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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, Jan 5, 2019 9:08 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany: "The Wise Men"<br>
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<div id="yiv7945129255">
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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 “The Wise Men” and deals with the gospel (Matthew
2:1-12, [13-16]).<span> </span>Here it is: <span> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Well, once again the holidays are done.<span> </span>Kids will be back in school tomorrow, gifts
are opened, the New Year’s ball has dropped in New York, vacations are over,
people are getting ready to take their trees down, decorations are ready to be
stored, and life is set to return to its usual mode.<span> </span>After all our wonderful worship experiences
the last few weeks, I hope your “usual” has changed.<span> </span>I’m going to be right “out-front” with my
goal today.<span> </span>This is my last chance to
impress on you the peace, power, and fulfillment available for you in this new
year of 2019 if you will live ChristMass all year through.<span> </span>In today’s gospel, we heard the story of the
Wise Men and their visit to Jesus.<span> </span>This
episode in the lives of the Holy Family provides a perfect summary of
ChristMass principles for us.<span> </span>As you
recall, here’s what happened.<span> </span>There were
some (remember, the Bible doesn’t tell how many) astrologers/early astronomers
from the East (probably Persia, actually probably Baghdad) who saw an unusual
star (or comet) that signified to them the birth of a new king.<span> </span>They dropped everything they were doing, left
home and homeland, endured the rigors of travel for more-or-less two years, and
because of that star- went to Jerusalem, where they had a conference with King
Herod.<span> </span>The king had his Bible scholars
study the scriptures (i.e. the Old Testament- the New Testament hadn’t been
written yet) to see where this new king would be born.<span> </span>When the scholars said “Bethlehem,” Herod
told the Wise Men to go search for the new-child-king, and come back so he could
worship this new king also.<span> </span>As the Wise
Men approached Bethlehem, the star stopped over the house where the child
was.<span> </span>They saw Mary and Jesus in the
house.<span> </span>They knelt down and worshipped
Jesus, then gave him three gifts- gold (Jesus is King), frankincense (Jesus is
Lord), and myrrh (Jesus is Savior).<span>
</span>Then they were warned in a dream to avoid King Herod, but go home
another way.<span> </span>When Herod figured out he
had been tricked by the Wise Men, he was furious.<span> </span>At that point, it became obvious Herod considered
King Jesus a threat to his throne and had intended, not to worship him, but to kill
him.<span> </span>To be sure Jesus did not survive,
Herod ordered his soldiers to kill all Jewish boys two years and younger-
which, he assumed would automatically get rid of the “Jesus threat.”<span> </span>Herod should have known there’s no point in
fighting against God, because his plan didn’t work.<span> </span>Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus and
Mary and flee to Egypt.<span> </span>That’s what
really happened.<span> </span>Now my question to you
is- how is this story a wonderful summary of the ChristMass principles?</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">FIRST, GIVE GOD YOUR TIME.<span> </span>Let’s begin by looking at the innkeeper.<span> </span>Remember, he’s the person NOT to imitate. <span> </span>Instead, be like the Wise Men in today’s
episode.<span> </span>What’s the basic difference
between the two?<span> </span>The innkeeper made no
room for Jesus in his life.<span> </span>The Wise Men
did.<span> </span>It took a long time to follow that
star and travel by foot or camel or some other animal from Baghdad to
Bethlehem.<span> </span>Yet, if we’re not careful, we
can find ourselves admiring the Wise Men, but living like the Innkeeper.<span> </span>We get so busy, busy, busy- that we squeeze
God out of our lives.<span> </span>We don’t intend
to- we just do.<span> </span>How is it possible to read
<i>Forward Day by Day</i>, pray each morning
and evening and before meals, and reach out to others?<span> </span>I’ll tell you how- discipline yourself to give
God his time first.<span> </span>Remember from last
week: the father trying to convince his high school son that he had time for
his homework.<span> </span>Remember how the father
got a gallon jar and filled it with large rocks, then asked his son if it was
full.<span> </span>“Sure is!” said the son- that’s
how my life is before I have my homework done.<span>
</span>So the father took some medium sized rocks and added them.<span> </span>“Full now?” asked the father?<span> </span>“Now it’s full,” answered his son.<span> </span>You remember what happened next, the father
added small rocks, then gravel, and finally water.<span> </span>“That’s how you organize your life, son,”
said the father.<span> </span>You put the big
important things in first.<span> </span>Good
advice!<span> </span>Take care of your
responsibilities to God first: church, Bible reading, prayer, and let the other
things fit as they may.<span> </span>Your life will
have power like you wouldn’t believe possible.<span>
</span>It was Martin Luther who said that the busier his day, the more
important it was that he start it with prayer- true.<span> </span>So don’t be like the Innkeeper, be like the
Wise Men who made time in their busy lives for Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:yellow;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">SECOND, NOTHING CAN STOP GOD’S PLAN, SO IF YOU’RE ON GOD’S SIDE, NEVER
GIVE UP!<span> </span>Do you believe this?<span> </span>Today’s Bible episode provides one more example
of this truth.<span> </span>Notice how nothing could
kill Jesus or turn him around until he had finished his mission of dying and
rising for us?<span> </span>Not the power of King
Herod nor the strength of his soldiers; not even Herod’s lying mouth and
scheming plans - because no one can defeat God’s purposes.<span> </span>Justice will prevail.<span> </span>Remember Dr. Tony Evan’s statement, “It’s
worth waiting on God, because when He moves, He moves well!”<span> </span>Here’s a story by an anonymous author that
illustrates this principle.<span> </span>One day a
farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for
hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the
animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't
worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.<span>
</span>He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. <span> </span>They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel
dirt into the well.<span> </span>Realizing what was
happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovels full
later, he quieted down completely.<span> </span>The
farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every
shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He
would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt.<span> </span>This continued until the donkey stepped up
over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all
the neighbors!<span> </span>Look friends- life is
going to throw dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. <span> </span>The smarter you are, the higher your goals,
the more committed you are to the Lord- just be ready- the more dirt you can
expect.<span> </span>The trick is- don’t let the
devil’s dirt bury you in depression or frustration or just giving up.<span> </span>God is in charge and you can do it!<span> </span>Just shake off that dirt every time it hits and
take a step up. Each of our troubles is a potential stepping-stone. We can get
out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up.<span> </span>As with the Holy Family, so it is with us-
nothing can stop God’s plan but ourselves.<span>
</span>Justice wins every time- you can outsmart evil just like the wise old
donkey did; just like the Wise Men did.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">THIRD, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.<span>
</span>Do you remember how God provided for the Holy Family?<span> </span>Maybe toddler Jesus would have preferred toys
or clothes, but how do you think Joseph provided for his family in the unknown
land of Egypt?<span> </span>Probably with the
fabulously expensive gold and frankincense and myrrh from the Wise Men.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:yellow;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">FINALLY, DON’T BE STINGY.<span> </span>Again be like the Wise Men who traveled all
that way to worship Jesus and give him gifts.<span>
</span>Be like them- give quality gifts- like yourself, your time, your talent,
your treasure- i.e. you.<span> </span>Stop and think-
when’s the last time you helped someone you don’t even know- a stranger, a
neighbor, even an enemy?<span> </span>If you can’t
think of the last time- what’s wrong here?<span>
</span>Remember, the only way we can really give a gift to Jesus anyway is to
help someone in need.<span> </span>Do you recall his
words from Matthew 25: “Whatever you do for the least of these, my sisters or
brothers, you do for me”.<span> </span>And when you
give, don’t just give the leftovers.<span> </span>The
concluding lines of a poem by Christina Rozetti I told you about ages ago that
I learned as a little girl applies here.<span>
</span>As you remember, it goes: “What can I give Him, poor as I am?<span> </span>If I were a shepherd, I would give him a
lamb.<span> </span>If I were a Wise Man, I would do
my part.<span> </span>What can I give him?<span> </span>I’ll give him my heart.”<span> </span>Have you given Jesus your heart, your whole
self?<span> </span>Now’s a good time to start the
year giving your whole self to Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;background:yellow;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">I’m going to close with one of my very favorite poems, by the Rev. Dr.
Howard Thurman, who was chaplain of Howard University in Washington DC in the
1930’s and ‘40’s.<span> </span>It’s entitled “The
Work of Christmas.”<span> </span>My prayer is that we
may all make this our work in 2013.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">“When the song of the angels
is stilled, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">When the star in the sky is
gone, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">When the kings and princes
are home, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">When the shepherds are back
with their flock, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">The work of Christmas
begins: </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To find the lost, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To heal the broken, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To feed the hungry, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To release the prisoner, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To rebuild nations, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To bring peace among
brothers and sisters, </span></div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">To make music in the heart.</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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