Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany - 02/19/17 Sermon - “Won't you be my neighbor?"

Sunday 02/19/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

Old Testament Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:38-48

          Friends, sisters and brothers, welcome again on this the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany. Seven Sundays after the Wise Men or the Magi came to see the Christ-Child. Seven Sundays after they came to see God in the flesh, the Messiah, and they then left changed and empowered.

          Next Sunday on Transfiguration Sunday, we will begin to transition from “Common Time” or “Ordinary Time,” which we are in now, towards the season of Holy Lent. The season of Holy Lent will begin on Wednesday March 1^st, which is Ash Wednesday. My annual Ash Wednesday service, will be at the Homer Avenue UMC at 7:00 pm.

          With this said, one of things that I have been challenging myself to do in this New Year in the way of preaching, is to preach more from the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible. I have found that on many Sundays I have predominately just been preaching out of the New Testament, and the Gospels. While I will still do this often, I also want to preach more out of the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible.

The reason for this, is that the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible sets the stage for the New Testament. Specifically, the Old Testament sets the stage for the New Testament, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

          In fact, some of the statements that Jesus makes in the Gospels, are literal scriptural quotes from the Old Testament. For example, Psalm 22:1a says: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1a, NRSV). In the Gospel of Matthew 27:46, as Jesus is on the cross, the gospel of Matthew says: “And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46, NRSV).

          In the gospels, Jesus went into the Temple and read the scroll or Book of Isaiah, from the Old Testament. In this scripture, Isaiah predicted the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus then said that the scripture was fulfilled in him.

          In the gospels, and all throughout the New Testament, there are verses from Old Testament prophets that are making predictions about the coming of the Messiah. Jesus discusses more than once the importance of the Ten Commandments for example, which will be discussing next Sunday. The New Testament and the Old Testament then, are very much interconnected, and because of this, I am going to try to preach more about the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible. Specifically this morning, I want to talk about our reading from Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18.

          Now to just quickly give you an overview of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, there are different types of books in the Old Testament. The first thing to point out, is our Christian Old Testament is taken largely from the Jewish Hebrew Bible, or the “Tanakh” in Hebrew. The first five Books of the Old Testament are often called the first five books of Moses, or the “Pentateuch”, or as our Jewish brothers and sisters call it the “Torah”.

          The rest of the Old Testament is divided into book of the history of the Jewish people, wisdom books, the Psalms, and the books of the prophets, like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Micah. I find that often in discussing Jesus Christ that the New Testament quotes the Books of the Prophets the most. This is because the Jewish prophets were often the ones making predictions about the coming of Jesus Christ.

          So I have given you all of this quick background, to help us to better put into context our reading this morning from the Book of Leviticus. Once again, the Book of Leviticus is in the Old Testament, or the Jewish “Torah”, and it is the third book of our Christian Bible. The Book of Leviticus includes to a great extent, moral, ethical, and other teachings that Moses received from God. For example, the idea of forbidding the wearing fabric that has two colors woven together, comes from the Book of Leviticus. Devout and Orthodox Jews still to this day, follow all of the teaching of the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament.

          Jesus Christ however, said in Matthew 22:37-39, and other places when asked about which law was the greatest, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mt. 22:37-39, NRSV). So don’t worry, you can still eat pork, you can still eat shellfish, and you can still weave different colors of fabric together, as we as Christians no longer live under the old Jewish Law of Moses. The Old Testament scriptures inform us though, and Christ referred to them often.

          This morning, I titled my sermon, “Won’t you be my neighbor?,” as I grew up watching the television show, “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”. The show would always begin with the character Mr. Rogers singings the introduction song of “Won’t you be my neighbor?” In this song, I felt the character of Mr. Rogers was inviting me to be his neighbor, and that I could be a neighbor to others.

          Our scripture this morning from the Book of Leviticus, is about Holy living, and about loving our neighbor, and each other. Let’s look again at what it says.

          The scripture begins by saying: “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your am holy…” (Lev. 19:1-2, NRSV). In this scripture God is talking to Moses, likely on Mount Sinai, where Moses received the 10-Commandments.

          The scripture then says this, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 19:9-10, NRSV). Jesus is accused of breaking the Sabbath in the Gospels for gleaning or gathering left over food in a field on the Sabbath Day. Jesus also tells us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. In this scripture form the Book of Leviticus, God is telling Moses to tell farmers to leave so food “for the poor and the alien” (Lev. 19:10b, NRSV). Many of us know what poor means, but “alien” too many means, travelers or sojourners, or it could be refugees (Lev. 19:10b, NRSV). Some other scriptures specifically say the word “refugee,” and for these reasons our present political and social fight about letting “refugees” into this country has biblical roots. There are folks on both sides of this debate, as some have concerns about national security, and etc., but there are scriptures that discuss it specifically.

          The scripture then says: “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God” I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:11-12, NSRV).

          Continuing on, the scripture says, “You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning” (Lev. 19:13, NRSV). God says then, that you need to pay your workers on time.

          The scripture then discusses how we are supposed to treat the deaf and blind. It says: “You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:14, NRSV).

          Continuing on, the scripture says: “You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great; with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your Neighbor: I am the LORD” (Lev 19:15-16, NRSV). Strong words from the Lord, my brothers and sisters.

          This scripture reading ends with, “You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:17-18, NRSV).  

          Once again, in indirectly quoting this and some other scriptures, Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mt. 22:37-39, NRSV). In the Book of Leviticus reading for this morning, it says, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” as Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew (Lev. 19:18b, NRSV).  

          You see we often talk so much as Christians about loving our neighbor, and Jesus condenses all the Laws of Moses, or the Laws of the Torah, down to loving God, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Yet, it is good sometimes to have some guidelines on how to do this, isn’t it?

          I think that the reading from the Book of Leviticus this morning gives us a variety ways to best treat and love our neighbors, and others. Further, we are not called to love our neighbors in just one or two ways, but to love them in every way we can. For example, if there were thirty ways, let’s say, to love your neighbor, do we all really do all thirty of them? Or do we pick and choose the ones that work best for us?

          One of the historic hallmarks of the Christian faith, has been our love, our hospitality, and our radical love of our neighbors and each other. When the church does this well, the church grows and flourishes. It isn’t always easy, but this morning God tells us after commanding us to do this, “I am the LORD”.

          So we are not bound under the laws in the first five books of the Old Testament or the Torah, say for the Ten Commandments, but there is much in there on how to love and care for your neighbor, and all persons.

          To then reference our reading quick from this morning, from the Book of Leviticus, let’s hear what Jesus has to says again in Matthew 5:38-48. See if you can make any connections to our reading from the Book of Leviticus, as I go through this.

Jesus says, “You have hear that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow you” (Mt. 5:38-42, NRSV).

          Jesus then goes even farther than our Book of Leviticus reading for this morning, and says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Mt. 5:43-45, NRSV).

          Jesus then says, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:46-48, NRSV).

          Jesus therefore takes the idea of loving your neighbor, to the idea of loving all people, and loving all people radically. Loving them without an agenda, and doing it, because Jesus called us to do it.

          What can we all do this week then, to love our neighbors more, and to love each other more? I ask this because as the song goes, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Praise and glory be to Jesus Christ. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Boy Scout Sunday/Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany - 02/12/17 Sermon - “Growing in faith and in life"

Sunday 02/12/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Growing in faith and in life”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:21-37

          Welcome again my friends, my sisters and brothers, on this the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. Six Sundays after the Wise Men came to meet the Christ Child, and they left changed.

          We will remain in the season of “Common Time” or “Ordinary Time”, until Sunday February 26^th, when we have Transfiguration Sunday. Then on Wednesday March 1^st, we will begin the season of Holy Lent with Ash Wednesday.

          Today though, we celebrate our Cub Scouts, our Boy Scouts, and our Tiger Cubs. We might have many here today, or not many, yet we honor them. Of the three scriptures that we read today, I decided to preach on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. I have chosen this scripture to preach on, as to me it discusses growing in faith and in life.

          I myself was a Tiger Cub, a Cub Scout, and then a Boy Scout. I even remember winning the Pine Wood Derby one year. While I never completed my Eagle Scout, I learned many lessons, value, morals, and other things that have made me a better man today. Since I was part of scouting, it has and continues to make me better. There are certainly many programs that exist today that work to make young men, into exceptional, hard-working, civic minded, and service oriented adult men, but certainly scouting has a large role to play in our society.

          Further, I know that I am just talking about the young men this morning, but worry not, Girl Scout Sunday is on Sunday March 12^th. So be ready young women!

          Melissa and I had the pleasure of being invited to the annual scouting “Blue and Gold” dinner at the Freeville Fire Hall this past Tuesday night, and it was great to be with some scouts and their parents. These young men are learning invaluable skills, morals, values, and are being prepared to be change makers in our communities, and in this world.

To any and all the scouts here, to the leaders, as a church we honor your work, your efforts, your commitment to this community, to our country, and to our world. We are honored and privileged as a Freeville UMC church to hold your scout charters, and we are honored to have you meet here in our church. We are very proud of you all, and you are always welcomed here.

          I am a preacher though, so I probably should start talking about the Bible right? This morning in our reading from the Apostle Paul’s First Epistle or letter to the church in Corinth, or the Corinthians, he talks to them about “Growing in faith and in life”.

          You see as Christians, we not only just have faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior, but daily we are striving to be more like Jesus. As scouts do a variety of things to make themselves better, we as Christians do the same. For this reason many churches have always worked closely with the scouts as we share so much in common.

          In looking at the scripture this morning from 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, it begins with the Apostle Paul addressing the church in Corinth. The Apostle Paul says, “And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, you were not ready for solid food” (1 Cor. 1-2a, NRSV). When we are babies, we begin by drinking only milk, then we finally work our way up to eating solid food. The Christian faith, like scouting is a not a one day effort to achieve success. Scouting, like the Christian faith is a lifelong process of becoming more Godly, more loving, more caring, and becoming all that God has called you to be.

          I hope that for many of us that our faith is deeper than it was a year ago, or five. I also hope that our scouts training and preparedness to enter and change the world, has also increased, as well.

          In the church in Corinth though, some were not growing and developing at the rate in which they should. The Apostle Paul then says of eating solid food, “Even now you are still not ready, for you are still in the flesh. For as long as there is jealously and quarreling among you, are you not in the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?” (1 Cor. 2b-3, NRSV). I am sure that there is never quarrelling among any scouts, or that there is never any issues, or jealousies. Well we know that this isn’t true, but remember it is a process. Sometimes our faith in God, in Christ takes years to really become clear to us. Perhaps scout training might take a long time to really sink in to.

          The Apostle continues saying, “For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each” (1 Cor. 3:4-5, NRSV). Then the Apostle Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will received wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor. 6-9, NRSV).

          Friends, brothers and sisters, it isn’t about who is the best, which Boy Scout troop is better than the other Boy Scout Troop, or which leader is better than the other. We draw our strength from God, through Jesus Christ. All of the gifts, abilities, and graces, that we have all been given, come from God, through Jesus Christ. This means we are not to be enemies, or work against each other, as the Apostle Paul said, “The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose” (1. Cor. 3:8a, NRSV). Jesus Christ believed in a better world, and I believe that organizations like Boy Scouts do to. This is why as a church we honored to honor our young men, who are training, learning, and growing, to one day become exceptional men. To become men that no longer drink milk, but eat solid food.

          For all of these reasons, the Apostle Paul once again ends the reading from 1 Corinthians from this morning say, “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1. Cor. 3:9, NRSV).

          According to www.scouting.org the twelve points of Boy Scout Law are, a scout is supposed to be: “1. Trustworthy, 2. Loyal, 3. Helpful, 4. Friendly, 5. Courteous, 6. Kind, 7. Obedient, 8. Cheerful, 9. Thrifty, 10. Brave, 11. Clean, and 12. Reverent”. To this I say to our scouts, and to all that have even been in scouts, amen.

          I want to close this message this morning, by reading some statistics about the success of young men who are involved in scouting. To be far, a lot of this was read by the Freeville UMC’s Cub Scout Pack Leader, Jesse Nygard, at the annual scouting “Blue and Gold” dinner that past Tuesday night, but let’s be honest I borrow most of my stories anyway. Here are the statistics.

“For every 100 boys that enter scouts: 30 will drop out the first year. Only rarely will one appear before a juvenile court judge. 12 will be from families that belong to no church, 6 of these will be brought into contact with a church and continue. 3 will become pastors, 4 scouts will reach the rank of Eagle Scout. 45 will serve in the Military. 1 person will use scout skills to save somebody else’s live. 2 will report that they used scout skills to save their own lives. 17 will later serve as adult volunteers 8 will find their future life vocations from scouting 5 will receive church emblems. ….Only 4 out of 100 boys in the USA will become scouts but of the leaders of this nation in business, religion and politics, 3 out of 4 were scouts”.

“Only 4 percent of our nation’s youth were scouts, yet 65% of all college and university graduates were scouts. 26 of 29 of the first Astronauts in NASA’s program were Eagle scouts, and 133 of the 233 Astronauts were scouts at one time. A Nationwide survey showed that: Of Senior Class Presidents 89% were scouts. Of Junior Class Presidents 80% were scouts. Student Council Presidents 85% were scouts. School newspaper editors 88% were scouts. Football Captains 71% were scouts. Basketball captains 64% were scouts. 64% of Air Force Academy graduates were scouts 58% West Point Graduates were scouts. 70% of Annapolis graduates were scouts. 72% Rhodes Scholars were scouts. 85% of FBI Agents were scouts at one time. So, 4 out of 100, make Eagle Scout”.

“So what about the other 94 or 92 scouts who didn’t make it to Eagle. Is it just wasted time? The scouts have “Aims and Methods”. Things found in the Scout Oath and Law, the Patrol Method, Outdoors training, Personal growth, Leadership and So on. Advancement is certainly one of these, but only one. Just being part of the program gives the opportunity to “better and belong”. Sure we know some famous Eagle Scouts like Sam Walton, James Lovell, Hank Aaron, Gerald Ford, John Glenn Ross Perot and Steven Speilberg. But how about some “Not-Quite-Eagles” like John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Stewart, Harrison Ford, Merlin Olson, Richard Gere, Nolan Ryan, Jim Morrison, Joe Theisman, Bill Gates and not-quite British Scout’s Queen’s Scout – Paul McCartney. The list goes on and on. Scouting makes a difference!

Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called by God to continue “growing in faith and in life”. We are called to grow closer to Christ every day, to bring others to Christ in our own called ways, and to grow and develop. As we support our scouts in “growing in faith and in life,” may we also grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on this day. May we also be kind to ourselves, realizing that in “Growing in faith and life,” it takes time. Let us continue to “Grow in faith and in life” In Christ’s name, amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - 02/05/17 Sermon - “We are called to be salt and light"

Sunday 02/05/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “We are called to be salt and light”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 112:1-10

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:13-20

          My friends, my brothers and sisters, welcome again on this the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. We are once again, in this period of common or ordinary time, until the last Sunday of this month, February, 26th. On February 26^th we will celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, and then the season of Holy Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, which is Wednesday March 1^st.

          Last week, if you remember, I preached on the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” from the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12. In this sermon, Jesus gave us nine “Beatitudes,” or nine statements of blessing.

Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:1-12, NRSV).

In this “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” Jesus is challenging us all to live into these nines “Beatitudes” or blessings. I will talk more about this in just a minute though.

Before diving into this, last week I also mentioned, as we all know from watching the news, or from our own lives, that we are presently living in an extremely divided country right now. Some people love and support the changes that have been taking place in our country, and some have been taking to the streets and or the airports in protest.

In watching everything that has been going on, I said last week that I wished that Jesus was here in the flesh, and that I could talk to him, sit at his feet, and get his council on what is going on in our world, and in our country. It is certainly true that the level of worry and anxiety that many people have in this country is very high right now.

With this said, in getting back to talking about the “Sermon on the Mount” or the “Beatitudes” from last Sunday, Jesus is telling us that “blessed are the poor in spirit,” or people with little power, prestige, or wealth. Jesus then tells us blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the meek or the weak. Jesus then tell us blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, and blessed are the merciful. Jesus lastly says blessed are the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted (Mt. 5:1-12, NRSV).

This Sunday in the gospel of Matthew reading, Jesus then calls us to be “salt and light” (Mt. 5:13-20, NRSV). Jesus is challenging us to live our lives as disciples, and disciples live out the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes”. In being called to be “salt and light,” disciples of Jesus Christ are not people that seek wealth, fame, or prominence, as we should seek to be poor in spirit. Disciples of Jesus Christ sometimes mourn due to the pain in the world. I know that I have been mourning over the divisions in this country, and the suffering in this world.

Disciples of Christ further, are meek, and willing to be weak and vulnerable. Disciples of Christ thirst and hunger for righteousness, and desire to be pure and holy like Jesus Christ. Disciples of Christ are merciful, are pure in heart, and are peacemakers. Disciples of Christ will also periodically or constantly face persecution for all or for some of these things.

With all of this said, as Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ we should seek to live out our callings in life from God, from the Holy Spirit. We are called to be “salt and light” by Jesus Christ.

So just what did Jesus mean when he told us to be “the salt of the earth,” and the “light of the world?” (Mt. 5:13-14, NRSV). Well, we are called to be like salt, as salt is a substance that “purifies, preserves, and enhances” (Africa Bible Commentary). So if we are called to be like salt, we are called to be pure in heart and to love, to preserve life and to care for others. We are also called to enhance people lives and the world around us. How should we do this?

As far as us being called light, Jesus says to us this morning, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before other, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:14-16, NRSV). How do best shine God’s love and mercy?

We are called to be “salt and light,” to be pure, to enhance, to preserve, and to shine the light of Christ everywhere.

Tim, being a recently retired Chemistry teacher told me that instead of having my sermon title for morning of “we are called to be salt and light,” that I should consider his suggested sermon title of, "Metallic halides and photons-used as exemplars by the Christ".

          I told Tim that I would “look into this” idea. What I didn’t tell Tim however, was that I first had to get a dictionary to look up what “Metallic halides and photons” were. What my friend Merriam-Webster taught me was that “Metallic halides and photons” were fancy scientific words that can fit into the definitions of “salt and light”.

          In considering all of the elements and “Beatitudes” or blessings of Jesus “Sermon on the Mount,” we are called to try to be all of these things, but God calls us all differently. As Christians we are all called to follow Christ, but God will call us to serve in our own unique and special ways. For example, I would probably never think to name a sermon "Metallic halides and photons-used as exemplars by the Christ". Yet Tim’s calling in life was to be a Christian cleverly disguised as a chemistry teacher.

          One of the things that I have been passionate about as part of my calling from God, is getting to know folks and seeing if they have the gifts and graces needed to potentially serve in pastoral ministry. This is a passion of mine, but it might not be a passion of yours.

          My point is this, we are called to be “salt and light,” but this will look different for everyone. We are not all called to be preachers of the gospel, like I am. We are not called to try bring the broad expanse of God’s people together in community, which I feel is part of my calling. We all however, are united in the mission of the church of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”.

          We are all called to be concerned with the lives and wellbeing of all people, to be concerned about suffering, and to be “salt and light”. We are all called to love our neighbor, and yet our own unique callings might dictate how we live this out.

          Jesus continues in our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning saying, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come to not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all in accomplished” (Mt. 5:17-18, NRSV).

          Jesus then concludes our gospel reading this morning saying, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:19-20, NRSV).

          Jesus said, “whoever does them and teaches them,” as I remember one of my duties as a pastor is teach and preach God’s word (Mt. 5:19b, NRSV). One of my duties as a pastor is to preach the good and lifesaving message of Jesus Christ. To call people to turn from there darkness, to turn from there brokenness, and to turn from sin, and to repent to God for these things. We then are called to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives, as our savior, and call upon the Holy Spirit to fill us. In becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, this is when our own unique callings become clearer through the power of the Holy Spirit.

          My brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ, the savior of the world calls us to be “salt and light”. Jesus calls us to love God, love our neighbor, and to follow him. So the question I have for all of us to consider today, is how you are you, and how am I, being called to be “salt and light”? You see there are so many things we could all do. Yet we are not all called to be preachers, and some of us don’t even feel called to speak in front of the church.

Historically speaking for example, a Christian monk’s highest calling was that of praying.

~ Story about protestant seminarians at a Roman Catholic monastery ~

Part of our Wesleyan or Methodist tradition is that of action, but what actions are we called to. Some feel called to serve the people of a nursing home, or build community, or to become socially active, or to work on higher levels of leadership. How are you called, and how am I called by Jesus Christ to be “salt and light”?

          Friends, sisters and brothers in Christ, as we move forward day by day, it is my hope and my prayer, that we continue to grow closer to Jesus Christ, that we continue to grow in love, in grace, in mercy, and in justice. It is my hope that we continue to discover the unique callings that God has placed on our lives, so that we all might be “salt and light” to the world. That we might fulfill the church’s mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/29/17 Sermon - “He captivated the crowd" "The power of Jesus' presence" Series [Part 3 of 3]

Sunday 01/29/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title:           “He captivated the crowd”

            (“The power of Jesus’ presence” Series – Part 3 of 3)

Old Testament Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

          Welcome again my friends, my brothers and sisters, on this the Forth Sunday after the Epiphany. Four Sundays after the Wise Men or Magi came to see the Christ Child. They came to see God in the flesh, and they brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They came one way, and they left forever changed.

          We will remain in this season after the Epiphany of the Lord, which is also ordinary time, or common time, through then end of February. On the last Sunday of February, on February 26^th, we will have Transfiguration Sunday, and then the season of Holy Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, which is Wednesday March First.

          With this said, two weeks ago I began a sermon series on what it must have been like to see, to interact with, and to even be able to touch Jesus. You see for nearly two-thousand years, Christians like us, have been followers of Jesus, have been disciples of Jesus Christ. Many of us know a lot about Jesus, as Jesus has been revealed to us in the scriptures. We have also learned about Jesus at church, from family members, and etc. Yet the majority of Christians have never meet Jesus face to face. In fact, we are not fully certain what Jesus even looked like.

          To this end, in the gospel of John, Jesus Christ says in 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn. 20:29, NRSV).

          My sisters and brothers, I have never seen Jesus Christ in the flesh. I didn’t see him at the Jordan River when he was getting baptized, and I didn’t see him when he called forth Peter and Andrew, and James and John to come follow him. I wasn’t there to see the expressions on the faces of those whom he healed, those whom he loved, and those whom he taught and spoke with. Part of me though wants to know what it would have been like to be in the physical presence of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. I have felt Jesus’ presence spiritually, in my heart, and in my soul, but what would it be like to see him physically, face to face?

          This three week sermon series that I have been doing on what it must have been like to meet and see Jesus, ends today. I could probably preach on this topic every Sunday though, as I can imagine that seeing Jesus must have been unbelievable.

As a Christian, I believe in Jesus, I believe in who he was, what he did, and that he is risen. I also believe that Jesus is alive and well, and that he is in my heart. I believe that Jesus hears me, but I have never met him in the flesh. I wonder, I just wonder, what that would have been like.

          I remember growing up in my early childhood North of Chicago, and then rest of my childhood in Orange County, NY, being a lonely Chicago Bulls basketball fan. Sure more and more Chicago Bulls fans surfaced, as the Bulls won a lot of championships. I remember as young child, and as a teenager idolizing Michael Jordan. In fact, my friends even wanted to get his Nike Shoes, the Air Jordan’s. I have memorized his player number. Does anyone here know Michael Jordan’s player number? He is literally a living legend.

          In my bedroom in Orange County I had one of those basketball hoops that you hang on the closet door, with the soft orange ball. I also had a basketball hoop in the driveway. Sometimes when I was playing basketball in my bedroom or in the driveway, I would pretend that I was Michael Jordan. I would talk out loud and say things like, “Jordan receives a pass from Pippen, and slams it down! Yeah!”

          I remember watching the Chicago Bulls win various championships, and I remember watching Michael Jordan kiss those big golden victory trophies. I also remember when Michael Jordan would stick out his big long tongue in the air. I have never met Michael Jordan face to face, yet I believed in him as an athlete.

          One time when I went to visit my father North of Chicago, I met a man that was at one of the championships games, where the Chicago Bulls won the championship. He saw Michael Jordan, I think he might have even have shook his hand when he was there.

          Michael Jordan, while an exceptional athlete, is just a human, like you and I. What would it have been like to meet Jesus though? Jesus Christ, not a human, but fully God and fully human. Jesus the savior, much more than a legendary basketball player. Remember Jesus Christ said in 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn. 20:29, NRSV).

          In the prophet Micah reading for this morning, it very much talks about the mission of serving God, serving Jesus. The prophet Micah says in 6:8, “and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8, NRSV). If you don’t have faith though, well then you might not be concerned about with God asks of you in this scripture.

          In the Apostle Paul’s first epistle or letter to the Corinthians from this morning, the Apostle Paul talks about the significance of faith. He says, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, NRSV). For if we don’t believe and if we don’t have faith, then according the Apostle Paul it is “foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18a, NRSV).

          One could argue then, that if you don’t believe in Jesus that seeing him face to face in the flesh would be no big deal. Yet I think that the presence of Jesus was so overpowering that it had a profound effect on everyone. I believe that the presence of Jesus had an effect on the disciples, on crowds, even yes on the Pharisees. Some of the Pharisees were torn and conflicted at points about Jesus, as what Jesus said and did, along with his presence, was powerful.

          Today in the gospel of Matthew reading, Jesus preaches a sermon. Now Jesus had gone into the Synagogue in Nazareth, read from the prophet Isaiah and then proclaimed that he was the Messiah. Yet the “Sermon on the Mount”, which is what we have this morning, is a powerful sermon. Some also call this the “Beatitudes”. In giving this sermon, I believe that Jesus captivated the crowd. I believe that Jesus captivated crowd so much, that those who saw and heard Jesus, then went to tell others about it, who had never saw and heard Jesus. I bet that some of these people who saw and heard Jesus, convinced some of those who never had seen Jesus, about who he was.

Once again, Jesus Christ says in the gospel of John 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn. 20:29, NRSV).

          So why is the sermon that Jesus gives in our gospel of Matthew reading called the “Sermon on the Mount”? Well this gospel reading begins by saying, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him” (Mt. 5:1, NRSV). So Jesus was literally on a mountain, or an elevated position when he gave this sermon.

          It is at this point that Jesus began to teach and preach to his disciples and those gathered. I believe that in doing so he captivated the crowd, as they saw Jesus, they heard him, and maybe even touched him.

          This “Sermon on the Mount”, which is longer than a similar “Sermon on the Plain” in the gospel of Luke, was likely given by Jesus in the Galilee area. In fact, when I was Israel a few years ago, I went to the location that the Roman Catholic Church believes Jesus gave this sermon.

          So there Jesus is on this mount, likely in Galilee, preaching, teaching, and no doubt captivating the crowd. So what does Jesus actually say in the “Sermon on the Mount?” Well he makes a series of “Blessed are” statements, or some call them the “Beatitudes,” which can translate to mean blessing.

          Jesus then says this, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteous, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3-10, NRSV).

          Jesus then concludes with saying, “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely in my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way the persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:11, NRSV).

          Powerful words, powerful statements that Jesus makes with this “Sermon on the Mount,” the “Beatitudes,” or the “blessings”.

How many of you by the way, love the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes”? I know I do. I wonder though what it was like to be there. To hear him? My guess is that the crowd was captivated, and so would we have been to.

          As far as the substance of the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” Jesus is telling us that the weak, that the vulnerable, that those who suffer, and those who love and do what is right, that God blesses those people. Jesus is indirectly saying that if someone preys on the weak, harms the weak, or take advantage of others, that God does not bless such things. Jesus is also saying that the people of God are merciful, pure in heart, are peacemakers, and that they strive for righteousness.

          I can imagine though, what it must have been like to be on that mount in Galilee hearing the savior of the world give one of the most famous sermons ever given.

          Remember my friends, my brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ said in 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn. 20:29, NRSV).

          None of us have ever seen Jesus Christ in the flesh, imagine if we did though? What would it be like? What would we say to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world?

I believe that one day we will all see Jesus. Until that day though, we believe that he is risen, that is alive in us, and that he is coming back again in glory. May we seek the life giving face of Jesus Christ today and always. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Second Sunday after the Epiphany/Human Relations Day - 01/15/17 Sermon - “What would you say if you saw Jesus?" "The power of Jesus' presence" Series [Part 1 of 3]

Sunday 01/15/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “What would you say if you saw Jesus?”

            (“The power of Jesus’ presence” Series – Part 1 of 3)

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Gospel Lesson: John 1:29-42

          My friends, my sisters and brothers, welcome again on this the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, and this our Human Relations Day Sunday. On this Sunday we are in the season after the Epiphany of the Lord, after the Wise Men or Magi came to Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We will remain in this season after the Epiphany, through Transfiguration Sunday, which is Sunday February 26^th. Then on Wednesday March 1^st, the season of Holy Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday.

          While we are in this season after the Epiphany, we also have a special giving Sunday in the life of church today, called Human Relations Day. Once again this a special church offering that will be taken in addition to the normal offering today. According to www.umcgiving.org, the Human Relations Day offering, “benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk teen through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation program” (http://www.umcgiving.org/question-articles/human-relations-day-faq). If you are interested in donating to this special giving Sunday, please make your checks out to the UNYUMC and put Human Relations Day on the memo line. If you are giving cash, feel free to just mark the funds on an envelope for Human Relations Day, and we will get those fund to the conference office in Syracuse.

          With this said, in this New Year, I am starting a three week preaching series called “The power of Jesus’ presence”.

          As I preparing for this sermon, I thought of patient that I offered spiritual care to when I was a chaplain intern up at SUNY Upstate University Hospital. This patient was from the Southeastern European country of Macedonia. At SUNY Upstate University Hospital, chaplains, and all staff, wear these little walkie-talkie like devices around there necks. These devices can communicate with anyone in the hospital, and can do a variety of other things, as well. One of the features of these devices, is that you can call a language translator to help you to speak to folks who can’t speak English. In this case, a Macedonian to English translator.

          Now I can’t remember why this women from Macedonia was in Syracuse, or in the hospital for that matter, but I do remember that she was scared to be in the hospital. You see, she didn’t really speak good English.

In visiting with her, I asked her where she was from. She told me that she was from Macedonia, as the translator and I spoke back and forth through my little neck walkie-talkie. As the conversation continued, this woman began to discuss, among other things, her faith, as she was a Roman Catholic Christian.

          She then asked me if I admired any Roman Catholic leaders both past and or present. Among the names that I gave her, was the former Arch-Bishop of El Salvador Oscar Romero, and Mother Teresa. When I said the name Mother Teresa, who is now Saint Mother Teresa in the Roman Catholic Church, this woman lit right up.

It was almost as if this woman forgot that she was scared. Almost at once, she looked calm, pleased, and relaxed. She then began weeping, as she told me through the translator, the story of how Saint Mother Teresa came to her village in Macedonia one day. On this day, this woman met Saint Mother Theresa. This woman then said that she was able to shake Mother Theresa’s hand, and that she was blessed by her. This woman wept incredibly as she told me this story. She told me that she was in the presence of a holy woman, and that it changed her and her faith forever. Before I left this visit, I then prayed with this women. When I left, the fear that I had seen on this woman’s face when I entered that hospital room, turned into calm, joy, peace, and love.

          As I said, as I was preparing this sermon, I thought about this woman was changed by an encounter with the now Saint Mother Theresa. In pondering this, I then wondered what it would be like to physically stand in the presence of Jesus Christ himself. By this I mean, what was it like to see, talk to, touch, and listen to Jesus? Some people in Hollywood might say that Jesus had “stage presence,” but I think that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, had a presence to him like no other. I believe that he could enter a room or an area, and that the people around him would notice him immediately. I don’t mean that Jesus was the life of the party, but I believe he must have possessed some amazing and holy qualities, that drew people to himself. The full of embodiment of God’s love and truth standing right in front of you. What would that be like I wonder?

          Well friends, brothers and sisters, let us imagine this for ourselves, for a few moments. In a moment I am going to ask you to shut your eyes, as I discuss some of the gospel of John reading for this morning.

So if you could shut your eyes, and then just listen to what I am saying. Imagine that on this day that you are near the Jordan River in Israel/Palestine, likely sitting on the banks of the river. Imagine that it is a hot and sunny day today. Imagine that John the Baptist is in the Jordan River, or near the Jordan River at this point. With John are his disciples, which includes you, and the Apostle Peter’s brother Andrew. Imagine you are sitting on or near there bank of the Jordan River, and perhaps John the Baptist is talking, or like I said, perhaps he baptizing someone at this point. Imagine that this is a beautiful and peaceful day.

          Just then, Jesus begins to walk down the path towards the river. Jesus Christ, the bread of life, the prince of peace, the light of the world, walking towards the Jordan River. As Jesus walks towards the river, his cousin John the Baptist yells out, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me’ (Jn. 1:29-30, NRSV).

          John the Baptist then says, “I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel (Jn. 1:31, NRSV). John the Baptist then speaks of the baptism of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him, and how Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:32-34, NRSV).

          As you are keeping your eyes closed, hear the gentle flow of the Jordan River, enjoy the warm sunny day, as you are sitting on the banks of the river. As you listen to John speak of this Jesus, Jesus continues walking towards you.

As your eyes are closed, what is this like for you? What does Jesus look like as he approaches? What emotions inside of you are evoked as he gets closer, and closer, and closer? Does he have a nice smile? Does he seems to have holy light and love all around him? What does he look like?

          As Jesus still approaches you, and then finally gets to where you are, what is like to be in the presence of the living God? How do you feel? Do you cry? Do you laugh?

          Please open your eyes. Does anyone here feel calmer, more joyous, or more at peace right now? Being in the presence of Jesus, following him, living like him, this is our lifelong goal as Christians.

          As I was imagining this scene in John’s gospel for myself, I thought of the song by the Christian band MercyMe called, “I can only imagine”. In this song the lyrics say, “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine, surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel, will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still, will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall, will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine” (https://www.google.com/#q=mercyme+i+can+only+imagine+lyrics&safe=active).

          My friends, my sisters and brothers on this day, Jesus Christ, the savior of the world comes to John the Baptist and his disciples, and as the song says, “I can only imagine” what it must have been like to stand in Jesus’ presence.

          When John the Baptist announces that Jesus is coming, he calls him “the Lamb of God” (Jn. 1:29b, NRSV). In the ancient Jewish faith, on that first Passover in Egypt, and in other instances, God called the Israelites to sacrifice a pure, white, and spotless lamb, for the atonement of their sins. During that first Passover in Egypt when the Jews were preparing to exit slavery under the Pharaoh, God told the people to sacrifice a pure, white, and spotless lamb. They were to then take some of the blood of this lamb, and put it on their door posts and lintels, so that the angel of death would Passover their homes. This is why the Jewish holiday is called Passover.

          This morning, John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, is claiming that Jesus is the new Passover lamb. In this case though, when Jesus dies on a cross, his blood will not cover the doors ways and lintels of our front doors, but will cover the door ways and lintels of our hearts and our souls. Jesus is the pure, white, and spotless Lamb of God who comes to love, heal, and forgive, and to die for all of us. Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29, NRSV).

          Given all of this, what must it have been like to stand in the presence of Jesus Christ? How do we become more like this Jesus whom we follow? I don’t know exactly what I would say or do if Jesus were to come in here in right now. I might just fall to me knees right here. “I can only imagine”.

          The story of the gospel for this morning ends with Jesus the day after this encounter, being called again by John the Baptist, “the Lamb of God!” (Jn. 1:36b, NRSV).

          As soon as John says this, two of John’s disciples immediately go and follow Jesus (Jn. 1:37, NRSV). Then these two disciples asked Jesus where he was staying, and Jesus said, “Come and see” (Jn. 1:38-39, NRSV).

          These two disciples then stayed with Jesus that day, and at about 4:00 pm, one of these men, Andrew, went and told his brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed)” (Jn. 1:39b-41, NRSV).

          Jesus then meets Simon Peter and says, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (Jn. 1:42, NRSV). “Cephas” is an Aramaic name, as Jesus spoke Aramaic, which means “a rock,” or “Peter” in Greek.

          I wonder what this day was like for those first disciples of Jesus? I wonder what it was like when Peter first saw Jesus? What would it be like if we were to look at Jesus face to face?

          My friends, my sisters and brothers, in having now served as the pastor of four United Methodist Churches, I have the pleasure of meeting and ministering to many people. Some of the people that I have encountered have unfortunately told me though, that they have been hurt in the past by the church. Some of these people, as a result, no longer even go to church. Yet in the many ministry settings that I have had the pleasure to serve in, I have never, and I mean never, talked with someone who has found fault with Jesus.

          As Christians, it is our job then, to make the church look like Jesus, the one who came to love, heal, and forgive. May we seek his face today, and may we both individually and as the church seek to be more like him. In doing so people won’t talk about how the church hurt them, but rather they will talk about how this church, and us, are like Jesus. As a result, the will come to Jesus, and the church will grow in number, love, and strength. May we seek his presence today and always! Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Baptism of the Lord Sunday - 01/08/17 Sermon - “You're hired!"

Sunday 01/08/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “You’re hired!”

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17

          My sisters and brothers, my friends, welcome again on this our Baptism of the Lord Sunday. This is the Sunday in the life of the church that we celebrate Jesus getting baptized in the Jordan River, by his cousin John the Baptist.

          I find it funny that the church has for many years celebrated the Epiphany, or the coming of the Wise Men or Magi, last Sunday, and that this Sunday Jesus is a full grown man of about thirty years old, getting baptized in Jordan River. That is pretty big expanse of time in Jesus’ life, between two Sundays!

          The big problem here, is once Joseph flees to Egypt with Mary and young Jesus, and once they return to Nazareth when Jesus is a young child, we are not given much information about Jesus’ early life. We do have the story though, of young Jesus being at the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of Twelve (Lk. 2:41-52, NRSV). This is the story where Joseph and Mary are headed back home to Nazareth after celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem. When they then noticed that Jesus wasn’t with the group, and then went back to Jerusalem to get Jesus (Lk. 2:41-52, NRSV).

          Other than this story of young Jesus at the temple, at the age of twelve, which is only in the gospel of Luke by the way, once Joseph, Mary, and Jesus return to Nazareth after fleeing to and from Egypt, all we have written of Jesus is this story of him being twelve at the temple during the Jewish Passover.

In this way, one of the reasons that many Christian Churches go from Epiphany Sunday last Sunday, in which the Wise Men or Magi visited, to the Baptism of Lord this Sunday, is that we have little information of Christ’s early life. Once again, we know that Jesus’ family returned to Nazareth when he was young, and we know that he was in the temple in Jerusalem at age twelve during the Passover. This story and the birth story of Christ, is all the information we have on young Jesus.

          This might make us ask the question, what was Jesus’ early childhood like? Unfortunately, this is not the topic of my sermon today, but I just wanted to provide some historical context of why we go from Epiphany Sunday every year, right to the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the very next Sunday.

          With this said, I want to tell you a story about Melissa and myself. So there we were, twenty-two years old, newlyweds, I was a school teacher, and Melissa was at the time a substitute school teacher. In that first full year of teaching, we had a small apartment. We scrimped and saved, we didn’t go to dinner much, and etc., so that we might save up enough money to put a down payment on a house.

          Well after my first full year of teaching, we did this in the summer of 2005. The house we bought wasn’t anything fancy, and as it turned out, we spent days fixing it up with my parents. We put in many new windows, a new hot water heater, my step-dad and I build a new front porch, we put a metal roof on the back porch roof, we had a metal roof put on the front porch roof, we put in a wood stove, and etc., and etc. You see Melissa and I hoped that if we worked hard, and if we carefully saved, that one day we would be able to get a mortgage, to buy a house.

          Then it just seemed to happen! We were sitting in a lawyer’s office in Moravia on a hot day in August, 2005, we wrote the biggest that he had ever written, with what seemed like a fortune to us at the time. Then we began unpacking in our new house in Moravia. Many folks from the Methodist church in Moravia came over to help, and some even brought us gifts. It was a great day, a day that we had been dreaming about.

          As we lay there in bed that first night though, it was so quiet. Then suddenly this little bit of fear seemed to creep through us very young twenty-three year old newlyweds. I looked at Melissa and said, “Oh no, can we really afford this house! Maybe we made a mistake!”

          Well I quickly calmed down, and ten years later we sold that house in November, 2015, to as it turns out, to someone that we knew from the church. During our many years in that house, we did so many fixer-upper projects, had youth pastors over for dinner, had prayer meetings, and etc. It wasn’t a miraculous house, but we had waited and worked hard to have it. We worked for it, we longed for it, and then we had a moment of what they call “buyer’s remorse,” when we said, “Oh no, what have we done,” when we got it.

          In ancient Jewish culture, many sects of Judaism would identify promising young boys who had the right gifts and graces to become “Rabbis”. The word “Rabbi” means “teacher” in Hebrew, and Jesus is often referred to as “Rabbi” in the gospels by his disciples and others. A Jewish Rabbi is our equivalency to a Christian Pastor.

          So in ancient Jewish culture, these young men or boys that were hand-picked to be Rabbis by the current Rabbis, spent years of training and preparing to be a Rabbi. Like waiting to buy a house, or wanting to achieve something, they spent years and years preparing. Generally, at about the age of thirty though, these “Rabbis in training” would then officially become a Rabbi. I guess this would be similar to getting ordained in a Christian Church. Now why did I tell you all of this?

          I tell you all of this, because Jesus was baptized around thirty-years of age, and he was called “Rabbi” by his followers and many others. Due to this, when Jesus gets baptized in the Jordan River today, it is not only symbolic in Judaism, but it also symbolic of Jesus being the savior. Jesus’ baptism means that he is now “ready” to fulfill his mission.

          So for thirty-years, Jesus was preparing himself for this mission that he was called to. Further, after his baptism today, Jesus then goes into wilderness for forty-days and forty-nights. Some scholars say that this time in the wilderness was Jesus’ final testing ground to measure his fitness as the Messiah. To resist evil for forty-days. Then after this, Jesus will in my own story’s context, “close on the house.”

          In reading the gospel lesson for this morning from the gospel of Matthew, as I said, I thought about when Melissa and I bought our first house. I then thought about our “buyer’s remorse” that we had, right after we had finally gotten what we wanted. After Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist, Jesus would go on to have times of great triumph and great suffering, just like we all do. The idea that God would come to earth and take on flesh, and be willing to endure what we do is a powerful idea.

          On this day though, with Jesus getting baptized, he officially begins his public ministry, that will only last three years. A ministry which will end on cross on Calvary.

As I was looking over the gospel lesson for this morning, I wondered to myself if Jesus had that “oh no” moment, like Melissa and I did when we bought our first house? I wondered if after Jesus got baptized and then walked out of the Jordan River, if he had a second where the full realization of what his mission on earth was, just hit him?

          In this way, when Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist baptized him, it is almost like that when Jesus came out of the water, John the Baptist said, “You’re hired!” “You’re hired” to love, heal, and forgive, to teach us to love each other more, and to die for us. Well I don’t about you, but that’s a much bigger transaction than buying a house in Moravia. I wonder though, I wonder if Jesus had a moment like Melissa and I did, after he was baptized.

          Many of us hear in the church today have hopes and dreams. Perhaps some of us have a “dream home,” as the term goes. Perhaps we dream of buying a plot of land, building a house just so, having a tire swing in the front yard, and etc. How would we feel though, after it actually happened? How would we feel if it actually came true?

          Maybe some us when were younger joined the military, went to college, or got job training, so that one day we could get that “dream job,” and so one day we would hear those prized words, “you’re hired!” Yet how many of us then had a moment of angst after getting that job. Maybe we said, “Jeez, now I need to do all the amazing things that I just promised to do in my interview”.

          The significance of this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord in the life of the church, is that on this day, Jesus goes forth publically. He will go into the wilderness for forty-days and forty-nights to resist temptation from evil, and then he will go forth and call his twelve disciples. It is a watershed day, because Jesus goes from growing into becoming the Messiah, to assuming his role as Messiah.

          Maybe for some of us we can remember our high school graduation, or college graduations, or military basic training graduations. There is often much excitement and celebration. Sometimes though, we have a moment of “what do we do now” after the fact.

          Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the savior of the world, God in the flesh, gets baptized on this day, so that he may assume his position of leadership, and fulfill his mission on earth as the Messiah.

          In looking at the text of the gospel of Matthew for this morning, it says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.” (Mt. 3:13-15, NRSV). The baptism story of Jesus is listed in Mark, Matthew, and Luke’s gospel, as well as our reading from the Book of Acts from this morning.

          The gospel then ends by saying, “And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well please” (Mt. 3:16-17, NRSV).

          As I said, I wonder if after Jesus got out the Jordan River, after his baptism, before going into the wilderness for forty-days did he have a “oh no” moment? Did he have a “You’re hired” moment.

          Today is a big day for Jesus, as he goes from being born as the Messiah, to now actually doing the full work of being the Messiah. He will now go forth, love, heal, and forgive, and will change us, and thereby change the world.

          Perhaps we in our own lives have had moments where we have hit great benchmarks, but then have had a moment of trepidation afterwards.

          We my sisters and brothers are in a new year, with fresh opportunities for growth, personally, spiritually, and within the church. God has given us all hopes and dreams, and I pray that in 2017 we might get ever closer to them. Be prepared if God does help you to achieve some of your hopes and dreams in 2017, you may just may have a “oh no,” or “You’re hired” moment. In Christ's name I bring you this message. Amen.