This Sunday's sermon

 

Mountains and God—Last after Epiphany

        Everything we heard today—from the collect to the Gospel has a mountain in it.

        I grew up surrounded by mountains in southern West Virginia.

        Litchfield is one of the highest spots in Connecticut at 1080 feet above sea level.

        Anawalt, where I grew up was 1706 feet above sea level. And it was in a valley surrounded by mountains another 1300 feet tall.

        The God of the Jews is found on mountain tops.

        When I was a kid,  I would climb up one of the mountains and sit on an abandoned strip mine. I’d look down at the toy sized town and feel like a lesser god myself—as if I could wipe Anawalt out with my foot.

        God called Moses to go up the mountain to meet him. Exodus tells us Moses went through a cloud and the glory of the Lord ‘was like a devouring fire’.

        The lesson from second Peter tells the same story as Mathew’s gospel. Peter, James and John accompany Jesus up a high mountain, where Jesus is transfigured and made to shine dazzling white while talking to the long-dead Moses and Elijah.

        Then out of a cloud, God speaks to them, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved: with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

        God’s voice causes the disciples to fall down, full of fear.

        After Jesus touches them and tells them not to be afraid, he also tells them to tell no one what has happed on the mountain until he is raised from the dead.

        They kept it secret until Peter tells the crowds about it in today’s Epistle.

        Next Sunday, Lent begins.

        Lent may seem a long way from a mountain top experience, but Lent will lead us there.

        We will meet with God during Lent.

        Ponder that for a while.

        Ponder meeting God where Lent leads us.

 

Amen and Amen.

Today's the day!!!!

After today's views, I have had over 300,000 views on my blog!

Thank you all for tuning in.

It makes me grateful--which is a good thing to feel!

If I use "!" anymore I'll be thrown off Blogspot.

So, thank you....

 

Hard to walk

My knees are in such bad shape that even with sleeves on them, I have trouble going up stairs.

But I ordered pills today--I forget their name--that are created to help knee pain.

They'll be here in 4 to 12 days--why such a wide range?

If they work, I'll let you know, in case you need them (I almost typed "kneed them"!)

Until then I use a cane to come upstairs in our 1850 house--13 steps back and front.

Alas and alack.

I don't like getting old.

 

My second favorite priest job

Talked to a young woman today about being married at Trinity, Milton.

She's the daughter of one of our members.

Her 'best friend' and future 'maid of honor' was with her.

I love preaching and celebrating but my two favorite things I do as a priest are baptisms and marriages.

Being involved in such sacred moments in people's lives makes me glad I became a priest.

I don't like funerals, but I feel they are very important.

Saying goodbye is a hard and painful thing and I like to be able to make it more bearable.

But give me baptisms and weddings--in that order.

(What I don't like are 'meetings'--whether vestry or annual meetings. I sort of 'zone out' during those, I hate to admit.)

 

I' m wondering

 Mimi and Eleanor were here for 24 hours and we saw Tim on Mimi's phone this morning.

I'm wondering how lucky we are to have two remarkable children, to wondrous in-laws and 4 grand children--winners all.

How did we get so blessed?

Mimi, Josh, Tim, Kathy, Eleanor, Tegan, Emma and Chris are wondrous. 

We love them so much.

How lucky can you get?

This lucky, I suppose.

Thank God for luck.

And for all of them.

Thank God.

 

I'm cold and tired

        It's not that late and not that cold.

    But I'm tired and cold.

    I even have a knit cap on.

    And from time to time, my head drops and my eyes close.

    Who knows what that's about?

    Not me.

    It's only 7:17 pm--I just checked. And it was nearly 40 when I was last outside.

    But I'm tired and cold.

    Just the way I am, I guess.

    Hope you are full of energy and feeling warm.

    I really do.

    You deserve to feel better than me.

 

This week's sermon

Matthew is Jewish 2/12/23

          Matthew is the most Jewish of the gospels.

          You might remember, if you were here, last week Jesus said “I have come to fulfill the law”.

          Law is what makes someone a Jew.

          There are hundreds of laws—ways to be in the world—that Jews must obey.

          In the other gospels—especially Luke and John—Jesus breaks the law by healing on the sabbath and eating what is not kosher and moving among gentiles.

          But Matthew stays with the law.

          The commandments.

          The passage we heard from Deuteronomy; we are told to ‘obey the commandments.’

          The Psalm says “we shall keep the” commandments.

          Even our collect said “that in keeping your commandments we may please you.”

          In the other gospels (especially Luke and John) Jesus is always ‘breaking the commandments.’

          He heals on the sabbath.

          His disciples don’t ‘keep’ the sabbath.

          There are numerous ways in which Jesus ignores the Law.

          But not in Matthew.

          In Matthew, he even expands ‘the law’.

          “You shall not murder” becomes “you shall not be angry with a brother of sister” and “You shall not insult a brother or sister.”

          “You shall not commit adultery” becomes “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust” has committed adultery.

          Then he starts telling us to tear out our eye or cut off our hand if they cause us to sin.

          You can’t divorce he tells us today, except of the grounds of unchastity, and if you marry a divorced woman you are committing adultery.

          Then, an even tougher interpretation, “no swearing”.

          I can’t speak for you, but I swear a lot!

          Typing this sermon and making mistakes with my fingers caused a few swear words, I assure you.

          So, what do we do with Matthew’s Jesus?

          I’m a lot more in step with Luke’s Jesus—the most compassionate of the four Jesus’ we find in the gospels.

          The Episcopal Church—and me as one of it’s priests—accept the concept of divorce and re-marriage.

          There are people here in good standing in the church, who have been married more than once.

          I know I get angry with people from time to time.

          And I bet you do too.

          And we’ve all sworn to things that we didn’t believe.

          And said bad words.

          Let Matthew’s Jesus be. Just don’t be controlled by him.

          Turn to John and Mark and especially Luke’s Jesus.

          Find compassion for sinners.

          Help the poor—put socks on their feet and food on their table—as you do so well.

          Don’t let the “law” get you down.

          We are made ‘free’ of the Law by Jesus and by God.

          Ponder for a moment, how ‘free of the law’ we are.

 

Amen and amen.