My friends, as you know, I steer clear of ever trying to tell you how to exercise the precious gift that each of us as adults has to vote for those, we want to lead us in these United States of America.  What I have done, and will always do, is to tell you to “look at the fruits,” and I feel a need to do this now, again, in response to my own Christian walk and responsibility that I feel toward all of you as your pastor.  For us as Christians, as followers of our brother Jesus, it is all about keeping our eyes on him—his words and his actions, and then doing likewise. 

   In today’s gospel from Mark, we get a most clear idea about what Jesus considers our lives, as his followers, to be about. We humans, as is demonstrated well through the words of James and John in their questions of “place and status” in Jesus’ one-day kindom, tend to stay on the surface, missing the point of what Jesus’ mission and ours is, and should be, in our world. 

   Jesus clearly tells them that he did not come, “to be served, but to serve,” and their and our stance in the world should be no different, that of serving others.  Jesus continues, “this is what makes one great,” [if that is what you are after]. 

   On this point, “to be great,” let us look at the “fruits” of the two major, political parties, and their words to their followers:  One party says that keeping immigrants out and sending massive numbers, already here, “back where they came from,” and lying about who most of them are in the first place, as opposed to a message of hope, and trying to give everyone an even break in our country, to realize the American dream, and basically, helping and supporting one another. 

   And again, “checking the fruits,” we each need to choose between two very different ideas for our great country, just as we Christians need to constantly be doing in our daily lives—checking the fruits! 

   As I stated in the bulletin, Pastor Danielle will be addressing the topic of “Christian Nationalism” later this morning, and I believe lifting up for us, the “real inability of being a true follower of Jesus” along with this “nationalistic” agenda. 

   The writer to the Hebrews, whom we think was Paul’s student, Barnabas, speaks of our brother Jesus as “one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned.”  Someone once said, “this is our experiment here, not God’s [we are spiritual people here having a human experience]—we have free will and can make it whatever we choose.” In other words, if things don’t go well, it is not God’s fault!

   We can choose to follow our brother Jesus, and be about “service” as he was, and “justice toward all,” or we can choose the more selfish road that basically takes care of “me and myself.”

   This decision over the last several years has divided friends and families, and so, while not always easy to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, it is our Christian call.  Barnabas continues in the 2^nd reading to the Hebrews: “Let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor, and find help in our need.”  Thus, we are not alone friends.  Additionally, the psalmist today prays with us:  “May your faithful love be upon us, God, as we place all our hope in you.” 

   “Checking the fruits,” one final time, I raise for all of us to consider, the sense of “hope,” which I believe we humans carry throughout of lives. I recall one journalist and commentator, Jonathan Capehart, assessing the National Political Conventions this past summer—he spoke of how one campaign’s week-long events left him so down with their heavy message, while the other one peaked his sense of hope with each passing day of events—one campaign chose old messages of hate and name-calling, and belittling of their opponents, while the other was ready, “to turn the page,” and work toward “justice for all.”  As was said earlier, we have our God-given “free-wills” and can make [of our lives and actions in this world] whatever we choose. 

   Therefore friends, let us choose wisely, as we vote, “checking and re-checking the fruits,” –are they about, “service to oneself,” or “service toward all.”  Amen? Amen!

   My friends, this Sunday and this homily bring us to this beautiful, new space, of which I believe we are all most grateful to have, to meet and pray in—one that is easily accessed, keeping in mind all our changing, physical needs. 

   As one who has always loved the liturgy well-done, and the beautiful rituals within our Catholic tradition, and realizing too, that good liturgy can be done in any setting, as we have done for the last 16 years of our existence, at the Lutheran Campus Center, I do personally, still love a space that is intentionally set aside for liturgy.

   Additionally, I am glad too that this space will bring us, “up close and personal” with another faith community and even more so than the relationship we had with the LCC—as our “many roads lead to God “ banner, behind me here affirms, we are always stronger and better when we share with others, and I think we will have many opportunities to do that here at 1^st Congregational church. 

   Some of you may recall a former pastor of this community, commonly known as 1^st Congo, Pastor Rick King, who “walked” his group of fellow Christians toward becoming “an open and affirming” church community over 20 years ago. This community under his leadership became the first such religious group in Winona to publicly do so.  All Are One became the second.  When I was chaplain at Winona Health, I had a short list of 4 places that I could send our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers to, who were looking for an accepting community.  Of the 4, 1^st Congo was the only one, besides us who “publicly” announced their welcome—the other 3 welcomed, but didn’t publicly say so.  So friends, I would say that in being part of this larger community, we will be among “kindred” spirits. 

   With that introduction, let’s open up our Scriptures to see our path for this week.  An overall theme for this 28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time is the “hard work of love,” and of how our wise and good God will help us, “stay the course” when life grows difficult. 

   Let’s start with the 1^st reading from the Old Testament book of Wisdom.  We believe the words of this reading come from Solomon, David’s son, who served the Israelite people as their king over 900 years before Jesus came into this family line. 

   I found myself smiling when I read Solomon’s pithy comment on acquiring wealth, “all the silver in the world was worth no more than mud.”  Beyond the “earthiness” of his comment, I think looking broadly at his possible meaning, we can see the “wiseness” of it.  Over our lifetimes, we have heard the stories told through many musical pieces, of people striving for over-the-top material wealth, and in the end, realizing that they were happier when they had less. 

   Solomon goes on to say more eloquently that, “the light of day,” [which we all need, doesn’t compare to wisdom].  Through wisdom, Solomon continues, “I received all good things and had wealth beyond counting.”

   We can most probably see what Solomon is speaking of in recalling the Old Testament story where two women, each living in the same house, and each having a baby, one of whom was accidently smothered during the night. The women came before Solomon, each claiming that the live baby was theirs and wanted the king to make the decision of whom should have the baby. In his wisdom, Solomon stated, since we can’t decide, I will cut the baby in two, and you each can have half.  The true mother said, “no, give it to her,” at which time Solomon gave the baby to the mother who showed true love. 

   From this example, we can see the true value when a person acts with wisdom, and ultimately, love.  The psalmist prays to God, “with your love…we will celebrate all our days.” It would seem that the person blessed with “wisdom” is much more able to do the “hard work” that love calls for at times. 

   I believe that most of us are “good-hearted,” and when we see needs in our world, want to respond to those needs in the ways that we can.  Wisdom would teach us to balance, “our need to give” with the possible effect on the person receiving the gift—will this gift enable this person to move to a place where they can then, “help themselves,” or simply fill our need, “to give?”  These are truly, tough questions, and “the hard work of love.” 

   Moving into the 2^nd reading from Hebrews, the writer says, “the Word of God is living and active, … it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  We have spoken in the past that taking matters “to the heart” is always better than to the mind alone, because the heart is wiser.  I believe that the “heart” of King Solomon could only utter the profound and seemingly harsh words that he did because his heart was guided by Wisdom Sophia, the feminine face of God. God-Sophia was thought of in this way, as feminine in Old Testament times, and is represented also, behind me, in the statue created by our friend, Michael Maher. It was believed by these ancient ones that Sophia, resides in our hearts.   

   Today’s gospel from Mark gives us a “piece of the truth,” concerning acquired riches and wealth in our human journey: Jesus says, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kindom of God!”  Jesus compares it to something the people were very familiar with in their time—“the Needle’s Eye gate,”  and the possibility of a “camel getting through it.” 

   The Needle’s Eye was an extremely small passage for people to get through once the large gate in the wall around the town was closed to protect those inside from invaders. Getting a camel through this small passage could only happen, if at all, by unloading the camel of all baggage it was carrying, plus a “good squeeze.”  Thus, we see Jesus’ warning to the people of losing sight of what is truly important in their lives.

   Back in 2020, a momentous year for many reasons; the onset of COVID, the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police, and a summer of unrest and the push for justice, finally, finally among our black sisters and brothers, and a civil rights activist, John Lewis, also died.  He knew, probably better than most, what being a Christian was truly all about—“making good trouble.”

   I believe he coined what he was doing as “good trouble” because many of us humans look at others’ “doing good,” as upsetting the “status quo,” thus as “trouble” –as it makes those of us on the sidelines feel guilty, so we are wanting to say, “stop making trouble!” 

   So my friends, perhaps this next week, let’s think of how the world might be different /even better if we could see those sitting on the sidelines, basically just caring for themselves as the “troublemakers,” while those doing the “hard work of love,” balanced by “heart-wisdom” as those who are seeing, rightly, to it, that all can live in basic comfort.  Amen? Amen!

Dear Friends,

I am sending the homily out early as we will not be meeting this Sunday due to a fire in our liturgical space. Stay tuned to updates as we work toward finding a new space. I have also included the readings, and some prayers along with the homily for your use. Do send us your prayerful support as we move forward to “new” things…With gratitude, Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• Genesis 2: 18-25
• Hebrews 2; 9-12
• Mark 10: 2-16

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Homily—27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 6, 2024

   My friends, this Sunday is traditionally remembered in our Church as Respect Life Sunday.  This particular remembrance brings to mind for most Catholics, “life in the womb,” because our Church hierarchy have made it so.  And absolutely, we should respect life at its very beginnings—absolutely!  But as always, I would call us, as our brother Jesus did, to look more deeply, and more fully. 

   On this last Friday, people in our Catholic church, and in many other denominations—remembered Francis of Assisi, who lived more than 800 years ago in Italy, and of whose life, it could be truly said, was one of respecting, “all of life”—birth to death, in humans, animals, plant life, and really, all of creation—sun, moon, stars and more. 

   Francis, and the first woman to follow him, Clare, spent their relatively short lives showing their followers during their actual, physical days and years, and beyond—to our present time, how to truly respect all that our loving God created, ourselves included—to the betterment of all.  This is a universal idea, and that is why Francis is someone who appeals to all people, Christian or not, and often shows itself in world-wide, “Blessing of the Animals” day. 

   In the past, at All Are One Catholic church, we have lifted up the names of our beloved pets and thanked God for the joy they bring into our lives.  In that regard, I lift up our family’s beloved “doggy” pets : Mack, Charlie and Teddy, and I invite you to think of yours too, dogs, cats, birds, turtles, fish and so on. 

   Looking to our Scripture readings for this 27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we find much that shows us how to truly “respect life.”  Beginning with the 1^st reading from Genesis, we hear about the importance of “relationships” in our human journey—the writer says,

“It is not good for the ‘earth creature,’ (true meaning of a-dam) to be alone.”  Further the writer states, “that is why people leave their parents and become bonded to one another and the two become one flesh.” 

   You most likely noticed the inclusive wording of this text done so beautifully in the Priests for Equality updating of our holy Scriptures.  For the first time in our long Christian history, through their work, our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers can find a place for their lives and commitments, and be named in this reading!

   In the 2^nd reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the writer lifts up the great gift of our loving God in sending our brother Jesus, to “show us the way”—[God made him] “little less than the angels,” and further says, “Jesus is not ashamed to call us sisters and brothers” –in other words, we might say, “God wants good for us, and not bad!” 

   Our final reading today from the gospel of Mark shows very well I believe, how Jesus always takes us from observation of “static law” to “life-giving love.”  The powers-that-be for Jesus are always trying to “trip him up,” and in this reading, it is about the laws that Moses set up concerning “divorce,” that he put in place simply because the people demanded “black and white” rules to follow. 

   Jesus in this case, answers their disingenuous inquiry because he wants to lift up the “unevenness” of these divorce laws.  In this particular reading, we don’t get the words that Jesus spoke in other places, i.e., the “woman caught in adultery,” but we know from his response in this concrete example how he felt about the rules in place that always were more beneficial to men, than to women—“let he that is without sin, cast the first stone.” It is about respecting all of life.   Jesus in Mark’s reading today is not addressing divorce to lift up “laws,” but to lift up “love,” and on Respect Life Sunday, how appropriate!  

   It is interesting that in this gospel reading that starts with a relational topic, “divorce” which is “unfair” to women, as men are basically, “given power over them, with no say,” that it would end with a statement from Jesus, “to welcome little children, and become like them” –the other group, like women, who have no power in Jesus’ society.  We can only imagine the “disbelief”  within the community to hear Jesus say, “unless you become like little children,” you can’t be part of the greater life that I have come to offer. It is about respecting all life.

   And what characteristics of children might Jesus be pointing to that would be advantageous for us adults?  Certainly, we would think of “purity of heart—a truthfulness of feeling and expression, and a sense of wonder of all that is about us in our world.  Recall the times in your lives when you have thought, “ out of the mouths of babes!” 

   So my friends, all this brings us to the present that is now looking at us all as “refugees” as the secretary at Lutheran Campus Center said to me this week.  With the recent fire in our liturgy space, we are being called, once again, to look at “new things,” as we have been doing in other ways for the past 16 years of our existence.  We have been “something new” in the backyard of diocesan bishops who refuse to see us as “valid expressions” of Jesus’ continued life in our world.  So, we are acquainted with this journey, and now pray for all involved in this moment and time of change, to be able to walk through it with faith and hope, and of course, LOVE! Amen? Amen!  

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Entrance Antiphon

O God, you have given everything its place in the world, and no one can make it otherwise. For all is your creation, the heavens and the earth and the stars:  all is your family, O God.

Let Us Pray—Opening Prayer

Good and gracious God, Creator of the world to come, your goodness is beyond what our spirit can touch, and your strength is more than our minds can bear. Lead us to seek beyond our reach and give us the courage to stand before your truth.  We ask all of this of you, of Jesus and of Spirit Sophia—one God who lives and loves us forever and ever, Amen.

Prayers of the Faithful

Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

1. Help us O God, to strive to be grateful people to you who has loved us beyond all imagining, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For each of us here, give us the strength to be people of justice, mercy, and compassionate love for your world, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For all who are suffering here today or in our wider community, especially all involved at LCC, in body, mind or spirit and additionally for those who are living with cancer, and other life-threatening illness, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For our world and its people, that peace would reign in our hearts and that we would do all in our power to bring peace to our world, especially assist our country to find the solutions to gun violence, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• May the wisdom and grace of the Spirit overshadow all potential candidates seeking national and state and local offices, to be those people who will truly work to care for the least among us and strive to bring peace to our world, we pray—

      Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For our community, All Are One, continue to send your Spirit upon us to enable us to be an inclusive community, open and welcoming to all, and help us to find a new home to celebrate, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• For all in our midst who suffer from mental illness, that each would find understanding and compassion in their lives, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

• Loving Jesus, be with all families who have lost loved ones this week, from all causes, —give them your peace, that they may find their way through their grief, we pray— Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

Let Us Pray

          Dear God of us all…you know what we need before we ask…give us what we most need today.  Help us to keep our eyes on you that we wouldn’t get lost in the material things of this world, but ever strive to make our world a more just place in which to live for all creatures.  Give us the wisdom to find true solutions to peace and harmony in our world for everyone. We ask this of you who are our God and who lives and loves us forever and ever. AMEN

   My friends, the gospel from Mark today contains a line that I feel says very well what our “walk with Jesus” is, or should be all about—“whomever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.”  In this same gospel reading we are told that the apostles are arguing among themselves about which of them was most important, or more simply put, who was “first” among them. 

   Earlier, Jesus had been attempting to teach the greater group of disciples the truth about his mission on earth—that he would be handed over to the powers-that-be, would suffer death, but then, would rise from the dead! Understandably, they didn’t comprehend what Jesus was saying, as this was something they had never heard of before, and even if they had, their idea about the “messiah” was not of one who would be conquered, but of one who would conquer their enemies. Therefore, they dismissed the true meaning of Jesus’ message, and instead, as we like to say at our house, when not understanding a greater truth, “got lost in the weeds” over an issue completely foreign to Jesus, namely who was best, most important—first!

   In my mind, Jesus had to have been a very patient man, in his humanity, as he strove to get these beloved twelve on the same page with him.  He sits them down, and patiently tells them again, “To be first, you must be last—you must be of service to all.”  And if that wasn’t enough of a lesson, Jesus fine-tunes it by saying, [In fact,] “you must be like a child” –that is, “child-like,” not “childish.”  

   To this final statement, we must remember that in Jesus’ time, children had no power, no status, and their voices along with those of women, were considered of little importance.  We can only imagine what an eye-opener these words were to Jesus’ rag-tag group of followers discussing who was “first” among them.   

   This always reminds me of theologian, Sister Elizabeth Johnson, who throughout her wonderful career of Scripture study and exegesis, always uplifting Jesus’ inclusiveness of women, as well as men, when asked if she thought it would have been better for women had Jesus been incarnated into humanity as a woman, she clearly answered, “No, Jesus had to come as a man to show men the way, because women already knew how to serve.”

   James underscores Jesus’ message of his followers not jockeying for positions of power when he speaks very clearly in today’s 2^nd reading about “jealousy and ambition” and that where these traits are, “disharmony and wickedness” follow.  James names the alternate trait that we should strive for as “wisdom.”  He goes on to say that this “wisdom” comes from above, and that it works for peace and that this “peace” will show itself in [actions] full of compassion which lead to [goodness] and ultimately, to “holiness.”

   And finally, James lifts up for us the importance of “prayer,” but not just any kind of prayer.  His ultimate, and most effective prayer is all about “humility” not about “indulging our own [good].

   As you all know, I visit many people in assisted living and nursing homes, as well as in private homes, and I must say that many demonstrate beautifully this quality of humility—while not wanting to suffer pain, nor an inability to move about as desired, a lack of proper vision, and any number of other impediments, I can honestly say, I hear little, or no complaints for the most part, but more so a sense of, “Well, it could be worse.”   And to me, this speaks well to the notion of the “wisdom from on high” that leads to “holiness” that James uplifted for us today. 

   This past week, I heard parts of a review of a book entitled, Road to Wisdom, by Francis Collins, wherein he named four attributes that he feels speak to wisdom: truth, science, faith and trust.  These attributes I would instead name as “virtues” and they came out of his younger life, lived as he stated, as “an atheist,” working in the field of science.  At a certain point in his search for truth through science, he came to see that indeed science couldn’t answer, nor fully explain all his questions, and at that point, came to “faith,” accepting Christianity as a way of life.  His faith led him to “trust” that “all the answers were about something bigger than what humans could come up with.”  And my guess is that “service” grew out of his study of our brother Jesus, 

   And that leads us back to our reflection of today’s readings:  Psalm 54, used today states simply, “God is the one who sustains my life”—which seems to speak of “faith and trust” uplifted by the above author.  The Wisdom selection serving as today’s 1^st reading speaks of “truth-telling” and that this “service” protects us before our loving God, the other two virtues that the author speaks of, or points us to, on the “road to wisdom.”

   As with each Saturday/Sunday that we gather here, I always attempt to connect the readings to our present day—as that is where the most impact can happen.  Therefore, I will name here several news items that came to me this week:

• Two political campaigns—one for the most part, speaking to “service and compassion towards others”—another about “self-importance” and being first along with lies uplifted as truth. 
• Several Middle-Eastern nations aggressively seeking peace through war with no apparent end in sight
• Immigrant peoples in our country having to face again and again, the sins of racism, lack of truth-telling, and the inability to see the good these differing peoples bring to our country as opposed to their so-called, lack of character.  And the real crazy-making realization being that all these sinful actions speak more about those “talking” than they do about those “talked about” and denigrated.

   So, what to do?  Our Scriptures today speak well to the answers we should be pursuing:  Be last, not first—serve, instead of expecting service, be compassionate and understanding, treating others as we would want to be treated, welcoming others, instead of turning them away, remembering humility—becoming more child-like in our prayer, and realizing that we are parts-of-a-whole, not the first, or even the best part, and above all—expecting the best from ourselves, and others—being gentle with others and ourselves when that doesn’t happen, but starting again when we don’t make the mark. Amen? Amen!