[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:

Dear Friends,
Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “‘You Cannot Shake Hands with a Clenched
Fist.’ (Indira Gandhi)” and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is:

Did you hear about the Sunday school teacher who challenged her little
first graders to write a letter to God?  One little girl wrote: “Dear
God, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.  There
is nothing good in there now.  Even if you don’t do as I say, you can
still be my God.  Love- Amanda.”

Actually there is a very important holy day- really HOLY SEASON
between ChristMass and Easter, and without it, Easter really would
just be bunnies, candy, and eggs.  You know what I’m talking about-
Lent (and it’s almost here now).  I can’t believe it, but Ash
Wednesday is this coming Wednesday, and with it- the beginning of
Lent.  As you know, Lent is our yearly reality-facing time.  Lent is
when we take a serious look at our lives and ask ourselves- “How’s it
going?”  Lent is when we remember that Jesus said he came to give us
life, and we look at our lives to see how well we have accepted his
gift.  Jesus offers, but are we accepting?  Are we actually choosing
life?  Test yourself out- if you found out that you had only today to
live, how would you spend these precious 24 hours?  What would be your
regrets?  What goals have you wished to achieve, but really haven’t
given yourself fully to the effort?  If life were the Olympics, would
you be going for the gold, or just letting up when a bronze metal was
in sight?  Lent is “Get Real” time.  This Wednesday, every single
member should be in church at either noon or 7 PM (unless you’re sick
or working) to get real with God, to face reality, to choose what life
changes need to be made to become the real you, and then- at God’s
altar- make that your 2011 Lenten covenant with God.

Each one of the Bible lessons for today offers guidance in how to live
this Lent- so by Easter we come to God’s altar holier, more fulfilled,
and living life to its fullest.  The Old Testament lesson tells about
Moses getting the Ten Commandments- good guides for us to follow.
Each of the commandments warns of a particular kind of sin that will
separate us from God.  (1) God first.  (2) No idols- not even money or
family.  (3) Don’t treat God’s name lightly.  (4) Keep the Sabbath Day
holy- i.e.100% church attendance every Sunday unless you’re sick or
working- and that doesn’t count cooking or entertaining relatives.
(5) Honor your parents and those in authority.  (6) No murder or
hatred.  (7) No adultery- married means off-limits.  Period!  (8) No
stealing- not even “borrowing” because they owe it to us.  (9) No
lying about someone or ruining another’s reputation with gossip.  (10)
Don’t be jealous of something or someone your neighbor has.  If you’re
doing any of those things- don’t be surprised if your life is a mess.
Did you hear about the grandmother who mailed the family Bible to her
son in another city?  When she took the package to the post office,
the clerk asked, “Anything breakable in there?”  “Not really,” replied
the woman, just the Ten Commandments- and people don’t seem to follow
them anyway these days!”  Sin blocks us from God and his blessings.
Follow them.  Lent is a perfect time to shape up and clean up our
lives.

In both the epistle and the Gospel lessons, we see Peter so amazed at
his experience of watching Jesus transfigured before his eyes- that he
tries to hold it forever by building altars.  His understandable
mistake offers excellent Lenten guidance for fullness of life- don’t
try to hold on to the past.  Live in the present.  The only things
that don’t change are dead.  Choose life.  So check out your life:
What’s holding you back?  Any bad habits?  Any grudges, desires for
revenge, negative thought patterns?  Any negative companions?  Are you
using your time the way you really want, or do you simply allow life
to happen to you?  How much time do you spend hypnotized in front of
the TV set or half- aware because you’re into the alcohol or another
mind-blurring substance?  How much are you shortening the gift of life
God gave you with those cigarettes?  Get real.  Claim life.  This
Lent, see that garbage for what it is and get rid of it.

So this Wednesday is decision time.  Will it be easy?  No!  Is it
possible?  YES!  With God, all things are possible.  Start this
Wednesday, then make a firm decision to stick with it all Lent
through.  Every Sunday, bring your progress and defeats to the altar.

In closing, here’s a poem that sums up what’s possible as we strive to
be the best we can be:
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl;
The one was wise, and a cheery soul.
The other one took a gloomy view
And bade his friend a sad adieu.
Said the other frog with a merry grin,
"I can't get out, but I won't give in;
I'll swim around till my strength is spent,
Then I will die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed,
His struggling began to churn the cream
Until on top of pure butter he stopped,
And out of the bowl he quickly hopped.
The moral, you ask? Oh, it's easily found!
If you can't get out, keep swimming around.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan


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