St. Margaret's Sermon Archive
Epiphany VII - Caron A. Gwynn - 02/18/07
Transfiguration/World Mission Sunday, Year C, RCL
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
In the name of the one God, creator, redeemer and sanctifier” Amen.
Some one inquired to a returned Peace Corp volunteer, “What did you experience that was different?” Well, prior to her two year commitment departure for Africa in the early 1980’s, she had no concept of what was about to unfold before her in many ways while living and working in a different country beyond the basics changes such as food, climate, and language. The former volunteer began to reply as she shared her story of finding freedom and living it daily on various levels for the first time. Thus, she returned to the states a different or transformed person because of pursuing the Peace Corp mission for better health care in Africa. Today, she daily wears a bracelet with “freedom” inscribed on it.
While living and working in Africa, this was the very first time her skin color was the same as the majority of the people in the local country and on the continent. There were no socioeconomic restraints placed upon her due to racism. There were no glaring eyes silently indicating, “You are in the wrong neighborhood or hearing comments “you do not belong here.” Her new sense of freedom emerged while living in a country where seven African ethnic groups comprised the country’s residents who represented indigenous religious practices, Islam, and Christian communities. They all live harmoniously together with mutual respect of each other. It was humanity at its best at that time.
Most importantly, the sporadic accessibility to an Anglican church on Sundays coerced her to develop a comfort level of freely expressing her Christian faith as a “witness to Christ in her life” to her Islamic neighbors through lively and enjoyable dialog with those she could converse with in English. Titus Pressler wrote, “The first fruit of Christian experience is neither a condemnation of other religions nor a conversion campaign but a joyful and natural witness to the presence of the triune God in one’s life.” (From, The New Church Teaching Series, Horizons of Mission, Titus Pressler, p.127, Vol.11).
Additionally, she found Christ to be her constant companion during the tears shed at the loss of life; during periods of frustration resulting from the lack of initially understanding the culture; and during the times of division and mistrust within the village. The months were quickly passing with discouragement and a sense of not knowing what to do about the broken bridge of communication. However, the volunteer remained in prayer, scripture, and discernment for guidance while she searched for the path to take for possible reconciliation and to build relationships with trust among the women leaders in the village.
God is the source for answered prayers needed for strength and resources to carry out the mission. These were certainly times of transformation and learning to be transparent even when she did not want to be. These were definitely periods of thankfulness for the open door God provides for us to venture into new territory and emerge with a new sense of freedom from bondages of fear. Jesus provides the love that enables us to love others “our neighbors” and transcend geographical, language, and cultural barriers by seeing the world God created differently through new lenses. We are commissioned through our baptism as members of the Body of Christ and disciples of Jesus to be an active missioner striving towards creating a new world that reflects “justice, spirituality, relationship, and beauty on earth as in heaven.” (copied and adapted from, Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright, p. 92). Living out our baptism vows also means just learning to be still and listen.
We have heard today Luke’s account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Three disciples hear a voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" As frightened as they are being in the presence of God in the cloud while witnessing the fully divine nature Jesus for the first time they also hear a confirmation from God that Jesus is the chosen one who will carry out the mission of God with obedience for the salvation of all humanity on the cross. N.T. Wright wrote, “In listening to Jesus, we discover whose voice it is that has echoed around the hearts and minds of the human race all along.” (copied from Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright, p. 92).
Jesus commits to stay the course of the mission that will change the world. The disciples and others after the resurrection of Jesus recall hearing all of the teachings of Jesus and set out to change the world for the new kingdom of God on earth. Jesus equipped them for mission as Jesus equips us as disciples to carry out the mission of the Church. It was difficult for the disciples to fulfill the task of their mission. It is not easy for us today as well. However, they persevered with faith like we are called to do today.
As we leave the Epiphany season of our church calendar, we are poised to embody the light of Jesus while moving toward carrying out the mission of the church through fellowship, love, reconciliation, and unity for relationship building with one another and God through Jesus. We currently live in a broken world that continues to be plagued with racism, hunger, poverty, unemployment, social injustices, war, health disparities, and just plain struggles to survive for many people living locally and abroad.
Today is also designated as Mission Sunday. Over the past several years during convention, Bishop Chane’s address has included encouragement to churches within the diocese to move towards a focus of mission. St. Margaret’s is mission focused. Our mission efforts in Honduras has been solid for the past twenty five years indicating a steady relationship has been sustained with the people of Protecction through Dr. Madrid and the Bishop of Honduras. Closer to home our mission extends to Charlie’s Place with meals for the homeless, providing furnishings for apartments for those who are finding stability in their lives with a new home through transitional housing opportunities, and many other ministries that comprise our mission efforts.
A new prospect for our young people to learn and experience mission lies with the future growth of our J2A program which has a mission component to promote building relationships beyond your own home borders. Please consider supporting our young people in this venture when the times arise such as today, following this service our young people are hosting a bake sale, Custard’s Last Stand.
We are challenged to discern, listen, and pray as to how we are called for further mission in our diocese and beyond while continuing to reach out to the human race within our broken world and be a guiding light for our youth for the mission of our diocese. Let us pray recalling our collect: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
In the name of the one God, creator, redeemer and sanctifier” Amen.
Some one inquired to a returned Peace Corp volunteer, “What did you experience that was different?” Well, prior to her two year commitment departure for Africa in the early 1980’s, she had no concept of what was about to unfold before her in many ways while living and working in a different country beyond the basics changes such as food, climate, and language. The former volunteer began to reply as she shared her story of finding freedom and living it daily on various levels for the first time. Thus, she returned to the states a different or transformed person because of pursuing the Peace Corp mission for better health care in Africa. Today, she daily wears a bracelet with “freedom” inscribed on it.
While living and working in Africa, this was the very first time her skin color was the same as the majority of the people in the local country and on the continent. There were no socioeconomic restraints placed upon her due to racism. There were no glaring eyes silently indicating, “You are in the wrong neighborhood or hearing comments “you do not belong here.” Her new sense of freedom emerged while living in a country where seven African ethnic groups comprised the country’s residents who represented indigenous religious practices, Islam, and Christian communities. They all live harmoniously together with mutual respect of each other. It was humanity at its best at that time.
Most importantly, the sporadic accessibility to an Anglican church on Sundays coerced her to develop a comfort level of freely expressing her Christian faith as a “witness to Christ in her life” to her Islamic neighbors through lively and enjoyable dialog with those she could converse with in English. Titus Pressler wrote, “The first fruit of Christian experience is neither a condemnation of other religions nor a conversion campaign but a joyful and natural witness to the presence of the triune God in one’s life.” (From, The New Church Teaching Series, Horizons of Mission, Titus Pressler, p.127, Vol.11).
Additionally, she found Christ to be her constant companion during the tears shed at the loss of life; during periods of frustration resulting from the lack of initially understanding the culture; and during the times of division and mistrust within the village. The months were quickly passing with discouragement and a sense of not knowing what to do about the broken bridge of communication. However, the volunteer remained in prayer, scripture, and discernment for guidance while she searched for the path to take for possible reconciliation and to build relationships with trust among the women leaders in the village.
God is the source for answered prayers needed for strength and resources to carry out the mission. These were certainly times of transformation and learning to be transparent even when she did not want to be. These were definitely periods of thankfulness for the open door God provides for us to venture into new territory and emerge with a new sense of freedom from bondages of fear. Jesus provides the love that enables us to love others “our neighbors” and transcend geographical, language, and cultural barriers by seeing the world God created differently through new lenses. We are commissioned through our baptism as members of the Body of Christ and disciples of Jesus to be an active missioner striving towards creating a new world that reflects “justice, spirituality, relationship, and beauty on earth as in heaven.” (copied and adapted from, Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright, p. 92). Living out our baptism vows also means just learning to be still and listen.
We have heard today Luke’s account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Three disciples hear a voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" As frightened as they are being in the presence of God in the cloud while witnessing the fully divine nature Jesus for the first time they also hear a confirmation from God that Jesus is the chosen one who will carry out the mission of God with obedience for the salvation of all humanity on the cross. N.T. Wright wrote, “In listening to Jesus, we discover whose voice it is that has echoed around the hearts and minds of the human race all along.” (copied from Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright, p. 92).
Jesus commits to stay the course of the mission that will change the world. The disciples and others after the resurrection of Jesus recall hearing all of the teachings of Jesus and set out to change the world for the new kingdom of God on earth. Jesus equipped them for mission as Jesus equips us as disciples to carry out the mission of the Church. It was difficult for the disciples to fulfill the task of their mission. It is not easy for us today as well. However, they persevered with faith like we are called to do today.
As we leave the Epiphany season of our church calendar, we are poised to embody the light of Jesus while moving toward carrying out the mission of the church through fellowship, love, reconciliation, and unity for relationship building with one another and God through Jesus. We currently live in a broken world that continues to be plagued with racism, hunger, poverty, unemployment, social injustices, war, health disparities, and just plain struggles to survive for many people living locally and abroad.
Today is also designated as Mission Sunday. Over the past several years during convention, Bishop Chane’s address has included encouragement to churches within the diocese to move towards a focus of mission. St. Margaret’s is mission focused. Our mission efforts in Honduras has been solid for the past twenty five years indicating a steady relationship has been sustained with the people of Protecction through Dr. Madrid and the Bishop of Honduras. Closer to home our mission extends to Charlie’s Place with meals for the homeless, providing furnishings for apartments for those who are finding stability in their lives with a new home through transitional housing opportunities, and many other ministries that comprise our mission efforts.
A new prospect for our young people to learn and experience mission lies with the future growth of our J2A program which has a mission component to promote building relationships beyond your own home borders. Please consider supporting our young people in this venture when the times arise such as today, following this service our young people are hosting a bake sale, Custard’s Last Stand.
We are challenged to discern, listen, and pray as to how we are called for further mission in our diocese and beyond while continuing to reach out to the human race within our broken world and be a guiding light for our youth for the mission of our diocese. Let us pray recalling our collect: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.