<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Forwarded: </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div id="composer_signature" dir="auto"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000" dir="auto"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> </div><div>Date: 04/01/2020 9:25 pm (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 2A: "Wise Men and Women and Children Still Seek Him" </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">Dear Friends,</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">This Sunday’s sermon is
entitled “Wise Men and Women and Children Still Seek Him” and is based on the<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>gospel (Matthew 2:1-12, [13-16]).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here it is: <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Happy New Year!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Has anyone already messed up a check writing 2019 instead of 2020?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I haven’t yet, but there is something I hope
we do carry over into 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Carrying
ChristMass into the entire new year has huge potential for us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m going to be right “out-front” with my
goal today.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is my last chance to
impress on you the peace, power, and fulfillment available for you in this new
year of 2020 if you will live ChristMass all year through.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In today’s gospel, we heard the story of the
Wise Men and their visit to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This
episode in the lives of the Holy Family provides a perfect summary of
ChristMass principles for us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As you
recall, here’s what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were
some (remember, the Bible doesn’t tell how many) astrologers from the East
(probably Persia, actually probably Baghdad- the present capital of Iraq) who
saw an unusual star (or comet) that signified to them the birth of a new
king.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the scholars said
“Bethlehem,” Heod told the Wise Men to go search for the new-child-king, and
come back so he could worship this new king also.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the Wise Men approached Bethlehem, the
star stopped over the house where the child was.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They saw Mary and Jesus in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then they were
warned in a dream to avoid King Herod, but go home another way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When Herod figured out he had been tricked by
the Wise Men, he was furious.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 do away with him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Herod should have known there’s no point in
fighting against God, because his plan didn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus
and Mary and flee to Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now that’s
what really happened.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now my question to
you is- how is this story a wonderful summary of the ChristMass principles?</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">FIRST, LET’S LOOK AT TIME.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember the innkeeper who had no room for
the Holy Family in their time of crisis?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>He is the person NOT to imitate. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead, be like the Wise Men in today’s
episode.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What’s the basic difference
between the two?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The innkeeper made no
room for Jesus in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Wise Men
did.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(They are 547 miles
apart.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet, if we’re not careful, we
can find ourselves admiring the Wise Men, but living like the Innkeeper.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We get so busy, busy, busy- that we squeeze
God out of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We don’t intend
to- we just do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>How is it possible to
read Forward Day by Day and maybe the accompanying Bible passages, pray each
morning and evening and before meals, and reach out to others?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll tell you how- discipline yourself to
give God his time first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A father was
trying to convince his high school son that he had time for his homework.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The father got a gallon jar and filled it
with large rocks, then asked his son if it was full.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Sure is!” said the son- that’s how my life
is before I have my homework done.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So
the father took some medium sized rocks and added them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“ Full now?” asked the father?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Now it’s full,” answered his son.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You know what happened next, the father added
small rocks, then gravel, and finally water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>“That’s how you organize your life, son,” said the father.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You put the big important things in first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Good advice!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Take care of your responsibilities to God first: church, Bible reading,
prayer, and let the other things fit as they may.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Your life will have power like you wouldn’t
believe possible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So don’t be like the
Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men who made time in their busy lives for Jesus.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">SECOND, DON’T BE STINGY.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Again be like the Wise Men who traveled all
that way to worship Jesus and give him gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Be like them- give quality gifts- like yourself, your time, your talent,
your treasure- i.e. you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you can’t
think of the last time- what’s wrong here?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Remember, the only way we can really give a gift to Jesus anyway is to
help someone in need.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And when you
give, don’t just give the leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>That poem I told you about ages ago that I learned as a little girl
applies here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As you remember, it goes: “What
can I give Him, poor as I am?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If I were
a shepherd, I would give him a lamb.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If
I were a Wise Man, I would do my part.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>What can I give him?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll give
him my heart” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Christina Rosetti). Have
you given Jesus your heart, your whole self?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Now’s a good time to start the year giving your whole self to Jesus.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt">THIRD, NOTHING CAN STOP GOD’S PLAN!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Do you believe this?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Today’s
Bible episode provides one more example of this truth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Notice how nothing could kill Jesus or turn
him around until he had finished his mission of dying and rising for us?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Justice
will prevail.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember Dr. Tony Evan’s
statement, “It’s worth waiting on God, because when He moves, He moves
well!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here’s a story by an anonymous
author that illustrates this principle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel
dirt into the well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Realizing what was
happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovels full
later, he quieted down completely.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This continued until the donkey stepped<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>up over the edge of the well and trotted off,
to<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the shock and<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>astonishment of all the neighbors!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Look friends, life is going to throw dirt on
you, all kinds of dirt. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The
trick is- don’t let the devil’s dirt bury you in depression or frustration or
just giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>God is in charge and you
can do it!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As with the Holy Family, so it is with us-
nothing can stop God’s plan but ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Justice wins every time- you can outsmart evil just like the wise old
donkey did; just like the Wise Men did.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt">FINALLY, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Did you notice how God provided for the Holy Family?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Probably with the
fabulously expensive gold and frankincense and myrrh from the Wise Men.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt">So, don’t be like the Innkeeper, be like the Wise Men.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Put the large stones, the important things-
i.e. God in your jar of life first.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The
Bible promises you, everything else will fall into place perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Again- be like the Wise Men- don’t be
stingy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Share the highest quality of
gift possible- yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Next, remember
the donkey and never give up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do right
and trust God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Justice will
prevail.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally, remember God’s care of
the Holy Family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you are on God’s
side, nothing can defeat you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You do
your part and God will provide.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Happy
New Year!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s live 2020<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span> for Jesus, justice, and compassion. </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;tab-stops:.25in;
mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:
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 href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</span></a>
.</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">Blessed preaching,</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">Judy Boli</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-family:"12",serif;font-weight:normal">Saginaw, Michigan</span></strong></p>
</div>
<p></p>
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