[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 3C

[joeparrish]

Forwarded;


From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

-------- Original message --------
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> 
Date:  
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 3C 
 
Dear Friends,

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Jesus’ First Sermon” or “Jubilee”
and deals with the epistle (1st Corinthians 12: 1-11) and the gospel
(Luke 4: 14-21).  Here it is:

I remember the first sermon I ever preached here at St. Paul’s.  It
was some 30 years ago, and it started: “Today is Theological Education
Sunday here at St. Paul’s.”  I don’t need to tell you that a few more
sentences into the sermon, most of the congregation was looking out of
the window or gazing at me with sleepy, half-closed eyes- not a great
start as a preacher!  Well, we just heard Jesus first sermon, and it
almost got him thrown off a cliff!  He read from the prophet Isaiah,
and basically said- “Jubilee is starting NOW in your hearing!”  Why
didn’t those ancient people want Jubilee to start?  Because they had
too much to lose.  Near the beginning of their walk with God as his
chosen people, God told the Israelites that every 50th year was to be
a Jubilee year to remind them that everything on this planet belongs
to him, not us.  Therefore, in the Jubilee year- slaves would be freed
and all property would be returned to the original owner, thus
establishing a second chance for everyone who had messed up to fix up-
all over the land.  Now we hear Jesus saying that he came to proclaim
the great news that prisoners could claim their freedom (do you know
anyone enslaved to anything?), the blind could finally open their eyes
and see (do you know anyone who is blinded by something?), those who
suffer have healing offered to them (know any sufferers?), and those
who need a second chance- here it is.  If you wonder about this, go
back and read Leviticus 25 and Isaiah 42.

What are the implications of this for us, if we are going to be true
to our Lord?   When Jesus ascended back to heaven, he left us with the
responsibility of completing his mission- bringing all people to him
for salvation and a fresh, new start at real life through him.  That’s
not just US, that’s specifically YOU!  I can imagine you thinking-
“Not me- I don’t have any talents!”  If you’re even beginning to think
this, remember the basic teaching of the epistle (1st Corinthians
12:12-27): we are all part of the Body of Christ, and every single one
of us has needed talents to share with the church to bring people to
wholeness and new life in Jesus.  If you find yourself thinking- “She
can’t mean me!  I’m too sinful,” check out our Old Testament lesson
(Nehemiah 8: 1-10).  Its basic teaching is- NO ONE is too sinful to be
used by God.  It’s not where you’ve been that’s important; it’s where
you’re going that counts.  We truly are the Body of Christ.  Our
hands, feet, mouths, bodies, lives do the Jesus ministry.  It is
entrusted to us.  If we don’t do it, it simply won’t get done.

What are we to do?  The letters in the holy name of Jesus remind us of
some of the basics:

“J” reminds us we are to continue Jesus’ work of establishing Jubilee-
in other words: justice, peace, and a second chance for all God’s
people.

“E” reminds us to evangelize- spread the Word, baptize, and teach.
Remember, in Matthew 28 Jesus reminded us to go to all nations
baptizing and teaching.

“S” is for “strength”- the power, courage, and endurance Jesus offers
through daily reading of His Word, prayer, fellowship, and weekly Holy
Communion.

“US” reminds us that God expects us to be in this together as a team.
The disciples knew Jesus expected them to stick together, which is why
they were all back in that upper room at Pentecost.  One person can’t
be the “Body of Christ.”  Read 1st Corinthians 12, and you’ll se we’re
all expected to be the “Body of Christ” together.  I’m going to close
with a story illustrating why we must stick together.  Do you remember
the story about the mouse and the other animals?  Well- the mouse
overheard the farmer tell his wife that he was installing a brand new,
foolproof mousetrap.  The mouse was so upset that he went running to
the barnyard to get help from the other animals.  When he told the
hen, he got no sympathy whatsoever!  “Don’t bother me, mouse- that’s
your problem; not mine” was the reply.  So he told the pig and got the
same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my problem.”  He even told the cow;
again with the same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my problem.”  That
night as the mouse was sleeping, he heard the mousetrap snap.  A
poisonous snake had gotten his tail caught in the trap.  When the
farmer’s wife went to see what had happened, the snake drew back and
bit her.  Instantly, she started to feel very sick, so she called her
husband.  Now the husband didn’t know anything about medicine, but he
knew that chicken soup cures anything; so he went to the barn, killed
the chicken (remember- it wasn’t her problem), and made some chicken
soup.  Problem- his wife got sicker.  He called the doctor who said he
would come if he could be paid in bacon, so he butchered the pig
(remember- it wasn’t his problem) and paid the doctor in bacon.
Finally, his wife died.  He needed food for the many people who
visited to comfort him, so he killed the cow (remember- it wasn’t her
problem) and started up the grill so everyone could have steak.  The
moral of this story- we’re all in this together.May God bless us all
as we work together to become the Body of Christ here on this corner
and establish Jubilee in every sphere of our lives.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements either is or will be posted on our 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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