Bad Analogy Sunday

The Yanny/Laurel debate is just the most recent incident in our struggle to make everything either/or. 

Good morning and welcome to Bad Analogy Sunday. Or, as it is also known Trinity Sunday. It is a day when preachers get up in the pulpit and do their best… not to commit heresies or theological atrocities. It is a day when we try to say just the right things about who God is. Often in the process the sermon-giver bores the congregation into submission and all leave displeased or upset.

I apologize if this is your first time in this Church. Perhaps, you heard our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the Royal Wedding last Saturday. Maybe you thought, “Alright, that message was inspiring, easy to understand and all about love. Why not try the Episcopal Church?” While that is usually right, on this day preachers think they must somehow simplify the immense nature of God into a ten minute homily.

We try to condense God’s nature into terrible analogies. For example that God is like the three states of water: ice, liquid, and vapor. This of course is Modalism, which is a heresy that wrongly claims God is not three distinct persons, but rather takes three different forms. Or, we claim that God is like a star that creates light and heat, which is Arianism. Arianism is another heresy that wrongly attests that the Son and the Spirit are subordinate and creatures of God the Father.  There are many, many other bad analogies wheeled out today. For today homilists, like me, try to explain our infinitely transcendent and eternally intimate God who is Father, Son, and Spirit!

Now, your being here is not all bad. Watching preachers on this day is sort of akin to watching an athlete like a snowboarder or gymnast trying an extremely difficult run. Part of what is captivating is knowing that at any moment the competitor could crash and burn. But, why is that? Why is talking about the Trinity so tough?

In our part of the world we do not do well with ambiguity, such as a God who is three-in-one and one-in-three. The West likes certainty. We want to know for sure. Beyond a shadow of a doubt we want to be able to point to what is real. But, we have reached an age that is lazy when it comes to actually pursuing the truth.

Nowadays, what matters most is not actually gathering evidence, but rather fighting for the position, the candidate, or the side that we feel is right. So many people today are too lethargic to actually see beyond the way that they have always seen things. So, what happens? Either/or thinking emerges.

Society has created a worldview of binaries, an existence of dichotomies, black or white thinking. And people say things like, “I am either right or wrong. It is either true or false. That person is either gay or straight, male or female, Christian or other, American or not. It’s us against them.” Not only this, but a moralistic overlay gets placed on top of this way of seeing the world. And people believe that one way—their way—is good and the other is bad. Thus to talk about the Trinity is not only precarious because I might put my foot in my mouth, but it is also subversive and even a little dangerous because it bucks against this either/or way of the world.

Now often our Biblical passages in the Lectionary provide us with a clear path for articulating the given theme of the day or season. However, today it is a bit more challenging. When our Holy Scripture was written the Church had a very primitively articulated theology of the Trinity. God as Father, Son, and Spirit did, does, and will exist forever and for always, but the early Church’s understanding of this was in its theological infancy.

So why shoehorn a complex idea into the Sunday after the Pentecost? Why cobble together bits of Holy Scripture that seem to mention the persons of the Trinity? What is the point of this day when we celebrate God as three-in-one and one-in-three? For one, we do this because it is God’s eternal nature. God is Father, Son, and Spirit. The persons of the Trinity are coequal in power, majesty, and glory, while being separate persons… i.e. the Father is not the Son is not the Spirit, etc. But, given our current context of either/or, us/them, my tribe/your tribe existence the concept of not two, but one-in-three and three-in-one challenges the binaries through which we see the world.

Perhaps you heard the sound clip floating around the internet last week. To some it sounds like Laurel (which is clearly right), while to others it sounds like Yanny. It’s a silly example, but it quickly created a stir because everyone was either Team Laurel or Team Yanny. The creators of the soundbite eventually let all know that both names were said at the same time in the clip. And, what one hears depends upon the default register of that person’s hearing.

But, one priest I know took it a little further than this. He wrote, “A thing can be two things at the same time, depending on context and perspective, even if you can only perceive one of those perspectives. Shocking, I know. Now apply to your relationships and consideration of other human beings.” My friend in responding to something silly stumbled upon a very cogent theological thought on the Trinity.

When talking about who God is we so often want to say something definitive. This is good and right so to do. However, when someone else says something different about who God is our first instinct may very well be to shoot them down as wrong. How will we learn about the complexities of God if we only rely upon how we see God? How will we learn of the complexities of each other if we already have our minds made up about who the other is? A thing can be two things at the same time depending upon context and perspective, even if I can only perceive one of those perspectives.

The mysterious nature of the Trinity makes sense one moment and defies our feeble minds the next. God is Father, but God is also Son, but God is also Spirit. God is Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. While none of these is the other, they are all God and they are all one. One equals not the other, but all equal God. To see this truth though we cannot simply see things with our either/or, literal eyes. This is what got Nicodemus stuck.

He heard Jesus say that one must be born again. The word for “again” is also the word for “from above.” Jesus was talking about both of those at the same time. Nicodemus only heard “again,” and thus was stuck. He could not get the full grasp of who God was in that moment, for he was seeing with literal, either/or vision.

We too can see get stuck seeing God or other people with either/or vision. But, this will only allow a very limited view of God or the world. A view that will keep us thinking only on the literal level. We need the literal level, but to see the immensity of God we need both/and vision. We really need beyond both/and vision. We need three/and vision. We must be willing to be mystified, stupefied, and astonished by God being THREE—Father, Son, Spirit—AND one—God.

The gift that today provides us is not good preaching. Rather, it’s the opportunity to wonder about the ultimate reality who God is. God and the multiverse that God creates goes far beyond literal, either/or existence. The Trinity and our wrestling with this BIG theological idea gifts us with a chance. A chance to see what is on the surface and what runs much deeper. It helps us to see that we need each other’s viewpoints. And, it provides us an opportunity to dream beyond the black and white thinking that pervades so much of society. May we expand our vision to see the enormity and complexity of each other and God who is Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.

Your Ministry

The Most Rev. Michael Curry has been everywhere from the View to the Today Show since the Royal Wedding.

If you got trapped under a rock this past week you may not know that our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, preached at Saturday’s Royal Wedding between Megan Merkel and Prince Harry. And, by most accounts he knocked it out of the park. He delivered a lively homily for the ages. He wowed the 2 billion people watching. And, he even got some startling reactions from the Royal Family. It was masterful. It was fun. It was a moment that we can be proud of as Episcopalians. But, it will all be a waste if we simply sit around and pat ourselves on the back.

Some have criticized Presiding Bishop Curry for using the afterglow of that moment. He got on Twitter to tell folks that if they liked what they saw, then it might be meet and right to head over to their local Episcopal Church the next day. “Oh, that’s shameful marketing!” some suggested. In response Curry has continued to point not to his own ministry, but to that of the Church and more importantly to the ministry we share in Christ Jesus. Did you know that?

Did you know that you share in the ministry not just of this Church, but of Christ Jesus himself? Did you know that you—yes I am talking about you—are part of this same movement of love? “Oh,” you say, “I don’t know about all that.” Then, the reasons why you do not qualify begin to roll off your tongue:

-“I don’t follow all the right rules.”
-“I need to do more service towards others.”
-“I haven’t achieved enough status to qualify yet.”
-“I am not special enough to be part of that ministry.”
-“I do not know enough yet.”
-“I am not part of this prestigious group.”
-“I am not happy enough.”
-“I do not the leader of the group.”
-“I am not at peace enough to belong.”

You and I both have our reasons for thinking that we just do not make the cut. And, all of those reasons are bogus. They are bologna!

God has chosen you to be part of this movement. That is why you are alive at this precise moment. That is why you exist right now. That is why God continues to call you into being alive every second of everyday of your life thus far. It’s pretty magnificient and at the same time our part in this grand ministry is pretty miniscule. But, that’s okay because it’s not really about how grand I am or you are. No, it’s about how collectively we are called by God to take part in the ministry of Jesus. Today of all days, is a day to remember and celebrate this truth.

Four times throughout the year the Church sets apart special days dedicated to ministry. They are called Ember Days. They happen on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday before the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Second Sunday of Lent, Trinity Sunday, and during the third week of September. However, most just remember Lenty-Penty-Lucy-Crucy… For Lent, Pentecost, St. Lucy’s Day (in December), and Holy Cross Day in September. More than the timing what matters is the purpose behind these days.

These days are times when those preparing for ordination have special observances, practice fasting, and write a letter to their bishop. “Alright,” you may be thinking, “what does this have to do with me?” Well, while this is an occasion set apart for those preparing to take on formal ordination vows in the Church, the readings, the themes, and the spirit of this day connects to God’s call for each of us—whether we are ordained in Holy Baptism or at another ordination service. Again, you have a ministry that is part of Christ’s ministry. But, what does that mean and what does that look like?

First, let’s cover what it looks like to be in this Jesus Movement. Returning to our Presiding Bishop’s message, it is fantastic that he spoke so powerfully of God’s love that changes the world, but now how do we live into that? It is quite easy to just go about our lives with our heads down plowing along. Letting the cuts and bruises of life affect us. As we do, we may end up hard-headed and hard-hearted. Our reading from Ezekiel though, tells us the truth of what God wants for us. God wants to remove our stubbornness, so that we might have soft, fleshy hearts and creative minds that see the world with new eyes on a daily basis.

Our Gospel lesson for today illuminates this more fully. The Sons of Thunder aka James and John wanted to be the best of the lot, the rulers of the disciples. Jesus though challenged all his followers to flip the world on its head. We—when we let God’s love take hold of us—do not seek lofty positions of power, but lowly places of servitude. That is what it looks like to be part of this movement, to seek and serve others every chance we get. But what does it mean to be part of the ministry of Jesus?

When we are part of the Jesus Movement we recognize the vision of Romans 6 as the truth of our existence. We know that death no longer has power over us, neither does sin, nor corruption, nor any other forces of evil. We have been buried with Christ. And, in this death Christ destroyed death and all its minions. If we no longer fear death, then the question begs to be asked, “What is it that we are afraid of?”

If we are no longer fearful of forces of evil, if we are instead clothed in Christ’s death and resurrection, what can’t we do? This is what it means to be part of the Jesus Movement. We are eternally alive in Christ. We are living in God’s death-conquering love.

Now, this does not mean we won’t physically grow old and die. It does not mean that evil does not exist in this world. Nor, does it mean that we won’t make mistakes. Rather, as we choose to live life in Christ what we become is part of the life-altering, death-destroying, universe-changing movement of love that will transform everything. You are part of this ministry. Do not doubt that for a moment.

So, let us not rest on the laurels of our leader’s wedding sermon heard round the world. Instead, may we have soft hearts to receive God’s love, may we live out of that love as we become servants of all, and may we know that we are all ministers in Jesus’ Movement of universe-changing love! And for that calling, thanks be to God. Amen.

A Much Needed Challenge

An image depicting the martyrdom of Thomas Becket of Canterbury.

Way back during the Middle Ages the Church ordained Thomas Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Better known for his martyrdom when he stood up to King Henry II over the rights of the Church, Becket also bears a powerful connection to this coming Sunday. After Becket was consecrated as archbishop on the Sunday after Pentecost, he instituted a new festival to be celebrated yearly on that occasion. It was not a self-congratulating feast but rather a day dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Thus, Trinity Sunday was born—and for almost 856 years now clergy people throughout the Western World have been grumbling.

For 51 other Sundays throughout the year the Episcopal Church has a fairly straightforward way of doing things. Particularly, we practice a familiar pattern in regards to the Liturgy of the Word when we learn from parts of the Bible. Through various seasons we celebrate God’s saving love as exemplified in Holy Scripture and particularly in the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Easy enough right? Well, it’s not easy, but it is at least straightforward. But then, almost out of nowhere comes this Trinity Sunday, which feels a bit like the tail wagging the dog.

Even with almost a millennia of practice, Trinity Sunday retains a certain sense of oddity. It is a day in the Church when we remember a doctrine. The rest of the Sundays in the Church Year we let the Scriptural themes and stories speak for themselves, but on this day we shoehorn chosen Scripture to fit this belief about God. This day almost feels backwards. Almost. As we have been practicing it for the better part of a thousand years, it has also almost gained some sense of normalcy. But, imagine for a moment if we had Resurrection of the Dead Sunday, Justification Sunday, Total Depravity Sunday, or Doctrine of Your Choice Sunday. I am sure some would love it, but it would feel odd to me.

You may be thinking, other parts of the Church do this, and you are right. Nowadays in the broader Church, preachers circle a topic for a week or multiple weeks. They might use a thematic series to discuss sin, relationships, prayer, mission, or calling. And yet, rarely do preachers engage such a challenging doctrine as that regarding the Holy Trinity. It is one that has led to so many heresies. So, why do we do it?

The cop out is to say that all powerful word in the Church: TRADITION! Still, I think there has to be more to this than we did it last year (and the 850 something before it). Why would we keep doing something that is so challenging? Why keep going with something that leaves us—not just the preacher but the entire congregation—feeling a bit off kilter? Why continue bumbling and stumbling around in a delicate area that could get us labeled as a heretic? Well, perhaps it is because despite reciting our belief in a Triune God every week in the Collect, the Nicene Creed, and the Eucharistic Prayer, we seldom live our lives with this belief at the core. Maybe it’s dangerous to speak for you, but I have to sadly admit that I am a bad Trinitarian Christian.

How many of my prayers start with Father? How many of them end with Jesus? We just celebrated the Spirit coming down at Pentecost yesterday, but how easy it is for me to overlook the work of the Holy Ghost! I am deficient in remembering that Our Triune God exists co-eternally together. It is hard for me to remember that while the Father is not the Son is not the Spirit, and the Son is not the Father is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father is not the Son, they are all God.

So, while this week is frustrating, and while I might say a few choice words under my breath about Thomas Becket, I need this week. I need the challenge that God gives me to try and wrap my mind, heart, spirit, and strength around who God truly is. I won’t ever finish that work on this side of the grave. And, I will probably butcher some description of God this week—if I have not already. Still, I believe when we try to faithfully understand, experience, and express the beautifully complicated nature of God we please God. Yes, we must be careful and cautious to speak the Truth, but to be afraid of speaking it altogether is like not sharing the best news you have ever heard.

As I bumble my way through speaking of the unspeakable, I find that a couple good places to start the work of understanding, experiencing, and expressing God's Triune Nature are the Collect for Trinity Sunday (below) and the Creed of Saint Athanasius.

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, 228).

It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive

If a four-year-old understands the blessing that comes with giving why don't we?

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul uttered these words in today’s lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. He said them before he left the people of Ephesus. Of course, these are not Paul’s words, they are Jesus’. And, I bet we have all heard them before.

Sometimes we say Jesus’ words slightly differently though, as we pronounce, “It’s better to give than to receive.” This saying pops up when we talk to children about Christmas or a sibling’s birthday. While it’s only one slight difference, changing this part of the sentence matters critically. Jesus said it’s more blessed to give, and we say it’s better to give. We could simply say Jesus was right because he was Jesus, but there is more to the difference than that.

Being better is not a bad thing. We seek to become better all the time in our lives; however, a competition-driven worldview that seeks only betterment misses the mark. This was not what Jesus said. Instead he spoke of the grander blessing, which comes from giving.

Blessings do not always make us feel good. And, in truth when we give, it’s not about us having a positive emotion. Instead, it’s about participating in the Divine life. It’s about God having more of a stake in our lives. God gives us everything we have, so if we are to be like God we too must give. This is the blessing of which Jesus spoke. But, what does this look like?

There are many, many examples in our world. Despite what we see on the evening news about the greed of politicians, corporations, and even many churches, the blessing of giving continues all around us. Here are a couple of examples from the last couple weeks.

In South Carolina a teenager’s act of kindness was caught on video and it went viral. Sofi Cruz Turner surprised her classmate Jahiem by buying him new shoes. Jahiem had hinted that he needed a pair of sneakers, so Sofi used money from her job to give a gift to her friend and classmate. If you think it is profound that a high schooler understands Jesus’ words clearly, just wait.

A four-year-old boy in Birmingham, AL named Austin Perine thinks it’s his superpower to feed the homeless. Austin, or President Austin when he is in his super alter ego, decided that he does not want any toys or gifts or allowance for himself. Instead, after hearing that there are homeless people in the world, he has asked his parents to designate those funds to buying food—food that he will hand out to people who often go without. When he passes out the sandwiches he always has the same line, “Don’t forget to show love.” Wow!

What’s striking about these examples are the responses from all involved. It’s more blessed to give than to receive. When we say this, we attest that a blessing comes from giving, but there is more. What I see in these gifting moments is that those who give freely are transformed by giving—and so are those who receive freely. Why is that?

When we give, we are actively being like God. God gives us all that we have.  When we give what we have away, we are acting like God and I believe we are transformed more and more into the likeness of God. Now we don’t have to do this for God to love us, but when we are gracious and generous we are blessed because we are being like God. So what are some ways we might practice this?

There are a multitude of ways to feel the blessing of giving. We can give time to others by volunteering with outreach partners like the Free Clinic, the Neighborhood Christian Center, or the Committee for Church Cooperation. We can give talent by using our skills to serve on non-profit boards, to help with our youth or children, or to serve on a guild that assists with worship. We can give our treasure to the work of God in this world whether it is here at St. John’s or another organization that is building up God’s Kingdom. And, there is a profound campaign that makes me think of the transformational power of both giving and receiving.

The new Poor People’s Campaign has garnered some attention over the last few days. The intention of this movement relates to the blessing of Jesus and the vision of God’s economy. For too long poor people have suffered in this country, unable to get out of a cycle of poverty. For too long those who live in economically depressed areas have not had ample opportunities to make a living wage. For too long people of all different backgrounds have struggled to attain vocational or job-related education. For people of color and women this has been even worse. As they have had to work twice as hard to get half as far. This Poor People’s campaign asks us as people of privilege to receive the blessing of giving as we offer our voice to the voiceless.

If we truly believe it is more blessed to give than to receive, if we trust Jesus, then we must move away from the idea of scarcity and all out competition at every turn. Jesus bids us to see in his words and his example that hoarding things and dollars and opportunities leads to a shriveled up existence. This way does not lead to blessings. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Because when we do we are like Our God who is always generous, gracious, and giving.

We all know it is better to give than to receive, but Jesus tells us the deeper truth: it is more blessed to give than to receive. How will you give of what God has given you? How will you experience the blessing that is being like Our God? How will you help God to create a society and an economy that is based not on scarcity, but on giving?

What’s Waiting For You?

This sermon was preached at St. John's Church, Decatur, AL during the Tuesday Healing Eucharist and was inspired by the following lessons:
Acts 20:17–27
John 17:1–11a 

A couple weeks back the air conditioning at our house went out. As we are renters, we were at the whims of a property manager and a landlord. It took ten days for the A/C to be restored. By the end of that time we were not all that happy. We were unable to sleep, irritable, and tired. But, this was nothing. Nothing, I tell you!

As we “suffered” without a modern convenience my mind went to some strange places. What would happen if the entire power grid went down? What if we were like Cape Town, South Africa, which is quickly running out of water? What if we, what if I had to endure something truly unbearable? This isn’t to make light of what we were going through. But, still these questions were haunting me, as I reflected upon the level of comfort in my life. There’s nothing wrong with comfort or convenience, but what happens when those are what we strive for in life?

In today’s lesson from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul cared not for his own security, but only for following the Spirit’s calling. Paul had endured trials. He had been persecuted as a traitor. The once zealous Pharisee now was working for the “other team” spreading the Good News of Christ Jesus. Perhaps the most remarkable words in this lesson arise from when Paul described the Holy Spirit’s voice in his life.

Paul trusted that he was following the Spirit’s invitation for him. He had been sharing God’s message of repentance and faithfulness. But, what was waiting for him as he continued to share this controversial message? What was waiting on him as he kept following the Spirit? How would this end? The Spirit told him that imprisonment and persecution were waiting. Remarkably Paul persisted. He kept on going. His focus was not on comfort or convenience, but on sharing the Good News of Christ! What about us?

A story from an outreach trip I took helps provide some perspective on how the Spirit calls us. Several years ago, I went with a group of students to Ecuador for a ten day mission trip. We worked hard ahead of time to learn about the culture, the country, the poverty, the politics, and the people. Once there our on the ground leader said some words that still challenge me. She stated, “The developed world is mostly interested in comfort and convenience, but the developing world focuses on justice and survival.” I was so convicted. How often do I solely focus on my own needs and wants, instead of what God is speaking in my life? My life as a child of God was transformed in that moment.

I began to wonder about how I focused my time, money, and energy. Why is my sight so limited? How is it that I am so focused on keeping up my own standard of living? Who am I completely overlooking as they cry out for justice not in a far off country but here in my own community? If I am so adamant about how it is unfair that the A/C is out at my house why don’t I get upset when I see a brother or sister who is without sufficient provision? Am I that calloused that I cannot hear the Spirit leading me? Even if it gets me in trouble, even if it leads to imprisonment or persecution, am I not to follow where the Spirit is leading?

God does not call us to intentionally seek imprisonment. Do not go away saying, “My priest wants me to go to jail.” No, we certainly are to be peaceable, respectful, and non-reactionary. However, we are bidden as followers of Jesus to speak up for the voiceless. We are to care for the downtrodden, the poor, and the imprisoned—not only by addressing their acute needs, but also through addressing the systematic sins of our society.

Paul knew that trials, imprisonment, and persecutions awaited him. Still he followed the Spirit. He kept sharing about God’s Good News—that Jesus had brought reconciliation and that we were to be faithful as God is faithful. Have I become so puny in spirit that I cannot endure hardship for the sake of sharing the same good news? The Spirit speaks to us, just as He/She/It spoke to Paul. We will not always hear comforting words from the Spirit. What is waiting for us? What is waiting for you?

If we have been given the gifts of God’s love, grace, and peace, then we have a responsibility to share that with all whom we meet. We are called by God to work through the Spirit to strive for justice. We cannot only seek comfort and convenience, but through the Spirit we are invited to care for those who are suffering in this world.

Incomplete

What happens when things are out of place in your life?

This sermon was preached on the 7th Sunday of Easter at St. John's Church, Decatur, AL and the readings for the day were the following:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
Psalm 1

A strand of hair that the barber missed. An out of place tile on an intricately patterned floor. A cabinet door left ajar. A light on with no one in the room. A tall patch of grass overlooked after mowing the lawn. An unlit Christmas light on the 100 bulb strand. I could go on and on, but some of you are squirming—presumably the more obsessive-compulsive among us. These and many other things may leave some of us feeling incomplete or like something is amiss.

To others these little details, these small bits of life out of place, may not even register. It’s odd. We do not all get bothered by the same thing. Not everyone catches the same detail when they walk into a room, watch a TV show, or hear a Bible verse. But, this morning I want to propose something radical—even to the OCD, anal-retentive, type-A people here present. All those things you think are out of place are really not. At least, not compared to something else that may be missing from our common life.

Sure you might get thrown off by an unevenly drawn sideline at the ball field, but what about those things you cannot see that are slightly off? How about when one of us is not here at this service? Or, what about when despite our usual prayers or spiritual practices we do not feel connected to God? What do you do when you feel incomplete? What do we do?

Incompletion is not an option. As my seminary Theology professor was fond of saying, “Nothing is wasted in God’s Kingdom.” Or, put another way, God will bring all things to their perfection. Even if it does not happen in this lifetime, we trust that God fulfills and will fulfill all things. Perhaps that is what our first lesson from the Acts of the Apostles was all about.

Jesus had just left his disciples, as he ascended into heaven. And, some angels implored the disciples to get a move on. They were to start their ministry—even if they were still waiting on the Holy Spirit to come. What’s the first act of the apostles after Jesus had left the building—er, the planet? Peter drew together the followers of Christ to complete something that felt unfinished. Some business that was incomplete. Judas’ betrayal had left open an apostolic position, so someone had to take his place.

From our vantage point, this might not make a lot of sense. Why fill the spot of a traitor? Why not leave it vacant to remind the disciples of the one who abandoned them? Well, Jesus had appointed twelve apostles, which bore a connection with the twelve tribes of Israel. Plus, Jesus had in mind that twelve apostles would begin the spreading of God’s Good News to Israel and beyond, so wasn’t it fitting to replace that empty spot? Yes, of course!

When there is an empty place there is someone, something missing. Not only with the apostles, but also with us! So, we should fill every spot, right? We should always make sure that we have every spot filled in every ministry, Bible study, and service, correct? Well, not so fast. There is an example from my family’s life that might add some nuance. It will hopefully help broaden how we go about helping God to fulfill things in our life.

At the University of Montevallo, homecoming happens not in the fall, but during the spring. It’s odd. Every year instead of getting amped up to pummel some team in a football game, Montevallo’s homecoming contest pits two sides of the student body against one another. The undergrads split in half to create two teams: the purple side and the gold side.

During homecoming week, the sides get points for sporting contests, spirit, sportsmanship, and mostly a self-produced, self-directed, self-performed musical. Why do I know all this? Well, my entire immediate family—save for me—were all purple side leaders. Yes, I am the black sheep. So I know well that each side has many traditions associated with homecoming. And, one such tradition helps me to better understand the balance between completing an incompleteness and leaving something left undone.

This particular tradition at Montevallo has to do with the two sides’ spirit songs. Both sides have a fight song, but they go about them differently. The purple side unites arm-in-arm showing a completely unified side during their song. The gold side on the other hand, unites almost completely, but they leave an open space in their circle. Why? To provide room for including one more.

Now, there may even be purples or golds sitting among us today. And, they will certainly tell you and me which side is right and which one is wrong. However, from my outsider view point, both side’s approach combined together helps to capture an image of how it is that we belong to one another and to God.

We belong to each and to God, and that is what Jesus was saying in this confusing passage from John’s Gospel account. He prayed for his followers belonging to him and to God. We too belong to God through Christ Jesus. But, this belonging calls for both complete, arm-in-arm unity and leaving a space open for someone else to join.

When we are a part of God’s reign, we feel incomplete when we are not altogether. Far worse than any small thing left undone—like a sneeze that never quite materializes—this incompletion, this imperfection will drive us mad. This yearning is God’s desire in us to gather all together—to be united behind one shepherd, to be connected through one vine, and to be the chicks of one hen. To do this uniting, God invites for there always to be another space for another one to join.

God’s vision for us calls us to be both unified and open. So what does that look like? Returning to our story from Acts, that meant finding those who were faithful to Jesus from the start—those united with Christ and his mission all the way back to his Baptism. But once they found the eligible candidates—Barsabbas and Matthias—they were open. They were so open that they let something as outlandish as casting lots make their decision. Peter and the others truly believed that God would speak through drawing straws to see who the next apostle would be. What trust they had!

We would do well to learn from this story ourselves. We may consider ourselves to be the long-time followers of Jesus, who have walked faithfully with Christ. We belong to God through Christ. However, we are challenged not only to be united with Christ, but also to be open to the Spirit drawing in new followers! 

In our daily lives, we can connect with Christ in a multitude of ways: prayer, silent meditation (Centering Prayer), reading the story of God’s love for us in Scripture, studying books, reading the Daily Office, observing God’s Creation, reaching out to others, coming to worship here, and so much more. This unity is so great and I think we are really good at this here! But, there is a second piece.

God calls us deeper into the practice of leaving room for others to belong to God. Where is the opening where we might invite someone new? Is there someone you could invite to a ministry that you love? Are you on Flower Guild—what if you invited someone to put together an arrangement with you? Do you come to the healing service, a Bible study, or the Bridge group—how about inviting someone who doesn’t? We are becoming a friendlier and friendlier place, but God is calling us further.

All belong to God. For newcomers and life-long members alike, to truly feel like we belong to God in this church we must know we all have a place here. Let us be united AND let us leave open a spot for someone new. May we all come and belong here, as we all belong to God through Christ Jesus.

In-Between Sunday

This Sunday we are in-between Ascension and Pentecost

Many churches at this time of year celebrate a Children and Youth Sunday. St. John’s has this practice as well. Often this means we give our children and youth roles in the service. Sometimes this even means we have a youth preacher. This year I have had more opportunity to work with our youth preacher, and I have been the better for it.

Evan, Tim Callahan (our youth minister), and I sat down to talk with Sanders White (our youth preacher) several weeks back. We began with prayer, and then read through the lessons for Children and Youth Sunday. This was to help prepare our youth preacher and to give him some insights to build upon. Fortunately for me, I am also preaching this Sunday at the early service. One kernel of wisdom revealed that day has been ringing in my mind at various points since then.

This Sunday is strange. It is a Sunday when we remember the time between Jesus’ Ascension into heaven (40 days after Easter) and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (50 days after Easter). This Sunday doesn’t have an official name—other than the Sixth Sunday of Easter. But, maybe it ought to be called “In-between Sunday.” And, actually in more ways than one that name fits.

Sure, this is the time between Jesus leaving his disciples and the gift of the Holy Spirit coming to inspire their ministry, but there’s more. As this is Children and Youth Sunday, it is a time when we call to mind transitions. Our children, teenagers, parents, and teachers are about to finish the academic year. They will soon be in that space between one school year and the next. This liminal time is important. But, how do we recognize it, utilize it, and celebrate it?

Often these sorts of transitions sneak up on us. They frustrate us. Moving from one thing to the next never is as easy as we want it to be. So, having a time when we think of the in-between might actually do us a lot of good. Especially, if we allow the lessons from Sunday to inspire us.

In the lesson from the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus has departed for heaven. His Ascension left the disciples wondering what to do next. They had not yet received the Holy Spirit, but that did not stop them from doing good work. One spot left open by Judas' betrayal remained open among the apostles. They needed to fill it. But, how?

First, they found those who had been faithful all along. Next, they drew straws to figure out who would serve as Judas’ replacement. It might seem a little risky to pick a disciple like this. Would the disciples have done something different if Jesus were still there? Would they have done something different if the Holy Spirit were already present? We will never know. But, in that time of transition what they thought important was doing the good work of completion. They wanted fulfillment. Fulfillment appears to be a theme among the other readings as well.

In John’s letter, those without the Son, without Christ in them, do not have true life. If we think of reading this statement in a time of transition we are anchored in the truth that God remains with us. Even if Jesus has ascended into heaven, even if he is no longer bodily here that does not mean we are without the Son.

In John’s Gospel lesson we discover fulfillment through the same type of belonging to Christ. We do not belong to this world, a world that is ever-changing. We belong instead to Christ. Through Christ we belong to God. This means that we belong to the changeless one. This gives us reassurance as everything in this world shifts and moves, and as we see our children, our adolescents, and ourselves changing. We are reassured that God will always be with us even through the shifts, the storms, and the struggles of this life.

But, still there is more about this “In-between Sunday.” As Evan wrote about this morning in his blog, we must not skip over this time. Waiting is important. We waited for the Resurrection outside the tomb on Holy Saturday. We must also wait for the Holy Spirit to come among us. If we are not able to abide in this liminal space we may completely miss what God is doing in us, through us, and among us.

It is always hard to be in between where we are and where we are going. However, this journey that is life is chalked full of in-the-middle moments. If we do not abide in these times we will miss the richness of God meeting us in the everyday. We will overlook the gift that is right now. We will not see how God is gifting us even as we wait for something more. May we celebrate “In-between Sunday” by living in the liminal space where God meets us, inviting us to be ready for something even more transformative!

Real Work, Real Treasure

An early photograph of a Rogation Day blessing.

This sermon was preached at St. John's Church, Decatur, AL on the second Rogation Day—the Tuesday before Ascension Day. The readings, which inspired the sermon were the following: 
Ecclesiasticus 38:27-32
Psalm 107:1-9
1 Corinthians 3:10-14
Matthew 6:19-24

On the three days before Ascension we celebrate Rogation Days. The Latin word rogatio means “to ask.” During the Fifth Century a bishop in France yearned for his congregation to fast and pray to ward off any impending disasters. Thus these days emerged. Over the years they have evolved into days of supplication when we ask God to supply our needs. Historically that meant agriculture with priests walking the bounds of the geographical parish to speak a litany while blessing the crops. More recently the focus has shifted.

In our current Prayer Book the Rogation Days have themes of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, and Stewardship of Creation. Today being the second of the Rogation Days points us to Commerce and Industry. On this day we pray for and hear readings about these ways of working.

In Ecclesiasticus, we were reminded that artisans, smiths, and potters relied upon their hands to create work. The Psalm focused on the goodness that God produced in the lands to quench thirst and satiate hunger. Paul urged those in Corinth to build not with destructible materials, but with ones that would last. All of these words provide wisdom about how we create, build, and work in this world, but Jesus’ words from Matthew tell us of what economy truly matters.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” On a day when the Church asks God’s blessing upon our work, these words remind us of our ultimate work. We are called by God to work for the building up of God’s reign, not our own wealth. How do we go about this in a world and a country so dedicated to creating wealth?

In some ways the world Jesus knew was not unlike our own. He may have lived in the rural area of Galilee, but he knew the day’s global economic system. He viewed how the Roman Empire and the religious elite made money off the backs of the poor. Whether it was money changers exploiting Temple sacrifices, Pharisees fleecing widows, or husbands leaving their wives divorced and penniless, Jesus observed that the love of wealth—not wealth itself—was rooted in evil. And, he pointed out the ways through which the rich took advantage of the poor. Thus, he spoke his warning: do not store for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Still, this warning only gives us half of the equation.

How do we take part in God’s economy? How do we build up treasure not on earth, but in heaven? In previous generations on this day, people would fast, hence the purple penitential color. They did so because they thought that God would bless them for this practice. While fasting has its own spiritual benefits, if we take on this practice because we think God will bless us (here or in heaven) we have it mixed up. Someone wiser than me (the Rev. Robert Wisnewski) told me this sort of spiritual growth—the building up of heavenly treasure—is like making coleslaw not taking something away.

Often we think that the way we grow closer to God is through getting rid of something we deem as bad. I don’t think it’s impossible to follow this path of finding balance, but the analogy of making coleslaw appears more tasty and fruitful. When we want to give more time to God, when we want to store up our wealth in heaven, we would do well to add more of certain ingredients—like when one creates the right balance with coleslaw.

Coleslaw requires chopped cabbage, maybe carrots, perhaps some onion, mayonnaise, a bit of vinegar, and a few spices. When one of those ingredients is out of whack one cannot remove it from the rest. Instead, one must add a little more of the others to create balance. So it is with our spiritual treasure. We may think, I really need to stop doing this thing—and that can definitely be the case. But, adding a much needed ingredient can have a transforming effect that allows us to focus on building up treasure in heaven not here on earth.

Another way of looking at this is how we spend our time, our energy, and our talent. Each month at St. John’s we celebrate a different stewardship focus. This month is the stewardship of time. How do we spend our time? In thinking of my own response I was reminded of two common ways we pray.

First, the liturgy. Liturgy means the work of the people. Our common work is to pray. If we spend our time together praying we quite often discover new ways to build up our treasure.

Second, the Daily Office. We call those prayer services in our Book of Common Prayer the Daily Office because that is where we are called individually and collectively to work. Again our work is prayer.

We may think we do not have time for these prayerful practices, but often when we add these ingredients other parts of life get balanced, like with coleslaw. Our work is of critical importance. But, if we are to take part in God’s economy we will focus on building up treasure not here, but in heaven. We start this by doing the work of prayer as we listen to God, ask God for our needs, and praise God for the response, which is our lives.

Where do you belong?

Why do more and more people feel alone?

Every so often a very powerful moment will surface from the depths of my memory. One such remembering happened recently, and it took me back to the midst of my wife’s and my wedding reception. We were on the dance floor among beloved family and friends. Kim and I had met these wonderful people across our entire lives in different times and places. We had gotten to know them for so many various reasons. And, what strikes me from this memory is that even though all of these people may not have known each other before, in that moment they all seemed to belong together, we all felt as though we belonged together.

Fast forward from when that memory was made almost two years ago to now. I have heard from several of those beloved people who were out on that dance floor that they currently feel disconnected. Perhaps it is because of an illness, the death of a family member, a divorce, a job transition, or something else, but so many people close to me have expressed a perceived sensation of isolation. They feel that they do not belong where they are.

This belief that one is disconnected does not appear to be just something people close to me are experiencing. A recent study by Cigna, the health service corporation, found that many Americans and especially young adults are lonely. Certainly this is not about being alone. Solitude is a fantastic practice that can bring insight and connection to all that is beyond us, while on the other hand loneliness is quite an unappealing other side to the alone coin. Quickly let’s look at the difference between these two.

Solitude is a time when one chooses to be alone. This could be at a hermitage or retreat center or even just an intentional morning at home. It allows for the clutter of one’s regular life to die down enough to feel that deep connection with the Divine One who connects us all. Loneliness alternatively is an involuntary feeling of disconnection. Even when one is around others one will still feel detached. Feeling lonely long term can lead to dangerous health issues, like depression, diabetes, or heart disease. So, what does one do? How does one combat loneliness?

The Gospel reading we will hear on Sunday comes from John 17 when Jesus is about to depart from his friends—a moment when he or they might feel alone. His words to his friends on that night long ago were comforting though, and they are still comforting to this day—even if they are a little heady. Jesus spoke of God’s joy being in his followers, their connection to God through him, and that they belong to something greater than this world. But what about us? How might we feel that connection? How might we not succumb to sensations of loneliness or isolationism? I think the answer might come from connecting the past with the present and the future.

For many generations various aspects of people’s lives have been woven intricately together. Their homes, their work, and their religious community have all been interwoven. In the last few generations though, we have become more disconnected from the intersection of these various areas, which has detached us from creating a more rooted sense of community.
Now certainly there has been good from this, in particular people have expanded their view to see beyond the regional, as we all notice how connected we are globally. However, looking at my own life I notice that I feel most disconnected when I am not grounded in a life that celebrates the interwoven tapestry of home, life, and religion in community. Why is that?

I do not presume to speak for everyone, but when I have tried to replace deep, time-tested ways of connecting with a novel approach I do not feel the same sense of community. Every now and then in seminary when I would have a Sunday off, I would watch a soccer match with friends at an Irish pub in Austin. Going to watch those matches brought a great sense of excitement. In that moment I felt connected with something larger than myself, but it lacked a certain sense of rootedness. It was not, I believe, the same as belonging to a community that practices unconditional love.

Jesus invites us into belonging. We all belong to God. Through God’s love we belong, as that love transforms us into God’s beloveds. The Church, when it is at its best helps me to know that I am not alone, that I belong to this community and to the source of this community. My way of worship and being part of the Church is not for everyone, but I am not sure if having brunch or going to the park or binge-watching a TV show will ever provide a deep sense that we belong to the One that units us all. You may be thinking, “You’re a priest, of course you feel that way.” Still, what Jesus invites us into knowing is that through God’s love—the love that Jesus himself exemplified most clearly in loving us even through betrayal, torture, and death—we all belong to something much greater than our singular selves.

Loneliness is a serious and dangerous issue in this day and age. Feeling a connection to life beyond our individual selves provides a salve for any soul that feels alone. God through Christ Jesus shows us that all of us belong to God, as God loves each of us into being and loves each of us into being God’s beloveds.