[Propertalk] Part 1 - Sermon for Trinity Sunday

Sat May 21 20:38:47 EDT 2016

Forwarded: 

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

-------- Original message --------
From: joeparrish <joeparrish at compuserve.com> 
Date:05/21/2016  6:38 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: "Propertalk at StSams org" <Propertalk at stsams.org> 
Cc: joeparrish at compuserve.com 
Subject: Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Trinity Sunday 

Forward: 

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

-------- Original message --------
From: Judy 
Date:05/21/2016 6:08 PM (GMT-05:00) 
To: Propertalk 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Trinity Sunday 

Dear Friends,

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Trinity Sunday” or “Take Care of My Stuff!” and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is:  

Today is Trinity Sunday.  As of next month, I will have been a priest for 38 years and a deacon for two years before that.  Why am I telling you this?  Because in all that time, most Trinity Sundays I’ve really worked very hard trying to explain what I barely understand myself- the Holy Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  None of us humans get it for the simple reason that our minds are too small to even begin to understand God.  How many times have you heard men complain how they don’t understand their wives or girlfriends?  And ladies, you know we don’t understand the men in our lives!  Well, if we can’t even understand each other, how in the world can we even pretend to understand God?  So today, instead of trying to explain the unexplainable, we are simply going to focus on GOD- our Love, our Delight, our Joy, and how we can show our appreciation and gratitude for all he’s done for us.

Do you remember the true story of the principal, the custodian, and the 12-year-old girls?  According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington D.C. recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom.  That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the custodian would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the custodian.  She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the custodian to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.  Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror (JokesWareHouse.com Joke of the Day).  Looking at his marvelous creation, God must sometimes feel like that custodian. 

Have you looked outside recently?  Everything is green and growing; the flowers are lovely, even the weeds are thriving!  God has placed everything he created under our care to love and to nurture.  Now- look closer.  Have you noticed the mess we have made of this beautiful creation?  Trash and paper and old tires and global warming and polluted streams and burned-out buildings and garbage, garbage, garbage!  I recall the rules I had in my classroom.  I’m sure, Ebony and Reggie, you have similar rules in your classroom:

“If you open it, close it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.

If you break it, fix it.

If you can’t fix it, get someone who can.

If you use it, take care of it.

If it belongs to someone else, get permission before you use it.

If you borrow it, return it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you move it, put it back.

If it doesn’t concern you, don’t mess with it.”

Remember when Jesus asked Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me?”  He asks us the same thing, and you’ve heard the old saying- “Actions speak louder than words.”  If we truly love God, we’ll take care of his stuff.  On this Trinity Sunday, when our focus is on the triune God and how much we love him, here’s a test to check yourself out.

FIRST- How are you doing at managing the small part of God’s earth placed under your care?  Here’s your test: Look at your yard.  Does it look like you care about it, or is it full of junk, litter, overgrown grass, and bare spots where flowers or grass should be growing?  I can just hear you now- “It’s not my lawn!  It’s not my back yard!  I rent, and I’m not doing anything for that cheap landlord!”  Or- if you own your own home, it’s easy to say- “This land is mine.  I can do with it as I choose!”  Do you remember the story of the scientists who decided to challenge God to a “Make-a-Human” contest?  As you recall, they reasoned their knowledge level was so great that they could make a person at least as easily and competently as God could.  God, being the loving Creator that he is, let them go first.  The scientists got in a huddle, laughed, and then scooped up a handful of dirt.  “Wait a minute!” said God.  “Get your hands off my dirt!”  God tells you the same thing.  “Wait a minute.- that’s my dirt!”  Did your landlord create that front yard?  If you own your own home, did you create your back yard?  I think not.  Your landlord doesn’t own that land; you don’t own that land; God owns that land and we’re the managers taking care of it for God.  Can people look at your front yard, your back yard, the roads you travel- and tell you love God by how carefully you care for his art work?  If not, you’re flunking one of your spiritual tests- so far.  What to do?  When you get home, take a hard look at where you live, especially the outside area.  What’s ugly?  Fix it.  Put some grass and flower seeds down, pick up the junk, teach our children to care for God’s earth- starting with their own yard.  And for those of us who still have a good back and a little bit of time- look around at your neighbors’ property.  Are any of your neighbors too old or sickly to keep up with the yard work?  Help them.  Do you see junk on the sidewalk or in the parking lot?  Pick it up.  I know you didn’t throw it down, I know people will look at you as if you’re crazy- but love God enough to take care of his stuff, his creation. 

SECOND- (to be continued)

(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,MI

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