Stuff
I say, “stuff” a lot. The Bible study talks about how stuff in the Bible relates to stuff today. The sacristy is full of liturgical stuff. I am currently boxing up all kinds of stuff in my office. And, of course, there's the ever present stuff at coffee hour (which, by the way, someone suggested that all future priests at St. Luke's be informed that “stuff” was to be part of the formal dismissal).
In last week's sermon, I touched a little on the stuff in our lives. In the Letter to the Hebrews we are admonished to share what we have. “How much stuff do we have?” I asked. “How much is too much?” And I gave a couple of examples of how we could share some of the abundance of stuff we have with others.
Last week I got a phone call from a woman needing help paying for two nights at a motel. After informing her that that is not something I do, and her trying to negotiate me down to a single night, we came to an agreement that I would take her to a grocery store and help purchase a few groceries.
To make a very long story short, we weren't able to connect. But she called me this week telling me that she needed to move from the motel where she was currently staying to another motel where, she assured me, someone from another church was willing to pay for her room. I agreed to pick her up and take her to the new motel.
When I arrived at her room, I was absolutely astounded at sheer volume of stuff she had. There was so much stuff that I was unable to comprehend how this small woman moved from place to place. She had three large boxes weighing well over 50 pounds each. She had six or seven smaller boxes. She had five large garbage bags full of stuff. She had three knapsacks of clothes. She had two large cushions. She had a combined four plastic bags and one box of vegetables. She had another plastic bag filled with scraps of phone book pages, pens, paper, and whatnot that she referred to as her purse. She had one walker and awheelchair.
Between myself, the motel manager, the unnamed person from the church who was supposedly paying for her next room, and the woman, we arrived at a very temporary and not very satisfactory solution to that day's problem. And it took me five trips with the car to deliver all of her stuff.
As I was preparing to leave, she was inventorying everything, making sure I hadn't left anything in the room or left any of her stuff in the car. She was very adamant that everything . . . EVERYTHING . . . was with her.
How much stuff do we really need? And of the stuff we do possess, does that stuff hold primacy in our lives?
Maybe it takes a homeless woman in a wheelchair to show me how easily my life can become ruled by stuff.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
August 24, 2016
Almighty and everlasting God, who gave your apostle Bartholomew grace to truly believe and to preach your Word . . .
Collect for St. Bartholomew, BCP 243
Today is the feast day of St. Bartholomew. As with most early saints of the Church, what we know of Bartholomew is a mixed bag. There are several stories about his life (he may have gone to India and/or Armenia), he has been conflated with Nathanael, there is more than one story about his martyrdom (beheading or skinned alive being the two most popular version), and there are several churches around Europe claiming to have various relics of the Saint.
We are in no danger of being flayed alive for believing in Christ and preaching the Good News. And thankfully it was not his martyrdom that caught my attention. What caught my attention about Saint Bartholomew was the Collect that we read today at Morning Prayer, specifically the first part of that Collect that I referenced above.
We talk about receiving grace in a variety of contexts; most notably, I think, in terms of a gift from God that bestows good things on us. By the grace of God I survived an accident, cancer, or some other possible deadly event. By the grace of God I married the right person. But for the grace of God, there go I. And those all can be, and are, appropriate ways to think about the grace of God.
But within our Christian theology is an understanding that belief comes from God. We love because God first loved us. We believe because God called us to that belief – “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father” (John 6:44). That is also another understanding of grace: that through God's grace we have come to believe. Today's Collect recognizes that part of our theology by stating it was through God's grace that Bartholomew came to truly believe.
It was also through God's grace that Bartholomew was able to preach the Good News.
As the sermon this past Sunday pointed out, it is God who bestowed his grace upon Jeremiah to believe his holy word and called him to the role of a prophet. From the Collect today, we understand that it is God who bestowed his grace upon Bartholomew to believe his holy word and to preach the Good News.
But God not only works in ages past, God works in the here and now. Today it is God who bestows his grace upon us to believe his holy word and calls us to preach the Good News of God in Christ.
When you look upon the graces you have received, “grace upon grace” (1 John 1:16), remember to look upon the grace you have received to truly believe and to preach God's word.
Like St. Bartholomew before, God is calling us to a new life in Christ. I pray we have the courage of St. Bartholomew to answer that call.
Amen.
Collect for St. Bartholomew, BCP 243
Today is the feast day of St. Bartholomew. As with most early saints of the Church, what we know of Bartholomew is a mixed bag. There are several stories about his life (he may have gone to India and/or Armenia), he has been conflated with Nathanael, there is more than one story about his martyrdom (beheading or skinned alive being the two most popular version), and there are several churches around Europe claiming to have various relics of the Saint.
We are in no danger of being flayed alive for believing in Christ and preaching the Good News. And thankfully it was not his martyrdom that caught my attention. What caught my attention about Saint Bartholomew was the Collect that we read today at Morning Prayer, specifically the first part of that Collect that I referenced above.
We talk about receiving grace in a variety of contexts; most notably, I think, in terms of a gift from God that bestows good things on us. By the grace of God I survived an accident, cancer, or some other possible deadly event. By the grace of God I married the right person. But for the grace of God, there go I. And those all can be, and are, appropriate ways to think about the grace of God.
But within our Christian theology is an understanding that belief comes from God. We love because God first loved us. We believe because God called us to that belief – “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father” (John 6:44). That is also another understanding of grace: that through God's grace we have come to believe. Today's Collect recognizes that part of our theology by stating it was through God's grace that Bartholomew came to truly believe.
It was also through God's grace that Bartholomew was able to preach the Good News.
As the sermon this past Sunday pointed out, it is God who bestowed his grace upon Jeremiah to believe his holy word and called him to the role of a prophet. From the Collect today, we understand that it is God who bestowed his grace upon Bartholomew to believe his holy word and to preach the Good News.
But God not only works in ages past, God works in the here and now. Today it is God who bestows his grace upon us to believe his holy word and calls us to preach the Good News of God in Christ.
When you look upon the graces you have received, “grace upon grace” (1 John 1:16), remember to look upon the grace you have received to truly believe and to preach God's word.
Like St. Bartholomew before, God is calling us to a new life in Christ. I pray we have the courage of St. Bartholomew to answer that call.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
August 17, 2016
Keep Calm and . . .
In 1939, as WWII loomed on the European horizon, the British Minister of Information commissioned a series of posters to help boost the morale of English citizens. One of those original posters was, Keep Calm and Carry On. If you have spent any time on the internet, you have probably seen a knock-off version of that at one point or another. And if you haven't, here are a few that I've seen:
Keep Calm and Avoid Zombies; Keep Calm and Write On; Keep Calm and Carry On 'cuz Stuff Happens; Keep Calm and Hakuna Matata; Calm You Shall Keep and Carry On You Must.
We have entered a period of deep change, stress, and uncertainty. For my part, it revolves around managing some important details of two parishes, being inundated by moving company sales reps, working with my wife and daughter to get organized, cleaned, and begin the packing process. Mrs. Ref is saying goodbye to people at her office and hoping to be there long enough to help train her replacement. She is also resigning from her chorus, and will be making a trip to Hagerstown to go house hunting over Labor Day weekend.
For your part, it revolves around finding the next priest for St. Luke's. Will there be supply clergy? Will there be an interim priest? What work do we need to do to prepare for that? What will the Vestry be doing? How involved will Cn. Neysa and Bp. Michael be? And there are probably many other questions that I'm not thinking of.
This swirl of change, stress, and uncertainty will revolve around us for some time, I think. Eventually we will all settle into a new normal where some things remain the same while others are simply recognized as different.
All change is stressful. And we've probably all heard about good change and bad change, good stress and bad stress. We've heard of various ways to manage that stress; I have more than a few books on my shelf written about that very topic. What I've come to realize is that there are really two ways to manage stress: proactively or reactively.
My prayer for St. Luke's is that you, as a body, will choose to be proactive during this time. Instead of focusing on loss, focus on areas of growth. Instead of focusing on problems, work to reframe this time as offering opportunities. For instance, instead of focusing on the potential loss of a Morning Prayer service, the two people who attend regularly are seeing this as a way to be challenged and grow with the opportunity to lead that service themselves, hopeful that their faithfulness will attract others to join them.
And so, as Jesus probably should have said to his disciples upon his departure, “Keep Calm and Carry On – You have much to accomplish.”
Amen.
In 1939, as WWII loomed on the European horizon, the British Minister of Information commissioned a series of posters to help boost the morale of English citizens. One of those original posters was, Keep Calm and Carry On. If you have spent any time on the internet, you have probably seen a knock-off version of that at one point or another. And if you haven't, here are a few that I've seen:
Keep Calm and Avoid Zombies; Keep Calm and Write On; Keep Calm and Carry On 'cuz Stuff Happens; Keep Calm and Hakuna Matata; Calm You Shall Keep and Carry On You Must.
We have entered a period of deep change, stress, and uncertainty. For my part, it revolves around managing some important details of two parishes, being inundated by moving company sales reps, working with my wife and daughter to get organized, cleaned, and begin the packing process. Mrs. Ref is saying goodbye to people at her office and hoping to be there long enough to help train her replacement. She is also resigning from her chorus, and will be making a trip to Hagerstown to go house hunting over Labor Day weekend.
For your part, it revolves around finding the next priest for St. Luke's. Will there be supply clergy? Will there be an interim priest? What work do we need to do to prepare for that? What will the Vestry be doing? How involved will Cn. Neysa and Bp. Michael be? And there are probably many other questions that I'm not thinking of.
This swirl of change, stress, and uncertainty will revolve around us for some time, I think. Eventually we will all settle into a new normal where some things remain the same while others are simply recognized as different.
All change is stressful. And we've probably all heard about good change and bad change, good stress and bad stress. We've heard of various ways to manage that stress; I have more than a few books on my shelf written about that very topic. What I've come to realize is that there are really two ways to manage stress: proactively or reactively.
My prayer for St. Luke's is that you, as a body, will choose to be proactive during this time. Instead of focusing on loss, focus on areas of growth. Instead of focusing on problems, work to reframe this time as offering opportunities. For instance, instead of focusing on the potential loss of a Morning Prayer service, the two people who attend regularly are seeing this as a way to be challenged and grow with the opportunity to lead that service themselves, hopeful that their faithfulness will attract others to join them.
And so, as Jesus probably should have said to his disciples upon his departure, “Keep Calm and Carry On – You have much to accomplish.”
Amen.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
August 10, 2016
Religious disciplines and devotional practices are the scaffolding that supports us, especially in our darkest hour.
“God and the Paraphernalia of God”, Michael Downey, from Weavings, Vol. 30, Num. 2, 2015
Weavings is a publication of the United Methodist Church, much like Forward Day by Day is a publication of the Episcopal Church. I’m not sure where I picked up this particular copy, but it's been on the table in the chapel next to where I sit for Morning Prayer and Eucharist. It was the other morning when I came across this particular quote.
Oftentimes we (or maybe just “I”) hear the words “religious/spiritual disciplines” and “devotional practices” and we get an image of a lonely, bearded monk dressed in a cassock and tucked safely away in some monastery far removed from civilization. Or we think about people who manage to pray, as the psalmist said, “seven times a day.” We tend to think of these disciplines and practices as something difficult to attain and mostly impossible to continue on a regular basis.
If that is how you view spiritual disciplines and practices, may I suggest you take a step back and consider them as the scaffolding that supports you.
Scaffolding, by definition, is a temporary structure on the outside of a building used while building, repairing, or cleaning the building. Ignore for a moment its temporary nature and let's focus on the other part of the definition: used while building, repairing, or cleaning the building.
For us to grow in our spiritual knowledge and health, for us to become what God desires for us, we need to spend time learning and praying. We need to work to build ourselves up as healthy, productive, knowledgeable members of the body of Christ. A spiritual discipline helps to build us up.
Every once in awhile we become damaged and in need of repair. Everything from the loss of a job or loved one to careful consideration of where God might be calling us next can cause us to wonder, or can cause us to face pains we have never faced before. A spiritual discipline can help to soothe those wounds, calm our fears, and repair the damage we have sustained.
And over time we have places in our lives that need to be cleaned up. Whether that is bad habits that have become vices or areas in our lives that have been neglected so long they are dark with pollution, a spiritual discipline or practice can help us shed light on those dark and stained areas so that we might clean them.
A spiritual discipline or practice doesn't have to feel like the fun of life is being sucked from you. Nor do you need to feel like you need to keep up with St. Ignatius in order for your practice to be valid. A spiritual discipline or practice is simply the scaffolding that is used to build, repair, and clean a person looking to deepen their relationship with God.
Scaffolding may not be used every day, but it's nice to have it in good shape when you need it.
Amen.
“God and the Paraphernalia of God”, Michael Downey, from Weavings, Vol. 30, Num. 2, 2015
Weavings is a publication of the United Methodist Church, much like Forward Day by Day is a publication of the Episcopal Church. I’m not sure where I picked up this particular copy, but it's been on the table in the chapel next to where I sit for Morning Prayer and Eucharist. It was the other morning when I came across this particular quote.
Oftentimes we (or maybe just “I”) hear the words “religious/spiritual disciplines” and “devotional practices” and we get an image of a lonely, bearded monk dressed in a cassock and tucked safely away in some monastery far removed from civilization. Or we think about people who manage to pray, as the psalmist said, “seven times a day.” We tend to think of these disciplines and practices as something difficult to attain and mostly impossible to continue on a regular basis.
If that is how you view spiritual disciplines and practices, may I suggest you take a step back and consider them as the scaffolding that supports you.
Scaffolding, by definition, is a temporary structure on the outside of a building used while building, repairing, or cleaning the building. Ignore for a moment its temporary nature and let's focus on the other part of the definition: used while building, repairing, or cleaning the building.
For us to grow in our spiritual knowledge and health, for us to become what God desires for us, we need to spend time learning and praying. We need to work to build ourselves up as healthy, productive, knowledgeable members of the body of Christ. A spiritual discipline helps to build us up.
Every once in awhile we become damaged and in need of repair. Everything from the loss of a job or loved one to careful consideration of where God might be calling us next can cause us to wonder, or can cause us to face pains we have never faced before. A spiritual discipline can help to soothe those wounds, calm our fears, and repair the damage we have sustained.
And over time we have places in our lives that need to be cleaned up. Whether that is bad habits that have become vices or areas in our lives that have been neglected so long they are dark with pollution, a spiritual discipline or practice can help us shed light on those dark and stained areas so that we might clean them.
A spiritual discipline or practice doesn't have to feel like the fun of life is being sucked from you. Nor do you need to feel like you need to keep up with St. Ignatius in order for your practice to be valid. A spiritual discipline or practice is simply the scaffolding that is used to build, repair, and clean a person looking to deepen their relationship with God.
Scaffolding may not be used every day, but it's nice to have it in good shape when you need it.
Amen.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
August 3, 2016
A wise lover regards not so much the gift of the lover, as the love of the giver.
The Imitation of Christ, Book Three, Chapter 6, Thomas A'Kempis
We've all seen this in action at various times in our lives. It is displayed in the artwork or the arts and crafts project a young child presents to his or her mother for Christmas. It shows up when a child wants to make his or her dad proud by washing the car or helping (unasked) with yardwork. It shows up when a partner offers an unexpected gift.
We probably all recognize the opposite of this as well – the wedding ring isn't big enough; the gift doesn't convey the right image; or the movie scenario where the woman is overwhelmed with extravagant gifts that have no meaning.
In The Princess Bride, the only gift that poor stable boy Westley can offer Buttercup are the words, “As you wish.” This obviously isn't much of a gift, but eventually Buttercup realizes that it's not the gift of a lowly stable boy submitting to a person of higher rank as it is that those words express Westley's deep and abiding love for her. And when she finally makes that realization, all is right in her world . . . well, for a bit anyway, as Westley is killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup is set to be married off to the evil Prince Humperdink.
As a person in love, we can focus on the wrong thing. As a person in love, we might be tempted to focus on the gift we are giving, making sure it is appropriate, rather than on the reason we are giving it.
As the object of affection, we can fall into the same trap. As the object of affection, we might be tempted to receive the gift with an, “It's nice, but . . .” attitude.
As Thomas A'Kempis pointed out, it is the wise lover who can look past the gift itself and appreciate the true meaning behind the gift.
In our lives, what gifts have we received where we focused on the wrong thing? In our lives, what gifts have we received where it really wasn't about the gift, but about the love of the one who gave us the gift? And if we can learn to see the love behind the gift, if we can learn to see the love of the person giving the gift, then maybe we can see the gift of bread and wine not as simple gifts, but as the greatest expression of love that God can bestow upon us.
Amen.
The Imitation of Christ, Book Three, Chapter 6, Thomas A'Kempis
We've all seen this in action at various times in our lives. It is displayed in the artwork or the arts and crafts project a young child presents to his or her mother for Christmas. It shows up when a child wants to make his or her dad proud by washing the car or helping (unasked) with yardwork. It shows up when a partner offers an unexpected gift.
We probably all recognize the opposite of this as well – the wedding ring isn't big enough; the gift doesn't convey the right image; or the movie scenario where the woman is overwhelmed with extravagant gifts that have no meaning.
In The Princess Bride, the only gift that poor stable boy Westley can offer Buttercup are the words, “As you wish.” This obviously isn't much of a gift, but eventually Buttercup realizes that it's not the gift of a lowly stable boy submitting to a person of higher rank as it is that those words express Westley's deep and abiding love for her. And when she finally makes that realization, all is right in her world . . . well, for a bit anyway, as Westley is killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup is set to be married off to the evil Prince Humperdink.
As a person in love, we can focus on the wrong thing. As a person in love, we might be tempted to focus on the gift we are giving, making sure it is appropriate, rather than on the reason we are giving it.
As the object of affection, we can fall into the same trap. As the object of affection, we might be tempted to receive the gift with an, “It's nice, but . . .” attitude.
As Thomas A'Kempis pointed out, it is the wise lover who can look past the gift itself and appreciate the true meaning behind the gift.
In our lives, what gifts have we received where we focused on the wrong thing? In our lives, what gifts have we received where it really wasn't about the gift, but about the love of the one who gave us the gift? And if we can learn to see the love behind the gift, if we can learn to see the love of the person giving the gift, then maybe we can see the gift of bread and wine not as simple gifts, but as the greatest expression of love that God can bestow upon us.
Amen.
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