[Propertalk] Fwd: Draft of Sunday's Sermon and Updated African-American Wisdom Statements

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:
Note #33170 from JUDY BOLI to PROPERTALK:

ear Friends,
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Pride, in Other Words- Arrogance” or "I’ll Do It My 
ay!” and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is:
Pride is the subject of two of our Bible readings for today.  Talk about 
onfusion!  Pride is listed as one of the seven deadly sins, and yet how many 
imes have I told a child, "Stand tall and proud!  You can do it!"  Am I really 
eaching our children to sin?  I surely hope not!  Actually, the word "pride" is 
ulti-meaning.  Let’s think through this most confusing and potentially 
ife-destroying sin.
First, let’s see what pride is and is not.  The opposite of pride is humility- 
nd that makes it worse, because our culture defines humility as passively 
aking what life throws at us, thinking we are nothing- "I’m a worm!" kind of 
hinking.  That kind of humility is not Christian.  In fact it is sinful.  God 
xpects us to take control of our lives, be the best we can be- not believe in 
he power of "fate."  He created us in his image- so we are surely not 
nothings."  After all- God doesn’t make junk!  We are children of the King- the 
reator of the universe; we are princes and princesses!  Christian humility is 
iving our reality- being who we are- no more and no less.  Now let’s look at 
pride."  The Contemporary English Version of the Bible translates "pride" as 
arrogance"- pretending to be more than we are, better than other people.  The 
riter of Ecclesiasticus (10:7) reminds us that "Arrogance and injustice are 
ated by both the Lord and humans."  People who are !
arrogant see themselves as little (or not so little) gods.  We heard Jesus 
ondemn the arrogance of those guests who assumed that they were better than 
veryone else and therefore the best seats at the banquet were due them.  Let me 
ell you a story that illustrates arrogance.  
Little Leroy came into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner. His 
irthday was coming up, and he thought this was the perfect time to tell his 
other that he wanted a bike for his tenth birthday.  Now the only problem was- 
ittle Leroy had not made life easy for his mother, father, teacher, preacher, 
rother, sister, or anybody else.  If there was trouble to be made, he made it.  
f there was mischief to be done, he did it.  You catch on- he hadn’t been the 
est child he could be this last year.  When his mother asked if he really 
hought he deserved a big present like a bike, he lied and said of course he 
id.  Leroy's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted Leroy to reflect on his 
ehavior over the last year. She told him to go to his room and think about how 
e behaved this year. Then she told him to write a letter to God and tell him 
hy he deserved a bike for his birthday.  Little Leroy stomped up the steps to 
is room and sat down to write God a letter.
Letter 1: Dear God, I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a 
ike for my birthday. I want a red one.  Your friend, Leroy  (Leroy knew that 
his wasn't true. He had not been a very good boy this year, so he tore up the 
etter and started over.)
Letter 2: Dear God, I have been an "OK" boy this year. I still would really like 
 bike for my birthday. Sincerely, Leroy (Leroy knew he could not send this 
etter to God either. So he wrote a third letter.)
Letter 3: God, I know I haven't been a good boy this year. I am very sorry. I 
ill be a good boy if you just send me a bike for my birthday.  Please!  Thank 
ou, Leroy.  (Leroy knew, even if it were true, that this letter was not going 
o get him a bike. Now Leroy was very upset. He went downstairs and told his mom 
hat he wanted to go to church. Leroy's mother thought her plan had worked, as 
eroy looked very sad. "Just be home in time for dinner," she told him.)
Leroy walked down the street to the church on the corner.  Little Leroy went 
nto the church and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was 
here. Leroy bent down and picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary. He slipped it 
nder his shirt and ran out of the church, down the street, into the house, and 
p to his room. He shut the door to his room and sat down with a piece of paper 
nd a pen. Then Leroy wrote his letter to God.
Letter 4: God, I'VE GOT YOUR MAMA. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE!  
igned, YOU KNOW WHO!
Little Leroy really wasn’t living in the real world, was he?!  Actually, our 
ociety inundates us with arrogance, misnaming it as pride.  You can recognize 
t by the attitude that says: "If I want it, I deserve it, so I’m going to get 
t"  "If it feels good do it; if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it."  "The rules 
ere made for other people, not me."  "Don’t get in my way!"  Real life 
xamples:
.	Any government that gets its people in a war for one reason, then keeps 
hanging the reason soldiers are fighting seemingly to avoid admitting a 
istake;
.	Remember Senator John Edwards who paraded around as if he were the perfect 
nd supportive husband of his wife, Elizabeth (struggling with breast cancer), 
hile he lied about his affair and subsequent out-of-wedlock child by a lover;
.	People who have finally quit smoking/ drinking/doping/etc. and then bad-mouth 
hose who are still stuck in a habit;
.	Gang members who casually take life.  Who created that life?
.	Anyone who responds to anger with violence, especially deadly violence;
.	A person who breaks up with someone, yet expects that person not to date 
nyone else.
.	Drivers who park where they want, drive how they want, and then- when caught, 
omplain that the system is unfair;
.	And then- there is one of the over-riding sins of our society- what is racism 
or sexism or any "ism") if not arrogance?
The trouble with arrogance is- it’s so contagious.  Remember when Jesus told his 
isciples, “I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as 
nakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10: 16).  He might as well have been 
alking to us.  Don’t allow yourself to be swept into arrogant fantasy thinking.  
emember last week’s sermon?  Stay centered in reality.  Remember- God is in 
harge.  You ARE God’s gift to the world- so serve God and your neighbor well.  
n the words of our opening hymn, “Forget about yourself and concentrate on Him 
nd worship Him.”  Stay strong.  Stay focused.  Coaches continually tell their 
layers to maintain discipline.  Well, maintain discipline.  Show your respect 
or God by the way you worship, the way you live, and the choices you make.  
inally, you won’t find better advice for living a reality-oriented life than in 
oday’s reading from Hebrews (13: 1-8): “Keep being concerned about each other 
s the LORD’S followers!
 should.  Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some 
eople have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.  Remember the 
ORD’S people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don't forget those who 
re suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.  Have respect for 
arriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who 
s immoral or unfaithful in marriage.  Don't fall in love with money. Be 
atisfied with what you have. The LORD has promised that he will not leave us or 
esert us.  That should make you feel like saying, ‘The LORD helps me! Why 
hould I be afraid of what people can do to me?’  Don't forget about your 
eaders who taught you God's message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and 
ry to have faith like theirs.  Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same 
esterday, today, and forever.”
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom 
tatements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address is: 
ttp://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli 
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan
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