Prodigal Son

Feb 12 2017  Prodigal Son  Jer 3:12b-15,19-22, 1 Jn3:7-20, Lk 15:11-32

As Preached by Sister Cecelia

The reading from Jeremiah this morning exemplified the gospel of the loving father and the errant son. Perhaps the son was aware of the verses in Jeremiah that encouraged wayward ones to acknowledge their guilt and return to their merciful God. He was certainly aware that he had not earned the forgiveness of his father but would ask for it anyway, having seen the largess of his father in his youth.  This son compared his life with those least in his father’s house and employment and found himself to be far less worthy.  He did not exalt himself or blame others for his predicament.

The Pharisee last week and the elder son this week compared themselves to others and exalted their own lives above others. Their behavior had been what it should be. The problem was the motivations for their behavior. Their problem was comparing themselves to the other. Had the love of God been their motivation they would not have despised or looked down on the other.

As we prepare for this coming Lenten season, what are our own motivations for what we do? When another’s actions seem better than our own, examine what our feeling and attitude is regarding both the action and the person. Are we bitter or resentful?

Let the good that we perceive in the other be an incentive to be better ourselves. If we find that we dislike the other because of their goodness, we are in trouble, but all is not lost. Turn to God and ask forgiveness and the ability to do better ourselves even in only small ways. If you find yourself comparing yourself to others, Stop! Consider your motivation for doing the comparing, either their good or bad example. We do not need to do big, courageous, outstanding deeds. If the day comes that something really big is asked of us we will be ready if we have been faithful in little things.

If we do notice other’s actions seem less than good, remember that we do not know why they do what they do, nor can we be so sure we would not do the same or even worse if we were in their shoes. If and when we resent or are angry at another, direct the mind and heart to pray for them to have the openness to change their ways.

 We are no better than the Pharisee or the elder son if we get angry because we perceive good things going to those we consider unworthy. What is the cause or motivation for our anger? Do not wish evil to another but wish only that they acquire better understanding and good will, in other words, wisdom and compassion.

There are two directions we can go, neither being particularly beneficial: one is thinking ourselves better than we are and being contemptuous of others. Two is thinking we are much worse than we would like to be. That sometimes leads to becoming despondent or feeling guilty. It is easy to think or be afraid that we don’t love others as we should.

Christianity is a religion of the whole person; outward compliance alone is not enough. Real love is an action, not a feeling. The greatest act of love is to give of oneself for others. Be aware of other’s needs. It is easy to feel guilty that we are not doing enough. We are directed to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Being good stewards of our own lives in order to care for and give ourselves for others is the rule of thumb to love our neighbor as ourselves. What is the motivation for our actions?

  Remember that God knows what is in our hearts as well as our actions. Live always with the knowledge that we are in Christ and Christ has given himself to us. Our actions will follow as a result.Christ is in our midst!

Publican and Pharisee

Sermon 143 Feb 5, 2017 Zeph3:9-13;2Tim2:11-19;Lk19:1-10 Zacchaeus and Lk18:9-14 

Preached by Brother Luke

Holy Wisdom Church

        I love a parade! When I was growing up in LA, one of the most anticipated annual events was the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Of course, you could watch it on TV, but the real thrill was to be there in person. However, if you did not have a ticket for a reserved seat in the viewing stands, you would need to find a place on the street along the parade route. To really see anything, you would want to be in front on the curb! To do this meant coming out the night before, staking a claim for a curb side location and then bedding down in your sleeping bag over night. One year a group of our neighborhood kids and some parents decided to embark on this adventure. Once installed in our place at the Pasadena parade site, it was possible to wander around the parade holding areas to see the floats and watch some of the last-minute preparations for the parade. And the next day, what an advantage to have a front row view.

        So, Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus and when he learned that Jesus was traveling in his town of Jericho he went out to see this special man. But the crowds were big and he was small. Undeterred, he figured out a way to at least get a glimpse of Jesus when he passed by. He climbed up a tree. His efforts paid off. He got more than a glimpse. He got a chance to host Jesus in his home! And how his life was changed!

        Do we really want to meet Jesus as much as Zacchaeus did?  The Rule of Benedict, the monastic guidebook of the Christian West, provides that guests are to be received as if they were Jesus. This informs the way monastic hospitality is to be practiced: being gracious and showing guests honor and respect. But meeting guests and treating guests as if they were Jesus does not turn them into Jesus. Wanting to meet Jesus takes us to a different level. That was Zacchaeus’ goal.

        What kind of encounter do we imagine this would be for us? I see Zacchaeus in a similar light as the woman at the well, who said “he told me everything I ever did.” All the facades and pretenses fall away. When Jesus visited Zacchaeus in his home, fear evaporated, defenses broke down and the inner true self anxious to be known burst forth. He blurted out: “I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much.” 

        If, on our spiritual journey, we are, figuratively speaking, going to head into town, stake out our perfect spot, and prepare to meet Jesus, then we need to be prepared for an experience beyond one even as exciting as the Rose Parade. We need to be ready to come into the presence of one who knows everything about us. EVERYTHING! The effect of this encounter with Jesus will open us to experience the freedom that comes when we can be vulnerable and transparent before the transcendent God without reserve. Then salvation will enter our home, that is, our heart, and we will be in a place where fear disappears and love and grace take its place.

        This Sunday we also remember the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. This is the beginning of the pre-Lenten period, so might we craft a link between that story and the Zacchaeus gospel? Stretching the lectio divina method a bit, imagine the nameless publican as Zacchaeus. Both figures are tax collectors. Now imagine Zacchaeus going to the temple to pray as did the publican, then heading off home to Jericho where Jesus happens to pass by. Now the publican, or Zacchaeus in our meditation, has his chance to meet the source of divine mercy. Whether we speak of the publican in the temple or of Zacchaeus in Jericho, they each are experiencing the same transfiguration: their heart is softened so that the love of God might enter. Great Lent gives us once more an opportunity to embark on that path of transformation.

Theophany 2017

 As preached by Sister Cecelia

Holy Wisdom Church

  Ez 36:25-28,33-36, Ti 2:11-14,3:4-8, Mt 3:13-17

When we are thirsty, how refreshing is a cool glass of water. After an invigorating shower or bath, our weariness is just swept away. After a time of drought, what a great sense of joy over a rainstorm. What a sense of awesomeness when we hear and see the ocean pounding against the shore. All of these are experiences of the cleansing, transforming power of water.

 How often though do we think about how water holds the power of life and death over us? Water is so powerful, so important that most people have thought of it as sacred. Most of the religions of the world have some kind of ritual washing. Psychologists tell us it is one of the primal symbols in our unconscious, standing for life and death, birth and renewal.

 The ritual purifications of the Jewish religion in the time of Jesus were a way of renewing themselves spiritually, of cleansing themselves of any corruption so that they could continue their dedicated lives. For John the Baptist, the washing in the Jordon represented not so much the cleansing of sins as the commitment to begin a new way of life; a life devoid of past mistakes and sinful ways. He was preparing the way for people to be able to accept the coming Messiah.

What past mistakes or sinful ways was Jesus guilty of that he needed to be baptized? John knew Jesus should be baptizing him rather than Jesus being baptized by John. It is possible that even though Jesus is sinless his humility prompted him to show his unity with his sisters and brothers, his oneness with the rest of humankind. It was also an approval of the intention of John’s baptism.

The baptism of Christ definitely marked a turning point in His life. Jesus was formally committing himself to his public ministry. His new life was beginning in the service of His Heavenly Father of dedicated preaching, teaching, and healing to bring salvation to all of us.

Do we see our own baptism as an inauguration ceremony initiating us into the church? The waters of baptism have been poured over us, cleansing, refreshing and dedicating our lives in service to our Heavenly Father through our service to others in whatever form it takes us.

When we make the sign of the cross, we re-enact the ceremony of our baptism. Let us make it reverently and with thoughtfulness realizing we are dedicated to the service of the Trinity. Let it be the pause that refreshes to recommit ourselves to being manifestations of God’s love to others.

Let it be a meaningful statement of what we believe in, of who we know we are, and to what we have committed our own lives. Imagine the waters of baptism flowing again, bringing us new life and manifesting within us the power of God who is well-pleased with what we are trying to do in our lives now.

For the next waking hours of this day, for the day after that and the rest of this year 2017,  we will be exposed to the daily  demands of our lives. We have to make choices. We are free to choose. Let us choose to have a joyful mind. Let us commit our days to be loving, joyful, peaceful, to be patient, to be truthful, to be kind, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. When we succeed, give thanks.  If we fail, ask for grace to do better and when the day is done, rest secure in knowing God’s loving kindness.

Christ is in our midst!

Christmas Sermon 2016

Sermon 142 Dec 25, 2016 Mt 2: 1-12; Ga 4:4-7; Jr 23: 3-8 Xmas

Preached by Brother Luke

Holy Wisdom Chapel

          “But they weren’t there!” So, said Fr Paul Harrilchak a few years ago, during a talk here on the Christmas Season east and west. I am always amused by this when I think back on that presentation. He was talking about how the Three Wise Men [or the Three Kings] are depicted in images and stories and in the nativity crèche attributed to St Francis. They missed the birth. They came later. In the gospel passage that follows what we heard this morning, Herod gives us a clue about the timing of their visit in the reference to his ordering the killing of all male infants 2 years old and younger. Yet, maybe this is the ideal point of departure for us, since we too come to this event later, much later.  We celebrate the birth of Christ as if it is happening at this moment, which it is, in our spiritual understanding of this mystery, but historically it was two millennia ago. So, as with the Three Wise Men, we too are coming to this late. But does that matter?

When they came doesn’t matter, what they were seeking does matter. And what were they seeking? A baby? No, scripture says that they were seeking the Messiah. The savior of the world. And it was they seeking him and not the other way around. Jesus wasn’t looking at his watch, tapping his foot and wondering, “so, when are those three kings going to get here anyway!” God’s invitation to all of us to come to him is always available, but we need to initiate the action to seek him.

Sometimes church feasts are assigned dates directly connected to the chronological sequence of the events. March 25^th is the annunciation and 9 months later, December 25^th, the birth of Christ. Then on January 1^st we mark Christ’s circumcision. And yet 5 days later he is baptized as an adult. But then on February 2^nd, the Feast of the Encounter, Christ is a child again, presented to the temple. The manifestation of God is not time dependent. The symbols we choose to use to portray this reality may involve both chronos and kairos images. This entire season of lights which extends from December 25^th to February 2^nd is about the manifestation of divinity in humanity through Jesus Christ.

These feasts of the Church are inviting us to seek the reality of God in all we do and experience in life. Last week at matins we heard a reading from Thomas Keating who said: “Some devout persons think that if their activities at home or their job get in the way of prayer, there is something wrong with their activities. On the contrary, there is something wrong with their prayer.” What this means is that my prayer must infuse all that I do. It is not something separate. The incarnation, the manifestation of divinity in our human reality, brings this perspective to the fore. No matter what I am doing or where I am, I am invited to see God in it all. It is a full integration of this reality with the reign of God that Christ preached. It is one. The more I am able to see this, the clearer the path I am called to follow. Nature, chores, study, leisure, birth, death, all are infused with God’s reality, a reality that extends beyond this life. Celebrating Christ’s birth is like celebrating the planting of a seed that will germinate and grow from a small sprig into a large tree. From Jesus’ humble birth, will grow the reign of God. Something worthy to be sought by kings and by you and I.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Homily Ancestor Sunday 2016

As Preached by Sister Rebecca
Sunday, December 19, 2016

Holy Wisdom Church

Today's celebration of Jesus’ ancestors is very important to the deeper and vaster understanding of the Good News of the Incarnation as taught by Matthew within his diaspora community in the 80’s or earlier, in Syria. 

Jesus was born, lived and died as a religious Jew.  We really need to let this sink in, and reflect on the implications of this reality as we prepare to celebrate this stupendous mystery of God incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ.

There are many Christians who think Jesus was a Jew in the way one would say so and so are Jews, that is, Jewish from a culture point of view. It is most unfortunate that followers of Jesus among our various Christian denominations have pretty much divorced-albeit unconsciously- our Judaic roots except in as much as they see Christianity as supplanting Judaism.  This is not so in the early Christian communities of mostly Jews in Matthew’s community.

Much of the teaching of Jesus, the Gospels, rests upon an implicit and explicit understanding of the Hebrew Bible.  For example when Matthew quotes Jesus saying in metaphor language to build our house on a rock rather than on the sand, he is saying that Jesus is not starting a new religion.  Yet the Word of God ever ancient, ever new needs to be reinterpreted throughout time and place.

I would like to focus on the last 2 sections of Jesus genealogy, the section of 14 generations dealing with the aftermath of the deportation to Babylon and the return to Israel.   During the years in exile the Jews desiring to remain faithful to their God, were faced with the dilemma of how to deal with innumerous laws that were related to the Temple worship that no longer exists.  In fact many exiled Jews were discombobulated in this country of exile where religious practices were so foreign and meaningless to them.  God inspired the prophet Ezekiel to lift and heal their minds and hearts through a vision: the Divine Presence, the Schekinah actually left the sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem and accompanied these devastated prisoners of war, wanderers to their destiny in Babylon and continued to remain with and in them.  Of course they wept, hung their harps on the willow branches along the banks the rivers in Babylon and mourned:  how can we sing in this foreign land?  Some of the psalms were composed during this period and upon the return to their devastated land in post exilic times.  Eventually new understanding arose as to how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth as we see in the ps 40:  “You gave me to understand that sacrifice and offerings are not what you desire…not what pleases you.  Then I said “Here I am! As it is written in the scroll, to do what pleases you is my desire, for your law is written in my heart.  The prophet Hosea sums up the whole of the Torah:  ‘You have told me O Lord what is good and what you require of me:  to do good, to love and cling to your presence deep within my heart and to walk humbly with you, my God.’  This and many other passages in the Bible can be practiced no matter where one is on this earth.  This is the whole Torah in a nutshell. They came to see that the true foreigner, prisoner is one who is attached to anything of this early existence even the Temple and particular ways of performing the rituals.   And attachments can be memories, hope and hankering for the way things were done in the past.

Back in their homeland where a second Temple was built, a movement had begun approximately two hundred before Jesus’ birth by sages who realized Jerusalem’s Temple was in jeopardy because of foreign invaders.

They worked to establish new religious practices that would ensure Judaism’s survival apart from the Temple and yet remain true to the commandments of the Torah.

It is in this milieu that Jesus was born and eventually became part of the first century teachers. 

The transitions from the Temple system into what would later be called Rabbinic Judaism was nothing less than extraordinary – and Jesus was at the center of that transformation. 

Jesus does not reinvent religion – he is still part of the Jewish ancestry.  But where are we? Jesus responding to some of his adversaries that accused Jesus of not being faithful to Abraham said “God can raise up stones to be children of Abraham.  The lineage is not necessarily a blood line – in fact Matthew names 4 women all who were foreigners yet became part of Jesus direct lineage.

What makes us part of Jesus’ lineage?  Whoever hears my words and puts them into practice is my mother, my brothers and sisters.

God’s Spirit in and through Jesus lineage tells us: Do not fear; do not worry…embrace, accept the light and the dark with peace of mind and heart and look deeply inside for the light of God to access wisdom to face whatever happens in the future.  And I need to sense that my faith in God is not mine alone and that I do not need to prove anything but to realize I am a leaf on a branch of this tree and by being true to my self and my place I have received and continue to receive the responsibility and grace to contribute to keeping the sap flowing down  into the vast roots that will nourish those that come after me. 

Homily 2016, Dec. 4: Woman with issue of blood. Lk. 8:41-56

++++ Some early traditions called the woman in today’s gospel Veronica or Bernice, but we could call her, simply and with some delicacy, the woman in the crowd. She courageously but unlawfully hid in the crowd to reach Jesus. Some would have stoned her, had they known, for contaminating them and thus ostracizing them, like her, from family, friends and temple. Things are very different today. A writer for America magazine wrote, “After such a long journey, I would have thrown myself in his path, begging him to help me. Instead our wounded and outcast sister "came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak." She had endured for 12 years. In an instant, she received from Jesus what no doctor in 12 years had been able to give her. Had she just stolen a miracle? But the true miracle is what had remained healthy all along from the beginning: her faith and courage. Jesus blest her rather than criticizing her boldness, “Your own faith has saved you; go in peace.” He ignored the old Levitical rules and dispelled her despair and destitution. He was God’s new presence there instead of the temple. For him the human body too is a temple of life as sacred as anything in creation. In the end, he paid the price. But the woman in the crowd and his followers had already found new life, health and salvation in him. Things again are very different today. When we ourselves are ill or falling apart in body, mind, financially and in endurance, it’s probably one thing after another. Author Nancy Burke wrote when she was gravely ill and receiving weekly intravenous treatments for two years, “Somewhere in the middle I lost my courage, and both my soul and my veins collapsed. One day the search for a healthy vein became too painful and I pushed the needle away and cried. A nurse brought to my side a young girl of about ten, who had battled cancer all her life. This child smiled at me and said, ‘You should have got one of these.’ Lifting her T-shirt, she showed me the hole that had been cut in her abdomen for a plastic port to receive her treatments. Then she put her hand, so small and soft, on mine and said, ‘You can take it.’ And I did.” May we, too, be able to do so whenever we run into our own difficult times. May the true miracle of faith and courage remain healthy in us all. May we too be bold, healthy, and blest to “go in peace.”                  –Br. Marc

Fishers of People

As Preached by Sister Cecelia
October 23, 2016
Holy Wisdom Church

Is 6:1-8,1Cor 15:39-44,47-58, Lk 5:1-11    

In pondering the readings for this morning, the response of Peter and Isaiah to the Holy, to the divine, is insightful. What would our own reaction be if we came into the presence of something totally mystifying (mind boggling) and awesome?

 Their response reminded me of a story of two 17 yr olds. The girl was very unsure of herself, she wondered how she looked to others. In trying to evaluate her appearance, she wondered if her nose was too big, her mouth too small, her legs too skinny? How could she know? She also found that in the presence of others, she could not think of anything to say. She had no confidence in herself.

The boy felt like he was not proportioned very well. He had to buy extra large clothes for his chest and size small for his hips. It also worried him that he was never sure of what to say. Others always seemed so much wiser than he. Since he felt he had no contribution to give, he kept his mouth shut.

 Then the two of them met. When he saw her he said; “Oh, my -you are so beautiful!” When she saw him, she said; “You look so strong”. They talked for a bit and he said to her; “You are so witty.” She said to him, “you are so wise!” After that, he had no doubts about himself and she became the most confident mother you would ever meet. Notice what friends, lovers can do for one another.

After hearing Jesus preach from his boat and seeing this miracle of the catch of fish, Peter was struck with awe by the light and felt his own smallness and unworthiness in Jesus presence. Jesus encouraged him though and indicated he would not just fish for fish but his catch now would be a great many people to whom he would be able to spread the good news of the light of Christ.  Notice Peter’s feeling of inadequacy change with Jesus encouragement.

When Isaiah saw the Lord, the king of angelic hosts, he too felt so totally unworthy in the presence of this light. After being cleansed with a burning coal to his lips, he was assured of his worthiness. Upon hearing the Lords question of who to send, he was emboldened enough to cry out; Here I am Lord.  Send me.

God’s prophets called Jesus  the light of nations, the light of the world. Jesus knew himself to be that light. A light does not so much add something new as it provides visibility. We can see what we have not seen before. The light enables us to see but also, to do things we have not even thought of before. Jesus enables us to see who we are, how we are and, what we can and must do. He has told each of us; You are a child of God. You are my sister. You are my brother. I am your friend. Notice what Jesus, the light of the world, our friend and brother, has done for us.

To God’s question St Paul answered, “Here I am, send me” and was emboldened to preach to the very people he had been punishing for heresy before he experienced the Light of Christ. His attempt to answer the Corinthian’s question of how our bodies can enter heaven seems somehow philosophically poetical.

 Paul was assured that by Jesus rising from the dead with a glorified body, a body many of his followers saw, that we too, would pass from our earthly, corruptible bodies to one that is incorruptible. The first person, Adam, was made of the dust of the earth and the second, Jesus, is from heaven. We all bear the image of the first person and we bear the image of the second. Our perishable bodies must put on imperishability. By accepting our own meager virtues as well as our failures we have a chance to understand the failures of others. We have a chance to realize we each have plenty of room for growth. We can stop saying, Too bad, that is just the way I am, and begin to say “There is more that I can be”.

Does our faith in Jesus words give us the confidence we need to spread the Good news, to live the gospel as the early disciples did?  We have the Light that is Christ in our hearts. It is in this light that we discover ourselves, inding out what are our possibilities as well as our tasks. Let us answer well and say frequently, Here I am Lord, Send me.   

       

Christ is in our Midst!