Third Sunday After Epiphany: Where Can You Use Your Gifts?

Today's Scripture Readings

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10  (NRSV)

All the people of Israel gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Psalm 19  (BCP., p.606)


1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (NRSV)

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.

Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV)

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all
the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Blog Reflection

Saint Paul helps us to begin our meditation, as we continue to think about the gifts that God has given each of us.  Our gifts are unique, as is how we use them.  Our diverse gifts bring about a different result, but it all points to one common end.  To serve others in the Name of Christ.  

As an adult male, Jesus goes to the podium and reads from the Prophet Isaiah.  We hear this reading ever three years when we are on Year C.  The Year of the Gospel according to Luke.  This reading has been called, "Jesus' inauguration speech."  Additionally, it is the call to reach out to others to listen to their stories and seek to serve them in the way Jesus accepted His ministry outlined in this reading.  Jesus is interested in more than mere words.  Jesus understands that the words that He read, are the call of God on His life to make those words a living reality.

As in the time of Jesus, there are so many around us who are held captive and oppressed by injustice and prejudice.  Way too many people near and far who live in the oppression of poverty, violence and death as a daily routine.  Wealth, power and prestige are more important that the dignity of every human person.  Wounding those who are already wounded by life through no fault of their own; are made to bear even greater burdens while political candidates argue over which of their opponents deserve more dirt and mud than given a chance to make a difference.  The billion dollar funds of political action committees to hire bigger staff and push campaign after campaign to raise more money; while the voices of the voiceless are barely being spoken let alone heard.  

This Gospel text is in St. Luke's, because Luke was a physician.  A doctor who worked to cure and heal the sick.  That is why Luke's Gospel is full of amazing stories of Jesus as the Great Physician.  Those who found themselves broken physically, mentally and in terms of social exclusion; found in Jesus, the presence of God who welcomed them and offered them a new beginning.  Jesus calls Christians to use those amazing gifts that God gave us to do the work of ministry and make a difference in the world.  We are offered the opportunity today to decide if we are going to be the fulfillment of these words that began Jesus' ministry.  

As we listen to this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word, and respond by receiving the nourishing Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; let us ponder how we might prayerfully begin our work of the ministry of healing and reconciliation.

Amen.


Prayers

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. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).

Second Sunday After Epiphany: Who Crashed the Wedding Party?

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 62:1-5 (NRSV)

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,

until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.

The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;

and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;

but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;

for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,

and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.

Psalm 36: 5-10 (BCP., p.632)


1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 (NRSV)

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

John 2: 1-11 (NRSV)

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Blog Reflection

Saint Paul gave us a great way to begin our meditation.  Everyone of us has something special about us that God gave us to share with the family of God's Church; and make a difference in the Church and the world.  Our gifts are different, and they will impact the lives of others very differently.  Yet, they are just as valuable and important.

As Episcopalians, we have been deeply disturbed (and for good reason) by the statement made by the Primates of the Anglican Communion.  The Episcopal Church has been censured for becoming an inclusive church for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people.  Those who are LGBTQ are justified in responding to this statement with anger, sadness, confusion and concern for LGBTQ people in other parts of the Anglican Communion.  I am sure many others who want nothing to do with religion of any kind have another good reason to avoid it.

Our Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry has suggested that The Episcopal Church's vocation might be to help lead the Anglican Communion to become a fellowship of churches that are truly inclusive of all God's people.   Not a bad thought.

Our Gospel today tells us that Jesus arrived at a very unusual wedding party.  Jesus was there with His mother.  The wedding party and the steward were looking at being ostracized for running out of wine.  Mary asks Jesus, Jesus appears to be the mouthy child in response to her.  Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them.  We know the rest of the story from the text.  Jesus made the best wine at the party out of water.  That which was plain and appeared to be useless, became the generosity of God in double doses.  The love of God poured out in Jesus Christ became the life of the party.  God was revealed in Christ who gives of God's Self in totality so that others could draw closer to God.  In particular those who were outcast and in need of being included.  God crashed the wedding party and made a difference by changing the outcome of the story.

There are those who view LGBTQ people as having come to crash the party of "traditional" marriage, family and "the good" of human society.  The fact is LGBTQ people bring as much beauty to marriage, family and the good of all human society as other diverse peoples.  As Episcopalians and Anglicans who are the "via media" we make good use of the gifts God brings to the Church in those who agree with each other, and those who do not agree with each other.  In a quote by the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, the President of the House of Deputies,

"We re-affirm our identity as Anglican Christians. That identity, since its inception, has included two foundational principles: the ecclesiological autonomy of the church in a given land, and a comprehensive inclusion of divergent theological viewpoints. Our identity as Anglicans has never been a matter of credal or doctrinal subscription, nor of conciliar membership requirements."

The work of Jesus at the wedding at Cana was about bringing together all of the relationships present there into the focus of the relationships shared by everyone there.  They all served a different function from a different point of view; yet their work brought everyone to a similar ending.  Jesus made the water into wine, because people did what they knew how to do in their unique potential and capacity.  

A possible message; God places us where we are with the gifts we have to use them to manifest the presence of God in Christ.  It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us with those gifts.  It is up to us to discern what God would have us do with them.

May we all be open to crashing the parties where God can make a difference through us.

Amen.


Prayers

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, worshiped, 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.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260). 

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).