Sermons from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

The story is that in the midst of their grief and their broken heartedness, having accomplished nothing, God shows up. God reminds them of who they are: the ones that completely, totally, utterly belong to God.

That which reflects our sinfulness becomes a sign of God's grace and God's love. If there's any question about the message here, Jesus follows with what has become one of them that's known Bible verses all. For God so love the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. In reading this verse this time I found myself caught in the awareness that this refers to much more than Jesus is death on a cross but to the entirety of Jesus life; his birth, his ministry, his teachings and healings, his way of being in the world, and yes, his willingness to suffer and die that we might have eternal life. All of Jesus was given for us. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. The Son of Man being lifted up is not a sign of only suffering but also of salvation. What we fear is of this world. Where we place our faith, what we can believe in, trust in, is God.

God gets angry when there are people who are actively trying to keep others from experiencing their own belonging to God. God gets angry at injustice. God gets angry at people in power who are using their power to exploit others and to build themselves up at others expense. This is where the anger of God comes from. God doesn't get angry because you screwed up or said a cuss word or didn't show up to church on Sunday or didn't say the right thing or believe in exactly the right thing all the time. God gets angry when you get in the way of people's connection to God. God gets angry when we set up systems that abuse and marginalize people and make them not be able to experience the fullness of their belonging on this earth. This earth which belongs to God,

We find ourselves now in the midst of lent with a difficult question before us. Is it possible For Jesus to be ashamed of me? No. No, I do not believe it is possible for Jesus to be ashamed of you because shame is about identity and Jesus knows who and whose you are and for what you were made. And in case we don't tell you enough around here, you belong to God and you were made for love. Period.

It's been an amazing and an incredibly difficult time for the leaders of this church; for the staff, for the clergy, and for all those in lay ministry; to seek ways to understand how we can fully keep you connected. Because here's what I have realized during this time; when I say, why does this church even matter to me, what I realize is what I want to know and what I think most of you want to know in this difficult time about your church is, how do we stay connected to one another and how do we continue to make a difference in this world. How are we connected? And how do we make a difference? Because in our bones we know that we want to make a difference in this world. And we are hardwired for connection as people. It is built into us, interdependence, belonging to one another. We are not rocks and islands and all by ourselves. We may be individuals, but we are individuals who are built for belonging and connection.

So much of this timing is beyond our control and what we can control frequently has demanded patience and perseverance. It's going on a year now. The timing of this pandemic has been a stretch, a real stretch, that continues. But this pandemic time, this more fallow time for many, has also revealed unexpected moments of grace.

Mark tells the story of a Jesus who shows up preaching repentance and driving demons out of people and healing them of their illness. And that's what he does for the entirety of the gospel. Preaches repentance, drives out demons, and heals the sick. Jesus' focus in Mark is not on making us smarter. It is on making us aware of the brilliant and beautiful and mysterious and powerful presence of God in the world. There is an immediacy to Jesus in Mark's gospel. There is a desire for Jesus to get going, get moving.

In our gospel lesson from Mark today, we see Jesus heal a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue on the Sabbath. And the letter tells us that all who were present were amazed at what they had seen. While amazement is a natural response, it is not the only response that Christ is looking for from us. Jesus does not want you simply to be amazed, he wants you to act. He does not want us only to say, "Wow! Look how he loved." He wants us to share that love with others. He does not want us simply to see the blessings that we have received. He wants for us to share them with those who need a blessing today. I do not stand here and utter fancy words in order to amaze you or fill your head with knowledge. I ask you rather to open your minds, warm your hearts, and bend your wills so that you can go and heal someone.

The reality is we don't necessarily stop to think about what this news is that is so good that it's worth repenting; turning around and seeing and recognizing God in the world. I believe all of our readings today clue us into the good, the best, news that there is. It is very, very simple but it is utterly life changing. God is here with you. God is here with you right now, wherever you are, whatever you are experiencing.

.As we listen, we need to be able to hear the truth and speak the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. We are each made up of what has come before in our lives; our heritages and upbringings and relationships, our experiences and exposures, our learning and understanding. We are beautiful unique expressions of life and love, and yet we are also one. United as beloved children of God. As I reflect on our shared experiences of these multiple crises we're in, the need for truth telling has never been greater.