illuminates a way of being… the way of love, salvation, and redemption that is possible if we follow Jesus. If we claim Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.

For us, a resurrection people, this means that as this Lenten period ends and we witness the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord – as we proclaim loudly and with joy, Alleluia – we also experience a resurrection. We hear our call. We pick up the torch – the light of Christ. We refuse to walk in darkness. We chose to end a life lived in darkness and leave behind old ways of being. We take up the light of Christ. We take the light of Christ beyond the cross and into the world – the world that remains in darkness.

We follow Jesus out of darkness into light. We become a light to all nations.

God makes all the difference...

SERMON

Third Sunday in Lent

St. Simon's on the Sound

Luke 13:1-9

Several weeks ago, I was called to Fort Walton Beach Hospital, where I volunteer as a chaplain, to visit a patient described as "fading quickly." The nurse who contacted me didn't have any details about the patient other than he was requesting someone to pray with and for him.

I found John, not his real name, alone and lying in his hospital bed, hooked up to several IV lines. When I entered, he was gazing into space, not sleeping but also not fully awake.

I approached his bed and introduced myself. He seemed surprised to see me. He said, "Oh, my friends must have called you, they're not here now." I asked if he would like me to stay and visit for a bit. He responded, "There's no hope for me. I have done too many bad things. I don't think God will forgive me and I am scared." And, after a long pause, "Do you think God will forgive me?"

John reached out and grasped my hand. He continued, "Where are you from?" I replied, "I am from St. Simon's on the Sound – you know the big church on 98 just across from Whataburger."

John looked me in the eye and smiled. "I know St. Simon's", he said. "I used to go there for Cold Night – it was very nice."

It was increasingly evident that John was in a great deal of pain and running out of energy. I spoke to him briefly, offering words of comfort regarding God being a loving God, compassionate and forgiving to those who seek forgiveness. A God who is always present – for all of his children – always ready to grace us with his love.

John continued to clutch my hand as we sat in silence for a moment. It was apparent that his pain was worsening. I asked John if he would like to pray. He said, "yes."

As is my custom, in most cases, I asked John to tell me what he would like to pray for. I was stunned when John came forth with an extensive and absolutely beautiful prayer asking God for forgiveness and thanking God for the love that people had shown him over the years.

By now, John was clearly in continual pain. We closed with the 23^rd psalm, which he knew by heart, and my own prayer for him – a prayer that reflected his words – his desires.

As I said, "Good-bye," John reached out and grabbed my hand. He said, "Thank you for coming. It's amazing to know that people really love you."

I did not visit John again; so, I have no idea what happened to him. But he remains in my heart and my prayers each day – I pray that wherever he may be he has come to know God's love and God's forgiveness.

This encounter with John came to mind as I thought about the message in today's gospel from Luke. The passage is divided into two parts. The first part describes two separate events – first, Pilate's mingling the blood of Galileans with their sacrifices – probably a description of the massacre of a group of pilgrims in the Temple. And, the second, the collapse of the tower of Siloam, a tower in the wall around Jerusalem that fell without warning and crushed eighteen Jerusalemites.

These two tragic events point to the fragility and the unpredictability of life. Those who died in these events did nothing wrong. They had not been sentenced to any sort of punishment. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In this passage, Jesus warns us that serendipitous events such as these should alert us to the sense of urgency that we must have if we are to repent – if we are to save our souls. He says, "…I tell you…unless you repent, you will perish just as they did."

Jesus reminds us that we are all called to repent. He urges us to recognize that the need to repent is a universal condition. We are all guilty of sin – all, guilty of turning away from the Lord; and, we are all called to turn back to see things in a new way – to adopt a different perspective on our lives – a perspective that reflects Jesus' command to love -to be filled with compassion and caring.

For Jesus, repentance refers to establishing an entirely reoriented self. For Jesus, repentance leads to a new consciousness of our relationship with God, and a new way in which we live our lives as a result of that relationship. It refers to the urgent need to re-orient our souls to a way of being that mirrors Jesus' care, compassion and love for all of humanity.

Jesus gives us fair warning. He urges us not to be lulled into the, "Oh, it won't happen to me" way of thinking. Death comes to us all – we do not have the luxury of dictating where or when. If we wish to seize God's graciousness, we must repent now.

This message of urgency is also very present in the second segment of Luke's gospel. Jesus' parable of the fig tree speaks to imminent death – imminent judgment. "Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Woe to the tree that does not hurry up and bear fruit – does not hurry up and repent.

This particular tree is lucky. Jesus asks that patience and mercy temporarily keep the tree's fate at bay. Give it another year, he suggests. However, we understand that the tree has, most certainly, not been left to its own devices. The role of the gardener in preventing failure to bloom is crucial. Everything possible is being done to help the tree to bear fruit – to repent.

In the same way, when it comes to repentance, God, the vineyard owner, does not leave His people to their own resources. Through the gift of his Son Jesus, the gardener, God encourages and cultivates their repentance – leads them to a life in which their souls do not perish, but rather are filled with grace.

This theme of the fragility and unpredictability of life should encourage us to focus our Lenten reflections on questions such as, "Do I form my way of being on rationalizations that allow me to get through the day feeling blessed, safe, and presuming that "it" will never happen to me?" Or, "Do I live each day forming my way of being by seeking the grace of God through repentance and a new way of seeing things, a new way of living my life."

"Am I on a journey that will bear fruit, or will I remain a barren tree? "Will the fruit of my Lenten journey lead me to love those who are burdened under the weight of poverty and devastation of all kinds, or will I remain blind to those who live in darkness?"

And lastly, when we make the turn, when we repent, what does it feel like? What happens to us? If we have begun the journey of seeing life in a new way, of being in the world as followers of Christ, of becoming trees that are not barren but that, indeed, bear fruit, what does that feel like – what does our life become?

Bishop Dan Edwards, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Nevada, and the bishop who ordained me, wrote in a recent blog that addresses the transformation of our souls through repentance, " The end result is that we don’t fly away, at least not just yet. Seeking God leads us back into ourselves, into the nitty gritty life we are already living. And it leads us back to each other for that is where God is best found – in both the beauty and the sorrow of our fellow human beings. But with the faith that God is here with us – Emmanuel, God is with us – we engage our own lives with faith, hope, and love. The presence of God makes all the difference."

This quote, of course, leads me back to John lying, alone and in pain, in his hospital bed. John clutching my hand. John searching for assurance that in these last moments of his life it is not too late to repent. John asking, "Do you think God will forgive me." John worrying that he is not worthy of God's love.

Repentance doesn't bring gold stars, a stairway to heaven, or any other lofty and idealized vision of what God's forgiveness might be all about. No, not at all. Repentance simply brings the God in us into close contact with the God in the "other." Repentance brings us the peace of knowing that we are loved because we love. Not romantic love, but agape love. The highest form of love – the love of God for Man and the love of Man for God.

Repentance begins with encountering and being present with the Johns of this world. It is through these encounters with the poor, the lonely and the outcast that the urgency of repentance speaks to us.

Repentance begins with the deep understanding that we are all Johns – that we are all in the same boat. Repentance begins with understanding that our last moment on this earth will come we know not when. Repentance begins with humility and proceeds to an outpouring of love – agape love.

And, it is through the power of agape love that we are transformed. It is through agape love that the God in us and the God in the "other" meet in a way that the grace of God transforms us both into trees that bear fruit – into true disciples of Christ.

I close with words from our Great Litany:

"That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and fear thee, and diligently live after thy commandments. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord."

"That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our live according to thy holy Word. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord."

"That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; to comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and finally, to beat down Satan under our feet. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord."

"That it may please thee to grant that, in the fellowship of all the saints, we may attain to thy heavenly kingdom. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord." 

(BCP, 152)

Time in the Desert....

SERMON

St. Simon’s on the Sound

February 17, 2019

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land."

                                                                                                     (Jeremiah 17: 5-7)

“They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes.” These verses from Jeremiah remind me so much of my time in the desert. A time which I believe was vital to my spiritual growth, and a time that I will treasure - always.

If any of you have lived in the desert, you will know that it is a challenging and often a deadly environment. The desert can be completely disorienting in its sameness, and brutal in its climate, with drastic temperature changes between day and night. During the noonday hours one hundred twenty degrees under cloudless blue skies and a broiling, unshaded sun. Thirty degrees and below in the dead of night. The sand acting as a chilled rock. The bone chilling cold unrelenting as it creeps up through one’s feet and seeps into every joint and limb.

The desert is disorienting and full of illusions, too. Despite the fact that one is surrounded by nothing but open space, it is extremely difficult to determine what is in front or behind. The shimmering heat waves, the Joshua trees and other desert shrubs frequently melt into a blur. A Joshua tree or a bush can appear to be a man; and, a man can appear to be a Joshua tree or a bush.

Conversely, the desert is a place of great beauty. Vast open expanses with only the sky and distant snow topped mountains display God’s creation in all its glory.

If one is seeking God, the desert is most definitely the place to be. God is in the very air that one breaths. He is evident in the vibrantly beautiful desert flowers and in the spectacular desert animals - all of them quite dangerous. The vastness of the ages – God's creation - can be seen in the multiple striations of the mountains. Mountains that have been there since the beginning of time, once completely under water and now rising 10,000-12,000 feet above land.

It should be fairly easy to see in the desert. Clear air; open spaces; no fog or rain; no real traffic (we lived in a town with only two stoplights, and that was excessive); and, for most of the year daylight hours that go on forever. Yet, it is very easy to get lost, to lose one's way, in the desert - very, very easy. And, once lost it is almost impossible to reorient oneself. It becomes terrifyingly difficult to find a path to safety; or, to recognize help once it arrives.

So it is with us, whether we are in the desert or not. Despite the presence of God with us, in open spaces or in crowded spaces, it is as if we are actually in that Nevada desert - a place where one should be able to see, but where illusions created by mere mortals, the Joshua trees, and the sharp glimmering heat waves of everyday life, blind us in such a manner that our way is lost. We cannot see relief even as it approaches. It is so easy to lose our way – so easy to be distracted by material, political, and personal matters. It is so easy to turn our hearts away from the Lord.

Jesus was a man of the desert. Of course, he understood the perils of the arid and barren land that was his home - the territory in which he delivered his message – the Good News. Certainly, Jesus knew how easy it was to get disoriented, to get lost in the desert, metaphorically as well as actually. Certainly, he also knew that the open spaces, the cloudless skies, and the beauty that can be found in the barrenness of the desert were where he would find his way; where he would stay in touch with God. It was in the stark solitude and vastness of the barren desert that Jesus continually found and communed with God.

No frills, simply the presence of God as Sovereign of His Creation.

In our Jeremiah passage, the Lord continues saying, "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out is roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green…"

This image reminds me of a place in California's Death Valley called Devil's Hole. Devil's Hole is a lush, green oasis in the midst of some of the most dangerous desert in the world. The oasis is home to an extensive underground water system that leads to a cavern over 500 feet deep. Devil's Hole is where a species known as Pupfish can be found. It is estimated that the Pupfish have been residents of Devil's Hole for 10,000-20,000 years. Think of it, 10,000-20,000 years.

Whenever I stood by the water filled cavern watching the playful little Pupfish and then looked outward and upward at nothing but pale-yellow sand and distant 12,000 snow-topped foot mountains, I was overwhelmed by the vastness and the beauty of God's Creation. I experienced God as I never had before. There were no distractions – there was nothing except God as Sovereign; God as Creator. God the Creator who had been present in this very place for over 20,000 years.

That distinct awareness of the sovereignty of God has never left me. I consider with awe my minuscule place in a creation that is so vast and so ancient that it cannot be imagined. I am humbled at the thought that God created me – created all of us – with intention. We each have a role in His Kingdom, that is for certain.

During my time in the desert, my relationship with God was cemented in a new and lasting way.

In today's gospel, Jesus tells the apostles, the disciples, and a great multitude of people – Jews and Gentiles alike - that those who are poor, those who are hungry, those who are sad, and those who have been rejected will one day leap for joy, for their reward will be great in heaven.

Conversely, Jesus teaches that the rich, the satiated, the happy, the well-known will experience great woes.

Obviously, we don't know for certain what Jesus intended in this teaching. But we do know that these words were offered directly after Jesus descended from the mountain after a time of deep prayer, and that they imply that in order to be blessed by God, in order for our reward to be great in heaven, we need not be rich or famous. Rather, we need to have experienced the desert, literal or figurative. It is in the desert, in barrenness, in desolation that we truly experience God the Father, the glory of God's Creation, the sovereignty of God.

Bottom line - we need to find ways that bring us into deep relationship with God, to know that we are God's intended children, and to trust that God is there for us, always and forever.

The desert, whether literal or figurative, is not a bad place to be – at least from time to time. The desert is a place where if we do not lose our way by succumbing to pre-occupations and illusions, we can find God by seeing so clearly the beauty and Sovereignty of his Creation. Literal or figurative, the desert is the best place that I know of to both see God and to be close to God.

As we prepare to walk our Lenten journey, a time for reflection and repentance, I pray that we will set aside our tendency to place our trust in mere mortals, set aside our tendencies to want more – more of anything, or more of everything. I pray that our hearts will be still and that we will imagine ourselves in a desert surrounded by vast and barren land populated only by Joshua trees and bushes and ringed by 12,000-foot snow-capped mountains. I pray that as we journey through the desert of our minds we will arrive at Devil's Hole and with joy and amazement watch the Pupfish play in water that has seeped into their cavern for the past 10,000-20,000 years.

I pray that as we live the experience of our Lenten desert, having nothing but the Sovereignty of God's Creation to distract us, we will draw closer and closer to Jesus as he walks in the Judean Desert on the journey to his Crucifixion and his Resurrection.

I pray that our desert experience will carry us to a new place in our relationship with God. One which is cemented in a level of trust that leaves us like a tree planted by water sending it roots out by the stream.

Here am I...

SERMON

St. Simon's on the Sound

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

I am not sure that I have the skill necessary to impart, through the words of this sermon, the importance of the coming of Christ into our lives tomorrow evening - Christmas Eve.

The world as we know it today is filled with challenges that bespeak ominous outcomes – the rapidly advancing effects of global warming with its associated risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

The ever-increasing number of refugees throughout the world who continue to remain homeless, without a permanent place to rest their heads. In America alone 2.5 million children —one in every 30 children—go to sleep without a home of their own each year.

The effects of political discord and divisiveness that lead us far astray from our historical goals of peace and prosperity.

And, perhaps most importantly, the falling away from God the Father – our sovereign and our savior. The God in whom we have sworn, as a nation, to place our trust.

Increasingly, these challenges create a pile of negativity, anger, fear and anxiety - the concerns of the world seem overwhelming, like a tower about to topple over. We wonder, "What can be done – where are we headed?" Overwhelmed by the concerns of the world, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God is in our midst – that he is trying to get our attention – that he yearns to guide us and to love us through these seemingly unending challenges.

Perhaps like me this Advent Season you have resisted the temptation to immerse yourself in the heart wrenching and sometimes violent dramas of the world. Perhaps like me for these few short weeks you have committed to creating a sacred time each day – no intrusions from cells phone, TV, or similar distractions – a sacred time to be in conversation with yourself and with God. A sacred time in which you can reflect through prayer, reading, and conversation, on the meaning of Christ in your life. A sacred time in which you continue your journey of internal transformation. A journey that moves you continually toward faithful obedience to God. A journey that leads you into a world filled with an abundance of compassion, love, and justice for all.

In today's reading from Hebrews the author tells us, "When Christ came into the world, he said…'I have come to do your will, O God'." In this one brief statement Jesus declares his utter commitment to God's will. He commits to sacrificing his will to the will of God.

In this reading Jesus also said, "You have neither desired not taken pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See I have come to do your will."

There is no mincing of words here, the sacrifices mandated in God's first covenant with Israel, adherence to the Law, is no longer sufficient. These repetitive acts made in the name of worship and forgiveness are merely an external response to God's commandments. They constitute a response that does not come from the heart; a response that is not pleasing to God – not sufficient in any way. In today's world we would say that all the boxes have been checked, but nothing has really changed.

Faithful obedience to God's will is not external – it is internal, the result of an internal transformation. Faithful obedience is a response that comes from the heart. A response that comes from the center of our being. The center of our being – our soul - that place in us where the self-sacrifice of Christ meets us and perfects and completes us. A place in us from which all of our conduct and our relationships emanate.

The reality of the incredible gift of redemption - God made man through the incarnation - cannot be fully understood without leaving a mark on our hearts and our souls – a mark that inspires our faithful obedience to God's will. The heart and soul of our faith has its origin and prompting in the heart and soul of Christ's own ministry. The sacrifice of his will to the will of God. Indeed, his delight in doing God's will.

Today as we await the birth of our Savior, yet once again, I like to think that we are much like Mary perplexed by this incredible phenomenon and pondering what it means for us here in Ft. Walton Beach, 2018, so far removed from Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

As we ponder the arrival of the Christ child, can we hear Mary – really hear her when she says, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." And, if we hear these sacred words – this confession of faith and commitment to do God's will – are we, like Mary, also able to say, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

And, if we hear these words correctly, and then reflect on the complexity of their meaning, do we begin to understand God's great gift - the gift of Jesus? An incarnation that demands repentance of our sins. An incarnation that demands a commitment to do not our own will, but God's will. An incarnation that writes on our hearts, faithful obedience – faithful obedience based on utter commitment to God's will.

And what is the will of God – for us – for our community – for the world? How can we determine the difference between external obedience, or checking off boxes, and internal obedience, submission of our will to the will of God? What do we need to be listening for, paying attention to? What needs to be on our radar as we move into the New Year – into 2019?

Well, without a doubt, continuing, without ceasing, to build our own community. To be the best stewards possible of this sacred space and all its inhabitants.

Being together, continuing in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers – the body of Christ at St. Simon's – this communal fellowship is the well spring of our faith. This is where we come each week to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary to keep alive our commitment to God as we go into the world as disciples of Christ, doing God's will not our own as we proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

St. Simon's is where we are fed. The community, the world, is where we do our work – God's work, really.

And, what is our work? Certainly not the sacrifices and burnt and sin offerings that Jesus speaks of in Hebrews. Jesus affirms, God takes no pleasure in these activities. Doing for the sake of doing what is deemed by the majority as the "right" way, the "politically correct" way, or as the ancient Hebrews knew it a carrying out the law, doesn't do it. Not at all – no way – not for God anyway. Adherence to the law, political correctness, is external not internal work. It is work that does not come from the heart.

No, we must be considering something a bit more challenging than following the rest of the pack. We must be considering work that comes from the heart. Work that is based in what we perceive to be God's call for us. Work that is carried out in faithful commitment to God's will, not ours. Work that seeks and serves Christ in all persons. Work in which we love our neighbors as ourselves. Work that strives for justice and peace among all people.

As I indicated earlier – challenging work. The kind of work that Jesus had in mind for us when he said to his disciples, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

As we sit here just one day before the arrival of Jesus, yet again, into our lives and into our hearts, I would like us to listen, listen deep within our hearts to the angel Gabriel announcing the arrival of Jesus. I pray that as these words infiltrate the depths of our souls, and we, like Mary, are able to utter the words, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

My friends, this is not easy work. Social injustice, violence, political divisiveness, and racism fill the world into which we are sent. Once we have answered God's call, we are committed to faithful obedience to his will – peace on earth and good will towards all. Once we have answered his call; once we have committed to his will, there is no going back – no return ticket.

Let us not be frightened. Jesus was, is, and will be with us always. Have courage, persevere, and remember, our Lord's words as he commissioned the disciple, "…remember, I am with you always, the end of the age."

SERMON

St. Simon's on the Sound

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

I am not sure that I have the skill necessary to impart, through the words of this sermon, the importance of the coming of Christ into our lives tomorrow evening - Christmas Eve.

The world as we know it today is filled with challenges that bespeak ominous outcomes – the rapidly advancing effects of global warming with its associated risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

The ever-increasing number of refugees throughout the world who continue to remain homeless, without a permanent place to rest their heads. In America alone 2.5 million children —one in every 30 children—go to sleep without a home of their own each year.

The effects of political discord and divisiveness that lead us far astray from our historical goals of peace and prosperity.

And, perhaps most importantly, the falling away from God the Father – our sovereign and our savior. The God in whom we have sworn, as a nation, to place our trust.

Increasingly, these challenges create a pile of negativity, anger, fear and anxiety - the concerns of the world seem overwhelming, like a tower about to topple over. We wonder, "What can be done – where are we headed?" Overwhelmed by the concerns of the world, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God is in our midst – that he is trying to get our attention – that he yearns to guide us and to love us through these seemingly unending challenges.

Perhaps like me this Advent Season you have resisted the temptation to immerse yourself in the heart wrenching and sometimes violent dramas of the world. Perhaps like me for these few short weeks you have committed to creating a sacred time each day – no intrusions from cells phone, TV, or similar distractions – a sacred time to be in conversation with yourself and with God. A sacred time in which you can reflect through prayer, reading, and conversation, on the meaning of Christ in your life. A sacred time in which you continue your journey of internal transformation. A journey that moves you continually toward faithful obedience to God. A journey that leads you into a world filled with an abundance of compassion, love, and justice for all.

In today's reading from Hebrews the author tells us, "When Christ came into the world, he said…'I have come to do your will, O God'." In this one brief statement Jesus declares his utter commitment to God's will. He commits to sacrificing his will to the will of God.

In this reading Jesus also said, "You have neither desired not taken pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See I have come to do your will."

There is no mincing of words here, the sacrifices mandated in God's first covenant with Israel, adherence to the Law, is no longer sufficient. These repetitive acts made in the name of worship and forgiveness are merely an external response to God's commandments. They constitute a response that does not come from the heart; a response that is not pleasing to God – not sufficient in any way. In today's world we would say that all the boxes have been checked, but nothing has really changed.

Faithful obedience to God's will is not external – it is internal, the result of an internal transformation. Faithful obedience is a response that comes from the heart. A response that comes from the center of our being. The center of our being – our soul - that place in us where the self-sacrifice of Christ meets us and perfects and completes us. A place in us from which all of our conduct and our relationships emanate.

The reality of the incredible gift of redemption - God made man through the incarnation - cannot be fully understood without leaving a mark on our hearts and our souls – a mark that inspires our faithful obedience to God's will. The heart and soul of our faith has its origin and prompting in the heart and soul of Christ's own ministry. The sacrifice of his will to the will of God. Indeed, his delight in doing God's will.

Today as we await the birth of our Savior, yet once again, I like to think that we are much like Mary perplexed by this incredible phenomenon and pondering what it means for us here in Ft. Walton Beach, 2018, so far removed from Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

As we ponder the arrival of the Christ child, can we hear Mary – really hear her when she says, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." And, if we hear these sacred words – this confession of faith and commitment to do God's will – are we, like Mary, also able to say, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

And, if we hear these words correctly, and then reflect on the complexity of their meaning, do we begin to understand God's great gift - the gift of Jesus? An incarnation that demands repentance of our sins. An incarnation that demands a commitment to do not our own will, but God's will. An incarnation that writes on our hearts, faithful obedience – faithful obedience based on utter commitment to God's will.

And what is the will of God – for us – for our community – for the world? How can we determine the difference between external obedience, or checking off boxes, and internal obedience, submission of our will to the will of God? What do we need to be listening for, paying attention to? What needs to be on our radar as we move into the New Year – into 2019?

Well, without a doubt, continuing, without ceasing, to build our own community. To be the best stewards possible of this sacred space and all its inhabitants.

Being together, continuing in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers – the body of Christ at St. Simon's – this communal fellowship is the well spring of our faith. This is where we come each week to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary to keep alive our commitment to God as we go into the world as disciples of Christ, doing God's will not our own as we proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

St. Simon's is where we are fed. The community, the world, is where we do our work – God's work, really.

And, what is our work? Certainly not the sacrifices and burnt and sin offerings that Jesus speaks of in Hebrews. Jesus affirms, God takes no pleasure in these activities. Doing for the sake of doing what is deemed by the majority as the "right" way, the "politically correct" way, or as the ancient Hebrews knew it a carrying out the law, doesn't do it. Not at all – no way – not for God anyway. Adherence to the law, political correctness, is external not internal work. It is work that does not come from the heart.

No, we must be considering something a bit more challenging than following the rest of the pack. We must be considering work that comes from the heart. Work that is based in what we perceive to be God's call for us. Work that is carried out in faithful commitment to God's will, not ours. Work that seeks and serves Christ in all persons. Work in which we love our neighbors as ourselves. Work that strives for justice and peace among all people.

As I indicated earlier – challenging work. The kind of work that Jesus had in mind for us when he said to his disciples, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

As we sit here just one day before the arrival of Jesus, yet again, into our lives and into our hearts, I would like us to listen, listen deep within our hearts to the angel Gabriel announcing the arrival of Jesus. I pray that as these words infiltrate the depths of our souls, and we, like Mary, are able to utter the words, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

My friends, this is not easy work. Social injustice, violence, political divisiveness, and racism fill the world into which we are sent. Once we have answered God's call, we are committed to faithful obedience to his will – peace on earth and good will towards all. Once we have answered his call; once we have committed to his will, there is no going back – no return ticket.

Let us not be frightened. Jesus was, is, and will be with us always. Have courage, persevere, and remember, our Lord's words as he commissioned the disciple, "…remember, I am with you always, the end of the age."

 SERMON

St. Simon's on the Sound

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

I am not sure that I have the skill necessary to impart, through the words of this sermon, the importance of the coming of Christ into our lives tomorrow evening - Christmas Eve.

The world as we know it today is filled with challenges that bespeak ominous outcomes – the rapidly advancing effects of global warming with its associated risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

The ever-increasing number of refugees throughout the world who continue to remain homeless, without a permanent place to rest their heads. In America alone 2.5 million children —one in every 30 children—go to sleep without a home of their own each year.

The effects of political discord and divisiveness that lead us far astray from our historical goals of peace and prosperity.

And, perhaps most importantly, the falling away from God the Father – our sovereign and our savior. The God in whom we have sworn, as a nation, to place our trust.

Increasingly, these challenges create a pile of negativity, anger, fear and anxiety - the concerns of the world seem overwhelming, like a tower about to topple over. We wonder, "What can be done – where are we headed?" Overwhelmed by the concerns of the world, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God is in our midst – that he is trying to get our attention – that he yearns to guide us and to love us through these seemingly unending challenges.

Perhaps like me this Advent Season you have resisted the temptation to immerse yourself in the heart wrenching and sometimes violent dramas of the world. Perhaps like me for these few short weeks you have committed to creating a sacred time each day – no intrusions from cells phone, TV, or similar distractions – a sacred time to be in conversation with yourself and with God. A sacred time in which you can reflect through prayer, reading, and conversation, on the meaning of Christ in your life. A sacred time in which you continue your journey of internal transformation. A journey that moves you continually toward faithful obedience to God. A journey that leads you into a world filled with an abundance of compassion, love, and justice for all.

In today's reading from Hebrews the author tells us, "When Christ came into the world, he said…'I have come to do your will, O God'." In this one brief statement Jesus declares his utter commitment to God's will. He commits to sacrificing his will to the will of God.

In this reading Jesus also said, "You have neither desired not taken pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See I have come to do your will."

There is no mincing of words here, the sacrifices mandated in God's first covenant with Israel, adherence to the Law, is no longer sufficient. These repetitive acts made in the name of worship and forgiveness are merely an external response to God's commandments. They constitute a response that does not come from the heart; a response that is not pleasing to God – not sufficient in any way. In today's world we would say that all the boxes have been checked, but nothing has really changed.

Faithful obedience to God's will is not external – it is internal, the result of an internal transformation. Faithful obedience is a response that comes from the heart. A response that comes from the center of our being. The center of our being – our soul - that place in us where the self-sacrifice of Christ meets us and perfects and completes us. A place in us from which all of our conduct and our relationships emanate.

The reality of the incredible gift of redemption - God made man through the incarnation - cannot be fully understood without leaving a mark on our hearts and our souls – a mark that inspires our faithful obedience to God's will. The heart and soul of our faith has its origin and prompting in the heart and soul of Christ's own ministry. The sacrifice of his will to the will of God. Indeed, his delight in doing God's will.

Today as we await the birth of our Savior, yet once again, I like to think that we are much like Mary perplexed by this incredible phenomenon and pondering what it means for us here in Ft. Walton Beach, 2018, so far removed from Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

As we ponder the arrival of the Christ child, can we hear Mary – really hear her when she says, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." And, if we hear these sacred words – this confession of faith and commitment to do God's will – are we, like Mary, also able to say, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

And, if we hear these words correctly, and then reflect on the complexity of their meaning, do we begin to understand God's great gift - the gift of Jesus? An incarnation that demands repentance of our sins. An incarnation that demands a commitment to do not our own will, but God's will. An incarnation that writes on our hearts, faithful obedience – faithful obedience based on utter commitment to God's will.

And what is the will of God – for us – for our community – for the world? How can we determine the difference between external obedience, or checking off boxes, and internal obedience, submission of our will to the will of God? What do we need to be listening for, paying attention to? What needs to be on our radar as we move into the New Year – into 2019?

Well, without a doubt, continuing, without ceasing, to build our own community. To be the best stewards possible of this sacred space and all its inhabitants.

Being together, continuing in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers – the body of Christ at St. Simon's – this communal fellowship is the well spring of our faith. This is where we come each week to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary to keep alive our commitment to God as we go into the world as disciples of Christ, doing God's will not our own as we proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

St. Simon's is where we are fed. The community, the world, is where we do our work – God's work, really.

And, what is our work? Certainly not the sacrifices and burnt and sin offerings that Jesus speaks of in Hebrews. Jesus affirms, God takes no pleasure in these activities. Doing for the sake of doing what is deemed by the majority as the "right" way, the "politically correct" way, or as the ancient Hebrews knew it a carrying out the law, doesn't do it. Not at all – no way – not for God anyway. Adherence to the law, political correctness, is external not internal work. It is work that does not come from the heart.

No, we must be considering something a bit more challenging than following the rest of the pack. We must be considering work that comes from the heart. Work that is based in what we perceive to be God's call for us. Work that is carried out in faithful commitment to God's will, not ours. Work that seeks and serves Christ in all persons. Work in which we love our neighbors as ourselves. Work that strives for justice and peace among all people.

As I indicated earlier – challenging work. The kind of work that Jesus had in mind for us when he said to his disciples, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

As we sit here just one day before the arrival of Jesus, yet again, into our lives and into our hearts, I would like us to listen, listen deep within our hearts to the angel Gabriel announcing the arrival of Jesus. I pray that as these words infiltrate the depths of our souls, and we, like Mary, are able to utter the words, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

My friends, this is not easy work. Social injustice, violence, political divisiveness, and racism fill the world into which we are sent. Once we have answered God's call, we are committed to faithful obedience to his will – peace on earth and good will towards all. Once we have answered his call; once we have committed to his will, there is no going back – no return ticket.

Let us not be frightened. Jesus was, is, and will be with us always. Have courage, persevere, and remember, our Lord's words as he commissioned the disciple, "…remember, I am with you always, the end of the age."

   SERMON

St. Simon's on the Sound

December 23, 2018

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

I am not sure that I have the skill necessary to impart, through the words of this sermon, the importance of the coming of Christ into our lives tomorrow evening - Christmas Eve.

The world as we know it today is filled with challenges that bespeak ominous outcomes – the rapidly advancing effects of global warming with its associated risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

The ever-increasing number of refugees throughout the world who continue to remain homeless, without a permanent place to rest their heads. In America alone 2.5 million children —one in every 30 children—go to sleep without a home of their own each year.

The effects of political discord and divisiveness that lead us far astray from our historical goals of peace and prosperity.

And, perhaps most importantly, the falling away from God the Father – our sovereign and our savior. The God in whom we have sworn, as a nation, to place our trust.

Increasingly, these challenges create a pile of negativity, anger, fear and anxiety - the concerns of the world seem overwhelming, like a tower about to topple over. We wonder, "What can be done – where are we headed?" Overwhelmed by the concerns of the world, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God is in our midst – that he is trying to get our attention – that he yearns to guide us and to love us through these seemingly unending challenges.

Perhaps like me this Advent Season you have resisted the temptation to immerse yourself in the heart wrenching and sometimes violent dramas of the world. Perhaps like me for these few short weeks you have committed to creating a sacred time each day – no intrusions from cells phone, TV, or similar distractions – a sacred time to be in conversation with yourself and with God. A sacred time in which you can reflect through prayer, reading, and conversation, on the meaning of Christ in your life. A sacred time in which you continue your journey of internal transformation. A journey that moves you continually toward faithful obedience to God. A journey that leads you into a world filled with an abundance of compassion, love, and justice for all.

In today's reading from Hebrews the author tells us, "When Christ came into the world, he said…'I have come to do your will, O God'." In this one brief statement Jesus declares his utter commitment to God's will. He commits to sacrificing his will to the will of God.

In this reading Jesus also said, "You have neither desired not taken pleasure in sacrifices and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See I have come to do your will."

There is no mincing of words here, the sacrifices mandated in God's first covenant with Israel, adherence to the Law, is no longer sufficient. These repetitive acts made in the name of worship and forgiveness are merely an external response to God's commandments. They constitute a response that does not come from the heart; a response that is not pleasing to God – not sufficient in any way. In today's world we would say that all the boxes have been checked, but nothing has really changed.

Faithful obedience to God's will is not external – it is internal, the result of an internal transformation. Faithful obedience is a response that comes from the heart. A response that comes from the center of our being. The center of our being – our soul - that place in us where the self-sacrifice of Christ meets us and perfects and completes us. A place in us from which all of our conduct and our relationships emanate.

The reality of the incredible gift of redemption - God made man through the incarnation - cannot be fully understood without leaving a mark on our hearts and our souls – a mark that inspires our faithful obedience to God's will. The heart and soul of our faith has its origin and prompting in the heart and soul of Christ's own ministry. The sacrifice of his will to the will of God. Indeed, his delight in doing God's will.

Today as we await the birth of our Savior, yet once again, I like to think that we are much like Mary perplexed by this incredible phenomenon and pondering what it means for us here in Ft. Walton Beach, 2018, so far removed from Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

As we ponder the arrival of the Christ child, can we hear Mary – really hear her when she says, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." And, if we hear these sacred words – this confession of faith and commitment to do God's will – are we, like Mary, also able to say, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

And, if we hear these words correctly, and then reflect on the complexity of their meaning, do we begin to understand God's great gift - the gift of Jesus? An incarnation that demands repentance of our sins. An incarnation that demands a commitment to do not our own will, but God's will. An incarnation that writes on our hearts, faithful obedience – faithful obedience based on utter commitment to God's will.

And what is the will of God – for us – for our community – for the world? How can we determine the difference between external obedience, or checking off boxes, and internal obedience, submission of our will to the will of God? What do we need to be listening for, paying attention to? What needs to be on our radar as we move into the New Year – into 2019?

Well, without a doubt, continuing, without ceasing, to build our own community. To be the best stewards possible of this sacred space and all its inhabitants.

Being together, continuing in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers – the body of Christ at St. Simon's – this communal fellowship is the well spring of our faith. This is where we come each week to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary to keep alive our commitment to God as we go into the world as disciples of Christ, doing God's will not our own as we proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

St. Simon's is where we are fed. The community, the world, is where we do our work – God's work, really.

And, what is our work? Certainly not the sacrifices and burnt and sin offerings that Jesus speaks of in Hebrews. Jesus affirms, God takes no pleasure in these activities. Doing for the sake of doing what is deemed by the majority as the "right" way, the "politically correct" way, or as the ancient Hebrews knew it a carrying out the law, doesn't do it. Not at all – no way – not for God anyway. Adherence to the law, political correctness, is external not internal work. It is work that does not come from the heart.

No, we must be considering something a bit more challenging than following the rest of the pack. We must be considering work that comes from the heart. Work that is based in what we perceive to be God's call for us. Work that is carried out in faithful commitment to God's will, not ours. Work that seeks and serves Christ in all persons. Work in which we love our neighbors as ourselves. Work that strives for justice and peace among all people.

As I indicated earlier – challenging work. The kind of work that Jesus had in mind for us when he said to his disciples, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."

As we sit here just one day before the arrival of Jesus, yet again, into our lives and into our hearts, I would like us to listen, listen deep within our hearts to the angel Gabriel announcing the arrival of Jesus. I pray that as these words infiltrate the depths of our souls, and we, like Mary, are able to utter the words, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word."

My friends, this is not easy work. Social injustice, violence, political divisiveness, and racism fill the world into which we are sent. Once we have answered God's call, we are committed to faithful obedience to his will – peace on earth and good will towards all. Once we have answered his call; once we have committed to his will, there is no going back – no return ticket.

Let us not be frightened. Jesus was, is, and will be with us always. Have courage, persevere, and remember, our Lord's words as he commissioned the disciple, "…remember, I am with you always, the end of the age."