Second Sunday in Lent Year C (Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18)  02-28-2010

Just over six years ago, I started the discernment process for ordained ministry. The decision to begin the process of discernment has many considerations, especially if that journey is started in the middle of one’s life. There are practical matters of family and finances to consider; there are the important spiritual matters of God’s call to consider; and there is the seemingly “all important” question to consider: what time seems to be the “right” time to begin such an undertaking. All of these considerations were elements of the many discussions we had regarding my possible call to the priesthood, especially with two teenagers living at home. We initially considered waiting until the kids were off to college, but finally decided the present time was best, as long as everything moved along as we expected. The process went smoothly during my parish discernment and I promptly submitted my paperwork for the Diocesan discernment weekend, which is held only once per year. After submitting my paperwork to the Diocese in early June, I waited to hear about my participation in the discernment weekend that would be held in February. After weeks of waiting, I heard nothing; the weeks turned into months, and I still heard nothing. Continue reading →

Last Sunday of Epiphany Year C (Lk 9:28-43a) – 02/14/2010

This morning we celebrate the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany. Not so long ago we started our journey through Epiphany by watching the bright star rise above Jesus, the Christ child, as he lie in the manger; and we now draw close to the end of this season by watching the dazzling light of the transfigured Son of God. Whether a bright star in the heavens or the transfigured face of Jesus, the season of Epiphany joyously proclaims the glory of God given to us in the gift of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Yet as we listen to our Scripture readings this morning, the joyous light and glory of Epiphany does not seem to appear before us without complication; without controversy; without a very present tension between the glorious gifts given from heaven and the difficult realities of our earthly life. As we experience the tension between heaven and earth, we might find ourselves drawn one way or the other (perhaps clinging to all things sacred at the expense of the world or maybe we are pulled into the busyness of the world and leave our relationship with God for another time), but if we stand fast in the center of the tension: we experience something completely different – we become transformed and we discover that Christ has acted to redeem and renew us in the midst of our humanity. Continue reading →

Epiphany 4C (1 Cor 13:1-13) – 01/31/2010

From the epistle reading this morning, “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13) And from our Gospel reading this morning, “When [the people] heard this, [they] were filled with rage. They got up, drove [Jesus] out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill…so that they might hurl him off the cliff.” (Lk 4:28-29) On this joyous morning when we will celebrate a rite of passage for some of our Rite-13 young adults, we seem to have been given two very different lessons to consider: the greatest gift of love – and – hurling Jesus off the cliff. At first look, these two thoughts appear to stand sharply against each other, but if we reflect a bit deeper perhaps we find that love leads us to unexpected places. Continue reading →

Epiphany 1C (Lk 3:15-17, 21-22) – 01/10/2010

Throughout my childhood, I grew up with many pets, but I’ve always been especially fond of dogs. We had two wonderful collies when I was young and Carol and I eventually became dog owners ourselves and now own 2 chocolate labs, both about 50 pounds in size. Less than a year ago, my parents decided to get a new dog and in order to easily take their dog back and forth to Florida with them, decided to get a Cavalier King Charles spaniel (a small dog weighing about 15 pounds). Shortly after acquiring their new dog, my parents visited our home and Carol and I wondered how the dogs would get along, especially with the obvious disparity in size. After a brief period of getting used to our home and the new surroundings, my parents’ dog seemed quite at home. Bounding around the house and jumping around his new bigger friends, he appeared to be oddly confident, despite being outnumbered and outsized by his two new companions. Throughout his stay in our home, this little dog’s confidence never seemed to fade, at times causing my dogs to wonder what was going on with their new friend. Oddly confident, regardless of the situation or of our circumstances – I think this is at least one of the lessons we should draw from our readings this morning. Continue reading →

Sunday after Christmas (Gal 3:23-25; 4:4-7) – 12/27/2009

Arriving home after the 11pm Christmas Eve service, I discovered my family was nestled all snug in their beds, not a creature was stirring, not even my two dogs. The TV was still on and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a marathon showing of “A Christmas Story” on TBS. “A Christmas Story” has become a classic holiday movie. The movie is about the trials and tribulations of a young boy named Ralphie, whose greatest wish is to have an official Red Ryder BB gun given to him as a Christmas present. Throughout the movie, we experience Ralphie’s hopes and fears, his joys and his frustrations, and share more than a few twists and turns in his life as he becomes lost in his quest to obtain what he desires. Continue reading →

Christmas II (Lk 2:1-20) – 12/24/2009

Amazing! Spectacular! Extraordinary! There is no lack of adjectives to describe the sights, sounds and experiences of the season of Christmas…and I’m not referring to the sales at the Westfarms Mall. The beauty and splendor of the season can easily capture our minds and charm our hearts. But the message of Christmas, as told in the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, is a different story: it is a story of overwhelming simplicity and humility, yet a powerful story of all that is sacred and holy. And if we are to continue to find the meaning of this holy story, alive for us today, we must continually challenge our worldly assumptions and search for God’s heavenly gifts to us on this Christmas day. Continue reading →

Advent 2C (Luke 3:1-6) – 12/06/2009

The season of Advent marks the start of a new Church year and a fresh start for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. We celebrate the coming of Jesus by remembering his birth in Bethlehem on Christmas morning, but we are also called to remember the coming of Christ as he is present to us in the every day living of our lives. This morning we hear in our Gospel lesson that we must prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming: prepare ourselves through reflection and repentance and through lives lived faithful to our baptismal covenant. During these busy days of December, we are reminded that we are called to set aside time today in order that we are prepared when Christ returns to us. Our preparation must be rooted in the here and now if we are to discern God’s word and make ready for Christmas day. Continue reading →

Proper 28B (Mark 13:1-8) – 11/15/2009

The beautiful mobile of butterflies that hang in the nave are one of the many lasting memories I have from my first visit to St. John’s this past spring. The butterflies are vivid reminders to us of the transformation from one state of life to another. Transformations can take place in many ways and can come to us in many forms – creating changes to the appearance, the nature or the characteristics of people, places or things that are familiar in our lives. Although some transformations take place without assistance or perhaps even unintentionally, the most profound transformations in our lives occur through our intentional participation and our thoughtful attention. Continue reading →

Proper 27B (Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17) – 11/08/2009

Today, we are blessed to have The Reverend Dan Heischman visiting us and sharing his thoughts from his recent book, Good Influence: Teaching the Wisdom of Adulthood. Dan speaks from his many years of experience working with young adults and their parents in various educational settings. His book is full of thoughtful insights regarding the impact of one’s words and actions in the presence of young adults. These words and actions form the basis of the influence that a person holds over another. Continue reading →