Third Sunday After Epiphany: Job Description

1/24

The blizzard (photo by Zejlko Mirkovic)

It is the morning after the blizzard. Public transportation has resumed. Still the snow is deep, I’m not expecting many to brave the snow and cold, though the sun s shining, reflecting off the blanket of white.

Last night was the last night of Antigona, by Noche Flamenca. Marking a real artistic achievement. As I told the cast, we have had a vision   of making this a place where dreams come true. And they have done that.  Extra special because of the blizzard. When I was at work yesterday, about every two minutes, I was answering a question about whether the show was still or not. (One call literally said because of the gizzard..) Some angry, some excited. The idea was that the show would be performed for whoever showed up.

The show would go on....

And the house was about 2/3 full…

The night was eerily beautiful and quiet.  No buses, traffic noises. People walking ..or skiing …up the street…pulling children on sleds..

Why was the response to the storm so dramatic? As Gary Greengraas said yesterday, when I was a kid, we called this winter..

In our reflections, we’ve had a dual agenda for these last few weeks…watching Jesus learn and grow and looking at the content of our ministry.

We’ve had Jesus in the temple as a boy, Jesus getting baptized and leaving his old life behind, Jesus at the wedding pushed by his mother to perform a miracle. Now Jesus preaching his first sermon. That sermon will announce his self-understanding, his job description, and in this, what the content of our ministry must be.

He reads from the scroll of Isiaah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 

But when you look at the original,Isaiah, you’ll notice there’s one difference…Isiaah includes this:

and the day of vengeance of our God;

Jesus has removed vengeance from the equation. (Like in the Revenant, Hugh Glass remembers the Native American saying that revenge belonged to the creator…)

Jesus Is not here to  start a new religion, or messianic revolution. This messianic era, which he inaugurates, will be of a different nature. And as he says, it has already begun…Someone in my clergy study group pointed out that this is Jesus’ magnificat, his version of Mary’s song which has that same declaration and affirmation of alreadyness… perhaps he heard it as a child…

Our ministry, which we receive at our baptism, and the character of our community is rooted in Jesus’ job description. This is the greater good to which our many gifts are to be used.

But there is also this…

²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

That is the real challenge…especially moving it beyond platitude to reality…

In the end, we are all in this together….

As we discuss the passage, Marsha shares that she feels we need to take some care here. That in our small community, we often pay so much attention to those who may be on the margins, of so many different kinds, that we may miss the inner needs of the quiet, the steady, the those who are always there. (The older brothers, and sisters, as it were….) She has  a point.

Soon our quiet service is over. Back into the snow. A quiet Sunday afternoon ahead….

SECOND READING 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31A

¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot would say,"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But strive for the greater gifts.

GOSPEL LUKE 4:14-21

¹⁴Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

¹⁶When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." ²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Second Sunday after Epiphany: What are your gifts?

 1/17

We’re back in the chapel. It’s cozier there. Eric’s back again, it’s been good having him with us. We read the passage from First Corinthians , 12: 1-11 and then the Wedding in Cana story from John 2: 1-11 in a readers’ theatre style. Then it’s time for reflection.

A lot can happen in a week or so…

* A musician and his wife race to the hospital only to discover that the child they waited for with anticipation for 9 months is already dead. The sadness of that is almost too much or me to imagine.

* David Bowie dies. Even though he’s a musician I never fully “got”, I can see that the internet is filled with eulogies. My oldest son posts his own tribute and I learn something I didn’t know before. About a difficult teen year and what this artist meant to anyone who felt different or “alien.”

* A father shares with me the challenges of a young teenaged daughter trying to figure out where she fits on the gender line. He introduces her to David Bowie and she is amazed.

*My own first grandchild is born in Berlin. And I am reminded what I forgot …that every child is a gift of the grace of life.

* A good friend of mine, a colleague in study and witness, must go to the hospital and lose a kidney. Another friend of mine from Germany is now freed from dialysis  because a beloved  friend gave up one of his own kidneys.

* Our friends from Noche perfomed Antigona for 250 high school students from the Bronx. And the hip hop kids completely responded to flamenco.

* One of the Noche dancers is being trained by the son of a flamenco dancer I knew 40 years ago in the hills of Northern New Mexico,,,,

What we’re talking about this week is gifts. All these little vignettes involve gifts at some level or other…artists, healers, friends….

Let’s look at Paul’s list….first remembering that all these are gifts of the Spirit, given for the common good..

* The utterance of wisdom….. and to another the utterance of knowledge

* We need people who know how to do things, but we need people who know why to do things. Both are important. These gifts need each other. We need people who press for the bottom line and those who know when true value goes beyond dollars. Without the one we simply don’t survive, without the other, we are no longer who we are. Wisdom and knowledge are not the same thing…we need both to be in dialogue with one another.

*Faith. It’s not always easy. Not everyone can have it. At least all the time. Paul’s words recognize that and remind us. But we always need a critical number who believe it can happen, that we can do it….it will happen, in God’s time, and that the victory is already won.

*Healing. Doctors and nurses are the healing hands of God. Others bring prayers and healing words. Others do the listening that allows healing to begin.

*Working of miracles. We need those with us who can do the impossible. Who can do what no one believes can be done. Who are willing to try.  The very fact that our doors are still open here is thanks to a small and dedicated group of miracle workers.

* Prophecy. Those who can see what’s coming down the road if we don’t change course. Those who are brave enough to speak truth to power and those who can organize prophetic action, effective action.  Those who pass out loaves and fishes and those who train bakers and fishers.

*Discernment of Spirits. Those who get it. Who can feel rightly the gift of others. I had a friend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bishop Thomas Smith. Of the Church of the Living God. I knew he had a conservative theology to go with his rigorous social ethic. For one of his revivals, he invited one of our colleagues, Rabbi Charles Sherman, to speak. I knew how closely Thomas guarded his pulpit so I asked him why he invited Charles. I have the gift of discerning Spirits. And there is one spirit, he said. And the Holy Spirit has shown me that Charles is of the spirit. And that’s why he’s in my pulpit.

*Tongues. To speak other languages. To other cultures. I’m not just talking ethnicity and national origin, you know? Thee are all kind of cultures and communities in this city. This is where artists come in: Speaking the WORD without WORDS.

*Interpretation of tongues. Those who can hear the various languages being spoken and help others understand. Those who are translators, the readers of signs…. Helping us understand one another.

The gospel story yet another in the series that could be called Jesus learns and grows.. from the teen-aged boy in the temple to the man at baptism called out from the life he’d been living for 30 years  to the young man called by his mother to use his gifts…

So what are your gifts? Which one are you? What do you contribute to the common good? May the Spirit help us with discernment of that question…today..and every day…

Biggest thing to remember, often these gifts work best in dialectic….but still, even in dialogue, there is  ONE SPIRIT…

Amen.

I ask for us to consider, talk about our gifts. I realize how hard it is for some of our people to own their gifts. Like Leila with her artistry and esthetics. Her creativity and sense of beauty. Or Dion with his cheerful spirit and willingness to do whatever is necessary. I remind him of how much it lifts me when I see him when I arrive on Sundays.  Or John, who truly is in service to others in caring ways.  I remind him that  he’s the essence of the traditional meaning  of Deacon. And Rachel. I remind her that she was  nurse. And how much she did for others. Reflecting  on being 94 she says, but it’s all gone now. And I said, but not  your heart. We still feel your care and concern for us. It lifts  me, strengthens me, just to see you here.  (I saw her this morning outside approaching from an unexpected direction. When I asked her about this,  she said that sometimes she like to walk around the block just to see what's going on.  She is a real New Yorker.) I think of John walking her home every Sunday. And so many others…gifts. All.

We say our prayers. Sing our songs. Our amens. And it’s time to go back into  the world.

SECOND READING 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-11

¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ²You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. ³Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. ⁷To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.¹¹All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

John 2:1-11 The Voice (VOICE)

2 Three days later, they all went to celebrate a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was invited ² together with Him and His disciples. ³ While they were celebrating, the wine ran out; and Jesus’ mother hurried over to her son.

Mary: The host stands on the brink of embarrassment; there are many guests, and there is no more wine.

Jesus: ⁴ Dear woman, is it our problem they miscalculated when buying wine and inviting guests? My time has not arrived.

⁵ But she turned to the servants.

Mary: Do whatever my son tells you.

⁶ In that area were six massive stone water pots that could each hold 20 to 30 gallons.^[a]They were typically used for Jewish purification rites. ⁷ Jesus’ instructions were clear:

Jesus: Fill each water pot with water until it’s ready to spill over the top; ⁸ then fill a cup, and deliver it to the headwaiter.

They did exactly as they were instructed. ⁹ After tasting the water that had become wine, the headwaiter couldn’t figure out where such wine came from (even though the servants knew), and he called over the bridegroom in amazement.

Headwaiter: ¹⁰ This wine is delectable. Why would you save the most exquisite fruit of the vine? A host would generally serve the good wine first and, when his inebriated guests don’t notice or care, he would serve the inferior wine. You have held back the best for last.

¹¹ Jesus performed this miracle, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee. They did not know how this happened; but when the disciples and the servants witnessed this miracle, their faith blossomed.

Second Sunday After Christmas/Epiphany:......WORD.......

1/3/16

The gifts of the Magi

I arrive at church ready to wait for Pat and Larry to arrive and decorate only to be surprised that the stage is already set. Dion apparently stayed after Antigona finished last night and set things up.  And I breathe a little easier. 

The stage is set

We are small again. But it lifts my spirits to see Eric from the Noche family back again.

After reading the story of the Magi in Matthew, I share my own little bottles of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Remember past celebrations of El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos in this place.  And after singing We Three Kings, it’s time for reflection.

We are three days into the new year. I’m guessing more than a few resolutions bit the dust already….but we’re still at THE BEGINNING….as we are every year at this time…a new beginning…so John 1 is a good place to BEGIN…

In the beginning was the WORD…echoes Genesis 1….God says it and it IS….

What does that mean?

For my kids' generation, when someone  says something you agree with, the response is WORD…I have a friend in Washington Heights…down the street from the Presbyterian Deli, I love that….she’s on the board of a coop called WORD UP Bookstore…they tutor, they do workshops, open mics, readings…a completely community based store. As for WORD UP,  it means I totally comprehend what you’re saying, doing…in Greek, it’s almost the same, logos....the ultimate inherently visible  logical reality….

In open mics now we have singers and we have spoken WORD…which is poetry or story or improve or rap without music…like my friend Joel Gold with his 1950’s beat improv…and our man Dion does spoken WORD…stand up, another form

John says, In the beginning was the WORD….

If Christmas is about incarnation, John’s Christmas story is about the WORD becoming FLESH….a WORD that is LIGHT in the darkness….

We speak about the Bible as the Word of God…and Jesus is the living WORD….

What am I up to here?

In my tradition, I’m now called a Teaching Elder…I used to be called a minister of WORD and Sacrament…when I preach I bring the WORD…

We Protestants tend to think in didactic ways…we tend to use music and art  to illustrate the WORD, like pictures in a children’s Bible…but in  fact, a work of art is its own WORD…

Something like Noche’s Antigona doesn't illustrate anything, it simply is. It is it’s own WORD to be in dialogue with the Bible’s WORD or my WORD…and when you see Soledad dance, it doesn't symbolize anything…like you can't take a painting and say, What does this part here mean?  It just IS…You see Soledad dance and all you can say is YES…or, as the kids say, WORD…WORD is given, TRUTH is told.

Which is why it’s appropriate to epiphany…literally

·    Epiphany means: a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ or…

·    : a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way

You see, it’s the same thing…you SEE something and all of a sudden you GET It…like a light switch goes on…

That’s what it was with Jesus apparently…..people saw it….they got it

St. Francis said ….preach often, use words when necessary

When I see you, I see the WORD. When Dion visits with the homeless people or John walks Rachel home or when Kate and Hope and Marsha serve a meal at a shelter….you see it, you know it….

That’s what I long for, ache for …to be a community that is a living WORD…that when seen is like an epiphany where we see what is is to be WORD…

And that my friends, is  my word for today.

And for our offertory, I play, what else:

                                                                        The WORD

We will pray. And celebrate Eucharist, another visible WORD.  We will hear a WORD of peace, and then out into the world…

"The Word"

Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, love

In the beginning I misunderstood
But now I've got it, the word is good

Spread the word and you'll be free
Spread the word and be like me
Spread the work I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, love

Everywhere I go I hear it said
In the good and bad books that I have read

Say the word and you'll be free
Say the word and be like me
Say the word I'm thinking of
Have you heard the word is love?
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, love

Now that I know what I feel must be right
I'm here to show everybody the light

Give the word a chance to say
That the word is just the way
It's the word I'm thinking of
And the only word is love
It's so fine, it's sunshine
It's the word, love

Say the word, love
Say the word, love
Say the word, love
Say the word, love

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own,^[b] and his own people^[c] did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him,who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born,not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^[d] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God,^[e] who is at the Father's side,^[f] he has made him known.