[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A

[Joseph Parrish]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
> Date: January 29, 2011 10:42:09 PM EST
> To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A
> Reply-To: propertalk.topic at ecunet.org
> 

> Dear Friends,
> “God’s Way to Happiness” or “Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!” and
> deals with the epistle (Matthew 5: 1-12).  Here it is:
> 
> We just heard Jesus tell how to have a blessed life, which is another
> way to say “a happy life.”  We’d all like a happy life.  What would
> make you happy?  (Listen to a few responses.)  Let me tell you about a
> man who had the chance to get anything he wanted.  This is a story I’m
> repeating from July, 2003.  See if you can remember how it ends.
> Before we start, does anyone know the commercial “I Wish I Was an
> Oscar Mayer Weiner?”  How does it go?  (Get responses.)   Well, here’s
> the story.  A man was walking along the beach when he came across this
> very old oil lamp. The man started to rub it to remove all the ocean
> crud when "poof" a genie appeared.  This genie, like all genies, was
> so happy to be freed of the lamp that he granted the man three
> wishes...  "I wish to be the richest man in the world,” the man said.
> "Man," the genie replied, "It has already happened.”  The man’s wallet
> would hardly fit in his pocket because of all the thousand dollar
> bills.  “Wait until you get your bank statement!” said the genie.  You
> won’t know what to do with all that money!”  What's your second
> wish?"  "Genie”, said the man, “I want a CAR!  In fact, I want the
> most expensive Porsche convertible made: Fire engine red, on board GPS
> and the finest audio system ever installed in an automobile."
> "That’ll work," said the genie.  He waved his hand and the finest car
> anybody had ever seen popped out of the lamp. The genie then asked the
> man for his third wish.  He thought and thought, since he really
> wanted to choose wisely.  After all, this was his last wish, so it had
> to be a good one.   Finally he said, “Genie, I can't think of anything
> now.  May I save the third wish for later?"  "My, that’s unusual,
> responded the genie, but of course you may wait.  Just call me when
> you're ready."  With that, whoosh, the genie disappeared.   The man
> leapt into his fire engine red Porsche convertible, turned on the
> radio with the great audio system and pulled onto the highway.  He had
> the top down, so the wind was whistling through his hair, the sun was
> shining, not another car was on the road, and he was HAPPY- in fact so
> happy that he began to sing along with the great music on his great
> radio.  Up came a commercial, and he continued to sing the old
> familiar tune: “Oh, I wish I was an Oscar-Mayer Wiener...."  Whoosh-
> what a wish!
> 
> A wishing lamp with a genie really won’t make us happy, but God’s way
> will.  Let’s look at the Beatitudes in the bulletin one by one to see
> God’s way: 3 “God blesses those people who depend only on him.  They
> belong to the kingdom of heaven!”  If you think about it, who or what
> else can you really depend on that will never let you down?
> 
> 4: “God blesses those people who grieve.  They will find comfort!”
> Here, we’re talking about those whose hearts are broken by the things
> that break the heart of God.  Are you so in touch with our Lord that
> human pain, misery, injustice, cruelty, ignorance break your heart?
> Practice putting yourself in other’s shoes, so you know how they
> feel.  Then do something about their pain.
> 
> 5: “God blesses those people who are humble.  The earth will belong to
> them!”  You know what this means- be humble- be reality-oriented.
> Live in a real world.  Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.  Don’t
> pretend to know something you don’t know.  Acknowledge your talents-
> they’re from God; compensate for your weaknesses- don’t hide them.  In
> other words- know your spiritual gifts and then develop them.
> 
> 6: “God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or
> drink.  They will be given what they want!”  This is the beatitude
> that really can get to many of us, because we really like to eat.
> Anybody else like that- you can tell what time it is by what our
> stomach is saying?  God needs to come even before food and drink.
> Don’t be a "convenience Christian"- someone who comes to church if it
> isn’t too hot, too cold, too early, too late, too inconvenient because
> they need to cook, they were up late and need to sleep, etc.  Put God
> first if you truly want to be happy.
> 
> 7: “God blesses those people who are merciful.  They will be treated
> with mercy!”  Here’s “what goes around comes around.”  Don’t expect
> God to forgive you if you refuse to forgive your enemy
> 
> 8: “God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see
> him!”  What’s the opposite of pure?  Think in terms of food?  The
> opposite of pure is poisoned.  What poisons the human heart?
> Bitterness, anger, jealousy- all those negatives.  Once we realize
> this, it’s easy to see why a poisoned heart can’t see God- they’d
> never recognize him- not in a neighbor, not in the Bible or in Holy
> Communion, not even in a miracle.  Why?  They’d be too busy
> criticizing the neighbor, the Bible, the church service, and they’d
> think the miracle was an accident!
> 
> 9: “God blesses those people who make peace.  They will be called his
> children!”  Nothing to say here- love (in other words- want what’s
> best for) your enemy.
> 
> 10: “God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right.
> They belong to the kingdom of heaven.”  Somebody, perhaps the Rev. Dr.
> Tony Evans, says- “Those who stand for nothing will fall for
> anything.”  You know what’s right- live it.  Doing so may not be easy,
> may not make you popular, but you’ll have a clear conscience; you’ll
> be able to sleep at night.  Have the courage to stand up for what you
> know is right.
> 
> If you do all these things, what’s in it for you?  Day by day, a
> better life.  In closing, listen to the words Mahatma Gandhi (one of
> Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mentors):
> “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
> Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
> Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your
> habits.
> Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
> Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”
> 
> 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
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