[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 6A (BCP lectionary)

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, May 24, 2014 5:04 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 6A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “I Am the Vine.  You Are the Branches.” and deals with the gospel(John 15: 1-8).  Here it is:
 
The section of the gospel we just heard is part of Jesus’last instructions to his beloved disciples. We just heard Jesus teach his disciples how important it is to stayconnected with Him, because Jesus knows they have huge trials, frustrations,and difficulties to face.  He also knowsthat the future of God’s Kingdom depends on them, so he’s trying to preparethem for what comes next- his torture, execution, rising, ascending, and thecoming of the Holy Spirit..  Jesus knowshow important it is that they avoid getting disconnected from their source ofstrength.  That wasn’t just true for thedisciples back then- it’s just as true for us today, and it’s the theme of ourGospel reading today (John 15: 1-8).  Init, we heard Jesus describe himself as the vine, with us as the branches.  In the altar area, you’ll see three kinds ofplants- some very dead dandelions, a flower from our meditation/healing garden-it’s sitting in some water, and our beautiful altar plants. As you look atthese plants, I challenge you to ask yourself- which one represents you in yourlife?
 
We’ll start with the altar plants.  They are green, vibrant, and healthy.  Compare them to these dead dandelionflowers.  What’s the basic differencebetween them?  The lovely altar plantsare strongly connected to their root systems, so they’re flooded withlife-giving moisture and nutrients.  Theirgreen leaves are open to the bright sunlight, so the chlorophyll can easilyturn all the brilliant light into energy for food and growth.  Their stems are flexible, so they canwithstand wind and harsh weather (if we put them outside)- then bounce rightback up again.  The presence of theseplants on the altar is a lovely reminder of the beauty and power of God’screation.
 
What about the dandelions? They were really pretty when I picked them earlier, that is they werepretty if you like dandelions.  Whathappened between when I picked them and now? You know as well as I do- theywere disconnected from their root systems, so they have lost their source ofnutrients and moisture.  They’redisconnected from their green leaves, so they can’t turn the bright sunlightinto energy.  Separated from the rest ofthe plant, they were pretty for a while, but they soon withered and died.  Before long, they’ll be brittle and dried up-like the palms just before Ash Wednesday last year.  My friends, we are all at risk of thishappening to us.  Jesus says,disconnected from him- we can do nothing, and that’s true.  The longer we stay disconnected- the moreself-centered, the more confused, the more attracted we are to the world.  The problem is- even the best of us can getdisconnected from Jesus.  Sometimes ithappens all at once (a new job, a new baby, a new relationship, depression orhurt feelings by a former friend) and...snip!!! Jesus is put on the back burner- we’re too busy or involved or upset totake time for church or prayers or Bible-reading or helping others.  Other times the process is slow.  We just gradually drift away with other caresor concerns or worries or loves crowding Jesus out.  It’s like the frog in the stew.  If he had simply jumped into the hot pot, hewould have let his little toe touch that burning liquid and he would havejumped right out again.  It didn’t happenthat way.  Instead, he sat in that cool,pleasant water in the pot- not noticing that someone had turned on the fireunder the pan.  Because the watertemperature increased so slowly, he didn’t notice it until it was too late andhe was cooked frog’s legs!  
 
What are some other things that can crowd Jesus out of ourlives and disconnect us from the vine?  Oneof the biggest is television and radio. How can God’s still, small voice break into our hard-headed brain ifhe’s got to get through constant noise?  Watchwhat you choose to see, listen to what you choose to hear, then shut it off andhave some silence in your life.  Don’tmiss church- it’s a holy habit, and when you miss- it’s so easy to slowly driftaway.  I’m sure that’s why thecommandment says, “Honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.”  The usual advice- say your prayers at leastfive times a day and read your Bible or Bible-based literature daily stillholds.  
 
What else can disconnect us from Jesus?  A three-letter-word: SIN!  A sinful attitude (“I can’t,” “I won’t,”); selfishgreediness (“Me first!” and “Gimme!”), sinful relationships, prejudices, loveof things (money, substances, clothes, cars, etc.); an unforgiving spirit; a“better-than-thou” or “I’m-no-good” attitude. Let God prune them out of your life. They stand in the way of true happiness for you and those you love.
 
Did you notice- there’s one more flower?  It’s the flower from the garden- lookinghealthy enough and sitting in a vase of water. How long is it going to last?  Notlong.  It can keep going for a while, butthere are not enough nutrients in the water. It’s not connected to any leaves to produce energy.  It’s not rooted deeply in God’s earth.  That’s how we are when we depend on money,jobs, alcohol, sports, friends to get us through.  They last for a while, but they’re not strongenough in the tough times.
 
Did you hear the story of the man who ordered a newcomputer?  He was so very excited when itfinally came!  He got it out of the box,hooked up all the cables, found the perfect spot on his desk, stood back andadmired it, then turned it on.  Nothinghappened.  He flipped the switch back andforth- NOTHING!  His brand new computerlooked dead.  He was about to put it backin the box and return it to the store when his little son walked in the roomand exclaimed: “Wow, Daddy!  What a greatcomputer!  Aren’t you going to plug itin?”  That’s what God is telling us.  Wow! What a potentially beautiful life- you have so much to enjoy andaccomplish!  Aren’t you going to plugyourself in?”  Think about it.  Amen.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITEunder “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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