St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
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Homily Highlights for November 9 – The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
THE LIGHT OF WISDOM
Keynote Scriptures
Old Testament: Wisdom is radiant and unfading...to fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding. (Wisdom of Solomon 6:12, 15)
Psalm: Hear my teaching, O my people, incline your ears to the words of my mouth (Psalm 78:1)
Gospel: Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.” (Matthew 25:1)
ORIGINAL MEANING
In the Bible, Wisdom is God’s guiding light for right living and in the New Testament is embodied in Jesus Christ, Christ the power of God and the Wisdom of God. (1Corinthians 1:24) This is a crucial development, for Wisdom cannot in this context be seen as something the unaided human intellect is capable of—true Wisdom requires trusting discipleship, grounded in faith, hope and love. In the Gospel, the wise bridesmaids exercised what we consider admirable foresight in bringing oil for their lamps, and if we understand the bridegroom to be Christ, a commitment to always be ready to go with him, holding nothing back. THE FAITH TO KEEP THE LAMP BURNING ALWAYS.
The “foolishness” of the foolish bridesmaids lies not in failing to understand how short the time would be before their lamps went out, but the unwillingness from the outset to commit to the faith of “keeping the lamp burning always.”
EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TODAY
It is the challenge for everyone in the spiritual life to be ready for the long walk and sometimes patient waiting upon the Lord that is part of a commitment to Christ. It is a great challenge to our culture of instant gratification and shows how elusive true wisdom can be no matter how technically proficient we are. Our Psalm today puts a strong emphasis on what we teach our children and I know that this strikes a responsive chord for the parents in our faith community. We do sense that the mastery of many facts and of much gadgetry will not be enough for them to learn the Way of Wisdom which alone can lead to a truly happy and meaningful life and a life that will make our communities a better place. When Jesus teaches about the kingdom of heaven in the Gospels, it is most often done with very down to earth parables, pointing to the heart of the prayer he taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
They kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for November 2 – All Saints Sunday
CALLED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD
Keynote Scriptures
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:1)
BEHIND THE STAINED GLASS
In churches throughout the world the saints are enshrined in stained glass windows. Their appearance seems otherworldly, beyond human struggle and weakness. They tell us a different story in their own words. St. Paul, who wrote a major portion of the New Testament, declares himself to be the worst of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) St. Peter, the leader of the apostles, deserts and denies Jesus during his passion and tells Jesus when they first meet, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8) Jesus already knows the state of humanity and calls Peter despite his weaknesses. This is how God works with all of us, calling us in love “just as we are” knowing that in Christ we can be made new. We can be made children of God.
WE ARE CALLED AS A COMMUNITY
St. Paul uses the term “saints” to address entire communities of believers (Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi) and teaches through Scripture that it is diverse people with diverse gifts, working together in love for the common good, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that makes us into “The Body of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12 and 13) This is a calling even more awesome than being an “individual” saint: For a saint can come to share increasingly in God’s vision of the good of the whole community.
A CALL TO BLESSEDNESS FROM JESUS
Our Gospel today consists of a set of teachings by Jesus called “The Eight Beatitudes.” His first call to blessedness, “Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who know their need of God—NEB) for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,” is essential to all that follows; rather than trying to be a spiritual muscleman who towers above all others, we humbly ask God in prayer to reveal our gifts and guide us in using them in His service. In response to our prayers, God will work through us great works of mercy and comfort, peacemaking and righteousness that will bring our lives and our faith communities closer to His kingdom.
CALLED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD
Each new life, each celebration of Baptism is a special sign of God’s Kingdom—the gift of new beginnings and new hope. Perhaps, the biggest challenge and opportunity of our lives is to grow in love by learning to love as God loves with a deep patience, faithful companionship and wise guidance. Our lives are so enriched by our children and the Baptismal Covenant that brings us together to bless them and celebrate God’s blessing.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for October 26 – The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
ROOTS AND WINGS
Keynote Scriptures
Old Testament: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)
Gospel: Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 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.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Original Meaning
It may be surprising to us that one of the ethical pillars of Christianity, the teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself” actually originated in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18) In his own teaching, Jesus was building on the foundation of the faith of Israel in which he was nurtured, but moves much further in his teaching about love— “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:33) How does Jesus love us? “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Until Christ’s death and resurrection, even love was just one more “work of the law” that we would strive for in vain to earn God’s love. On Easter, the era of “Amazing Grace” begins.
Exploring What It Means Today
It is important to note that even in his greatest teachings, Jesus is building on his own heritage while giving birth to a new creation. Learning how to honor and embrace the best of our heritage even while moving ahead into a creative future is sometimes called having ROOTS AND WINGS. We see it in an instant when looking at a four generation family—wisdom and prudence...energy and invention. They may seem in tension, yet working together they give us the greatest possibilities for a dynamic growing ministry. All generations are valued. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals and at the hospice in recent weeks, but even at the hospice, I do not see life ending. Rather, I see the radically different world view of the Christian Faith which captures the vision of our life as a precious gift forever embraced in the heart of the eternal God...the gift of life from its beginning, through its long season of growing, to its transformation to life with God. These are the milestones marked in the life and worship of the faith from Baptism to Burial and the life of growing in the love and service of Christ which can mark every step in between. This is the ministry of St. Stephen’s, offered as a gift to us by God’s “Amazing Grace.” I find the fourth verse of that great hymn speaking powerfully to us in our walk with God throughout our lives:
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.
This side of eternity our walk together is a stumbling one in our weakness, but sustained by God’s love, God’s Word and Sacrament, and God’s service—it leads us home. There is nothing more important than this, nothing more worthy of our best gifts and support.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for October 12 – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
THE CHALLENGE OF COMMITMENT
KEY SCRIPTURE
“Jesus spoke to them in a parable saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.’” (Matthew 22:1-2))
TOO BUSY FOR THE BANQUET?
The celebration of a marriage and the reception/banquet that follows is such a special occasion. There is a deep joy and hope even in the midst of what we know are the great challenges of lifelong commitment. It is a time of sharing a celebration of love for families and friends who are present. It is special and important to be invited. In today’s Gospel, the king issues an invitation not just once but twice. There is an urgency that goes with the king’s generosity but those who were invited “made light of it and went away.” There are more important things to do. They were too busy for the banquet. Some of those invited showed far more than casual disregard and mistreated and killed the king’s messengers. The consequences were severe but the king does not give up and expands his generous invitation to everyone, “the good and the bad.”
WHAT IS THE WEDDING ROBE?
It may seem unfair or even strange that having gone through all that trouble to invite someone to the wedding banquet that the king would then cast him out for not having a “wedding robe.” If we understand the “wedding robe” as being analogous to a white baptismal garment, we can begin to understand this parable. Having been generously invited to love and fellowship with God in Jesus, we find in the invitation a call to grow as followers of Jesus. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and above all clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
GROWING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
The invitation to the banquet is a call to mature and grow in our walk of faith and love with Jesus Christ. There are touchstones in this journey.
1) We will find ourselves growing in the time we give to prayer and worship and the discovery of God’s Word as a living Word.
2) We will grow in a life of Stewardship- giving of our time, talents and treasure for the service of God’s kingdom.
There is a challenge to this commitment. As God moves more to the center of our lives, we will be moved to ask, “Is God getting my best?” Having accepted the invitation to the king’s wedding banquet, are we ready to put on the garment of the Baptismal Covenant and be changed?
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for October 5 – The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
CARING FOR THE LORD’S VINEYARD
KEY SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: “Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard.” (Isaiah 5:1)
Psalm: “Turn now O God of hosts, look down from heaven; behold and tend this vine; preserve what your right hand has planted.” (Psalm 80:14)
ORIGINAL MEANING
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” (Psalm 24) God’s good creation from the earth to the nations to each of our lives is the Lord’s. In the Old Testament lesson from Isaiah, the Lord is angry and disappointed in his beloved Israel, delivered from slavery in Egypt, preserved in the desert wandering, and planted in a good land; the Lord had been let down. Israel fell into the worship of false gods and had become an unjust society: “the Lord expected justice but saw bloodshed; righteousness but heard a cry!” (Is. 1:7) In the Gospel, the Lord’s vineyard yields a great harvest but the tenants will not give the produce to the master, killing his servants and even his son. And there are serious consequences as the vineyard/the kingdom of God, is taken from tenants and “given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.”
EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TODAY
There are many applications to our times:
our need to care for the earth or risk losing its life sustaining systems,
the call to the nations to be just and righteous societies or fall in internal corruption or endless cycles of destructive violence against each other,
the good stewardship of our own lives in self care and sharing the fruits of God’s harvest for the needs of others.
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” Few understood this as well or as comprehensively as St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day is October 4th. I close this portion of the homily by inviting us to say together the two great works of Francis of Assisi: The Canticle of Creation and The Prayer of St. Francis.
THE CANTICLE OF CREATION
1.Praised be my Lord God with all his creatures and especially our brother the Sun, who brings us the day and who brings us the light; fair is he and shines with a very great splendor O Lord, his light shows us your light.
2.Praised be my Lord for our sister the Moon, and for the stars, which God has set clear and lovely in the heavens.
3.Praised be my Lord for our brother the Wind, and for the air and cloud, gentle breezes and all weather by which you support all creatures.
4.Praised be my Lord for our sister Water, precious and clean, the Lord’s gift of water supports our lives.
5.Praised be my Lord for our brother Fire, which gives us light in the darkness and is bright and pleasant and very mighty and strong.
6.Praised be my Lord for our mother the Earth, which does sustain us and keeps us, and brings forth many fruits and flowers of many colors and grass.
7.Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon one another for God’s love’s sake, and who endure weakness and tribulation, blessed are those who shall love in peace for you, O Lord, will give them a crown of life.
8.Praise and bless the Lord and serve him with great humility.
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for September 28 – The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
TURN AND LIVE
KEY SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:32)
New Testament: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
ORIGINAL MEANING
Paul writes in the Epistle to the Philippians, “It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (2:13)
“Hardness of heart” is a powerful and insightful biblical concept in understanding human sin. Even when the power of God’s love is reaching into us seeking to empower us to both will and work for his goodness, something in our heart says, “No.” It may be like the foot-stomping tantrum of a child or it may be the smooth talking, devious voices of the opponents of Jesus in the Gospel today. Either way, it is a turning away from God in a fundamental way. Turn back to God and live is the message of the prophet today. Turn and Live:
Turn from the sins of past generations; no one has to be a prisoner to the bad influences of their past life, “the life of the child is mine.” (v. 4)
Turn from the wrong choices of our own and live—it’s never too late— “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God.” (v. 32)
Our Baptismal promise offers the key—turn to Christ and his service.
EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TODAY
Turn to Christ and his service. We state what that means in our Baptismal Covenant. (pp. 304-05, Book of Common Prayer)
Continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.