Preview of Coming Attractions - The Reign of Christ, 2008

As a child, when I went to the movies, watching the previews was as much fun as watching the main attraction itself. It gave us highlights of new movies coming soon to a theatre near us. These days, at the beginning of some of the videos or DVDs, we still have the same. Or, as in television serials, we get to have a glimpse of what will happen in the next episode (which keeps us addicted). Some people would like to know ahead of time what will happen next as the long story unfolds. For me, I would rather wait and I do not want to spoil the suspense. I do not want to FF/jump ahead to find out about the ending. It is more intriguing to find out as it gradually and dramatically unfolds.

The apocalyptic vision of the judgment scene in Matthew 25 (31-46) is like a preview of coming attractions. What Jesus told us is more than a little teaser or a trailer; it is closer to a glimpse of the climax. It is a vision of what is to come. However, whether it will happen in the exact details as described here is debatable. Perhaps it will be more like an inter-active ending, where we have input as to how the story will end.

In the story, people are divided into two groups, like sheep and goats separated by a shepherd. There are three points I would like to make about the story:

First, the last judgment is determined by our response to human need. The Judge divides up the people into two groups: one on the right, on the left side. According to Jewish customs, the one on the right side are the blessed ones, and the left represents the opposite. In other words, the sheep are the good guys, and the goats are the bad guys. Notice that it is not good sheep versus bad sheep. They are two different kinds of animals, sheep and goat, one cannot become the other.

How are they divided? It is how they acted in the face of human need. Did they do something about it or did they choose to ignore it and walk away?

The second thing to remember is how everybody is surprised by the judgment. The sheep and the goats are both surprised by the outcome. The evil ones thought they were properly religious, following all the rules of the game and did not do anything wrong. The problem was not that they did not do anything wrong, but that they did not go out of their ways to do the right thing and to do what is good. Like the upright characters in the Good Samaritan story, they walked the other way. They acted out of what they thought to be sound and religious reasons; they did not realize that they had done anything wrong. On the other hand, the good guys did the right thing without thinking that they were being good for goodness’ sake. They were genuine in their action of love and compassion. It came from the goodness of their heart, like a good tree producing good fruit naturally.

Some commentators call this story “the great surprise” rather than the final judgment. Speaking of surprise, there is a story of a man who entered heaven after just finishing his life on earth. As he was being escorted by St Peter into heaven, he was surprised to see some familiar faces along the way. It was a surprise for him to see many persons whom he thought would never have made it to heaven. Those whom he knew have led questionable lives and done wrong things in life. As he questioned St Peter as to why these characters were here, he was told by St Peter, “Son, have you not noticed how quiet they are? I think they are surprised to see you here, too!”

Because of the surprised reactions, which break the normal pattern of a morality story, Jesus was actually combating a moralistic view of life and the judgment of God. It is more than just righteousness by good works, or the simple argument of “the way we live is more important than what we say we believe.”

We may have encountered in life a similar type of surprise. Someone may come up to us and say, “What you did for me certainly help me a lot. I was so encouraged and empowered by you!” or “What you said to me had such a profound impact on my life.” While they are saying this, we are trying to recall what exactly we said or did that was so wonderful. Often we may not realize what good we are doing, and only later to discover that we have served Christ in the least of these needy people. On the other hand, if we assume that we are doing a great job, we might be surprised to hear of what we have failed to do.

Thirdly, we are told that service to another person in need is actually service to Christ. It is in feeding the hungry and the thirsty, welcoming the strangers, clothing the naked; visiting the sick and the imprisoned that we actually minister to Christ himself. In our Baptismal Covenant, we are asked the question: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?”

Indeed, one of the questions raised by this story is who actually represents Christ? Is it the one in need or is the one who comes to help the needy? Traditionally, we tend to think of the ones who minister to the needy as the ambassadors and servants of Christ. Yet, the story turns this upside down and tells us it is the other way around. The ones in need are the ones who truly represent Christ. By serving them, we end up serving Christ.

In serving the least of these God’s children, or not serving them, God will hold us accountable. It is not how we serve the most important people in our life that counts. It is the other way around; it is how we serve the least of them. For the ones who are important, the powerful and the wealthy, they don’t need us. Usually, we think we need them for influence and other gains. But the ones without power and influence, those who seem to be of no significance except that they are needy, are the ones who really need us, and our love and care.

You may find it problematic that the story emphasizes a work righteousness that talks only about human actions. There is no mention of faith, the cross or divine forgiveness that leads to salvation. Are we simply being judged by acts of mercy and kindness rather than right beliefs? I would say no. This story is only one aspect of our understanding of God’s judgment, yet one we cannot ignore. After all, Jesus has told us many parables about the Kingdom of God. There are many, many other facets to his teachings about the kingdom and how should we live our life.

Also, there is another key word we should note in the story. In verse 34, the righteous do not earn the kingdom, but they inherit it. An inheritance is determined by the giver, not by the ones who receive it. It also implies that the relationship between the giver and the receiver is important.

Today, we celebrate the Reign of Christ, or the more traditional title of Christ the King, as the last Sunday of the church year; before starting another new church year next week with a new season of Advent. It is more important for us Christians to learn how to live our life under the reign of Christ than a preoccupation of our eternal destiny.

Central to our Christian belief is that we have a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. It is that faith relationship which makes a difference in our eternal destiny. Who we are influences our actions. To whom we belong has a direct bearing on our identity and our mission.

The reign of Christ, or his kingship and authority to rule, is more than a kingdom or a particular place like heaven. Therefore, an expression such as “to enter the kingdom of God” does not refer to “going to heaven” but should be understood as “accepting God’s rule in our life” or “welcoming God to rule over us”! It is possible then for us to enter into the ruler-ship of Christ in the here and now. We don’t have to die before going into God’s Kingdom. In fact, that’s what Christian discipleship really means. To follow Christ Jesus is to come under his authority, and let our life be governed by him. We are his stewards, and we are not our own master.

We can inherit this kingdom that has been prepared for us from the foundation of the creation, not by merits but by God’s grace. Such acceptance of God’s rule in our lives will naturally lead us to care for the needy. When we act in accordance with God’s rule, we are in the Kingdom.

In giving away a glimpse of the ending to a very long story: our stories, or the stories of our own life; Jesus actually gives us the power to choose the ending! The movie is still being made, and the script has not been completely written. He gives us the power and the right to choose which sides do we belong. We have a choice, when we choose how to act, and how to react to other people in need. We get to determine how we deal with the least important people we come across in our life. However, there is a more fundamental choice we need to make, that is, whether or not we choose to live our lives under the authority and the reign of Christ. That would determine, more than anything else, how we make other choices in life. That would help us answer the question, “Are we being faithful?”

Don’t get me wrong, we do not get to be the Judge; God will still be the Judge in the end. But we get a very big hint from the director of the movie, or we have insider’s information, as to how God will judge us.

Thanks be to God for the Preview of the Coming Attractions. Amen.

Fr. Victor+
www.stjd.ca

Kingdom Investments - November 16, 2008

For the last two months, most people do not want to talk about their investments or their retirement funds. We know it is bad and there is no need to see the detail of the damage. Financial market meltdown, economic tsunami, credit crunch, or whatever words of disasters can we come up with, cannot describe the reality of those severe losses. If we put so much faith in our financial market and those who control it, then are we surprised that every now and then a huge “correction” would take place? It begs the question of our ultimate security and confidence. Who can we really trust with our life savings and livelihood?

The familiar parable of the talents talks about investment of another kind… (Matthew 25: 14-30) Each of the three servants was entrusted with talents according to his ability. It is a story of financial activity. A talent was not the ability to sing or to write, but a large sum of money, approximately the amount a laborer would receive for 15 to 20 years of hard work. The master was a capitalist who wanted his money working for him while he was away, expecting a return on his investment. The first two servants gained a hundred percent return. They were commended as “good and trustworthy” servants, and they were rewarded with greater responsibility.

However, as you know, the third servant failed to invest his talent and gained nothing for his master. He was condemned as "wicked and lazy" for not investing his share. Here, the reward and punishment go beyond business talk in the financial world. “Enter into the joy of your master” and the reference to “outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” are Matthew’s language of the final judgment. The parable is a kingdom parable. Like last week’s parable of the ten maidens, Matthew uses them to address the question of how should one live while waiting for Christ’s return. What we do in the mean time matters eternally.

The story underscores the high-risk activity involved. The first two servants doubled the money entrusted to them, hardly a possibility without running the risk of losing the original principal. As Christians, what kind of risks are we willing to undertake? Can we do all the Christian faith activities of loving, caring, healing, giving, witnessing, reaching out, trusting and hoping without taking any risk?

The third servant was motivated by the opposite of faith; he was afraid. While fear can sometimes motivate people to certain degree and on different occasions, he was simply immobilized at the core of his responsibility and purpose. Fear of failure, fear of punishment and fear of loss have not only paralyzed this servant, but many other Christians and churches through the centuries. They stop living with a sense of purpose and mission; they bury their talent and hide it under ground. Churches in maintenance mode are like hiding their talents in the ground, hoping no one will come and steal them. They are afraid of the risk involved in growing. They are afraid that changes will upset too many people. They are afraid of a new reality beyond their comfort zone. Fear simply holds them back.

Obviously, Jesus is talking about stewardship here in this parable. By definition, stewardship is the responsibility for taking care of someone else's property or financial affairs. What the stewards have been entrusted does not belong to them. They are asked to look after them for a while. They do not own what is entrusted to them. They have to answer to the master for what they have done with it.

How often do we think of our life, our property, our family, our money and possessions as something entrusted to us? How often do we think that we are entitled to them? The issue is one of ownership and entitlement. What God has given us; we think we are entitled to have them. We have worked hard all our life for them; they become our savings and security. We believe that we alone can decide how we use our wealth, and who should benefit from them. Those who have faced bankruptcy realize how true the saying is “easy come, easy go”! Indeed, life itself is a most precious gift. Ask those who have ill health, those whose children were born with defects. They will tell you never take life and health for granted. We are advised to manage this gift of life very well! As stewards, we are managers of all that has been entrusted to us.

There is the story of a pastor who got up on Stewardship Sunday and announced to his congregation: “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have enough money to cover the deficits in our budget. The bad news is that it’s still out there in your bank accounts.”

Since this is a kingdom parable, we should ask ourselves what kinds of investments we are talking about in the Kingdom of God. If there is a “Kingdom Fund”, what would you be investing in? If we are the fund managers, what are we keeping an eye for in our portfolio? What do we value most? Would it be people, time, money, building and property, or the natural environment? Yes, these days, business people are even talking about ethical and responsible investments – as in fair trade, concerns for the environment and ecology. The value in the business of investment is changing; it is more than just numbers, dollar amount, percentage of return and bottom lines. There are other things and consideration that are deemed to be important and of value. Do we keep kingdom values ahead of other values when we manage all our God-given gifts? Or, do we base our decisions on self-serving principles? As a parish, what are we willing to invest in? - Our young people and people outside of the church?

At the end of the parable, the master gave the third servant’s talent to the one with ten talents, and said, “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.” On the surface, it almost sounds like “the rich will get richer, and the poor gets poorer.” However, Jesus probably puts the emphasis on the fact that gifts exercised will increase, while gifts left unused will waste away. Those who are willing to risk and use their gifts will be given more.

It has been mentioned that when one person shares the light of a candle with another person, the first person’s light isn’t diminished in any way. A candle loses nothing when it shares its light, and there is now twice as much light in the room. Could it be true of sharing love and sharing the gospel? Our ability to love does not diminish by sharing it; and there will be more love in the world. The power of the gospel is not diminished by someone sharing it; in fact, there will be more believers in the world.

On the other hand, there are also examples of things that disappear if they are not used. Unused muscles deteriorate and become useless. Unused money in dormant accounts will disappear as the bank charge monthly fees. Could it also be true of the gospel? If we hoard it for ourselves, if we refuse to share it with others, will it waste away?

To be fair, the master is not a harsh and unforgiving man as the third slave made him out to be. He is actually very generous in giving them talents that they would never have earned in a life time. But perhaps our expectation of God may determine for us how God turns out to be? For those who believe God to be gracious, giving, and forgiving; to them God is like that. For those who believe God to be harsh, demanding, and judgmental; to them God is just that. While certainly God is not created by our own images of God, it is possible that our inadequate beliefs about God may create perception blinders. We may not be able to see the whole picture of God as Jesus has revealed to us. Like the religious leaders of his day, the scribes and the Pharisees, we could fail to have a more accurate perception of God, if we stubbornly hold on to our spiritual blinders.

Similarly, the good quality of the first two slaves consists partly in seeing their master as the giver of good gifts. The evil of the third slave could only see his master as a cruel dictator. The first two slaves seem grateful for what they have been given. The third slave rationalizes his inactivity by blaming the master, out of fear. Such paralyzing fear is totally unproductive, leading to nothing but gifts wasted. Many people have sound beliefs about God, but fail to act on those beliefs. Such beliefs never influence their actions. Their lives are controlled not by God, but by fear, by playing it safe and self interests. They are lazy and poor performers, thinking that they could get away with it. Hiding their talents is a refusal to accept the responsibility given by God.

Therefore, the story invites us to make choices in life that really matters. We are asked to invest wisely. The gift given here is not the gift of salvation. We do not have to work for it. The gifts entrusted to us are for our use, for the good of the kingdom of God, and for the sake of the Gospel. Are we putting them to the best possible use, or are we letting our gifts waste away, hidden and under-utilized? Next week, in the parable of the sheep and the goat, our actions or inaction are further defined by Christ the King.

Yes, the gift of salvation is assured, just as we come with confidence to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. How we respond as we go out into the world is our gifts to God in return… Amen.

Fr Victor+
www.stjd.ca

Remembrance 2008

Today, we observe Remembrance Day in the setting of a Christian worship. (Canadian Anglican Church) It is different from observing it at the cenotaph or at the veteran section in a cemetery. Why do we have the remembrance in the context of Christian worship? What is the Christian connection? What Christian lessons can we learn from remembering their past sacrifice?

To remember is a powerful thing. We do it every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, in remembering the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As you heard me said it before, the kind of Eucharistic remembrance is more than thinking back to a past event. It is more like re-living that event in the here and now. It becomes a participation of the sacred story. It is a re-enactment. But what are we re-membering and re-enacting today? To re-member means to reconnect, making those whom we remember present to us. They are still members, and part of our living reality.

When we look at the symbol of a red poppy, we know what it represents. Just as familiar is our symbol of the cross, we know what it stands for, too! Both are symbols of sacrifice and death, the death of a relatively young Jesus and the death of young men and women whose lives were cut short by the violence of wars. They could never grow old as we can grow old and live out a full lifespan. We believe that their short lives made it possible for us to live, with freedom and liberty. Now, our lives become a form of vicarious living, so that we may live out and fulfill their hopes and dreams. As we hold up the symbols of the poppy and the cross to do the act of remembering, we also find new life and hope!

Not too many of us know personally of the war dead in the two world wars. We may not have any personal memories of friends and relatives who died fighting in battlefields. However, we do the remembering to thank them for what they have done for us and for our country. Most agree that they made the ultimate (Christ like) sacrifice in laying down their lives for us, so that we may have life. Much in the same way, Christ the Good Shepherd lay down his life for his sheep, so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

I was told by my older brother of old family history before I was born. My father had 9 siblings in his family. He was #8. Near the end of WW2, it was not easy to secure a ticket on a boat to travel between Canton and Hong Kong. Our grandmother was living in Canton at that point. In January 1945, our 9th uncle, dad's youngest brother, was not able to get a ticket to go to see his mother. But 7th aunt had a ticket, so she gave him her ticket as a favor. Unfortunately, the boat hit a water mine and 9th uncle lost his life. The irony remains that 7th aunt lived and 9th uncle died. In war, there are many similar stories of chance and the arbitrariness of life and death… one soldier got hit by a bullet and lived, another was not so lucky. Those who have survived the war and watched other comrades died in front of them often felt very guilty to be alive.

This week, we witnessed a historic moment in American history, where the first non-white person was elected President. Over 40 years ago, not that long ago, American Blacks were not even allowed to vote. We remember Martin Luther King who proclaimed that “I have a dream”, where the color of the skin and the race of the person would not hinder that person from being treated equally and judged fairly. He was assassinated and his life was cut short by hatred and fear, by those who felt threatened by his dream to end systematic racism. He did not live to see that dream come true. But he had the faith to be sure of what he had hoped for, and he was certain of what he had not yet seen. Like Moses, he did not get to lead his people into the Promised Land. Yet, his sacrifice of non-violence has paved the way and made it possible for others to pursue the dream of equality and liberty. Barack Obama is the Joshua figure who has the privilege to fulfill that dream. In his acceptance speech, his refrain of “Yes, we can” captures the fulfillment of that dream. His refrain of “Yes, we can” did not sound like triumphant shouts from the mountain top. It has the poignancy of a somber tone, almost like recognizing the pain and the struggle that had gone on before. It sounds more like quiet confidence than reckless celebration of victory. Perhaps Mr. Obama also felt the weight of the burden that is now placed on his shoulders, as one commentator pointed out. It is one thing to inspire hope, quite another to deliver it. To live up to the world’s huge expectation indeed is a tough act to follow. From his carefully chosen words, he re-membered Martin Luther King by connecting with words of his dream. He made Dr. King member of his team, 40 years after his death. His dream is not only alive, but is being fulfilled by this act of remembering!

In the context of Christian worship, we often say that we believe in the communion of the saints. Last week, we talked about saints in the context of All Saints’ Day. We affirm the belief that those who have died are still part of our lives, our reality and existence. While death separates us physically from those who have died, we are still connected in a spiritual way. In today’s Epistle (1Thessalonians 4:13-18), Paul talks about grief as necessary, but he admonishes us not to grieve without hope. Our grief over death and losses should also be understood in the context of the resurrection of Christ. We share in the hope of rising with Christ. That is a message of encouragement which inspires hope in us!

On the other hand, the world focuses on the scary aspect of Halloween for a week. We were asked, “Do you believe in ghosts?” Is there a supernatural reality or dimension? Are you frightened by ghosts? Or, are there friendly ghosts? Certainly Hollywood movies always have ghosts in a lot of their stories. Some find it comforting to have their loved ones remain connected to them as ghosts. After all, if we can believe in a spiritual world, then is it too much to believe in the possibility of a supernatural world of ghosts? If so, what would we do with the ghosts of the past wars? How would we respond to keeping their memories alive and their sacrifice meaningful?

Perhaps the first response may be fear. Just as we have been conditioned to be frightened by ghosts and haunted houses, we cannot quite observe remembrance without a sense of fear. We may be afraid of being asked to making the same sacrifice ourselves. We may be afraid of the constant threat to the peace of the world. We may be afraid of another terrorist attack, and another world war.

However, the second response I can think of is respect! We should look up to the men and women who made sacrifices for us and on our behalf. As the number of veterans from the two world wars dwindles, it is all the more important to remember them and honour them with respect. We should also respect our soldiers serving in Afghanistan, whether we agree with the politicians who sent them there or not. When we respect someone, we look up to them. We look up to a higher standard of behavior. Respect for them sets a higher goal for us, it demands us to do better, and allows us to hope!

The third response is one of being grateful. Respect may keep us at a distance, even with admiration. However, to say thank you is more personal. As children, we are always reminded to say “thank you”, whenever someone else has done something for us. How thankful should we be, when someone sacrifices their lives for us? How can we thank them? How grateful do we feel on this Remembrance Day?

The fourth response is one of commitment. Just as we remember, we participate in the story of the other; such participation becomes a call to action as well. Joshua in today’s Old Testament lesson (Joshua 24) led his people in a renewal of the covenant, after the distribution of land among the victorious tribes of Israel in the Promised Land. While Joshua recalled God’s promise to Abraham, he did not have to invoke the name and the memory of Moses. The people remembered. They knew. They did not have to be reminded. God’s mighty acts of deliverance were re-enacted every year in their festival of Passover.

To remember, we are called to act, to continue the unfinished work of those who have gone before us. One of the best ways to pay tribute to someone, as I always conclude my homilies in a funeral, is to follow the good example of that person. She or he may have excelled in many things, in being generous, loving and caring in their lives. Now that they have finished their life journey, someone else will have to take up what they have begun. They can no longer do what they used to do; someone else will have to continue their work for them. A response of grateful respect and commitment will call us to do just that.

In being called to remember our war dead, we are to remain vigilant for peace and for justice. We are entrusted with the responsibility to defend others’ freedom, rights and liberty, making sure that they are free from oppression. We are called to make sacrifices, when it is necessary, so that others’ lives may become better. Like the Good Shepherd, we are given the responsibility to look after his sheep for him. Today, we remember and we give thanks, first and foremost to Jesus the Good Shepherd in this Eucharist, and make a pledge to be his faithful servants in the here and now! Amen.

Fr Victor+
www.stjd.ca

All Saints' Day - 2008

Today, we celebrate All Saints’ Day. When we think of a saint, we think of someone who is holy; whose life is an example of virtuous behavior and the highest moral character. We ordinary folks would not dare to consider ourselves as saints, unless we happen to have a delusion of grandeur. Most often, saints are only recognized to be saints after their death - that's another reason we do not want to be saints...

However, in the Bible, the early Christians were all called saints (Hebrews 13:24; Jude 1:3; Philemon 1:5, 7). Should we consider ourselves saints, too? Or, at least, we are believers, growing and maturing to become saints.

The Garden of the Saints – Henri Nouwen

The Church is a very human organization but also the garden of God’s grace. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. It is a place where great sanctity keeps blooming. Saints are people who make the living Christ visible to us in a special way. Some saints have given their lives in the service of Christ and his Church; others have spoken and written words that keep nurturing us; some have lived heroically in difficult situations; others have remained hidden in quiet lives of prayer and meditation; some were prophetic voices calling for renewal; others were spiritual strategists setting up large organizations or networks of people; some were healthy and strong; others were quite sick, and often anxious and insecure.

But all of them in their own ways lived in the Church as in a garden where they heard the voice calling them the Beloved and where they found the courage to make Jesus the centre of their lives.

It is important to think about the Church not as “over there” but as a community of struggling, weak people of whom we are part and in whom we meet our Lord and Redeemer.

Christians by Maya Angelou

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living', I'm whispering 'I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven..'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain... I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou; I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Therefore, we Christians are not holy men and women with halos. We are not any better or holier than other people. We just know by faith and understand better how the grace of God is operating in our lives and working through us. We realize that it is not us, but the power of God working through us that makes a difference. With that understanding, we can, and we should, call ourselves saints! Last Sunday, I recited a list of flawed characters in the Bible that are called by God to carry out his mission. They are far from being perfect. We are far from being perfect, too. We have our struggles and our troubles. But, like them, we don’t make our imperfection as the perfect excuse for not serving God.

Moreover, by becoming saints ourselves, we are also called to make more saints. Making saints, like making babies, has its share of pain and pleasure, joys and challenges. It is not easy. Think of all the responsibilities of parenthood, we too have the same challenges in bringing others to Christ and making them saints. We have been reminded that children are watching us, and they will do as we do, not as we say. Listen to the following poem.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING:

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT!

Each of us, whether we are parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, clergy and friend, we can have so much influence on the life of a child, or another budding saint in Christ. Our examples, good or bad, will have more impact on them than our words and commandments.

Today, as we celebrate All Saints’ Day, we worship God in the presence of the multitude of saints. We are not alone! We are not small in numbers! We are surrounded, not by ghosts and goblins, but by a great cloud of witnesses from ages past. They are cheering us on! Rejoicing in their fellowship, we may run with patience the race that is set before us. We are encouraged and empowered by their good examples. Together with them, we may receive the crown of glory that never fades away!

Thanks be to God. Amen!

Fr Victor+
www.stjd.ca

Sunday, June 8, 2008 - Christ the Healer

This week, I attended our Diocesan (Toronto) Clergy Conference in Guelph, ON. There were no big name keynote speakers for the whole conference, with only our own bishops speaking to us in very personal and vulnerable ways. The theme was "Passionate Leadership: from Beleaguered to Beloved". The only exception was one session with former figure skating champion Barbara Underhill, who spoke to us about her life’s ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. It was a most touching testimony of her passion in skating, through humiliating failures to winning the championships. Her personal life of a perfect family was also shattered by the drowning of her 8 month-old baby girl a day before her baptism at St Peter’s, Erindale. In the end, it is a powerful story of faith and perseverance, a journey of overwhelming grief toward the rediscovery of life’s passion, joy and healing.

As she began her talk, she expressed her fear and intimidation of speaking to a group of clergy, almost 200 of us. Even our own bishops were feeling vulnerable speaking to a group of potentially critical and cynical bunch of clergy. That makes me wonder what if Jesus were our main keynote speaker, how would we react to him? Judging from different Scripture passages, including today’s Gospel from Matthew 9:9-13, he might not have fared too well with a religious group such as our clergy. In fact, he was always in conflict with the religious authority of his days, especially for associating with tax collectors and sinners. They found him offensive, for Jesus was just too radical for their liking.

The calling of Matthew the tax collector becomes a conflict story with the Pharisees. It also begs the larger question of whether the will of God calls for separation from sinners or association with them.

Here in the Gospel of Matthew, the tax collector is named Matthew, not Levi as told by Mark and Luke. In all the lists of the 12 Apostles, a Matthew is named, but no Levi. When Jesus called him, Matthew was sitting at the booth or table near the city gate or in the marketplace. He was collecting taxes for the Romans and for their puppet tetrarch, King Herod. Taxes on the people were many and burdensome: road taxes, bridge taxes, tax on trade goods, plus personal or household tax. The taxes alone were bad enough, not to mention the abuses and dishonesty involved and the fact that the money went to a foreign government. No wonder the collectors were despised by all. No wonder Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees when they found him in the company of one such character. The hostility level was raised when Jesus and his disciples were having a meal in the house, sharing table fellowship with many other tax collectors and sinners.

Who are the others that are labelled “sinners”? One assumption is that they are Matthew’s friends and business associates, perhaps bankers who charged interests and have dealings with the Romans. Therefore, they may have been considered as traitors and ritually unclean, and forced out of the local synagogues.

Besides eating with these “undesirables” with Jesus, the disciples are asked to defend Jesus’ behavior and theirs. Here is a perfect example of triangulation in system theory. The Pharisees, who have a complaint against Jesus, don’t approach him. Rather they tell someone else, the disciples, who presumably will tell Jesus. He will be expected to respond to the disciples, who bring the message back to the Pharisees. Such triangulations happen all the time in our families, churches & any human organizations. However, Jesus destroys the triangle by answering the Pharisees directly, and not involving the third party in the middle.

Jesus’ response has two parts. First, he uses a well known maxim about the physician: his place is not with the well, but with the sick and those who need healing. Jesus comes not as a judge, but as a healer. Secondly, Jesus uses a rabbinic formula, “Go and learn” to send his critics back to the Scriptures and to Hosea 6:6 in particular. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” The Hebrew word for mercy hesed is an extraordinarily rich and significant term meaning steadfast love, righteousness and loyalty. The Old Testament uses this word to describe God, God’s relation to Israel, and the quality of life expected of Israel. By asking his harsh critics to go back and study this verse, Jesus is asking them to rediscover the will of God in reaching out to the sinners, and not just the righteous. In the nature and the heart of God, do we find a call to distance ourselves from sinners or to reach out to them in love, mercy and forgiveness? Jesus’ words and actions make it very clear!

However, the issue is still alive and well in our churches and the worldwide communion today. Some churches prefer to embark on a “Holiness Movement” of their own and pride themselves as the chosen ones of God, disassociating themselves from the undesirable and questionable characters of the world. They denounce the more liberal churches for abandoning tradition and orthodoxy, especially on the issues of homosexuality. Some have refused Eucharistic table fellowship with others over those controversies. The same Pharisees also accused Jesus for breaking with tradition and orthodoxy.

I guess, there is always a Pharisee within all of us, a self-righteous side in all of us, who looks down upon those whom we deem as sinners and morally inferior than us. How outraged would we be, if Jesus were in our midst showing us how to do outreach and evangelism in our part of the world? Would we welcome a homeless person coming in for money or something to eat? Would we kick out an alcoholic person for disrupting our worship? Can we handle a very needy person asking for help? Would we in the name of Christ turn them away? Indeed, who among us is not in desperate need for healing?

This week, I am very aware of the healing stories of Jesus in the second half of today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:18-26), as I went around for my pastoral visits. I went to see a dying man in the palliative care unit wanting to reaffirm his faith; a blind woman still adjusting to a new nursing home after almost a year; another man blind from his diabetic condition awaiting surgery in anxiety, and a woman in total confusion and delirium from her treatment with a persistent infection. I pray for healing in all of those situations, but in what forms will God’s healing come? I honestly do not know, but I believe God will heal them, just as Jesus healed the woman and the young girl in today’s stories. It is not up to me to decide, and it is a good thing, but we leave it up to God, by faith. Jesus asks us to trust in God’s mercy, his faithfulness and steadfast love. Without God’s grace, we all live under judgment and condemnation.

Let me finish with a story from the Internet:

A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn’t shaved in a while.

His shirt was kind of shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister’s suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
“What are you doing here?”

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

“I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kind of what I say:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER’S FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
DON’T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM
CHECKING IN TODAY.”

The minister feeling foolish,
told Jim that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime.

Time to go, Jim smiled, said “Thanks.”
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
he’d never done it before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim’s prayer:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I’VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER’S FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
I DON’T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT
I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY”

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn’t come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried,
But he’d given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious,
Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn’t understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse’s concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;
“the nurse is wrong, she couldn’t know,
that in here all the while

Every day at noon He’s here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:

“I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS
CHECKING IN TODAY.”

What would be your prayers today?

How do you want to check in and pray?

Whatever is in your hearts and minds,

Healing and forgiveness God is ready to offer all the time.

To which we will always say:

Thanks be to God, forever and today.

Amen.

Fr. Victor+
www.stjd.ca

Sunday,February 10, 2008 - Temptation?

The First Sunday in Lent is about temptation. (Matthew 4: 1-11)

It is a real temptation for us to reduce Lent to something manageable, something trivial that would not do too much harm -- such as giving up something that really does not bother us that much -- whether it is chocolate, sugar, caffeine, or certain hobbies.

Or, we can follow a list of what to give up such as this:

Give up complaining - focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism - become an optimist.
Give up sin - turn to virtue.
Give up worry - trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement - be full of hope.
Give up bitterness - turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred - return good for evil.
Give up negativism - be positive.
Give up anger - be more patient.
Give up pettiness - become mature.
Give up gloom - enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy - pray for trust.
Give up gossiping - control your tongue.
Give up harsh judgments - think kindly thoughts.

Yes, we can actively do more generous works of love and charity and be more fervent in prayer, instead of giving up something negatively. However, these can become small, morality games that trivialize the real temptation.

All temptations have to do with lies. In the Garden of Eden, the first temptation has to do with the lie that said, “You will not die!” The serpent tempted Adam and Eve by challenging them on the consequence of their action. “It is not as bad as you think it is going to be!” The lie has to do with “Maybe you can get away with it!” “Try it; it won’t do you any harm!” We all have heard those tempting words before, in one form or another.

As it turns out, surprise, surprise, the lie is not true. Ironically, they did have to die as a result of eating the forbidden fruit. We learn the hard ways that we do have to suffer the consequences, when we cannot get away with it.

At issue here is not whether they have done something bad, but it is one of disobedience. In knowing the difference between good and evil, the first humans have become like God, independent of God, and rebelled against God.

For us, temptation comes in different ways and entices us to be like God! As individuals and as a faith community, there is a real temptation for us to take the place of God. We say to ourselves that we can take control of our own destiny! We will try this, we will do this, and we will make it happen! We really don’t need God in all of this, especially when we are young and strong! We want the power and the control! However, when all else fail, we can always turn to God and ask for help. Unfortunately, God has been relegated to be a Plan B, a back up plan for us. When things are not going well, we can always pray to God!

However, temptation is a testimony to strength. The greater the strength, the greater the temptation will be. All three temptations attack Jesus’ strength, rather than his weaknesses. In the first one, the test was, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Secondly, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the Temple.” In both cases, the temptation attacks the identity and the assumption of Jesus as the Son of God. What kind of a son of God is he really? Is he the one who can use his divine power not only for his own advantage, but also use it to alleviate human hunger and need, thereby harnessing enormous political power?

Jesus’ responses rejected the temptation to become a “superman” type of messiah. He chose to remain human, yet obedient to the word of God. “Not by bread alone shall the human live...” In our faith journey and prayer life, we too want Jesus to be a superman who can come solve all our problems and take away all our troubles and pains. We get upset, when we find such a human messiah. We want a messiah who is totally divine. Our kind of messiah would come down from the cross and save others. He would not need to do a far-fetched thing like rising from the dead, for he would be smarter not to die in the first place.

The second temptation employs the word of God, since Jesus chose to follow the word of God. To perform a super stunt in front of the faithful crowd from the top of the temple in Jerusalem would have confirmed such an expectation of the messiah. Such a sign will undoubtedly coerce faith and confirm the popular messianic hope. But Jesus chose not to test God by twisting God’s words and manipulating God into doing something spectacular for him. We can also turn the promises of God around to try and manipulate God for our own gain. We do so by questioning God’s faithfulness to us. Just like in a marriage, as soon as one partner starts wondering or asking, “If you really love me, you will do this...” then one is no longer living by the marriage promises and trust, but trying to manipulate the other. When we start looking for miracles and signs to prove God’s presence, we are not living by God’s word and we have already stopped trusting God.

The third temptation takes place on a high mountain, the same description used for the Transfiguration last week. It is significant, because there Jesus’ true identity would be revealed and confirmed. There, the Son of God in his glory would be talking with Moses and Elijah. It leaves us no doubt as to who Jesus really is. He belongs to God, and he is committed to what God has called him to do.

Jesus is now tempted to turn away from God, in order to obtain the power and authority over the kingdoms of the world. Some would interpret that the world is under demonic control, and the devil has the power to give that control to Jesus. However, we who claim that we believe only in one God should not fall into the trap of making room for one good God and one bad god in our theology. After all, we were told that Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. God is involved in this testing. At issue here is one of sovereignty. To whom does the world belong? To God or to someone else? Who do we acknowledge to be the one who is in charge of the world, our church, and our personal and daily lives? In reality, who truly has the power and the authority in our life?

Do we worship only God, or do we actually worship something or someone else other than God? It could be customs, tradition, our own rules and liking. As a Church, are we willing to sell our souls in order to remain comfortable? to become attractive and successful? Or, how can we stay faithful to our calling? What does it mean for us to serve only the Lord our God and not anything else? We should stop and ask ourselves what is truly the business we are in and what are our priorities here at St John the Divine? We’ll do that later in our Annual Vestry meeting.

On the other hand, there is also a real temptation for some to leave everything to God. In reality, we don’t want to do anything; we just give up in despair. We can hide behind pietistic talk and prayers, but we will not put in our own effort. When things are not working right, we can always blame the devil. “The devil made me do it!” we may say. We do so by escaping and abdicating our personal responsibility.

We need to find a balance between surrendering our will to God and not surrendering our responsibility to act. We need to resist the temptation to become like God and take over things. On the other hand, we also need to act on answering God’s call for us to do his work of ministry. Is this talk of being “co-creators” with God too close to falling into the trap of the first temptation? Or can we co-operate with God realistically in such a partnership?

Perhaps the answer is found somewhere in the Lord’s Prayer. As long as we acknowledge and understand that God is indeed our Father, as Jesus taught us -- that is the nature of our true relationship with God. When we pray today, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” what do we say after that? That should give us a clue as to who is in charge of this world and the world to come...

“For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory… for ever and ever.” Amen.

Fr Victor +
(http://www.stjd.ca/)

Sunday,February 3, 2008 - The Glory of the Transfiguration

The Transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-9)
The Season of Epiphany begins at Jesus’ Baptism and ends with Jesus’ Transfiguration with the same heavenly voice making Jesus known to the world.

The story begins with the mention of "six days later". What does it refer to? It is six days after Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi and Jesus’ first passion prediction… Why 6 days? Perhaps there is a connection with Moses and the mountain from Exodus 24:15-16: “Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud.” Matthew will make other stronger connections to Moses later. It also means that this event takes place on the seventh day! -- The climatic day of a new creation?

The Chosen Three = an inner circle among the Apostles? Jesus also takes the same three with him to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37). The three who behold his heavenly glory also see his earthly agony [Hare, Matthew, p. 201]. In both cases, they, especially Peter, respond poorly. On the mountain Peter wants to build booths, and God has to interrupt him as we will see later. In the Garden, Jesus tells them to stay awake and pray, but they fall asleep three times. If these are the best and the top 3 disciples, perhaps there is hope for us who may fall asleep during sermons and prayer time, or react poorly to other situations in the church or in our daily life…

Matthew has placed special emphasis on “mountains”, where special, significant events take place: Jesus does his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (5:1); he went there to be alone to pray (14:23); it is where great crowds came to Jesus to be healed (15:29); where the risen Jesus meets the eleven disciples (28:16)

The only other place where a “high mountain” was mentioned in Matthew is when the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor and offered them to Jesus (4:8-9). Could similar temptations have been part of this mountaintop experience? Is it possible that Jesus has been tempted to stay on this mountain with all his glory and splendor rather than coming down to the “faithless and perverse generation” down below (17:17)? Could the force behind Peter’s desire to build three booths be a temptation to capture this glorious moment and avoid the painful cross?

What about our own mountain top experiences?
When and where have we encountered the glorified Christ - during times of teaching, learning, praying, healing and being healed? For us, the “mountains” may involve big crowds, bright lights, joyful singing, laughter, enthusiasm and energy, or it may be a quiet time of solitude and silence. Peter, James and John were certainly in for a great surprise. None of them would have expected what happened to them on this mountain -- neither Jesus’ transfiguration nor what happened afterwards. God is certainly a God of surprises! How each of us may be surprised when we encounter God?

Transfigured or transformed?
The Greek word metamorphoomai is translated to be “transfigured”. Paul also uses this word to talk about a transformation that is to take place within us:
Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2Corinthians 3:18: “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Matthew tells us that Jesus’ face shone like the sun. This part of the transfiguration is not recorded in Mark. Moses had a shining face after his encounter with God (Exodus 34:29-35). Matthew emphasizes the “Moses-connection” as he puts Moses before Elijah. Mark has it the other way around. The presence of these two figures confirms the witness of the Law and the Prophets to Jesus. However, they are now superseded by Jesus, who remained alone at the end of this story.

Peter’s response on one hand is a response of faith and affirmation, calling Jesus “Lord” and said, “It is good that we are here.” On the other hand, he tries to capture that event with booths -- as in the Feast of Booths during which ancient Israelites remembered the special times of being led by God in the wilderness by means of the cloud and the fire (Lev. 23). He wants to lock up the experience of glory with Jesus in a box, and preserve it for ever.

The word for booth can mean a tent or temporary shelter. It can mean tabernacle as a place of worship (the dwelling place of God in the OT). It can also mean a house -- a permanent dwelling place. Why would these three need houses? These booths hearken back to the exodus and Peter’s attempt to enshrine or preserve or, at least, prolong this moment on the mountain. How often have we tried to enshrine certain religious experience and not wanting to move beyond them? How reluctant have we been to face the threats of change before us? Are we willing to come down from the spiritual highs of special moments of retreats and conferences? Do we want to keep all that to ourselves and not share it with others? -- Especially those who have not seen the light and shared our experience?

What is unique to Matthew is that while Peter was still talking, God interrupts him and pronounces to them the true identity of Jesus. This is the same voice and the same message given at Jesus’ Baptism: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased!” But “Listen to him” is the command given at the end. Peter wants to build dwelling places for these glorious figures, but God simply wants him to listen… to what message? Could it be the passion prediction and the suffering that is to follow for Jesus? After all, Peter refused to listen to that six days earlier, and he rebuked Jesus for speaking such nonsense. The divine Sonship does not simply bring glory; it also invites a discipleship that leads to death on a cross.

“When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.” --these two verses are also unique only to Matthew. The story is as much about the transfiguration of the three disciples as that of Jesus. Being in direct contact with God does not produce a response of faith; the voice from the cloud creates overwhelming fear instead! “They fell on their faces” in fear and trembling. The only other time Matthew uses this same phrase “fall upon the face”, it is what Jesus does in the garden of Gethsemane (again) as he prays, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matt 26:39). Perhaps Jesus could have also been afraid of what he was about to face… Again, glory is not detached from suffering and agony! The cup of anguish brings us the cup of blessing in the end! This connection between the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane again reminds us that the glory of the resurrection is not possible without the suffering and the death on the cross. Easter is not possible without the cost of Good Friday. We are invited to begin our Lenten journey next week, heading toward the holy climax of the Christ Event.

In this case, what did Jesus do? He came to the cowering disciples and touched them. The same word will be used to describe how the risen Christ came to his disciples after the resurrection. The touch is a healing touch as in many cases throughout the Gospel. These terrified disciples were now raised by Jesus to a new life. They were transformed here just as they would be again after they had seen the resurrected Christ. They will be transformed from fearful and anxious cowards to brave, confident and spirited champions of the faith!

Ironically, it is not the “glowing”, glorified Jesus who did the “raising up”, but the down-to-earth, human Jesus who came, and touched, and spoke to the disciples. We all need such a healing touch. But we are also called to offer it to the world. We need to reach out and offer a healing and life-giving touch to the frightened, worried, anxious people with whom we come into contact, and assure them with words and actions that say, “Peace! The Lord is here with you. Do not be afraid!”

Transformation takes place when we encounter God in our lives, whether we like it or not. Mountaintop experiences change us as much as those down in the depressing valleys. Faced with the transfigured Christ Jesus, we too catch a glimpse of the glory, whether we are able to reflect this glory or not. We may not be able to shine like Jesus, yet we keep hearing consistent rumors that we can be “changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place”. In the mean time, our transformation and enlightenment also call us to be human channels of God’s healing grace, to bring new life and peace to all those who need it.

Glory and praise be to the Lord! Amen.
Fr Victor + (www.stjd.ca)