EPIPHANY SEASON POETRY

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A CHILD IS BORN

ALL THE WORLD IN SILENCE LAY

OR AT LEAST IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN

BUT BUSY BETHLEHEM

THOUGH IT WOULD EVER RUE THE DAY

GAVE NO THOUGHT TO HIM

THE TOWN WAS FULL

WITH ROOMS AVAILABLE AT A PRICE

THAT JOSEPH COULDN'T PAY

AND THROUGH THE MANY STREETS HE WENT

LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY

NO PLACE -- NO PLACE

WITH MANY A SLAMMING DOOR

NO PLACE ~- NO PLACE

TILL HE COULD STAND IT NO MORE

TILL HE DOUBLED UP HIS F1ST IN ANGER

TILL HE FELT A GREAT AND SURGING ANGER

A NUMBING HOLLOW FEELING

WHOSE NAME HE DID NOT KNOW

TILL MARY SPOKE HIS NAME

AND THE ANGER FLED LIKE SUMMER CLOUDS AFTER RAIN

AND HE TOOK THE DONKEY'S BRIDLE

AND SOUGHT A PLACE OUTSIDE OF TOWN

THEY CAME UPON A FARMER'S WIFE

WHO LISTENING TO THEIR PLEA

MOVED AN OX OUT OF ITS STALL

AND WELCOMED COMPANY

BUT JOSEPH SHE QUICKLY PUT OUTSIDE

TO BUILD A FIRE AND WATER BOIL

WHILE THE GOOD MIDWIFE WENT BACK INSIDE

TO WAIT AWHILE

.

THE COLD MOON'S RAYS WERE SILVER NOW

THE HOOTING OWL, A FUNNY CALL

THE GOOD MIDWIFE WITH BUSTLING PRIDE

ANNOUNCED TO EACH AND ALL

A CHILD IS BORN

TO EACH AND ALL, WHICH REALLY MEANT

ONE OX, ONE ASS, THE FAMILY SHEEP

A GROUP OF DOVES WHO RAFTER DWELT;

TO MARY, CERTAINLY, WHERE SHE LAY--

CONTENT THAT NOW HIS TIME HAD COME,

AND TO JOSEPH ON HIS WAY TO FETCH A PAIL OF WATER

THE LIGHTNING FLASHED, FOR ONE BRIGHT MOMENT

A JACOB'S LADDER TO THE SKY

THEN ALL WAS STILL SO VERY STILL

AND JOSEPH HEARD THE ANGELS' SING

SHEPHERDS CAME

AND WISEMEN TOO

AND EACH ONE BROUGHT HIS GIFT

FROM SOME CAME GOLD, FROM OTHERS MYRRH

FROM OTHERS FRANKINCENSE

SOME CAME

WITH HEARTS OF LOVE

OVERFLOWING

FROM MOST OF US CAME NOTHING

WE WERE TOO BUSY BACK IN BETHLEHEM

BUT GOD HAD COME TO CLAIM HIS OWN

AND A MANGER WAS HIS THRONE

FOR ROYAL GARMENTS:   BABY CLOTHES

HIS RETINUE AN OX AND ASS

HIS COUNCILOR A CARPENTER

FOR FRIENDS--SO VERY FEW

SO MANY OF THEM MISSING

WHERE WERE YOU?

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BASICS

AWAY THEY WENT REJOICING

THE SHEPHERDS TO THEIR FLOCKS ABIDING

THEY NEEDED TENDING

AWAY THEY WENT

TRAILING THE SMELL OF SHEEP

SWEAT

AND CHEAP WINE

THEY PASSED A NOBLE CARAVAN

WITH ROYALTY PERCHED ON CAMELS

ONE SENSED CLEANLINESS

AND GOOD MANNERS

THEY NODDED AT EACH OTHER IN PASSING

SOME SAY

THE BIRTH NARRATIVES

ARE ROMANTIC FICTIONS

MEANT TO DRESS UP A DRAB

ORDINARY SCENE

AS IF TO SAY

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

WAS NOT MIRACLE ENOUGH

WE TAKE HIS LIFE

AND SIMPLE WORDS

AND SPIN AN UNRECOGNIZABLE TALE

AT WHICH THE SHEPHERDS

WOULD COMMENT

 A COLLECTIVE

HUH

THE SIMPLE FACT IS GOD CAME

A SIMPLE FACT LIKE GOD

CREATED HEAVEN

AND EARTH

WE ARGUE OVER

METHODS AND DAYS

WHO CARES

GOD CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH

GOD BECAME A MAN

TO LIVE AN ORDINARY LIFE

TO SUCKLE AT HIS MOTHER’S BREAST

TO KNOW HEAT AND COLD

HUNGER AND THIRST

TO WORK AT A TRADE

TO PAY THE BILLS

TO SHARE OUR OFTEN MUNDANE LIFE

IN AN ORDINARY BIRTH

NO ANGELS AUDIBLY SING

NO TRADESMEN COME TO CALL

NO ROYALTY BRING GIFTS

AND CHRIST CAME TO BE AN ORDINARY MAN

I MUST CONFESS

THAT CHRISTMAS STRIPPED DOWN

HAS MERIT

BUT LIKE HARDY’S POEM

If someone said on Christmas Eve,
Come; see the oxen kneel,

I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so

COME GENTLE JESUS COME

YOUR BIRTH IS ENOUGH FOR ME

MAY I BRING THE GIFT OF WHO I AM

AND THE GIFT

OF WHAT WE BOTH

SHALL BE

WHEN WE GROW UP

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BIRTH

IT IS THE TIME

FOR SINGING PRETTY SONGS

ABOUT EVENTS

THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED

BURIED IN THE FOLKTALES

IS THE FACT

GOD HAS BECAME MAN

SO MAN CAN BECOME GOD-LIKE

BURIED IN ALL THE COMMOTION

ABOUT CHRISTMAS

BURIED IN ALL THE HULLABALOO

AND OFTEN FORGOTTEN

OR IGNORED

IS A BASIC TENET

OF OUR FAITH

GOD HAS BECOME MAN

AND MAN HAS HIS DIGNITY

AND IMMORTALITY RESTORED

CHRISTIANS HAVE A LONG HISTORY

OF TREATING THE STRANGER

AS NOT BEING GOD’S CHILD

HOW THEN CAN IT LEAD THE WORLD

TO HIS BIRTHING PLACE

HE IS IN US

MUCH AS A PREGNANT WOMEN BEARS A CHILD

MUCH AS A WOMAN LABORS

WE SHOULD LABOR TO BRING HIS CREATION

TO FRUITION

HE DOESN’T NEED THE IMAGE

OF A COLD STABLE

OUR HEARTS ARE COLD ENOUGH

HE DOESN’T NEED THE IMAGE

OF A CROWDED INN

OUR BUSYNESS

HAVE CROWDED HIM OUT

HE DOESN’T NEED SWEET CAROLS SUNG

WHEN THEY ARE SUNG BY ROTE

WITH NO MEANING

HE DOESN’T NEED HERALD ANGELS SINGING

KEEP CASH IN CHRISTMAS

WHEN CHRISTMAS IS MEASURED

BY HOW MUCH YOU GET

WHEN SHEPHERDS

WHO SMELL LIKE SHEEP

ARE KEPT OUT

HE INVITES THEM IN

AS THEIR RIGHT

WHETHER THEY ARE LEGENDS

OR FACT

DOESN’T MATTER

UNLESS HIS BIRTH

IS A LIFE CHANGING EVENT

FOR US

UNLESS WE BEHAVE

AS ONES

GIVEN DIGNITY

 BY GOD’S BIRTH

AND EXTEND THE RIGHTS

OF THAT DIGNITY

TO ALL

IF WE DON’T

GOD MIGHT HAVE BEEN

BORN IN A TRASH CAN

AND THROWN OUT

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CANA

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY

WHEN I WAS A CHILD

EVERY SUMMER

WOODEN SCREEN DOORS

WERE PLACED

ON ALL THE OUTSIDE DOORS

THERE WAS A LONG SPRING ATTACHED

WHICH WHEN YOU LET THE DOOR GO

SLAMMED THE DOOR LOUDLY

THIS WAS USUALLY FOLLOWED

BY YOUR MOTHER YELLING

DON'T SLAM THE DOOR.

GRADUALLY

DUE TO MY MOTHER'S INFLUENCE

I LEARNED

NOT TO SLAM THE DOOR

IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK

FOR MY MOTHER OR I

SHE WOULD COME TO THE DOOR

AND IN FRONT OF ALL MY PLAYMATES

CALL FRANK ANTONY

GET OVER HERE

WHEN I GOT OVER THERE

SHE WOULD SAY

FRANK ANTONY

OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR

QUIETLY

I WOULD OPEN THE DOOR

AND CLOSE IT

QUIETLY

THEN SHE WOULD SAY

NOW FRANK MIBUY

YOU CAN GO AND PLAY

TO THIS DAY

IF I SLAM A DOOR

NO MATTER HOW OLD I AM

AND MY MOTHER IS NOT AROUND

I GO OPEN AND

CLOSE THE DOOR

QUIETLY

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME MOM

ARE YOU PROUD OF FRANK ANTONY

AT CANA

MARY IS AN IMPORTANT GUEST

AT THE WEDDING

LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL AGAIN.

THERE WAS A WEDDING

AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE.

JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES

WERE ALSO INVITED

FOR THIS WEDDING

MARY WAS A MORE IMPORTANT GUEST

THAN JESUS

NOW WEDDINGS

IN THE TIME OF JESUS AND MARY

WERE WEEK LONG EVENTS

AND FOR THE WINE

OR THE FOOD TO RUN OUT

WAS A DISGRACE

TO THE FAMILIES INVOLVED.

SO MARY

WHEN SHE SEES THE WINE RUN OUT

IS CONCERNED FOR THE BRIDAL COUPLE

SHE IS CONCERNED THAT THEIR MARRIAGE

NOT BEGIN WITH DISGRACE

SO SHE TURNS TO HER SON

AND SAYS

THEY HAVE NO WINE.

HE SAYS

IT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM,

IT IS NOT MY TIME TO BEGIN

MARY LOOKS AT JESUS

WITH THE TIME IMMEMORIAL LOOK

OF MOTHERS

WHO LOOK AT CHILDREN

WHO SLAM DOORS

AND SAYS TO THE SERVANTS

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.

THE LEGEND

IS THAT THE WATER

LOOKED WITH LOVE AT ITS CREATOR

AND BLUSHED

BLUSHED AND BECAME WINE

BLUSHED AND BECAME WINE

FINER THAN THAT

WHICH WAS SERVED

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FEAST

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

AND WHAT DOES HE TELL US

HE ASKS US TO BECOME WINE

TO BE DRINK TO THE WORLD

TO SAY TO THE WORLD

WHAT AN ANCIENT GREEK PRAYER

HAS HIM SAY

I AM YOUR GOD

WHO FOR YOUR SAKE

HAVE BECOME YOUR SON

OUT OF LOVE FOR YOU

AND FOR YOUR DESCENDANTS

I NOW

BY MY OWN AUTHORITY

SAY TO ALL

WHO ARE HELD IN THE BONDAGE OF SIN

TO THROW OFF YOUR CHAINS

I HAVE FREED YOU

TO ALL WHO ARE IN DARKNESS

BE ENLIGHTENED

FOR I AM THE LIGHT

TO ALL WHO ARE SLEEPING

AWAKE

IT IS TIME TO AWAKE

AND TO ALL IN DANGER OF HELL

COME BACK TO ME

I DID NOT MAKE YOU

TO BE A PRISONER OF HELL

BUT TO SIT AT MY TABLE

AND DRINK OF MY WINE

                       THIS IS THE MESSAGE

FOUND IN ISAIAH

AND IN PSALM 36

I GOD

WANT WHAT IS GOOD FOR MY PEOPLE.

YOU AND I ARE ASKED

TO BECOME WINE TO THE WORLD

BUT WE SAY WE CANNOT DO IT.

WE HAVE NO SKILLS.

BUT PAUL REMINDS US IN CORINTHIANS

THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SKILLS

BY THE SPIRIT

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE,

FAITH,

HEALING,

MIRACLE WORKING,

PROPHECY,

AND THE GIFT OF TONGUES

THAT ALLOW US TO SPEAK

TO ALL PEOPLE IN A LANGUAGE

THEY CAN UNDERSTAND.

WE ARE ASKED TO BE WINE FOR THE WORLD

WE ARE ASKED TO DO WHAT JESUS TELLS US

AND WHAT HE HAS TOLD US IS WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

WE ARE ASKED TO INVITE THE WHOLE WORLD

TO THE WEDDING FEAST

TO BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER

AND WHEN WE SLAM DOORS

TO GO BACK AND DO IT RIGHT

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME JESUS

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME AND ALL YOUR CHURCH

ARE YOU PROUD OF US JESUS

AND THE ANSWER COMES THUNDERING FROM THE HEAVENS

YOU ARE MY BELOVED SONS AND DAUGHTERS

IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED

MAY IT BE SO

AMEN

AMEN

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EPIPHANY

I SUPPOSE I WASN'T ON MY BEST BEHAVIOR

BUT A LIFE FULL OF BOOKS AND STAR GAZING

OF DAYS SPENT SLEEPING

AND NIGHTS SKY WATCHING

OF BEING ALONE

OR WITH OTHERS EQUALLY ALONE

OF GROWING OLD WITH BOOKS... AND MUSTY

OF GROWING OLD

WELL AFTER ALL

WE'D HAD A ROUGH JOURNEY

THINGS HADN'T GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN

WHAT WITH NAUSEA FROM THE CAMEL'S ROCKING

AND THE SAND

WELL

WHAT HAD STARTED OUT AS A GREAT ADVENTURE

SOON BECAME

SAND IN OUR MOUTH

IN OUR FOOD

IN OUR HAIR

IN OUR CLOTHES

IN OUR BLANKETS

IN OUR UNDERWEAR AND SHOES

EVERYWHERE

SAND

NO GREEN

OH AN OASIS OR TWO

BUT MOSTLY SAND

THEY SAY I SOMETIMES GRUMBLE

WELL MAYBE A LITTLE

  AND THEN WHEN WE GOT THERE

THIS JOURNEY TO SEE A KING NEWBORN

NO PALACE

NO PURPLE

NO COUNCILORS

NO COURTIERS

NO COURTS AT ALL

A STABLE

THAT'S RIGHT A STABLE

TWO ORDINARY ADULTS

AND ONE ORDINARY CHILD

MAKING ANIMAL NOISES

AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST

AND NOTHING ELSE

BUT THIS IS WHERE

THE STAR HAD LED

THE STAR BY LEGEND

AND DUSTY TOME FORETOLD

A STAR

A BIRTHPLACE MARKER OF A KING

BUT GREATER THAN A KING

GREATER THEN ALEXANDER

OR CAESAR

EVEN GREATER THAN THE GODS

GREATER THAN ZEUS

OR APOLLO

BUT SUCH A LOWLY BEGINNING

DID HE STOOP SO LOW

TO MAKE HIS LEAP UP HIGHER

BUT MELCHIOR

QUICK AS USUAL

WITH HIS TONGUE

SAID MADAM

AND SIR

WE BEG YOU FORGIVE OUR INTRUSION

BUT WE HAVE TRAVELED MANY MILES

TO SEE YOUR SON

AND WOULD YOU DO US HONOR

AND LET US HONOR HIM

WELL THEY WERE QUITE FLUSTERED

AS PEOPLE USUALLY ARE

WITH UNEXPECTED COMPANY

AND THEY SET TO

WITH STRAIGHTENING UP

AND APOLOGIZING

FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS

BUT SOON WE WERE ENTHRONED

ON THREE BALES OF STRAW

AND THERE WE SAT

NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY

THEN MARY SAID TO ME

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD THE CHILD

NOW I HAVE HELD COSTLY TELESCOPES

AND PRICELESS MANUSCRIPTS

BUT BABIES

NEVER

PERHAPS I HELD HIM WRONGLY

I DO NOT KNOW

BUT ANYWAY HE CRIED

AND MORE THAN CRIED

HE WET ALL OVER ME

NOW WHAT CAN BE WORSE

THAN A SOGGY SCHOLAR

OR A WET WISEMAN

BUT CASPER BEGAN TO GIGGLE

JOSEPH HAD TO TURN AWAY

MELCHIOR HAD COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL

AND MARY

I WATCHED THE TIREDNESS

LEAVE HER EYES

TRIED NOT TO

BUT LOST AND LAUGHED

A BEAUTIFUL RINGING LAUGH

WELL

AFTER THAT WE HAD A LOVELY VISIT

I LEARNED TO HOLD HIM MORE EXPERTLY

AND DRY

I'M SORRY I MET THEM SO LATE IN LIFE

SO CLOSE TO THE SUNSET OF MY YEARS

I'D HAVE LIKED TO WATCH HIM GROW

THIS NEPHEW MINE

FOR WAS I NOT AN UNCLE NAMED

IN HONOR OF MY WETTING

I WOULD HAVE LIKED

TO WATCH HIM GROW

TO SEE IN HIM

MY YOUTH RENEWED

TO SEE THE WORLD

WIDE EYED AGAIN

TO SMELL A DAISY

OR WATCH A BUMBLE BEE GO

PERHAPS I COULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM

AND THEREBY EXTEND MY YEARS

A SORT OF IMMORTALITY

I HOPE THAT LIFE IS GOOD TO HIM

THIS NEPHEW MINE

THAT MEN WILL GROW TO LOVE HIM

BUT MOST OF ALL

WHEN MY MOST LONELY THOUGHTS

PREVAIL

I WISH

THAT HE WERE MINE

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FATHER’S BUSINESS

DID YOU NOT KNOW

I WAS ABOUT MY FATHER’S

BUSINESS

THIS FROM A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY

EXPLAINING WHY HE WANDERED OFF

A COMMON PROBLEM

AN UNCOMMON EXCUSE

THAT HAS PUZZLED SCHOLARS

SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN

IT PUZZLED HIS MOTHER

WHO KEPT THE MEMORY OF THIS

IN HER HEART

ALONG WITH THE WORDS

OF ANNA

AND SIMEON

BUSY WITH MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

A SENSE OF URGENCY

AT AN EARLY AGE

BUT HE WAS TWELVE

HE HAD PARENTS

HE HAD TO LIVE AS A MAN

THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS

OF ORDINARY EXISTENCE

HE HAD TO LEARN

TO LAUGH

AND CRY

TO OBEY

COMMAND

LEARN A TRADE

LEARN HIS FAITH

LIVE HIS FAITH

BE BUSY

AS A SON

MAKING HIS PARENTS PROUD

AND WE

ARE WE MAKING OUR PARENTS PROUD

AND OUR FATHER

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FIRST SERMON

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.

MOST OF IT IS TRUE.

THE REST IS A PARABLE.

JESUS TOLD PARABLES.

THEY WERE

AND ARE

STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.

JESUS

FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE

.

GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.

AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE

AND JOY

IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT

FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH

AND HE AND HIS MOTHER

WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.

AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.

MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN

BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT

ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

AROUND THEM SAT

THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED

THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID

THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER

FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED

RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN

AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT

.

HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER

THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY

.

THEY SAID

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A GENTILE

.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A WOMAN

.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A SLAVE.

THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.

IT WAS NOT THE WORLD

THAT HE

OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL

IN GALATIANS

WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER

WITH A NEW ONE

THAT REFLECTED

WHAT JESUS THOUGHT

WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU

AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST

HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES

WITH CHRIST.

THEREFORE

THERE IS NO LONGER

JEW OR GREEK

,

THERE IS NO LONGER

SLAVE OR FREE,

THERE IS NO LONGER

MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU

ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN

AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED

.

BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY

JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY

.

AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY

HE IS SADDENED

THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED

SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM

.

HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES

AND READING FROM ISAIAH

HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE

THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER

FOR HIS PEOPLE.

TODAY HE SAYS

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO BRING GOOD NEWS

TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO TELL THE BLIND

THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN

THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL

ALL PEOPLE

THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

IS NOW.

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.

LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,

LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE

LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER

AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN

WHO DID NOT COUNT

AND SAYS

TODAY

THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED

IN YOUR HEARING

MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE

WAS NOW

AND FOR THAT REASON

JESUS WAS PREACHING.

AND CALLING US TO MISSION

FRANK A VOLLMER
I HOPE MY SERMON

IS BETTER RECEIVED

THAN JESUS' WAS

BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED

HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.

BUT THAT'S NEXT WEEK SERMON

SO TUNE IN.

BUT THE RICH MEN AND THE IMPORTANT MEN

AND THE LEADERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

THOUGHT

WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT.

ABOUT THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.

THE OTHER MEN WONDERED

WHY THE FUSS,

LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.

IT TOOK PAUL

AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON

TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM

WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.

THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

IS LIKE A BODY,

MANY PARTS

ONE BODY.

AND THAT THAT

BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. 

AS PAUL WRITES

FOR IN ONE SPIRIT

WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED

INTO ONE BODY.

NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,

SLAVE OR FREE

BUT ONE BODY.

AND IN THAT BODY

IF ONE PART SUFFERS

THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS. 

JUST AS IF

ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED

THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.

THIS IS JESUS' DREAM

THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR

AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.

THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR

BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US

IN CHRIST'S BODY.

SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD

THROUGH OUR EYES

AND SEEING

THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD

THAT HIS FATHER

OR HE WANTS.

ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM

AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY

TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO TELL THE BLIND

THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN

THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED 

TO TELL ALL PEOPLE

THAT THE TIME

FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

IS NOW. SO I ASK YOU

(PUT IN NAME)

WILL YOU HELP JESUS

TO MAKE THE WORLD

THE WAY HE WANTS IT

RESPONSE

I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.

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NICODEMUS

LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES

THE WORD CALENDAR

COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS

WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

SO A CALENDAR

IS A DEVICE

THAT HELPS PEOPLE

FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

THE WORD CALENDS

ALSO MEANS

THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER

WHO WOULD COME BY

ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

WITH HIS PURSE OPEN

TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM

OFTEN WE FEAR THAT GOD WILL COME

UNANNOUNCED

TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM

THAT HE WOULD COME WITH AN OPEN PURSE

LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT

 BECAUSE WE ARE IMPOVERISHED

AND CANNOT PAY

WE WOULD BE PUNISHED

NOT A NEW IDEA

OUR FOUNDER

MARTIN LUTHER

LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE

UNDER THE IDEA

THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT

HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD

 AS A RESULT

AN ANGRY

MEAN SPIRITED GOD

WOULD PUNISH HIM

NICODEMUS

COMES AT NIGHT

TO MEET WITH JESUS

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN

A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY

HE CAME AT NIGHT

HIS COMING AT NIGHT

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN

HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN

WITH JESUS

A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES

SAID

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY

COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN

WERE ASLEEP

SO NICODEMUS

CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT

WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS

A PHARISEE

A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE

AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS

THAT MUST BE OBEYED

TO PLEASE GOD

JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED

INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS

CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL

WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW

TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS

 THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY

WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

SOME EXAMPLES

YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH

SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG

COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH

BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN

AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK

IF YOU WERE HURT

YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND

BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND

BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK

ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY

YOU COULDN'T HELP HER

BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE

TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN

THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES

WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW

ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS

TO DAILY LIVING

OR FORBIDDING

SOME ACTIONS

IN DAILY LIVING

YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED

OF BAD CONDUCT

WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY

BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK

 SUCH WORK ON SABBATH WAS FORBIDDEN

BY THE LEADERS

A DISTORTION OF THE LAW

THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH

WITH THESE LAWS

THAT JESUS CRIED OUT

YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS

FOR MEN TO CARRY

BUT DO NOTHING

TO HELP THEM CARRY

THEIR BURDENS

OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT

THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE

NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW

SO NICODEMUS

A GOOD MAN

BURDENED DOWN BY LAWS

HE COULD NOT KEEP

OR FOUND DIFFICULT

COMES IN THE NIGHT

TO FIND THE LIGHT

WHO COMES IN THE NIGHT

TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED

AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM

JESUS SAYS TO HIM

BE BORN AGAIN

HOW MANY TIMES

HAVE WE SAID

IN OUR OWN LIFE

I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE

I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE

I WILL BE REBORN

BUT HOW WE SAY

WITH NICODEMUS

HOW CAN WE BE REBORN

AND JESUS SAYS

BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT

OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM

BY THAT BAPTISM

YOU HAVE RECEIVED

REBIRTH

YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN

BUT

HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT

WE FEEL UNWORTHY

WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK

WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S

PURSE

UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH

WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED

BY ITS WEIGHT

BY ITS OBLIGATIONS

BUT JESUS SAYS

MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD

HE SENT ME

HE SENT ME

TO SAVE IT

AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME

BELIEVES IN THE FATHER

AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT

TOO GREAT FOR US

WHO ARE TOO SMALL

HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU

BELIEVE IN ME

IS ALL I ASK

BELIEVE

 LET YOUR LIFE FLOW

FROM THAT BELIEF

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE WEAK

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE SINNERS

I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES

AS COME HE WILL

TO MAKE YOU DOUBT

YOUR BELIEFS

TO MAKE YOU FEEL

UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD

TELL THE TEMPTER

WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

TELL THE TEMPTER

MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID

MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS

WHO DID NOT PAY

THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID

SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME

AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME

TELL THE TEMPTER

WHEN HE COMES

TELL THAT MONEY LENDER

WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

CLOSE YOUR PURSE

 MARK MY BILL

PAID IN FULL

BY JESUS

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SIMON THE PHARISEE

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

THIS ITINERANT PREACHER

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

TO BE TREATED LIKE EQUALS

LIKE ANOTHER OF THE PHARISEES

WHAT DID HE EXPECT

I INVITED HIM TO A MEAL

LORD KNOWS HE LOOKED LIKE HE NEEDED ONE

AT FIRST

ALL WAS

AS IT SHOULD BE

HE ATE

AND ENJOYED HIS MEAL

IT WAS THE WOMAN

THAT STARTED THE RUCKUS

WOMEN ARE GOOD FOR TWO THINGS

HOUSE KEEPING AND BED

WHICH IS HOW SHE GOT IN UNANNOUNCED

THEN SHE

WHO UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS I WOULD ENJOY

EMBARRASSED HERSELF AND ME

BY POURING PERFUME OVER HIS FEET

COVERING THEM WITH TEARS

DRYING THEM WITH HER HAIR

SCANDALOUS

TO LET SUCH A WOMAN

APPROACH YOU IN A PUBLIC PLACE

TOUCH YOU

CONTAMINATION

AND HE PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR GOD

HAS GOD DESCENDED TO THE PIGSTY LEVEL

THEN HE HAD THE AUDACITY

TO GIVE ME A LESSON ON MANNERS

AND A PARABLE ON BIG AND SMALL FORGIVENESS

THEN TO CAP IT ALL

TO TELL HER

HER SINS WERE FORGIVEN

IT’S TOO EASY

BUT HE’S A DREAMER

LIKE ALL THE OTHER REFORMERS

WHAT’S SHE GOING TO DO NOW

A WOMAN

WITHOUT A MAN

OR A TRADE

WHAT A USELESS PIECE OF BAGGAGE

PERHAPS HE’LL TAKE HER WITH HIM

I HEAR HE HAS A HAREM

AS FOR THE PARABLE

FORGIVE A DEBT

NEVER

GRIND THEM DOWN

MAKE THEM PAY

GOD REWARDS THE WEALTHY

THE POOR HE HAS NO USE FOR

WHO KEEPS THE TEMPLE

THE WIDOWS MITE

WELL I’VE HAD MY CURIOSITY SATED

I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL THE BOYS AT THE CLUB

IT COST ME A MEAL AND AN EVENING

IT’LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING

IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME

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THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER

WHO CREATED US,

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON

WHO REDEEMED US,

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

WHO INSPIRES US

LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,

MOTHER OF US ALL

THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED

WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM

WE RECEIVED

WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN

BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH

FOR THOSE

NOT BORN JEWS

THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE

NOT BORN A JEW

THE JEW BELIEVED

THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM

HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION

AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW

HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION

THEREFORE HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING

BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA

IN JESUS TIME

THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS

THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME

THE PEOPLE

WERE DESPERATELY WAITING

FOR THE MESSIAH

TO FREE THE LAND

THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM

ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE

THEY FELT

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING

THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING

SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND

THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE

SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE

OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES

WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE

THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE

WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING

OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER

A CLEANSING ACT

BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE

HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS

AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE

JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT

AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE

WAS BEARING FRUIT

MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN

FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM

UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT

WAS THE THOUGHT

THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES

THE MESSIAH WOULD COME

BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH

WHAT THEY WOULD GET

WAS A SERVANT

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED

BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT

IN ISAIAH

THE LORD'S SERVANT

THE LORD SAYS,

"HERE IS MY SERVANT,

WHOM I STRENGTHEN -

THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,

WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.

I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,

AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.

HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE

OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.

HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED

NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.

HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.

HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;

HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.

DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."

AND NOW

THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,

I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU

AND GIVEN YOU POWER

TO SEE THAT JUSTICE

IS DONE ON EARTH

THROUGH YOU

I WILL MAKE A COVENANT

WITH ALL PEOPLES

THROUGH YOU

I WILL BRING LIGHT

TO THE NATION.

YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES

OF THE BLIND

AND SET FREE THOSE

WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS

THE THINGS I PREDICTED

HAVE NOW COME TRUE

NOW I WILL TELL YOU

OF NEW THINGS

EVEN BEFORE

THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."

THIS SERVANT

THIS GOD MADE MAN

WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD

SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,

TO BE CLUNG TO

BUT RATHER

EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT

TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE

A SERVANT

TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS

THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE

WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST

WAS SENT TO SCHOOL

LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS

WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER

TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER

STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES

LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD

AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

SO HERE HE WAS

STANDING

LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN

WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN

WAS BAPTIZING

KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION

KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE

WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE

KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING

THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING

THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM

BUT HE HAD HEARD

THE CALL OF HIS FATHER

TO MISSION

LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY

IN THE DISTANCE

LIKE ALL MEN

BECAUSE HE WAS MAN

HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION

TRYING TO DETERMINE

HIS FATHER'S CALL

HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM

THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM

WHAT WAS IN HIM

WAS A DESIRE

A NEED

TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT

TO BE WITH SINNERS

WHERE THEY WERE

AND WHERE THEY WERE

WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER

SO HE JOINED THE LINE

BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN

FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY

BUT JESUS SAID

LET IT BE DONE

SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER

AND HE CAME UP

GASPING FOR AIR

LIKE A NEWBORN BABY

LIKE A REBORN BABY

LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM

FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE

THE VOICE OF A FATHER

PROUD OF HIS SON

FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

THE VOICE SAYS

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON

IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER

AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY

AND SAYS

TO ALL OF US

YOU

YOU

YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS

YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS

IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED

@@@@@@@@@@

THE PHYSICIAN

GIVE HER SOMETHING TO EAT HE TOLD THEM

GIVE HER SOMETHING TO EAT

I WONDER IF HE CHUCKLED WHEN HE SAID IT

I WONDER IF HE DID NOT REMEMBER MARY TELLING JOSEPH

HE'LL EAT US OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME THAT ONE

REFERRING TO HIM

TALL AND PIMPLY

WITH PEACH FUZZ ON HIS CHIN STARTING TO DARKEN

AND A VOICE THAT COULD NOT FIND ITS RANGE

I WONDER IF HE CHUCKLED REMEMBERING JOSEPH'S LAMENT

BUT WE JUST BOUGHT HIM THOSE CLOTHES

AND HE'S OUTGROWN THEM ALREADY

I WONDER IF HE SMILED REMEMBERING MARY'S PRIDE

HE EATS THAT ONE

HE'S A GOOD BOY

HE EATS

RISE UP LITTLE GIRL

AND BE ONCE MORE A CHILD

BE GIDDY WHEN YOU WANT TO

OR OLDER THAN ALL TIME

BE SMARTER THAN A WISEMAN

WITH A LOLLIPOP IN HAND

OR GIGGLE IN A CHURCH PEW

FOR HE WHO KNEW THE JOYS OF YOUTH

HAS GIVEN THEM BACK TO YOU

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