Tag: being the church

First comes Death, then comes Life

by fathermichael01, posted in Sermon

Top Image: Blessing the Dust – Jan Richardson

Yesterday began our Lenten journey towards Easter.  For some of us, it is a welcomed old friend, for others, it is as foreign as walking on the Moon.  I hope my sermon from last night can help give purpose to why we celebrate Ash Wednesday and why we welcome the yearly application of dirty, nasty ashes on our forehead.  I also hope you get some food for thought as you begin a Lenten practice.

I talk about the recipe for a Lenten practice as given by Jesus in the Gospel lesson: Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting.  And to this recipe, consider the greatest commandment as told by Christ: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.  Then, mix in our Christian anthem and theme of Lent: first comes death and the come life.

Now ask, what sort of changes/practices can we begin that will bring about new life and what sort of death (to self, habits, divisions) will we have to undergo?  What will your Lenten practice mean for someone else?

Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Are you hurting or healing?

by fathermichael01, posted in Holy Land, Sermon

Continuing from last week’s conversation.  Jesus’ new teaching is the healing of his people.  As we work to define our new teaching we must also ask “Are we hurting or healing?”

Mark 1:29-39

After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The picture at the top is an artists depiction of the woman touching the hem of Jesus’ robe from Mark Ch. 5.  The floor seen in the picture is the actual road where this healing miracle took place.  I also think it is the perfect imagery of our healing being seen as happening on the altar.  this was one of my favorite places I visited in Israel, outside of Jerusalem.

Below are pictures I took in Capernaum.  The top picture is inside the synagogue from the Gospel story last week.  The bottom pictures are on a slide show and the ruins of St. Peter’s House and the Chruch that now exists on top of it.  I thought it would be fun to share the locations mentioned in the Gospel and Sermon.

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A New Teaching — with Authority!

by fathermichael01, posted in Sermon

The people that experienced Jesus at work in the world called it a “New Teaching — with authority.”  I want to challenge us to think what that might look like in our community.  What shapes our life together and how do we be the Chruch?  This is my new teaching vision for Grace Episcopal Chruch in Monroe, LA.

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.