Epiphany 8A
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Yesterday, I saw a miracle! The crocuses in our front yard bloomed. So too, several of our daffodils! In the garden, the peas are poking up through the soil, and the lettuces and radishes are growing like crazy! All around our house, we saw miracle after miracle right before our very eyes.
These may not seem like miracles to many. They certainly are not as flashy and spectacular as weeping statues or bleeding pictures of saints that draw so many of the devout flocking to see them or from which to obtain some cure for a disease; but they are miracles none the less!
Every year at this time, the earth comes alive again with the budding of plants, the greening of the grass, and the opening of flowers. Plants begin their cycle of life, which gives us life; and they provide us with such a dazzling array of colors and variety, that even the most talented artist cannot duplicate. These tiny miracles, the miracles of Spring I like to call them, speak volumes about the goodness, wonder, and love of God, our Creator; and they provide evidence of his existence and of his Providence in providing for our needs.
When I consider the wonders of all creation, which, despite our advanced scientific knowledge, still are beyond the reach of complete understanding by man, I am reminded that God is God, and that God is Good! While it is true that we as humans have made staggering advances in understanding the world and the universe, and that we may be able through this knowledge and technology to map the genes, split the chromosomes, and smash the atoms, we still cannot create – on our own and from scratch – one single gene, chromosome or atom. The best we can do is to duplicate and manipulate what God can do with a single word; and even then, our duplications and manipulations pale in comparison to the original works of God.
I am reminded of a cute little story about how the Devil went to God one day, to again assert his equality. So, God agreed to give the Devil the opportunity to demonstrate his power. God said, “I think I’ll make a man.” So God reached down, grabbed a handful of dirt, and created a man from the dust of the ground. The Devil said, “Oh, that’s easy! Just watch this!” As the Devil began to scratch together a little pile of dirt to begin making his version of a man, God said, “Um… just a minute… you need to use your own dirt… not mine!” With that, the Devil left, frustrated once more by the sublime and awesome power of God.
We take so much of what we see around us for granted; and in our search for spectacular and flashy miracles as evidence of God’s power and provision, we overlook all the joys and wonders of the Creation that are right in front of our eyes and that speak volumes about that power and provision. For my money, the opening of a simple crocus is just as powerful and spectacular a miracle as Jesus walking on the water. While it may not be as flashy, it certainly is more relevant to where we are today. We were not there when Jesus walked on the water, and have only the report of it as recorded in the Gospels, and we accept in "on faith" as true; but we see before us each and every day, the power, majesty, beauty, and goodness of God in the miracles of his Creation. These little miracles… the crocus, the daffodils, the peas and radishes, the birds returning from their migrations, even the pollen from the trees that we will all soon suffer through, do more to bolster my faith in God and to bolster my dependence and gratitude for God in providing all that I need, than all the stories of miracles past.
If we could grasp just how wonderful God really is, how much he cares for us, and how much he does for us (that we take for granted), we would have an entirely different understanding of our relationship with the Creator; and have an entirely different view of our place in the world and in the great Kingdom of God. This different view and understanding would shift our priorities around, and compel us to be more and do more for the glory of this great God.
This is precisely the point that Jesus is trying to make in today’s Gospel lesson. He tells his disciples that their focus is all wrong, which skews their priorities. They, like us, have been taught that prosperity equates to success, and that having "things" is a measure of status. In our consumerist, capitalist, greedy, selfish world view, we strive and kill ourselves - and even kill others, so we can obtain “things.” We want the best clothes, the best cars, the biggest houses, the latest gadgets, the flashiest electronics, the best food, and so much more. Sadly, we are never really content, even when we have achieved these “best” items and things. We always strive for more; and in our striving for “things”, we miss the point of what life, and a life of faith, are really all about. We miss the miracles all around us.
The “heathens,” Jesus says, are the ones who strive for these “things” always asking what we will eat, what will we drink, what we will wear, and where we will sleep? He points to the Creation, the flowers of the field which are more spectacular than Solomon in all his glorious splendor. He points to the birds, and reminds the Disciples that God in his goodness, feeds them. He asks the disciples if they, by stress and worry, can add a single minute to their life span; and if they cannot do so small thing as that, why worry about food and drink. Is not life more than food and drink?
Jesus says that our striving needs to be focused upon God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness, and everything else that we need, will be provided. This Kingdom of God and His Righteousness of which Jesus is speaking, is not about Heaven, nor is it about the self-serving, sanctimonious striving for religious purity. I think Jesus is talking about striving to establish God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness right here – on the earth, so that in the end, we will enter Heaven where God’s Kingdom is a reality and where He already rules in Righteousness. He has given to us, as His Ambassadors, the authority to make a little bit of Heaven right here and now.
For those of us who embrace the message of Jesus Christ, this striving for the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness should manifest itself, not in self-congratulatory pats-on-the-back because we are “saved” but rather, it should manifest itself in the form of justice, peace, and equality that we strive for and promote. It should manifest itself in our care for the Creation, which God has entrusted to us, and from which we all are fed – whether we grow our own food, buy it at the market, or receive it from a food bank. This striving should manifest itself in our efforts to treat others with dignity and respect as reflections of the Creator, whose image is impressed upon each and every human being. This striving should manifest itself, not in greedy, selfish, grasping, avaricious efforts to have more and buy more, but to be more and do more for God and for others. In doing this, in striving for the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, we will in fact, be establishing His Kingdom here, and implementing in real and powerful ways, the two Great Commandments – to love God and to love others; and we will be the beneficiaries of God’s benign and benevolent provision for all that we need in life… food, clothes, homes, and peace.
My friends, does it really matter if this provision for clothing comes from Macy’s or Goodwill? Does it matter that this provision for food comes from prime rib or hamburger helper? Does it matter that this provision for shelter comes from a big house or a simple trailer or apartment? I say "no"… for God our Creator will take care of us, and provide for us, if we will strive – not for the big house, or fine clothes, or prime rib, but for His Kingdom and His Righteousness. If we will do justice, love mercy, practice contentment, work for the common good, and reflect Jesus Christ to the world in all we do – we will then know the power and provision of God in our lives.
We will also experience and appreciate all the little miracles – those little Spring miracles – and the Summer, Fall, and Winter miracles as well, that point to the very existence, providence, majesty, and power of Almighty God. We will be more content, more stable, more caring, less stressed, less selfish, and our lives will be more in line with what Jesus taught us. We will also ennoble others and raise them up to this same, lofty plain… where success is not measured by prosperity but by compassion, and wealth is not counted in dollars but in blessings.
Sound idealistic and impossible? Perhaps; and it will remain idealistic and impossible, so long as we are unwilling to change our focus and allow that to change our priorities. Until then, we are no better than the “Heathens.” By comparison to this “idealist view” just look at the condition of the world today, and the destruction of society and of the economies, that has been brought upon us by our own greedy, selfish, avaricious striving for things. The nations of the world are bankrupt; and families are homeless, unemployed, and destitute… because we tried to have it all and buy it all - even if we had to charge it and mortgage our future and our children's future. We have been striving for the wrong things… and have done a great injustice to ourselves and to others by this striving as the "Heathens" do. When we strive for “things” that can be lost, eaten, stolen, or destroyed, we miss the “blessings” of what can last forever, and lose the opportunity to make a real difference in the world around us.
My friends, if you are stressed, worried, and filled with the cares of this life – of what to eat – what to drink – what to wear – and where to live; of how you are going to make it; or it you have been striving for money and things as a measure of your success and importance, then let me invite to take a good look around you and see all the miracles that point to God and His Providential Care for us. Then allow these miracles and the words of Jesus to change your focus, change your priorities, and propel you to strive for God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness in all that you do. Then, share these miracles and blessings with those around you, so that they too can experience God and begin their own striving for His Kingdom. This, my friends, is the best cure in the world for all our cares, stresses, and worries; it is the key to grateful contentment; and it is the way that God has always intended for us to live. Amen.
These may not seem like miracles to many. They certainly are not as flashy and spectacular as weeping statues or bleeding pictures of saints that draw so many of the devout flocking to see them or from which to obtain some cure for a disease; but they are miracles none the less!
Every year at this time, the earth comes alive again with the budding of plants, the greening of the grass, and the opening of flowers. Plants begin their cycle of life, which gives us life; and they provide us with such a dazzling array of colors and variety, that even the most talented artist cannot duplicate. These tiny miracles, the miracles of Spring I like to call them, speak volumes about the goodness, wonder, and love of God, our Creator; and they provide evidence of his existence and of his Providence in providing for our needs.
When I consider the wonders of all creation, which, despite our advanced scientific knowledge, still are beyond the reach of complete understanding by man, I am reminded that God is God, and that God is Good! While it is true that we as humans have made staggering advances in understanding the world and the universe, and that we may be able through this knowledge and technology to map the genes, split the chromosomes, and smash the atoms, we still cannot create – on our own and from scratch – one single gene, chromosome or atom. The best we can do is to duplicate and manipulate what God can do with a single word; and even then, our duplications and manipulations pale in comparison to the original works of God.
I am reminded of a cute little story about how the Devil went to God one day, to again assert his equality. So, God agreed to give the Devil the opportunity to demonstrate his power. God said, “I think I’ll make a man.” So God reached down, grabbed a handful of dirt, and created a man from the dust of the ground. The Devil said, “Oh, that’s easy! Just watch this!” As the Devil began to scratch together a little pile of dirt to begin making his version of a man, God said, “Um… just a minute… you need to use your own dirt… not mine!” With that, the Devil left, frustrated once more by the sublime and awesome power of God.
We take so much of what we see around us for granted; and in our search for spectacular and flashy miracles as evidence of God’s power and provision, we overlook all the joys and wonders of the Creation that are right in front of our eyes and that speak volumes about that power and provision. For my money, the opening of a simple crocus is just as powerful and spectacular a miracle as Jesus walking on the water. While it may not be as flashy, it certainly is more relevant to where we are today. We were not there when Jesus walked on the water, and have only the report of it as recorded in the Gospels, and we accept in "on faith" as true; but we see before us each and every day, the power, majesty, beauty, and goodness of God in the miracles of his Creation. These little miracles… the crocus, the daffodils, the peas and radishes, the birds returning from their migrations, even the pollen from the trees that we will all soon suffer through, do more to bolster my faith in God and to bolster my dependence and gratitude for God in providing all that I need, than all the stories of miracles past.
If we could grasp just how wonderful God really is, how much he cares for us, and how much he does for us (that we take for granted), we would have an entirely different understanding of our relationship with the Creator; and have an entirely different view of our place in the world and in the great Kingdom of God. This different view and understanding would shift our priorities around, and compel us to be more and do more for the glory of this great God.
This is precisely the point that Jesus is trying to make in today’s Gospel lesson. He tells his disciples that their focus is all wrong, which skews their priorities. They, like us, have been taught that prosperity equates to success, and that having "things" is a measure of status. In our consumerist, capitalist, greedy, selfish world view, we strive and kill ourselves - and even kill others, so we can obtain “things.” We want the best clothes, the best cars, the biggest houses, the latest gadgets, the flashiest electronics, the best food, and so much more. Sadly, we are never really content, even when we have achieved these “best” items and things. We always strive for more; and in our striving for “things”, we miss the point of what life, and a life of faith, are really all about. We miss the miracles all around us.
The “heathens,” Jesus says, are the ones who strive for these “things” always asking what we will eat, what will we drink, what we will wear, and where we will sleep? He points to the Creation, the flowers of the field which are more spectacular than Solomon in all his glorious splendor. He points to the birds, and reminds the Disciples that God in his goodness, feeds them. He asks the disciples if they, by stress and worry, can add a single minute to their life span; and if they cannot do so small thing as that, why worry about food and drink. Is not life more than food and drink?
Jesus says that our striving needs to be focused upon God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness, and everything else that we need, will be provided. This Kingdom of God and His Righteousness of which Jesus is speaking, is not about Heaven, nor is it about the self-serving, sanctimonious striving for religious purity. I think Jesus is talking about striving to establish God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness right here – on the earth, so that in the end, we will enter Heaven where God’s Kingdom is a reality and where He already rules in Righteousness. He has given to us, as His Ambassadors, the authority to make a little bit of Heaven right here and now.
For those of us who embrace the message of Jesus Christ, this striving for the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness should manifest itself, not in self-congratulatory pats-on-the-back because we are “saved” but rather, it should manifest itself in the form of justice, peace, and equality that we strive for and promote. It should manifest itself in our care for the Creation, which God has entrusted to us, and from which we all are fed – whether we grow our own food, buy it at the market, or receive it from a food bank. This striving should manifest itself in our efforts to treat others with dignity and respect as reflections of the Creator, whose image is impressed upon each and every human being. This striving should manifest itself, not in greedy, selfish, grasping, avaricious efforts to have more and buy more, but to be more and do more for God and for others. In doing this, in striving for the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, we will in fact, be establishing His Kingdom here, and implementing in real and powerful ways, the two Great Commandments – to love God and to love others; and we will be the beneficiaries of God’s benign and benevolent provision for all that we need in life… food, clothes, homes, and peace.
My friends, does it really matter if this provision for clothing comes from Macy’s or Goodwill? Does it matter that this provision for food comes from prime rib or hamburger helper? Does it matter that this provision for shelter comes from a big house or a simple trailer or apartment? I say "no"… for God our Creator will take care of us, and provide for us, if we will strive – not for the big house, or fine clothes, or prime rib, but for His Kingdom and His Righteousness. If we will do justice, love mercy, practice contentment, work for the common good, and reflect Jesus Christ to the world in all we do – we will then know the power and provision of God in our lives.
We will also experience and appreciate all the little miracles – those little Spring miracles – and the Summer, Fall, and Winter miracles as well, that point to the very existence, providence, majesty, and power of Almighty God. We will be more content, more stable, more caring, less stressed, less selfish, and our lives will be more in line with what Jesus taught us. We will also ennoble others and raise them up to this same, lofty plain… where success is not measured by prosperity but by compassion, and wealth is not counted in dollars but in blessings.
Sound idealistic and impossible? Perhaps; and it will remain idealistic and impossible, so long as we are unwilling to change our focus and allow that to change our priorities. Until then, we are no better than the “Heathens.” By comparison to this “idealist view” just look at the condition of the world today, and the destruction of society and of the economies, that has been brought upon us by our own greedy, selfish, avaricious striving for things. The nations of the world are bankrupt; and families are homeless, unemployed, and destitute… because we tried to have it all and buy it all - even if we had to charge it and mortgage our future and our children's future. We have been striving for the wrong things… and have done a great injustice to ourselves and to others by this striving as the "Heathens" do. When we strive for “things” that can be lost, eaten, stolen, or destroyed, we miss the “blessings” of what can last forever, and lose the opportunity to make a real difference in the world around us.
My friends, if you are stressed, worried, and filled with the cares of this life – of what to eat – what to drink – what to wear – and where to live; of how you are going to make it; or it you have been striving for money and things as a measure of your success and importance, then let me invite to take a good look around you and see all the miracles that point to God and His Providential Care for us. Then allow these miracles and the words of Jesus to change your focus, change your priorities, and propel you to strive for God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness in all that you do. Then, share these miracles and blessings with those around you, so that they too can experience God and begin their own striving for His Kingdom. This, my friends, is the best cure in the world for all our cares, stresses, and worries; it is the key to grateful contentment; and it is the way that God has always intended for us to live. Amen.
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