[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A: “God’s Way to Happiness” or “Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!”

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 1, 2020 7:15 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 4A: “God’s Way to Happiness” or “Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!”

Dear Friends, This Sunday’s sermon isentitled “God’s Way to Happiness” or “Not Like an Oscar-Mayer Wiener!” and isbased on the    gospel (Matthew 5:1-12).  Here it is:    We just heard Jesustell how to have a blessed life, which is another way to say “a happylife.”  We’d all like a happy life.  What would make you happy?  (Listen to a few responses.)  Let me tell you about a man who had thechance to get anything he wanted.  Thisis a old, old story I’m repeating from some years ago.  See if you can remember how it ends.  Before we start, does anyone know thecommercial “I Wish I Was an Oscar Mayer Weiner?”  How does it go?  (Get responses.)   Well, here’s the story.  A man was walking along the beach when hecame across this very old oil lamp. The man started to rub it to remove all theocean crud when "poof" a genie appeared.  This genie, like all genies, was so happy tobe freed of the lamp that he granted the man three wishes...  "I wish to be the richest man in theworld,” the man said.  "Man,"the genie replied, "It has already happened.”  The man’s wallet would hardly fit in hispocket because of all the thousand dollar bills.  “Wait until you get your bank statement!”said the genie.  You won’t know what todo with all that money!”  What's yoursecond wish?"  "Genie”, saidthe man, “I want a CAR!  In fact, I wantthe most expensive Porsche convertible made: Fire engine red, on board GPS andthe finest audio system ever installed in an automobile."  "That’ll work," said thegenie.  He waved his hand and the finestcar anybody had ever seen popped out of the lamp. The genie then asked the manfor his third wish.  He thought andthought, since he really wanted to choose wisely.  After all, this was his last wish, so it hadto be a good one.   Finally he said,“Genie, I can't think of anything now. May I save the third wish for later?"  "My, that’s unusual, responded thegenie, but of course you may wait.  Justcall me when you're ready."  Withthat, whoosh, the genie disappeared.  The man leapt into his fire engine red Porsche convertible, turned onthe radio with the great audio system and pulled onto the highway.  He had the top down, so the wind waswhistling through his hair, the sun was shining, not another car was on theroad, and he was HAPPY- in fact so happy that he began to sing along with thegreat music on his great radio.  Up camea commercial, and he continued to sing the old familiar tune: “Oh, I wish I wasan Oscar-Mayer Wiener...."  Whoosh-what a wish! A wishing lamp with agenie really won’t make us happy, but God’s way will.  Let’s look at the Beatitudes in the bulletinone by one to see God’s way: 3 “God blesses those people who depend only onhim.  They belong to the kingdom ofheaven!”  If you think about it, who orwhat else can you really depend on that will never let you down? 4: “God blesses thosepeople who grieve.  They will findcomfort!”  Here, we’re talking aboutthose whose hearts are broken by the things that break the heart of God.  Are you so in touch with our Lord that humanpain, misery, injustice, cruelty, ignorance break your heart?  Practice putting yourself in other’s shoes,so you know how they feel.  Then dosomething about their pain. 5: “God blesses thosepeople who are humble.  The earth willbelong to them!”  You know what thismeans- be humble- be reality-oriented. Live in a real world.  Don’tpretend to be someone you’re not.  Don’tpretend to know something you don’t know. Acknowledge your talents- they’re from God; compensate for yourweaknesses- don’t hide them.  In otherwords- know your spiritual gifts and then develop them. 6: “God blesses thosepeople who want to obey him more than to eat or drink.  They will be given what they want!”  This is the beatitude that really can get tomany of us, because we really like to eat. Anybody else like that- you can tell what time it is by what our stomachis saying?  God needs to come even beforefood and drink.  Don’t be a “convenienceChristian”- someone who comes to church if it isn’t too hot, too cold, tooearly, too late, too inconvenient because they need to cook, they were up lateand need to sleep, etc.  Put God first ifyou truly want to be happy. 7: “God blesses thosepeople who are merciful.  They will betreated with mercy!”  Here’s “what goesaround comes around.”  Don’t expect Godto forgive you if you refuse to forgive your enemy 8: “God blesses thosepeople whose hearts are pure. They will see him!”  What’s the opposite of pure?  Think in terms of food?  The opposite of pure is poisoned.  What poisons the human heart?  Bitterness, anger, jealousy- all thosenegatives.  Once we realize this, it’seasy to see why a poisoned heart can’t see God- they’d never recognize him- notin a neighbor, not in the Bible or in Holy Communion, not even in amiracle.  Why?  They’d be too busy criticizing the neighbor,the Bible, the church service, and they’d think the miracle was an accident! 9: “God blesses thosepeople who make peace.  They will becalled his children!”  Nothing to sayhere- love (in other words- want what’s best for) your enemy.   10: “God blesses thosepeople who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.” Alexander Hamilton (one of our country’s founding patriots) said: “Thosewho stand for nothing will fall for anything.” You know what’s right- live it. Doing so may not be easy, may not make you popular, but you’ll have aclear conscience; you’ll be able to sleep at night.  Have the courage to stand up for what youknow is right. If you do all thesethings, what’s in it for you?  Day byday, a better life.  In closing, listento the words Mahatma Gandhi (one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mentors):“Keep your thoughtspositive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your wordsbecome your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because yourbehaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habitsbecome your values. Keep your values positive because your valuesbecome your destiny.”For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-Americanwisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons &Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org. Blessed preaching,Judy BoliSt. Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw, Michigan-- 
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