"We Have Been Called Out Of Darkness" (Messages From The Pulpit)

     As a person who identifies with the teachings of the Christian church I've come to believe that we must eventually make a decision to acknowledge that we are imperfect creatures. That we all fall into sin. That we all fall short of The Glory of God.
     When this happens we are come boldly before God and confess our sins. Some confess in the privacy of our homes and as with Catholics whom confess in our hearts as well as go to confession in which a penitent person offers themselves to a priest who listens to the confession and offers a penance (such as reflecting upon the sin and envisioning Jesus coming to us and accepting our heartfelt apology) and finally assuring the penitent solace and assurance of forgiveness.
     What ever the case may be God throws our wrongs into the sea of forgetfulness.
     Everyone who does so has come to a point in their lives that they realize that they are heeding the call into the perfect light of God.
      This is one way of God's correction. When one of us sees the light we become a light to those around us who are still in darkness.
     You see God has made the best of the fall of mankind. Our freedom becomes a ripple effect. Christ didn't come to condemn the world he came that through him we may be set free.
     We can identify with others whom have shared similar worlds of darkness, sin, and corruption. And it's with such common bonds that we can relate with others and offer ourselves as an example of how God has pulled us out of quicksand that threatens to swallow us whole.
      The church chose to celebrate the birth of our Savior on December 25th. You see December 25th is when the days grow brighter.
      We are confirmed in Christ in the sacrament of baptism as we symbolically die to our sins, our old lives are buried and are raised from death and into eternal life.
      Our conversion doesn't end when we make our vows before God at the time of our baptism. With our sins ever before us we must daily take up our cross and walk toward the light of the risen Christ.
     When we see fellow Christians falling under the cloak of darkness we should lend a helping hand.
     No longer the blind leading the blind. We are the forgiven leading the forgiven.  

"You Look Different" (Messages From The Pulpit)

     There's a passage in The Gospel According to Luke that tells of Peter and John going down to a nearby town when a man came upon them. This man heard about some huge news. Peter and John were surprised that this man hadn't heard about their great leader who had been crucified, buried, and then raised from the dead. Basically they asked the stranger, 'Have you been hiding under a rock?'
     This stranger began to tell of scriptures that pointed to Jesus being the Son of God, The Savior of all who believe in him. Peter and John were impressed by this strangers knowledge of the scripture.
     Peter and John invited this stranger to eat with them. The man broke bread, and offered up a prayer. It was then that Peter and John realized that this stranger was their beloved friend. This man was the resurrected Jesus Christ.
     Some people may ask how could you spend three years with The Son of God and not know him when you see him?
     Let me put it to you like this. Sometimes we have a friend that may get a makeover. Perhaps a new haircut, new clothing, or maybe they lose weight. Sometimes even with a new haircut we might not recognize our good friend.
     Now imagine your best friend being whipped, beaten, starved, crowned with thorns, and then nailed to a cross and eventually buried.
     Being so distraught that your friend who had promised to lead the people to a great victory over the kingdoms of the world only to be put to death.
     You may not recognize that friend. Then your friend says a prayer and breaks bread with you. Hopefully your eyes would sparkle with love and joy at being reunited with your friend who was wise, gentle, and performed miracles.
     Have you lost sight of The Son of God? Are you filled with doubt? Perhaps you don't understand why your prayers haven't been answered. Maybe you're confused as to why the wicked prosper.
     Maybe you have neglected the breaking of bread with fellow believers. Has bitterness driven you from attending church services?
     Coming together with the family of believers can change lives. Communion is the breaking of bread with your brothers and sisters. It's a coming together of a community.
     For Christians it's a special feast in which Jesus is the guest of honor. We are bound in one baptism and one mission. We are the messengers of God. We are united with one Spirit.
   Come let us break bread together and eat the bread of life and drink the water of the eternal spring.  

"It's My Treat" (Messages From The Pulpit)

     When we are told to treat others as we wish to be treated people somehow fall short of what I believe is the full extent of "the golden rule."
       Obviously avoiding doing evil is important. The golden rule has some of us "just being nice." Again that is a great goal but what if we took it farther?
      How is it that we want people to treat us? With respect. With kindness. With sincerity. With courtesy.
    These are great steps in the right direction.
       Are you selfless in your actions?
    Willing to go the extra mile for someone in need?
      Do we share the gospel? Or to put it another way do we share the good news?
       The nightly news if often filled with bad news. But what can we do to bring good news into our community?
      Here in Western New York one of our news channels celebrates kids making a difference in our city and suburbs. For example organizing a fund raiser to help those less fortunate. There was a story where people got together to help an autistic child get a special van so that he could get out of the house with his family. Something most of us take for granted.
     It wasn't done to get glory.
     God forbid a similar situation should befall any of us. But if it did wouldn't it be nice if perfect strangers gathered together to remedy such woes? Yes of course it would.
    We're not meant to just avoid evil. We are meant to be the light of the world.
     We need to bear one another's burdens.
      To treat others to the bounty of the blessings that God has given us. If you think about it God has given us more than we may be aware of. Take some time. Count your blessings.
    Then do unto others as God has done for you.
         

Jesus didn't have Facebook.

     The popularity of Jesus was not aided by technology. He didn't tweet where he was going to be. He didn't make announcements via Facebook. The buzz about Jesus spread by word of mouth.
      People were seeking contact with a miracle worker. Everywhere he went people were healed, set free of evil spirits, and he even raised the dead.
     People heard him speak the word of God and were mesmerized. Many people followed after him which included his mother Mary, the 12 Disciples, and others that found his charisma irresistible.
     People found Jesus because they were seeking God. They needed healing. Their bodies, souls, and minds were in desperate need of a divine touch. Healing that ancient remedies couldn't heal.
     It was the word of the testimony of those touched by Jesus the caught the imaginations of those who sat in the path of The Great Physician.
     Now in 2013 we do have technology. You can type anything into a search engine and you'll get an overwhelming response. Some results will have nothing to do with what you are searching for.
     People may wind up looking for God in all the wrong places.
      That is why we are told to test the spirits. To come against anything that sets itself up against the word of God.
     Ask and you shall receive.
      Remember just because someone says they're representing God doesn't mean that they are.
     When people pray there are many reasons. Overall people are seeking the assistance from God.
     God doesn't want to lead us astray. God wants to draw us closer to his loving grace and healing that comes from being in his presence.
       The Bible gives examples of being able to see a glow on the faces of those whom have been in the company of God.
     So whether people hear about God via the internet, house of worship,or maybe those who are earnestly seeking God will be able to see the light of God shining on your face.
     Then your words and actions will lead people to the God of the universe.
        The work of Christ will continue.      

"Not on the Sabbath You Don't" (Messages From The Pulpit)

     Jesus was always test the boundaries between what his Father in Heaven was saying and what The Law said. In a sense Jesus lived outside the law.
     Healing on The Sabbath (unless in a life or death situation) was forbidden and yet Jesus openly healed those in need any time they needed him.
     In these modern times some people (Christian or not) will openly refuse to help or even show love to people they deem to be sinners. For some praying at a distance (if conversion is rejected) is close enough.
     There are people such as lepers that have been seen as untouchable. This term is used in the caste system that refer to the lowest of the low.
     Here in The United States exclusions sometimes take different shapes. For example refusing service to
African American's before, during, and after the civil rights movement was quite common especially in the segregated south.
     Muslims have been kicked off of planes simply for "looking Muslim and/or sounding Muslim."
     In some communities Gay and or Lesbian couples were asked to leave churches because they might corrupt the youth.
     Some people will pray that a person does things their way." Join my church or depart from me." Become a doctor or you are no longer part of the family. After all it's tradition.
     God designed all of to be unique and to take his image. Excluding someone is excluding God.
       People in need don't care where the aid comes from. The food pantry may take place in the basement of a Catholic Church or in the gym of a nearby high school. Needs are being met.
     People are meant to be social creatures. No man stands alone. Man doesn't live on bread alone.
       You will never know if you need a blood transfusion came from the blood of a gay man. Sometimes social conventions go against many things that we are taught in our hallowed halls and places of worship.
     Having faith in the unseen doesn't make sense to people who think that if it can't be proven then it must not be true.
     If one of the greatest teachers that ever lived stepped outside the box when he was here on earth in order to heal then maybe we can really follow in the footsteps of true greatness.
      Greatness that doesn't boast and isn't flashy. Healing through humility. Love beyond judgment.
    The world is hurting. It needs you. It needs peace. It needs healing.

Gun Control and Other Causes of Division

     Recent tragedies involving gun violence has caused a great rift about the rights of gun ownership and The 2nd Amendment.
     This isn't the first nor will it be the last issue of contention of public policy and laws in The United States.
     A nation divided against itself will surely fall.
     Just how united is this country? We continue to fight over gun rights, abortion, health care, gay rights, legalization of marijuana etc.
     How far are people willing to go to prove a point or stand for cause? Protest and violence that happens during the course of a protest. What are we saying when some of our citizens feel that killing an abortion doctor is a form of justice? How do we react when such actions are supposed to be the will of God?
     Thankfully the majority of the population agree that violence is never OK.
     Violence in the name of God just pushes people away from the source of love and peace.
     Hate and Kill are both 4 letter words but so is Love. The greatest of these is Love.
     Let's no longer use our tongues and actions for violence. So often pain leads to thoughts of revenge.
Revenge can manifest in violence. Violence against others or violence against self in the act of suicide.
     Even with all the violence that happens in our country it is still seen as a superpower.
      Maybe our "superpower" can be manifest as forgiveness, healing, unity, and love.   

"Ancestors"

     The Book of Matthew begins with the possible lineage of Jesus. Someone pointed out that there

was not DNA testing back then but that should not matter. Showing that Jesus had human ancestors

which speaks to his very own humanity.

   Jesus also had divine origins. What does that mean for us? Jesus referred to his disciples as his

brothers, sisters, mother, and father. That means we truly are children of God. The prophet Jeremiah

wrote that God knew us before we were in the womb.

     We have tools such as Ancestry.com which can help us track our blood line. What can we find out

about those who came before us?

    We may never find out the intimate details of the lives of our family members who wait for us in

Heaven but perhaps some clues will emerge that give us a look into some of their activities. For

example we may find out that our 3 times great grandmother was a nurse during a war and helped

a soldier pull through his injuries. Do a little research and we find out that soldier eventually married

that nurse.

    What can we learn about where our families when we consider the land they came from? Maybe

your family came from a place where the land was tough to work with making it hard to plant and

maintain crops. That tells me that people from such a region were hard and determined workers.

    Now ask yourself what will future generations say about you? Will our descendants say that we

worked hard. Will we be known as people who survived great hardships? Will we be known as

children of God? 

     As with Jesus many say he was a great man. A man of peace. A man full of wisdom and great

moral character. Some say he was a great teacher. And many people claim the Jesus is the

savior of the world. He is the rescuer of lost souls. 

     We may not be The Messiah but we sure do have a chance to rescue lost souls.