You are Living Stones: A Spiritual House, A Royal Priesthood

You are Living Stones:

A Spiritual House, A Royal Priesthood

Sermon By The Rev. Marcia McRae at St. Barnabas’, Valdosta, GA, May 22, 2011

Lessons Appointed for Easter 5 Year A, RCL:

Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16;1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

“If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

Peter says in the Epistle today, “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people.” My dear brothers and sisters of St. Barnabas’, not too many years ago you did not exist as St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church. Now, you do.

Stone on author’s desk

You are a people. You are a beautiful temple of the Holy Spirit. You are a royal priesthood to serve God. You are to draw others to God so that they become God’s people, living stones, fitted into Christ, the cornerstone: Christ Jesus: the Way, the Truth, the Life. 

In our Gospel Philip says, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus says, "Have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” We must be like Jesus so that whoever sees us sees God.

Jesus says: “I will do whatever you ask in my name...” My brothers and sisters of St. Barnabas’, you are living proof that whatever you ask in Jesus’ name Jesus will do. My husband, John, and I were there at your founding, and we attest to the many prayers offered in Jesus’ name for guidance on what God was calling God’s people to do to reach out in Jesus’ name especially here in Lowndes County. You are God’s answer.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people. You know Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life. You are one of the dwelling places of God’s house – here on earth – a place to serve, to share, to love. You are a lovely dwelling place for people to gather, to learn, to grow in Jesus as the way, the truth, the life. You living stones are a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Stones scatter throughout our scriptures today. Stones bring death in the hands of the angry mob that kills Stephen, who speaks truth they do not want to hear.

As he dies, Stephen paraphrases Jesus: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” And, like Jesus says on the cross, “Forgive them,” Stephen says words of love for those who kill him: “Do not hold this sin against them.”

Saul holds their cloaks and hears grace and love as Stephen says “Do not hold this sin against them.” That grace is a small stone that gets into the shoe of Saul’s heart. It rubs at his soul.

Our Psalm says God is our strong rock – our stone – to keep us safe. Peter says to come to Jesus, the living stone.

You appreciate stones – their strength, their power, their danger, usefulness, and beauty. Living water flows from your beautiful blue stone fountain outside. Stones surround your fish pond. Stones with sayings and special shapes beautify your garden. The stone sign welcomes us to the garden – a place to be with God.

Stones teach us about God’s call. Stones live the holiness of being exactly what God designs them to be. They sit right where you put them until you – or something moves them. This apparent inactivity belies how busy they work to be what God has designed them to be. To be the solid lump, their atoms have to move very fast. Stones are very active inside, serving God’s will for their creation: be a stone. This stone (in photo above) sits on my desk to remind me: be as God intends.

My brothers and sisters, be what God designs you to be. Show God to those who do not know God. Show them God’s royal priesthood: you living stones beautifully doing the will of the God in this time and place.

Be beautiful for God. Be strong. Be powerful. Be useful. Know that you will also be dangerous as you turn lives around for Jesus. You will be dangerous and wonderful and part of God’s plan as you pray in Jesus’ name. What you ask in Jesus’ name must accord with Jesus’ nature and purpose. We witness that nature and purpose as we see Jesus die on the cross.

In Jesus’ name we ask You, Holy Spirit, to move through us, to blow into the lives and hearts of those we meet that they may see God. In Jesus’ name we ask that these living stones here, this spiritual house, this royal priesthood, this Holy People of St. Barnabas’, will call others who are not God’s people to be God’s people, to know the joy of serving as living stones to the glory of God in this time, in this place.

Amen.

Bibliography

Book of Common Prayer. New York: The Church Hymnal Corp., and The Seabury Press. 1979.

Harper’s Bible Commentary. General Ed.: James. L. Mays. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1988.

Holy Bible with the Apocrypha. New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press. 1989.

Lectionary Page. http://www.io.com/~kellywp/. Accessed April 19, 2011.

New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. Herbert G. May, Bruce M. Metzger, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 1977.

...With God’s help we will respect the dignity of every human being.	...Con el auxilio de Dios, respetaremos la dignidad de todo ser humano.
Baptismal Covenant Book of Common Prayer  p. 305	Pacto Bautismal El Libro de Oración Común  pj. 225.

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With God Nothing Is Impossible: “Would You Like Lemon in Your Coffee?”

With God Nothing Is Impossible:

“Would You Like Lemon in Your Coffee?”

Homily By The Rev. Marcia McRae

At St. Thomas’, Thomasville, GA, Dec. 16, 2011

Advent 4, Year B, RCL 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Canticle15; Romans 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38

“Greetings, favored one!

The Lord is with you.” [1]

God gives us a rich banquet of scriptures to feast on today before we feast on the rich food God gives us in the bread and wine at this banquet table.

One of the richest taste combinations I have experienced was a cup of espresso served with a twist of lemon. I was so surprised to have lemon served with coffee. I expected sugar. Surprisingly, the lemon sweetened the bitter coffee.

Our scriptures are like that – an odd, yet complementary, combination that serves us well at this hectic and emotional season. These scriptures remind us that our first reaction isn’t the final word, we can change our decision, and “with God, nothing will be impossible” – including getting through the days ahead.

David says, “I’m going to build God a nice house.” The prophet Nathan says, “Great idea, Dave.” God says: “Not so fast! Nathan, you got this wrong. You look at this from a human perspective. Tell David I AM going to build you a house.” The Hebrew word for house can mean palace, temple, and dynasty[2] – the people of God. God is going to build a people.

God does not need us to build God a place to stay. Yet God invites us to make room within ourselves for God to live.

God sends the Angel Gabriel to Mary to say that God will live in her womb and be born into the human family. The Angel says two simple sentences: "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." And Mary’s mind starts racing![3] Her mind runs in all directions. It runs straight to all the barriers that her culture has set up, all the reasons from a human perspective that God’s idea won’t work.

How can she be favored? She’s a small town girl.[4] She’s not from an influential family. She’s too young. She’s not married. She knows that in her culture a woman can be stoned if she is unmarried and pregnant. Mary doesn’t have the right status.

Mary’s cousin Elizabeth doesn’t have the right status. She’s too old. She’s married and has no child. She has been suffering from her culture’s disdain of barrenness – that culture’s human perspective of barrenness as a sign of God’s disfavor.[5]

The Angel Gabriel tells young Mary that old Elizabeth is going to have a baby. With God, nothing is impossible. God does not follow our rules. After Gabriel tells Mary all these details and the assurance that nothing will be impossible with God, then Mary says yes. Mary says, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Mary transforms from fearful to faithful.[6]

As commentator Karoline Lewis notes: We see Mary’s “radical transformation...from peasant girl to prophet, from Mary to mother of God, from denial to discipleship.”[7]

“Hello favored one of God, sitting in the pew at St. Thomas’! The Lord is with you.”....It’s OK to react like Mary: afraid, wondering. “How can this be? What does this mean? Me? The Angel must mean someone else in the pew.”

The Angel means you. God calls you. When you – when we – say yes, then we transform like Mary. We transform from what we think we are to what God calls us to be. We transform from human perspective to God’s hands and feet in our time and place.

Our scriptures point us to even more than this “radical transformation of Mary”[8] and us. As commentator Lewis says, we see “the very transformation of God.”[9] God, who does not need us to build God a house, is willing to transform into “...God in the manger, vulnerable, helpless, dependent...”[10] God, willing to be vulnerable, helpless and dependent on us, waits for us to answer.

“Greetings, Favored One sitting in the pew at St. Thomas’:

The Lord is with you.”

....When you get over the shock, what will you say to God?

Will you say yes?

Bibliography

“The Annunciation of Our Lord.” Lesser Feats and Fasts 2003. New York: Church Publishing. 2003.

Book of Common Prayer. New York: The Church Hymnal Corp., and The Seabury Press. 1979.

Harper’s Bible Commentary. General Ed.: James. L. Mays. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1988.

Harper’s Bible Dictionary. General Ed.: Paul J. Achteimer. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1985.

Holy Bible with the Apocrypha. New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press. 1989.

Jewish Study Bible: Jewish Publication Society Tanakh Translation. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004.

Lange, Dirk G. “The letter to the Romans begins and ends in unusual ways for Paul.” http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=1152. Accessed: Dec. 15, 2011.

Lectionary Page. http://www.lectionarypage.net/. Accessed Dec. 10, 2011.

Lewis, Karoline. “To Be Regarded...The Annunciation to Mary is a remarkable text.” http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?tab=4&alt=1. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.

New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. Eds.: Herbert G. May, Bruce M. Metzger. New York: Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 1977.

Santiago, J. Manny. Comentario del Evangelio: “No cabe duda de que María de Nazaret debe recibir nuestra admiración y devoción.” http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?tab=4&alt=1. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.

Solvang, Elna K. “Royal hope and an undisturbed place.” http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?tab=1&alt=1. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.

 

...With God’s help we will respect the dignity of every human being.	...Con el auxilio de Dios, respetaremos la dignidad de todo ser humano.
Baptismal Covenant Book of Common Prayer  p. 305	Pacto Bautismal El Libro de Oración Común  pj. 225.

 

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[1] Note: Photo shows an icon of The Annunciation purchased from The Printery House of Conception Abbey, Conception, MO.

[2] Jewish Study Bible: Jewish Publication Society Tanakh Translation. P. 631.

[3] Lewis, Karoline. “To Be Regarded...The Annunciation to Mary is a remarkable text.” http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?tab=4&alt=1. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.

[4] Ibid.

[5] New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. Eds.: Herbert G. May, Bruce M. Metzger. P. 1241.

[6] Lewis. Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

12-12: A Day to Remember the Virgin of Guadalupe El día de la Virgen de Guadalupe

12-12:

A Day to Remember the Virgin of Guadalupe

El día de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Today we remember the miracle in 1531 that helped share the Good News that God loves all people. The miracle came through the third meeting in Mexico of Saint Juan Diego & the Virgin Mary (the Virgin of Guadalupe). (Details in sermon I posted 10 Dec.)

Part of God’s Good News for us is that God is the God of Peace & Unity. We are made in God’s image. We are made for peace & unity. Today’s Morning Prayer at http://www.missionstclare.com has the prayer for peace from the Book of Common Prayer p. 815, which follows below.

Hoy recordamos el milagro de 1531 que demuestra

la Buena Noticia: Dios les ama a todo ser humano.

Ocurrió el tercer día en que Santo Juan Diego encontró en México la Virgen de Guadalupe.

(El sermón que puse aquí el 10 dic. tiene más información en inglés.)

La Buena Noticia dice mucho, incluyendo que Dios es

el Dios de la Paz y la Unidad.

¡Dios nos creó parecidos a Dios mismo!

Somos creídos para la paz y la unidad.

La Oración Matutina Diaria de hoy a http://www.missionstclare.com/espanol/ tiene una oración para la paz que hay en El Libro de Oración Común pj. 705.

Eterno Dios, en cuyo reino perfecto no se esgrime más espada que la de la justicia, ni se conoce otra fuerza que la del amor: Derrama poderosamente tu Espíritu sobre todos los pueblos, a fin de que sean reunidos bajo el estandarte del Príncipe de Paz, como hijos de un solo Padre; a quien sea el dominio y la gloria, por los siglos de los siglos. Amen.

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Praying Philippians 1:9 Una oración de Filipenses 1:9

Praying Philippians 1:9

Una oración de Filipenses 1:9

Advent reminds us there are times we must wait. Waiting can give time for the work of prayer for discernment.

Adviento danos recuerdo que hay estaciones en que

tenemos que esperar. Esperar puede darnos tiempo

para orar para entender la voluntad de Dios.

A good prayer comes from Philippians 1:9 (Phil. 1:3-11 is this year’s lesson the 2^nd Sunday of Advent). A group of us have been praying daily an adaptation of it since 2011, seeking to discern new ministry with our Latino brothers and sisters. At 1:09 p.m. wherever we are, we pray “...that our love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help us determine what is best...”

Hay una beuna oración en Filipenses 1:9 (parte de la lectura Fil. 1:3-11 por el 2 domingo del Adviento este año).

Hay un grupo que oramos una versión especial para entender lo mejor que hagamos en servicio a Dios con nuestros hermanos/as latinos/as.

Desde 2011, en cualquier lugar estamos, diariamente oramos a la 1:09 por la tarde:

–…que lleguemos a tener más amor todavía,

y mucha sabiduría y entendimiento en todo,

para que sepamos escoger siempre lo mejor.

Rejoice! ¡Tenga alegría! God loves all people! ¡Dios le ama a cada ser humano!

Rejoice! Today – 10 Dec. 2012 – is another opportunity to share the Good News: God loves all people!

¡Tenga alegría! Hoy – 10 dec. 2012 – es una oportunidad para compartir la Buena Noticia: ¡Dios le ama a cada ser humano!

Podemos aprender por el ejemplo de Santo Juan Diego, a quien la Virgen María (la Virgen de Guadalupe) habló el 9, 10, y 12 dec. 1531. (Detalles en inglés en el sermón que sigue.)

We can learn from the example of Saint Juan Diego, to whom the Virgin Mary (the Virgin of Guadalupe) spoke on 9, 10 & 12 Dec. 1531. (Details below in sermon “Rose Sunday: The Blush of Anticipation – A Vision of Wonders”.)

Rose Sunday:

The Blush of Anticipation

– A Vision of Wonders

Homily By The Rev. Deacon Marcia McRae

For Advent 3, Dec. 12, 2010, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bainbridge, GA

Year A – RCL  Isaiah 35:1-10; Canticle 15 (Magnificat); James 5:7-10; Matthew11:2-11

Beloved brothers and sisters, we have wonders to explore today! Visions to see anew! Stories to hear of lowly people who say “Yes” to God!

Rose Sunday marks the half-way point in our Advent journey to Christmas, and this year it falls on a date significant for many Christians in this hemisphere. Dec. 12^th is the day we remember the appearance of La Virgen de Guadalupe, The Virgin of Guadalupe. Our Lord’s Mother, Mary, is depicted as she appears on the cloak of the peasant Juan Diego[1]. The date of that appearing is Dec. 12, 1531.

This story of The Virgin appearing to Juan Diego is close to us in time and space – less than 500 years ago and not far across our southern border. Today’s Scriptures take us back 2,000 years ago to far away Palestine to ponder young Mary’s joyful response to the miraculous appearing by the Angel Gabriel. Mary says “Yes” to his shocking good news.

Across the ages, across the globe, God keeps reaching out to God’s creation, reaching out to all people to draw them into God’s love. Being drawn into that love brings joy and rejoicing.

When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and sings her Magnificat, the two women are caught up in praise and joy, as commentators note. Young Mary carries Jesus in her womb. Elizabeth in her old age will soon give birth to John the Baptist – the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Like John, Juan Diego certainly is among the least living in Mexico so soon after Christianity comes there. It is only 12 years after the Spaniard Cortez conquers the Aztec empire. Those fierce Aztec warriors practiced human sacrifice and can’t grasp God who would die[2]. Spain rules. The Church says Jesus died and rose again.

This appearance of our Lord’s Mother to a new convert IS a thing of wonder. It is no wonder that the Church hierarchy does not immediately let Juan Diego give his message to the Bishop of Mexico. He first tries to speak with the Bishop Dec. 9^th when Our Lord’s Mother appears to him on a hillside where cacti grow among rocks. She asks Juan Diego to be a messenger and ask the Bishop of Mexico to build a church on the hillside as a place to show God’s love.

Juan Diego returns to the Bishop’s palace Dec. 10^th after she appears again on that hillside. The Bishop is impressed by his brave persistence and this time listens. Like most of us might do, the Bishop asks for proof – some token from Our Lord’s Mother. Why would you immediately believe one of the least among conquered people? (It’s easier to SAY the Good News of Jesus is for everyone than to live that truth.)

Juan Diego again encounters the Virgin Mary on that barren hillside Dec. 12^th and reports the Bishop’s request. Our Lord’s Mother tells Juan Diego to pick the flowers – – roses suddenly blooming among the rocks.

Today Isaiah tells us: “The desert...shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.”

I wonder if Juan Diego sings as he wraps the roses in his cloak and returns to the Bishop’s palace. People notice the beautiful scent of roses. In front of the Bishop, Juan Diego opens his cloak and the blossoms tumble down, becoming the image of Mary as they fall.

Every detail of this picture carries meaning for the conquered Aztecs.[3] The stars on her heavenly blue cloak, the sun’s rays around her, flowers and leaves on her gown, her knee bending in adoration are symbols that speak of God’s creative power and love for all people – even the least.

Her brown skin and the placement of her hands contrast to the iron grip of the white hand of Spanish rule. Her sash is tied like a native woman expecting a child.

God who dies on a cross is difficult for the Aztecs to accept. A virgin mother who gives birth to God’s Son is a concept they grasp with this simple picture.

It is a simple picture? Like God’s Mystery, it defies total comprehension. Church leaders and others have explored it almost 500 years. The 20^th century brought scientific testing to Juan Diego’s cloak, even by a NASA scientist, and the use of high-tech optical devices.[4]

Here’s what we know[5]: The cloak is made of fibers from the maguey plant. Scientists cannot explain the cloak’s lack of discoloration, lack of deterioration, or lack of insect damage. Scientists have been unable to explain the source of its colors. They do know the colors are not from animal, mineral, or vegetable sources.[6]

One thing experiments do show is about The Virgin’s eyes[7]. Optical devices reveal a reflection deep within the pupils. It is the figure of a native man looking at her. Some believe it is Juan Diego.

Juan Diego is his Spanish name – probably given at Baptism. His name in his native language means “The eagle who speaks.”[8] Juan Diego lives up to that name in 1531 when the Eagle gently speaks truth to those in power. His faith to be a messenger lets all know that Jesus comes for everyone – for all peoples.

In 2002 the Church names him Saint Juan Diego[9] – this man who says “Yes” to God. “Yes” is what Our Lord’s Mother Mary says as the Angel Gabriel appears with shocking good news.

Mary, Juan Diego, you, me – God asks not that we become other than who we are, but that with joy and wonder we say “Yes” to be God’s messengers of Good News in this time and place.

We have a message of Good News to share: Jesus is risen and works among us and through us. Jesus’ working through us (as our Gospel today says) means the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead live again, and the poor have Good News.

And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at our message. Amen.

 Bibliography

Barclay, William. The Gospel of Luke. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975.

Barclay, William. The Gospel of Matthew: Vol. 2. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975.

Barclay, William. The Letters of James and Peter. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976.

Harper’s Bible Commentary. General Ed.: James. L. Mays. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1988.

Holy Bible with the Apocrypha. New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Howard, Katherine L. Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent & Christmas 2005-2006 Year B. Harrisburg: Morehouse, 2005.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1224 accessed Dec. 11, 2010.

New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. Herbert G. May, Bruce M. Metzger, eds. New York: Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 1977.

Rodriguez, Mario B. the Spirit of Spanish America. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1957.

Toor, Frances. A Treasury of Mexican Folkways. Mexico, D.F.: Mexico Press, 1947.

Villapando, José Manuel. La Virgen de Guadalupe: una biografía. México, D.F.: Editorial Planeta Mexicana. 2004.

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[1] Depiction of Juan Diego with Virgin of Guadalupe appearing on his cloak is from www. photobucket.com/images/St+Juan+Diego. Accessed: 10 Dec. 2012.

[2] Note: As I have learned through various studies and conversations (including in Mexico) and in several texts listed in the bibliography.

[3] Note: As I have learned through various studies and conversations (including in Mexico) and in several texts listed in the bibliography.

[4] Villapando, José Manuel. La Virgen de Guadalupe: una biografía. Pp. 137-151.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Villapando. Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1224 accessed Dec. 11, 2010.

[9] http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1224 accessed Dec. 11, 2010.