St. Margaret's Sermon Archive
The Holy Name - Susan N. Blue 1/1/07
“But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart…”
Irma Bombeck wrote a column after she was diagnosed with cancer. It listed all the things that she would have done differently if she had her life to live over. With her terminal diagnosis she took the time to evaluate her life – how she had spent her time, energy and money.
This was a question addressed by “Raymond Camp, who wrote a column called “Wood, Fish and Stream” for the New York Times. He tells of a letter he got from a boy. It read, ‘Would you tell me where I could find a place to fish that is not more than five or six miles from my house in Queens? I am 14 years old and have saved up enough money to buy a rod, reel and line, but do not know where to go fishing. My father sometimes goes with other men, but he’s too busy for me, so I have to find some place I can reach on my bicycle or subway.’ The columnist managed to find out the father’s name and to send him his son’s letter with a brief note. He received this reply from the father: ‘You handed me quite a wallop in your letter, but I am sorry you did not hit me harder and sooner. When I think of the opportunity I might have lost, it frightens me. I do not need to point out that I now have a new fishing companion, and we have already planned a busy spring and summer. I wonder how many other fathers are passing up similar opportunities.’” (copied)
This is the time of year that I am profoundly reminded of my own mortality and finitude. In the face of thousands of years our lives on earth are but a heartbeat. What seemed like forever when I was small is really very short. This is tragically put in front of us by the horror of the thousands of deaths in Iraq. It is heartbreaking to think that 3000 of our own troops have died, as well as countless thousands of Iraqis.
This is the feast of the Holy Name, a time when we hear of the circumcision and holy naming of the infant, Jesus – “given that name by the angel before he was conceived in the womb…” – a name that means “salvation.” We, too, by our baptisms, carry the holy name of Jesus. Those times of our baptisms were occasions of great welcome and profound promises. In our baptisms, as we were welcomed into the family of God in Jesus’ name, we became agents of Jesus Christ. As such we are reminded that life is short, and that what we do and how we live matters more than words can say. In truth, we are charged with being God’s hands, hearts and providers in this turbulent world of ours.
It is against this measure that we are to evaluate our lives this beginning of the New Year. This is a time to take stock, to look at where we have been and what we have done, to see where we are now, and to make decisions about how we are to spend the remainder of our lives here on earth.
This is a time for forgiveness – forgiveness within families, forgiveness of ourselves, and forgiveness of all who have hurt us. It is a time to make amends and to heal breaches in relationships. From there we move to a new plan for today and tomorrow. I remember the horror I experienced as my sisters and I cleared out our mother’s closets after she died. She had been a child of the depression, so never ever tossed out even a pair of shoes. We bring nothing into this world in the way of material possessions – and we take nothing away. Therefore, it is critical how we address the material when we are here on earth.
Erma Bombeck concluded her column with this paragraph: “There would have been more I love yous, more I’m sorrys, more I’m listenings, but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it, look at it and really see it…try it on…live it…exhaust it…and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.” (copied from Ann Lander’s column, date unknown.)
New Year’s Day reminds us that we are given “another shot at life.” We who are so fortunate have much to give…not only world wide, but right here in the community, in this parish, in our families and to our friends. We who have been forgiven by Christ’s death and resurrection are reminded every Sunday that we can begin again.
Let us pray this New Year’s Day for all who suffer in this world. Let us remember that God created each and every one of us – and loves us all the same. Let us forgive, reorder our priorities, and open our hearts and minds and abundant wealth with generosity, laughter and joy. In the words spoken to Moses, may the Lord bless us as the Israelites were blessed: “Lord, may you bless us and keep us; may you make your face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us, my you lift up your countenance upon us, and give us peace.” (Numbers 6:22-27)
AMEN
Irma Bombeck wrote a column after she was diagnosed with cancer. It listed all the things that she would have done differently if she had her life to live over. With her terminal diagnosis she took the time to evaluate her life – how she had spent her time, energy and money.
This was a question addressed by “Raymond Camp, who wrote a column called “Wood, Fish and Stream” for the New York Times. He tells of a letter he got from a boy. It read, ‘Would you tell me where I could find a place to fish that is not more than five or six miles from my house in Queens? I am 14 years old and have saved up enough money to buy a rod, reel and line, but do not know where to go fishing. My father sometimes goes with other men, but he’s too busy for me, so I have to find some place I can reach on my bicycle or subway.’ The columnist managed to find out the father’s name and to send him his son’s letter with a brief note. He received this reply from the father: ‘You handed me quite a wallop in your letter, but I am sorry you did not hit me harder and sooner. When I think of the opportunity I might have lost, it frightens me. I do not need to point out that I now have a new fishing companion, and we have already planned a busy spring and summer. I wonder how many other fathers are passing up similar opportunities.’” (copied)
This is the time of year that I am profoundly reminded of my own mortality and finitude. In the face of thousands of years our lives on earth are but a heartbeat. What seemed like forever when I was small is really very short. This is tragically put in front of us by the horror of the thousands of deaths in Iraq. It is heartbreaking to think that 3000 of our own troops have died, as well as countless thousands of Iraqis.
This is the feast of the Holy Name, a time when we hear of the circumcision and holy naming of the infant, Jesus – “given that name by the angel before he was conceived in the womb…” – a name that means “salvation.” We, too, by our baptisms, carry the holy name of Jesus. Those times of our baptisms were occasions of great welcome and profound promises. In our baptisms, as we were welcomed into the family of God in Jesus’ name, we became agents of Jesus Christ. As such we are reminded that life is short, and that what we do and how we live matters more than words can say. In truth, we are charged with being God’s hands, hearts and providers in this turbulent world of ours.
It is against this measure that we are to evaluate our lives this beginning of the New Year. This is a time to take stock, to look at where we have been and what we have done, to see where we are now, and to make decisions about how we are to spend the remainder of our lives here on earth.
This is a time for forgiveness – forgiveness within families, forgiveness of ourselves, and forgiveness of all who have hurt us. It is a time to make amends and to heal breaches in relationships. From there we move to a new plan for today and tomorrow. I remember the horror I experienced as my sisters and I cleared out our mother’s closets after she died. She had been a child of the depression, so never ever tossed out even a pair of shoes. We bring nothing into this world in the way of material possessions – and we take nothing away. Therefore, it is critical how we address the material when we are here on earth.
Erma Bombeck concluded her column with this paragraph: “There would have been more I love yous, more I’m sorrys, more I’m listenings, but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it, look at it and really see it…try it on…live it…exhaust it…and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.” (copied from Ann Lander’s column, date unknown.)
New Year’s Day reminds us that we are given “another shot at life.” We who are so fortunate have much to give…not only world wide, but right here in the community, in this parish, in our families and to our friends. We who have been forgiven by Christ’s death and resurrection are reminded every Sunday that we can begin again.
Let us pray this New Year’s Day for all who suffer in this world. Let us remember that God created each and every one of us – and loves us all the same. Let us forgive, reorder our priorities, and open our hearts and minds and abundant wealth with generosity, laughter and joy. In the words spoken to Moses, may the Lord bless us as the Israelites were blessed: “Lord, may you bless us and keep us; may you make your face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us, my you lift up your countenance upon us, and give us peace.” (Numbers 6:22-27)
AMEN