January 26, 2022

Need hope? Hope is yours in Christ; never settle for optimism. Rocker/writer Nick Cave parses the difference.

“Hope and optimism can be different, almost opposing, forces. Hope rises out of known suffering and is the defiant and dissenting spark that refuses to be extinguished. Optimism, on the other hand, can be the denial of that suffering, a fear of facing the darkness, a lack of awareness, a kind of blindness to the actual.”

The psalmist reminds us that “God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.” (Psalm 9:18)

Time to pray!

“O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (On Sunday – BCP p. 835)

January 25, 2022

Novelist Edith Wharton once said, "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that receives it." God is 100% candle and we are 100% mirror. That’s why “This Little Light of Mine – I’m gonna let it shine”, though catchy, is a theologically disastrous song and should be banned from all Vacation Bible Schools.

To wit, here is part of John’s prologue. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1: 6-9)

A mirror, or perhaps a diamond. In the words of Pink Floyd “Shine on you crazy diamond!”

“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)

January 24, 2022

“You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world….” (Colossians 2:20)

When you are anxious/stressed/addled the first question to ask yourself is this: “what law am I laboring under right now?” And then, “How has the gospel already delivered me from that law?”

For instance, if you are starting some new job or venture or relationship, you will likely be laboring under all kinds of expectations from others and yourself. The law ramps up the pressure to perform and excel. 

But the gospel tells a different story – you have already been accepted – and not just accepted, but delighted in – by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You are free to fail or to muddle along or to thrive! Any of those options is just fine with God. He doesn’t play by the rules of the world.

“Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)

January 21, 2022

Some Friday humor from Garrison Keillor. 

“I stay indoors in January out of fear I’ll forget what my mother told me as a small child — Do not, under any circumstance, even if someone dares you, do not, do not, do not put your tongue on an iron pump handle or railing.

And now I regret mentioning this. For having warned you of the danger, I’ve planted the idea of handle-tonguing in your mind and you may reject my advice and say (1) it’s my tongue and I’ll do what I want with it, or (2) it’s no worse than having a cold, or (3) if it’s God’s will that I lick a pump handle, then I will, or (4) I read on Twitter that some doctors say that handle-licking may be beneficial, and tomorrow when you go out and see a pump handle or iron railing you’ll be unable to stop yourself from walking up to it and — so forget what I said. Erase it from your mind.”

Mr. Keillor is making the same theological point that the Apostle Paul makes in Romans.  “What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not!  Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.” (Romans 7:7-8)

It's cold today in Central Virginia. At least take your phone outside so you can call for help when your tongue gets stuck!

“O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that we may know and understand what things we ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Proper 10 – BCP p. 231)

January 20, 2022

“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!” (1 Samuel 12:16)

The witches in Macbeth are able to “look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not.”No such luck for you and me. But would that really be luck? Do you really want a crystal ball? Isn’t it so much better to abdicate your future to the One who grows the seed for your own good?

What if you were able to attend to the day, the hour, the minute? There is so much to be savored, or endured with trust, or to be floored by. Imagine the time and freedom that would open up were you to abandon your quest to secure your own future!

“O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Sixth Sunday After Epiphany – BCP)

January 19, 2022

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.” (Romans 5:6-7)

Just can’t resist this description of a traitor in Macbeth “the multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him.”Ahhh, such good language! And our natures do have villainies that tend to multiply and swarm, do they not?

Our multiplying swarms may be a problem for us and for those around us, but they are nothing to God; tiny gnats that he swipes away with reconciling righteousness of His Son. Traitors we all are, but forgiven.

“Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – BCP)

January 18, 2022

Here’s a gem from poet and memoirist Mary Karr. "When I set out on a book tour to promote the memoir about my less than perfect Texas clan, I did so with soul-sucking dread. Surely, we'd be held up as grotesques, my beloveds and I, real moral circus freaks. Instead, I shoved into bookstores where sometimes hundreds of people stood claiming to identify with my story, which fact stunned me…. After eight weeks of travel, I ginned up this working definition for a dysfunctional family: any family with more than one person in it."

I taught an Adult Ed class one year on the book of Genesis and entitled it “The First Dysfunctional Families.”  The point is this - we are all in this thing together and it all goes back to the very beginning. And Jesus is there with us too, unsurprised and unfazed by the chaos or repression or whatever your family’s brand of dysfunction may be.

Don’t you remember what we read in John’s prologue? “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

“Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For those we Love – BCP p. 830)

January 17, 2022

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is dark outside as I write this. Dawn will come soon and drive out the darkness, even if that dawn is clouded. Dark cannot drive out dark. 

One can be tempted to look at the world with its rifts and divisions and inequities, and fall into despair. Or take up arms against The Other. And yet, the Bible is crystal clear – only love can drive out hate. And love, in the end, wins.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14)

Time to pray, which is also an act of love.

“O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Our Enemies – BCP p. 816)

January 14, 2022

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Romans 8:14)

Among Shakespeare’s most famous lines is “All the world’s a stage; / And all the men and women are merely players.” (As You Like It). He then describes the seven stages of human life, from infancy to the second childhood of old age.

I read this not as fatalistic or deterministic, but as hopeful and comforting. That is because a play has both an author and a stage director. Every day I am exceedingly thankful that I am not the author and director of my own play. That play would be a tragedy. What freedom to be relieved of charting my own course, making up my own rules, deciding what is “best” for me. All of that is given to us, revealed in Scripture and the Word made flesh, and directed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Guidance – BCP)

January 13, 2022

“For all things come from Thee, and from Thine own have we given Thee.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)

You don’t earn your money. You don’t own your money, or your house, or your car. Everything you have is a gift. What you have is not yours. It is God’s. Everything is God’s. 

Money is by its very nature transactional. God – and the Kingdom of God – is entirely non-transactional. It is all gift, unable to be transacted, earned, bought or forced. All things come of Thee, O Lord, and from Thine own have we given Thee.

“Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our substance and may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For the Right Use of God’s Gifts – BCP p. 827)

January 12, 2022

The statistics are clear – vaccination is the best defense against all forms of the corona virus. Unvaccinated people have a much higher risk of serious illness and death. Many vaccinated people are frustrated with those that aren’t vaccinated and blame them for the safety measures we are all enduring. “Why don’t they help themselves? If they get sick (and die), they have no one else to blame!”

Where am I going with this? Theologically speaking, we are all the unvaccinated. We have done nothing to help ourselves. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

No one really has a righteous leg to stand on. We are all to blame. But… Jesus took the blame for us.

“Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.” (First Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)

January 11, 2022

The beauty of bare limbs against a dawning winter sky is no small thing. The skeletal form of a Japanese Maple, its sinews open for inspection, tender but sturdy, enduring the frigid temps. A little like King Lear’s description of human beings bereft of glitz and trappings: “Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked, animal….”

We are both body and soul; the soul somehow feels closer to the bare limbs of winter. In any case, here is a nice blessing from John’s 3rd Epistle: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 2)

“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)

January 10, 2022

Of course, I’m not superstitious, being a man of the cloth, but I am convinced that every time I watch the UVA basketball team on TV they do poorly and every time I switch it off, they do well. Because I’m so emotionally invested in the outcome, I have to occupy myself in some other way during the game, and check the score every 3 minutes or so. Obviously, my viewing habits control the destiny of the Wahoos. I really believe this.

To think that we can control the rest of life with our actions is just as ridiculous as this example. I’ll grant that there is some cause and effect, but in a much more limited capacity than we imagine. 

God, however, causes what He effects and effects what He causes. “For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27)

Good thing for us that He stretches out His hand for healing and salvation.

“Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Third Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)

January 7, 2022

“And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.” (Genesis 1:30)

Because its Friday and for some whimsy, I’m giving you this sonnet (14 lines, iambic pentameter) I wrote about a beaver that lives in a lodge at our pond. You’ll be forgiven for not reading it, as I hope you will forgive me for not giving you a real ADD today!

BEAVER

Brown, stout, pelted Castor Canadensis

Honest family man with one life-long wife

Against you there are no sure defenses

Four chisel-shaped incisors for your knife

Aspen, birch, oak, dogwood, willow, alder

Fall gnawed, gored, mulched, torn, perched upon your lodge

The pond’s arboreal ring grows balder

While coyotes, foxes, otters, owls you dodge

An ecosystem engineer by night

No extant animal does more to mold

Environments befitting his delight

Busy, eager, crepuscular and bold

Elusive, loathe to enter into view

In harmony we seek to live with you

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

“O heavenly Father, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Joy in God’s Creation – BCP p. 814)

January 6, 2022

Today is the the Feast of the Epiphany – the day we commemorate the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child. The Season of Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ; the unveiling of His light.

Note the light/dark imagery in Isaiah. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)

No matter how dark it seems, God’s light has come to you! The glory of the Lord has already risen upon you!

“O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (The Epiphany – BCP)

January 5, 2022

“When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.” (Titus 3:4)

The Black Walnut is a beauty of a tree – distinctive bark, leaves turning to flaming yellow before losing them early in the fall, and the prolific green turning to brown nut. 

We decided to harvest the nuts from our Black Walnuts this year. It is quite an ordeal. Gather the nuts, break open the husk, fill up a tub and soak the nuts, discard all the ones that float, dry them for 6 weeks, borrow a black walnut cracker from a neighbor who happens to have a black walnut cracker, and finally crack the nut in just the right way to mine the treasure. Usually, the meat is broken into bits, so you have to pick out the shell shards before placing the meat in your tiny bowl. 

At least, after all that work, you have the sweet reward of the nut? Well, our children say the Eastern Black Walnut (as opposed the English Walnut you buy at the store, already hulled, shucked, de-shelled for you), tastes like nail polish. They are kind of right.

All this is to say that religion is the Black Walnut; lots and lots of work for not much reward. The Gospel is the English Walnut – so delicious and everything already done for you. What’s more, the stores give it away for free!!

“O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with

January 4, 2022

Author/Preacher Tim Keller reflects on John Newton’s weekly Saturday evening routine.

“The first part was to make two lists — all the mercies, blessings and good things to be thankful for that had happened to him that week. And second, a list of sins — of omission and commission — he had committed against others and God The second part was to reflect on the discrepancy between God’s goodness to him and his behavior. This helped him get a refreshed joy in God’s free, undeserved grace. Of course, this depended on his grasp of the gospel that we are saved by Jesus’ works, not ours. Without that, this discrepancy would drive you into the ground.”

The cross bridges the gap between what you are and what you should be. St. Paul says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

“Blessed Savior, you hung upon the cross, stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies’ sake. Amen.” (At Noon – BCP p. 138)

January 3, 2022

Happy New Year! “Resolution” literally means to “re – solve” - to solve again. Or as is the case with most annually repeating New Year’s resolutions, to fail to solve again. Which is why the same resolutions pop up each year and fail to be solved each year.

Much better and thoroughly biblical to have very low expectations of our ability to change. God can and does change us – deliver us – of course, but we cannot change ourselves. This is patently obvious.

Jesus says it this way. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday After Christmas – BCP)

December 31, 2021

As we get ready to roll over into a new calendar year, I want to remind you that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) 

This means His grace permeates what has been, what is, and what will be. Don’t be afraid - He is there ahead of us in 2022. As I said in my Christmas Eve sermon - everything is going to be okay!

 In fact, in Christ, everything is already okay. Put that in your pocket as the ball drops.

“O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that You are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (For Quiet Confidence – BCP p. 832)

December 30, 2021

“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11)

The Magi were “overwhelmed with joy.”  Does joy seem like a rare commodity in this world of testing, masking, waiting and prognosticating?  

I don’t mean to sound glib, but there is overwhelming joy to be found in kneeling at the foot of the Savior. I would bet that our primary experience upon meeting Him face to face will be one of joy. Peace – yes. Awe – no doubt. Humility and chagrin as our self-importance and failures of faith are exposed – for sure. But joy will win the day. For He is joyous beyond measure and we are whisked in!

And, even today, that joy is to be known and felt and basked in as we kneel down and pay Him homage.

“O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday after Christmas – BCP)