[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sunday's sermon

[Joseph Parrish]

Forwarded:


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
> Date: November 27, 2010 8:07:20 PM EST
> To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sunday's sermon
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> Dear Friends,
> 
> Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” or
> “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” and deals with the gospel (Matthew 26:
> 36-44).  Here it is:
> 
> I know you’re wondering if I’ve lost my mind, wishing you a happy new
> year when it’s only November 28th.  Today IS New Year’s Day- for the
> church.  Four Sundays before ChristMass begins the new church year
> (Eucharistic Lectionary Cycle A).  The brand new season is Advent,
> with its color of purple or blue (we use purple).  Advent means
> coming, and this is the time when we prepare for Jesus’ coming- his
> first and his second.  Advent lasts four weeks, and each Sunday has a
> theme: the first Sunday- peace; the second Sunday- hope; the third
> Sunday- joy; and the fourth Sunday- love.  We’ve got four weeks to get
> ready for Jesus’ coming- as a baby in Bethlehem and his second coming
> to judge the world, i.e. us.  It’s so easy just think about “Silent
> Night” and not to be concerned about the second coming- after all,
> he’s waited 2,000 years- it’s easy to figure he’ll wait a few thousand
> more, and who knows?  The problem is- there are two aspects of the
> second coming.  One is as the angel prophesied- Jesus returning from
> the clouds in like manner as he ascended (that’s the “someday”
> aspect).  The other, however, is our own personal death when we meet
> Jesus as our savior and judge.  So, you see, it really doesn’t make
> any difference if we are alive when Jesus returns or not, we will
> still experience our own personal second coming, and, you know what?
> We’d better be ready.  You know the song, “You’d better watch out!
> You’d better not cry.  You’d better not pout- I’m telling you why-
> Santa Claus is coming to town.”  My friends, forget about Santa Claus,
> because Jesus is coming- we don’t know when, but he IS coming.  Did
> you hear the story about Satan teaching three apprentice devils how to
> be successful at tempting humans?  He asked each one his plan.  The
> first devil said he would try to convince people that God didn’t
> exist.  “That won’t work!” responded Satan, “because everyone really
> knows he does exist.”  “Well,” said the second devil, “I’ll tell them
> that hell isn’t real.”  “That won’t work either,” said Satan, since
> most humans have already experienced it.  What will you do?” he asked
> the third devil.  “Well,” said the third devil, “my plan is to tell
> them that there’s no hurry.”  “Go,” said Satan, “and you will ruin
> them by the thousands!”  So, when are you going to die?  Well then,
> listen to the gospel and be ready.
> 
> Our focus this Sunday is “Peace.”  Jesus said, “Blessed are the
> peacemakers, for they shall be called God’s children.”  Are you
> ready?  Are you a peacemaker or a peacebreaker?  You heard today’s Old
> Testament lesson (Isaiah 2: 4): “He will settle arguments between
> nations.  They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and
> shovels; they will never make war or attack one another.”  We don’t
> use swords and spears much these days, but we surely do use our
> mouths.
> 
> Be a peacemaker.  Are you quick-tempered?  Use the power of God to
> tame that evil temper.  When you feel your temperature rising, walk
> away, shut your mouth, put your fists into your pockets, and wait.  Go
> for a walk, dance, listen to music, exercise, talk to someone- do
> anything to calm your spirit until the adrenaline in your blood stream
> drains.  Then solve the problem.
> 
> Be a peacemaker.  Are you sharp-tongued?  Give that critical spirit to
> God.  Use your tongue to bless, not curse.  A good rule of thumb that
> I learned (actually re-learned) from a friend is “Criticize and
> discipline in private.  Praise in public.”
> 
> Be a peacemaker.  Do you have an unforgiving spirit?  Do you always
> have to have the last word?  Do you give people the silent treatment?
> Are you an “I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget” person?  Drop it.
> Give that person to God.
> 
> Be a peacemaker- don’t buy war toys or violent games for your children
> or grandchildren, especially on the birthday of the prince of peace.
> 
> Be a peacemaker.  Stand up for justice.  I’ve heard many of us
> concerned about school violence.  Often (not always, but frequently)
> the cause of a tragic school episode is because of bullying that has
> gone on for years.  What happens?  The victim has had enough and
> finally “snaps,” becoming the victimizer.  Every time I hear about
> this, I wonder where all the Christians are.  How in the world could
> Christians, whether they’re students, teachers, the janitor, the
> principal, whoever…, how could they allow such injustice around them
> and be silent, yet they say they the Prince of Peace is their Lord!
> Whenever you encounter injustice, speak up.  Stand up to injustice.
> Peace without justice is simply repression.  It’s deceptive.  It’s
> like a pressure cooker- seems quiet until the lid blows off.
> 
> How do you go about being a peacemaker?  By doing what Jesus said and
> loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself- and this even
> includes your enemy- he or she is your neighbor too.  Paul’s
> definition of love from 1st Corinthians 13: 4-8 is the best I’ve ever
> seen.  You know it.  It goes: “Love is kind and patient, never
> jealous, boastful, proud, or rude (that even counts when we’re
> driving).  Love isn't selfish or quick tempered.  It doesn't keep a
> record of wrongs that others do.  Love rejoices in the truth, but not
> in evil.  Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
> Love never fails!”  If we do these things, we will be peacemakers.
> 
> I’m going to close with a true story I’ve told every Advent for a
> number of years.  I got it from one of my Internet friends who is a
> Roman Catholic priest.  He heard it on the radio and shared it with
> his friends.  There was a woman who was out Christmas shopping with
> her two children. After enduring rude, aggressive drivers; after many
> hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else
> imaginable and hearing both her children asking for everything they
> saw on those many shelves; after watching people elbow others out of
> the way, she and the kids finally made it to the elevator.  She was
> feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season-
> overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste
> all the holiday food and treats, buy that perfect gift for every
> single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone
> on our card list, etc.  Finally the elevator doors opened and there
> was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way in and dragged her
> two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed
> she couldn't take it anymore and stated, “Whoever started this whole
> Christmas thing should be found, strung up, and shot.”  From the back
> of the car, everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, “Don't worry,
> we already crucified him.”  For the rest of the trip down the
> elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
> 
> My prayer for us is that we not crucify Jesus again with our choices
> this ChristMass.  May we not argue or complain.  May we not fight or
> say cruel things to someone acting as if they’re our enemy.  May we be
> peacemakers, not peacebreakers.  May we not spend more than we can
> afford or encourage our children to be greedy.  May we not get so
> frantically worried or rushed that we don’t take time for Jesus.  My
> prayer for us is that we remember ChristMass is Jesus’ birthday and
> Jesus is the reason for the season.  Amen.
> 
> For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
> wisdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
> is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
> 
> Blessed preaching.
> Judy Boli
> St. Paul's Episcopal Church
> Saginaw, Michigan
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20101127/b2cc1f21/attachment-0001.htm>