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Submit Your Own! Sermon for January 6, 2008 By David von Schlichten Light Journey (Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12) The Epiphany of Our Lord, 2008 (Word count: 500) In the beginning, We humans beamed in the Light of God. The Light was bright but not blinding, Warm, but not burning. We stretched and basked in the Light, And it was very good. Then we slinked away, Thinking we could make better light on our own. For hundreds of years we stumbled in darkness, Sometimes lighting torches that sputtered out, Sometimes thinking the darkness was the Light, Often blaming God for the darkness, Always opaque, groping, obtuse, Our brief candles quickly out. People who kept their eyes on the Light Kept waving their lights, saying, “Over here. This way. You're going the wrong direction. That way is No Way.” Some of us listened, Most of us laughed. Isaiah and others announced, “God has a secret That he will reveal. You'll see, and then You'll see. It's coming. Just follow us, Follow the Light. You'll see. The Secret will open your eyes, And it will be for all people everywhere, Jew and Gentile of every kind, No exceptions." We waited, fumbling, squinting, Sometimes giving up. “This is a stupid waste,” we'd grumble. “There's no Secret. No Light. Just prophets with empty promises. Hoping for the Secret is like Chasing after the wind.” In the time of King Herod, A large star blazed in front of us. Wise men appeared, so-called pagans, outsiders, The type of people we always labeled “blind.” They said, “We're following the star.” Some of us went with them, followed the star, Bewildered, hopeful, nervous, praying, Until we arrived at the house in Bethlehem And saw the baby, Jesus of Nazareth. We saw him grow up, teach and heal. We were there when they crucified our Lord. We saw the empty tomb and trembled. His holey, resurrected Self stood beaming before us, The greatest of lights, the Light. He announced, “I AM the Secret, the Truth, the Light. Believe in me And live in Light eternal, Not dark infernal. You, the Baptized, You are marching in the Light of God.” Now, no matter how loud the dark sound and fury become, We can see the lights of the new Jerusalem In the distance, getting closer, and The Light of Christ is always shining, The Spirit always burning within us, The Father calling without ceasing, “Go. Be wise men and women. Lead the world to the Light, And be open to the possibility That other wise men and women May help to lead you, Just as those so-called pagan wise men Led you to the Light millennnia ago. 'And let your light so shine before others, That they may see your good works, And glorify your Father in heaven.'" We keep marching in the Light of God, Keep walking toward the Light Of the new Jerusalem, also God's Light, Leading and being led to the Light, God feeding us to give us strength, Hearing and answering our prayers, Comforting and helping us through each other. No matter how dark the sorrow, pain and rage, The Light shines on us, even to the end of the age. Thanks Dean for sharing By Jeff This might not be appropriate to the sermon review, but I'm interested in how you take Matthew to be on the 'Liberal' anti-Jewish at times side? I've often heard of Matthew with his sermon on the mount and his strict "not one iota" being taken away from the law as being in a way a counter voice to Pauline Christianity. Here's where I see that intersecting your sermon. In the midst of a pluralistic, heated debate on how to live the Christian life. In the midst of conflicting ideas---yet to be determined in Matthew's day--there is a call for inclusion. These Magi--strange as it seems--they too are a part of what God is doing. How? Don't they have to subscribe to a confession? Say a certain prayer? Confess their sins? No...somehow this child has the power to bring us together, around him, in a way that nothing else can. The "so what" would be...We still don't agree on everything, we still have our own thoughts on what it means to be faithful, but in the midst of the conversations, and yes arguments, Matthew reminds us to make room, and to never forget that it is the child himself that has the power to bring us together."
That Sounds Good, Dean. By David von Schlichten Those revisions sound right for sharpening your sermon's focus. Also, it appears that your sermon will fit well with your hearers. By the way, I enjoyed your congregation's website. Your congregation looks healthy, active, and passionate for living the Good News. Thanks be to God. Grateful for your blog contributions, I am Yours in Christ, Dave David von Schlichten, Lectionary Blog Moderator David, you are right By Dean David I think you are right about the tightening. I am tightening the beginning as well as the Jewish/Gentile section. I am cutting out the liberal-conservative language because I think it distracts from where the sermon is going. My discussion of the magi as paradigmatic Gentiles is also changing to focus on some other themes about both the joy of the magi at being included and an invitation to bring the Gentile within each of us to the house where the Christ child is. My congregation is in downtown Washington, DC. Highly educated. Many idealistic young adults involved in making the world a better place. About 1/4 are gay and lesbian. Lots and lots of lawyers. Many people heavily involved with our hands-on mission programs and social justice ministries. It is a great place. See www.foundryumc.org Dean's Sagacious Sermon By David von Schlichten Dean, I enjoy your creative, compelling sermon on the magi. Your reflecting aloud about why Matthew chose magi to be at the birth is stimulating, fascinating, and fruitful. You said that you are not quite satisfied with the sermon. I am wondering if the sermon would take root better in the minds of the hearers if you tightened it, maybe even cut out or at least whittled down the section in which you explain the background for Matthew and the Gentile/Jew controversy. What is the make-up of your congregation? Yours in Christ, David von Schlichten, Lectionary Blog Moderator [First Page] [Prev] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 [Next] [Last Page] Return |
