 By Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Lay Preacher
Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter. It is commonly known as “Good Shepherd Sunday. Lately I’ve been weary, how about you? (I recently read that the CDC has coined an expression for a feeling that a good number of adults are experiencing; they call it “The Great Exhaustion”. It seems that many of us have had difficulty resuming healthy patterns of rest, work and play, since the Pandemic. ) It’s tiring to try to make sense of this complicated and often distressing world. I could use some comfort, some simple messages meant for ordinary disciples like you and me. “Good Shepherd Sunday” came just in time. In the teachings of the church year, we are asked to grapple with some pretty complex ideas. I know they all have deep meaning for us to- day, but I always appreciate simple lessons; my life, our lives, are complicated enough! We hear amazing stories in the lessons every Sunday: immaculate conception, angels, guiding stars, the many signs and miracles of Jesus, the deep self-reflection of Lent, the pathos of Passion week, the mysterious waiting by the tomb and the miracle of resurrection on Easter Sunday. In the Sundays following Easter, we see the resurrected Jesus mysteriously returning to the disciples to continue teaching in preparation for his final departure from earth and completion of his earthy mission at the Ascension…. And wait, then the holy Spirit will descend upon us at Pentecost! Whew, it’s a lot! This story, our story is mysterious and amazing and sometimes exhausting. But today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” is perhaps the most beloved, comforting and well-known of the psalms. It is often chosen at funerals, even by people who don’t consider themselves religious. It is a beautiful song about life, it is not particularly mysterious…God gives us green pastures, still water and refreshment for our souls. We also must walk through dark valleys and face evil and injustice and death…in other words, ordinary life. The extraordinary part of it is that we have a promise that goodness and mercy will follow us. This goodness and mercy comes to us in the form of ordinary things: a table set for us, oil to soothe us, and green pastures to lie in. Even in Revelations, that book written in strikingly symbolic, apocalyptic style, so foreign to modern readers; in it we are reassured that God will protect us, even during times of tribulation. The Lamb will lead us to “springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear.” Today’s gospel reading is different from the others we hear in this Easter season. The last 3 Sundays’ Gospels have featured the resurrected Jesus mysteriously appearing to the disciples. In Chapter 10 of the Gospel according to John, which we hear today, Jesus (apparently alive and well) is walking in the portico of Solomon. It appears that this is happening before the crucifixion and near the end of his all too short life of preaching and teaching. It is winter. Jesus sounds irritated, understandable as he has been trying to get his message across for so long. He is speaking to leaders who have been self-serving and exclusive. The people gather around him, they are waiting for explanation, they say they have been kept in suspense. They want plain talk. He replies, plainly: “Believe and you will never perish, you will be given eternal life.” Nothing can change the relationship between the sheep and their shepherd if you believe; see the works I do in my father’s name. Contrast Jesus’ leadership style with that of the Pharisees. This and other passages in John’s gospel have done great harm to our Jewish siblings. The historical context, and John’s particular focus are complex, but it’s important to remember that when Jesus says “you do not belong to my sheep”, he is speaking to some of the Pharisees, those religious leaders of Israel, those in power who have lost sight of what really matters. Jesus’ followers, those who believe in the “way of Love”, were also Jewish, and he is describing their relationship to him and his relationship to God, and by extension to us. He says “the works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.” One miracle of our relationship with Jesus is that we ordinary disciples have the same “power of works” that Jesus had. An example is found in today’s first lesson. It is from The Acts of the Apostles. Christian tradition holds that the book of Acts was written by Luke. Luke was a companion of Paul; he was a historian an evangelist and perhaps the most literary of the NT writers. He was also a physician, and because of this, I think he might have been more knowledgeable of the affairs of ordinary disciples like us. The story in Chapter 9, set in Joppa features a miracle wrought by an ordinary man, a disciple of Jesus, like all of us. Tabitha, called Dorcas, was a good woman, one filled with compassion, generosity and talent. One clue to her special status is that she was given a second name. Remember that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas (Aramaic for rock) or Peter (Greek for rock). The disciple Mary was called Magdaline, perhaps to distinguish her by the city she may have come from (Magdala), equally likely is that it refers to the Hebrew translation of the word which is tower or stronghold. Mary, the devoted disciple who supported Jesus throughout his life and witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection, Mary the Tower. Back to Tabitha called Dorcas, Dorcas is a Greek word meaning gazelle. In the bible gazelles symbolize beauty, grace, swiftness and love. Tabitha was a beloved disciple. The followers of Jesus in Joppa, knew that Peter, the rock, was nearby so they sent for him, he came, he went alone to Tabitha, he prayed, he gave her his hand and helped her up. This was a miracle wrought by an ordinary human, quite different from Jesus filling the fishing nets, and other post resurrection appearances, not to mention the many miracles and signs Jesus performed in his earthly life. How can we become disciples like Peter? Being “dead” in this life is not an uncommon phenomenon; if you are grieving, frightened, traumatized or persecuted, you can feel like you are walking through a valley of death. If you are hungry, cold or lonely, life can feel as heavy as death. In this life, in these uncertain and difficult times, we are called by Jesus to follow Pater’s example. Peter first became present to Tabitha, then he prayed, then he reached out and raised her up. “Tabitha cum” get up. We should not be afraid to follow Peter’s example, in prayer, in presence and in healing for those who are walking through a dark valley. We are all praying for miracles big and small these days: we pray for health in body, mind and spirit, we pray for compassionate leaders, for public policy changes which lean toward justice and equity in this difficult time. There are small miracles too; sharing a hot meal, a kind word, being an abiding presence in the face of loneliness; these are all ordinary every day miracles. Today’s lessons speak to all of us present- day disciples at Saints James and Andrew, we are made for this. These stories remind us that we have healing power. It’s in our DNA. Follow Jesus, follow Peter, follow Tabitha, and remember that goodness and mercy will follow us, it’s a promise. May our days be filled with ordinary miracles, given and received. Amen  By Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Lay Preacher
Today I’d like to share some thoughts about the importance of asking questions. In today’s reading from Mark Chapter 10, I became curious about Jesus’ conversation with the brothers Zebedee. (Isn’t that a great word, Zebedee? It means “Gift of God” and according to some interpretations it was the name of a humble fisherman who was the father of the disciples, James and John.) So, about the brothers Zebedee. We know that they have made great sacrifice. They have given up a lucrative fishing business, left their families and friends and have followed this man Jesus, the one many call “mad”, the one who keeps telling them to turn the world upside down, to become servants in order to become great, to get in line last in order to be first in the Kingdom of God on earth. The brothers Zebedee are likely getting tired in their ministry. (Anyone out there ever get tired in your ministry?) and so, they ask Jesus, “What’s in it for us? We are doing everything you asked of us, promise us the front row seat in the afterlife. We want to sit at your side. What’s in it for us?” Jesus, as he often does, answers with a question, “What is it you want me to do for you?” he says. Like a good therapist, he knows there’s often a deeper meaning in our asking and in our prayers. Jesus asks lots of questions according to scripture. In many of the stories in scripture, the reader can pretty quickly figure out the answers, usually within a chapter. The parables, for instance, are simple stories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. These narrative stories in Mark, follow Jesus thru his life, as he tries to teach his followers what it means to walk the way of love. I read that there are over 100 questions in Mark, they engage us and get us to think. In Mark 8, Jesus asks the disciples “Who do the people say that I am? They reply, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah. Pressing them further Jesus says “But who do you think I am?” When the disciples want Jesus to perform miracles in a great storm at sea, (Mark chapter 4), he asks “Why are you so afraid?” He knows there’s more to their fears than the fact that the boat might sink in the storm. In the healing stories Jesus often asks questions first: In Mark Chapter 5, a woman hemorrhaging for 12 years asks Jesus for healing. He says “Who is it who touches my cloak? Who is this person of such great faith, who are you, what is your whole truth.” He knows that these questions can lead to understanding her deepest needs. She does tell her whole truth, and Jesus heals her. Not in Mark, but in John Chapter 4, (my favorite Jesus conversation), he asks the Samaritan woman at the well, “Will you give me a drink.?” He is breaking racial and religious and gender barriers with this simple question. He shows her radical acceptance. She answers him, shares her whole story, including the mistakes in her life, and so Jesus gives her living water, everlasting life. Later in Mark, Chapter 10, a deeply faithful blind man comes to Jesus and shouts, “Jesus have mercy on me!” even though the crowd tries to shush him, Jesus calls him forward, Jesus doesn’t usually shush people, and he asks the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus never assumes, he always probes deeper. He seems to love the questions. Loving the Questions is a program offered by the Diocese of Western Mass. It is a community of people who are interested in thinking and discerning, or discovering what the Holy Spirit has in store for them. Together they ask the question: “What is God calling us to do?” Several people from this community have participated in this program…you can find out about it online also. I wonder if the title “Loving the Questions” comes from the poet Rilke’s lovely little book which is comprised of 10 letters written to a young poet friend. Rilke writes “Be patient toward all that is unsettled in your heart and try to love the questions themselves” Jesus knew that many things are unsettled in our hearts and that often pondering the questions leads to answers. Sometimes surprising ones. So how can loving the questions help us in our personal lives, and in our community and church ministry? I know that in my life, at this stage of age, strength, and responsibilities, I find myself asking questions a lot, sometimes they are difficult ones that are frankly hard to love! They can reveal the need for change that can be challenging. In interpersonal relationships, asking questions can lead to understanding and to finding common ground. It can banish stereotypes and illuminate the many things we have in common. We could surely benefit these days from finding more common ground. And if we don’t ask, we likely won’t find it. And what about our work in community and ministry. Often, we get into a rut of thinking we know what others want and need. Surely creating dialogue regularly and often with the people we serve could lead to more effective ministry. Remember the beginning of the pandemic? besides being fearful, we as a church community were forced to ask questions we hadn’t asked much in the past. We asked, “What is it we truly need in our corporate life?” Worship accessibility was on the top of the list. Who would have predicted 10 years ago that today we would have on-line worship and a team of brilliant tech ministers? What a wonderful surprise! Co-warden Ben Cluff and I spend quite some time with Heather, (“quality” time ☺) asking lots of questions, then we join with the officers, and the vestry for more discernment, more questions. We don’t always have answers; sometimes we decide to stay the course for a while, sometimes (often) we need more data, (input from you, advice from experts), and sometimes we come to consensus quickly. So, I’ll leave you with these thoughts: Where do we need to ask more questions? Here are some we might ask: do we have the energy and resources for a particular ministry? Or is there a new and different way to show God’s love in the world? Is there a balance of work, rest and play in our personal and corporate lives? How can we serve the community best? What does walking the way of love mean in my life, at this age and stage of life? I think Jesus would say, keep asking, keep probing, find the deeper meaning and the hidden need, be patient and above all, expect wonderful surprises. I’ll end with Rilke: Quote: Be patient with all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you may not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. Amen  By Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Lay Preacher
Good morning, my name is Kathryn. I am one of several lay members of the congregation who study and reflect on scripture together, and then we come and share our thoughts with you. Today is my turn. No one was more surprised than I was, to feel drawn to thinking about our old testament reading for today, from the story of Job. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives you a nudge and I’ve found it’s a good idea to respond; so here goes. The Hebrew testament “book” called Job is an epic poem, 40 plus chapters in length, which deals with the difficult questions of suffering, justice and God’s role in our lives on earth. The passage we read today is near the end, in the 38th chapter, when God answers Job out of a whirlwind. We are first introduced (by an unknown author) to a man called Job. This man does not have a history, unlike Abraham, Samuel, and David, for example, Job seems to pop up out of nowhere. He lives in a land called Uz. (This sounds a lot like Oz to me). All we are told of Uz (and bible scholars might correct me!), is that it is far, far away from Israel, and in the east. (still sounds like OZ, we are definitely not in Kansas anymore) So, Once upon a time there was man called Job who lived far far away…….I think the author is setting this up, somewhat like science fiction or fable to ask us to suspend our usual way of thinking. I’m not a huge scifi fan, I’m sure there are many in the congregation, but I do like fable and myth, and I think that authors of this genre ask us to set aside our usual way of thinking of things; put aside our learned and practiced habits and have kind of and blank slate on the subjects. A couple of weeks ago Heather referred to God as the ultimate open-minded thinker. We need to try to model ourselves after this. So, Job is an upright and blameless man, who has all the accoutrements of a successful life. He has a loving and friendly family, much property, livestock, and the story tells us, he blesses his family, and offers burnt offerings. This was the sign of devotion in that time. Job feared God and turned away from evil. In the very next stanza, God is visited by the “heavenly beings” (this might be translated as Sons of God or angels), including one angel called “the accuser”, (this Hebrew word might be translated as the evil one or satan). God confronts the accuser, asking “where have you come from?” I seem to remember that the evil one was cast away by God to hell, …. but there’s plenty of evidence that in spite of that, evil still patrols the earth. I am not surprised that evil showed up! God holds up Job as an example of goodness to the accuser, and the accuser answers back. “Sure, he’s a good person, look at all the blessings you’ve given him; take those away and he will curse you.” This is followed by terrible misfortune in Job’s life. He systematically loses everything; his wealth, his property, his children, everything, and yet he does not curse God or charge God with wrongdoing. The accuser again meets God and says “touch his bone and flesh” and then he will curse you, God says, Go ahead, afflict him, but spare his life and we will see. Job is covered with sores from head to toe, and even after his wife says enough already, curse God and die, you’d be better off, Job says “no, it is right that we receive both good and evil in life”, and he does not curse God. The second part of the poem contains conversations between Job and his four pious friends. Eliphaz, friend #1 says “You must have sinned. That’s why this has happened to you.” (God has a few things to say about this, I love this expression: “humans are born to trouble, just as sparks fly upward”.) Job responds to God and his friends as any of us might, “my complaint is just, this is not fair.” Friend #2, Bildad, says Job should repent, make supplication to God and God will restore you to your rightful place. Job responds as we might when faced with suffering, “what’s the point of my faith, why do I labor in vain?” And then Job hits bottom, “I loathe my life” And friend #3 Zophar says, “well, you must be guilty, and you deserve punishment. (Who needs enemies with friends like these, right?) Friend #4 is Elihu who at least, proclaims God’s goodness and says God does not despise us or take his eyes from us. These debates go back and forth with Job reaffirming his innocence (and maintaining therefore that God has no reason to punish him) and bitterly praying for relief. Job finally has had it with his friends and takes up his case directly with God. Then comes the beautiful passage we read today. Read So, what do we make of all this? Well, the question of whether God is or isn’t just is never answered, and we just don’t know, sometimes why bad things happen, but I think, like the author of a good scifi novel, God is asking Job and us to set aside our ideas of God as the one who brings worldly success, or war, or famine or death or miracle cures. The universe is a vast, beautiful and amazing place, but God tells us, by example of 2 monster mythical characters Behemoth and Leviathan, that the universe is not always safe and it is not always designed to prevent suffering. (chaos happened, even in the Garden of Eden) I really don’t know why bad things happen, but I know there’s a great deal of chance in this world, and sometimes things happen because a million elements of a person’s life (most of them unknown) line up in a certain way. I have learned a lot from people who have suffered. I have seen God give them the strength and wisdom to know, like Job, that God is with them, even in their deepest despair. I know also that God doesn’t send miracles, or rain down hardship. Miracles are not God’s purpose. God’s purpose is love. I think God sends people; peacemakers, counselors, skilled surgeons, teachers, healers and artists who do God’s work in the world. We are the miracle makers, in big ways, changing systems of oppression and violence in the world and in small, but mighty ways, like accompanying a friend in their grief and loss, or by adding one more beautiful painting or song to this amazing world. In the end, we are reminded that, like Job, we should always bring our suffering to God. But our ideas of God’s purpose and action in the world may need a different narrative. If God’s purpose on earth is Love, and God is in us, we have the power to make miracles happen. Amen by Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Lay Preacher  In today’s Gospel reading from Mark, we witness Jesus’ baptism. As he rises from the water, the heavens are torn apart and the spirit descends like a dove on him, God speaks those exquisite words to Jesus “you are my beloved with you I am well pleased”. Then that gentle dove drives him into the wilderness! Luke and Matthew say he was led there, driven or led by the hand of the Holy Spirit, he begins his wilderness days of prayer and fasting. Mark (as usual) gives very few details about what happens in the wilderness. Matthew, never at a loss for words, tells us that he was tested 3 times by the devil, once tempted to feast to appease his hunger, (the temptation of the flesh), once tested to ask God to prove God’s power and love for us, (temptation of pride of life, and temptation to abuse power) and lastly tempted to worship all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Jesus does not yield to the temptations and so wins this battle and is then attended by angels. He emerges from this wilderness proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near.
On this side of the resurrection, we know what was coming near, in his baptism and wilderness time Jesus is preparing for the ultimate test, crucifixion on Good Friday and then that 3rd day on which we sing “the strife is 0’er the battle done, the victory of life is won, the song of triumph has begun!” Today we begin our Lenten journey, our yearly time in the wilderness. Of course, wilderness times come frequently in life; times when we are struggling with sorrow, loss, confusion and fear. Historically, in the church, Lent was a season when those persons preparing for baptism began a time of prayer and fasting, so that they were prepared to sign on to their covenant with God. (Spoiler alert: we reaffirm our Baptismal vows at the Easter vigil and we will welcome 2 persons into the household of God during the Easter season, here at James and Andrew.) In this season of Lent, we are called to wrestle with this question: have we been keeping our baptismal covenant? This is a chance for us to prepare for renewing our baptismal promises and search for ways to better keep those promises. The great litany, that dramatic listing of various petitions and responses, was used as early as the 5th century in Rome. It is an all-embracing prayer for everything and everyone: from natural disasters to guidance for leaders of the nations! It’s not an easy prayer, but it leads us into Lent in our tradition, and it can be a prompt to review how well we are doing in keeping our baptismal promises. Yes, we are asking for Gods help, but maybe our Lenten discernment could be to ask ourselves: “how well are we keeping up with our end of the bargain?” In the Great Litany we ask God to “spare us from evil and mischief: In our Baptismal Covenant we promise (with God’s help) to resist evil and when we don’t to repent and return to God. In the Great Litany we ask God to deliver us from worldliness, and false gods, : In our Baptismal Covenant we pledge with God’s help to believe in God, in Jesus Christ and in the holy Spirit (period!). In the Great litany we ask God to visit the lonely, strengthen those who stand, comfort and help the fainthearted and raise up the fallen; In our Baptismal Covenant we pledge to respect the dignity of everyone, seeking and seeing Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. I need to add a personal note to self here (this might help you): Keeping the covenant does not necessarily mean work harder or take on exciting new ministry opportunities. It was moving to hear vestry members talk about their Lenten practices at our meeting this past week. So many of them described small, personal gestures of love, care, comfort and respect; for family, coworkers, neighbors and friends, recognizing Christ in all persons. As we wander into our own Lenten wilderness, we have an opportunity to review and renew our Baptismal promises and search for ways to better keep those promises, to review how well we are keeping up our side of the covenant. There are a few paper copies in the Narthex, our Baptismal Covenant is on page 305 of the Book of Common Prayer; also found online at bcponline.org Lent is a chance to ask ourselves this: how can we more fully “believe, continue in the Apostles’ teaching, resist evil, repent, return, proclaim, seek, serve and strive for justice and peace?” It’s a big ask, I know, but remember that God has already given us hearts full of love and compassion. We all are “the great joy of God’s life”. I believe, with God’s help, we can do it. Amen |
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We believe God is calling us to cultivate a community of love, joy, hope, and healing. Jesus is our model for a life of faith, compassion, hospitality, and service. We strive to be affirming and accessible, welcoming and inclusive; we seek to promote reconciliation, exercise responsible stewardship, and embrace ancient traditions for modern lives.
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