St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
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Homily Highlights for December 21 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
MARY, THE GOD-BEARER
KEYNOTE SCRIPTURES
The Song of Mary: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior: for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)
Gospel: Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. (Luke 1:38)
MARY SAID YES! WHAT DO WE SAY?
How extraordinary to be asked by an angel to believe that the very life of God could dwell and grow within you.
The life of God that would be born and dwell among us.
The life of God that would heal and reconcile.
The life of God that would suffer and die for us and rise again—and in that dying and rising, offer us the gift of His own Holy Spirit that becomes to us all a promise and a question.
Do you believe that the very life of God can dwell and grow within you? (For that is one purpose of the Holy Spirit.) We are all Mary in facing that question. We can never again recite in the Baptismal Covenant that Christ was “conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit” without considering if we are willing to have our lives directed by that same power.
A CRADLE AND A CROSS
Mary’s love as the God-bearer was something extraordinary. The two most compelling images of Mary in Christian Art are the Madonna cradling the newborn Jesus and Michelangelo’s great sculpture, The Pieta, that depicts Mary cradling the broken body of Jesus after he is taken down from the cross. A cradle and a cross frame the great love of Mary. “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.” Why is love so costly? Yet Mary is told by the Angel Gabriel, “Do not be afraid.” This love will not end in tears, for there is one more scriptural story of Mary. “They all joined together in prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.” (Acts 1:14) Joined in prayer awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. In that vision of prayer, Mary saw all that the power of God’s love would release through the baby she was blessed to bear.
So we celebrate Christmas each year not just as a remembrance of an event of the past, but in hope that each year our hearts can be a cradle where Christ is born anew, by the gift of the Holy Spirit He gave us so long ago. We celebrate Christmas not only for children, though they enrich it with their innocent joy and expectation, but seasoned by all the lessons we have gathered in the journey from childhood magic to maturity—we see Mary with new eyes and with her we say, “Yes! The life of God can dwell and grow within me.”
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for December 7 – The Second Sunday of Advent
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
KEYNOTE SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: Comfort, O comfort my people... A voice cries out, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord…” (Isaiah 40:1, 3)
Gospel: As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mark 1:2-3)
THE LONG ROAD OF SALVATION HISTORY
Our Old Testament reading from the prophet Isaiah is closely linked with our Gospel today—a link that points to the unfolding story of redemption that leads to Jesus Christ. The Jesse Tree that our Church School children prepared is a great symbol and icon of that story. Jesse was the father of King David and it was from this family tree that Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was descended. The symbols of the Jesse Tree look back even further than Jesse, all the way to the beginning of the biblical story: Adam and Eve, The Tree of Life, Noah and the flood, Abraham and the Patriarchs, Moses and the Prophets, King David and the lineage leading to Joseph, the Angels who come to Mary who receives their message with faith, God’s Word which will carry that faith to every future generation represented in the symbol of “The Builders” called to continue building Christ’s Church— Builders who are reminded by God’s Word that “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:11)
THE MINISTRY OF THE BUILDERS
The true meaning of Christmas is well disguised if not obliterated in our culture, so each new generation must carry the story to our children of the Good News of the coming of Jesus—A story that shapes lives, young and old, that can experience Emmanuel—a name which means “God with us”. A God whose comfort and compassion reaches across the generations and is to us a power that is not just a warm remembrance of a story of the past but life-giving values that shape the present and the future. We share with joy the blessings of the season even as we acknowledge with courage how far we still have to go to embrace the message of “Peace on Earth”. Joined together, that joy and courage moved with compassion creates a stronger spirit of giving that is not just for this season but a touch of God’s Kingdom and God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
We cannot wait until December 25th to begin. Even now we “Prepare the Way of the Lord” by entering into a prayerful experience of God’s Word and the ministry of sharing so that the path of Advent leads us to the cradle where Christ can be born anew in each of our hearts.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for November 30 – The First Sunday of Advent
KEEP AWAKE
KEYNOTE SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: “We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Gospel: “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” (Mark 13:37)
ADVENT 2014
In the midst of so many holiday activities, sometimes too hurried, “Keep awake” may be what we say to ourselves at the end of a busy day with still one more thing to do in the evening. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah—which has its own remarkable biblical story—and the New Year, are all meant to be happy times. Why does a day we call “Black Friday” stand at the gateway and news stories with the ominous message of lower consumer spending make us wonder if this is the season to be jolly? Would greater simplicity really be so bad for us?
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
The haunting melody of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” moves our heart to a different place—a mysterious magic and hope that reminds us the counter-cultural experience of Advent in the Church is something for which we are thankful. The color blue moves us to a place somewhere in between pure violet penitence and the white of celebration—a place of contemplation in the midst of the noise and haste, where the hard reality of want is met by the joy of giving. And we might find that our most cherished memories of the Christmas season are in special and poignant times of giving. This is how it is meant to be in the season of Emmanuel—God with us. Keep awake; God is here.
THE POTTER AND THE CLAY
The Scripture readings on the First Sunday of Advent are filled with apocalyptic images of the coming of God—a bracing reminder that in the end, the reality of God will overshadow everything else in this world that claims such urgency and importance. “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down.” (Is. 64:1) Come down and remind us of what really matters. Well, God does tear open the heavens and come down. We name this coming as Jesus Christ and in walking closely with him in this holy season, we can find a life of meaning being gently shaped as the hand of the potter shapes the clay into the masterwork God means it to be. O come Emmanuel, and bring
--Songs to our hearts and to broken or empty hearts needing songs
--Warm times of fellowship that overflow to the lonely
--Banquets to the hungry
--Gifts, gifts from wise men who brave the journey to the place where the gifts are most needed.
O come, Emmanuel-God with us. Keep awake. God is here.
Father Hagerman
Homily Highlights for November 16 – The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
GOD’S TALENTS: NURTURED IN COMMUNITY OR BURIED IN FEAR
Keynote Scriptures
New Testament: Therefore encourage one another and build up each other as indeed you are doing.(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Gospel: I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. (Matthew 25:25)
THE COMMUNITY OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN A GIFTED CREATION
God has woven it into the fabric of life from ecosystems to faith communities: Many diverse gifts, many people working together bring a wholeness that is greater than the sum of its parts and in it there is joy and accomplishment. We can see it in our work places at their best, we can see it in our churches and we can see it in God’s gifted creation. God is generous, we are blessed and to respond in thanksgiving brings an abundance of life. This is a life of stewardship. Investing our talents in God’s gift of life multiplies the gift for those who give and those who receive. It is a Theology of Abundance even in difficult times. Moving from fear to faith even in difficult times is so much the story of God’s Word from Abraham to Mary and Joseph. We cannot see the entire story when we are called. We cannot make the whole journey at once yet we are called to make that step of faith, invest that talent and see God give the growth.
BURIED ALIVE
In the Gospel today, the man who buries his one talent in the ground presents an image of one who is buried in a grave while he is still living. Fear does that to us. It is not how many talents you have that is most important but whether you invest those talents in God’s gift of life and, however simply, make the world a better place, closer to God’s Kingdom. In the Gospel all who invest their talents are equally praised no matter what the number of talents. So it is with our pledging, the collective energy of faith commitment is the foundation of the stewardship of St. Stephen’s. Never be afraid to make that first step of faith for faith bears fruit of abundance.
Father Hagerman
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.