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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 26, 2019 7:54 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 3C: "Jubilee"<br>
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<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Dear Friends,</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;">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Jesus’ First Sermon”
or Jubilee” and is based on all the lessons.<span>
</span>Here it is: <span> </span></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;">I remember the first sermon
I ever preached here at St. Paul ’s.<span> </span>It was some 30 years ago, and it started:
“Today is Theological Education Sunday here at St. Paul ’s.”<span>
</span>I don’t need to tell you that a few more sentences into the sermon, most
of the congregation was looking out of the window or gazing at me with sleepy,
half-closed eyes- not a great start as a preacher!<span> </span>Well, we just heard Jesus first sermon, and
it almost got him thrown off a cliff!<span> </span>He
read from the prophet Isaiah, and basically said- “Jubilee is starting NOW in
your hearing!”<span> </span>Why didn’t those ancient
people want Jubilee to start?<span> </span>Because
they had too much to lose.<span> </span>Near the
beginning of their walk with God as his chosen people, God told the Israelites
that every 50<sup>th</sup> year was to be a Jubilee year to remind them that
everything on this planet belongs to him, not us.<span> </span>Therefore, in the Jubilee year- slaves would
be freed and all property would be returned to the original owner, thus
establishing a second chance for everyone who had messed up to fix up- all over
the land.<span> </span>Now we hear Jesus saying that
he came to proclaim the great news that prisoners could claim their freedom (do
you know anyone enslaved to anything?), the blind could finally open their eyes
and see (do you know anyone who is blinded by something?), those who suffer
have healing offered to them (know any sufferers?), and those who need a second
chance- here it is.<span> </span>If you wonder about
this, go back and read Leviticus 25 and Isaiah 42.</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;">What are the implications of
this for us, if we are going to be true to our Lord?<span> </span>When Jesus ascended back to heaven, he left
us with the responsibility of completing his mission- bringing all people to
him for salvation and a fresh, new start at real life through him.<span> </span>That’s not just US, that’s specifically
YOU!<span> </span>I can imagine you thinking- “Not
me- I don’t have any talents!”<span> </span>If you’re
even beginning to think this, remember the basic teaching of the epistle (1<sup>st</sup>
Corinthians 12:12-27): we are all part of the Body of Christ, and every single
one of us has needed talents to share with the church to bring people to
wholeness and new life in Jesus.<span> </span>If you
find yourself thinking- “She can’t mean me!<span>
</span>I’m too sinful,” check out our Old Testament lesson (Nehemiah 8: 1-10).<span> </span>Its basic teaching is- NO ONE is too sinful
to be used by God.<span> </span>It’s not where you’ve
been that’s important; it’s where you’re going that counts.<span> </span>We truly are the Body of Christ.<span> </span>Our hands, feet, mouths, bodies, lives do the
Jesus ministry.<span> </span>It is entrusted to
us.<span> </span>If we don’t do it, it simply won’t
get done.</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;">What are we to do?<span> </span>The letters in the holy name of Jesus remind
us of some of the basics:</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">“J”</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> reminds us we are to
continue Jesus’ work of establishing Jubilee- in other words: justice, peace,
and a second chance for all God’s people.<span>
</span>When in doubt, give a second or third or millionth chance.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">“E”</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> reminds us to evangelize-
spread the Word, baptize, and teach.<span>
</span>Remember, in Matthew 28 Jesus reminded us to go to all nations baptizing
and teaching.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">“S”</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> is for “strength”- the
power, courage, and endurance Jesus offers through daily reading of His Word,
prayer, fellowship, and weekly Holy Communion.</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">“US”</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> reminds us that God expects
us to be in this together as a team.<span> </span>The
disciples knew Jesus expected them to stick together, which is why they were
all back in that upper room at Pentecost.<span>
</span>One person can’t be the “Body of Christ.”<span> </span>Read 1<sup>st</sup> Corinthians 12, and
you’ll see we’re all expected to be the “Body of Christ” together.<span> </span>I’m going to close with a story illustrating
why we must stick together.<span> </span>Do you
remember the story about the mouse and the other animals?<span> </span>Well- the mouse overheard the farmer tell his
wife that he was installing a brand new, foolproof mousetrap.<span> </span>The mouse was so upset that he went running
to the barnyard to get help from the other animals.<span> </span>When he told the hen, he got no sympathy
whatsoever!<span> </span>“Don’t bother me, mouse-
that’s your problem; not mine” was the reply.<span>
</span>So he told the pig and got the same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my
problem.”<span> </span>He even told the cow; again
with the same reply- “Don’t bother me- not my problem.”<span> </span>That night as the mouse was sleeping, he
heard the mousetrap snap.<span> </span>A poisonous
snake had gotten his tail caught in the trap.<span>
</span>When the farmer’s wife went to see what had happened, the snake drew
back and bit her.<span> </span>Instantly, she started
to feel very sick, so she called her husband.<span>
</span>Now the husband didn’t know anything about medicine, but he knew that
chicken soup cures anything; so he went to the barn, killed the chicken
(remember- it wasn’t her problem), and made some chicken soup.<span> </span>Problem- his wife got sicker.<span> </span>He called the doctor who said he would come
if he could be paid in bacon, so he butchered the pig (remember- it wasn’t his
problem) and paid the doctor in bacon.<span>
</span>Finally, his wife died.<span> </span>He needed
food for the many people who visited to comfort him, so he killed the cow
(remember- it wasn’t her problem) and started up the grill so everyone could
have steak.<span> </span>The moral of this story-
we’re all in this together. May God bless us all as we work together to become
the Body of Christ here on this corner and establish Jubilee in every sphere of
our lives.<span> </span></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;">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> .</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;">Blessed preaching,</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Judy Boli</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Saginaw, Michigan</span></div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> </span></div>
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