By: Robert G. Hetherington, Priest Associate
Author: Ashley Cameron
Giving God a Little Room
Weekly Reflection, Sunday, January 12, 2020
By: David May
The Church has always treasured the story of Jesus’ baptism. Since it’s very earliest days, the Church set aside the Sunday following the Day of Epiphany (always January 6th) to remember Jesus’ baptism. It is very precious for those who follow Jesus to remember that we have been baptized just like he was. Jesus plunged into the waters of baptism in solidarity with all the rest who streamed out to the wilderness who were looking for a second chance, a new beginning, a fresh start, or who were just hoping that such things were possible. Did Jesus need a second chance on life, a new beginning, a fresh start? Maybe not the way we do. But his baptism did start something brand new in his life. Immediately following his baptism, ready or not, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness out past and beyond what he had known before. We know now that he wrestled with Satan during that time, a time that refined and defined what his ministry would be. But I don’t think Jesus knew that. What did he know of what was to come? Maybe nothing, other than knowing that his heart was right beside God’s heart, come what may.
Amelia McDaniel shared a quote with me a few days ago that speaks of this going forward without knowing what’s coming next. The quote is: “God uses uncertainty to chase us out into the open where we can find him all over again.” I like this quote. A lot. I think it speaks right into our experience of our brother, Bob Hetherington, concluding his ministry here at St. Mary’s today and wondering what will come next.
Bob’s departure leaves a big, old, holy hole in our community. A hole we might be tempted to try to fill too quickly. I think we probably shouldn’t try to fill it at all, actually. I think we should just leave it there – the place our love for him made – as a reminder of how much we need one another, and how much we can belong to one another.
It’s so tempting to want to rush into the uncertainty of not knowing what comes next and make it certain – to fill empty holes. I understand why people want to do that because I want to do that sometimes. But I think it’s better to try and give God a little room to work. If we can keep an open space about what comes next, maybe we stand a chance of finding God or being found by God.
On this day when we celebrate Jesus pitching his lot with us by being baptized too; on this day when Banks Wall and Chloe Slade and Alston Mayfield join Jesus and us in the waters of baptism; on this day when the Spirit is leading Bob on to what comes next, and us; on this day, may we be led to leave space open for God to work, out past and beyond what we already know, and keep our own hearts right there beside God’s heart.
Annunciation, January 12, 2020
A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas
By: Amelia McDaniel, Lay Associate for Christian Formation
I heard that last Sunday while I was away, Bob Hetherington laid down a challenge for me in his sermon. He mentioned the part of today’s story from the Flight into Egypt that has been omitted by the lectionary. It’s the story of the Massacre of the Innocents. It is only three verses that have been picked out. And they are three of the most brutal verses contained in our story of God’s love.
I’ve heard of other sermon challenges, like giving someone a crazy word or phrase to figure out how to incorporate into the sermon like aluminum siding or castor oil. This one is harder. But in my time with Bob Hetherington I have learned to listen to his words carefully because his wisdom is Spirit-led and powerful. So here I go.
In the start of today’s story, Joseph has been warned in a dream to get Mary and Jesus out of Bethlehem. Herod was searching for them and they were in grave danger. It’s unclear exactly how long they had been in Bethlehem when they leave. But Joseph acts and is ready to care for his family.
Now here is where the part that’s left out in today’s Gospel reading falls. It fits in just after the gospel cites the prophet Hosea’s words, “Out of Egypt I have called my son”.
Verses 16-18 of the 2nd Chapter of Matthew read…
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all the region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
Wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
She refused to be consoled,
Because they were no more.”
Jesus Manifested
Weekly Reflection, Sunday, January 5, 2020
By: Amelia McDaniel
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany. Twelfth Night is another designation for the day. We are celebrating Jesus being revealed to the world as the Son of God – God made manifest with us. There are three stories that are associated with the day. One of them is the story of the Kings showing up to see Jesus and his kingship being revealed to them. Another is the story of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan and Jesus being called out as the Son of God. And the third story is the Miracle of the Wedding Feast at Cana where Jesus in his abundance saves the day, turning water into wine.
In some cultures, Twelfth Night is a big celebration, as big as Christmas. Bigger for some because it is when the gifts of the season are exchanged. Probably for most of us, it will just register as a Monday or January 6. After the crush of the Christmas season and the ringing in of a new decade, it is understandable. Some of us will be happily packing lunches and sending our “friendly beasts” BACK. TO. SCHOOL. Some of us will be tucking away seasonal decorations. There may be exercise plans newly initiated. Our refrigerators may be full of better food choices. Life will be going on as usual, maybe a little bedraggled, but maybe with a renewed sense of order. Most likely it will be a mix of all those things together.
I think I am glad for this calmer observation of the day. But I wonder what it might look like to reframe all those ordinary happenings – kids going back to school, houses being tidied up, tending to these bodies we’ve been given – remembering that in all of it, Jesus is continually present and being revealed to us. And more than remembering Jesus’s constant presence with me, what might January 6 and beyond look like if I took the time to remember that I have been given gifts to share. I have been baptized into a new life. And that there is an abundance all around me that I can share. Jesus, please manifest in the abundance.
I doubt I will have the energy to make a grand celebration of The Feast of the Epiphany. But hopefully, in what I do, what I say, what I think aloud in my mind and in the silence of my heart, I will be able to see revealed, made true through life, Jesus manifested in my very midst.