Jesus is Not the Hometown Hero

Last Sunday the rector of my church was out of town. She had come to me at the beginning of the summer and asked if I was willing to lead morning prayer and preach one Sunday if she needed to go out of town. I said I would and a few weeks later she emailed me with a date and the readings for that Sunday. On July 1, in anticipation of being distracted all week by really good books, I sat down and wrote (in about an hour and a half) my sermon. Satisfied I had a friend read over it and thought nothing else of it until it was time to print it out and read it. Summer attendance being what it is at a smaller parish attendance was on the low side on Sunday, but as a whole the experience was delightful. And surprisingly natural. I didn't have much time for nerves over my sermon and I didn't even panic when things didn't go quite right (none of the acolytes showed up, I was very hot, the microphone took a lot of getting used to, and one of the readers got very confused and ended up not reading the first lesson at the later service). And now without further ado, the sermon I preached on Mark 6:1-13.

Imagine with me for a moment that you are a young adult. You have already left home and gone out into the world to discover who you are. You’ve got a place you call home (a nice house on a hill), a job that pays spectacularly and you love it dearly, and some close friends that support your every decision. You have some time off from work so you decide to go visit your hometown; you bring your close friends along with a promise to show them around. Now imagine that you arrive in your hometown, only to be scoffed at by the inhabitants. They remember when you were the kid from around the corner who had very little money and a very big family. Now suddenly they accuse you of thinking you’re better then them; “Who do you think you are?” they say. “Just because you have money now, doesn’t make you better then us!” Sound familiar to anyone? If not, substitute faith in God for money; count out 12 faithful disciples, and a calling from God for the job. Now you have some idea of what Jesus was dealing with in this morning’s Gospel.

We would like to think that the town in which we were raised-if in our modern move-around-constantly society we were so lucky to have just one-would be the town that would support us and welcome us home with open arms. We want that town to be among the first to believe in us, and the first to fight for us. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in small towns all across America I like to think that’s still a possibility.

It was certainly a reality in Jesus’ time. Women lived to do all the menial labor for men-cook, clean clothes, bring in water, raise the children, milk and feed the animals, harvest olives and fruits, and various other tasks. Which meant that often times women gathered to do their work together and brought their children with them. In a town like Nazareth, it is right to guess that most of the women would have helped Mary raise Jesus and His siblings. When you help raise a child, you come to know them in ways that complete strangers do not. You see when they fall and scrap their knee, their first argument with siblings-yes I think Jesus probably argued with His siblings too, you come to understand and help shape what kind of person they will be.

So on that day when Jesus brought the disciples to Nazareth thinking to show them around His home town, maybe even hoping to be able to relax a little and visit with His family, you can imagine how surprised He was by how they treated Him. “What is this wisdom given to him?” “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” You can almost hear them sneering at Him, their utter disbelief in what He has to say. He is Mary’s son (not Joseph’s you will note) ergo He is not worth their time. I can just hear the shock coming from the disciples as they try to understand how the people in this town can be so dismissive of their Rabbi. “Don’t you know who this man is?” they might say. “This man has cast out demons, healed lepers, raised the dead, fed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, and walked on water; how dare you speak to Him thus!”

I also imagine that Jesus would just sigh and calmly but sadly tell them to let it go. He would do what healing He could, but He wouldn’t try to force the issue. Its kind of like when you know someone really well and you get into an argument with them, at some point during that argument you realize that no matter what you say or how convincing you are you simply aren’t going to change their mind. I think Jesus hoped that by acting instead of speaking He would convince more of them to realize who and whose He was. Actions speak louder then words; unless you are Jesus in your hometown of Nazareth I guess.

It can be so difficult sometimes for the people closest to you to see you for who you really are. When we spend so much time getting to know someone, we slip into that comfortable space of thinking that they will never change. Baring a big shocking change, it may take years for us to realize that the person we knew no longer exists; or they do but not in way we are used to. As much as we are a fast changing society and we push to be adaptive, no one really likes big changes. There is a reason that so many traditions have lasted for hundreds of thousands of years; human beings are creatures of habit. I think that Jesus going to Nazareth with His disciples was God’s way of experiencing that first hand. And I believe that this story is important to Mark because he hopes that by reading it we will remember that we don’t have control over the lives of those around us. Yes, some people will change and it will not be for the better; but some people need to change in order to grow into the person that God asks them to be.

It is incredibly important for us to remember that our lives are in God’s hands. We can choose to put it there willingly, or we can try to take the reins ourselves and watch it go not according to our plans. Which do you choose?

Storytime

I feel like I owe anyone who has read this blog an explanation. First, an apology. I experienced a lot of frustration when I was going through the formal process last year and at the beginning of this year I stepped away from lots of things with no explanation. So now for a little story time.

In January/February of this year, after weeks of prayerful consideration I decided to remove myself from the formal process in the Diocese of Maryland. I was too focused on the financial obligations and way too stressed out by the whole experience. I wrote a formal letter of withdrawal and sent it to the Diocese. In it I explained what I was doing and why. I decided that I need more time outside of the process to discern what God is calling me to do with the gifts and talents He has given me. I spent so much time focused on what the next step was and worried about money that I was becoming unable to see or discern anything else. My discernment process was getting in the way of my discernment.

I spent the next several months focusing on my job-substitute teaching-and just letting life come as it would. At the end of March I had a jolt of surprise. I took three of my youth group kids (high schoolers) and practically shoved them outside of their comfort zone. Along with some other youth from our Diocese we headed to West Virginia and spent the weekend in the middle of the woods at a Conference/Camp Center with other youth from our Province. When the youth met for small groups, all the adults gathered together to talk and share experiences. When asked what I do at my home parish I explained and they responded by saying "so you're the youth minister." I was hesitant to agree because I don't wear a collar and don't get paid for what I do, but they insisted and my youth group kids agreed; and so suddenly I had achieved a new title without really trying to.

My only real goals at this point in the summer are 1) get some of the youth group to show up for a volunteer event they wanted to do-summer schedules are hard but they insist they still want to do it-and 2) to get signed up for an early childhood education class at the local community college-I'm hoping that it will give me the knowledge I need to take some tests and get my teaching certificate by the end of next summer. I try to take it one day at a time and listen carefully to what God is saying, but some days all I hear is silence on the other end of that conversation; something that has taken time to accept, but I know that when the time is right if I'm truly listening I will hear what I'm supposed to.

The Healing Power of Faith

I hope to give an update on everything that has happened over the last month and a half soon. In the meantime here is the sermon I preached at my home parish during the 10:30 Youth Service. The passage for the Gospel is Mark 1:21-28. And yes, it is the Gospel for next Sunday; turns out I can't count.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus spent a large portion of His life and ministry healing people; making the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead living again, and lepers whole. Was his motive to have compassion on each person according to their need, to display his authority and power as God’s agent? Is it possible that God wished to radically expand the community He calls the kingdom by restoring those who were excluded because of their illnesses? This morning’s gospel is the first story in Mark of Jesus’ public ministry. He has found His “fishers of men” and now He is starting to speak to the public. It just so happens that He starts this ministry in Mark with an act of healing, following an authoritative teaching, which soon has the whole town talking. It would be like if you were a scientist and your first research project resulted in a cure for breast cancer. To that end, Jesus hits the mark every time; revealing who He is and giving us a new sense of God’s greater plans.

“The healing power of faith” is one of those phrases we hear so often that it has become a dreaded cliché. How many of you have really thought about what it means? What does it mean to have a faith so strong and powerful, that it heals? How do we know what faith is, and what do we mean by healing: a cure or something that goes deeper than the physical?

According to the Hebrews, the body and soul are inextricably intertwined; if one is suddenly out of balance the other is soon to follow. In Greek the verb sozo means both to heal and to save, and the word soter means both savior and physician. In Buddhism and Hinduism, they believe that there are 7 distinct chakras of the human body that keep us in balance and draw us closer to the Divine. The Chinese and other cultures, to bring understanding of stability and longevity, study the concept of qi. These concepts are all famously embodied in some fashion in The Force in the “Star Wars” films.

We are constantly seeking ways to bring balance to our lives. Some of us practice yoga, another ancient concept meant to bring balance between spirituality and humanity. Most of us pray, in hopes that God will hear our request for healing and bring the desired balance back into our lives.

All our prayers for healing in times of sickness liken us to the woman who sneaks up in a crowd to touch Jesus’ robe, believing that touching the robe will heal her. “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’” (Mark 5:21-23)

The Gospel of Mark often portrays Christ as a servant. We read stories of Jesus reaching out to the poor, the outcast, those living on the fringes of society. Then, being ill often meant being excluded from community; so healing restored one to the group which is more than individual wellbeing. He reaches out a hand to those men and women who are so desperate for that healing touch, so desperate to believe that they can be healed. He shows us that compassion, love, and faith can be the most powerful tools in our arsenal as servants of God. He tells us that no matter the circumstances, no matter the struggles we feel we are facing, God is always there to lift us up if we but reach out and touch His robe.

Anyone can pray for healing; you don’t have to be a priest, and you don’t have to just pray for yourself. The Prayers of the People are the most well known way we pray for the healing of others, but you don’t have to wait for Sunday morning services. If you are with the person, try laying your hands on them and asking God to use your hands and your faith to bring healing upon them. You may feel foolish at first, but with God, He asks only that we try. Remember, there is no right or wrong time to ask for healing from God. If you are seeking healing for yourself, there is a wonderful little prayer in the BCP on page 461.

“O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

It is important to note, that we are not always seeking healing from illness and disease. Sometimes the sins we commit can cause us to feel out of balance. In times like this, we can seek the help of Christ, but it can also be beneficial to involve another person. This kind of prayer is called confession; and once again, you don’t need to go to a priest. Sometimes it can be therapeutic to simply “confess” what’s on your mind to a close friend, and pray about it afterwards. God doesn’t want us to live in suffering and pain. We have only to ask to receive His forgiveness and grace.

Internship Week of December 4th

        Sunday was my last at my internship parish. It was a great day. The congregation said a prayer for me, led by the rector; they wished me well and said they would keep me in their prayers. It was a moment when I felt the Holy Spirit at work, and knew that I was where God wanted me to be at that occasion. They were having their annual St. Nicholas Fair after the service; which was a fantastic opportunity for me to have some fellowship with the parishioners I have spent the last 12 weeks with. They all wanted to know where I was going next, what I would be doing, and hoped that I would come back to visit. I was sad because I’ve grown fond of the people I’ve met there and the experiences I’ve had were amazing. At the same time, I feel that this is the right thing; that my time here is done at least for the foreseeable future. So I found myself wondering if I would be able to come back and visit. I would like very much so to visit, but I don’t yet know if that is the appropriate thing to do. I mean that in the sense that, I’m moving forward from my internship parish. It was never intended to be a permanent place for me, but rather a place for me to grow and learn. If I were a priest at my internship parish leaving to go to another position, would returning to my former parish be possible? Not realistically. I would be involved on Sunday mornings and during the week, and sometimes a clean break is what’s best for all persons involved. These are the things that I will continue to mull over during my transition back into my home parish. I’m excited to delve into things at my home church again, and to see what my experiences can bring to my home congregation.

Internship Week of November 27th

            I had my final meeting with the rector at my internship this week. We talked about how the I think the internship went, what I learned, and where I see myself at this point. It has been an unbelievably positive experience, and she has been an amazing mentor. She fully supports where I see myself right now, and thinks it is the right decision for me.

            

            We discussed what I see myself doing when I return from my home parish, and I mentioned that I would like to do some adult education type classes. Since my home parish is so small, there really isn’t the forum for adult Christian formation like there is at my internship. I’m not going to attempt a massive overhaul, but I would like to do some things. I would like to perhaps (rector willing and congregation interested) teach a weeknight Lenten Educational program in the spring, using the book “Have a Little Faith.” If that goes well I would like to do something for Advent next year and then another Lenten Program the following spring. I hope that if parishioners enjoy the programs, they will be interested in stepping up and leading a class themselves, and we will be able to grow the adult education program that way. I learned a lot about the different ways in which to engage an adult audience from the different kinds of adult programs I attended at my internship; I’m interested to see which ones will be the most successful at my home parish.

Internship Week of November 20th

I did a lot of thinking about what’s next for me this week. After learning that I can postpone my interviews for postulancy and all related aspects until next year, I began to pray in earnest about whether this is the right decision for me. I won't have to repeat DOV provided that I pay the DOV fee-which is very doable-and submit a letter to the COM in lieu of the postulancy application. I think this works better for me for several reasons. The first being that coming to this decision has given me a sense of calm, rightness, that this is what I need to do. I have been rather stressed over the financial issue, and it has consumed my energy and focus when I should have been able to focus on my experiences at St. John's. It also means I haven't prepared for applying to seminary in the spring the way that I would like to (taken GREs, looked at scholarships, etc.). It will allow for less pressure put on others, because I should be able to pay the remaining fee by next year. This means I don't have to place the burden on others who don't need that kind of burden at this time of year. I feel that the less debt I have going into seminary, the better. It also means we have over a year to find a permanent way to fill the void it seems I will leave at my home parish.

            I also want to spend the time discerning how to better articulate why I need to be ordained in order to perform my ministry for Christ. I feel I will be better prepared for postulancy interviews if I take this route. I want to focus my time on discerning ordained versus lay ministry, so that when I sit before the COM and the Bishop I can clearly express where I see God calling me and why. While I am not eager for the span of time I will spend seemingly "in limbo" I believe this is what God wants me to do right now. There is a lot of peace I get from this decision, which makes me believe it is the appropriate one.

Internship Week of November 13th

I attended a very enlightening Adult Education Class Monday night; where the discussion was based on “Einstein’s God” by Krista Tippett, and centered on religion versus science. Throughout history, religion and science have been at opposing ends of many debates. We spent over an hour discussing various themes from the book and the influences of society on religion and science over the years. Then before we left, the Rector gave us a task. She encouraged us all to find our favorite Bible Stories from childhood, reread them, and consider some or all of the following questions: What did the story say to the people who first heard it? Who’s missing? How would we tell it differently today? Why is it where it is in the Bible? What if…..?

            As a child I loved the story of Ruth; mostly because that’s my middle name, but also because hers is a story that we don’t hear often on Sunday mornings. I think that this story was one that many people could understand when they first heard it. It is rich in the traditions of Israel, and don’t sound farfetched in the way that some of the other stories do at times. It speaks to courage, loyalty, traditions, faith, love, kindness, support, honor, and the strength of family. It took all of those traits for Ruth to go with Naomi back to Bethlehem. I think that is the part of the story that would have been the most surprising at the time. She had no guaranteed future with her mother-in-law, no marriage prospects; she was going to a place where she was considered an outsider, why would she go? She went for love; she had made a family with her husband and mother-in-law, and rather then going back and starting over she chose to stay with her family. It was that love and family loyalty that God blessed with a child to Ruth and Boaz.

            This is a tough story to translate to modern times. Many of the traditions mentioned in the story, people are unfamiliar with. The values to be learned are easy enough to take away, despite the time period difference. Love and respect for your family is important, because they will remain loyal to you and support you in times of despair and struggle. Perhaps just simplifying the story would be enough to modernize it. Ruth stubbornly chooses to go with her mother-in-law to another country after her husband dies, there she unknowingly gets a job working for a close family relative, he takes her under his wing and ensures that she and her mother-in-law are taken care of, they fall in love and get married, she bares them a son. Perhaps still a little fantasized, but the story still retains the values important to it.

            We could also ask ourselves, what if Ruth had chosen not to go? What if Orpah had refused to return to her family as well? What if the next-of-kin hadn’t been willing to relinquish his claim? What if Ruth had gone to a different man’s field? There are so many points in this story where a different action could have totally altered the outcome. How often in our own lives have we chosen between two things, and then looked back years later and wondered what if? It shows us that God’s guidance in our lives is almost always something we can’t see without hindsight.