[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 6A: "How Strong Is Your Connection?"

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-------- Original message --------From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> Date: 5/20/17  6:03 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 6A: "How Strong Is Your Connection?" 


Dear
Friends,



This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “How Strong Is Your Connection?” 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 stay connected with Him, because Jesus knows
they have huge trials, frustrations, and difficulties to face.  He also knows that the future of God’s
Kingdom depends on them, so he’s trying to prepare them for what comes next-
his torture, execution, rising, ascending, and the coming of the Holy Spirit..  Jesus knows how important it is that they
avoid getting disconnected from their source of strength.  That wasn’t just true for the disciples back
then- it’s just as true for us today, and it’s the theme of our Gospel reading
today (John 15: 1-8).  In it, we heard
Jesus describe himself as the vine, with us as the branches.  In the altar area, you’ll see three kinds of
plants- 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 at
these plants, I challenge you to ask yourself- which one represents you in your
life?



We’ll start with the
altar plants.  They are green, vibrant,
and healthy.  Compare them to these dead
dandelion flowers.  What’s the basic
difference between them?  The lovely
altar plants are strongly connected to their root systems, so they’re flooded
with life-giving moisture and nutrients. 
Their green leaves are open to the bright sunlight, so the chlorophyll
can easily turn all the brilliant light into energy for food and growth.  Their stems are flexible, so they can
withstand wind and harsh weather (if we put them outside)- then bounce right
back up again.  The presence of these
plants on the altar is a lovely reminder of the beauty and power of God’s
creation.



What about the
dandelions?  They were really pretty when
I picked them earlier, that is they were pretty if you like dandelions.  What happened between when I picked them and
now? You know as well as I do- they were disconnected from their root systems,
so they have lost their source of nutrients and moisture.  They’re disconnected from their green leaves,
so they can’t turn the bright sunlight into energy.  Separated from the rest of the 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 this
happening to us.  Jesus says,
disconnected from him- we can do nothing, and that’s true.  The longer we stay disconnected- the more
self-centered, the more confused, the more attracted we are to the world.  The problem is- even the best of us can get
disconnected from Jesus.  Sometimes it
happens all at once (a new job, a new baby, a new relationship, depression or
hurt feelings by a former friend) and...snip!!! 
Jesus is put on the back burner- we’re too busy or involved or upset to
take time for church or prayers or Bible-reading or helping others.  Other times the process is slow.  We just gradually drift away with other cares
or 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, he
would have let his little toe touch that burning liquid and he would have
jumped right out again.  It didn’t happen
that way.  Instead, he sat in that cool,
pleasant water in the pot- not noticing that someone had turned on the fire
under the pan.  Because the water
temperature increased so slowly, he didn’t notice it until it was too late and
he was cooked frog’s legs!  



What are some other
things that can crowd Jesus out of our lives and disconnect us from the
vine?  One of the biggest is television
and radio.  How can God’s still, small
voice break into our hard-headed brain if he’s got to get through constant
noise?  Watch what you choose to see,
listen to what you choose to hear, then shut it off and have some silence in
your life.  Don’t miss church- it’s a
holy habit, and when you miss- it’s so easy to slowly drift away.  I’m sure that’s why the commandment says,
“Honor the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” 
The usual advice- say your prayers at least five times a day and read
your Bible or Bible-based literature daily still holds.  



What else can
disconnect us from Jesus?  A
three-letter-word: SIN!  A sinful attitude
(“I can’t,” “I won’t,”); selfish greediness (“Me first!” and “Gimme!”), sinful
relationships, prejudices, love of 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- looking healthy enough and sitting in a vase of water.  How long is it going to last?  Not long. 
It can keep going for a while, but there 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 strong
enough in the tough times. 

Did you hear the story
of the man who ordered a new computer?  He
was so very excited when it finally came! 
He got it out of the box, hooked up all the cables, found the perfect
spot on his desk, stood back and admired it, then turned it on.  Nothing happened.  He flipped the switch back and forth-
NOTHING!  His brand new computer looked
dead.  He was about to put it back in the
box and return it to the store when his little son walked in the room and
exclaimed: “Wow, Daddy!  What a great
computer!  Aren’t you going to plug it
in?”  That’s what God is telling us.  Wow! 
What a potentially beautiful life- you have so much to enjoy and
accomplish!  Aren’t you going to plug
yourself in?”  Think about it.  Amen. 

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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