Easter 6 C - The Promise of Presence

Easter 6 C * May 13, 2007 * Mother’s Day, Rogation Sunday* JTCO

Whoever thought that playing peek-a-boo would be so important? As it turns out, one of the very earliest developmental lessons babies learn is what called object permanence – that is, that a thing or person still continues to exist even we can’t see it or them. Little babies learn this through endless games and by learning to trust that when they cry someone will come. If they don’t learn it, they stay anxious, clingy, fearful every time someone needs to come or go.

In our gospel reading this morning, the disciples are having a lesson in object permanence as Jesus talked with them about his departure. This passage from, John Chapter 14, comes at the Last Supper they shared with him before his death. Our reading comes from a section of what is known as the Farewell Discourse. In some ways, it might seem that we are turning back the calendar to the events of Holy Week, but we are hearing this reading this morning – well into the Easter season – for two reasons.

The first is that we are right around the corner from the feast of the Ascension in which Jesus finally does take leave of the disciples after forty of days of being present with them, and which we’ll mark next Sunday, the day in which the resurrected Lord returns to the Father. The second reason is that Jesus is making a promise, the fulfillment of which is gift both to them and us – that the Father will send the Holy Spirit.

I am indebted to Jim Somerville,[1] who suggests the following dialogue -- questions from the disciples that Jesus answers in this section.

And these sound a lot like the kinds of questions mothers get from their children as they pick up their keys and pocketbook and head for the door…

"Where are you going?""I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also." [14:3]

"Can we go with you?""Where I am going you cannot come." [13:33]

"How long will you be gone?""A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while and you will see me." [14:19]

"Who will take care of us?""I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever." [14:16]”

Sound familiar? Parents will recognize these questions and especially moms. Object permanence is one of the issues. Will Jesus continue to exist and will they be taken care off even when they can no longer see him? When little ones develop normally, they learn this, and so they can let Mom out of sight for a little while, trusting that she will return. And, it is a question for us who are followers of Jesus Christ in our own day and time. Can we trust that Jesus is alive and is actively caring for us, even when we cannot see him with our own eyes?

As happens so often, our Collect of the Day, can give us an important clue about how to approach this passage…Let me read it for you again –O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding; Pour into hearts such love towards you , that we, loving you all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

The good that God does for us …past, present and future…for those who love Him…is beyond what we can understand…(We can’t see it, but we can trust it)…and we ask God, give us such love for you that the promises you have given us will become reality…The word that struck me here as key, is the word “promise”..

My goodness, what parent doesn’t make promises to a child? And, as you know, broken promises can badly compromise any relationship but particularly with parents and children. What parents has not heard that terrible wail usually accompanied by tears…”But….you promised!”?

So, let’s take a deeper look at what Jesus is saying to the disciples as he gets them ready for his departure…Jesus gives us three promises to offset the disciples’ and our anxiety about object permanence. I’d like to add a fourth dimension for consideration. All of these speak to how we know that the Risen Lord is with us.

Jesus gives us three promises of his presence: That he is present in his Word, his Peace, and through The Holy Spirit.

1. First, Jesus promises us that when we remember and hold dear and honor his word that he will dwell in us. He says “Those who love me will keep my word….if we were doing a literal translation of this passage…if would read…if anyone is loving me, that one will keep my word. Loving Jesus and keeping his word are related…The word keep is worth considering. It goes beyond obedience and has the sense of “holding dear” “observing” “guarding” or “consider important”.

Jesus promises us that when we keep his word, we will know his living presence and the presence of Father inwardly…and it goes beyond just remembering …This makes sense if you think about it. Here I am thinking about some of the sayings in our family…from time to time, I think about or remember something a family member has said…for instance, my great aunt Fanny who died years ago at the age of 106. Aunt Fancy was a maiden great aunt – never married - , a great wit and could really turn a phrase. Here is one of our family stories about a saying of Aunt Fancy’s. My sister Susan had taken her to church – First Presbyterian Church in Columbia – she was about 92 at the time. It was after church and they were sitting in the car pick up area having a little rest before they walked to the car which was a good hike. A lady who was standing down from them leaned over and said, “I’m waiting for my husband.” Susan said, that without missing a beat, Aunt Fancy said, “I am too.” Sometimes when I hear or say the words, “I am waiting for my husband”, her words come to me. I hear them in her voice and in that moment, it goes beyond remembering into sensing that I am in her presence. So, too, with Jesus’ words when we treasure them, guard them, observe them - he is present.

2. The Second promise of presence Jesus makes is that we will know that he is with us because he gives us his peace. This is the peace that passes all understanding…the peace that can be ours even in the midst of a storm. Even when everything around us is coming unglued, we have the gift of knowing that, no matter how difficult or painful the outcome, we sense that we are not alone and that in the end all will be well.

Julian of Norwich, 14^th century mystic, whose feast day we kept this past week, gets at this when she describes the following vision she had…She describes seeing God holding a tiny thing in his hand, like a small brown nut, which seemed so fragile and insignificant that she wondered why it did not crumble before her eyes. She understood that the thing was the entire created universe, which is as nothing compared to its Creator, and she was told, "God made it, God loves it, God keeps it." So too with us, God made us, loves us and keeps us.

I wonder how many of you have had that experience of the peace that passes understanding… it is not rational…this is another way that Jesus communicates his continuing love and presence with us.

3. The Third promise of presence is that He will ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit…and we will say more about that in the next two weeks.

4. The Fourth way of knowing God’s presence with us…and this is not St. John but Jennie speaking…has to do with one of the other themes for this Sunday You may have noticed in our hymns and prayers that we are celebrating and praising God for the beauty of creation. This is because today is Rogation Sunday…a day traditionally kept for a procession round the village , beating the bounds…that is marking the boundaries of one’s land, and thanking God for the gifts of the soil, the sea, and the whole of the physical creation. There is more about this on the church blog…The mystics have referred to knowing God in two ways…through the book of the Holy Scripture and through the book of Nature…Now, as anyone who has lived for any length of time, we know that the physical creation is not necessarily benevolent…we live in a fallen world , beautiful yes, but fallen…where disease, and natural disaster, and accidents, and environmental degradation take their toll…..ah, but it is beautiful…as a child, one of the places I felt God’s peace and presence most clearly was sitting up in the top of a 90 ft pine tree in our back yard…far, far above the madding crowd of my brothers and sisters..the light glistened across the tops of the trees, and the wind ruffled through and around the branches and leaves as birds winged their ways. It’s the same calm peacefulness, one can get in the marsh or on the water…or looking at the morning mist lifting from a lake or a field. God’s calm peace and presence can speak to us …through the abundance of his provision for us…the rain that falls and the fruits that grow and the marvelous variety of creatures…

So, then four ways that we can trust that Jesus dwells with us even now, will return for us, and that the Father is providing for us in this and every moment…In his living words; in his peace, in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit….and in his marvelous provision through the creation. May we ever be assured of the truth of his presence. In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.. Amen.

---

[1] James G. Somerville ( in "Who Will Take Care of Us?" in The Christian Century, May 6, 1998, p. 471)

Service Schedule

Sundays - 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist I or II, depending upon the season, except for the Second Sunday of Easter which is the annual Brick Church Service and picnic. That service time is 11:00 am. The 2011 Brick Church service will be May 1. Celebrant and Preacher TBA. Please join us.

Bishop's Visitation - December 11, 2011

Sundays in Advent and Lent - Holy Eucharist, Rite I.- 10:00 am followed by Coffee Hour

All other Sundays - Holy Eucharist Rt. II - followed by Coffee Hour
Fifth Sundays - Morning Prayer, Rt. I

Program and Nursery for Children - During the service.
Village Youth Group - New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church - Wednesday evenings - 6:00 pm
Contact: April Zorn at New Wappetaw

April, May and June at SJS

Sunday Services are at 10:00 am without fail.

Sunday Ap. 27 - The Rev. Dr. George Tompkins, celebrant and preacher. Mrs. Olbrych at St. Stephen's, Charleston

Saturday, May 3 - Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet - 11-5 http://www.lowcountryshrimpfestival.com/

A blessing of the fleet by local clergy celebrates tradition in this coastal community. Shrimp dinners, kabobs, chowders, barbeque and hot dogs are served. Children's area with inflatables, pony rides, etc. Local artist and crafters.

Sunday, May 4 - Shrimp Festival Weekend

Sunday, May 11- Mother's Day

Sunday, May 25- Memorial Day weekend

May 25-June 14 - Mrs. Olbrych at Princeton Theological Seminary - Supply clergy TBA

Service Times et al.

Church is at 10:00 on Sundays and is followed by Coffee Hour. Visitors are welcomed warmly.

Advent and Lent, Holy Eucharist Rite I
All other Sundays, Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Second Sundays-Quarterly - Morning Prayer, Rt. I

The annual Brick Church service is at 11:00 am, Rite I, and followed by a covered dish picnic. The Brick Church Service for 2018 will be April 8.  Please join us. Preacher, our Vicar, the Rev. Dr. Jennie C. Olbrych.


Children's Christian Ed program and Nursery is 10:00 in the Parish House with the children joining us at the Peace. Children, of course, are always welcome to attend and participate in the service.

Map to Village Chapel

This shows the location of the Parish House known as the Morrison House...the Church building proper is across the street  at the corner of Oak (SR-S-10-71) and Church.




View St. James Santee Episcopal Church in a larger map

Advent at SJS

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church year. All is decked out in purple, and the Advent wreath reminds us of the progression of Sundays. The Sunday readings range from end-of-the-world hair raising declarations about the end of time to striking promises of newness - God's Shalom.

At the heart of Advent lies an invitation to slow down and to quiet ourselves before God. God-with-us is undertaking anew the mysterious work of making a home in us for himself. This is certainly counter-cultural to all of the holiday hub-bub ratcheting up around us.

You are invited to join SJS in keeping Advent by lighting an Advent wreath of your own, joining us in the Rite I (Traditional) services on Sundays at 10:00 am, and by thinking about ways your Christmas spending can help those who are hungry, poor, homeless, sick or in prison. May God bless you during this Advent time.

9/16/07 - 19C - A Party in Heaven

Proper 19C-2007
Text: Luke 15:10 – “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”


The little girl’s eyes were quite wide. About six yrs old, she looked fairly close to tears. Even though the hour was late, the store was full of shoppers. The girl approached a stranger – an older woman - something her mother had probably told her never, ever to do . “I can’t find my sister, she said.” Her face was clouded with anxiety. “What is your sister’s name?” The woman asked. “Tay” came the response. “Let’s go up to the front desk…they will know how to find your sister” and off they went. At the front desk, one of the sales clerks said, “Right, the sister was here looking for her just a little while ago…she might be outside…I’ll see if I can spot her.” She returned but no sister. The little girl went behind the big desk and sat down. A few minutes later, the sister came down the aisle – practically running. Her face was filled with acute worry. “Don’t worry,” said the sales clerk, “She’s right here.” The smaller girl ran out. The sisters embraced, and there was a burst of joy. Lost and so joyfully found!
Today we continue our journey through the gospel of Luke, or as a friend puts it, we are visiting Luke’s house and listening to his stories. During this time of the year, we are listening to the teachings of Jesus - in particular, his parables and we have two little ones this morning – the lost sheep and the lost coin. The parable that follows these is the parable of the Lost Son or the Prodigal Son which usually overshadows these two that come right before it. It might be helpful to know a little bit about what has just happened in Luke right before Jesus told these stories – to ask what prompted Jesus to come up with these little gems.
His ministry had been going well, and it was becoming obvious that many of the folks who were coming to hear him were not exactly respectable. Known sinners and tax collectors (these were known collaborators with the Romans and thieves in their own right – truly considered, the scum of the earth). The text tells us, the Scribes and the Pharisees – that is, the church people - were starting to grumble. They said, “ This fellow welcomes sinners and even eats with them.” For a parallel, we might think about having supper with an Islamic terrorist or person who deals drugs to children, or a street person who hasn’t washed in a month. I wonder, would you invite them to your nicely laid table with your mother’s crystal and silver? Probably not.
Jesus heard this grumbling and, in response told these twin parables - the shepherd who looks and looks until the lost sheep is found, and the woman who sweeps and cleans her house until a single lost coin was found. And, he tells how each one calls neighbors and friends and says --- rejoice with me….that is, I’m throwing a party, come on over…for what was lost is found…and then Jesus says…” By the way, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance…” Think about that…joy in heaven and God throwing a party….over just one person who lets themselves be found.

There are some things to notice…both about God and us.

1. …I am not sure how much cognitive awareness the sheep had of its condition of lostness and the coin was inanimate object. If we think about human beings, equally we may not realize that we are lost…..off the track. The little girl certainly knew she was lost.
A good example of those who did not think they were lost were the Hebrew people we read about in the first lesson for today. They were out in the desert after having been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt –with mighty signs and wonders. Seemingly about 20 minutes after their marvelous rescue, Moses turned his back for a moment and went up on the mountain for a chat with God. They decided, “to heck with this God and this Moses. We need a god we can see..” They were probably thinking about the gods left behind in Egypt.
Talk about a short attention span! God said to Moses, and forgive my paraphrase, “This was obviously a mistake – they are a stiff necked people. I’m just going to destroy them.”
I like that word – stiff necked. It comes from the world of farming with animals when, say, an ox would not let itself be directed. It would not turn its head, but stiffened its neck and shoulders to continue in the direction it wished to go rather than letting itself be directed. To be stiff-necked is a combination of rebelliousness, stubbornness, and being unteachable.
And, being unteachable, as any teacher, employer, or parent knows is a formula for disaster. The Hebrew Children had gotten badly off the track and were so stiff necked, they didn’t even realize it. It took Moses’ passionate intercession for God to relent.
Let me ask you, when you get off the track, how long does it take you to realize it? And, what does it take for you to listen – the pleas of family or friends, the loss of precious people and things in your life. Do you have to go all the way and hit bottom before you realize you are lost? How stiff-necked are you? Are you teachable? Have a look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. To have a teachable spirit is the key.

2. Here is something wonderful to notice. In each case - the sheep, the coin, the Hebrew people - God is already actively at work. The shepherd is combing the mountain side, the woman is sweeping, and God is keeping an eagle eye on his people. They were not aware of him in the least. They were not aware of how focused, how intent the seeker was on finding what had been lost. So, too with us.

3. Notice…Jesus keeps using the word “repent.” The Greek word is metanoia which literally means meta (a change or turn, or transformation – think about the word metamorphosis) and noia (the Greek word for mind… a turn or change of mind). In these two parables – all the sheep and coin had to do was to let themselves be found..
If we think ahead to the parable of the lost or prodigal son.. What was necessary was for the son to realize that he was lost…to have a change of mind and to head in the direction of home…
Look at today’s psalm – Ps 51 – it was written by King David as he poured out his heart to God in repentance after his sin of adultery and, then, the murder he committed to try to cover it up We use this on Ash Wednesday. It is the consummate prayer of repentance in the Bible.

So, here is the bottom line --- are you lost in some way? Gotten off the track? So stubborn that you don’t realize it? Take a read over the Ten Commandments or some of Jesus teachings. How about, “Love one another as I have loved you” or “Forgive one another.” We really don’t have to look very far. Have you been lost or living in a hell of some sort (Maybe its even gotten a bit comfortable). Here is some wonderful news. God is looking for you, seeking you. He has left behind the saints in light, the angels and archangels and the company of heaven and is out looking for you…not to yell at you but to embrace you . So, let yourself be found and, then, get ready for a great big party! AMEN.