Nature of Epiphany
I would like to reflect with you on the nature of Epiphany and the ministry we share at Saint Luke, especially as we find the mission field not somewhere else, but right outside our doors.
Our Remembering
It’s never been my habit to do a lot of baking during the Christmas season. It may be I was traumatized by the notoriously unreliable ovens in seminary apartment kitchens. (Apartment maintenance was not a priority for LSTC back in the cash-strapped 1970’s.) Or it may be as I started out in the parish there never seemed to be time for baking and other holiday activities. Or it may be I know if I bake, and we have goodies in the house – we will eat them
See It With New Eyes
Nativity scenes are all around us. Over the years in my parish ministry we had children’s processions at the beginning of each Advent liturgy. On the first Advent Sunday they would bring in the stable, the straw, and light the first candle. In successive liturgies would come the animals, the shepherds, the wise men, the mom and dad. And then the baby.
Mary, Did You Know?
Once every three years, our lectionary gives us Mary’s song. A joyous proclamation of her faith in what would become a defining moment for her as she stands in the doorway of Elizabeth’s house. And every three years, there seems to be debate and conversation on social media regarding the song, “Mary, did you know?” This year was no different. And as we move into this 4th week of advent and hear Mary’s song, I can across a reflection on this exact topic from Timothy Marcus Smith, ELCA Bishop of the North Carolina Synod that I wanted to share as a part of this week’s Pastors Blog:
Wait for the Light
In Advent we wait for the light…
A sign above the door tells you to “wait for the light” when you get off the bus in Manhattan. But when you get off the bus on the Lower East Side the sign is also in Spanish and says, “espere la luz.” In English, “wait” is not as rich, lush and romantic as the Spanish “esperar,” which means to wait, hope, expect and anticipate all at once. The light for which we wait is Jesus Christ. And we not only wait for the light, but hope for it, anticipate it, work toward it, and long for it.
It’s Time to Get Cleaning
As a child, I always enjoyed a holiday – any holiday. It meant that we would decorate the house with appropriate garb and it always looked festive whether it was spring blooms or fall leaves. The one thing I did not like, however, was the cleaning that went into the preparation of the arrival of holiday guests.
Exuberant About St. Luke’s
Advent 1 marks a new beginning of the church year, a theological transition between what has happened in the past – and what God has instore for the future!
In our Second Reading from 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13…..
Paul is exuberant with gratitude for the Thessolonica congregation that Timothy has reported on – and now Paul writes to them…..
Where is the Kingdom of God?
Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world…….John 18: 33ff
Our gospel reading on Christ the King Sunday comes during Jesus’ last hours before his death. Jesus has been handed over to the Pilate, the Roman governor. They tell Pilate that Jesus is a criminal whom they want to put to death. So, Pilate questions Jesus, asking if he is the “King of the Jews.”
Cultural Sabbath
Prior to the pandemic, I don’t know how long I’ve heard the sentiment, “I wish I had more time at home.” Often it came from over scheduled families who may not get uniforms washed between games as they chase around from one field to another. Folks welcomed “rain-out” weekends or snow days that provided a break to catch up on laundry, cleaning and organizing, planting or lists we tend to keep on the counter for “when we have time.”
Stale Bread
My wife and I have been married for 44 years. There are several things that I continue to do over the period of time that really upset her – one of the big things is my refusal to make sure the unused bread bag is tied up after I have grabbed a slice from it. My wife loves fresh bread – and so do I – but because I often forget to tie the bread bag – the bread in the bag dries out and becomes stale.
I think about the “bread issue” that my wife and I have today – because it really ties in to Reformation Sunday – this Sunday at St. Luke’s! Luther found the church that he was a part of in 1517 to be quite stale – the message of Jesus’ love had dried up – and what was being preached from the pulpits throughout Europe was dry, tasteless and bad.