Sermon: C 2 Epiphany 20 January 2013

Is 62: 1-5; Ps 36: 5-10; 1 Cor 12: 1-11; JOHN 2: 1-11

Almighty God, grant that your people may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory. AMEN.

As Epiphany continues, we arrive at the third of the familiar season’s narratives. First there’s the arrival of the Magi, second the baptism of Jesus, and then today’s account of the wedding at Cana. Again, someone, some group, sees, understands that Jesus is G*d’s incarnated word by some visible event. Even in this Luke year, Year C, this portion comes from John’s Gospel—and John’s Gospel almost always layers in theological underpinnings to its narrative.

Sermon: C Christmas 1 30 December 2012

Is 61:10-62:3; Ps 147; Gal 3:23-25, 4:4-7; JOHN 1:1-18

The Word was made flesh & dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. AMEN.

Annie Dillard wrote in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek: “If creation had been left up to me, I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the imagination or courage to do more than shape a single reasonably sized atom, smooth as a snowball, and let it go at that.” “Tempting,” according to the Synthesis Commentary I often read, “So, when we come to John 1, it is tempting simply to read the verses aloud and let them evoke the proper awe in what they say—since we certainly can’t match them.”

Meditation for 30 December: “light and life and love”

John 1: 1 – 14 is the Prologue to the Gospel of John, which is often called the most spiritual Gospel. It is about Light and Life: “I am the Light of the World; whosoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 8:12)…and “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life” (14:6) and “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (10:9.) It is the Gospel which most emphasizes the divinity of Jesus, in his mission of bringing life into the world, in creation and in eternal life, and in enlightening humanity.

Why do we read the Gospel of John and especially the Prologue at Christmas time? Because the Word “dwelt among us,” “full of grace and truth,”stressing the salvation message and the new command of the Incarnation: love of God, of Jesus, and of each other.  “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (13:35). Like the star, the true light “shines in the darkness”…”in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.” 

At Christmastime, we celebrate not only the birth of Jesus Christ, but especially his embodiment of light and life and love. 

Painting is St. John the Evangelist by El Greco. Image, courtesy of Wiki Commons.

Meditation for August 23, 2012: “Who is of God’s household?”

Today's Psalm (84) speaks of the Temple. But the larger subject is those who are at home with God — 'who passing through the vale of misery use it for well; and the pools are full of water.' And so Solomon, dedicating the Temple (I Kings 8), blesses its use even by sinners, and in times of calamity, and by the stranger - 'that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake.' Boundaries — who is of God's household — are also a theme of today's Gospel (John 6:56-69). Unlike the inclusive Solomon, Jesus stresses them, deliberately provoking his hearers ' 'he that eateth my flesh...' Today's outburst in John evidently rescued his followers to the Twelve (v.66-7). Today's Second Reading (Ephesians 6:10-20) - equally shocking - unflinchingly insists the true disciple is a soldier, with sword, and shield, and helmet.  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear...