Tag Archives: Epiphany

This Sunday (February 15, 2015) at St. John’s

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O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  Collect for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, pg. 217, Book of Common Prayer

The season of celebration that the light has come into the world, also known as Epiphany, is fast coming to an end.  This Collect for the Day leads us into the next season of our Church year – Lent.  But first, there are a few more days of celebration.  Before the walk up calvary on Good Friday, the true glory of Christ was revealed to Peter, James and John, on the Mount Tabor, known as The Transfiguration.

Mt. Tabor, site of The Transfiguration.

Mt. Tabor, site of The Transfiguration.

In our region, winter is gray and especially in February, feels long, but our church year reminds us that Christ brought great light, great awareness to us.  Christ brought and brings great joy.  So, let’s enjoy the celebration..the revealing of Christ’s Glory.  Join us Tuesday evening at 6pm for our annual pancake supper.  Celebrate our life in Christ.  Then you will be ready for the long walk through Lent to Calvary.

 

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

The Flowers on the Altar this Sunday are given in memory of Ed VanGorder by June VanGorder. 

 Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: Donations for flowers for the altar are accepted for any Sunday of the year. Please sign up on the Flower Donation Chart and let us know if you’d like the flowers to be “in memory of/in honor of” a loved one or special occasion.  We suggest a donation of $20.  Please place your donation in the envelopes provided.

 Rebecca’s Schedule Rebecca will be in Corbin this week,Tuesday and Wednesday, and attending Diocesan Convention in Morehead Thursday through Saturday.  Her Sabbath Day will be Monday, February 16.  You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Adult Forum: This Sunday we conclude our series on the Blessing of Same Gender Relationships.  Mary Swinford will lead the session.  Next Sunday, we begin a series on Appalachia.  Professor Joseph Pearson, who teaches history at Union College, will speak about the race riots in Corbin.

Grow Appalachia!  We’ve received a grant for $4,530 for our community garden through Grow Appalachia.  The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/  The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Sunday, February 15, after church. 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, February 17, 6:00 – 7:30pm.  Come for this truly Episcopal tradition to end Epiphany and prepare for the start of Lent.  Free Will donation.

Ash Wednesday Services will be held on February 18, at 9am and 7pm.  Eucharist and imposition of ashes will occur at both services.

The Annual International Dinner will be held February 28, 7pm, London Community Center. Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of London and Corbin, the proceeds of the dinner support the eradication of polio.  Tickets are $25 each.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide of match of $100 for a purchase of 2 tickets.  Tables of 8 are also available for $250.  If you’d like to attend this fun event or if you’d like to provide food for it, please see Rebecca.

Interested in becoming a member of St. John’s?  Please let Rebecca know.  Receptions and confirmations will be held on Saturday, April 18, at the Cathedral Domain during St. George’s Day weekend.

Reading Camp Meeting, February 26, 10:15am.  A group is forming in Corbin to support sending at least 5 children from Corbin to Reading Camp at Pine Mountain Settlement, July 12-18.  We are also exploring the possibility of starting a Reading Camp program in the area.  If you are interested in helping recruit children, mentor children, volunteering for Reading Camp, or raising funds, let Rebecca know.

 Pot Luck Sunday:  Next Sunday February 22, is our monthly pot luck.  Bring a dish or drink to share.  And all are welcome!  Plan to fellowship with each other.  Our pot luck schedule shifts in October and November, depending upon the Bishop’s visit and our Annual Meeting.

Join Rebecca and the Members of Corbin Presbyterian Church at 3:00pm, Sunday, February 22, as they install their new Pastor, The Rev. Lisa Eye. 

Family Game night is the 4th Friday of the month.  The next Family Game Night is Friday, February 27, 6:30 – 8:30pm.  Bring your favorite games, snacks, and drinks.  Pizza will be provided.

The Vestry is considering how best to use the space that is now our Parlor.  Various ideas have included using the space as a welcome and information place, where information is available about St. John’s, our various ministries, and our members.  Another idea is to have a prayer space with candles that can be lit for specific prayer intentions.  If you have comments or other ideas, please see a member of Vestry or Rebecca.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go!  The furnaces located in the sacristy and the parish hall have been replaced. Thanks so much to all who donated!  Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.  

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

  • Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
  • The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items. Vegetables are especially appreciated.

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: Donations for flowers for the altar are accepted for any Sunday of the year. Please place your donation in the envelope, marking whether they are in honor of or in memory of someone.

Hymn Selection Group If you’d like to choose hymns for services, join this group.  You will choose hymns for an upcoming service and then meet with the entire group to confirm the final selections.  See Billy Hibbitts if you are interested.

Would you like to write Prayers of the People?  If you are interested in writing these prayers (there are resources that can help with this task), please let Rebecca know by phone or email priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

United Thank Offering.  Remember to get your box for your thank offerings for this ministry of The Episcopal Church.  The next collection will be in the spring.

Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service?  Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service.  If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

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This Sunday (February 8) at St. John’s

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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…. Collect for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Pg. 216, Book of Common Prayer

We have a couple of weeks hearing about Jesus healing people and setting people free of their demons.  We may not talk in terms of demons these days, but our Collect of the Day for Sunday gives us a different different definition — demons are things which keep us in bondage.  Our Collect asks that we be freed from the bondage of our sins — that we be freed from the demons that manifest themselves in our sins.

What are your demons?  What sins hold you in bondage today?  Together we’ll pray that God sets us free!

Blessings and peace as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

This Sunday we will observe African-American History month.  Our observance reminds us of the many ways the church worships each Sunday all around the world.

Adult Forum Currently, we are discussing the blessing of same gender relationships. This week, Rebecca will lead a discussion on the elements of the liturgy.  We will also go through the liturgy.

On February 22, we begin a series on Appalachia.  Professor Joseph Pearson, who teaches history at Union College, will speak about the race riots in Corbin.

Grow Appalachia!  We’ve received a grant for $4,530 for our community garden through Grow Appalachia.  The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/  The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Sunday, February 15, after church. 

The Annual International Dinner will be held February 28, 7pm, London Community Center. Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of London and Corbin, the proceeds of the dinner support the eradication of polio.  Tickets are $25 each.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide of match of $100 for a purchase of 2 tickets.  Tables of 8 are also available for $250.  If you’d like to attend this fun event or if you’d like to provide food for it, please see Rebecca.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, February 17, 6:00 – 7:30pm.  Come for this truly Episcopal tradition to end Epiphany and prepare for the start of Lent.  Free Will donation.

Ash Wednesday Services will be held on February 18, at 9am and 7pm.  Eucharist and imposition of ashes will occur at both services.

Family Game night is the 4th Friday of the month.  The next Family Game Night is Friday, February 27, 6:30 – 8:30pm.  Bring your favorite games, snacks, and drinks.  Pizza will be provided. 

The Vestry is considering how best to use the space that is now our Parlor.  Various ideas have included using the space as a welcome and information place, where information is available about St. John’s, our various ministries, and our members.  Another idea is to have a prayer space with candles that can be lit for specific prayer intentions.  If you have comments or other ideas, please see a member of Vestry or Rebecca.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go!  The furnaces located in the sacristy and the parish hall have been replaced. Thanks so much to all who donated!  Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.  

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

  • Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
  • The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items. Vegetables are especially appreciated.

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: Donations for flowers for the altar are accepted for any Sunday of the year. Please place your donation in the envelope, marking whether they are in honor of or in memory of someone.

Hymn Selection Group If you’d like to choose hymns for services, join this group.  You will choose hymns for an upcoming service and then meet with the entire group to confirm the final selections.  See Billy Hibbitts if you are interested.

Would you like to write Prayers of the People?  If you are interested in writing these prayers (there are resources that can help with this task), please let Rebecca know by phone or email priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

United Thank Offering.  Remember to get your box for your thank offerings for this ministry of The Episcopal Church.  The next collection will be in the spring.

Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service?  Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service.  If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/StJohnsCorbin

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Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/stjohnscorbin/

 

Born Saying God’s Name (Sermon) January 11, 2015

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Sermon – January 11, 2015

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

The First Sunday After Epiphany:  The Baptism of the Lord

Year B

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.11And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ Mark 1:10-11

Please Be Seated

Yesterday, my son, Scot, turned 40!  Where did the time go?  Naturally, at this time, I recall the day he was born and many other memories over the years.  His son, Logan, is so much like him that I often call him Scot instead of Logan!  It’s like I’m seeing my son grow up all over again, sort of.

But even in remembering, there’s so much we forget.  I don’t think too many, if any, of us remember the day we were born.  As adults, we talk about how traumatic it must be for a child to be born after nine months in a comfortable place with all of their needs met.  We make jokes about how a baby cries when it’s born.  Of course it’s important for a baby to cry at birth as a sign their lungs are cleared out and working well, but it seems to resonate with the trauma of being born into the world.  But none of us remembers that trauma, at least not overtly.

Sinead O’Connor in her recording from 1995, had a song that suggested babies are also born in spiritual trauma.  The words are:

 

All babies are born saying God’s name
Over and over,
All born singing God’s name
All babies are flown from the Universe
From there they’re lifted by the hands of angels
God gives them the stars to use as ladders
She hears their calls
She is mother and father
All babies are born out of great pain
Over and over
All born into great pain
All babies are crying
For no-one remembers God’s name

 

All Babies, Sinead O’Connor

 

“All babies are crying for no one remembers God’s name.”  It’s like when we’re born, a process of forgetting God ensues.  We’re born into a world that values what we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands or physical selves over what we can see with our hearts and touch with our spirits.  A world that discounts intuition and a sixth sense.  A world that in many places and in many ways is uncomfortable with, even afraid of, mystery and of unknowing.

 

We are born into this world with strong connections to God and our own spirits.  We don’t have a way to communicate with words for awhile, so we are very connected to our bodies and to what we experience in them.  But, it seems like as we grow older, we’re taught to ignore our bodies and hearts in favor of passing the standardized math and reading tests.  We forget how to read ourselves and each other.

 

Many times, we begin to accept this “vain” world’s assessment of us.  We’re not pretty.  We’re not smart.  We think funny.  We dress funny.  We don’t make enough money.  We aren’t good enough.  We forget that God created our diversity and that the norm is diversity rather than conformity.

 

That’s why renewing our baptismal vows is important.  Those of us baptized as children may only have a photograph of the event, but in a very real sense, that baptism was telling our spirits to remember where we came from…to remember God’s name.  As we got older and once again surrendered to the world’s assessment of us, renewing our baptismal vows reminds us that in the waters of baptism, we died to the world’s view of us and were returned or reborn to God’s view of us.

 

And God’s view of us is that we were perfectly created.  No, we are not God.  We are not perfect in that we know everything or can do everything or see everything.  We are perfect in the part of the body of Christ that we are.  We are perfect in our humanity.  We don’t have every talent, but we have talent…talent necessary for the world.  We don’t possess all knowledge, but we possess knowledge that is necessary for the world.  We don’t have all intelligence, but we have intelligence that is necessary for the world.  We don’t have all understanding of God, but we have understanding of God that is necessary for the world.

 

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the heavens were torn apart, so the Holy Spirit could break in and the voice of God could confirm that Jesus was a child of God, beloved of God and that God was pleased.

 

And we need those same reminders.  When we renew our baptismal vows…when we feel the water sprinkled on us, God is breaking through to us…recalling to us what we knew when we were born…reminding us of God’s name.  God is reminding us that the Holy Spirit is right with us.  God is reminding us that we are beloved children and that God is well pleased with us.  Then we are prepared to go into the world in peace to love and to serve God.

 

Amen

This Sunday (January 11, 2015) at St. John’s

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God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:5

Most of us have had many “first days.”  There is the first day we remember.  There is the first day we went to school.  There is the first day we met our best friend or our spouse.  There is the first day we lived after someone we loved had died.  So many first days….

This Sunday we’ll here this short passage from Genesis about the first day…truly the first day.  It’s hard to imagine that.  But what we do know about first days is that they represent something new and different…something that dramatically changes our lives and how we live them.  There can be incredibly hard first days, but there can also be incredibly important and hope-filled first days.

If we’re not living the life God has called us to, we can start trying again.  We can have a new day…a first day of living in a new way.  We’re only 11 days into the New Year.  What first days do you think God is calling you to?

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca

01-11-2015 Bulletin Renewal of Baptismal Covenant

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rev. Rebecca will at St. Agnes’ House Monday, January 12, through Thursday, January 15. Her Sabbath day will be Friday, January 16. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Adult Forum: In January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  Next week, Rebecca will be reviewing the History of the Episcopal Church’s Decision.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Your prayers and presence are requested at the ordination to the Priesthood of Andrew Hege, on Saturday, January 17,10am, at Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington.

Youth Group Bowling.  The youth ages 13-18 will go bowling Sunday afternoon, January 18, 1-3pm at Forest Bowling Lanes, Corbin.  Please see Rev. Rebecca if you’d like to go.

The Diocesan Stewardship Commission is offering an update on their work prior to Diocesan Convention.  Join Rebecca on Tuesday, January 20, at 7pm at St. Mary’s in Middlesboro to hear this update.  We can ride together and leave about 5 so we can eat dinner together.  The Bishop is also offering scholarships for teams from parishes to attend The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (www.tens.org) conference in Texas in May.  Please let Rebecca know if you’re interested in either of these events, as well as assisting with stewardship at St. John’s.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, January 21, 9am, in the Sanctuary.

Reading Camp Meeting, January 21, 10am.  This meeting will be with people in Corbin interested in helping children read.  We will look into recruiting children from Corbin for the Pine Mountain Camp, as well as connecting them to the local programs supporting reading during the school year.  We will also discuss raising money to support the children and the camp.  If you’d like to be part of this, please let Rebecca know.

Grow Appalachia!  We’ve received a grant for $4,530 for our community garden through Grow Appalachia.  The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/  The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Wednesday, January 21, 6:30pm. 

Worship Committee will meet Friday, January 23, 4:30pm to plan Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.  All are welcome!

Game Night, Friday, January 30, 6:30-9:00pm.  Everyone is invited to Game night on Friday, January 30, hosted by the Young Adults of the parish.  Pizza will be provided.  Bring snacks and your own drinks.

The annual Acolyte Festival will be held Saturday, January 31, 10am – 3:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: Donations for flowers for the altar are accepted for any Sunday of the year. Please place your donation in the envelope, marking whether they are in honor of or in memory of someone.

Hymn Selection Group If you’d like to choose hymns for services, join this group.  You will choose hymns for an upcoming service and then meet with the entire group to confirm the final selections.  See Billy Hibbitts if you are interested.

Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service?  Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service.  If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

  • Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
  • The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items. Vegetables are especially appreciated.

 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/StJohnsCorbin

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“We Have Found the Messiah” (Sermon) January 19, 2014

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Sermon – January 19, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin
2nd Sunday after Ephiphany

“We have found the Messiah…” John 1:41

Please be seated

We have found the Messiah…. Can you imagine any person who would compel you to leave everything you know… to abandon your job, your family and all of your worldly goods to walk the land with this person?  But that’s what we hear about in our Gospel reading today (and also next week.)  “We have found the Messiah,” Andrew says, and he and his brother Peter follow.

During those times the Messiah was going to restore Israel and the faith in God.  In many ways, the Messiah was understood as the most righteous and perfect ruler…someone with political, as well as, physical strength.  The land and people would be protected from their many enemies – you see Israel was the land between many great powers to the north, south and east.  And during Jesus’ time, the Roman Empire was oppressing the people.  They wanted relief. 

So here is Jesus and something about him makes John the Baptist, and Andrew and then Peter hope that the new ruler has come.  The perfect King, the powerful political ruler.  That is the only way they understood restoration…that Israel would become powerful as a nation…that no one would be able defeat the nation and in so doing, the people would have a good life and God would be glorified.  People would see the nation of Israel and its power and want to follow and worship its God. 

They wanted saved from the wars by the powerful nations around them by becoming the most powerful themselves.   But God understood the world differently and Jesus came to give us a new way to live and to think about our lives, a new paradigm of the world and of our relationship to God. 

A few years ago after reading the passage in Matthew about Jesus riding into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna and palms and cloaks strewn on the path, I wrote the following poem:

After reading Matthew 21:1-11
By Rebecca S. Myers

We are always looking for a
Savior to save us from other people
When what we need
Is a savior
Who saves us from ourselves.

It is so easy to point the finger at things external to us as being “what’s wrong.”  So we work to change our external circumstances.

“Well, Corbin hasn’t worked out so well, maybe I should move,” we say, and off we go.  In 12-step circles, this is called a geographic cure.  We think a new job will make the difference or maybe different friends.  Now, don’t get me wrong, all of these things can be good.  It’s not the actions so much, it’s our interior state in pursuing those changes that is the difference.

Because as the saying goes, “Wherever you go, there you are.”  In other words, we need to do the interior work on ourselves.  Changing our external conditions without doing the internal work doesn’t really change much in the end. 

What are the things about you that Jesus comes to liberate you from? 

Here are some of mine.  I call them “lies I tell myself:”

I have to do this all by myself.  Yes, being responsible and taking care of myself is important, but I can take self reliance too far.  I can fail to ask for help or suggestions because after all, I am the Executive Director…I am the priest.  My ability to accomplish a lot is why people chose me for this position, isn’t it?  Doesn’t it mean I’m weak or incompetent if I need to ask for help?

What a dangerous trap that is!  Even Jesus had twelve Apostles and many more followers.  We don’t see that he necessarily asked them for help, more often he taught them, but he still had people around him AND he created that community so that when he was no longer with them, they had each other.  We were made for relationship.  We each have different ideas and perspectives.  No one of us has the ONLY line to God.  Reaching out and including others, makes for a better discussion and ultimately a better path. 

I must remind myself I do not have to do this all by myself and then, who can help.  Once I open up, in my experience, God has led me to the people who can help. 

Another one for me, that is part of the previous one, is I can be perfect.  Yes, I need to continue to grow and change, but honestly, there are some things that are never going to happen for me.  For instance, I make snap judgments, and as a board president of mine observed, I don’t suffer fools gladly.  The look I make when I think you’ve said about the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard has been caught on camera, even.

My former husband and I had an outdoor wedding in a field at my parents’ home at the time.  We had jazz music playing and we picked a number that would be the “entrance” number – it was “Night and Day” by Dave Brubeck.  My husband and I were walking down the aisle together.  He panicked, believing we’d missed our cue and started walking in front of me slightly.  I gave him that “look” and said in my sternest voice, “Don’t you walk in front of me!” And the photographer caught that moment!  So, I know that look!  The World According to Rebecca. 

Rather than beating myself up about my judgmentalism, I can accept it is part of my nature.  In my experience, acceptance brings many benefits.  Once I accept myself as I am, then the way to lessen those harmful traits appears.  Knowing I’ve been judgmental in a situation, thinking what another person is doing is foolish, for instance, I can explore that.  I can ask questions about why I’m feeling my way is the only way.  Does that come from fear, for instance? 

Ultimately, I know I need God.  Only God is perfect and I’m not God and never will be.  Only with God’s help can I be the best God needs me to be.  Also, because I accept that I am imperfect, I can also accept other people’s imperfections.  When I can forgive myself for being judgmental in a situation, I can forgive others. 

My way is the only way to do things, gets me into trouble too.  My mother came to help me when my daughter was about a month old.  My son was under 2 years of age, so things were pretty hectic.  One day my mother was washing the dishes.  Now, I’ve never really liked washing dishes, so this was a great gift.  Yet, I remember standing in the kitchen doorway with this little baby in my arms, going nuts inside.  My mother was not washing the dishes correctly.  The water she was using was not hot enough! 

Unfortunately, this is something handed down to me.  One time I was visiting my grandmother.  She had heart trouble and was not supposed to be doing any housework.  I washed her sheets, which she always hung out to dry in good weather.  I hung clothes out to dry.  I knew how to do it.  I was hanging the sheets on the line and she was standing at the back door, telling me what to hang next to each other and how to do it.

Yes, it can be so difficult to let someone else do something for us.  It can be so difficult to accept a way that in the end accomplishes the goal, just not exactly how we would have done it.  When we think our way is the only way, we close ourselves off to the gifts of others.  We don’t allow them to share their gifts with us.  Ultimately, we become tired and overwhelmed trying to do everything.  On top of taking care of two little ones, doing the dishes probably would have done me in.   Doing laundry and hanging those sheets up could have made my grandmother much sicker.

Jesus comes not to save us from some external power.  Jesus comes to save us from ourselves – from our illusions of perfection and total self reliance.  Jesus comes to save us, because in saving us, we are open to God’s dream and vision of our world.  We are willing to accept God’s guidance.  We are willing to do God’s Will.

“We have found the Messiah,” we shout!  Thanks Be To God!

Amen