Sunday's sermon

July 17 Sermon

        I seldom talk about the collect of the day, but today I want to.

        I find it cringe-worthy.

        Look at it on you lessons sheet.

        In it we tell God we are ‘needy’, ‘ignorant’, ‘weak’, ‘unworthy’ and ‘blind’.

        That’s a little—no, a lot harsh on us.

        So, how do we, in our own hearts and minds end up that way?

        The answer may come from Luke’s gospel today.

        Jesus visits the home of two sisters—Mary and Martha. He doesn’t mention here that their brother, Lazarus, also lives there.

        Mary sits by Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching, while Martha busies herself with household chores.

        Not unusual in those days—or in our day either—women are expected to handle to house while men do more ‘important’ things!

        At some point, Martha comes to Jesus to complain that Mary has left all the work to her and asked Jesus to tell her to come and help.

        But Jesus answers her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

        Did Martha then join them or did she go back to her worry and distraction?

        We don’t know.

        I told the study group on Wednesday that I was reading a novel and a detective goes to question a woman Vicar in England about a parishioner who had apparently committed suicide but the police suspected a misdeed.

        “Was she worried?” the detective asked.

        “Of course,” the vicar answered, “church is for worried people.”

        I told the group I didn’t believe that.

        Church is for people seeking community and worship and the sacraments and hope and joy, not ‘worried people’.

        And I stand by that.

        What Jesus tells Martha is leave behind your worries and distractions and listen to God.

        Our worry and our distractions make us ignorant and weak and unworthy and blind.

        What we need to do is to listen for God.

        We need to cultivate our “Mary nature” and push away our ‘Martha nature’.

        Oh, there is always work to be done—like today’s concert, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, welcoming the stranger.

        Lots to be done.

        Always.

        But before the work, we need to listen for God.

        I practice what’s known as ‘centering prayer’. It is a prayer of silence, not words.

        You need to be still and listen for God within you.

        I want to end this sermon by practicing it with you.

        Usually ‘centering prayer’ is for 20 minutes, but we’ll only do it for a few minutes.

        When, I lead it I give some instructions.

        Close your eyes. Close them.

        Try to clear your mind of all the babble there.

        Take a few deep, slow breaths.

        Listen for God within you.

        When thoughts come, ask them to lead with a word you pick. Mine is ‘shalom’.

        Alright.

        Be still and know that I am God.

        Be still and know that I am.

        Be still and know.

        Be still.

        Be.

                           (three minutes)

Shalom and Amen.