<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body><div>Forwarded: </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.</div></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> </div><div>Date: 08/12/2018 9:30 pm (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 2C: “Peace- Starting with Yourself” or “Second Chances” </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Peace- Starting with Yourself” or “Second Chances”
and deals with the gospel (Luke 3: 1-6).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Here it is: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Here it is- the second Sunday in Advent already, and we’re doing our
best to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus on ChristMass Eve when he comes to
us in a very real and wonderfully special way in our service.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today’s gospel speaks to that, because we
hear Jesus’ cousin- John the Baptist, preaching and baptizing and doing
everything he could to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>John baptized in the middle of the Jordan River.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You
remember the Jordan River from your Sunday
school days?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember how the Israelites
were freed from Egypt,
crossed the Red Sea, wandered in the desert,
and then crossed the Jordan River into the
Promised Land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In spite of their
promises, they were extremely disloyal to God and finally divided into two countries,
much like the United States
almost did during the Civil War.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
spite of repeated warnings from the prophets, they continued their most serious
sins- idolatry and misusing the poor.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Finally, the northern kingdom (Israel) was destroyed by an extremely
cruel country- Assyria; and (some time later)
the southern kingdom (Judah)
was taken into exile by the country of Babylon.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Israel never was restored, but the Judah was; they
were allowed to return from Babylon
to their homeland about 450 years before Jesus was born.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Why am I telling you all this?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I’m telling you so you can see what a mess God’s chosen people had made
of their lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The focus of this second
Sunday of Advent is “peace,” and this is where our gospel about John the
Baptist comes in.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you know how many
people never have peace in their own world because they are not at peace with
themselves and God?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s where true
peace starts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s hard to have peace on
the outside if you don’t have peace on the inside.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s hard to obey Jesus and be a peacemaker
if the center of your own being is not at peace with God and yourself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>John stood in the middle of the Jordan River inviting people to make a fresh start; to
walk across the Jordan
as if they were crossing from the desert to the Promised Land for the first
time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It wasn’t the first time, however,
but a second chance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This time they
would be baptized for cleansing, so they could do it right when they got to the
other shore, the Promised Land shore.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Here was a beautiful second chance to begin again the right way in the
Promised Land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They could make peace
with themselves because this time they were doing it right- entering the
Promised Land with the attitude that had been commanded.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">It’s not just those ancient Jews who were given a second chance by
God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every evening when we say our
bedtime prayers and confess our sins, every morning when we open our eyes, God
gives us a chance to start again- a second or third or tenth or millionth
chance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Bible reminds us that Jesus
Christ came into this world to forgive sinners.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and then minute by minute, hour
by hour, day by day- follow him, and when we mess up, pick ourselves up and
start again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do we do it?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We heard John the Baptist quoting the Old
Testament prophet Isaiah as he told just how to get ready for the coming of the
Lord.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He told everyone to “fill up every
valley and level every mountain and hill.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Straighten the crooked paths and smooth out the rough roads” (Luke
3:4-5).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Symbolically speaking, we heard
three things we’re supposed to fix so our hearts are ready to welcome Jesus on
ChristMass Eve in a new and wonderful way.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman">1)</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Valleys- John told us to fill them up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those valleys of sadness, left-over grief,
depression- all those emotions that have us feeling flat and worthless,
especially around ChristMass.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you
prepare for Jesus’ birth this year, ask yourself, “What’s making me unhappy,
frustrated, tired?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fill up those
valleys; find ways to deal with useless negatives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Often our valleys are caused by other people-
family, friends, co-workers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What can we
do with difficult people?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Love them and
pray for them, but don’t let them upset you.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Give difficult people to God (they’re his kids anyway). Don’t let
negatives get you down; fill your life with positives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If depression gets too bad, talk to your
doctor.</font></span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman">1)</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Mountains and hills- they block our vision so we can’t
see what’s behind them- where we’re going.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In our daily lives, it’s like trying to drive behind a huge truck on the
freeway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you prepare for ChristMass
this year, ask yourself: “What’s blocking my vision?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What keeps me so busy or frustrated or upset
that I can’t keep my focus on Jesus?”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Remember what happened to Peter when Jesus invited him to walk on the
water?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Peter was doing fine until he
lost his focus on Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What happened
next?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He began to sink.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s exactly what will happen to us if we lose
our focus on Jesus- we’ll lose it!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Life
will get overwhelming.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever is
blocking your vision- knock it down to size so you can see Jesus, then keep
your focus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Keep your prayer life
strong; never be too busy to pray; worship God every Sunday in church; read
your Bible and other spiritual books; listen to good Christian music.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Keep the mountains down and your focus on
Jesus.</font></span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman">2)</font><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman">Crooked paths and rough roads- I hate them, especially
when I have to detour all over the place to get where I’m going. Sin is like
that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you prepare for ChristMass this
year, ask the Lord to show you those sins that block your spiritual growth,
those sins that cause us<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>to detour
further and further away from God with one roadblock after another.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Get rid of those nagging sins- those
addictions, those self-defeating attitudes, those health-robbing or
time-wasting behaviors, those judgmental attitudes, those negative
friends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Confess them, give them to God,
and put positives in their place.</font></span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">So far we’ve looked at those normal, every-day things that block us
from God, but what about the big ones that often seem to hit right around
ChristMass time- things like cancer, heart disease, accidents, family problems,
the death of a loved one?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What about
those?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Let me close with an image for
the rest of your Advent, and maybe if this story touches you as it did me- the
rest of your life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You’ve heard this
story before, but it fits exactly what the Old Testament lesson is talking
about.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In our Old Testament lesson
today, the prophet Malachi (3:1) describes God as a silversmith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These seemed to be strange words to describe
God, until one of my internet friends asked a silversmith how her work
paralleled God’s work in redemption.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“That’s easy,” answered the artist.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“When I refine metal, I must hold the silver in the middle of the fire
where the flames are hottest so all the impurities can be burned away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The heat gets intense; sweat pours off my
face; my hand and arm frequently suffer burns.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What’s worse, when the area around the fire gets unbearably hot, I must
stay.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can’t leave the silver in the
fire untended one single second, or it may be destroyed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No matter how uncomfortable I get, I must
keep my eyes, my focus, on the silver the entire time so I remove it at exactly
the right moment.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“And how do you know
when that moment is?” asked my friend.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“Simply by watching,” answered the silversmith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I know the silver is refined when I can see
my own face in it.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There it is- God,
the silversmith, with us through the fire, through the heat, through the pain,
the struggle, the joy of the journey.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Why?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So GOD, the creator of the
entire universe, can see his face in us.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Stick with it, because God is delighted to give us as many chances as we
need until we are refined and formed into the likeness of his Son.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Blessed Advent!</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated
African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under
“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: </font><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a></font><font color="#000000" size="3">
.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed
preaching,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></p>
</div>
<p></p>
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