[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 10B - Part 2

[Joe Parrish]

[Part 2]


Out of the strange life of one of God’s greatest prophets, what’s the message for us?  Here are five thoughts:
1)      John didn’t follow the crowd and neither should we.  Don’t worry what everyone expects you to do.  Instead, be true to yourself and your Christian values- especially “Love one another as much as I have loved you.
2)      Be careful about judging people by their appearances- these days: tattoos, piercings, drooping pants, hair, etc.  Look, if John the Baptist walked in here right now, I’m here to tell you that we’d probably get a little nervous because (to put it mildly) he’d look different.  Actually, we’d probably wonder if we had a crazy man in here!  If we didn’t take him seriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in the Bible.  Remember, Jesus comes to us in other people. (“Whatever you do to the least of these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”) Don’t diminish anyone just because of how he looks or talks or what she wears.
3)      We love second chances for ourselves.  As God has given us many second chances, so must we do the same for others.
4)      Watch those promises.  Be careful about making them, and if you realize you’ve made an unloving one- face up to it and risk looking foolish, but don’t keep it. Love, not honor, is our Christian expectation.
5)      If you meet people who aren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,” be kind. Remember, even John had his doubts when times were hard and he was in prison.
 
May God bless us as we try to faithfully follow our Lord in this difficult world.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan
    
   
 
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