Father Riley's homily from January 27, 2019

…Mrs. Jane Barnett will lead us in Morning Prayer Sunday February 3rd and Father Riley will return to lead us in Holy Eucharist Sundays Feb 10, 17; 24th. 

…The new Forward Day by Day daily devotion booklets  for February, March; April are in the church, please take one.

3 EPIPHANY - C - 19                    LUKE 4. 14-21

“Jesus, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, returned to Galilee…”

Jesus has just returned from the wilderness where he was preparing for his earthly ministry. There he was tempted by Satan to use his divine powers to meet his own needs and to bow down to Satan and worship him.

Jesus countered every temptation with the truth and power of Holy Scripture. Satan, on the other hand, vainly tried to use scripture to tempt Jesus, but understands neither their truth nor their power. Without true understanding knowing and quoting scripture is worthless.

Jesus returns in the power of the Spirit he received at baptism. The Spirit of God becomes the ruling force in his ministry. Jesus was a practicing Jew and synagogue worship was his custom. Thus, he begins his ministry by teaching in the local synagogues and the people are amazed at his teaching.

After making the rounds of the synagogues in Galilee, Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth and attends synagogue worship with those who know him. His fame as a teacher and a healer preceded him. It was the custom that a layperson should read from the scriptures. Jesus stands up to read and is handed the scroll. He opens it to Isaiah’s prophecy of messiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

It was also the custom that after sitting down the reader would comment on the passage. Jesus does so, but his comment is not what the people expected. “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. “

Some were offended and others were completely in the dark as to the meaning of his interpretation. Jesus understands his ministry as fulfilling the ancient prophecy. The people do not.

How is it we know about God? I mean really know who God is and what our relationship to Him is to be.

We can be introduced to God and His Son, Jesus, through other people. That is, we can be told about God. Like the Samaritans who believed what the woman at the well told them about Jesus, we too can learn something of Him through the witness of others.

However, they took her word only so far. They sought him out for themselves and through their personal encounter with the Living Word; they were moved to a deeper belief in Him based on their own conviction.

We don’t have the luxury of sitting at his feet, as Mary did, listening to his teaching, while her sister Martha worked in the kitchen. What we have as a primary source of information about God and His Son, Jesus, is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures. Which as the catechism teaches, “contain all things necessary for our salvation.”

We can come to know whom God is by reading and studying the Word of God written. That includes the Old Testament - the Bible of Jesus. He quoted the Psalms. He quoted from the prophets and he quoted from the Torah (the first 5 books.) He was raised in the synagogue. He practiced his religion. He knew the word of God.

In knowing God, he understood the divine mission he had been given. In knowing the Word of God, he defeated Satan in the wilderness whose aim was to derail his mission. In knowing and being able to interpret the Word of God to the people, he was able to teach them how to live as God intended, not only in relationship to Him, but also in relationship to one another. (The Ten Commandments.)

In today’s first lesson the priest, Ezra “read from the book, from the law of God, from morning to mid day, with interpretation. He gave sense to the word, so that the people understood the reading.”

In the time of Ezra, the Spirit of God had not yet been given to the people. God lent His Spirit to those whom he had chosen to speak for him at a particular time and place. 

At his baptism, Jesus received the Holy Spirit; the same Spirit that lead him into the wilderness. The same Spirit gave him the wisdom and strength to defeat Satan. This same Spirit filled him with power as he began his ministry by teaching in the local synagogues.

Moreover, it was this same Spirit that Christ gave to the church at Pentecost. His own first gift for those who believed, that empowered the disciples to continue the mission Jesus began of bringing God to man and man to God.

We receive this same Spirit at our baptisms. The Spirit of God has been given to us so that we might come to understand who God really is. To know who Jesus really is and what our relationship to Him and our relationship to one another are meant to be.

We learn this through the reading and meditating on his God’s Holy Word, written, and through our personal encounters with the Word made flesh, Jesus, His Son. Whom we can encounter in the face of friend and stranger. Whom we encounter in a very special way in the sacrament of His Body and Blood.

To be grounded in scripture is the means for us to know God and his plan for us and to see Jesus for who he really is - the Savior and Redeemer of the world. It is the Spirit of God that will lead us to this knowledge and understanding.

A knowledge and understanding that will enable us to resist the temptations of the enemy to turn us away from God. A knowledge and understanding that will enable us to maintain our Faith in those times that test our and love and trust in God.

Genesis to Revelation is a continuing story of our salvation. It introduces us to the true nature of God - Love, and His love made manifest in his son, Jesus, who by the merits of His life, death and resurrection have opened to us the way to eternal life - the pledge and the Hope of our calling. AMEN+

Father Riley's homily from January 20, 2019

2 EPIPHANY - C - 19                           JOHN 2. 1-11

One of the marks of wisdom in old age is that you recall things once said when you were younger that you discover were true. For example, I have often found myself agreeing with the words of my homiletics professor who made the oft repeated statement that it is the more familiar passages of scripture that are the most difficult to preach on.

Today’s gospel is a good example. Even the un-churched are familiar with Jesus having changed the water into wine. What are we to make of it?

John’s gospel is often called the book of “signs.” In it, he uses seven different “signs” or miracles to make his case concerning the divinity of Christ. The miracle at the wedding feast in Cana is the first so-called “sign” Jesus performed, and according to John, “it manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

That part we can easily understand. For who would not have been impressed, if not awed if we had been there and witnessed such a miracle. The servants and the wine steward were certainly awed and the bridegroom, no doubt left speechless when made aware of it.

Although we do not hear from them, one would imagine the guests were happy as the celebration continued without interruption. Perhaps they were totally oblivious to the fact that the wine had run out in the first place and of the miracle, Jesus performed.

Jesus’ ability to change water into wine revealed his divinity, his glory, as John would say. His disciples got the message even if no one else attending the wedding feast did. No one, save his mother, expected him to be able to do such a thing.

Even Mary did not know what he was going to do but simply told the servants to do whatever he said. She was confident, however, that he could and would do something. She did not feel rebuked by Jesus’ response, but remained expectant.

An interesting side note. Mary only appears twice in John’s gospel, here and at the foot of the cross. In both cases, her name is not used. Jesus simply refers to her as “woman.”

What Jesus did at the wedding feast in Cana was not in response to Mary’s announcement that they had run out of wine, for his “hour” as John refers to it, had not yet come. The hour of Jesus’ full disclosure was to be determined by God, not by Mary’s desire or by the prompting of any other human being for that matter.

The miracle at the wedding feast in Cana was the beginning of the journey to the cross - the final manifestation of His glory.

The setting here is significant. In the Old Testament, marriage feasts symbolized the union of God with his bride, Israel, as alluded to by Isaiah in our first lesson. That this took place “on the third day” set a resurrectional tone. The day that is the sign to which all-preceding signs point and the climax of the gospel.

John uses the term “sign” to show that these miraculous actions point beyond themselves to the truth that the Kingdom of God has come among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. In addition to “signs”, John’s gospel is filled with symbols and contrasts. In this passage, wine is symbolic of life.

The six stone jars (one less than the perfect number 7) indicate the Law, illustrated by the water being reserved for the Jewish rites of purification. However, both the Law and the rite were incomplete, imperfect, and unable to bestow life.

The water being changed into wine, symbolized the old covenant being fulfilled in the new, which is capable of bestowing life. The over abundance, of the gallons of wine illustrates the overflowing grace Christ grants to all.

The disciples believed in him after witnessing the “sign” Jesus performed but not all do.

What is the value of faith based on miracles? The miracles are not in themselves the gospel, as it were, but miniatures in which it is represented; and by such signs, some may be brought to faith in the full significance of Jesus and his work.

N.T. Wright in his commentary on John, states that the whole point of the “signs” is that they are moments when heaven and earth intersect with each other. They point away from earth to a heavenly reality. It is all about transformation, the different dimension of reality that comes into being when Jesus is present.

It takes a miracle for some to believe. Their faith in Jesus as Son of God comes through what they see him do. For others the opposite is true. If you have faith, Jesus says in another place, you can move mountains. There is value in both cases.

Yet there are still others, it would seem, that no matter what God has done or is now doing in their lives to bring them to fullness, they fail to recognize and acknowledge the presence of Jesus. They continue to live from day to day believing that whatever happens for their benefit is somehow due to their own efforts or by chance.

The guests, for the most, were unaware of what had taken place as the celebration continued without interruption. The servants who filled the jars with water, and the steward who drew out the best wine and brought it to the bridegroom were obviously surprised, if not awed. As for the bridegroom, he remained silent and accepted the praise offered by the steward. All the while Jesus went unacknowledged, save by his mother and the disciples.

Of all the characters presented in today’s gospel, it is the mother of Jesus, and the disciples, whose example we should follow in our relationship to Christ. Mary expected Jesus to do something to rectify the situation so that the celebration might continue. Upon their witnessing Jesus’ power to transform, the disciples believed in Him and continued to follow him.

The transformation from water to wine signifies the effect that Jesus can have on people’s lives. He came, as he said in another place, that we might have life in its fullness. It is all about transformation, the different dimension of reality that comes into being when Jesus is present, and the new life that is ours when we make ourselves present to Him. AMEN+

 

Breaking News from Christ Episcopal Church

...Father Riley will lead us in Holy Eucharist Sundays, Jan 20 and 27.  

...We will have our annual congregational meeting Sunday, Jan 20 after our service.

Ok.  Let's not follow the example above; but, we would love to have as many of you attend our annual meeting as possible.  We will be approving the 2019 budget and electing the 2019 vestry.  It has been a busy 2018 and we have much planned for 2019 and beyond.  THANKS TO YOU,  we had a very successful 2019 Stewardship Drive and our Capital Campaign has already started receiving funding to add to the diocesan grant.  We started the ramp to the entrance of the church and should have the railing fabricated and installed soon.  More information will be available at our annual meeting. Please join us for more news!  Peace be with you all, Sam Corson (Senior Warden)

Excerpt from The Forward Day by Day from Monday, January 14:
"Regardless of how you came to faith, prayerfully ponder the mystery that God specifically loves you.  Whatever you have done or left undone, Jesus' love redeems you completely and entirely.  Thanks be to God."

Father Riley's sermon from January 6, 2019

 …Mrs. Jane Barnett will lead us in Morning Prayer Sunday at 10am January 13th.  We will have a vestry meeting following fellowship this Sunday.

...Father Riley will lead us in Holy Eucharist Sundays, Jan 20 and 27.  

...We will have our annual congregational meeting Sunday, Jan 20 after our service.

THE EPIPHANY - C - 19       MATTHEW 2. 1-12

One of my seminary classmates recently posted on face book; yes, I confess I look at it occasionally, that they were traveling from Kansas City to Lexington, Kentucky on Christmas Day to visit family. In their post they lamented over the traffic, the stops and goes, and the minor difficulties they were encountering on their journey.

My friend’s wife concluded their post by raising the question “I wonder what difficulties the wise men must have encountered on their way to visit the Christ-child?” My response was “they did not have any holiday traffic.”

Today the majority of Christendom celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany, or as it is sometimes called, The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. These Gentile wise men prefigure the church, in which membership is determined by faith and not by ethnic lineage.

It was the Jewish shepherds who were the first to visit the Christ-child, as the good news of the Savior’s birth came first to God’s chosen people, Israel. The Gentile Magi came to worship him sometime later, after he had been circumcised on the 8^th day.

The Christ-child, then, traveled from Bethlehem to the Temple in Jerusalem and back to the city of David before the visitors from the East discovered him. He was right under Herod’s nose during his visit to the Temple without being recognized by the authorities.

Today’s story is unique to Matthew. In it he tells us that it was a star that caught the wise men’s attention that something extraordinary had occurred. To ancient pagans a star signified a god, a deified king (Num. 24.17) Christ being born under a star fulfils the prophecy in Psalm 109.3 and shows all of creation participating in the Incarnation. (Ps 18.2; 148.3)

It was this star that the wise men followed to Jerusalem. Once there they inquired, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” We know from St. Luke’s account of the birth of Christ that he was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Thus, it is safe to say that those in Jerusalem were ignorant of his birth and were amazed at the wise men’s inquiry. No doubt, their presence and their question concerning the Savior’s birth soon reached the ears of an insecure King Herod.

Herod had to summon the Jewish leaders for he knew little about the Jewish Messiah and he feared losing his throne to this newborn king. He called in the Jewish experts to ask where this child was to be born. When he had gathered the information he desired he summoned the wise men and asked what time the star appeared.

His inquiry was not a noble one, however, as attested to by his slaughter of the holy innocents after the wise men had returned to their own home without revealing the child’s whereabouts to him. It was the star that led the wise men to the house where the Holy Family was staying.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.”

The significance of their gifts is revealed in an ancient hymn: “Gold is for the king of ages. Frankincense is for the God of all. Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One.” The star led them to the Christ-child. God’s warning led them away from Herod. Being obedient they returned to their own home.

The star was no longer visible after the wise men’s visit. Thus, Herod was unable to find the newborn king. Luke gives us the birth story with the shepherds being the first to visit the Christ-child. Matthew gives us the story of a later visit of the Magi. Together they confirm the angels’ message: “good news of a great joy has come to all.”

Jesus’ birth was celebrated by creation and witnessed by Jew and Gentile alike. He is the Savior of the world. Today we who follow Him have no star to lead us to Christ. Instead, God has given us the gift of Faith.

We don’t know what difficulties the wise men may have encountered in their search for the Christ-child. We do know ours. They were determined to find him, who was born king of the Jews. They were relentless in their search. They followed God’s lead until they reached the place where he lay. There they worshipped him and offered him their gifts. Then, being obedient to God’s warning, they returned to their own home.

I can only imagine, like the shepherds, they revealed with great joy what they had seen once they were safely out of the reach of Herod. It was part of God’ plan that these Gentiles see him. Only to Herod were they told not to reveal his presence.

Epiphany is a season of revealing or making known, of stars and light, of dreams come true, of promises fulfilled. To us a child has been born. In Him, God’s plan of salvation has been revealed. In Him, we discover who we are and the role God has given us in making Him known.

The wise men showed determination in finding him. They were relentless in their search. They followed God’s lead and were obedient to His will. In this well-known story, oft repeated in song, we are given examples of how we too can follow Him.

God gives us the gift of Faith and His grace to overcome our human weaknesses in order to do so. God’s Love given to us through Christ enables us to discover and recognize Him wherever we are and in the face of whomever we meet along the way, whether friend or stranger.

The difficulties we will face in our journey to God are common to all. There will be trails and temptations, pain and suffering, times of peace as well as joy. The wise men knew the object of their search and were determined to find Him. Pray God, following their example, we too will have the resolve; come what may, to continue our journey to God.

To discover along the pathway of life Christ’ presence wherever we are, and rejoice in our role of making him known. To worship Him by offering the only true gift we have to offer, the gift of self, and in all humility accept God’s gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love that identify us as belonging to Him.

For we too, like the Magi, know the object of our life-long journey and the promise of God that awaits all the Faithful at its end - eternal life in Him who has come to bring Life and Light to the world, even JCOL. AMEN+