Notes for a homily on the feast of the Annunciation 2007
In the name of God, Father of life, Christ of love, Spirit of grace. Amen.
Gold for the king, Frankincense for the priest, Myrrh for the sacrifice: the three kings greet the holy family with these words in the recent motion picture of the Nativity. There is, I submit, one more gift - for us to offer: Praise for the Living One.
Raymond Brown, the Roman Catholic biblical scholar, taught that the gospels actually were written beginning with the passion narrative - proceeding through Holy Week, the Passion, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and then on around to the Birth narratives. So in a way are we going through the story this week. Yesterday, Sunday, we heard the story of the Anointing of Christ; today, we hear the story of the Annunciation of the Birth of the Messiah.
Mary, brother of Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet in anticipation of his burial and in a gesture of love.
Mary, mother of Jesus, accepts the burden of her son, conception to assumption, knowing - when? Right away? - that she must not count him as hers to keep, but let go of him, dedicate him to the Lord, as Samuel's mother Hannah dedicated him, knowing he will go from her.
Mary mother of the Messiah takes this on herself, knowingly, as God's servant, because she knew that he was sent to set the people free: that at last God's promise to redeem Israel would bear fruit in the fullness of time, and that it was very soon, and was beginning to happen, quickening even now in her.
The Word would indeed ripen in her own womb. She would bear forth upon the world he who would himself bear the pain of the world.
Like Hannah's son Samuel, Jesus the Son of Mary is one consecrated, set apart for service to the Lord, as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord. Samuel is the prophet who brought justice to Israel, and yet he points beyond himself - to Saul, first, then to David, to David's son Solomon, and ultimately to Jesus.
In the birth story of Samuel, Hannah his mother rejoices that God has remembered the forgotten, and will bring relief to the poor.
1 Samuel 1.11, 1.20, 2.1-10 (NRSV)
Sounds familiar...
In the birth story of Jesus, Mary his mother rejoices that God remembers the forgotten and brings relief to the poor. Let us together join in her song, Magnificat, the Song of Mary, Canticle 15 in the Book of Common Prayer...
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" (Luke 13:6-9)
This past Wednesday in the Sacramento Bee I read the obituary of Ernest Gallo. Two of the Gallo brothers, Ernest and Julio, started a wine business at the end of Prohibition. They went into the Modesto public library and found some old extension-service pamphlets that laid out the fundamentals of growing grapes and making wine. They learned the basics and put them to work, building a remarkably fruitful business enterprise.
The master gardener of the vineyard of the parable offers similarly fundamental counsel. Let’s give it another year, he says.
“Healthy soil usually equals healthy plants. Dig in composted organic material.” – that’s from yesterday’s Home and Garden section of the Bee. It is almost a quotation from the gospel: “dig around it and put manure on it.”
What the gardener in the parable does is what gardeners do. What is extraordinary is the patience.
This tree should have been producing figs three years ago. Why not just rip it out and put in a new one?
That’s what the owner wants; but the thrifty gardener prevails. Give it another year. Let’s see what a little extra care, and patience, can do. If it bears fruit, well and good: otherwise, cut it down.
If we are the tenders of our gardens, of our souls and lives, and Jesus tends the people of God, and the Holy Spirit watches over all, then this Lent let us see what a little extra care and patience can do.
No extraordinary measures, no ripping out and replacing, no pesticides or herbicides, just extra care, common wisdom, stooping down to the back-bending, and fragrant, work of tilling the soil, nurturing the growth of the tree, of our lives, our lands, our churches, our endeavors, to help them grow, in God’s good time.
March 11, 2007
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento. 12:45 pm Eucharist
Pioneer House, Sacramento. 6:30 pm Evening Prayer
JRL+
The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - RCL:
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-1
Luke 13:1-9
“Ernest Gallo 1909-2007: He turned Americans on to wine,” The Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, A1.
“Tips for Integrated Pest Management,” The Sacramento Bee, Saturday, March 10, 2007, Home & Garden, 8.
This past Wednesday in the Sacramento Bee I read the obituary of Ernest Gallo. Two of the Gallo brothers, Ernest and Julio, started a wine business at the end of Prohibition. They went into the Modesto public library and found some old extension-service pamphlets that laid out the fundamentals of growing grapes and making wine. They learned the basics and put them to work, building a remarkably fruitful business enterprise.
The master gardener of the vineyard of the parable offers similarly fundamental counsel. Let’s give it another year, he says.
“Healthy soil usually equals healthy plants. Dig in composted organic material.” – that’s from yesterday’s Home and Garden section of the Bee. It is almost a quotation from the gospel: “dig around it and put manure on it.”
What the gardener in the parable does is what gardeners do. What is extraordinary is the patience.
This tree should have been producing figs three years ago. Why not just rip it out and put in a new one?
That’s what the owner wants; but the thrifty gardener prevails. Give it another year. Let’s see what a little extra care, and patience, can do. If it bears fruit, well and good: otherwise, cut it down.
If we are the tenders of our gardens, of our souls and lives, and Jesus tends the people of God, and the Holy Spirit watches over all, then this Lent let us see what a little extra care and patience can do.
No extraordinary measures, no ripping out and replacing, no pesticides or herbicides, just extra care, common wisdom, stooping down to the back-bending, and fragrant, work of tilling the soil, nurturing the growth of the tree, of our lives, our lands, our churches, our endeavors, to help them grow, in God’s good time.
March 11, 2007
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento. 12:45 pm Eucharist
Pioneer House, Sacramento. 6:30 pm Evening Prayer
JRL+
The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - RCL:
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-1
Luke 13:1-9
“Ernest Gallo 1909-2007: He turned Americans on to wine,” The Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, A1.
“Tips for Integrated Pest Management,” The Sacramento Bee, Saturday, March 10, 2007, Home & Garden, 8.
the barren fig tree
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" (Luke 13:6-9)
This past Wednesday in the Sacramento Bee I read the obituary of Ernest Gallo. Two of the Gallo brothers, Ernest and Julio, started a wine business at the end of Prohibition. They went into the Modesto public library and found some old extension-service pamphlets that laid out the fundamentals of growing grapes and making wine. They learned the basics and put them to work, building a remarkably fruitful business enterprise.
The master gardener of the vineyard of the parable offers similarly fundamental counsel. Let's give it another year, he says.
"Healthy soil usually equals healthy plants. Dig in composted organic material." - that's from yesterday's Home and Garden section of the Bee. It is almost a quotation from the gospel: "dig around it and put manure on it."
What the gardener in the parable does is what gardeners do. What is extraordinary is the patience.
This tree should have been producing figs three years ago. Why not just rip it out and put in a new one?
That's what the owner wants; but the thrifty gardener prevails. Give it another year. Let's see what a little extra care, and patience, can do. If it bears fruit, well and good: otherwise, cut it down.
If we are the tenders of our gardens, of our souls and lives, and Jesus tends the people of God, and the Holy Spirit watches over all, then this Lent let us see what a little extra care and patience can do.
No extraordinary measures, no ripping out and replacing, no pesticides or herbicides, just extra care, common wisdom, stooping down to the back-bending, and fragrant, work of tilling the soil, nurturing the growth of the tree, of our lives, our lands, our churches, our endeavors, to help them grow, in God's good time.
March 11, 2007
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento. 12:45 pm Eucharist
Pioneer House, Sacramento. 6:30 pm Evening Prayer
JRL+
The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - RCL
Exodus 3:1-15. Psalm 63:1-8. 1 Corinthians 10:1-11. Luke 13:1-9
"Ernest Gallo 1909-2007: He turned Americans on to wine," The Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, A1.
"Tips for Integrated Pest Management," The Sacramento Bee, Saturday, March 10, 2007, Home & Garden, 8.
This past Wednesday in the Sacramento Bee I read the obituary of Ernest Gallo. Two of the Gallo brothers, Ernest and Julio, started a wine business at the end of Prohibition. They went into the Modesto public library and found some old extension-service pamphlets that laid out the fundamentals of growing grapes and making wine. They learned the basics and put them to work, building a remarkably fruitful business enterprise.
The master gardener of the vineyard of the parable offers similarly fundamental counsel. Let's give it another year, he says.
"Healthy soil usually equals healthy plants. Dig in composted organic material." - that's from yesterday's Home and Garden section of the Bee. It is almost a quotation from the gospel: "dig around it and put manure on it."
What the gardener in the parable does is what gardeners do. What is extraordinary is the patience.
This tree should have been producing figs three years ago. Why not just rip it out and put in a new one?
That's what the owner wants; but the thrifty gardener prevails. Give it another year. Let's see what a little extra care, and patience, can do. If it bears fruit, well and good: otherwise, cut it down.
If we are the tenders of our gardens, of our souls and lives, and Jesus tends the people of God, and the Holy Spirit watches over all, then this Lent let us see what a little extra care and patience can do.
No extraordinary measures, no ripping out and replacing, no pesticides or herbicides, just extra care, common wisdom, stooping down to the back-bending, and fragrant, work of tilling the soil, nurturing the growth of the tree, of our lives, our lands, our churches, our endeavors, to help them grow, in God's good time.
March 11, 2007
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Sacramento. 12:45 pm Eucharist
Pioneer House, Sacramento. 6:30 pm Evening Prayer
JRL+
The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - RCL
Exodus 3:1-15. Psalm 63:1-8. 1 Corinthians 10:1-11. Luke 13:1-9
"Ernest Gallo 1909-2007: He turned Americans on to wine," The Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, A1.
"Tips for Integrated Pest Management," The Sacramento Bee, Saturday, March 10, 2007, Home & Garden, 8.
Prayer for the People of God
Prayer for the People of God
O God, our Father, who gave to your servants the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent them forth across the world to carry the word of your gospel to every creature: grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time. Further in all things the purpose of our fellowship, that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the hearts of all. May we preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and, if it be your will, grant that a place of your abiding continue still to be a sanctuary and a light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(adapted from prayers of the Iona Community)
O God, our Father, who gave to your servants the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness, and sent them forth across the world to carry the word of your gospel to every creature: grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church, even at this present time. Further in all things the purpose of our fellowship, that hidden things may be revealed to us, and new ways found to touch the hearts of all. May we preserve with each other sincere charity and peace, and, if it be your will, grant that a place of your abiding continue still to be a sanctuary and a light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(adapted from prayers of the Iona Community)
Prayer for our own Reshaping
Prayer for our own Reshaping
O Christ, the master carpenter, who at the last, through wood and nails, purchased our whole salvation, wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your bench may here be fashioned to a truer beauty of your hand. We ask it for your own name's sake. Amen.
(from prayers of the Iona Community)
O Christ, the master carpenter, who at the last, through wood and nails, purchased our whole salvation, wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your bench may here be fashioned to a truer beauty of your hand. We ask it for your own name's sake. Amen.
(from prayers of the Iona Community)
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