It Just Never Happens

Epiphany 4C

Jeremiah, 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6

1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

St. Matthias

February 3, 2019

           When I look at the scripture readings for Sunday – usually on Tuesday – ONE usually kinda of jumps out at me.  Sometimes it doesn’t happen until I read them again on Wednesday.  I pray – I study – I may read through a past sermon to see what I thought 3 – 6 or even 20 years ago.  Usually – by Thursday – I have a pretty good idea what the sermon is going to sound like.  Finish on Friday – practice on Saturday – and then preach on Sunday. 

           But this week it hasn’t worked.  And it wasn’t because one of these scripture readings didn’t jump out – the problem was – they all did.  That just never happens.  Usually, there is at least 1 and maybe 2 of the readings that would end up being a long and boring sermon.  Another might be good, but I just can’t hear a sermon in it.  And there is almost always 1 that speaks to me at this moment in my life.  But this week, every time I’d read them I liked them all – they all spoke to me and that just never happens. 

           First is the call of the prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is a young man when God calls him to tell the people of Israel to stop worshipping false idols.  Jeremiah is afraid he will not know what to say and God puts out his hand, touches his lips and puts the words in his mouth.  And this sounds like a really good metaphor except that it has happened to me.  As I said last week there are those moments when I know that what I say could only come from God.  I am just not smart enough or holy enough or have enough faith to know what to say when people are hurting, sick, and feeling far from the love of God.  There are times when you hear something in my sermon that I didn’t even know was important and yet later you tell me that was exactly what you needed to hear.  That for me is a God moment.  God touched my lips and just the right thing was said.

           That could have been the sermon right there, but the Psalm is one of my favorites. 

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed

 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe

If it sounds familiar its part of Compline – one of my favorite worship services in the BCP.  The next time you feel like the world is caving in on all sides – find a quiet place and pray this psalm.  Imagine God all around you.  As you breathe, feel the breath of God moving in and out.  Close your eyes, give thanks, and know the peace that passes all understanding.

           Now, who thought about weddings as you listened to 1 Corinthians 13?  Over 30 years I guess I have celebrated at over 100 weddings and this reading has been included in just about all of them.  Love is patient, Love is kind.  Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  And to quote the Beatles – all you need is LOVE!  The Greeks had 6 different words for LOVE and God’s love – Agape – was the highest – most perfect form.  It is the love that defines all others.  We love because God first loved us.  We are to love our neighbors and ourselves.  Love never ends so we should share love every day.  We all know how to love and we all know someone we can share our love and so we should.  And then the next day start again.  What a great New Year’s resolution – I will love someone every day.  Conscientiously, intentionally, and purposefully I will share the Love of God with someone else by loving them and telling them so.  You can send a card, give them a hug, call them to tell them that today you have prayed for them because you love them.  You can do this anytime, any place, and with anyone you choose and you don’t even have to be at a wedding.

           And this sermon could have picked up where I left off last week with the Gospel of Luke.  Jesus in the temple reading from the prophet Isaiah and proclaiming the scriptures have been fulfilled.  But it's hard when you come back to your own hometown where people know you.  They did not like Jesus’s words.  They tried to throw him off a cliff.  I love the last verse where Luke says that “He passed through the midst of them and went his own way.”  And what I heard there was the reminder that Christ is the one unchanging part of my life.  No matter what I do or where I go or what happens – God never changes.  I need that constant in my life.  Whether I am in a hospital room and God is speaking through me – or lonely and afraid in need of a strong rock – or sharing Agape – the love of God with someone in our parish – someone picking up beans and rice or someone searching for the love we have found at St. Matthias – God is always with me – and has been since before we were born – our refuge – loving us – constantly – always.

          

           All of these scripture readings stand out this week.  They will all preach.  That just never happens.  Thanks be to God.  AMEN.