I won't serve this Sunday.
And next Wednesday, which is the day before Thanksgiving, there will be no Bible study.
Which means I'm off for the next 11 days.
What will I do with no sermon to write and no Bible Study to prepare for?
"Nothing". That's what.
And I'm good at doing 'nothing'.
Believe me, I am.
Doing Nothing is one of my biggest strengths....
I must admit I've done the EST training.
The one thing I took from that (well, maybe not the only thing) is to always be looking for possibility.
Things are 'possible' and must be explored.
My time at Trinity, Milton is a part of that.
It's a tiny church but does a lot for the community.
People bring food and clothes every week.
And next Sunday is 'sock Sunday' to collect socks for the homeless.
They'll probably get 6 hundred pairs.
A very generous group and parish.
I love them and their 'possibility'.
BE PREPARED
Today’s Gospel reminded me of the Boy Scout moto: “Be Prepared.”
Ten bridesmaids set out with their oil lamps to meet the bridegroom and lead him to the banquet-hall.
“Five of them were foolish,” Jesus tells his audience, “and five were wise.”
The ‘wise’ ones brought extra oil for their lamps with them and the ‘foolish’ ones didn’t.
So, half of them came ‘prepared’ for a long wait and half of them didn’t.
Jewish weddings didn’t have a definite ‘start time’ in Jesus’ day. The wedding began when the bride and groom arrived. So, the bridesmaids had no idea how long they would have to wait. They had to ‘be prepared’ to wait as long as necessary.
Reading this Gospel lesson reminded me of a hymn from my childhood.
It went like this: “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning./ Give me oil in my lamp, I pray./ Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning,/ burning till the break of day./ Sing hosannah, Sing hosannah, sing hosannah to the King of Kings!”
Jesus’ story reflects what we must do as we wait for him to come again.
We have to stay awake and be prepared for you “know neither the day nor the hour.”
What does it mean for us today to ‘stay awake’ and ‘be prepared?’
We must ‘stay awake’ so we notice what is going on in the world around us.
And we must ‘be prepared’ to take the actions God wants us to take.
You members of this little church are certainly awake to the poverty and hunger around you. The food and clothing at the back of the church are evidence that you are prepared to take the actions to correct some of those needs.
You also do ‘work’ in the community to help those in need.
God appreciates all that you do.
And there are other things we are called to stand against. One is hatred and prejudice.
Anti-Semitism and Anti-Muslim hatred has gone up several hundred percent since the war between Israel and Hamas began. It has reached college campuses. I heard three students from well known universities on TV a few days ago. One Musli woman and a Jewish man and woman all related incidents on their campuses that made them feel unsafe and worried them.
American Jews and American Palestinians aren’t at war and they cannot be allowed to feel fearful in their own country.
We must speak out against all racism—against Native Americans and African Americans and LGBTQ folks too! Nearly 150 years after the Civil War African Americans are still discriminated against. And Lord knows the land and resources of Native Americans are still in harm’s way.
Speak up. Speak out. Donate to causes to restore equality for all people.
One last thing—the use of guns in mass murders. Support causes and politicians who seek to limit the use of guns in our country. European nations and Canada do much better that we do when it comes to guns.
So, stay awake, my brothers and sisters and be prepared to do whatever you can to right wrongs.
That’s what Jesus asks us to do.
So, DO IT!!! Shalom and Amen.
Before I began the Eucharist today at Trinity, Milton, I told them I had something personal to share with them.
This is what I told them:
"Yesterday, West Virginia University's foot ball team beat Brigham Young University by 30 points.
I was overjoyed since you know I am a West Virginian down to the marrow of my bones and W.V.U. is my alma mater.
Also, I don't trust Mormons."
I shouldn't have done that.
Bishops would be horrified that I did.
But I meant it.
And was glad I said it....
I don't like when the time changes--either way: 'spring forward' or 'fall back'.
Why can't we have daylight savings time all year.
Or either the other.
Don't rob me of an hour of sleep in the spring and then make me wake up early in the fall!
Can we start a movement? Call the legislature? Protest somehow?
I don't like time changes....
GOD and H2O
What is it about God and water?
First God parts the Red Sea and then the River Jordan to let the Hebrews walk on dry land.
At least no one died when the Jordan started flowing again, unlike what happened to the Egyptian Army when the Red Sea flowed back and all were drowned, even their horses.
Then years later Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm that had threatened his disciples.
He also washed his disciples’ feet and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
And how are we welcomed into the Christian Church? By the water of baptism.
And if you watch carefully, you’ll notice I add a little water to the wine which God will turn into Christ’s blood.
Finally, you’ll see me wash my fingers before celebrating the Eucharist.
God and water have a thing going.
****
Today’s Gospel has nothing to do with water, but Matthew does pour some ‘hot water’ on the Scribes and Pharisees!
He points out that people should ‘follow’ their teachings but points out that they don’t ‘do as they say’!
The scribes and Pharisees just want to be the center of attention and be given deference. They don’t live up to their teachings, even though Jesus thinks they are teaching the ‘right’ things.
So, sometimes we can get ‘wisdom’ from those who don’t live up to their calling.
Ponder that for a moment….
Then Jesus tells us something equally discombobulating—
“The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who are humble themselves will be exalted.”
That’s not how we traditionally view the world.
For us, there are the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.
But Jesus turns that upside down and inside out.
The ‘haves’ will become the ‘have nots’ and the ‘have nots will become the ones who ‘have’.
Something else to spend time pondering….
Last Wednesday we celebrated All Saints Day in the parish house with half-a-dozen folks. We shared bread and wine and gave thanks for those who are saints of God.
The Saints were the greatest among us who became our servants.
The Saints were the folks who humbled themselves to become exalted.
And that is what we are called to do.
To be servants.
To humble ourselves.
What would doing that mean to you?
Let us take a few moments to consider how to be humble and how to serve….
Shalom and Amen.
When I got up this morning it was raining in Cheshire.
I drove to Milton (higher elevation) and it was snowing.
I went to Marshall's to buy boxer shorts and when I came out it was sleeting.
Quite an All Saints/All Weather Day.
