tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30820968289042321562024-03-05T11:41:30.563-08:00Deacon GregI am now living into this new life of being a Deacon, serving in the Episcopal Diocese of San JoaquinDeacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-21153063821144459872023-10-04T07:40:00.003-07:002023-10-04T07:40:52.508-07:00<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through Many Struggles, Faith</span></h1>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Deacon Greg</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="CitationList" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p align="right" class="CitationList" style="text-align: right;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 32</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span> In
listening to our Gospel reading this morning on the 1st Sunday of Lent, how
many of us see this story as Jesus having a debate with Satan, and at the end,
“Jesus wins!” Hooray Jesus!!? How many?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shouldn’t be surprising that we all have
this perspective after centuries of guilt theology, but I hope that I can bring
to you this morning a different perspective of a deeper meaning that connects each
one of us to this very human Jesus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In meditating and praying on the opening
verse from Matthew, I realized that this translation can be misleading. It says
“Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil.” Have you ever been “led up by the Spirit” to go some place? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine saying to your spouse or parent, “I
was led up by the Spirit into the shopping mall today to be tempted by the
devil with all those advertisements, and ended up spending $5,000!” Does that
sound believable? That sounds more like that character Geraldine that Flip
Wilson used to play—you know, the woman who was always saying “The Devil made
me do it! The Devil made me buy this dress.” (YouTube Flip Wilson The Devil
Made Me Buy This Dress).</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not “lead us” into sin. Even in the
Lord’s prayer we use each Sunday we suffer from a 16<sup>th</sup> Century King
James, Shakespearian English translation of “Lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil,” which in the Book of Common Prayer (p.364) has a modern-day English
rendering of “Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that give you a different perspective? “Save
us from the time of trial!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjah8_WwcxkVl4fXUFSo8zVE4P82Yj4WxZ6KaKPk3rx8UzOp6R9NCqp0lyWS6tkqaUoYTkCAWYTK_vTG7WMUg5t_x_eZduQCvNDy6mSb_anfOzoCkQF85JR3UoLgR3nDP4iWzb7qYQEDpQsWyGkFeIBfuWsUcMf97a7MmNAcF68mQ8cqwsOWyfR5UB0DxY" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2234" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjah8_WwcxkVl4fXUFSo8zVE4P82Yj4WxZ6KaKPk3rx8UzOp6R9NCqp0lyWS6tkqaUoYTkCAWYTK_vTG7WMUg5t_x_eZduQCvNDy6mSb_anfOzoCkQF85JR3UoLgR3nDP4iWzb7qYQEDpQsWyGkFeIBfuWsUcMf97a7MmNAcF68mQ8cqwsOWyfR5UB0DxY=w387-h290" width="387" /></a></div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span>We know we face regular trials in this life,
some of us on a daily basis. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Here we are praying to God
“Save us from the time of trial!” “Help us get through this, God. Help us
remember you are walking with us. Let us not lose hope!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Save us from the time of trial, and deliver
us from evil” feels to me like a very personal response between two loving
beings—between God and each one of us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that what our relationship with God
is? God is not a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vengeful judge</i>, but
a loving parent. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Save us, dear God, from
the time of trial, and deliver us from evil whenever it assaults us.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we pray or sing the traditional Lord’s
Prayer, try grasping in your minds this more personal one: Save us from the
time of trial!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, I would like to suggest a
different way to see the opening verse of today’s Gospel. Instead of “Jesus was
led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil,” try “Jesus
was inspired by the Spirit to go off alone to listen to God’s call, and to
struggle with his own human weaknesses.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often do each of us struggle with our
own weaknesses? Jesus, too, has faced these struggles!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At his baptism in the Jordan, Jesus heard
God tell him “You are my beloved.” In hearing this, Jesus, with a desire to
deepen his relationship with God, separated himself from the day-to-day world
to spend time—40 days!—focusing on God. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that time in the wilderness, where
resources are scarce, Jesus inevitably encounters his own human needs and
desires—desires that call for humans to focus on “me, myself, and I”—rather
than on what God <u>lovingly</u> calls us to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice, though, how Jesus overcomes his
selfish, human desires, by grasping onto the words of God: “One does not live
by bread alone…”; “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”; “Worship the Lord
your God, and serve only him.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deeper meaning of today’s Gospel is that
in listening to God’s call, Jesus overcomes his all-too-human side of “It’s all
about me”, and transforms his inner self into “It’s all about all of us, and
it’s all about God.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus’ day the faith of the Pharisees and
Sadducees focused on counting up sins and sacrificing animals. St. Paul tells
us that Jesus has already wiped away our sins through his death on the cross. There
is no need for us to keep an accounting ledger to total up our sins. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin is not an abstract number to be added
up, but instead are those things in our lives that keep us separated from God: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Things like greed, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->thirst for power, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->lust, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->addictions of all kinds, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->hatred of others—</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"> There seems to be an unending
list in this world of the ways people separate themselves from God. Should we
focus on sin, or focus on God?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what the Season of Lent is all
about: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It’s a time for us to introspectively examine
our lives and struggle with our inner demons that lead us off the path to the
Kingdom of God. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is a time not only for introspection, but
also in building our inner resolve to expel the demons within us by choosing a
different way of using our time in this life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read a quote the other day from an author,
David Viscott, a psychiatrist, from his 1993 book “Finding Your Strength in
Difficult Times: A Book of Meditations”. He wrote, “The purpose of life is to
discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is
to give your gift away.” That sounds to me like a great definition of our call
during Lent.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through our new life in Christ, a life where
God says to every one of us “You are my beloved,” we are called to live a life
focused on mercy and justice, and living God’s dream of bringing the Kingdom of
Love into this world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this Season of Lent we are called to examine
the things in our lives that keep us separated from God. Jesus spent 40 days in
prayer and introspection. Could you spend 40 days? How about 40 minutes each
day for 40 days?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you find your inspiration? A book to
read? In Prayer? In Meditation? Will it be a combination of something? Find
something to inspire you! Set aside the time! And as you live through this time
of lent, remember that after Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, he started
a ministry that changed everyone’s life. What are you called to do?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leave you with this Lenten reflection from "The Saint Helena Breviary":<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Then let us also keep this Lent<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">With watchful and devout intent,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">That, vigilant, we may prepare<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Our hearts for God’s redeeming
care.**<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">As by our lapses we offend<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">O you who love us, truest
friend;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Forgive us, Jesus, our offense;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Teach us a new obedience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Let all the world for evermore<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">You, gracious Trinity, adore;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">And may we spend these forty
days<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">In seeking you and singing
praise. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-14375116038346156122023-09-28T10:32:00.000-07:002023-09-28T10:32:19.025-07:00<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blessed Are Those Who Struggle</span></span></h1>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">By Deacon Greg<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Micah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 5:1-12; Psalm 15</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span> I must confess I find the word “blessed” as
used in today’s reading of the Beatitudes to be challenging. After all, do you
feel “blessed” when you’re mourning the loss of a loved one? Are you counting
your “blessings” when you’re being persecuted or mistreated for living you
faith?</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, when you review this list of
Beatitudes they seem to describe how this world really “isn’t”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do the meek, in this day and age of ruthless
capitalism, inherit anything?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Are the peacemakers celebrated anywhere, except
maybe with a Nobel Prize? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Where is mercy when our news media thrives on
blame?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these ramblings aren’t puzzling enough,
exactly who are these “poor in spirit”? For years, I stumbled around wondering
about the “poor in spirit”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you don’t have money, does that make you
lacking in spirit? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you don’t pray enough does your spirit run
out? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you pray too much does that make you rich in
spirit? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a numbers kind of guy, and as a former
Roman Catholic who was supposed to be counting up one’s sins, I was stuck in
this idea of finding a numerical solution to this “spirit” question.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally found the answer in a book I read
recently, “The Beatitudes through the Ages” [Eklund & Allison Jr.]. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever in your life struggled with
your faith? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Have there been times when you have doubts about
God’s interest in your life? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you think of times that you found it easy to
be untroubled about faith and that God was sitting right next to you, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->and other times it seemed that God was a distant
concept? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have, and I’m guessing many of you
have struggled the same way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve struggled with your faith, then I
have Good News for you today: You are the poor in spirit! Yours is the Kingdom
of Heaven!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How can this be, Deacon?” you might say, or
“What the heck are you talking about, Deacon?”, yet I tell you, “Yours is the
kingdom of heaven!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “poor in spirit” are people who
regularly struggle with their faith. We are people with questions on our mind,
and as soon as we find the answer to one question, we find even more questions
to think about! Yet it is this struggle within each of us that God finds
endearing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We haven’t settled on a doctrine, and then
memorize words until they are rote! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We aren’t recording machines that play back
whatever is recorded from someone else!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are humans who are seeking God, and
seeking the Truth, and we leave our minds open not because we are failing as
Christians, but because our hearts, minds, and spirits are yearning for God,
searching for the Truth, on a daily basis.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPtTy5YU89gRFsy3GjUvs6EIZN5todH7WAIzfXFBkHSiWy_AkQUqfuloGBxa7c3_g9t81Fq1uORKI0qRP_2Oxr1jk3HxLGVu8ANJqA28MlO5oBtHeClnWWTbDZ-ng1zh_8pA_5t_5dM260NtLfBPngCUAxfdjzhSgh37JmzE1IL-BQp3fEb3zImy5HQAc" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="643" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPtTy5YU89gRFsy3GjUvs6EIZN5todH7WAIzfXFBkHSiWy_AkQUqfuloGBxa7c3_g9t81Fq1uORKI0qRP_2Oxr1jk3HxLGVu8ANJqA28MlO5oBtHeClnWWTbDZ-ng1zh_8pA_5t_5dM260NtLfBPngCUAxfdjzhSgh37JmzE1IL-BQp3fEb3zImy5HQAc" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence, we are poor in spirit, but rich
in perseverance. Isn’t that what our parish life has been like recently here at
St. Paul’s?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God dearly loves all of us who struggle
because we have not given up on seeking the path to the Kingdom. Blessed are
all of us, for the kingdom of heaven is ours!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus’ sermon on the mount, he isn’t
telling us what heaven is like, (although it IS what heaven is like), but
instead he’s inviting his followers to a new way of living in <b><u>this</u></b>
world that will bring God’s Kingdom into this broken existence.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are the poor in spirit—We should
struggle in our faith!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are those who mourn—We should give
comfort to those who are mourning!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are the meek—We should live without
arrogance or disdain for others.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, and those who are merciful—We should be working in this world to
bring mercy and justice for all of those outcast!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are the pure in heart—We should be
striving in our prayer and worship life to open ourselves to faith, hope, and
love, and not greed, power, and hate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are the peacemakers—We should strive to
bring peace to the world, and support those who work for peace.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blessed are those who are persecuted and reviled
for following the path of Jesus—We should take heart in knowing we are God’s
beloved when people hate us for loving everyone. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are God’s beloved when people hate you
on the basis of who you love, or the color of your skin, or the gender of your
true self.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Beatitudes are more than just a promise
of what will happen “some day”. The Beatitudes are a guidebook for living our
spirit-filled life in this world, and the God’s Dream of how this world is
meant to be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prophet Micah, in this morning’s
reading, tells us about the Dream of God: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">“He has told
you, O mortal, what is good; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">and what does
the Lord require of you<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">but to do
justice, and to love kindness,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">and to walk
humbly with your God.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed is this parish that perseveres in
following Jesus in the way of love.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed are each one of us who keep
struggling along the path of faith. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rejoice and be glad, for our reward is
great in heaven…”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-27254782920944224532023-09-27T21:08:00.000-07:002023-09-27T21:08:27.528-07:00<p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;">An Epiphany Journey: Lost, then found.</h2><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">By Deacon Greg <o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm 72:1-14</i>; Isaiah 60:1-6; <i>Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12</i></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">In the time of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the
Wise Men, or Magi, were the leading scientists of their day, studying
astronomy, alchemy, and biology in an effort to gain knowledge and
understanding of the world around them.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rulers of kingdoms would have engaged their
services to help discern the future, and provide advice on the policies of the
day, much as governments today hire experts, like economists and physicians.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know where they came from, other
than “the East”, but a good guess might be around modern-day Tehran in Iran. These
Magi were people of means since they were able to travel more than 1,000 miles
to journey to Jerusalem, most likely with a caravan bringing soldiers and
retainers, and projecting the idea of their wealth and power.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> The fact that they walked out of King
Herod’s court unharmed after claiming to be seeking the newborn “King of the
Jews” is evidence enough that even King Herod, a man who was comfortable with
murdering his wife and children for suspicions of plotting against him, was
impressed with their power and connections.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s important to remember these Magi were not
believers in the God of the Israelites. They had a belief that outside forces,
like planets and stars, controlled human being’s destiny. Modern day astrology
columns in the local papers are descendant from the Magi’s beliefs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet these learned Magi were open to seeking
the truth wherever it would lead them. In other words, they weren’t exactly
sure where they were headed, but they went on the journey anyways. What does
that say to us this morning?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> The Magi started off on their journey
following a star as their guide, but notice how they lost sight of their guide
when they came to Jerusalem.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near the end of Herod the Great’s rule,
Jerusalem was a beautiful city on the hill, with the 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
nearing completion, the great expansion of the Temple Mount finished, the huge
palaces of Herod and the Romans gleaming bright, and a city that was bustling
full of trade and wealth. “Surely,” the Magi thought, “this must be the place!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t take the Magi long to realize,
however, that they’ve made a grave mistake. They are eyewitnesses to the
decline of Herod--his health; his paranoia; his immorality--but they are shrewd
enough in court intrigue to obtain the prophecies from Herod’s own experts and
leave with their lives intact.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> Notice, though, it’s only when the Magi <u>leave
Jerusalem</u>, with its display of earthly wealth and power, that they find the
star leading them again to a stable in Bethlehem.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">How often in our own lives do we lose sight of
the Gospel of Truth as we are blinded by the wealth and power of our own day?</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How often do we lose our own way on our journey
to the Kingdom of God? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->How often do we let the Gospel of Jesus just
become a story in the back corner of our minds, and let the false glow of money
and power in this transient world become the reality of our existence?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhScIf_6ahWxpmujm5lFEFFf49js3JtD9ypUpsHIqmpnONSlLG_hE-_yG4c8AdB_1Oc8YfqYQ0yZLv6mXhh9WcT0M5XYGwTbr00CDgYFZX2aAJQALnN0FBe9j_O-vn-IuW5UP_Po0fSodwLpSUpbnKODLq2GBHRWvbcDr-lz6h47jNbZwKu_ZNh5EIWbWs" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="2259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhScIf_6ahWxpmujm5lFEFFf49js3JtD9ypUpsHIqmpnONSlLG_hE-_yG4c8AdB_1Oc8YfqYQ0yZLv6mXhh9WcT0M5XYGwTbr00CDgYFZX2aAJQALnN0FBe9j_O-vn-IuW5UP_Po0fSodwLpSUpbnKODLq2GBHRWvbcDr-lz6h47jNbZwKu_ZNh5EIWbWs" width="320" /></a></div> Without hesitation, and “overwhelmed with
joy” the Magi walk into the stable of Bethlehem bringing their king-worthy gifts
to worship a baby lying in a feeding trough. There is no display of wealth and
power here. The only guards present are cows and sheep. The only throne is a
bed of straw.<p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet not even understanding who God was, not
even being members of the “Chosen People”, these Gentiles still find God in
their thirst for the knowledge of truth in a stable in rural Bethlehem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> In our journey through life each human has
been given an inner yearning to discover the knowledge of truth—to find that
inner peace that brings meaning to our lives and hope for our future. As
followers of the Gospel we don’t have to study the stars or go on a long
journey to find this knowledge as the Magi did two millennia ago.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are given this knowledge freely through
the Good News of Jesus: That all of us “have become fellow heirs, members of
the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus,” as Paul tells us in
today’s reading.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> The “riches of Christ” are not found in the
gold and silver of this life, but in the promise of the Kingdom of God—the
Kingdom of Justice and Mercy—the Kingdom that will restore this world, and each
of us, to new life living in the original Dream of God</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a Dream of Love;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a Dream of Mercy;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a Dream of Inclusion where everyone is welcome<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->a Dream of what this world should be now, but
isn’t, because of the human corruption of wealth and power.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine that dream of God? Can you
live that dream?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> Isaiah
foretold the message of the Magi, and of us:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> " </span>Our light has come, and the glory of the
Lord has risen upon us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we can see and be radiant; our hearts
can thrill and rejoice,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the abundance of creation has been
brought to us,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the wealth of heaven has come to us."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p> As we journey on our way from this stable in
Bethlehem, let us hold in our hearts the love and promise of Christmas. Let us
strive to make <u>every day</u> a day of joy and gratitude. Let us live <u>every
day</u> searching for that baby in the stable in the eyes of every person we
meet.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only in grasping onto the Dream of God
that we can find peace and purpose within each of our hearts and lives.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May every one of you find fulfillment in
your journeys in the year ahead. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></p>Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-19131634121335864972019-09-12T15:44:00.004-07:002019-09-25T06:18:04.244-07:00Wearing the Collar--Living this New Life<h2 style="text-align: center;">
New Life in a Clergy Collar</h2>
<div>
For most people, when thinking of the Deacon they picture them in their roles assisting or presiding at the Liturgy, or Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer, for instance).</div>
<div>
In reality, though, the Deacon's main concern is focused on the needs of the community, both inside and outside the Church. Deacons have a desire to bring the Kingdom of God into this world by searching for those who are lost or ignored and bringing them back into the community, whether it's the Church or society.</div>
<div>
How does one satiate this desire to expand God's Kingdom, however, when working a full-time job? This question has been the greatest challenge for me since I've been ordained, particularly since my job requires extensive travel.</div>
<div>
As I meditated on this inner tension between supporting my family and serving <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wJZStoqNWtyAa957ndmcxN3NbgUkZV3e7R8TqjbQUVD9oH9Er19q7cN4UgnSIjTTmlU7HcLjpcRohUwctfzLMM38G8B2IkxrOO-6bhv64pgZZjYCJaqBL2SOHamEAZvIbSL4rrQgE6o/s1600/Mt+Shasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wJZStoqNWtyAa957ndmcxN3NbgUkZV3e7R8TqjbQUVD9oH9Er19q7cN4UgnSIjTTmlU7HcLjpcRohUwctfzLMM38G8B2IkxrOO-6bhv64pgZZjYCJaqBL2SOHamEAZvIbSL4rrQgE6o/s320/Mt+Shasta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
as a Deacon in the world, I thought of Paul of Tarsus, the original traveling servant. </div>
<div>
Paul supported himself working as an itinerant tent maker, and presumably needed to focus much of his time on his secular career, with only weekly times of Sabbath open to spreading the Good News. Perhaps he collected some followers in his day-to-day activities, like going to the shoreline to wash or dye some fabric.</div>
<div>
As I thought about this more, I wondered how I might encounter people along the way. I realized that I had opportunities while I was traveling to perhaps bring some light or calmness to the people I encountered. I decided I would make myself available to people while wearing my clergy shirt and collar.</div>
<div>
My first efforts at this were in the weeks leading up to Christmas 2018. I had numerous flights between Seattle and San Francisco, and drives along Interstate 5 in Oregon and California. </div>
<div>
The first challenge for me was not to isolate myself, as many of us do, by being focused on technology like smart phones and devices, or closed off with headphones and earbuds. By being focused outward, rather than inward, I encountered interesting reactions from fellow travelers. </div>
<div>
Some would see me and quickly glance away. I wondered whether it was pain from a past encounter of clergy (how often we've heard of this in today's world!), or just an automatic response of rejection or isolation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMbdPtbAcQ-wdBusq6C_rE-tY_0meqEQrBNxVwtI0OweGKTb3HVZncuZlkKj7j50PqagXTV30SUfQS02Sp6Kvd98evzWZHnltkKBlosnn5y-KG5rc2r0zoF0uWxl0WBfoGfwCDmV5Ojw/s1600/Seattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMbdPtbAcQ-wdBusq6C_rE-tY_0meqEQrBNxVwtI0OweGKTb3HVZncuZlkKj7j50PqagXTV30SUfQS02Sp6Kvd98evzWZHnltkKBlosnn5y-KG5rc2r0zoF0uWxl0WBfoGfwCDmV5Ojw/s320/Seattle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
Some people nodded and smiled as they continued on, while others stopped to have a conversation. During the Holiday Season many people who are unaccustomed to airports and the ensuing crowds find this part of the Season to be nerve-wracking. They seemed to relax by just having someone to talk to, even when it isn't an overtly religious conversation. A smile and an open ear can go a long way to sharing a calm peace between strangers.</div>
<div>
At one point I was sitting near my gate when a group of young adults (20-somethings) came along, and I moved over to give them space to sit together. When one of their waylaid members came walking up some minutes later looking at a clergy person sitting next to their group of friends, one of their friends piped up with "We were waiting for you to catch up before we started the service" and we all had a good chuckle. </div>
<div>
It is in these brief encounters of socialization that one can find the mysterious sharing of the Spirit. Jesus said "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there." Bursts of the Kingdom's Light springs from a loving sharing between people.</div>
<div>
As I travel along the Way, I also have come to notice those who also wear their faith--women with hijabs, religious sisters with their habits, turbans worn by those of Hindu or Islamic faith, or hats or yarmulkes worn by those of the Jewish faith. All have one thing in common: a deeply held conviction of their own faith with a desire to live their lives within that faith.</div>
<div>
Wearing religious garb as you're out in the world makes you constantly examine how you are living and behaving. What would people think of a clergy person driving unsafely? Imagine a nun cutting a person off at the supermarket checkout. How would you react?</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvVwe6cwkya37oPaipxOxJ39d4PP9D2fzG6JPy1rJG6P49AQg2pknR7kZtFJf5HUND36cBLEmqEpwFx_cZKFTNVOgS9oFlSr7d8cO6ITNYDxgjqHhqCUwz47F8c9MMiw9ok0QT8T1irI/s1600/Seattle+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvVwe6cwkya37oPaipxOxJ39d4PP9D2fzG6JPy1rJG6P49AQg2pknR7kZtFJf5HUND36cBLEmqEpwFx_cZKFTNVOgS9oFlSr7d8cO6ITNYDxgjqHhqCUwz47F8c9MMiw9ok0QT8T1irI/s320/Seattle+Band.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A funny thing happens as you wear the clothing of your faith: that inner calm that you hold within your prayer life leaks into the world as you live it. Being stuck in traffic becomes an opportunity to meditate, or take a minute to appreciate the world around you. Desiring to live with an open heart to God leaves you open to consider the brokenness of the world around you. </div>
<div>
As we live our lives, Christians pray "May your Kingdom Come, and your will be done on Earth (like it is in heaven)". Living your faith, even without religious garb, opens this world to God's love. In essence, you become part of the Light of God's Kingdom. May you be blessed by God as you travel carrying that Light. Amen!</div>
<br />Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-7112614127903135642019-02-06T17:38:00.003-08:002019-02-06T17:38:47.774-08:00Discerning Vocation<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Discerning as a Deacon or Priest</h2>
<div>
I am often asked the question "Are you going on to become a priest? You'd be wonderful at that!" While I feel honored that people would like me as their priest, that is not the vocation I feel deeply called to follow.</div>
<div>
In the Episcopal Church there are three ordained orders: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon. Each role has a special place in the structure of our Church. A Bishop provides leadership and guidance to the parishes within their Diocese, and sometimes outside the Diocese. A priest provides the same kind of leadership and guidance within the parish (or other organization) they may be assigned to shepherd.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS187Hur2WiuNx4V8lXbkQATd6TXlFMkdKhUjgjeNPcTCXUDWQjbVLq0euZ_ix8Ps0l4d56xwZw3-mjhQ_OPnVnLJgyw4yfV3lVmqOi5qNm1zVa2KI-gDxhxmP262F7PJpb1G4InOIng/s1600/20190105_084816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS187Hur2WiuNx4V8lXbkQATd6TXlFMkdKhUjgjeNPcTCXUDWQjbVLq0euZ_ix8Ps0l4d56xwZw3-mjhQ_OPnVnLJgyw4yfV3lVmqOi5qNm1zVa2KI-gDxhxmP262F7PJpb1G4InOIng/s320/20190105_084816.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
The Deacon has a unique role within the Episcopal Church. This vocation has only recently been reinstated as a full and unique order thanks to the 1979 revision of the Book of Common Prayer, but dates back to the time of the Apostles, with the Act of the Apostles reporting the appointment of the first seven deacons, including Stephen and Phillip.</div>
<div>
While Diocesan Delegates elect their Bishop, and a Parish calls their Priest by an election at a parish meeting, Deacons are appointed by the Bishop to serve where the Bishop sees a need. Most Deacons are not paid a salary, and are either retired, or support themselves through secular employment (as I do).</div>
<div>
This appointed, non-paid position gives the Deacon a certain freedom of action to follow where the Spirit is calling the Deacon, and their community, to go. It is this freedom of action within the Spirit that really spoke to me about following this path.</div>
<div>
<b>Don't hear me wrong! This freedom doesn't give the Deacon a license to do or say whatever they want!! </b>Deacons serve under the guidance of the Bishop, and also must carefully consider the needs and concerns of the community within the Church as well as the community outside the Church.</div>
<div>
At the central core of any Deacon must be a life of prayer and study that focuses the Deacon's innermost being on listening to what God is saying through the Spirit. Any good formation program for Deacons helps the student find that central, intersecting point where the Deacon is open to the needs of the Church, the calling of the Spirit, and needs of the community. </div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBNYC7WQUCscfB-H4MSmH69NCIw1ncROoKgizFDUyYRIZVCEoR87rxm7Vtrfmg3BrRG72UX2NnxDtfGXQGJpHm_5yI9nB9evqxMSgXJfNC_v4HNpG3xlhVTcli3sA_5Qg-rPRtA04JGI/s1600/51kSQZLRspL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBNYC7WQUCscfB-H4MSmH69NCIw1ncROoKgizFDUyYRIZVCEoR87rxm7Vtrfmg3BrRG72UX2NnxDtfGXQGJpHm_5yI9nB9evqxMSgXJfNC_v4HNpG3xlhVTcli3sA_5Qg-rPRtA04JGI/s320/51kSQZLRspL._SY346_.jpg" width="212" /></a> One of the fascinating characteristics of Deacons I've discovered is how each of them bring something with them from their secular careers into the Church, and how that skill is then transformed into service for God's people that was never anticipated before. (For just one example, take a look at The Hub in Stockton, CA <a href="https://diosanjoaquin.org/the-hub/">https://diosanjoaquin.org/the-hub/</a> )</div>
<div>
Deacons are inside the Church, but also outside the Church. Deacons work at careers of their own, but also live a vocation of their own. Deacons speak from the pulpit, but also speak on the street corner, or in government meetings, or at social gatherings.</div>
<div>
Deacons roles continue to evolve within the Church, and Deacons are constantly listening for the guidance of the Spirit.</div>
<div>
I often connect my life as a Deacon with the life of St. Paul, who worked as a tent maker while spreading the Word of Jesus throughout the Mediterranean world. People were not always happy with his admonitions, but they understood his commitment to his call. At times I wonder how often he made or repaired a tent as a gift to someone in need.</div>
<div>
Since this role of Deacon within the Episcopal Church continues to evolve, I highly recommend "Unexpected Consequences" (by Susanne Watson Epting) to give those who are interested in exploring this path of Deacon an idea of how the role has grown over the years. </div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-73643357837371971532018-12-19T16:32:00.002-08:002018-12-19T16:32:55.216-08:00Ordination<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons</h2>
<div>
After many years of walking the path, after many hardships and challenges, after many struggles, both internal and external, on December 1, 2018 I reached the guidepost that is the end of one part of the journey and the beginning of another...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pm1IFWa3mzY" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>”They came to Jericho. As
he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of
Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that
it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out
even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and
said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take
heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up
and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for
you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus
said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his
sight and followed him on the way.”--<i> Mark
10:46-52</i><i> (NRSV)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>How often does our crowded mind keep us from calling for Jesus to free us from our blindness in this world? If our eyes <u><b>are</b></u> opened to the light around us, will we, too, "follow Jesus on the way"? </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></i>Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-75963446200672409302018-11-13T19:42:00.001-08:002018-11-13T19:42:48.839-08:00Struggling on the road to Ordination<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Struggle: The distance between Graduation and Ordination</h2>
Having graduated from the School for Deacons in Berkeley I thought the toughest part of this journey was over. Instead I found myself in an in-between phase of "Where am I?" and "Where do I go from here?"<br />
On June 1st I returned to my home parish of St. Paul's after spending almost a year at my Field Ed parish of St. John's. To my surprise I found St. Paul's had 'moved along' since I was there, as what happens in any organization, particularly one with dynamic leadership and a group of people that are open to growing.<br />
At the same time I was suffering the loss of all of the parish family I had come to love at St. John's.<br />
In the midst of this transition I found myself seemingly lost in a heavy fog obscuring the future. What am I supposed to do now? How do I make this work? What are my own expectations and goals? How am I supposed to answer this call?<br />
At the root of this struggle is the question I couldn't answer when I began this process: <b>How am I supposed to be a Deacon when I already work a </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>demanding full-time job that involves extensive travel?</b> I felt like I needed to search out the answer to this in order to "begin", but all I could find is frustration, along with what many of us carry in our baggage: self-condemnation.<br />
I spent months trying to "do something", as if the answer was just in front of <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsyOtgdXBbY6Xg_LmvGk9ueO7FrT_dWjsI74pswBXTdOC4KGBnVZu9VFiUJmJYV2hps7wdvg7szdL54Na0cbmTuZcE4-fNqydHUZxUCJ3DGvsnQkx2zR5mZMkguqVTjfPSdfr4IrZ5S0/s1600/20181029_162233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsyOtgdXBbY6Xg_LmvGk9ueO7FrT_dWjsI74pswBXTdOC4KGBnVZu9VFiUJmJYV2hps7wdvg7szdL54Na0cbmTuZcE4-fNqydHUZxUCJ3DGvsnQkx2zR5mZMkguqVTjfPSdfr4IrZ5S0/s320/20181029_162233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>United, SFO</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
me, or subject to an extensive thought process on my part. While this sounds like a reasonable path to take in the business world, is this what one does pursuing the vocational path??<br />
After spending months wandering in my 'action mode', I found myself in an airline seat on a flight from North Carolina sitting next to a person who was greatly perturbed. For most of the flight there were heavy sighs, a scowl on the mouth, and constant shifting in the seat. Since I travel so much for work my mind was naturally in work mode--not thinking as a Deacon.<br />
Nearing the end of the flight, this person started a conversation with me, asking what I do for work. We talked a bit about travel, since we both had occupations requiring many nights away from home.<br />
He then started telling me how angry he was about the doctors who were forcing him to move his wife out of the house and into a medical care facility. She was suffering from a terminal illness and the care required for her would apparently be less costly in the medical facility. He felt as if they were losing their freedom of choice in managing their own healthcare.<br />
After he fumed for a bit, I told him about my sister, who had suffered through numerous surgeries and extensive medical care for nearly her entire life. In 2007, at age 46, she received a notice from her insurance company that she had reached the maximum life benefit for health insurance, and was being dropped from coverage. The cost of prescriptions and continuing care far exceeded their monthly income, and rather than leave her spouse bankrupt decided to terminate her treatments. She died three weeks later.<br />
He had listened intently to my story, and when I had reached the end he said "Well that is certainly a different perspective." Our conversation moved to more mundane things, but clearly the anger against the healthcare professionals had dissipated.<br />
He was still worried, hurt, and angry at the circumstances of his wife's illness, as any of us are when we struggle with tragedy, but for a short time he was able to voice his hurts with someone else rather than just letting it churn on the inside.<br />
It was only after I left the aircraft and was rushing to my next gate that I realized "Hey, was that some kind of deaconal moment?" I wrestled with this for weeks afterwards. After all, I hadn't made an appointment to meet this person. I didn't decide "Today I'm not a Deacon, but tomorrow I will be." Instead it just happened in the course of living my life that someone in need was led to me.<br />
I asked myself "How did that happen?" and then started taking a step back to look at this entire process of becoming a Deacon. I didn't start out thinking "This is what I will do!", but instead was more like "OK, I really don't want to do this--I don't think I can do this--but I will answer your call and just trust in You."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaGviF16nFqJCzVYfMHR9uuWOwcl-7JchuPVlGOcDAQ5-OA22FFfEAEMjOmqicCazvMOVaj8Ef4gzRQxk0JkM1ROnUDusQqzK6lHOuWv0nsUmcv1MigAykOwDs88Vx24lPF9KefypTN8/s1600/20180927_095117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaGviF16nFqJCzVYfMHR9uuWOwcl-7JchuPVlGOcDAQ5-OA22FFfEAEMjOmqicCazvMOVaj8Ef4gzRQxk0JkM1ROnUDusQqzK6lHOuWv0nsUmcv1MigAykOwDs88Vx24lPF9KefypTN8/s320/20180927_095117.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cedar Swamp Trail, <br />Cape Cod National Seashore</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I came to the realization that rather than continuing that belief of trusting in God and listening for her voice, which I followed through three years of School, I had moved into 'work mode' trying to make things happen. It is not an easy thing for people to relinquish control, particularly to our God who usually can't be discerned by our physical senses.<br />
As much as I have lived into this calling since March 2013 when Pastor Kathleen West stopped me to say "You know, you have a call within you!?" I find my most inner, basic self to be like any other person searching for meaning in this world. Sometimes the road ahead is covered with fog, but even in the heaviest of fog one searches for markers, listens for sound, or seeks a light.<br />
Trusting that God is leading us and is concerned about each one of us helps guide us to inner peace, while opening our hearts to the people God sends our way.<br />
May God's Peace and Love continue to pursue each one of you!<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-28359010134059015432018-05-15T18:31:00.000-07:002018-05-15T18:31:33.188-07:00Graduation from School for Deacons<h2>
Graduation, but not (yet) ordination</h2>
<div>
This past Sunday I officially graduated from the School for Deacons in Berkeley, CA. I am only now starting to realize, several days later, just what this means for me. </div>
<div>
For the last three years of School I have focused on trying to complete assignments for the next School weekend, while also balancing work and family life. I found it necessary to keep my focus on the work that needed to be done three weeks at a time. Otherwise, to look up and see how far it was to go could be discouraging. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrPZZ6p7jLruZPOHyxAHCx5wB7pQRWFHpvOrrBLACSwHVg0shrclqOUIa7-DZYdI65yy7DE8oXg6yOMMIYhS1E4P1aK7skUzLYi9K8dwfs7osT6WFIPN3EH8NGNy7FmYE1tMT0U-Xwh4/s1600/Resized_20180513_164526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrPZZ6p7jLruZPOHyxAHCx5wB7pQRWFHpvOrrBLACSwHVg0shrclqOUIa7-DZYdI65yy7DE8oXg6yOMMIYhS1E4P1aK7skUzLYi9K8dwfs7osT6WFIPN3EH8NGNy7FmYE1tMT0U-Xwh4/s200/Resized_20180513_164526.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
Suddenly, I find myself at the end, a person transformed by the process of study, work, prayer, and community. I've gone from a Doubting Thomas to a committed disciple. </div>
<div>
Many people feel a sense of accomplishment after graduation, but I feel, instead, a sense of gratitude for all the times I thought I would stumble and the Spirit kept picking me up. It is in fire that metal is tested and hardened, and it is in this experience that I too have strengthened my faith.</div>
<div>
With School complete my journey now turns back to completing the final Steps to Ordination. Examinations, exams, interviews, and endorsements still lie ahead, but for me the best part is turning inward again to focusing on my own spirituality and prayer life in my continuing discussion with God. Time again for family and rest, but also time for faith.</div>
<div>
On my last School for Deacons Weekend I preached at Morning Prayer on Sunday May 6th. For me it was an opportunity to speak of my experience while hopefully inspiring others who are on this same journey of faith. Here is that sermon:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Sixth Sunday after Easter</b></div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Acts 10:44-48<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Psalm 98<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>John 15:9-17<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our reading from Acts this morning our God
of Surprises again acts in a surprising way. Without the reception of any
sacraments, and with just a short sermon from Peter, “the Holy Spirit fell upon
all who heard the word”, and Peter’s followers “heard them speaking in tongues
and extolling God .” (Acts 10:44) Wow, imagine that kind of response to one of <u>our</u>
sermons!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What strikes me in this scene is what has
been left out by the Lectionary. Peter and his followers from Joppa traveled to
Caesarea to visit a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. Cornelius “was a devout
man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the
people and prayed constantly to God.” (Acts 10:2) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One afternoon Cornelius is suddenly accosted
by an “angel from God” who calls him by name. Acts records that Cornelius “stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?”” and was told “Your
prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:3-4)
The angel goes on to tell Cornelius to summon Peter, a man he doesn’t know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us have heard God call us by
name and reacted with that same feeling of terror, or disbelief? I feel at
times like that old Alfred E. Newman cartoon from “Mad Magazine” saying “What?
Who, me?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
It
makes me wonder how surprised Moses must have been when he heard his name
called from within the Burning Bush (Exodus 3). I can only guess at the terror Elijah felt when God passed him
by on that mountain, not in the form of wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the
sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKRb0SVt82gf5mDz71fyJLDc_ekz2LbBuapm9XmOVf22rBexf_19xyxohxaubh-rsLlC1IoxDwHloQbn31YuedZKw8ZYb4IuZDaam_uoBj69Ohn6kWeFLFlZdqTjMKBR1mCXj6zrjwaQ/s1600/Transfiguration_bloch-e1518384710342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="618" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKRb0SVt82gf5mDz71fyJLDc_ekz2LbBuapm9XmOVf22rBexf_19xyxohxaubh-rsLlC1IoxDwHloQbn31YuedZKw8ZYb4IuZDaam_uoBj69Ohn6kWeFLFlZdqTjMKBR1mCXj6zrjwaQ/s320/Transfiguration_bloch-e1518384710342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter, James, and John were absolutely befuddled when they went up the mountain with Jesus
to meet Moses and Elijah, and then hear the voice of God (Matthew 17). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Think about it! They were going
to set up a tent for a ghost!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As pilgrims
on this journey of faith we yearn to find God, but become terrified
when God suddenly finds us and calls
us by name. Like Peter, we are some of the least likely people to
become a “Rock”, and then we realize
that it is not through our efforts that anything is accomplished, but in God
working through us that brings God’s Light into the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than sitting back in his lofty perch
surrounded by fiery chariots and hosts of angels, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(while dropping in occasionally to scare humans half to death)</i>, our
God of Surprises comes to meet us in human form through Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If being God Incarnate is not surprising
enough, Jesus tells us “You are my
friends if you do what I command you.” A God who wants to be friends with each
one of us! Really? God is my friend, and
your friend? The creator of the universe yearns to reach out and embrace each
of us? With this realization, can there be any deeper joy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus speaks to each one of us when he says “You did not choose me but I chose you” (John
15:16) and sends us out into the world to “bear fruit” by following his command
to “love one another.” It’s such a simple command <u>to bring God’s love out to a broken world that seems so lost in
darkness</u>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Peter, James, and John we too have found
ourselves befuddled at times as we climbed this mountain called “Holy Hill”.
Three years ago, looking up, it seemed like we would never make it, and now,
looking back, I still don’t know how we did it. At times it seems like a dream—<u>because it is a dream</u>! Like
Martin Luther King Jr. and many others before, we have come to the mountain top
and can see the Promised Land, a Land
that fills your mind with dreams of a new way of living.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 43.35pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I dream of a world where every person is viewed
as a valued member of society, regardless of who they are, or where they came
from, or who they love. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 43.35pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I dream of a place where every child is
wanted and loved, has a home to live in and enough food to eat, can get medical
care whenever needed, and has access to an education that will help them find
their own dream. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 43.35pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I dream of a time when every worker, regardless
of their occupation, returns home safe every night, earns enough to support
their family, and is able to afford the roses as well as the bread. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 43.35pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I dream of a day when the Earth is not viewed by
humans as a resource to be exploited, but is seen and cared for as part of
God’s precious Garden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i> </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk0pTaZ3QqPbipTTcHYu8UXc2e8fOhv_h9kOKcXRMReEWFz_drvOoE4A8Gp-KRKyJo9QQNPI8a-Lf2oNgztqSqh1lcvEi9wMUmh2HwnxQJWbEU_ZcygTq2MXzjLKdQVUFhaEoL6qzEsI/s1600/dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="640" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifk0pTaZ3QqPbipTTcHYu8UXc2e8fOhv_h9kOKcXRMReEWFz_drvOoE4A8Gp-KRKyJo9QQNPI8a-Lf2oNgztqSqh1lcvEi9wMUmh2HwnxQJWbEU_ZcygTq2MXzjLKdQVUFhaEoL6qzEsI/s320/dream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
These may sound like crazy dreams, but this is the Dream of God that
I’ve come to know here. This is the Kingdom of God brought to Earth by Jesus. The cross of Jesus didn’t just open up a
one-way street to the next world—The Cross has opened a doorway that also
brings God’s Dream for us into this world.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you see that open doorway? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you imagine the Dream of God? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Can you feel the Kingdom of God drawing near?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is calling each one of us: “Come
follow me.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Come, follow me out into the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Come, make what is old new again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Come, heal the broken. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Come, find the lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Come, love one another as I have loved you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the Spirit of God so fill our hearts
with the vision of God’s Dream that we become beacons of hope and love in this
bruised and broken world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-17553883224999211222018-04-04T20:18:00.002-07:002018-04-04T20:18:55.649-07:00Nearly Finished, Looking Back<h2>
Reflections on the Journey</h2>
<div>
In the midst of serving at my Parish Field Assignment from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, and everything in between, I found myself reflecting on where I've been on this journey through formation.</div>
<div>
It was five years ago on Maundy Thursday that I first attended a service at an Episcopal Church. Growing up Roman Catholic, it was not an easy thing to leave, but I could no longer accept the practice of excluding people from full inclusion. The Jesus I know from the New Testament welcomed all people to his table, even his betrayer Judas.</div>
<div>
I was never divorced, I wasn't a woman wanting to be ordained, I'm not gay wanting to be accepted or married, but the exclusion of all of these groups of people troubled my heart and soul. I could no longer stay in a Church that included me, but excluded others. Jesus opened the Kingdom of God to everyone, tearing down walls formed by man-made religious rules that separated people from each other.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaW4ev9BNeiYzWE6-D0oJE4GGo2qxmBIRJ0N-fIz0Is-zMVZxRWEcSSC0YIJJG58uOAr9QZkHPIdNAb0PBfTxCp22Pi0QrvEUyLD2nrDNB01vjzliE9veIh57yfke6ywPuvO3B3gwveo/s1600/Henry+O+Tanner--Return+from+the+Crucifixion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="922" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaW4ev9BNeiYzWE6-D0oJE4GGo2qxmBIRJ0N-fIz0Is-zMVZxRWEcSSC0YIJJG58uOAr9QZkHPIdNAb0PBfTxCp22Pi0QrvEUyLD2nrDNB01vjzliE9veIh57yfke6ywPuvO3B3gwveo/s400/Henry+O+Tanner--Return+from+the+Crucifixion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It was four years ago on Good Friday that Pastor Kathleen West rushed out of St. Paul's to call me back and told me I had a calling. Sometimes I still think this is a crazy idea. </div>
<div>
I start thinking that I am somehow the subject of a joke by God, but I just haven't heard the punchline yet. It is times like these my mind jumps to the character Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. My Tevye prayer would be "OK God! I don't get it yet! Are you going to tell me, or do I have to wait?"</div>
<div>
Now in my last semester at School for Deacons, I have completed (34) School Weekends, with (2) weekends left to go. I have no idea how I've made it this far except by the grace of God. Thirty-four three-week cycles of homework, all in the midst of work and family crises, and challenged along the way with doubts and fears.</div>
<div>
How have I done it? Perseverance is one piece of it, learning to live in one 3-week homework cycle at a time; Fellowship with my fellow seminarian, a woman who has as much stubbornness and drive as me--perhaps more!; The greatest asset of all, however, has been clinging onto faith and trusting that God is leading me on this path and is walking with each of us.</div>
<div>
For the last couple weeks I have been re-reading "Many Servants: An Introduction to Deacons" by Ormonde Plater. I read this book at the beginning of this journey trying to understand deacons. Now, after 3 years of intensive training I read it again with a new perspective, and new understanding.</div>
<div>
Where am I going? I don't know. What is my 'calling'?" I haven't a clue! What will I do? I haven't the foggiest notion. Perhaps in walking this part of the path for the last three years, trusting in God over a long period, I have come to the point of not spending so much time worrying about the future, and instead living in this day--this present--this gift of 'now'. This is one of the hallmarks of the Kingdom of God: trusting that God will lead us to the future, heal us from the past, and walk with us in the present.</div>
<div>
I believe that Jesus' message of love is filled with joy! If you're not laughing with God at least some of the time, you're missing something in life! I am so blessed to have found the "Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement". Peace and love!! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<i>Note: Painting by Henry O Tanner</i></div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-67203800848047554902018-04-02T19:27:00.000-07:002018-04-02T19:27:04.145-07:00Good Friday & Parish Field Assignment<h2>
Good Friday calls us!</h2>
<div>
I preached at the Good Friday service this year at my Parish Field Assignment at St. John's in Lodi, CA. Too many people want to jump over the pain of the cross and go straight to Easter Sunday and the Resurrection, but so much is missed by turning away from the pain of reality. It's not about guilt, it is about unbounded love. We are called!</div>
<div>
Here is the sermon:</div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John 19:1-37<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a man’s world, women and children don’t
count—they are insignificant! I would like to believe this is no longer true,
but when you hear how women are treated in the workplace, or how children are
afraid of going to school, I have to wonder… The fact remains, however, that in
Jesus’ time women and children didn’t count.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back then the status of most women was not
much better than that of a slave—as wives they were treated as house servants,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and could be divorced and left homeless for
any reason. More than half of the children died before the age of 10, and a
third of women died in childbirth. Even in the story of the miracle of the
fishes and loaves (John 6:10), a crowd follows Jesus, but only the men are
counted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is this insignificant status of women and
children that is a key point in understanding the truth of today’s reading, and
the Gospel of John itself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the other followers of Jesus have run
away and are in hiding, fearful they will be arrested and added to crosses
along the road to Jerusalem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-GRaCwKlbF9Y4zSmNoaLkhvx3lTT6wypOSSUPbDyOWui0xbzEYgL-fwxCbgnEPe1DVtc8yFxFs1VY1D8fNbQu6IGc6lY9UpimH0fLFCMiAHcQUsruezFinLLBZsLPB9QzJ04h049P7c/s1600/display_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-GRaCwKlbF9Y4zSmNoaLkhvx3lTT6wypOSSUPbDyOWui0xbzEYgL-fwxCbgnEPe1DVtc8yFxFs1VY1D8fNbQu6IGc6lY9UpimH0fLFCMiAHcQUsruezFinLLBZsLPB9QzJ04h049P7c/s320/display_image.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Abandoned by his followers, beaten and
humiliated, stripped of his only possessions, now hanging from a cross as the
soldiers get drunk and gamble over his garments, could any human feel any more
abandoned and alone? Yet at this lowest point in his life, when his whole
ministry must feel like a giant failure, a few of his closest followers, ones
considered to be insignificant and worthless by the soldiers guarding the
condemned, come and stand near Jesus, <u>helpless to do anything but be with
him in his final hours.<o:p></o:p></u><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Creator is not a god who sits back and
watches from a distance—God doesn’t meet us halfway—the Alpha and Omega was
born into our world to share in our joys, sorrows, and pain—to find the lost,
the broken, and the blind--and lead to us to new life! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we stand at the foot of the cross, at
what must seem to the people around Jesus, the end of that life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Light of the World is being extinguished
by the forces of darkness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John recalls that Jesus was crucified on the
day before Passover, at the same time the lambs were being prepared for the
Passover meal. When Jesus says from the cross “I am thirsty” [19:28] John
remembers a sponge was dipped in cheap wine and given to him on a reed of
hyssop It was a hyssop reed that was dipped in the blood of the Passover lambs
to mark the wooden doors and lintels in Egypt, protecting the Israelites from
the angel of death. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here John is telling us that the blood of
the Lamb of God spread on the wood of the cross in Jerusalem will open the door
to eternal life. This one man, Jesus, gives his life out of love for God and
each one of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John records that the legs of the men
crucified with Jesus were broken to hasten their death, but that since Jesus
was already dead they drove a spear into him and “…at once blood and water came
out.” [19:34] It is only in modern times that scientists have come to
understand that breaking the legs of crucifixion victims caused immediate death
by asphyxiation--and that stabbing a live person causes blood to flow out, but blood
and water-like fluids flow out of a dead one. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John’s Gospel is not based on hearsay, or an
oral tradition, but is an eye-witness account of real events by a follower of
Jesus who was personally familiar with Judea and Jerusalem. If you were there,
could you have <u>ever</u> forgotten what you saw in Jesus’ life or his death?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel of John records the unintended testimony
made about Jesus by his worst adversaries:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Temple authorities. They don’t deny that Jesus healed the man born
blind [9:1-12], but call Jesus a sinner for healing someone on the Sabbath.
Their trial proves this man has been healed, but they throw the man out of the
synagogue because they are blind to the Truth, and refuse to hear the man’s
testimony of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In hearing that Jesus had raised Lazarus
from the dead in front of a crowd of witnesses, the response of the Temple
authorities is not doubt that it happened, but “This man is performing many
signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him…” causing
Caiaphas to prophetically respond “…It is better to have one man die for the
people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” [11:45-50] Salvation from one
man, predicted by the high priest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, it is Pilate himself who declares
Jesus “King of the Jews”. Messiah means Anointed One, or King. Little does
Pilate know that Jesus is so much more than King of the Jews.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing his Gospel late in life, John
carefully crafts his story not just to testify to the events he witnessed, but
to answer the most basic question: What does it mean for us to become followers
of Jesus? What should I do? How should I live?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first chapter the un-named disciple who
searches out Jesus asks “Rabbi, where are you staying?” [1:38], expressing a
curiosity--an openness to hear this Good News. He is baptized and goes on to
participate in Eucharistic-like feasts, like the feeding of the 5,000 [6:1-15],
growing in his faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the Last Supper It is the un-named
Beloved Disciple reclining next to Jesus. [13:24-25] It is the un-named disciple
who slips Peter into the courtyard of the high priest during Jesus’ trial
[18:15-16].<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, in the reading we just heard, it is
the Beloved Disciple standing at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother, her
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. A teenage boy with the
simple faith of a child, and several women with the love of a mother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
in his final moments Jesus is using his last breath to minister to others. He
asks the Beloved Disciple to care for his mother whom he is leaving behind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpzA2y3VYjp525Bw0Zbndb9dbnWAsxfAZ-Q9a2m3f-Nw1ltJxfFhfToe3V6k2gSIuzoQTwr9Uhd2NpfEqfaEuhjOUgLXU2W38KgYYqJ_TDPHrAkWTLvG9lgRjjqreAtFcWpT3voMuXW0/s1600/st-john-the-evangelist-icon-745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="354" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpzA2y3VYjp525Bw0Zbndb9dbnWAsxfAZ-Q9a2m3f-Nw1ltJxfFhfToe3V6k2gSIuzoQTwr9Uhd2NpfEqfaEuhjOUgLXU2W38KgYYqJ_TDPHrAkWTLvG9lgRjjqreAtFcWpT3voMuXW0/s200/st-john-the-evangelist-icon-745.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask yourself “Why doesn’t John name himself
in all of these places? Why doesn’t John say “I was there” or “I did this” rather
than speaking of himself in the third person?” The answer can be rather jolting:
John is inviting each of us to become the Beloved Disciple.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John’s Gospel is an invitation to each one
of us to become committed disciples of Christ—to become Jesus’ hands and feet
and voices in the world—to care for those whom Jesus loves: the sick and the
dying, the marginalized and the outcasts, the poor and the afflicted; humanity
AND creation itself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John tells us Jesus said “Just as I have
loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Becoming the Beloved Disciple means turning
away from being centered on the self, leaving behind all of those selfish
things that separate us from God and each other. Becoming the Beloved Disciple
means living a life centered on God and caring for others; of living in love
and hope, and not in fear; of living life with opened eyes and opened hearts <u>listening</u>
for the call of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this solemn day of Good Friday, and into
the morrow of Holy Saturday, the world waits in this thinness between life and
death, just as it did back then. Think of how empty the world becomes without
Jesus in it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let us accept John’s invitation to become
Beloved Disciples. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let us remember the love and healing Jesus
brought into this world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Let us feel for a brief instant the grief these
disciples felt in losing their Teacher.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Discipleship calls us to perseverance.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Faith dares us to hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Love brings us to new life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Amen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ref: “The Past from God’s Perspective” by Rev. Dr. Scott Gambrill
Sinclair<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-3812903882339747662018-03-06T19:54:00.001-08:002018-03-06T19:54:28.936-08:00Last Semester--Half way there!<h2 style="height: 0px;">
Looking Back</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With only three more School for Deacons' Weekends to go I wanted to take time to look back to where I've been. In some ways it's like riding on a train or in an aircraft in a rear-facing seat--It's difficult to see where you are going, but the view looking back is amazing.</div>
<div>
The amount of work that is behind me is substantial: 30 courses all together, plus numerous retreats, and three weeks in Panama. It's hard to believe I've completed all of it looking back. I fully recognize, though, that I didn't do this on my own, but only with the help of the Spirit. </div>
<div>
Persevering in your efforts; hanging onto "Just one more thing": having the encouragement of a fellow classmate: All of these things contribute to the forward movement. When it comes down to it, however, the most important piece of all is grasping onto the the belief that God is calling you to this ministry, and her Spirit will help carry you along the way when times are toughest.</div>
<div>
At some point in this journey you realize that you also are there to reach out to the people in the process behind you and encourage them in following this path.</div>
<div>
May God reach out to your heart and give you the courage to take up this call.</div>
<div>
At the midpoint of this semester I preached the following at Evening Prayer on March 3rd:</div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Genesis 43:16-34<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Mark 5:1-20<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In listening to our two seemingly unrelated
readings this evening I was suddenly struck with the realization that they both
share an almost invisible theme of The Unexpected Turn in a way I hadn’t seen before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our view of Joseph this evening we see a
man who has reached his peak in power and influence in the Kingdom of Egypt.
Joseph is not a mere steward of Pharaoh, distributing grain and amassing wealth
for Pharaoh’s treasury. When Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dream of seven
fat years with seven lean years Pharaoh had recognized the Truth of God within
Joseph and made him a Priest of Heliopolis, the center of worship for the
Sun-god Atum, later known as Ra, by decreeing the marriage of Joseph to
Asenath, daughter of the Chief Priest of Atum. Joseph, then, is a priest who
delivers bread to the people of the kingdom.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through no fault of his own, young Joseph
became the envy of his brothers, being deemed by Jacob as his favorite. While
his older brothers were sent out to the fields to care for the flocks, Joseph
was kept at home, the joy of his father’s eye. Poor Joseph was so naïve, that
he didn’t even realize his brothers’ envy of his position. I wonder how long it
took Joseph after he was thrown into the well to realize something was amiss.
Did he sit in that well thinking it was some kind of brotherly joke? Was it
several days after being chained to a caravan before his eyes were opened? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of the physical duress he was under
as a slave, as many of us know it’s the emotional pain that hurts the worst. I
can hear Joseph saying “My brothers, my closest friends, did this to me? Was my
father in on this, too?” The heartbreak must have been unimaginable. How awful
and deep it is when we are hurt by the ones we love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than fall into despair, Joseph lived
with the faith of Jacob and decided to serve well <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBD6d53s9YqVAv5UlFb35SFl1iiYpaechCTGvB1vZJQswT7bkz0osSPtyRBMPcwO5uz8QBIH0t3djjpGA8N4NoWfEHnCdY3hz_DId_je8g8bkLAFNbSw7ZjLJTLffgDzDiPLrMhuRyNi0/s1600/543574284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBD6d53s9YqVAv5UlFb35SFl1iiYpaechCTGvB1vZJQswT7bkz0osSPtyRBMPcwO5uz8QBIH0t3djjpGA8N4NoWfEHnCdY3hz_DId_je8g8bkLAFNbSw7ZjLJTLffgDzDiPLrMhuRyNi0/s320/543574284.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
wherever he was sent. In
other words, Joseph chose to live righteously in spite of his unjust situation.
As a result, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man” [Gen
39:2]<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way of righteous living didn’t always
endear Joseph to people. For refusing Potiphar’s wife’s advances Joseph was
falsely accused of assault and thrown into prison. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in Pharaoh’s dungeon Joseph continued
on his righteous way of living, caring for the other prisoners. How often did
Joseph question God’s faithfulness through all of his travails? After all,
Joseph lived in slavery or prison for almost 20 years before Pharaoh finally
took notice of him. Twenty years of darkness and misery, but clinging to one’s
faith in God. Imagine how challenging that would be!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, after being released and marrying
Asenath, who bore him Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph is reported to have said
“God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” [Gen 41:51]</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s reading it’s almost 10 years
later that Joseph’s brothers show up asking for food for their people. The real
humanity of Joseph shows
through, however! Joseph is not some kind of hagiographic saint who has fully
forgiven and forgotten—after all, he throws his brothers into prison for 3 days
on false charges of being spies. He keeps Simeon incarcerated while demanding
the other brothers bring back Benjamin. He arranges to falsely accuse Benjamin
of theft, and making him a slave, before he finally reveals his true loving
self to his kinfolk. I can easily imagine the inner struggles Joseph suffered
through—the temptation he wrestled with to use his absolute power to wreak
fully-justified revenge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is this very real, human inner conflict
in Joseph involving the choice between the intertwined emotions of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">heartbreak, revenge and power</b>, on one
hand, versus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">living righteously and
lovingly before God</b>, on the other. Each one of us suffer through this same
kind of inner conflict today, don’t we? What an Unexpected Turn of
understanding!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
our scene this evening from Mark we meet one of the most famous unnamed
persons of the Gospel—the demoniac afflicted by Legion. This poor man had
become so out of control that not even chains could hold him, so he lived among
the dead of that area—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a lost soul dead
to the world, but not even buried in peace.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDblSq12NoLJsDlZ2fwoKMYmkZ7OwwiRTKrTabvJP_6g_xQBHk3YSSE8afOBbTwNc6-fOtczddzoZ7AtXQqIuuYGrr6XRuP6zOGK_780w-qxd6XAaQhSwyXKQVMsCIwVPVmfw0OOv6ATE/s1600/Healing_of_the_demon-possessed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDblSq12NoLJsDlZ2fwoKMYmkZ7OwwiRTKrTabvJP_6g_xQBHk3YSSE8afOBbTwNc6-fOtczddzoZ7AtXQqIuuYGrr6XRuP6zOGK_780w-qxd6XAaQhSwyXKQVMsCIwVPVmfw0OOv6ATE/s320/Healing_of_the_demon-possessed.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long had he lived with this affliction?
The Gospels don’t tell us. What did he eat? Insects? Plants? Dead animals? Food
scraps left on occasion? He had been constantly tormented by these demons
inside, beating himself with stones—caused by the demons? Or an attempt by
himself to end his torment? Perhaps both!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He immediately rushes to Jesus and addresses
him as “Son of the Most High God”, an appellation of Greek origin, not
surprising since this area is called the Decapolis—the ten Greek cities. While
in other stories Jesus seems hesitant to heal non-Jews, Jesus immediately works
to cure this poor creature, out of empathy for the plight of this most cast-out
person. Can you be any more of an outcast from society when you are living
among the dead?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this community’s perspective this man
is dead to the world, but Jesus restores him to life by driving out the demons,
and in their place leaving God’s peace. Imagine how relieved this man is—how
quiet his inner self has become—how free he feels after all this time of
confinement in an inner prison!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any wonder, then, that this man now
wants to follow Jesus and become one of his disciples! The surprising thing is
Jesus sends him away!! What an Unexpected Turn!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could someone who has only listened to
Jesus a short time become a bearer of the Good News? By rushing down to the
seashore to plead with Jesus to heal him, this poor, afflicted human
demonstrated his own helplessness against evil. Even in the midst of his
suffering he yearned to live a righteous life in God. While Jesus tells others
“Let the dead bury the dead”, Jesus tells this former graveyard inhabitant to
go out and “…Tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” This first preacher
to the Gentiles proceeds to tell everyone what Jesus has done for him!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With little understanding of Jewish
scripture or law, or expectation of a coming Messiah, this former demoniac
equates Jesus with the “Most High God”. The only other person in Mark’s Gospel
who makes this instantaneous declaration is another Gentile, the Roman
Centurion who witnessed Jesus’ death on the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of these two people, Joseph and
the former demoniac, speak to us today of persevering in our faith while we
overcome the many demons and hardships of our lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is through simple and persistent faith that
we find our way to the promise of God’s kingdom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is in recognition of our own human frailties
that we find strength through the Spirit who lifts us up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is through our willingness to serve others,
and bring them the Gospel of Hope, that we are healed of our own afflictions,
too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we reach this halfway point of this
semester let us reach out for God’s peace, which surely resides here among us, to
renew our strength to continue on our journeys to a new beginning. Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-2188324665987736062018-01-21T19:20:00.000-08:002018-01-21T19:20:01.340-08:00A Deacon's Sermon<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Fabian, Bishop & Martyr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>2 Esdras 2:42-48<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Psalm 126<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>1 Corinthians 15:31-36, 44b-49<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Luke 21:20-24<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> In Jesus’ day there were at least four
groups vying for control of the hearts and minds of the people while hoping to
bring the restoration of the kingdom of Israel: The Sadducees who believed they
could accomplish this through meticulous Temple worship; The Pharisees who
believed that people should live perfectly according to the Law of Moses; The
Essenes who believed that people should live according to the Law AND be physically
separated from outsiders; and the Sicarii who believed the kingdom would be
restored by driving out the Gentiles through terror and assassination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Each of these groups had their own method of
determining who was part of the in-crowd and who was out—who was pure and who
was impure—who were “real” Israelites and who weren’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Along comes our Rabbi from Galilee who preaches
that the Kingdom of God includes everyone, especially those who are lost and
broken. The task of those with faith, and money, and power is to go out and
find the lost ones to bring them back into the fold, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This new way of envisioning the Kingdom of
God unsettles those who are quite comfortable with the status quo. “What kind
of message is this? How will we know our place in the world? How will we
maintain order? How can blind people, beggars, and lepers ever be clean? This
Rabbi is some kind of revolutionary, or mad man!! We need to silence him!!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This radical message Jesus carried was of
reconciliation and love—between each other, and between us and God. Jesus
wasn’t mystically predicting the future destruction of Jerusalem—as any good
prophet he was speaking truth to power and pointing out that the seeds of any
society’s destruction were planted in the fertile ground of division and hate.
I wonder what that says to us today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Our commemoration today is for another
follower of Jesus who preached this message of reconciliation and love: Fabian,
Bishop of Rome, who served from 236 – 250, almost a century before the Church
was subsumed by the Roman Empire. According to the historian Eusebius an assembly
was held in Rome in 236 to elect a new bishop when a dove flew in and landed on
this stranger’s head, so the people took it as a sign and elected this
layperson, Fabian, as Bishop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOmm2Vqhk1oFV0xe80UHDjArHmYNFvaDXSI7M3pjwKJqhqUWNmxeXWp_TYDLmYgmOIdlqBB5A31-qcwcc7J2LTvurmf8WJVTgGv-5kcOx3tuyOxBV9y7wja1-I6e0ONb7gGbC9c84S4Q/s1600/440px-Saint_Fabian1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOmm2Vqhk1oFV0xe80UHDjArHmYNFvaDXSI7M3pjwKJqhqUWNmxeXWp_TYDLmYgmOIdlqBB5A31-qcwcc7J2LTvurmf8WJVTgGv-5kcOx3tuyOxBV9y7wja1-I6e0ONb7gGbC9c84S4Q/s320/440px-Saint_Fabian1.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
Now, before you start thinking this was
some kind of honor, or recognition of saintly piety, the previous Bishop,
Anterus, died during the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus the Thracian, and
the one before him, Pontian, died in the salt mines of Sardinia, also thanks to
Maximinus. One almost gets the sense of these Church leaders gathered in
assembly, each thinking to himself “Oh heck no! Not me!” and then asking each
other “Hey, who’s that stranger over there?”<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Surprising everyone, Fabian’s tenure as
Bishop of Rome lasts 14 years! What was his secret? History tells us some
surprising things. Fabian cultivated amicable relations with the imperial
government of Rome! Of course, it may have helped that Maximinus was killed
trying to put down a Senatorial revolt two years after Fabian was elected—“The
enemy of my enemy is my friend” still has value today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bishop Fabian also worked to heal the
divisions between Christians by arranging the return of the remains of Bishop Pontian
and the anti-pope Hippolytus from the salt mines of Sardinia. Hippolytus had
criticized Pontian and Church leaders for being too lenient in granting
absolution to Christians, causing opposing groups to form up within the Church—Again,
arguing over “Who is in, and who is out?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> In the midst of a persecution of
Christians, Pontian and Hippolytus were arrested and died in the salt mines at
hard labor. By working to return the remains of both Church leaders Fabian
helped heal the divisions that had long been simmering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bishop Fabian is also credited with re-organizing
the Church in Rome, designating seven districts within the diocese, supervised
by seven deacons! Clearly Fabian was concerned for the outcasts and
downtrodden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> By keeping his focus on God’s love for
everyone, and Jesus’ call to seek out the lost and heal divisions, Bishop
Fabian restored the unity of the Church in Rome and focused the people on
spreading the Gospel message. What does that say to us today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><pause></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Two weeks ago we attended the Annual
School for Deacons Retreat at the Bishops Ranch. I had been finding it
difficult to find my inner calm—my inner center—as I progressed through the
Advent and Christmas seasons, so this time of prayer and meditation was a
much-needed reprieve from the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Like many people I had come to wonder if
humanity has completely lost its collective mind. We have leaders who argue
about whose button is bigger--whose hand is bigger—whose bomb is bigger. We
have people in this country who want to designate who is American, and who
isn’t—who is entitled, and who is worthless—who gets healthcare and who
doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> In the midst of this madness one starts
feeling like the sane part of humanity is diminishing, while hope for the
future is being snuffed out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> As I focused on prayer and meditation
at the Retreat I came to realize that the 24/7 Bad News cycle had overtaken the
immortal Good News message within me. Worries of the future of our country, and
the future of the world, had drowned out the message of God’s love and
reconciliation that we are meant to carry within us. The gift from God of this
beautiful day, here, right now, was being lost in a forest of fear and
hopelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> I had lost sight of our Creator God who
dances in joy with the works of her creation, but also weeps with us in our
sorrows, and embraces us in our fears. I had lost my grasp on the message that
the angel told Ezra in our first reading: “Go, tell my people how great and how
many are the wonders of the Lord God that you have seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> As I came to this realization and
re-focused my mind on Jesus’ message of God’s love and reconciliation, my inner
peace returned, and I gained a new insight into this role as a deacon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Deacons are called to “interpret to the
Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world”, but we are also called to
“make Christ and his redemptive love known…to those among whom you live, and
work, and worship. [BCP p.543] Our role is to be at the door of the Church,
with one foot in the outside world, and one foot in the Church.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3yoxOsAiyoK4GBsMY04EUNw9Uh2nXv5ybETIF1_g8t-kjJKO8YQ7T5FYnaFwOmnsCoDoKn6rP2hn-qr0ke2gmY22HBhWhuCB9Kl3hA_PIgJuOHGnHvj_oCueRBW5NYxsmsXyBu8BjqY/s1600/1.2deacons_everychurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="950" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3yoxOsAiyoK4GBsMY04EUNw9Uh2nXv5ybETIF1_g8t-kjJKO8YQ7T5FYnaFwOmnsCoDoKn6rP2hn-qr0ke2gmY22HBhWhuCB9Kl3hA_PIgJuOHGnHvj_oCueRBW5NYxsmsXyBu8BjqY/s320/1.2deacons_everychurch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This doesn’t mean that on Sunday the
deacon is inside the Church doing their “spiritual thing”, and on Monday the
deacon is out doing their “social justice thing”. We are not called to be
“either/or”—we are called to be “both/and”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> A deacon who is out in the world focused on
all the ills of society, while isolated from the Church, would be no more
fruitful than a deacon who is focused on liturgical practice, isolated from the
outside world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This role of being “both/and” is a
challenging place to be. While we are mindful of the broken world around us, we
are called to be the bearers of Jesus’ message of love and redemption. We are
called to be the calm in the eye of the storm, and the heralds of God’s
Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> As we gather this evening at this Table of
Eucharist let us lay our fear and worries down. Let us be mindful of this
evening—this hour—this minute as we worship together Emanuel: God with us. Let
us feel God’s loving embrace and let her love and hope flow through our hearts
and out into the world. And let us carry that love and hope every day as we
reflect God’s kingdom to the world around us.
Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-8125097094614901032018-01-08T19:36:00.002-08:002018-01-08T23:09:43.731-08:00Epiphany!<h2>
Retreat and Recharge</h2>
<div>
Five semesters are now complete at the School for Deacons in Berkeley, CA. Looking back it seems impossible and incredible that I managed to get all the work done! Some might take pride in this accomplishment, but I recognize that while I worked hard while enjoying every course, there have been numerous seemingly insurmountable problems and obstacles along the way that were only overcome with the help of God who walks with each of us in this journey of faith.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9QFEZLIkX0gOrb_a2P5TyVrBtLXKHyYDE8Z1EcnT3gZKO_slCqKMb2aH-f5NSaWJmzoDfDqSUrAeL6OpK1_082HySDreyqOqav6aikRoseJ4rEganYrdFIPUsOQ0yu4HRApRHe4nCBM/s1600/20180107_085913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9QFEZLIkX0gOrb_a2P5TyVrBtLXKHyYDE8Z1EcnT3gZKO_slCqKMb2aH-f5NSaWJmzoDfDqSUrAeL6OpK1_082HySDreyqOqav6aikRoseJ4rEganYrdFIPUsOQ0yu4HRApRHe4nCBM/s320/20180107_085913.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
This past weekend was spent at the Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, CA attending the annual School for Deacon's Retreat, which is required of all students. Many graduates also attend since this is an opportunity to step back from work, ministry, and School to refresh your spirit, recharge your batteries, and be with people who share this call to become a servant of God's people.</div>
<div>
For me this Retreat was sorely needed, like a cool drink of water after a long walk in the desert. The feeling one gets as you let go of the outside world and focus on your relationship with God and your neighbors is incredibly refreshing. </div>
<div>
There are times early on in this process when you doubt you're following the right path. It was comforting for me to find that this time of Withdrawal/Retreat reaffirmed that I've been following the right path. </div>
<div>
Headline news can make people feel overwhelmed with hopelessness and helplessness, and that includes me! There is so much broken in the world--wherever will we start? Can my insignificant efforts in the face of such troubling times really make a difference?</div>
<div>
In my meditations and prayers this weekend I realized that God, too, our Creator who dances with joy over her creatures and creation, weeps with us in witnessing the carelessness too many people walk through life with. God weeps not just with us, but for those who are too blind to see the brokenness around them, and the brokenness within them.</div>
<div>
In the depths of our fears, however, God is embracing each one of us, wrapping her comforting arms around us and sharing in our grief. Somehow when you grasp that all-embracing Creator caring for each one of us you realize that you do have the strength to stand up and make a difference.</div>
<div>
None of us can change this broken world, but we can change the broken world around us--the world within our grasp--the neighbors we see each day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZiqS7OIG6LDs8fgCNiaCqFZlLqCyLfaAaemNu4ONq9WHiaAHTFDm9vdzENnzcWm31ljHjWYWtRQmraXnSyqnfr9DhrDI748fNKCahanD5kHN-bW4fzlstiq2z3r110J9Xpj1VDgT8NQ/s1600/20180107_085815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZiqS7OIG6LDs8fgCNiaCqFZlLqCyLfaAaemNu4ONq9WHiaAHTFDm9vdzENnzcWm31ljHjWYWtRQmraXnSyqnfr9DhrDI748fNKCahanD5kHN-bW4fzlstiq2z3r110J9Xpj1VDgT8NQ/s320/20180107_085815.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
</div>
<div>
Amidst the Christmas cards I received this season there was one that stood out for me.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
"When the song of the angels is stilled,</div>
<div>
When the star in the sky is gone,</div>
<div>
When the kings and princes are home,</div>
<div>
When the shepherds are back with their flock,</div>
<div>
The work of Christmas begins:</div>
<div>
To find the lost,</div>
<div>
To heal the broken,</div>
<div>
To feed the hungry,</div>
<div>
To release prisoners,</div>
<div>
To rebuild the nations,</div>
<div>
To bring peace among people,</div>
<div>
To make music in the heart."</div>
<div>
---Howard Thurmond</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
May you find your path in the coming year!</div>
<div>
Peace!!</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-48125672023218765552017-10-29T14:44:00.002-07:002017-10-29T16:47:19.044-07:00Preaching it!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
A Message of Love</h2>
<div>
As you go through this transformation of becoming a Deacon you find yourself doing things you never imagined you could do--like preaching a sermon. </div>
<div>
As much as I'd like to say "Boy, am I skilled at this!", the fact is the process you learn at the School for Deacons (sfd.edu) is equal parts of research and prayer. Each time I start working on a homily I suffer doubts of having anything to say, but somewhere along the process the message comes.</div>
<div>
I preached the following at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist Church in Lodi, CA on Sunday, October 29th, 2017:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Psalm1<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Matthew 22: 34-46<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> In 3<sup>rd</sup> Grade my teacher, a nun in
full black habit, started preparing us for our First Confession. Now what an 8
year old would have to confess is still beyond my comprehension! She handed out
a list of sins, and explained that if you die with certain ones staining your
soul you go straight to the bad place, but with others you stand in the hot
waiting room until the spin cycle is done (OK, that last part is my
interpretation!). It sounded like you were doing your laundry before you went
on a long trip!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Now, handing out
this list of sins is like banning a book: If you want to increase your book sales,
try having someone ban it! The 8-year old me was sitting there trying to figure
out what fun there might be in the lesser offenses, when a thought occurred to
me: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “Sister! If I’m on
my way to Confession and get hit by a bus, is it good enough that I was on my
way there?” “No, you would still have sins staining your soul” she answered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I raised my hand
again “Sister! If the bus hits me after going to Confession, then would I be OK?”
“Oh yes,” she replied, “your soul would be all white!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I should have
stopped there, but even back then I didn’t know better! “Sister! If God loves
us, then why would he let the bus run me over while I was on my way to
Confession?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> That did it! Out of
the class I went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Little did I know
that another Roman Catholic, a priest and scholar no less, had a similar idea
long before. Martin Luther had been studying this Jewish revolutionary named
Paul of Tarsus, and drafted a list of 95 propositions to be the basis for an
academic debate concerning the forgiveness of sins and the selling of
indulgences. On October 31, 1517 (500 years ago this Tuesday) Luther <b><u>mailed</u></b> his 95 Theses to Albert
of Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, and over the next several weeks posted
copies on churches in Wittenberg as an
invitation to scholars for a debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The operator of a
new technology called the printing press copied Luther’s 95 Theses and they
began circulating like a wild fire all over Europe, sparking what became known
as the Protestant Reformation. Luther would go on to develop the idea that we
are saved through God’s grace and faith alone, and not by our works or deeds—a
radical idea for a Church that believed in centralizing authority!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The people of 1<sup>st</sup>
Century Judea lived under a Roman controlled theocracy. Local synagogues were
dominated by the Pharisees, the Sadducees controlled Temple worship, and the
Chief Priest was appointed by the Roman Prefect. In a land where most people
couldn’t read, the scribes could read Scripture and record legal documents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Over time these religious
leaders had replaced the idea of <u>faithfulness to God</u> with <u>scrupulous
adherence to the 613 commandments in the Torah</u>. How could illiterate people
know which law to follow, or which one they violated, or how to make amends? Of
course the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes were happy to help them find right
relationship (righteousness) with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Then along comes
this Rabbi from Galilee, Jesus, who stirs up the people with this talk of the
coming Kingdom of God. Crowds start following him around the countryside,
disturbing those in power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The scribes and
Pharisees hope to trap Jesus in a debate when they ask “Which commandment is
the greatest?” Jesus answers them in a way they can’t argue with, and goes on
to stymie them by asking them to explain how the expected Messiah could be
David’s son when David calls him “Lord”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The followers of
Jesus who are listening to this exchange are suddenly filled with joy! “’Love
God with your whole heart, and love your neighbor as yourself?’ That’s the whole
law? Hey! I can live that way without having to memorize 613 commandments of
the Torah, or asking the Pharisees!“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The people burst out
laughing in joy, and also at the “dear-in-the-headlight” expression on the
faces of the scribes and Pharisees, who become angry and murderous for being
embarrassed in public by this upstart Rabbi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> For some reason I
see Jesus trying to contain his smile throughout this whole event. Was he being
intentionally funny, or did the scribes and Pharisees walk right into it? I’m
not sure, but for me this idea of the fully human Jesus is what I most easily
connect with in my faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> It is difficult to envision
God our Creator who is both within us and without, and not part of this
space-time continuum, but somehow involved in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> We have the Holy
Spirit of God that reaches out into the world to inspire people to do crazy
things—like becoming a deacon, or a priest! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> We have an image of Jesus
sitting on a thrown waiting to return to Earth to put all things in order, like
we have pictured in our beautiful window above us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> While acknowledging
the full divinity of Jesus, I also envision the fully human Jesus—the brother I
can relate to—the friend I can cling to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTkO7Qq2utGhrxQAicITaDuFWDWJEl64pVDdlShx-8m9nPW8Nlp1gL1wTsLZEyVzOz1A0nejEay3qVrh4OHAqQQVu-pm0uuF-qQUI6InGcKAHG0aUhBz3T_fjR_Uuu5qOAtw_WMNg_xc/s1600/20171028_084745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTkO7Qq2utGhrxQAicITaDuFWDWJEl64pVDdlShx-8m9nPW8Nlp1gL1wTsLZEyVzOz1A0nejEay3qVrh4OHAqQQVu-pm0uuF-qQUI6InGcKAHG0aUhBz3T_fjR_Uuu5qOAtw_WMNg_xc/s320/20171028_084745.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
This is the Jesus
who was fearful in the Garden; who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus; who
was angry at a fig tree for having no fruit (Mk 11:12-14); who in a fit of
exasperation called one of his closest friends “Satan”! (Mt 16:23)<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> This is also the
Jesus, though, who enjoyed a good meal with friends and strangers (Mt 11:19);
loved to tell good stories with meaning; changed water into wine at a wedding feast
because his mother told him to (John 2: 1-12); and yes, he laughed and had a
sense of humor, just like all of us. This is the Jesus I can relate to! This is
the part of God I can have a conversation with!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Before I started at
the School for Deacons I spent a year in discerning this call. I was really
reluctant to follow this path. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I prayed, “You can’t
really mean me, God! This clay pot you formed (Isaiah 64:8) was smashed into
pieces early on against the hard, granite wall called reality and I’ve been
trying to glue it all back together ever since.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> God said to me, “I am the glue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I prayed, “But I
don’t even know if the pieces are put together right. I must look like a
complete mess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> God said, “Have you ever heard of Picasso?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I said “Yes…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> God said, “He is one of my favorite artists. You look
great to me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I said, “You think everyone
is your favorite artist!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> God said “Yes, that’s right!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I prayed again, “But
Lord, this clay pot is full of holes and cracks, and if you pour anything into
it it’s just going to make a mess all over the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> God said to me, “That’s right, now you’re getting the idea.
I’m going to pour my love into your heart. You’re not supposed to keep it
contained—you’re supposed to spread it all over the place—let it leak out!”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> You see, once you
realize that God loves every one of us, that each of us is the most important
person to God, your heart can’t help but to erupt in <b>a joyful shout of praise</b>! I am important to God! Every single one
of you—every single human, even the ones out there--are important to God! All
of creation is important to God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <b>How can we respond to God’s love for us? “You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> We are called as
followers of Jesus to love every single person we encounter in this life, and
find ways to reach out to them. I am answering that call in this path I am
walking—in this way I am living—in this commitment I am making. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> How
will each of you respond to God’s call?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Country artist
Hillary Scott has a song called “Beautiful Messes” that makes me smile whenever
I hear it. It goes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We ain’t perfect, no<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We ain’t even close<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We got holes in our hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We got scars we don’t show<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But all that baggage we keep on
dragging around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ain’t it time we start laying it
down?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lay it down at the foot of the cross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Give it to the one who can carry it
all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Even at our worst, to him, we ain’t
lost causes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Just beautiful messes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=eaconreg-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01HSZ1WGK&asins=B01HSZ1WGK&linkId=3dd917a1bacf57561538181961501568&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-17219103010405545072017-10-24T12:51:00.000-07:002017-10-24T13:08:44.094-07:00Perseverence<h2>
Not my efforts, but yours, Lord!</h2>
<div>
Working full time and going to the School for Deacons is challenging in its own right. Inevitably family and life issues are thrown into the mix and you have days when you wonder if you'll make it to the next Weekend, never mind the end of the semester.</div>
<div>
Depending on where I worked that day, I use the drive time home by listening to one of my favorite podcasts, <a href="https://www.pray-as-you-go.org/home/">Pray As You Go</a>, a Jesuit Ministries program that uses a combination of music and scripture reading. Taking a bit of your day for prayer and meditation is essential to shifting gears to School and Church modes.</div>
<div>
It was during one of these challenging times that the Spirit helped me with the following homily for Evening Prayer at the <a href="http://www.sfd.edu/">School for Deacons</a> on Saturday October 21, 2017:</div>
<div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
2 Kings 25: 8-12,
22-26<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Psalm 110: 1-5; 116;
117<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Matthew 11: 7-15<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Expectations! I’ve come to wonder recently
if expectations should be the 8<sup>th</sup> deadly sin—you know, after pride,
greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Or could it be it’s some kind of
compound substance of the seven?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
People seem to have this <b><u>expectation </u></b>that if they’re late
for a meeting or appointment, everyone else should get out of their way, and
become angry when they don’t! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
You plan a party or dinner for a group of
friends or family and <b><u>expect </u></b>that
everyone will be happy to come, until you start getting the questions about
“What’s being served?”, or “Are you inviting this one?” causing you pull your
hair out in frustration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
We elect politicians to represent us and
actually <b><u>expect</u></b> them to act
in our best interests, and—Well, we can all see what happens with that!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
In Jeremiah’s time the people of Judea <b>expected</b> that God would vanquish their
opponents. After all, Jerusalem and the Temple had been standing for over 400
years since the time of Solomon! Their mighty God would come forth from the
Temple and smite all those heathen out there, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Most of them ignored the warnings of
Jeremiah. They had consolidated land, wealth, and power into the hands of the
privileged few, ignored the plight of the lower end the of the social and
economic spectrum, and had turned the worship of Yahweh into a good luck charm,
while forcing Jeremiah and Baruch into hiding for daring to speak God’s truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
After the formerly privileged few had been
carried off to Babylon, the walls of Jerusalem torn down, and the temple and
other buildings had been razed and burned, one of the people who had listened
to Jeremiah, Gedaliah, <b><u>expected </u></b>that
the Jews who remained could now see that Jeremiah had been right. Gedaliah agrees
to meet with Ishmael to talk some sense into him. Ishmael promptly assassinates
him, and then in terror runs off to Egypt, with the hapless Jeremiah in
tow—Jeremiah, the prophet who spoke of the <b>emptiness
of</b> <b>expectations and instead preached
the unwelcomed truth of God!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
By Jesus’ time the Jews had come to build
their own <b>expectation</b> of what the
Messiah will be. Even John the Baptist, the one who said “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near,” (Mt 3:2) has been caught up in this <b>expectation</b> of an earthly, militaristic
Messiah who will free them from Roman oppression. John sends messengers from
his prison cell asking “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for
another?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Rather than answer directly, Jesus sends
them back with the admonition to tell John what they have seen and heard: “the
blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good new brought to them”. There
is nothing earthly, or political, in this pronouncement!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Jesus asks the crowd who is with him “What
did you go out to the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?” At
that time, King Herod’s emblem on coins was a Galilean reed waving in the wind.
Can you imagine our President going out to live in the wilderness dressed in
camel’s hair and a leather belt, eating a diet of locusts and wild honey? Yes,
the reaction from Jesus’ crowd would have been the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Jesus goes on to explain that John is the
greatest of the prophets, but that even the least of those who believe in this
new Kingdom of God are greater than John<b>.
The poor and outcasts are greater than all of Israel’s prophets?? </b>What joy
must have filled their hearts to hear this! What a complete re-write of <b>expectations!!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Rather than a Messiah that will conquer the
Romans and restore power to the Jewish people, Jesus talks of the violence done
against the Kingdom of God by people who demand that God should be subject to
their wishes, and not that they be subject to God’s way of living. In the
hearts of these people Jesus plants new hope, and new life, but also a new <b>expectation</b> of persecution and
rejection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
I ask myself “What are our misguided <b>expectations </b>of God today?” What
quickly comes to mind is the end times pronouncements supposedly based on the
Book of Revelation: that any day now the faithful will be Parousia’d up into
the sky and God will smite all those disbelievers and abominations that are out
there—all those people that have been declared cast-out, un-clean,
not-Christian!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
We wander through a society that teaches
greed is good, that the purpose of life is to collect more toys. That those who
have money are blessed by God, and those who have nothing are cursed and meant
to be that way—that there’s no reason to clean up the mess we’ve made on this
Earth since God is going to take all of the ”saved” Christians up into the sky.
<b>Does any of this sound like the Kingdom
of God preached by Jesus?</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIWxJjkqVDiuIu_MfZAbOJXC7EEL4Ck_53c6f-2d7AfPWqGjhjezndkq0YPCy-NZA9FHMLTUYGVHKavGdj13d_O3xDUUzmZow4oWFGzIEDTq1WTVlRV5Bvjn3x_j_HJAugZL9NeE4Afo/s1600/20170921_190000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIWxJjkqVDiuIu_MfZAbOJXC7EEL4Ck_53c6f-2d7AfPWqGjhjezndkq0YPCy-NZA9FHMLTUYGVHKavGdj13d_O3xDUUzmZow4oWFGzIEDTq1WTVlRV5Bvjn3x_j_HJAugZL9NeE4Afo/s320/20170921_190000.jpg" width="180" /></a></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
In our course on Christian Ethics we read a
reflection, out of The Green Bible, by Bishop N. T. Wright, a prominent Bible
scholar. Contrary to end-time signs of “The End is near!” or “Heaven or Hell:
It’s your choice!” Wright’s reflection is entitled “Jesus is coming—Plant a
tree!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b> Wright points out that Paul
writes in Romans Chapter 8 “For the creation waits with eager longing for the
revealing of the children of God,…” (8:19) and also writes “We know that the
whole creation had been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the
creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly while we wait for adoption…” (8:23-24)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Does this sound like a creation that is
going to be utterly destroyed? Would creation be waiting “with eager longing”
to be wiped out? This sounds more like creation is yearning to be restored to
new life! Just as we hope to be saved through the gift of grace by God,
creation, too, hopes to be restored by the coming of God’s Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b>God’s
Kingdom is already leaking into the world through the hearts of her followers.
The people of the Jesus movement are called to be the advocates for God’s
justice and restorers of God’s creation. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
As future deacons we are called to expose
the emptiness of <b>expectations</b> of
greed and destruction, and call people to a vision of new hope in the
restoration of God’s creation and a new age of humanity as the beloved
caretakers of God’s Creation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
In spite of our brokenness God calls us as
heralds for his Kingdom, prophets of his Truth, and caretakers of all of his
creation. Like all of God’s people before us we may face rejection and
violence, and yet we give thanks for all that God has done for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
In this journey to become deacons the words
of Psalm 116 speak directly to us:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
“How shall I repay the Lord for
all the good things he has done for me?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
I will lift up the cup of
salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
I will fulfill my vows to the
Lord in the presence of all his people.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
Amen.<o:p></o:p><br />
</div>
</div>
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=eaconreg-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=0061951129&asins=0061951129&linkId=29a8e00eed0b9fab28b99d830e52658b&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff">
</iframe>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-26795082303493453152017-09-11T21:16:00.000-07:002017-09-12T22:38:16.601-07:00Continuing the Way<h2>
Transformation through School--and prayer!</h2>
<div>
Having just finished the 2nd Weekend of my 3rd year at the School for Deacons I have that strange feeling that I just started this process a few months ago, and at the same time forever and a day ago. The School for Deacons (<a href="http://sfd.edu/">sfd.edu</a>) does more than educate the future deacon--it is a formative process that results in the building of a unique community of people.</div>
<div>
When I started the process of discernment I had so many self-doubts. How would I get the work done? How would I have the time? How could I ever be "good enough" to be a Deacon? I've come to realize that I have been transformed by this process at School and in my Diocese. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R2OiYoedygVS5bOwM-ARyaF9VSGWaaWLWCibfvdkIECr_fDuCOhHTJeznLMzJP0UgsBpHyordUj4Os9Jh97o2fhNkLpK1rMO2gxrN9T_AzbjXbi5HhBkn0TZQJDL7UXwN_wKrbJ3kyE/s1600/20170910_070859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R2OiYoedygVS5bOwM-ARyaF9VSGWaaWLWCibfvdkIECr_fDuCOhHTJeznLMzJP0UgsBpHyordUj4Os9Jh97o2fhNkLpK1rMO2gxrN9T_AzbjXbi5HhBkn0TZQJDL7UXwN_wKrbJ3kyE/s320/20170910_070859.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div>
Preach a homily? Me??? Yet now I find myself doing just that, thanks to a combination of training, praying, and inspiration from the Spirit.</div>
<div>
Here is my latest homily given at the School for Deacons on September 10th, 2017:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><u><b>Proper 18, Year A</b></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Exodus 12: 1-14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Psalm 149<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Romans 13: 8-14<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
Matthew 18: 15-20<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span>The Book of Exodus begins, “Now a new
king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” (Ex. 1: 8). This brief passage,
almost a footnote, speaks volumes to us this morning. Even though it doesn’t
appear in today’s reading, it is the event that leads to the confrontation
between Pharaoh and Moses—between secular ruler and Heavenly Ruler.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Joseph, his
family, and the Israelites were welcomed into Egypt centuries earlier when Joseph
interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and predicted seven years of bounty and then seven
years of famine. Joseph is appointed Pharaoh’s steward, and his project to
store grain and food is such an overwhelming success that the people of Egypt
continue to prosper under Pharaoh’s leadership while selling surplus grain to
the kingdoms around them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
From a strategic
standpoint Joseph’s plan to survive seven years of famine didn’t just maintain
the status quo in Egypt. Seven years of a famine would have drained the
resources of every kingdom surrounding Egypt. To feed their people, kingdoms
would have sent money and goods to Egypt in exchange for food for their people.
One year of this would be hard enough—seven years would have cleaned out the
treasury of any kingdom. By the end of the famine, kingdoms who hadn’t already
pledged loyalty to Pharaoh would have quickly folded in the face of any
Egyptian offensive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b> By welcoming
these strange people of Joseph’s, and apportioning land in his kingdom for
them, Joseph’s Pharaoh made a brilliant strategic move that magnified the
strength of the Egyptian empire for generations to come.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So what
happened? How did these people who gave Egypt a competitive edge over its
neighbors end up as slaves 430 years later (Ex. 12: 40)? In my Union career I
noticed that you could negotiate the best contract for a group of people that
included raises, job security, better medical benefits, and improved pensions,
and a week or so later be asked by the members “So, what have you done for me
today??!!” Gratitude seems to last as long as short term memory!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These people of
Joseph’s not only looked different than Egyptians—they acted differently, too.
They worshiped a different God—“Heck, they don’t even know his name! They
mutilate themselves as part of some agreement with their God! They smell
bad—look at how many of them herd sheep! Just how many sheep does one need?” (I
can see them complaining about this as they’re eating a leg of lamb for dinner.
Think of who picks our crops in the Central Valley.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eventually
Egyptians become envious of these “Joseph people”. “Why should they have all
that land? What are they doing for us? “Let’s give Egypt back to the
Egyptians!!!” In the meantime successive Pharaohs start discounting the value
these people have brought to Egypt as they convince themselves that really it
was Pharaoh God-King who made Egypt an Empire. Over time the imposition of laws
and edicts reduce the descendants of Israel to slave status.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We aren’t told
how many generations the Israelites lived as slaves for Egypt, but the only
ones who knew freedom were Moses and Aaron. By the time of this morning’s
reading, <i>the specifications for the
Passover remembrance</i>, the Egyptians and Israelites had already witnessed
nine miracles of these brothers from Midian. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While Moses
claimed the mantle of speaking directly with God, Aaron was his spokesperson
and performed many of the rubrics himself—almost a pseudo-Deacon! In this
Passover event, however, it is God who performs the last act of freedom while
Moses and Aaron are left waiting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For the
Israelites the miracles continued on: God led them with a “pillar of cloud by
day” and a “pillar of fire by night” (Ex. 13: 21). The waters of the sea were
parted, Pharaoh’s army was destroyed, and manna rained down from heaven. Moses
is not gone long up Mount Sinai, however, when the Israelites fall back to
making idols. “What have you done for me lately?” comes to mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Keep in mind,
though, these people had lived a lifetime in fear while slaves in Egypt: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->fear of the whip, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->fear of the overseers, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->fear for their next meal, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->fear for their children, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->fear of being singled out when the safest play
was to blend into the herd. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In other words, Herd
Mentality—Mob Rule. When people live with a herd mentality, self-preservation takes
precedence over care for others. Individuality becomes the victim of survival. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Blend in! Agree
with the group! Find a scapegoat! I’m afraid—let’s find an idol!” <b>Fear
transforms relationships into an ugly evil of Mob Rule.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Looking at it through
this lens, the remembrance of Passover takes on new meaning. The lamb is
divided proportionally based on who is at the table. There is order and
equality to this meal of community, quite different from a herd mentality of “take
what you can get”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The “Law of
Moses” becomes a “Guideline for a Loving Community”. The 40 years of “Wandering
in the desert” is really a “Journey of Faith” that transforms these slaves into
a community of people who trust that God cares for each of them individually,
as they also come to recognize the value of each individual:<b> “These are my
brothers and sisters because God cares for them, too!”</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Where are <u>we</u>
on this Journey of Faith today? This country, that has as its motto “E pluribus
unum” (out of many, one), finds its citizens marching around with torches
dressed in uniforms of white shirts and brown khakis, or black masks in black
clothes, demanding uniformity in belief or race. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
People who have
contributed greatly to this country, thanks to their diversity and work ethic,
are victimized by people who have been left behind in this age of globalization
and free trade, by a culture that worships the gold-plated idol of greed.<b> Love
is replaced by fear, and debate is replaced by violence. Is this the way of
Jesus?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
By the time of
Jesus, the teachings of Moses, meant to bring people together in loving
community, had been distorted by an aristocracy that used the “Law of Moses” to
keep its people subjugated and oppressed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t rock the boat! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->People who are different are excluded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Fear is the motivator; uniformity is the
requirement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Any prophet that
comes along to say otherwise is eliminated—John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul—all are
executed! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Paul’s message
in today’s reading is “’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to
a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the Law.” <b>This is a dangerous
message, because when fear is replaced by Love, miracles happen, and miracles free
the oppressed and depose the oppressors.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our Gospel
reading this morning reflects the importance Jesus places on individuals. There
is no demand that everyone must conform to the same standard. People who are
different are not excluded or thrown out. In this reading Jesus stresses the
importance of individuals in the community. We see here an encouragement to
work out our differences—to talk to one another, both alone AND in community. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>We are not
expected to be uniform in our beliefs! We are only expected to love each other
and be open to each other’s differences.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is easy for
people to give up on Love and fall back into fear and herd mentality—to forget
the heights we have achieved thru “e pluribus unum”. <u>Somehow it was easy for
Aaron</u>, our pseudo-Deacon, the man who witnessed the miracles that freed the
Israelites, to give in to the herd mentality and fashion the golden idol while
his brother conversed with God on Mount Sinai! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>As
Servant/Leaders of the God of Love we are called to be prophets for the God of
Love to dispel the darkness, expose the fear, and call God’s people to wrap
themselves in the Love of God and Love of neighbor. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I pray that God
will give each of us the courage and wisdom to call our brothers and sisters into
loving community. <b>Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them.”</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-68473555968990614132017-08-22T18:24:00.000-07:002017-10-24T13:14:55.553-07:00Candidacy<h2>
Candidate for Ordination</h2>
<div>
After more than a year in discernment, and two years at the School for Deacons (<a href="http://sfd.edu/">sfd.edu</a>), I reached the next stage of my journey a few weeks ago: Candidate.</div>
<div>
In the Diocese of San Joaquin a person who is Postulant can request consideration to become a Candidate for Ordination. Interviews are conducted by the Standing Committee of the Diocese and the Commission on Ministry. Your original application is reviewed, along with your progress in the course of studies you've been following.</div>
<div>
I have noticed over time that some of my fellow pilgrims in this process become tense and anxious when facing these interviews. For me, though, I felt very relaxed. I have come to trust that I am being led on this path for some reason only known to God, and that wherever I ended up must be where God intended.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXXyVrBK0QL0ML7OHMFJptGUjr7UvQxuFr2010lb_HlNUeEcL4bXU56U-IbrSBuX8mCsOILy4AsHjbq4J4KYLBcrXTQ3V1VAcvGLlF2ncfRL9fljYLPt1-o3K9JloDcIIHWPOjjScYjk/s1600/20170714_161714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXXyVrBK0QL0ML7OHMFJptGUjr7UvQxuFr2010lb_HlNUeEcL4bXU56U-IbrSBuX8mCsOILy4AsHjbq4J4KYLBcrXTQ3V1VAcvGLlF2ncfRL9fljYLPt1-o3K9JloDcIIHWPOjjScYjk/s320/20170714_161714.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
This idea of "Trust in God" allowed me to be free in the discussions I had with the different committees I met with. If they didn't like what I said, well my answer would be "Well, this is who I am, rough edges and all." </div>
<div>
Was I still looking for the Exit Ramp? A selfish side of me still hoped to go back to an uncommitted faith, but the larger part of this "New" me would be disappointed. I've come to realize that for me there is no "going back"--I have been transformed too much to return to the once-a-week religious practice. My day-to-day life and my spiritual practice have become too intertwined to separate them by days any longer.</div>
<div>
Despite the work I have done at School, or the answers I gave to interview questions, I still believe that I am only continuing on this journey because the Spirit is leading me there. </div>
<div>
For inspiration and reflection I've been reading "The Celtic Way of Prayer" by Esther De Waal (see Recommended Books). It's a marvelous book touching on the holistic way of prayer in Celtic tradition that recognizes the Spirit of God intertwined in the environment around us. De Waal recounts a prayer titled "The Dear's Cry", that tradition claims is from St. Patrick, and which inspires me since being approved as a Candidate:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>VII</u></div>
<div>
Be Christ this day my strong protector:</div>
<div>
against poison and burning</div>
<div>
against drowning and wounding,</div>
<div>
through reward wide and plenty...</div>
<div>
Christ beside me, Christ before me,</div>
<div>
Christ behind me, Christ within me;</div>
<div>
Christ beneath me, Christ above me;</div>
<div>
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me;</div>
<div>
Christ in my lying, my sitting, my rising;</div>
<div>
Christ in heart of all who know me,</div>
<div>
Christ on tongue of all who meet me,</div>
<div>
Christ in eye of all who see me,</div>
<div>
Christ in ear of all who hear me.</div>
<div>
<u>IX</u></div>
<div>
For to the Lord belongs salvation,</div>
<div>
And to the Lord belongs salvation</div>
<div>
And to Christ belongs salvation.</div>
<div>
May your salvation, Lord, be with us always.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Faith is a journey, not a destination. If you stop looking for the path, you will never find your way. Never stop asking yourself "What is God calling <u>me</u> to do?" The answer may surprise you!</div>
<div>
I start my third semester at the School for Deacons this coming Saturday. I still have no idea where I may be going, but I trust that God will lead me there.</div>
<div>
May God's Peace and Love rest on all of you this day!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=eaconreg-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0385493746&asins=0385493746&linkId=f80fe4d3c9e349cba5637930ea69c599&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-7795744495379814052017-08-18T18:30:00.000-07:002017-08-18T18:30:28.818-07:00Postulancy, Perseverence, & Prayer<h2>
Postulant and Student</h2>
<div>
In your first year of discernment in my Diocese (of San Joaquin) much time was spent on working to achieve the goals of Aspirant and Applicant in hopes of reaching Postulant. Once you're reached the Postulant stage the emphasis shifts to education. </div>
<div>
It's not that you're no longer "in the process". You continue to participate in your parish and Diocesan events, and you're invited to attend clergy meetings and retreats. This gives you ample opportunity to confirm this "clergy thing" is the path you want to walk, and it also builds your sense of belonging to a new clergy community of support.</div>
<div>
As you enter the education process, though, the process of Steps to Ordination is set on a back burner for the first two years. A new challenge presents itself: Going back to school. </div>
<div>
It took me several School for Deacons' weekends to develop my routine. During School sessions my horizon focus is reduced to just three weeks at a time. What do I need to get done before the next School Weekend? Which subjects should I tackle first? What am I scheduled for at our next School Weekend worship services?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5ahIPwXCywzXnDVPG3ICVnNeWitx35QKkLg1GH00SvH6AY3CA5lnc7EIAkCKHtzdtg-PDMKV4FbER3vBxn719xGc5Ak_vIZZX_hIsRwMbVYkjdhzonY252DVpl9SYnF_ALvRSSg1KS0/s1600/20170804_112446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5ahIPwXCywzXnDVPG3ICVnNeWitx35QKkLg1GH00SvH6AY3CA5lnc7EIAkCKHtzdtg-PDMKV4FbER3vBxn719xGc5Ak_vIZZX_hIsRwMbVYkjdhzonY252DVpl9SYnF_ALvRSSg1KS0/s320/20170804_112446.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
Trying to balance this with a full-time job is hard enough, but then throw in all the "regular" problems that life brings you along the way, in addition to the difficult situations you may encounter at work. How long does anyone really go between family conflicts, emergencies, house and car repairs, and on and on... </div>
<div>
You come to realize, too, that even when you finish School and you enter ministry, is life any less challenging? When you're in ministry, can you tell people "Not today, dear, I already have too many issues going on?" I came to realize that if I want to balance my outer life, I must be balanced in my inner life, too. </div>
<div>
In the midst of all of this it's easy to fall into a pit of despair and lose your way. The tasks and problems can seem insurmountable, which is why the sense of community we have at School for Deacons is so important. A struggle is bearable when you share it with others. You are required to have a Spiritual Advisor and attend meetings with a Spiritual Formation Group, but you also have your fellow students faculty, and administrators to lean on. </div>
<div>
Most importantly, though, you come to recognize that you are moving through all of this not only by your own efforts, but by trusting that the Spirit is moving you, too. No one can do this on their own, but only through the help of faith and community. Come to think of it, that's exactly what the early followers of Jesus found in their journey! May the peace that only God can give walk with you!</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-77227017841608060742017-08-14T20:12:00.002-07:002017-08-14T20:12:34.068-07:00Postulancy<h2>
Postulant in the Ordination Process</h2>
<div>
In math, to postulate something is to "suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief" according to the Google dictionary. To "postulate" doesn't mean something IS true, but it is a suggestion of truth in order to debate, discuss, and test an idea. This is essentially what it means to be a Postulant in the ordination process.</div>
<div>
Once you're approved as a Postulant in the Diocese of San Joaquin you propose a training regimen that must be approved by the Bishop. In our Diocese we have two options: the Diocesan school in Fresno, or the Episcopal School for Deacons in Berkeley, CA (<a href="http://www.sfd.edu/">www.sfd.edu</a>)</div>
<div>
I chose the School for Deacons in Berkeley and began courses in the Fall of 2015. All of the courses are designed to prepare the student to become a servant leader in the Episcopal Church, with a particular focus on social ministry. When I first started at the School I was very much a "Doubting Thomas", but after two years I have gained the confidence that I could really do this! (Although I admit it is still a crazy idea!!!)</div>
<div>
The students spend a Saturday and Sunday on campus attending the courses, and then have three weeks to work on assignments at home before the next School Weekend. Students are from the Dioceses of: California, Northern California, El Camino Real, and San Joaquin.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BqLpaYI42lMlwyn4kKLHYKO7XPSHqD1MbkMZm5HUpjnieoNnB5effNAvKCRiOTTNpAR9HKFPPVDMU_-yHJ-Aq1yCeJ6KpnQziCf6-0QKMSkzTmY-63K5R-tcogIDrefUXT_-ynGp4mk/s1600/20151213_083201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BqLpaYI42lMlwyn4kKLHYKO7XPSHqD1MbkMZm5HUpjnieoNnB5effNAvKCRiOTTNpAR9HKFPPVDMU_-yHJ-Aq1yCeJ6KpnQziCf6-0QKMSkzTmY-63K5R-tcogIDrefUXT_-ynGp4mk/s320/20151213_083201.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
In my first semester, one of my courses was "Listening and Caring Skills", which had an immediate effect on my personal relationships. Having come from a Union background where you engage in debate with others, your mind is focused on what your answer will be while the other person is speaking. It takes practice (and much role playing) to focus your mind on listening to what the other person is saying without trying to reply, debate, or fix.</div>
<div>
After my third weekend of classes my wife asked me "So, how's the Listening Course going?" I replied "Well, it's called Listening and Caring Skills", to which my oldest daughter piped in "You mean you're going to care, too!?" We all had a great laugh together, and now I truly DO listen!!</div>
<div>
To keep up with the homework for the courses, while working a full-time job with LOTS of travel, I've had to stay disciplined with scheduling. Typically, Monday after a School Weekend is reserved to unwind and set up my homework plan for the next 18 days. I spend 2 to 3 hours each night after supper reading and writing, and longer on Saturdays. Sundays I (try to) reserve for worship, family, and rest. </div>
<div>
If I was doing all this by myself, I doubt I would ever make it. The School for Deacons, however, provides a community environment that pulls together the entire student body from all three years. The faculty are inspiring and includes many deacons who have already served in churches and communities. When you start with the idea that you must be a little cracked in the head, it certainly helps to be with like-minded individuals working towards the same goals!</div>
<div>
Do I have doubts? Sure! Do I become tired and fatigued? Yes, absolutely, but just as I seem to be running out of gas, another School Weekend starts and I am refreshed when I see my brother and sister students, and the smiles that come with camaraderie. </div>
<div>
Patience, persistence, and prayer helps each one of us continue on this path, but it is community, and the Spirit, that refreshes the soul. </div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-38900326774000349272017-08-05T13:38:00.003-07:002017-08-14T19:21:06.016-07:00Applicant<h2>
Applicant to Ordination Process</h2>
One spends almost a year as an Aspirant testing the strength of your call, meeting with a Parish Discernment Committee while participating more in your Church's Sunday service. During this time you start working on an extensive Application for Ordination. This is not an application to BE ordained, but an application to your Diocese to begin the ordination process.<br />
The Application process for me was extremely challenging. Having to "air out" your life and beliefs to several groups of people you are not necessarily close with is difficult for anyone like myself who had lived my inner, personal life closed off to the world.<br />
How did I overcome the inclination to keep up barriers to protect myself from others? Quite honestly, it took a LOT of prayer and discussions with God. That idea of "being called" ground right up against the inclination to protect myself from hurt and criticism. I lost count of the number of times I thought about quitting the process out of fear of hurt, fear of humiliation, or fear of rejection.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09pi4zKI2bHW5neWj0V_b8tbfljiPgLlVEo_OM0zAg4jNXff3K8hDw3lHIiYFuWpoAQTijRn1GoKsAz0jbo9y2-JVIq5kp-lgYMB8Csq5hzKFyUgoMSvDCh3akuC0Hj0mNhDwqi1uwcs/s1600/20170804_084625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09pi4zKI2bHW5neWj0V_b8tbfljiPgLlVEo_OM0zAg4jNXff3K8hDw3lHIiYFuWpoAQTijRn1GoKsAz0jbo9y2-JVIq5kp-lgYMB8Csq5hzKFyUgoMSvDCh3akuC0Hj0mNhDwqi1uwcs/s320/20170804_084625.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After months of reflection, meditation, and prayer I finally reached the decision that I would just "let it all hang out". I would just open up to "This is who I am", and let the various committees and professionals involved in the process determine if I would be suitable to follow this path. In some ways I had high hopes that I would be deemed unsuitable, and therefore released from this crazy idea, happy to return to my pew on Sunday and just soak up the weekly spirituality. So far, three years into this process I have not been shown the lane to the exit ramp.<br />
The Application to begin the Ordination process includes credit checks, criminal background checks, medical evaluations, psychological evaluations, education transcripts, work history, reading history, club memberships, and a recommendation from your parish and parish priest. From an individual's standpoint this can seem very prying, but the Church has an obligation to its parishioners, and the community, to fully examine anyone who wishes to take up ordained ministry. A Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, after all, is a direct representative of the Church.<br />
After numerous forms, interviews, and committee meetings a successful Applicant will be approved as a Postulant, formally received into the Ordination process. For most Dioceses in the Episcopal Church attaining Postulant status is required before being allowed to pursue an educational program to become a Deacon.<br />
For me, the time from Aspirant to Postulant took almost a year, but the time I spent early on in wrestling with this call and being open and listening to God built a foundation that has served me well in the years since.<br />
Trusting that God is leading you and walking with you through this process is critical to your formation as a future servant leader in the Church. I'm not sure of how this process will end for me, but I am sure that I have grown in my relationship with the Creator of all. At the core of my inner self, THIS is the greatest treasure to possess!Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-17175536468438375682017-08-02T18:38:00.001-07:002017-08-02T18:38:10.745-07:001st Step to Ordination: Aspirant<h2>
Aspirant</h2>
<div>
Aspirant almost sounds like a medical cure, or a physical ailment, but this means nothing more than announcing your interest in aspiring to ordained ministry. </div>
<div>
When I look back on this stage of my journey I can say that I was definitely afflicted. On one hand part of me was starting to recognize that I was being called. At least three people came up to me over several years asking me if I was "in ministry", and I would tell them "No, I'm just a lector." When I read "Listening Hearts" my recognition of a call suddenly started blasting me like a lighthouse at night.</div>
<div>
Being called to ministry just didn't make sense to my logical mind. Why would God want me? I'm not a scholar or a theologian--I spent many years working in a factory! I didn't consider myself to be particularly "holy", although I have deep beliefs in a God who wants to be as close as a parent, and not as an angry judge.</div>
<div>
I also was concerned with "What will my friends and family think?" This is a crazy idea, after all! Will I suddenly be shunned or isolated? Do I really want to take that chance? What if I start this process and fail to reach the end? I found many reasons NOT to do this.</div>
<div>
I only had one reason to follow this path: What if God was really calling me? Could I continue on with my faith practice knowing I was ignoring the summons?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyZZ4sP68iVeZADcQ4v9nnebyPlkh_w8QzCmvT6t4gV5PFKm1DKwhY2y3w72U9QH7e79QLNHspHjIjNq8-NoQIEflPxBnVYxRDsHwsgKvWp1zbrLBsMMAPSwacD0aUki1w3J05Dz7PD4/s1600/20170612_100738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyZZ4sP68iVeZADcQ4v9nnebyPlkh_w8QzCmvT6t4gV5PFKm1DKwhY2y3w72U9QH7e79QLNHspHjIjNq8-NoQIEflPxBnVYxRDsHwsgKvWp1zbrLBsMMAPSwacD0aUki1w3J05Dz7PD4/s320/20170612_100738.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
If you are wrestling with this as I was, I can offer you this advice: Take a chance! There are times in life when it is worthwhile standing up and sailing against the wind. For me, the suspicion that God needed my service reminded me of the poem by William F. O'Brien:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Some say risk nothing, try only for the sure thing,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Others say nothing gambled nothing gained,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Go all out for your dream.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Life can be lived either way, but for me,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">I'd rather try and fail, than never try at all, you see.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Some say "Don't ever fall in love,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Play the game of life wide open,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Burn your candle at both ends."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">But I say "No! It's better to have loved and lost,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Than never to have loved at all, my friend."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">When many moons have gone by,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">And you are alone with your dreams of yesteryear,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">All your memories will bring you cheer.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">You'll be satisfied, succeed or fail, win or lose,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Knowing the right path you did choose. </span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
As an Aspirant you are asked to come up with an idea for a project and then implement it--nothing large, just something simple that gives you the experience of working with the parish members. It's a great idea to participate in the many lay ministries such as acolyte (altar server), lector, Eucharist Minister, choir, Altar Guild, and whatever else gets you involved in parish life.</div>
<div>
You are also asked to start work with a Spiritual Director: someone who can offer you advice and direction on deepening your spiritual practice and belief. I have gained new insights and deeply cherish the two Directors I've worked with over the last 3+ years.</div>
<div>
As you work on discerning your call in this Aspirant phase you begin to prepare an application to the Diocese to be formally entered into the process for ordination. Don't worry about changing your mind! There are numerous opportunities to turn away if you feel this isn't for you.</div>
<div>
If, in the end, you are left with a deeper meaning of your faith, then what loss have you suffered? Much of this process is learning to trust in God. Years later, I am still learning that!!</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> </span></div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-56156336223267070192017-07-30T15:07:00.001-07:002017-10-24T13:10:43.579-07:00Do you have a call?<h2>
How does one discern a call?</h2>
<div>
One of the toughest challenges for me in following this path has been the inner conflict and turmoil in first recognizing I was being called to ministry, and then being willing to answer that call. How does one separate a passing fancy from a real call? </div>
<div>
In the Episcopal Church there is a process for ordination that a person must work their way through. It is not a gauntlet, although it can seem that way at times! The process is structured to ensure that each person carefully considers the depth of their call and their commitment to following that call through whatever situation they encounter. While each Diocese has it's own process, they generally follow similar steps since the requirements are determined by Church law (Canon Law).</div>
<div>
The start of this process in my diocese is a meeting called "Day of Discovery", open to any church member who may be interested in exploring the three ordained ministries of the Church: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon. Participants are led through an explanation of these ministries and study each order's ordination vows.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2PEZDZbcnr4tZ4Kk-fld1klWhaGQLK6gGlFPb_7Cp7CX2yx5tI-Ae8bAPASv_kmVWv0BRgzCdu8wB4Vu_sWvKPvpkZTZbce_V5JAVXl9QiEDtTv-4pKJ3R3CTwqvcmDogLR1MRrXzLw/s1600/20170612_110104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2PEZDZbcnr4tZ4Kk-fld1klWhaGQLK6gGlFPb_7Cp7CX2yx5tI-Ae8bAPASv_kmVWv0BRgzCdu8wB4Vu_sWvKPvpkZTZbce_V5JAVXl9QiEDtTv-4pKJ3R3CTwqvcmDogLR1MRrXzLw/s320/20170612_110104.jpg" width="180" /></a> The "Day of Discovery" is NOT in any way a sales campaign to get people to sign up. For me I liked the way it was structured as an informational meeting (with some prayer, of course!) that gives a general overview of how the three orders work together to serve needs of God's people. Some who attended were just interested in understanding the differences in ministries. There was no future commitment involved, so I felt like I could participate without worrying about what others might think or being pressured into something I didn't want. Of the dozen people who attended the meeting that day, only two of us eventually proceeded on!</div>
<div>
At the end of the meeting those who were interested in further pursuing this idea of a "call" were given a booklet of daily reflections and questions. This is not a test that you turn back in, but a guide for your own use to explore over the course of a month the type of ministry that might appeal to you.</div>
<div>
The length of your "Discovery" process is up to you. Personally, I was very reluctant to follow this path. It is easy to be overwhelmed with feelings of unworthiness, and the idea that a person in ordained ministry should somehow be a "saintly" person. How could God be calling a person like myself with a past train-wreck of a life? The idea seemed ludicrous. It took me a long time to realize that God calls the broken because these are the people who already recognize their human frailty and God's infinite love for each of us.</div>
<div>
Doubtful of my call, I found the book "Listening Hearts" by Suzanne G. Farnham and Jospeph P. Gill (see Recommended Books) to be extremely useful in the inner exploration of this call. We tend to see our personal history as a uniform procession from point A to point Z, but this book helps you take the building blocks of your life's story and re-arrange them into a view from God's perspective.<br />
God sees the world, and people, differently than we see each other. Living in the Kingdom means changing your perspective to see the world through God's eyes. Blessings on your journey!!</div>
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=eaconreg-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=0819224448&asins=0819224448&linkId=65ce34efb0217d8fc107a4dc05a109a0&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff">
</iframe>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3082096828904232156.post-86824974823731809452017-07-27T21:39:00.001-07:002017-07-28T01:46:18.106-07:00Beginnings<h2>
A Journey of Faith and Inspiration: </h2>
<div>
Sometimes starting is the most difficult thing, but I have found over time that persevering towards a goal is the most challenging part of life. Taking that next step, and the next one, and the next one--and on and on... Finding the strength and inspiration to keep moving can lead eventually to a new life with unexpected possibilities.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfgNF1jRR0uIu6PZTdAs3fE8IrOvmvWxZkJs02mL5v4lYqdeVMoarK4ZgwUU9Gnwg1bTYS_if9XqfuWqENdeL_cMU19grq2KgADyLT46uc_jiZL6-ncM1Y7rNn5pK07zWFU8pZYh0siE/s1600/20130727_185621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfgNF1jRR0uIu6PZTdAs3fE8IrOvmvWxZkJs02mL5v4lYqdeVMoarK4ZgwUU9Gnwg1bTYS_if9XqfuWqENdeL_cMU19grq2KgADyLT46uc_jiZL6-ncM1Y7rNn5pK07zWFU8pZYh0siE/s320/20130727_185621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
In April of 2014 I began a journey towards becoming a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. I still admit it--It's a crazy idea!!! Why would anyone in their mid-50's, within sight of retirement and relaxation, take up a journey requiring an extensive commitment of time and money that results in an unpaid position committing their service to others??</div>
<div>
The only answer I have is that I feel I'm being called by God to serve the world around me. It sounds quaint, doesn't it? Yes, it sounds crazy to me, too!</div>
<div>
As I start this blog I am at least a year away from ordination, and about to begin my final year of studies. So FULL DISCLOSURE: I AM NOT YET A DEACON! I can see a future, however, where I may be able to reach out to others through the medium of the web. Hence the early start on this page.<br />
I also realized that some may be interested in my process of becoming a deacon (or NOT becoming a deacon--whichever the case may be...)--Time, and perseverance, will tell.<br />
At best, perhaps a few people may be amused or inspired. At the least, perhaps I'll learn something about myself.</div>
<div>
In the end, there are only three things: Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is Love.--Paul/Saul of Tarsus.</div>
<div>
Peace!</div>
Deacon Greg Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383569647013475012noreply@blogger.com0