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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Dec 15, 2018 7:09 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 3C: "John, the Baptist"<br>
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<div style="line-height:normal;">Dear
Friends,</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “John the Baptist” and deals with the gospel (Luke
3: 7-18).<span> </span>Here it is: <span> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">The last verse in today’s
gospel (Luke 3:20) said: “Finally, Herod put John (the Baptist) in jail, and
this was the worst thing he had done.” This morning let’s see what happened
next to this strange Bible characters- John the Baptist.<span> </span>He was the last of the Old Covenant prophets
and had the job of preparing the way for Jesus.<span>
</span>Even his beginnings were unusual.<span>
</span>John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were childless and way too old
to have children.<span> </span> Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and Zechariah was
a priest in the temple.<span> </span>One day,
Zechariah was doing his job in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared and
told him that he and his wife would have a baby, who was to be named John.<span> </span>Zechariah doubted the angel, so he was struck
dumb.<span> </span>Shortly after this incident and
against all odds, Elizabeth
became pregnant.<span> </span>It’s obvious that
Zechariah and Elizabeth were accepting, compassionate people because after the
Virgin Mary became pregnant, she spent some time with them- probably to gain
courage to face everyone when she began to “show.”<span> </span>Well, in due time the child promised to
Zechariah and Elizabeth
was born; and when he was circumcised and presented in the temple, everyone was
about to name him “Zechariah” after his father.<span>
</span>It was the custom of the day to name children after a relative.<span> </span>Zechariah still could not speak, so he
communicated by writing, “His name is John.”<span>
</span>Immediately, Zechariah’s speech impediment vanished.<span> </span>Those watching these happenings wondered what
kind of a man this “John” would turn out to be.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span> </span>They
were wise to wonder, because this “John”, actually “John the Baptist” was truly
unusual- many must have wondered about his sanity.<span> </span>While others lived in comfortable houses, he
lived in the desert.<span> </span>While others
dressed fashionably (or at least comfortably), he wore an itchy camel
skin.<span> </span>While others ate fish and bread
and occasionally some meat, he ate what he could find- usually locusts and wild
honey.<span> </span>He spent his time baptizing
people in the Jordan River , giving them a
second chance to enter the Promised Land following God’s way.<span> </span>As you recall, Jesus (John’s second cousin)
was baptized by John.<span> </span>When he wasn’t
baptizing, he was preaching.<span> </span>He
encouraged the common people to repent and return to God, but he infuriated
those in power by calling them “snakes”- not a very good way to get ahead.<span> </span>When King Herod married his sister-in-law,
John condemned the whole affair.<span>
</span>Needless to say, he had many enemies in high places.<span> </span>Herod was so angry with John’s meddling that
he threw him in prison.<span> </span>While John was
there he must have experienced a period of doubt, because he sent some of his
followers to ask Jesus if he was really the Messiah, or was he going through
all of this imprisonment for nothing.<span>
</span>Jesus sent them back with the message that the deaf hear, the blind see,
the lame walk, and the poor have the good news preached to them- in other
words- the Jubilee message.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">One of John’s most dangerous
enemies was Herodias, the sister-in-law whom King Herod married.<span> </span>One day, Herod threw a party.<span> </span>After all the men at the party were drunk,
Salome (daughter of Herodias) really turned them on with her dancing.<span> </span>Herod was so impressed that he promised her
anything she wanted, even half of his kingdom.<span>
</span>Salome asked her mother what she should request, and the answer came
back clearly: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”<span> </span>Since Herod didn’t want to look like a fool
in front of his friends by going back on his word, that’s just what happened.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Out of the strange life of
one of God’s greatest prophets, what’s the message for us?<span> </span>How can this help us get ready for the birth
of Jesus in a few weeks?<span> </span>Here are four
thoughts:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">John didn’t follow the crowd
and neither should we.<span> </span>Don’t worry what
everyone expects you to do to prepare for the holiday.<span> </span>In all your rushing around, don’t forget
Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">As busy as you are this
year, don’t miss Jesus when he comes to you.<span>
</span>How is this possible?<span> </span>Look, if
John the Baptist walked in here right now, I’m here to tell you that we’d probably
get a little nervous because (to put it mildly) he’d look different.<span> </span>Actually, we’d probably wonder if we had a
crazy man in here!<span> </span>If we didn’t take him
seriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in the Bible.<span> </span>Remember, Jesus comes to us in other
people.<span> </span>(“Whatever you do to the least
of these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”)<span> </span>Don’t diminish anyone just because of how he
looks or talks or what she wears.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">If you meet people who
aren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,” be kind.<span> </span>Remember, even John had his doubts when times
were hard and he was in prison.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><span>4)<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Last- remember who we’re
preparing for.<span> </span>Yes, I know that Jesus
was born a little baby in a manger, but he didn’t stay that way.<span> </span>He grew up to be a wonderful, powerful man
who suffered, died, and rose for our sins.<span>
</span>At ChristMass time, a church that will go nameless often has one of
those cute sayings on the sign in front.<span>
</span>It says: “Xmas is Christmas without Christ.<span> </span>Don’t “X” Him out!”<span> </span>I’m sure you’ve heard people talk like that-
saying it is unchristian to substitute the “X” for the “Christ” in
Christmas.<span> </span>My sisters and brothers,
they’re well-meaning, but very wrong.<span>
</span>The “X” is the Greek letter Chi, for “Christ.”<span> </span>That “X” is also the way you make a Roman
cross, so “X” stands for a cross.<span> </span>“Xmas”
is a way of saying “Mass for the Holy One who died on the cross.” “Xmas”
reminds us that the baby who was born at ChristMass grew up to be the man who
died on the cross for our salvation.<span>
</span>“XMass” or “CrossMass” reminds us, as we prepare for the birth of our
Savior, to take up our own cross and follow Him.<span> </span>Some years ago, a friend gave me this statue
of Santa kneeling at the manger.<span> </span>That’s
the Christian priority.<span> </span>Remember that
this is Jesus’ birthday.<span> </span>We’re preparing
for him.<span> </span>The Santa component is fun, but
the true ChristMass is Jesus and his birth.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">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: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a>
.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Blessed
preaching,</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Judy
Boli</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">Saginaw,
Michigan</div>
</div>
<div></div>
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