<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: 06/04/2019 9:32 pm (GMT-04:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 5C: “What Can I Give Him?” or “Holy Hair” </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">Dear
Friends,</p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"> </p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “What Can I Give Him?” or “Holy Hair” and is based
on the gospel (John 12:1-11).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here it
is: <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"> </p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">We just heard the episode of
Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with her hair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>What can you tell about someone by their hair?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you remember the story I told you some
years ago about the teen-age boy and his hair?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>His father was a pastor, and he absolutely hated his son’s long hair,
but the young man had a fit every time anyone suggested he get it cut.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well, this young man had just gotten his
driving permit. He asked his father, who was a pastor, if they could discuss
the use of the family car. His father took him to his study and said to him, “I'll
make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and
get your hair cut and we'll talk about it.” After about a month the boy came
back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They
again went to the father's study where his father said, “Son, I've been real
proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible
diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>The young man waited a moment and replied, “You know Dad, I've really been
studying my Bible, and you know what I found out?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Samson had long hair. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Moses had long hair. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Noah had long hair. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even Jesus had long hair....”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To which his father replied, “Yes, and they
walked everywhere they went!”</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now back to Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with
her hair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You’re familiar with how the
radio commentator Paul Harvey (died February 28, 2009) was known for telling
“the rest of the story.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well we just
heard “the rest of the story” of the raising of Lazarus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were some of Jesus’
closest friends, and they lived in the little town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethany</st1:place></st1:city>; which is about two miles east of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As you recall, Mary and Martha sent a message
to Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus, who was near death.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus waited three days before responding,
and finally told the disciples that Lazarus was dead, but they were going to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethany</st1:place></st1:city> to raise him
up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The disciples weren’t all that happy
about going into the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>
area, since Jesus almost got killed the last time they were there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thomas finally said, “I’m going with Jesus
even if I have to die with him.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By the
time they got to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>,
Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days- in fact Martha was hesitant about
rolling the stone away from his tomb because of the embarrassment of the
potential smell coming from her beloved brother’s dead body.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember how Jesus ordered, “Lazarus, come
forth!” and out he came.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus final
words- “Unbind him and let him go free!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>That’s the first part of the story- our Gospel lesson for today tells
the rest of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After Martha and
Mary got over Lazarus’ being raised to life by Jesus, they threw a party to
celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many people were there,
including Jesus and probably all the disciples, although we know for sure that
Judas was there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While the men were
lounging around the dinner table (because that’s how people ate in those days),
Mary came up to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She had with her
an expensive bottle of perfume (actually nard from the spikenard plant that
grows up in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Himalayan</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype></st1:place> by <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even though women in that culture didn’t
touch the feet of any man except their husbands, Mary broke that bottle open
and poured the expensive perfume all over Jesus’ feet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If that wasn’t outrageous enough, next Mary
unfastened her long hair (again something women of that culture only did with
their husbands) and massaged the perfume in his feet with her hair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was so very thankful to Jesus for giving
her brother new life and she believed Jesus when he said he himself was about
to die- she didn’t care about the money Judas accused her of wasting or
appropriate behavior of a woman toward a man.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Just as <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:city>
said in today’s epistle, the same was true of Mary- they were garbage to
her.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All she cared about was ministering
to our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Judas was furious- he
wanted that money!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After all, Mary had
just poured out perfume that cost one year’s earnings.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was nice to hear Jesus stand up for Mary
and point out that they’d have lots of time to help the poor, but his time was
limited and Mary had been the first to anoint him for his burial.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s interesting to note that when a dead
body was anointed, the feet were anointed first, usually with this same kind of
perfume.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">That’s the rest of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, what’s it to us?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Each person in this episode has something to
teach us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Starting with Lazarus- Jesus
gave him new life, but to claim that life Lazarus had to get rid of all the
burial wraps and cloths- in other words- get rid of the junk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus offers us new life every morning when
we open our eyes, but we also need to do our part.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We need to get rid of everything that holds
us back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What’s all the junk weighing
you down, holding you back, and confusing your life?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bring it to the altar today and let Jesus
unbind you and let you go free as he did for Lazarus.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Next let’s look at
Martha.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There wouldn’t have been a party
without her, because her behind-the-scenes cooking and cleaning made it all
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you have to get recognition
for everything you do, or are you willing to work quietly for the Lord to get
the job done?</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">We can learn the importance
of two basic values from Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She put
Jesus first in her life and her priorities- over money, over what other people
would think, over even messing up her beautiful hair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get over of it; put Jesus first; and claim
life!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The other value we can imitate
from Mary is her willingness to sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Are you a “me first” person, selfish, considering only yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If my hands are kept clenched tightly closed,
how is anybody going to give me anything?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>To receive God’s blessings, I’ve got to open my hands and my life, reach
out to others, and be blessed in return.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">The last person in this
episode is Judas.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Did you notice how his
sin started small- he used to steal from the shared moneybag used by Jesus and
the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His sin grew until he was
so grasping that he was willing to sell his Lord for thirty pieces of
silver.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Get rid of your sin while it’s
still small- it’s so much easier.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">So…</span></p>
<ul type="square" style="margin-top:0in">
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Like Martha, may we do
the work of the Kingdom unselfishly and without show;</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Like Mary, may we
worship and love God with our whole selves; </span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">As our Lord ordered
Lazarus unbound and freed from the trappings of death, may God give us the
compassion and skill to be co-workers with him to unbind and offer freedom
in Christ to all we meet;</span></li>
<li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Finally, unlike Judas,
may we face up to our sins and ask for God’s forgiveness and healing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>May we not be like the teenager at the
beginning of the sermon who made all the changes requested by his father-
all but ONE.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>May we bend to God’s
will for our lives, even if it requires that we give up our pet sin.</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Remember the poem (Christina
Rossetti) from ChristMass: </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">“What can I give Him- poor
as I am?</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I were a shepherd, I
would give him a lamb.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I were a wise man, I
would do my part.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">What can I give Him?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll give Him my heart.”</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">It’s not ChristMass, but it
surely is not too late.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Amen.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"> </p>
<p style="line-height:normal;tab-stops:.25in;
mso-mirror-indents:yes">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 href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a>
.</p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"> </p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">Blessed
preaching,</p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">Judy
Boli</p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes">Saginaw,
Michigan</p>
</div>
<p></p>
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