Readings

FIRST LESSON

The first lesson is Invitation to Holiness by James C. Fenhagen

When I think of wholeness in my own life, I think of a finely tuned orchestra in which each instrument, guided by the conductor, contributes its part toward a magnificent symphony of sound. There are times—and in recent years, increasing times—when I have heard this sound that I know that I know I am in tune with the Spirit of God who moves within me. Sometimes the sound is discordant, even harsh, but it is nonetheless one sound.

This is wholeness. It can include themes of joy and themes of pain, but there is still one sound. This is very different from what happens when the instruments that represent the many-faceted aspects of my personality are playing in opposition to each other. When this happens, I experience inner chaos and confusion—the very opposite of wholeness.

The answer is not to play louder, not to pretend we do not hear, but rather to take the time to listen to the many sounds so that the message they contain can be brought to light. The inner freedom the Gospel promises is experienced when our identity in Christ is honored and trusted and nourished. It is experienced when our inner lives are in tune, not in the sense of having arrived, but rather in the sense of being able to hear and respond to the themes and rhythms that the Spirit offers in calling us out of ourselves. The journey in Christ is a journey shaped by the biblical story of salvation in which is embodied a will to holiness.

Wholeness, when open to the Spirit of God, is a seedbed for holiness. When our center has been reformed in Christ, an environment is created that opens us to the promptings of the realm of God.

SECOND LESSON

The second lesson is from Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 14 through 30

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid the man’s money. After a long time the householder of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Sir, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more.’ The householder said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of my household.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Sir, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more.’ The householder said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of my household.’

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But the householder replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless servant, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

This Week's Sermon

Date: SUNDAY, November 16, 2008

Title: It's Almost Like Flying

Message Delivered By: Rev. Joe Mc Murray

The Catholic Church had a bad week.

First, it was disclosed that there was a more than a passing flirtation between the Mormons and the Catholics as they worked in tandem to help the passage of Prop. 8 in California, the measure that took away the marriage rights of gays and lesbians after they’d been granted by the California Supreme Court. The effort was led by San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer, who had corresponded with LDS church leaders to coordinate fundraising, organizing and to line up voters to support the measure.

Then, the Catholic church removed a priest for speaking against Prop. 8.

Father Geoffrey Farrow, pastor of the St. Paul Newman Center in Fresno, CA encouraged his parishioners to vote against Prop. 8, highlighting the church's continued prejudice against gays and lesbians. Farrow was summarily ordered to keep away from the people of his church, and his salary and benefits were discontinued. Farrow said:

''How is marriage protected by intimidating gay and lesbian people into loveless and lonely lives? I am morally compelled to vote no on Prop. 8. I know these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them, I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian people not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well. At what point do you cease to be an agent for healing and growth and become an accomplice of injustice?'' Farrow also came out to a reporter in the process.

And again, last week, a Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, a 36-year Maryknoll missionary and peace advocate, was informed that he would be excommunicated for participating in a ceremony that ordained three women as priests. Bourgeois knew he might risk expulsion, but refused to disavow his actions. He said: “Who are we as men to say that we are called by God to the ministry of priesthood, but women are not? That our call is valid, but theirs is not? We profess as Catholics that the invitation to the priesthood comes from God, and it seems to me that we are tampering with the sacred.”

Father Bourgeois was warned that if he did not recant in writing, he would be excommunicated within 30 days. “When I got the actual letter, I had to sit down. I felt nauseous. I thought, ‘This is serious stuff.’ The first thought that came to mind was, ‘How am I going to explain this to my dad and my family?’” After much prayer, he informed the Vatican he would not repent.

And finally, the Rev. Jay Scott Newman, a South Carolina Roman Catholic priest, told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because of his support for abortion. He claimed that support for Obama was the equivalent of religious suicide. Rev. Newman said: "Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president." He referred to president-elect Obama by using his full name, including his middle name, “Hussein.”

"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."

A priest said this! It’s unbelievable.

Fortunately, there is some good news out of all this. Rev. Newman did not have the last word. The Diocesan Administrator wrote: “…let me state with clarity that Father Newman’s statements do not adequately reflect the Catholic church’s teachings. Any comments or statements to the contrary are repudiated. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, ‘Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions. In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross.

“We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. Christ gives us freedom to explore our own conscience and to make our own decisions while adhering to the law of God and the teachings of the faith.
Therefore, if a person has formed his or her conscience well, he or she should not be denied Communion, nor be told to go to confession before receiving Communion. The pulpit is reserved for the Word of God. Sometimes God’s truth, as is the Church’s teaching on abortion, is unpopular. All Catholics must be aware of and follow the teachings of the Church.”

He added: “We should all come together to support the President-elect and all elected officials with a view to influencing policy in favor of the protection of the unborn child. Let us pray for them and ask God to guide them as they take the mantle of leadership on January 20, 2009. I ask also for your continued prayers for me and for the Diocese of Charleston.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. And I, for one, will pray for him and the Diocese of Charleston. And I ask you now to pray with me:
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Gracious God, Goddess – as we search for your truth in all that we do, as we attempt to do your will, give us the wisdom to use all the gifts you’ve given us to determine your will. Let unconditional love be our guiding principle, and may we persevere through whatever obstacles stand in the way of equality, of justice, and of peace. And may my words and all of our thoughts be filled with honor and praise to you. Amen.
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As I said in my sermon last week, two of the most important principles for building community are honesty and truth-telling. The latter, truth-telling, can actually become a spiritual practice. By making an effort and promising to tell the truth, we are making a pact with each other. And we are also making a pact with God.

I heard someone say last week that you can’t always tell the truth because the truth can be cruel; you might bring terrible upset or distress to others by telling the truth when it might not even be necessary. There is some truth in that, actually.

I mean, I could tell Ms. D that her shoes didn’t match her purse (which, by the way, I know would never happen), but what do I have to gain by doing that, except upsetting Ms. D?

Now if Ms. D asked me, “Do my shoes match my purse (which I’m fairly certain would also never happen), then there’s a way to answer truthfully that would likely not end with hurt feelings.

But when I spoke to truth-telling, I was really talkin’ about the big stuff, not the peripheral stuff. We saw a movie the other night, Frozen River, about illegal immigration and some individuals who participate in it. In the entirety of that film, there were only a small handful of people who told the truth to each other at all.

But truth is important—it’s a vital component of joy and serves as the very foundation of our relationships and our trust, upon which so much is built.

Honesty is like truth-telling, but there are distinctions. For example, let’s say you have important information that could make a great deal of difference in the life of someone you know if they were aware of it. If you choose to say nothing about it, and then something hurtful or painful occurs because you withheld that information, it would be true that you did not technically violate the principle of truth-telling. You did not lie. However, your action is dishonest because the truth was intentionally withheld and that withholding caused someone needless hurt or pain.

What we create in the absence of honesty and truth-telling is an empty vessel; a structure with no foundation that holds as its cornerstone the pretense of love with no emotion or compassion. Of course, there are all sorts of variations and levels of honesty and truth-telling. There are often gray areas, and sometimes there is no solution that will not cause pain. Thus we must employ our best sense of Christian ethics – and do, what the Diocesan administrator proclaimed: turn to the Spirit, and be guided by your heart, your relationships, and the sound teachings of your church.

James Fenhagen reminds us that wholeness is a like a finely tuned orchestra with all the instruments playing at their best capacity for music. We are that orchestra, each a unique and powerful instrument. When one is out of tune, it doesn’t matter how well the others sound. We are not whole unless we are all whole. And when we are whole, holiness abounds.

The Gospel lesson today also provides elements of the importance of honesty and truth. The householder counted on honesty, and with two of his servants, he received it. But the third servant, though he was truthful about what he failed to do, was dishonest about the trust that had been placed in him.

You know, when I chose this sermon series, I had no idea I was going to talk about what I’m about to talk about today. Now the sermon title, I thought, was inspirational. And when Sheri chose the art for the cover, she must have thought the same.

“It’s almost like flying.” Now one might think, with a title like that, that what I meant to convey was that when we tell the truth and are honest with each other, we are so light and free from burden, that we are light enough to fly – to soar like an eagle. Just like on the front cover of the bulletin.

But you know, life really should be that simple. It is simpler to tell each other the truth. Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

So now I’m going to tell the truth. What I meant to convey by my sermon title “It’s almost like flying” – was not like in “flying like an eagle.” What I really meant to convey was that sometimes the bumpy ride we sometimes take as we navigate honesty and truth is almost like flying – like in a plane.

Think about it for a minute. The analogies are stunning! From the very first moment you get on a plane, you are faced with all these options—things could go either way.

For example, just imagine it:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven't already done so, please stow your carry-on baggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin.”

I mean, we all have baggage, right? And if you don’t stow it away every once in awhile, you can never get to the truth. But even when you stow it away, that doesn’t mean it’s gone. It’s still there and can rear its ugly head at any moment.

Then there’s this: “Please fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position.”

Life can deal us some really bumpy rides, and it’s imperative that we buckle ourselves in and hold on for dear life, ‘cause it can get rough. And if you aren’t prepared—if you’ve got your stuff hangin’ out over here, and you’re not clear of other stuff in your way, you can really get hurt.

“If you are seated next to an emergency exit, please read carefully the special instructions card located by your seat. If you do not wish to perform the functions described in the event of an emergency, please ask a flight attendant to reseat you.”

Don’t take on more than you can handle. And if you can’t handle it, give it to someone else who can. But tell the truth about it. And don’t try to demean somebody else for taking your place, because sometimes you’ll have to take over for them and you know how that would make you feel.

“At this time, we request that all cellular phones, pagers, radios and remote controlled toys be turned off for the full duration of the flight, as these items might interfere with the navigational and communication equipment on this aircraft. We request that all other electronic devices be turned off until we fly above 10,000 feet. We will notify you when it is safe to use such devices.”

Pay attention! Don’t get distracted from the truth by the fancy gadgets of life that sometimes make it almost attractive and easy to be dishonest. It might seem easy, but you’re creating a whole lot of hurt for later on, and you will have to deal with it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to direct your attention to the flight attendants as they demonstrate the safety features of this aircraft".

Take direction! Never assume that you are so perfect in practicing your principles that you don’t need direction from anyone—especially from God, or from the voices of others whom God uses quite often to give you direction because you’ve lost focus and are not paying attention.

“We suggest that you keep your seat belt fastened throughout the flight, as we may experience turbulence.”
You know, I don’t think I have to say anything about that one. It kind of explains itself.

“There are several emergency exits on this aircraft. Please take a few moments now to locate your nearest exit. In some cases, your nearest exit may be behind you. If we need to evacuate the aircraft, floor-level lighting will guide you towards the exit. Doors can be opened by moving the handle in the direction of the arrow.

If you don’t pay attention to your life – to being honest and telling the truth – you may never be able to find your way out of some very difficult messes. Know where the exits are for the situations you create. If you can’t find them, chances are you are no longer in touch with reality. And just because a door opens doesn’t mean you should dive into it – or out of it, as the case may be. If you find something incredibly easy and unchallenging, chances are it’s too good to be true. If it’s not based in reality, you’ll know it and by being honest with yourself, you’ll steer clear of it.

“In the event of a decompression, an oxygen mask will automatically drop from a compartment above your seat. To start the flow of oxygen, pull the mask towards you. Place it firmly over your nose and mouth, secure the elastic band behind your head, and breathe normally. Although the bag does not inflate, oxygen is flowing to the mask. If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask first, and then assist the other person.”

Keep breathing. Don’t panic. The truth is scary, but being dishonest will really take your breath away. Be in control – you be in control. Don’t count on someone else to provide your happiness. But once you find it, share it with others. If you are truthful with others, they will be truthful to you because they will know there is nothing for them to fear with you.

“A life vest is located under your seat. Open the plastic pouch, remove the vest and slip it over your head. Pass the straps around your waist and adjust at the front. To inflate the vest, pull firmly on the red cord, only when leaving the aircraft. Do not inflate the vest while you are still in the plane. If you need to refill the vest, blow into the mouthpieces on either side. Use the whistle and light to attract attention.”

We all have lifesavers in our lives. The difficulty is often finding where they are located. Sometimes we call them friends or partners. Sometimes we call them saints. Sometimes we call our lifesaver “Jesus” or “God.” Sometimes our lifesaver is our faith community. Know your lifesaver—love your lifesaver—trust your lifesaver. You never know when you’re going to need help. You never know when you get into something so deep you can’t avoid disaster without getting help or being rescued. There is no shame in needing help or asking for it.

And before you know it, the journey is nearly completed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have started our descent. In preparation for landing, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on baggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins.”

This is a repeat step, but it’s a good one to review, especially where human baggage is concerned. Which leads us directly to:

“Please check around your seat for any personal baggage you may have brought onboard with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as your baggage may have shifted during the flight."

Don’t ever think the baggage you carry is ever really gone. That’s why it’s imperative that you always know what it is you’re carrying. Keep track of your own baggage – and resist taking on someone else’s. You’ve got enough to worry about. Don’t find yourself co-dependently upholding the dishonesty of others. Don’t live the lies of those around you.

And here’s one final truth I’d like to share. This sermon is as much about me as it is about you. My sermons always are. I preach as much to myself when I stand in the pulpit as I do to you. That’s what keeps me honest, because if I’m willing share my truths with you here, it is my hope that you’ll trust in me and share your truths with me over there. It’s important that we tell our truths, and allow others to tell theirs, even when they don’t happen to fit our experiences or meet our expectations.

May it be so. Amen.