| Author | Message | ||
     Pwnzor |
My uncle sent this to me this morning. His church is holding virtual services. Given by Fr. Ernie of St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Gilroy, CA. REFLECTIONS FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 22, THE 4TH SUNDAY OF LENT Dear Friends, Let’s begin with a message from our Bishop, Lucinda. Please click this link: https://youtu.be/sX7KAUJyBEI I found these to be comforting and wise words. We are very fortunate to have Lucinda’s guidance during this difficult time. Now for the Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John: As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” The Gospel of the Lord. You know, God speaks to us in so many ways. God speaks to us in scripture. God speaks to us in our lives. God speaks to us in silent words only our heart can hear if only we let ourselves sit quietly and listen. These are just a few of the ways God speaks to us. And yet, I always marvel when I open up the Bible, how often it can happen that the words of scripture can seem to be a comment on what is happening in my life and in the world. This is true for me of today's Gospel. To begin with, confronted with a man born blind Jesus’ disciples ask who has sinned that this should happen to him. Their reaction is like so many of us who wonder what humanity has done wrong that God would punish us with this virus. Jesus makes clear, however: no one sinned. Both with the man born blind and with the coronavirus, this is just what happens in the world. God does not “punish” us in this way. God loves us too much for anything like that. Rather, God guides us and leads us. God is present to us and comforts us. When we are confused about what is happening to us we have only to ask God to show us the way forward, to show us how this can draw us closer to him and to each other. Unfortunately for the Pharisees, they are not able to really trust that God is working in the world and so cannot accept what they see before them. They are now the ones who are blind. I don’t think we should be too hard on the Pharisees, though. They are only human, and don’t you find that sometimes it IS hard to really see how God is working in the world? I know that this is true for me. Sometimes, when things get really difficult, I have to pray to God and ask: “Where are you God? I don’t see you. Please guide me. Please show me the way.” Then I sit and go to a place of trust in my heart and wait, and God “speaks” to me in my heart. It is from that place of trust that I come to see God’s hand showing me — showing all of us — the way. It is there that I find peace. So how is God guiding us in this time of the coronavirus? What meaning is God asking us to draw from all this? I see a number of things. First, I think this illness is reminding us in no uncertain terms how deeply connected every human being on this planet is with every other. No one gets sick without us all being vulnerable. I hear God saying, “Look, my children, and see how closely joined you all are. You need to cooperate with each other. You need to let go of the things you believe divide you. The truth is, you share so much! You share EVERYTHING. You share this planet, this air, this life. You share a love of children, a love of family, a hope for the future. All that’s important to you, you share with everyone else! And the fact is, you all need each other. Every one of you is vital to all the rest. You are ALL my children. You are all my family. One family. One people. One whole. You’re all in this together. You need to work together. You need to connect. Even as you keep your distance now you need to connect. Only connect!” Second, this illness has shown us that we need to take of each other, and not just those closest to us physically and emotionally, but everyone. It shows us, too, that we can alter our behavior when we really need to for our own safety and the safety of others. I hear God saying, “Well done, my children! See what you can do when you really need to? You can do what is necessary for your own good and the good of all. Now let’s take what you have learned and use it to make a better world!" Third, I believe that by making us have to “fast from face-to-face contact” this illness is reminding us just how important we all are to each other, how deeply we need each other. There are so many simple things we took for granted: gathering for worship, gathering for meals, hugging, just sitting down with someone and sharing a cup of coffee and casual conversation. I don’t know about you, but I long for all those things with a real hunger. What I want more than anything else is to get to a time when I can give each of you a good hug. In the short time that I’ve been at St. Stephen’s I’ve come to love you all. Truly. I long so deeply for a time when we can gather again. What a joy that will be! In the meantime, let this be a time of reflection, a time of rest, a time of spiritual growth. For example, here are a few things you might do in the week ahead: 1. Set aside a time every day to pray. Just sit quietly and talk to God. And when you pray make a point of remembering not only those locally who are vulnerable to the illness, but also those in far away places, China, Korea, Italy, France. No place is truly “far away” any longer. 2. I thought it significant that the psalm for this week is the beautiful psalm 23. These have to be some of the most beloved and comforting words in the Bible. I suggest that you both begin and conclude your prayer time by reciting this psalm. As a matter of fact, if you haven’t already done so, consider taking the time to memorize the psalm so that you can recite it to yourself at odd moments during the day. I personally plan to take the time to do this: Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd; * I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures * and leads me beside still waters. 3 He revives my soul * and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. 4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; * for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; * you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. 6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 3. Reach out to others frequently. In fact, why not make an effort to contact someone you haven’t spoken with or written to for a while? And don’t forget to call me any time for any reason (650-793-9327). I’ll be calling each of you in the days ahead. These are just a few suggestions. I’ll send out an email mid-week with other thoughts. The main thing, though is to find that place of trust in yourself and live there. God is with us. God loves us. God is guiding us. It’s true! Go with God and find peace! May God bless you all. And now for my favorite blessing: Live without fear. Your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you like a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road, and the blessing of God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you and abide with you forever. AMEN. Fr. Ernie | ||
| Ourdee |
A friend posted this on the book of faces: In three short months, just like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship. God said, "you want to worship athletes, I will shut down the stadiums. You want to worship musicians, I will shut down Civic Centers. You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market. You don't want to go to church and worship Me, I will make it where you can't go to church" "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters. Jesus. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Amen | ||
| Pwnzor |
And furthermore... None of this bothers me in the slightest. Viruses don't scare me any more than snakes or bugs or boogeymen or Tyler. My life is in God's hands. I will go about my business, and I'll be careful to wash my hands just as I always have done. Let's see what comes out on the other side. Perhaps whoever erected the Georgia Guidestones was on to something...   | ||
| Daddio |
Pwnzor: Thanks for sharing that Gospel passage and related sermon. I sent an email to that church thanking Fr. Ernie for it, too. It seemed the least I could do. | ||
| Sami |
Ourdee, good one. One good thing that has come out of this crisis is that it keeps people's minds away from war and rumours of war. If I had to choose between war and this crisis, then I would pick the latter. At least this crisis brings people together, whereas war pulls people apart. Pwnzor, God is Sovereign over suffering and evil. Any crisis works for the good in the end. Romans 8:28, ''And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'' | ||
| Ourdee |
I was already looking for Romans 8:28 half way through your post. Some one asked me the other day if this was end times stuff. I just said it is too mild to be that. | ||
| Sami |
In any case, God is in charge. | ||
| Ourdee |
God is too good. | ||
| Sami |
He is, we are often too bad to realise it. |
