Conceiving of the Holy

Advent 4, 20 Dec 2020

Lk 1:26-38

John the Baptist

Many Christians throughout the world are celebrating the last Sunday of Advent, a season of preparing ourselves spiritually for the coming of the Christ.

John the Baptist has led the way through Advent calling us to repent and prepare our hearts to be baptized by Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

When we deepen our spiritual living, we realize that everything we do is about Christ and not about us. “He must increase, I must decrease.”

Remember Jesus saying “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”: your life is not about you, you are about life. In other words: 

Your life is not about you, you are about Christ.

The Church’s ministry is about Jesus’ Kingdom of Love, and about drawing us and all those around us into that freedom and love.

Mary, the Mother of God, has something to teach us about drawing others into God’s kingdom of freedom and love.

Mary and You and Me and the Annunciation

Listening: “Hail full of grace! The Lord is with you”

Pondering: “she pondered what sort of greeting this might be”

Consenting: “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Receiving: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”

Conceiving: “you will conceive in your womb”

Christ and His Kingdom of Love: “of his kingdom there will be no end”

Mary shows us the way for deep spiritual living, she shows us the way to the feast of Christmas.

Christmas

When we spiritually give birth to God who is Love in our lives, the people around us know it by how non-judgemental and compassionate we are to others and how loving we are in our everyday ordinary lives and activities. 

With Mary, let us say “yes” to the word of the angel.

Let us become pregnant with the holy.

Let us embody God’s compassion and love and joy. 

God is with us. Emmanuel.

Advent Witnessing

Advent 3, Yr. B, Dec 13, 2020

John 1:6-8, 19-28

The first Sunday of Advent we spoke about “watch, stay awake, because you do not know when the Master is coming.”

Last Sunday we spoke about “in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord,” our need to create space within us in order to experience the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Today, the third Sunday of Advent, we are going to reflect on the witness of John the Baptist and our need to tell others about Christ.

John’s Witness 

v.7 “John came as a witness to speak for the Light” (a voice crying in the wilderness).

v.19 “this is how John appeared as a witness…[pointing to Christ]”

John’s witness is by pointing beyond himself to Christ

“he must increase and I must decrease.”

“I baptize with water, but there stands among you the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal strap. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

“behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”

All of what John did pointed to Jesus!

John wanted others to know

John’s life and witness is “preparing the way of the Lord” by pointing the crowds to Christ. John wanted others to know.

Our Advent preparations, indeed our life and witness in preparing the way of the Lord is to point beyond ourselves to Jesus who shows us the Christ life, the life of unitive Love.

All of us need a Saviour, all of us need someone who can show us the way to the deeper life of God. All of us, in our Christian context, need Jesus.

The mission of the Christian church, in loving our neighbour and creation, is to witness to the way of Jesus!

In this context of preparing ourselves and others for the coming of the Christ…

How does your life and witness point beyond itself to the Love that is Christ?

What are you saying that is a witness to the Love that is Christ?

What are you doing in your life that is a witness to the Love that is Christ? 

Conclusion

In the midst of all the numbing business of the secular world around us, let us learn to be spiritually still and to slow down, to know Christ within us and amongst us and AS us.

May Christ come to us as we love and serve others.

May Christ come to others through us. 

Remembrance Sunday, 15 November 2020

Remembrance Sunday, November 15, 2020

Matthew 5

Today we are commemorating Remembrance Sunday.

I remember …. Walking on the fields of Beaumont Hamel, and being reminded of the horrible loss of lives in the 1st World War…

I remember… my dad’s war medals and six brothers who went over seas during the 2nd World War…

I remember … being a chaplain in the Canadian Forces and preparing soldiers for conflict in Croatia and Afghanistan…

I remember….as an army chaplain, having to deliver the news to the parents whose son died in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. 

I remember …. When my own son was on the front lines of Afghanistan, was in two IED explosions, in constant fire fights. I remember thinking that he would be coming home in casket draped in the Canadian flag.

We remember, as families of those who have served in the Canadian Forces. We remember as citizens of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We remember as citizens of the nation of Canada. We remember those who have given their lives in the conflicts that we have been involved in around this global village. 

We remember … the ongoing political and economic evils in our world, that subverts the dignity of human life and creation. 

We remember … that Jesus said …

“Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.” Matt 5:9

We have a responsibility to find ways to offer something of ourselves for the benefit of those around the world who cannot help themselves.

Jesus asks us to lay down our lives for our neighbours. He asks us to be peacemakers. All people of good will are called to help those who cannot help themselves.

So today, let us remember and give thanks for our men and women of our Armed Forces who have sacrificed themselves for others.

And as a people and a nation, let us continue our stand against evil and injustice in our world.

The Church is Always Rediscovering its Way

The Church in every generation is a Church that needs to “rediscover” its way, its purpose for existence.

The Church in every generation is a church that needs to discover the risen life of Christ, the very Cornerstone of what it means to be human.

Until we encounter Christ, and the ongoing change that Christ can bring to our lives, we will be unable to produce the good fruits of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus tells the parable of the landowner whose tenants abused and killed those who came to collect the fruit of the land.

Historically, this is a story of how the people of God rejected the prophets and killed the Messiah.

Pastorally, this a story of warning that if we, the people of God, do not produce good fruit, we will lose what God has given us.

The call to Kingdom living

“Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

If we are not trying to live the Kingdom life, in relationship with Christ, producing the good fruits of forgiveness, love and reconciliation, then we forfeit the kingdom life ourselves.

The same is true for the Church in every generation. It is especially true for the church now in this Covid-19 pandemic.

If we loose focus on being Kingdom people, even during a pandemic, and doing the work of mission, then the church dies – and so it should.

The “maintenance” model of the Church – building, priest, liturgy – is a model of spiritual death. And this is the model that most of the mainline Church that we know still lives by. That is why most of the Church that we know is in decline.

We need to be careful that Covid-19 does not shrink us further into this maintenance model of church.

The “mission” model of the Church – community, faith, action – is a model of life and vitality. It is a model that is interested in genuine relationships, in nurturing a maturing faith, and in reaching out to the needs of the world around us.

Reaching out, in creative and safe ways, even during a pandemic. 

A mission church is:

• a church that accepts Jesus Christ as Lord.
• a church that is producing the fruits of the Spirit.
• a church that is reaching out and connecting in meaningful and relevant ways.
• a Kingdom Church.

“Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”

Outrageous Generosity

what generosity

outrageous generosity

in God's 

Kindom 

all are treated 

the same

all are seen

as equal

no matter

when

you come

early 

late

as long as you

respond

as long as you 

come

you will be 

welcomed

the same

given

the same

you are

the same

The Foundational Reason for the Existence of the Church

The ministry of the Church is multifold. But what is at the very “heart” of our ministry? What is the first and foundational reason for the existence of Christian Church?

RELATIONSHIP!

We are made for relationship.

We are made to be in right relationship with each other. 

We are made to be in right relationship with creation.

We are made to be in right relationship with God.

But guess what?

We do and say hurtful things.

We cause problems in our relationships with God and each other.

The Christ event - forgiveness, unimaginable love, and union - has restored us into right relationship with God and one another. 

Putting it into practice is another story!

Reconciling broken relationships

“If your brother or sister sins against you…tell him his fault between you and him alone…take one or two others along with you…tell the Church…” Matthew

1. We need to use wisdom and initiative in seeking to reconcile broken relationships.  

2. This is not easy.  

3. Many people, when something goes wrong, drop the relationship or leave the community.  

That being said, not all relationships are healable at the surface. Both parties have to want to be reconciled. And often that doesn’t happen. Yet we have to maintain an open hearted stance to the possibility of reconciliation. 

In fact, if there are people in our lives that continue to cause us harm, we need to walk away from them.

Foundationally, in order for us to be open to restoring broken relationships, we need to be openly part of the process of being continually changed by the Word of God, and the Loving Presence and activity of God within us.

Soft Heart and Soft Eyes

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm)

Hearing the Word of God is meant to change and soften our hearts, and soften our eyes toward one another.

We are made to love God and one another.

Let all of us commit to being open to the healing Presence and activity of God within us, and from that open hearted stance, to be open to the healing of the broken relationships in our families and communities. 

Why Bother Physically Gathering With The Church During a Pandemic?

Sunday, March 22, 2020, the entire diocese gathered on line to virtually participate in liturgy and to hear from the Bishop of the diocese. Beginning on that date congregations were no longer permitted to physically gather because of Covid-19 restrictions and a pandemic that brought the entire world to a standstill. Countless people have been adversely affected by the virus itself, the physical distancing restrictions, and the economic fallout. Covid-19 is with us for the foreseeable future. We are all still adjusting, recovering and longing for reconnecting in the community. And although fatigued with physical distancing, and opening up our “bubbles” to more people, we have to be vigilant in maintaining government social distancing directions if we want to keep our families safe in and through our still uncertain future. 

 

That being said, the churches of our diocese have now been given permission to reopen to physical gathering liturgy starting on Sunday, September 13. As of that date, it was six months since the church last physically gathered and shared in the Holy Communion together. Personally, I so miss being with the gathered church, and I so miss sharing in the Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ. But when the list of church restrictions was sent out, my first thought was “why bother going to church?”

 

No touching. No socializing. No singing. Wearing masks. Sitting six feet apart. Ushered in. Ushered out. No human contact. These restrictions in no way reflect the church that has for so long nurtured my soul in warm and deeply connected community.

 

But as I thought about it more and got past my initial reactions, I realized the absolute value of physically gathering with the church, even with the pandemic restrictions. 

 

There is value in listening to the beauty of the music…with others physically present. 

There is value in hearing the Word of God…with others physically present. 

There is value in sharing the Eucharist…with others physically present.

There is value in being lovingly present to God…with others physically present.

There is value in being lovingly present to others…with others physically present.

 

The energy and love of our physical presence, in the context of liturgy when we are together opening our hearts up to the larger life of Christ, invites and facilitates deep and transformative human contact. 

 

In a pandemic or not, there are not too many places like a gathered and loving church, that can have such a necessary and positive effect on your body and soul from the physical and loving presence of others. 

 

There are those because of age, illness or some other personal reason, that will choose to continue to join the church on line beyond September 13. For others of us, it is time to come back to the gathered church that we have been missing for six long months. And there are others again, who may have come to know the church in a new way on line, and may feel drawn to meet that church in person. Either way, the church has an essential role in the well being of our society, and it is worth the bother of getting Back To Church.