Someone has said that it is our conceit that we must express great thoughts, great ideas only through the medium of words – what about great pictures, great art or great music?
Our service booklet art today is an icon by the Russian Andrei Rublev known as the Holy Trinity – and it happens to illustrate our reading this morning from the 18th chapter of Genesis.
Our reading begins with the simple statement: “The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.”
But then it continues, “He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground.” He invites them to stay and be refreshed. He goes to Sarah and asks her to make cakes for them and directs a servant a prepare a young calf he has selected, and has all this set before them and as the reading adds, “[Abraham] stood by them under the tree while they ate.”
Then there is conversation:
“Where is your wife Sarah?”
Abraham replies, “There, in the tent.”
Then one of the three says, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

All of this is “happening” in the earliest days of Abraham; before Moses, Joseph and his brothers, the journey to the promised land, even Jesus and the events of the New Testament. But some have seen this as prefiguration of the Trinity including Andrei Rublev in this probably his best known icon, The Holy Trinity.

From time to time I have heard the comments of some preachers who say their least favorite subject to preach is the Trinity. Henri Nouwen’s short devotional book, “Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons,” includes words about this icon. He describes the three angelic visitors, representing the members of the Trinity as well as our place in the divine economy. This summer while you are sitting at the entrance of your tent in the heat of the day I would recommend this book.

We hear from Paul in his letter to the struggling church in Colassae written by Paul while he was in prison in Rome. Epaphras had been moved to establish that church maybe some ten years earlier who had heard Paul speak in Ephesus. Initially it had done well but now was having serious problems.
Paul’s only means of communication is by a letter. So he writes.
This morning we have heard only a portion.
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. Through Jesus we can know God.
We who were sinning and far off from God have been reconciled to God through Jesus. Whatever we’ve done or wherever we are – even in unhappiness, loneliness, despair, meaninglessness, we can know God.
Paul tells us through his sufferings for us as part of the church, he has made known to the Gentiles in his day, and now to all of us the riches of the Glory of Christ, which is Christ in us, the hope of Glory.

Our Gospel reading this morning is short. Our reading today from Luke is similar to one from John where Jesus is in the house of Mary and Martha. Jesus answers Martha’s complaint that Mary is letting her – Martha – do all the work while Mary is just sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to what Jesus is saying. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to Jesus. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?”
Maybe Martha was speaking, is speaking for us.
Co-worker, spouse, partner, child, parent, neighbor, the government, whoever – do you not care that you have left me to do all the work by myself, take care of this mess you have created, pay for something you ought to pay for….
“
“There is need of only one thing…”
Sometimes maybe we call it the pearl of great price or maybe it’s that coin we think we lost and we keep searching for – and if we are lucky, if we are blessed, we sort of get it, we sort of “find” it we call all our neighbors and friends to rejoice with us.
Or when in the service all the preliminaries are over, the priest, the messenger, the sharer of good news, moves to the pulpit, we settle back in our seats, we hope, we pray, that we too, this day, will hear, will learn, will be touched, by that “only one thing that we are in need of…”

Maybe it is the knowledge, the sure knowledge in our hearts, that there a God in heaven, and He loves us, He promises the best for us, and His promises are sure. How great are the riches of the glories of this mystery, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory. It is Jesus whom we proclaim!

Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
Who may abide upon your holy hill?
Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right,
Who speaks the truth from his heart. [from Psalm 15]
Amen.

Richard Robertson

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw that the prison doors were wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he had supposed the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
“…what must I do to be saved?”
A good question.
Maybe the question.
Not long after I joined the Episcopal Church I noticed how much they like the Psalms. In Sunday School in Texarkana, I had managed to learn the 23rd Psalm but that was about it. But now every Sunday we’d hear a psalm. The Prayer Book has all 150 of them.
Sometimes sitting in a service I’d get fidgety and have to read something – and there were the psalms. So varied, so different. And then there are additional words at the beginning of some of the psalms – sort of like a rubric – but I didn’t know what they meant. Maybe something more was going on than just one person quietly reading a psalm.
Since a visit with a Methodist group to Israel some years ago I’ve learned a little more about the Temple Mount – Herod’s rebuilding of the Temple. It was “destroyed” by the Romans in 70 A.D. – yet the Temple Mount itself – the “platform” on which the Temple was built was not because it was mostly solid, mostly rock – even though some of the higher rows of large, almost room size, rocks were pushed over onto the street below. But it is a detail about these passageways that I would recall: as the people – not necessarily the priests and higher-up’s – but the people, the ordinary people – as they would ascend one of the interior passageways to the top they would be singing songs – sometimes led by one who would sing a verse to which the others would respond– and their “songbook” was the Psalter – the Psalms.
As I picture this in my mind’s eye I visualize a group, maybe 30 or 50, maybe more, probably from one village or one distinct area going up the steps, their leader beginning with one verse, singing that verse, than the group responding in further verses in song.
As I was writing this, I recalled a time in my life – again many, many years ago – I, too, was part of a group, singing together – responding to words sung by someone. This was in the country wooded acres of a state to our south – Louisiana. I was a private in Basic Training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, singing cadence as we moved –much faster than a leisurely walk- sometimes as a march or even a run as I recall. And sometimes encumbered with a rifle and maybe a field pack. And sometimes the words were a bit bawdy.
But as I think back the words, the singing together, was the good part. We were a good training company – maybe not the best – but good enough. We all made it through. I had made some friends – some from parts of the country I had never visited, some from very different backgrounds. Yet we had come together.
As our time together was coming to a close – most of us going on to further training – advanced training – one of the men in our company that I had gotten to know – asked me if he could borrow some money – $20.00. His name was John LeBlanc. As the name suggests he was also from Louisiana. Sure! I told him as I gave him my address in Texarkana so he could mail the repayment. That’s the least I could do even though I never expected to see a penny.
But one day there was a letter in the mailbox postmarked “Louisiana.” John sent a nice letter telling how he had been and what was going on and thanking for the $20.00 which he enclosed.

Prison is not a fun place to be. Every person there is in prison. Even those who are “in charge” or “guarding” the others are in a “prison.” They must constantly be on alert, on their guard – prisons are a dangerous place. In truth even they are “prisoners” of the prisoners. Prisons also are places of stupefying boredom, stupefying sameness. I can understand the other prisoners listening to Paul and Silas praying and “singing hymns to God.”
Phillippi was named for the father of Alexander the Great. In 42 B.C. it the site of a great battle – over 200,000 soldiers were involved. The forces of two of Julius Caesar’s assassins – Brutus and Cassius faced Mark Antony and Octavian. The forces of Brutus and Cassius were defeated and failing to defeat Mark Antony and Octavian both men killed themselves for their failure.
Afterwords much of the land was given to the victorious soldiers. It continued to be settled by the Romans as almost a model Rome.
Roman justice could be very exacting and cruel. The jailer understood the punishment for his “failure” to keep his prisoners “locked up” – even when circumstances were out of his control. He had heard the prayers of Silas and Paul both as spoken prayer and in hymns proclaiming the “Good News.” And then there was the “Great News” from Paul and Silas that he did not have to kill himself – his prisoners had not run away.
There was really something wonderful, transforming about this “Good News” he was experiencing in such a powerful way.
He wanted to be part of it.
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
That’s it.

I recall some of the words of a sermon I heard as a very young man in the Methodist church, Texarkana, on one Sunday morning. Dr. Arthur Terry was preaching. His text was from Acts as is our reading this morning but from the King James Version. Paul is being sent to Rome but now is in Caesarea. He has been called from his prison cell to bring his case before King Agrippa and others.
Paul speaks at length at one point asking:
“King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I knowest that thou believest.”
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Then Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

I remember that sermon, those words, because at that moment I felt I was “almost persuadest” – but not fully, maybe not really.
Many years later when I visited Israel one of the places, I most wanted to visit was the site of the that palace in the harbor at Caesarea where Paul had spoken these words.
I have lived a long life.
And during a good number of those years, I have been away from the church. Like many of us I have gone through some experiences over the course of my life. During those away from the church years I moved to Kansas for job reasons. One Sunday morning I felt I needed to go to church.
There was a church downtown not far from where I worked. So, I went there that Sunday morning. I was welcomed. I don’t remember anything particular about Dean Robert Shahan’s sermon but later I was to come to appreciate his thoughtful messages. I wanted to learn more so I participated in a four-year study called EFM – Education for Ministry.
Later when I moved back to Arkansas, I joined the nearest Episcopal church to my home, St. Stephen’s. There when we went through some challenges I was involved in a ministry support team effort encouraged and supported by Bishop Larry Maze. In the process all of us participated in a survey that asked if there were members of our congregation who might could serve, might be called to serve, as ordained clergy, priest or deacon? I was one who was mentioned as deacon.
On June 3, 2006, I was ordained as deacon by Bishop Maze.
On February 18, 2017, I was assigned to St. Luke’s by Bishop Benfield.
Lent as I recall.
Sometime during that first year or so I had a bout in the hospital. It was for more than an overnight stay.
I noticed I kept getting visitors. Visitors from St. Luke’s. I started counting. Over twenty.
I was in the right place. I knew I was loved.

I believe in a lot of things. I believe in our country. I believe some things are right, moral. I believe in goodness and kindness. I believe in being kind and being forgiving even when some people are pure, unadulterated jerks. I believe that all that exists is not the result of happenstance but exists as the creation of a Loving Creator.
I believe on the Lord Jesus.
Amen.

How do you repay someone? If they have been kind enough to loan you enough money so you can buy your own home, say? Well, you pay them back –you make your payments on time, you keep the home insured, you make sure the property taxes are paid…
Several years ago, we had an older lady neighbor. She wanted to stay in her own home but it was a challenge for her even to walk to the road to get her mail. When we learned of her situation we began going by every day and getting her mail for her. From time to time, we would get a message on our telephone voicemail, “Next time you come by I’ve got a pecan pie for you. If you don’t like it, you can return it and I’ll refund what you give for it.”
Again, many years ago – it seems many of my stories begin that way nowadays – I went through a course which used to be offered from time to time at Camp Mitchell. The course was called Cursillio – little course in Spanish. It’s a little short course, retreat maybe, on how to live the Christian life.
These days one of the few places I know of where this course is still taught is in prison. A version called “Kairos” is taught in many prisons through an organization which exists for just that purpose.
Again – going back to that phrase I’m using a lot today – many years ago but maybe only a few weeks after I had completed that Cursillio course at Camp Mitchell, our leader at that retreat, Jim Dalton, a good friend and later priest at St. Stephen’s called me one day. He wanted to talk about that Cursillio retreat: ‘How do we put it into practice – how do we live the Christian life – and share the Christian life – that we talked about in that retreat? ‘And then he talked to me about a program in the prisons called Kairos. Would you like to help in that? He asked. But then he quickly added, ‘Don’t give me an answer right now – just pray about it.”
Of course, the real question – the bigger question – he was asking that day was the one asked by the Psalmist in our psalm today: “How shall I repay the Lord…”
Over the years I have helped out in a number of Kairos retreats at Tucker Prison. During Covid there were no Kairos retreats at Tucker. A lot of things were shut down during Covid.

More recently, the Kairos program has started back up at Tucker – and many other prisons where it had been active. One day an old friend who had worked some Kairos walks with me called. He asked if he and some other members of his church in northwest Arkansas who were coming down to Tucker to work a Kairos walk could stay a few nights at our old house. “Of course!”
When he called again later – maybe a few months later I knew immediately what he was calling about. But this time I had a request of him – I would like to go back with them into the prison as part of a Kairos team again. And to that he replied, “Of course.”

The Kairos talks are pretty much all written out – yet in many there is a place in which the volunteer speaker is encouraged to share a personal recollection – a personal testimony. And over the years it has been these personal words that I have remembered the most. Usually, they recall a time in the speaker’s life when maybe he made a bad choice, did something that he is not proud of now, something he sincerely regrets…Or it could have been a time when it was difficult to forgive someone. It is a baring of the soul that is uncomfortable for the one sharing his experience. And it can be uncomfortable for those of us hearing it.
Yet maybe it is a freeing moment – now I’ve said it, now I can go on with other things. I can put that behind me.
It is an honest sharing, an opening of a wound that the person would as soon have forgotten – and has long since atoned for. Yet they share it.

I don’t know what it is about feet. Unless we are young and attractive and can give our feet the attention maybe of a Hollywood starlet – we probably think – our feet are the most unattractive part of our body. And that thought, that concern, seems to increase the older we get.
I don’t think this is anything new. I think we can hear it in Simon Peter’s voice: “Lord, are you going to wash my feet? And when Jesus responds:” …later you will understand.” Peter reacts with, “You will never wash my feet.”
It was very uncomfortable then….and it’s very uncomfortable now.
I think Jesus meant it to be uncomfortable.
And the more I think about it maybe asking his disciples to wash each other’s feet – exposing a part of us that we consider embarrassing, something we would rather not do – much like sharing something we’ve done, or something that has been done to us, that is embarrassing to us. Sometimes he is saying to us – maybe we need to show the real us, the honest us, the us that sometimes has done some really stupid things in life, things we would rather forget, the us that is really us and not the carefully constructed façade we’ve carefully constructed over the years of our life.
I am who I am.
I am a sinner.
I ask you for your forgiveness if I have hurt, mistreated, or been unkind to any of you. And I forgive you – maybe the one who nodded during one of my maybe too long sermons, or thought I was a tad too loud, or failed to laugh at my jokes or whatever you’ve done…
This night He gives us a new commandment…

On this night the One who loves us gave us a new commandment, that we love one another. Just as I have loved you, He said to us, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that we are His disciples, if we have love for one another.
Amen.

Richard Robertson

At our staff meeting last Tuesday I announced that unlike my usual habit I had already written one-half of my sermon for Sunday. And what I had done with the reading from Jeremiah…
“Jeremiah?” Father Carey said. “There’s no “Jeremiah” in Sunday’s readings.”
Later that afternoon I sat quietly in a room wondering what do I say now? Starting out from scratch as it were.
I noticed a painting on the wall – a Kansas scene. A landscape – a field, maybe a pasture, maybe land waiting for a spring planting, surrounded by trees, scrubby trees. Trees in various shades of loud greens, greens of new growth, new buds. Late winter has just passed, just a day or so ago, and it’s early spring, mornings still cold. And a glimpse of a farmhouse, maybe a fire going in the stove, people moving around, getting ready to start the day…
I lived in Kansas for a number of years – around ten to be exact.
And when you live in a place for a time, you get to seeing it like the people who have always lived there…
And sitting there I recalled the day I had bought that painting.
I had gone to a showing of a particular Kansas artist, Robert Sudlow. I had bought one of his prints. He happened to be there that day. Most of his paintings were already marked “sold.” I asked him about this painting. Yes, he told me sort of where he had been that day. It was not far from Lawrence where he lived and the university where he had taught most of his working years. He loved going out – didn’t mind the weather – sort of made it more real for him. He loved Kansas and he couldn’t get enough of painting Kansas.
He loved Kansas.
Sort of like Jesus loved Jerusalem.
Our service booklet art shows Jesus sitting, his face in his hands, grieving, Jerusalem in the background.
Sometimes arguments are made to the unbelieving, we know Jesus lived because of “this and this.”

That’s well and good, I suppose. I feel Jesus is real for a lot of reasons. Therefore, I am not surprised that sometimes in this ancient text– which are the words we read in our Bible – we hear revealed a real man who had emotions, loves, just as we do. He loved his land, his country just as we love our own. Just as the painter Robert Sudlow loved his Kansas -sometimes a bare, plain landscape, with winds that never stop, just as I love Arkansas and the particular part of Arkansas that is my home.
Jesus remembered the story of his ancestor who God told to go out under the evening stars: “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be.” Or that night as the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, his ancestor, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. And Abram sees a strange and mystifying ceremony through which God tells him, “To your descendants I give this land…”

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

Some years ago, I visited Israel as part of a Methodist tour group from Arkansas. I was the only Episcopalian in the group. I have been blessed in my life to be able to travel to other countries several times beginning with a trip to England and Scotland as a twenty-five-year-old. Yet of the trips I have taken over the years I can recall the details to my trip to Israel most clearly – maybe because hearing various Scriptures read; I’m reminded of the actual sites in Isarael.
Like many tours the itinerary was well prepared and quite full with many places to see. One day was scheduled for Masada. There was an extra charge involved as well. I talked our leader in letting me skip. Going out on your own was discouraged – for obvious reasons. I spent the day wandering through Jerusalem. It was the most wonderful day of my visit.
I visited The Western wall – the “Wailing Wall” – but now had time to spend around it. Extensive excavations around it have occurred in recent years – much more of the Temple wall has been exposed – the supporting wall for the area where the Temple had actually been located. An area around the Temple where the Romans had pushed out great stones that had been part of the wall at the time the Temple had been destroyed by the Romans 70A.D. – roughly 40 years after the time of Jesus. To experience Jerusalem as a living city not just some sort of outdoor museum.
Paul told the Christian members of the church at Phillippi that our citizenship is in heaven and there we will meet our brother and Savior Jesus. And on that day our bodies will be changed – will be transformed to conform to his body.

I am tempted to talk of many of the other places I saw on that trip. The Sea of Galilee on a boat probably close to the size of those used by Jesus’ fishermen friends – even the one on which He calmed the storm. Or the small synagogue in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee or the place – in one of his resurrection appearances – where Jesus hosted a very Southern sounding fish fry – or the small synagogue in Nazareth where reading from the prophet Isaiah He announced that Isaiah’s prophecy had been full-filled in their hearing.
But I would not – of course – wish to be like that brother-in-law who goes on pointedly about his vacation to the place you would die to go to – but haven’t.

But you can.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek.
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
…Be strong, and He shall comfort your heart;
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Amen.

Richard Robertson

Recently several of us from St. Luke’s attended our church’s annual convention. It was held at the Episcopal School in Little Rock in the gym. Sitting there during the business meeting I noticed a poster high up on the wall. “The Class of 2031” it said. This was during the business meeting – elections of various people to some committees. My mind was sort of wandering at this point. I thought to myself, “The Class of 2031.” I probably won’t even be around then.” How distant that year seems – yet now there is a class of young people looking forward to 2031 – a time of graduation, proms, friends you will never forget and who will never forget you – yet for them it will be – that year of 2031 – will be a time of new beginnings, new opportunities, starting out a new life stretching out as far as the eye can see – as almost a grown up…

“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”
Well, that will get you back from daydreaming about the Class of 2031. Indeed, for many these days – maybe even most – it presupposes an answer to an earlier question. Is there even such a thing as life after death? Is this all there is? And maybe that brings up all sorts of questions that we really don’t want to think about.
And particularly on cold, bitter dark days – maybe late on some evenings I can’t sleep I sense the answer that many people these days would give – even if they wouldn’t answer the questions out loud. I think I can sense how many people feel by the way they drive – thoughtless, careless, rude – prone to road rage – tail-gaters. Or maybe the regard – or lack of it – with the trash they throw out on our roadsides – litter, garbage – is this really the “Natural State?”
Or maybe the greatest indicator that things aren’t right is the bitter divisiveness, unhappiness, hatred, evidenced in our political system. Whatever side we happen to be on many of us feel that those on the other side are not just wrong but are morally deficient – just plain evil.
So – how as followers of Christ – do we deal with all of this?
Well, I’m almost halfway through this message so I guess I’ll have to be fast.
Maybe we could start out by being a little more careful in our driving. As several signs say in the construction areas around Jacksonville and Cabot, I could put down my phone. My phone does have a voicemail feature. I could start a little earlier, so I don’t have to rush and unexpected delays don’t become so upsetting. I could keep a little more distance between me and the car in front of me. I could make it a point to be a little more courteous – to let someone out, to be kinder.
I’m not sure what the answer is to the second problem. Don’t be a slob. Keep a sack in the car for trash. Don’t throw it outside while you’re driving. We do live in a beautiful state. It would be even more beautiful if more people were thoughtful in how they disposed of trash.
Paul in the portion of his letter to the members of the church in Corinth that we’ve heard read today was trying to answer some of them about questions they had about what comes next. Particularly as we get older some of us are curious about what exactly does come next. Personally, I feel that just to know there will be another train is enough. I trust the One who is making the promises.
A writer I like who comments on current affairs – politics – is Ross Douthat. He is a believer, a Catholic. He has just released a book titled, “Belief” sub-titled “Why Everyone should be Religious.” It’s pretty good. It might not be a bad book to be reading as we approach Lent. Maybe even talks about some of things we’ve been talking about.
Some years ago, after I moved back to Arkansas from Kansas, I was a member of St. Stephen’s church. We were having some problems – not uncommon for a small church.
So much so that the Bishop came to see us. That was Bishop Maze.
And he gave us what I call his “Fish or Cut Bait” talk. How serious are you about being the church in Jacksonville? he asked.
We were, we said.
And to that he responded with leadership and innovation – and the willing co-operation and hard work of St. Stephen’s members in what was called a “ministry support team.” With prayers and the grace of the Holy Spirit St. Stephen’s survived and continues to be the voice of the church in Jacksonville and Cabot.
And maybe if we would just hush a little bit and quit thinking about how terrible the people are we don’t agree with and just listen a little bit to what Jesus is saying to us this morning maybe the world would be a little better place and we’d be that much closer to the Kingdom of God:
Love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who abuse you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even jerks love those who love them.
If you do favors for those who do favors for you what good is that.
For even jerks do that.
Love your enemies, do good, not expecting anything in return.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you…
A full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over…
All will be put in your lap;
For the measure you give…
Will be the measure you get back.
Amen.

Richard Robertson

Someone told me one time after I had brought a message. ‘Boy, you sure skip around in your messages!”’
Well, I guess maybe I do sometimes.

Not long ago I was wondering what would Heaven be like. After all eternity is a pretty long time. I suppose as one ages questions like this have more than just an academic interest.
And as I thought about that I recalled a Russian novel that I had read. The novel was sort of like one of those multi-episodes T.V. series that can be so engrossing that some of its fans engage in in “binge watching.” One becomes so entangled with the story, with the story as it affects one of the characters that one cannot stop at the end of one episode, one so wants to know what happens to that character, to that person, and just keeps going and going, one episode after another.
And so I was, page after page.” binge-reading” I suppose.
The book was “The Brothers Karamazov.” And it was about – as one would suspect – three brothers, the son of an old reprobate. It was set in the times it was written in by Dostoyevsky – the late 1800’s in Czarist Russian.
The youngest son, Alyosha, is sort wondering what to make of his life. He has been attracted to a local religious figure, an old monk in a nearby monastery, Elder Zossima. Alyosha is spending a lot of time at the monastery listening to Zossima. Zossima dies. The next day Alyosha leaves the monastery and does not return until late that night.
Let’s listen to Dostoyevsky as he continues his tale:
“It was very late, according to the monastery order, when Alyosha returned…the door keeper let him by a special entrance. It had struck nine o’clock…Alyosha timidly opened the door and went into the elder’s cell where his coffin was now standing. There was no one in the cell except Father Paissy, reading the gospel in solitude over the coffin… Alyosha turned to the right from the door to the corner, fell on his knees, and began to pray.
“His soul was overflowing but with mingled feelings…He saw that coffin before him, the hidden, dead figure so precious to him, but the weeping and poignant grief of the morning was no longer aching in his soul…He began praying almost mechanically. Fragments of thought floated through his soul, flashed like stars, and went out again at once, to be succeeded by others…
“But when he had begun to pray, he passed suddenly to something else and sank into thought, forgetting both the prayer and what had interrupted it. He began listening to what Father Paissy was reading, but worn out with exhaustion he gradually began to doze.
“” And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee,’ read Father Paissy. “And the mother of Jesus was there, and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
“” Marriage? What’s that…A marriage!” floated through Alyosha’s mind. “There is happiness for her, too…She has gone to the feast…” Oh, what’s being read?”
“And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him; ‘They have no wine’…Alyosha heard.
“Ah, yes, I was missing that, and I didn’t want to miss it, I love that passage; it’s Cana of Galilee, the first miracle…Ah, that miracle! Ah that sweet miracle! It was not men’s grief but their joy Christ visited; He worked His first miracle to help men’s gladness, too…’[Zossima] he was always repeating that, it was one of his leading ideas…’There’s no living without joy,’…
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what has it to do with thee or me? Mine hour is not yet come.
“” His mother saith unto the servants; Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it…”
“Do it…Gladness, the gladness of some poor, very poor people…Of course they were poor, since they hadn’t wine enough even at a wedding…. And another great heart, that other great being His mother, knew that He had come not only to make His great terrible sacrifice. She knew that His heart was open even to the simple, artless merrymaking of some obscure…people…Ah, he is reading again…
“Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them to the brim.
“And he saith unto them, Draw out now and bear it unto the governor of the feast, and they bare it.
“When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
“And saith unto him: Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”

“But what’s this, what’s this? Why is the room growing wider?…Ah, yes…it’s the marriage, the wedding…yes, of course. Here are the guests, here is the young couple sitting, and the merry crowd and…Where is the wise governor of the feast? But who is this? Who? Again, the walls are receding…Who is getting up there from the great table? What!…He here, too? But he’s in the coffin…but he’s here, too. He has stood up, he sees me, he is coming here…Oh, God!
“Yes, he went up to him – to him – he, the little, thin old man, with tiny wrinkles on his face, joyful and laughing softly. There was no coffin now, and he was in the same dress as he had worn yesterday sitting with them, when the visitors had gathered around him. His face was uncovered, his eyes were shining. How was this then, he too had been called to the feast. He too at the marriage of Cana in Galilee…
““We are rejoicing,” the little, thin old man went on. “We are drinking the new wine, the wine of new, great gladness; do you see how many guests? Here are the bride and bridegroom…Do you see our Sun; do you see Him?”
“” I am afraid…I dare not look,” whispered Alyosha. “Do not fear him. He is terrible in His Greatness, awful in His Sublimity, but infinitely merciful. He has made Himself like unto us from love and rejoices with us. He is changing the water into wine so that the gladness of the guests may not be cut short. He is expecting new guests; He is calling new ones unceasingly for ever and ever…\
He has made Himself like unto us from love and rejoices with us…He is calling us unceasing forever and ever to join Him in the wedding at Cana in Galilee
Amen.
I have quoted liberally from Dostoyevsky’s “The Brother Karamazov.” The best way to read it would be to start on Page 1 so one would gain the benefit of understanding in a deeper way the stories of the characters and their background. I encourage you to do so as I have shortened even this small passage – you would benefit of reading it in full.
I recommended it to my daughter. Later she told me she thought she would never be able to finish but did.
A shorter but excellent introduction to Dostoyevsky would be “The Gospel in Dostoyevsky” by Plough Publishing, 1988. Including this story and several others from the “Brothers” it also excerpts from others of his book. I recommend it to you.
Richard Robertson

… but he would give heed to me. [From the 23rd chapter of Job]

A week ago – after an absence of several years – I returned as a volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry – to Tucker Prison. Over a period of four days twenty-four inmates participated in a spiritual retreat similar to Cursillio. Each of us was assigned to one group, one table, one “family.” Oddly enough the “family” I was assigned to the family of “Luke.”
So, over the course of several days, we got to know each other pretty well.
One of the inmates in our group was a black man, a young man in his early twenties.
He shared recent experience, there in prison.
He had “messed up.” He had committed an infraction of the prison rules. It was serious enough to send him to the “Hole.” A small bare space, no windows, no talking, no one else visible except a guard bringing him food. Alone.
There was a Bible, a Gideon Bible.
With nothing on his hands but time he began reading. He said he read the Book of Job. Maybe he read much more, maybe many other books of the Bible. Yet Job was the one he remembered. Job is the one who touched him. He felt a special kinship with Job.
Why would that be?
One of our alternate readings this morning is a section from the 23rd chapter of Job. I began this message to you this morning with a reading from some of it.

Maybe it offers a hint.
Maybe there are times that so much “stuff” is going on in the world that we just want to know why. There is so much absurdity, so much stupidity, so much incompetence, so much evil….is there really a God? And would a God let all this “stuff” go on? I would sure like to talk to him about all that is going on.
“…my complaint is bitter…Oh, that I knew where I might find him…”
“…I would lay my case before him…I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me…”
“Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
…No, but he would give heed to me.”
That’s all. That He is. That he acknowledges me – so that I can know that He is – He exists, and, so that at the end of the day in some way everything will be all right.

Our reading from Hebrews tells us something about the nature of our God.
“…we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God…For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”

One of Jesus’ “tests” occurs in Mark’s Gospel.
Jesus and his disciples are in the midst of getting ready to leave from where they are – “setting out on a journey.” A man rushes up to Jesus, kneels before him, and asks him one of those deep questions that can’t be answered in a minute. The man begins with a patronizing, “Good Teacher…” Jesus in his response lists some of the commandments that would be known to all. The man quickly responds, “Teacher I have kept all of these since my youth…”
At this Mark’s gospel tell us that Jesus looking at him, loved him…” affirming the Hebrews’ writer, that we have in fact a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses – including rudely interrupting when we are anxious to start on an important journey.
But looking at the man and looking into his heart Jesus knows what the man should do – and the man walks away sadly, unwilling to make the sacrifice – to give up all and follow Jesus.
Jesus then shares with his disciples how difficult it for one who loves his wealth to give it up – easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This startles the disciplines who quickly ask, “Who can be saved?”
“For men and women this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
At this the chief worrywart – Peter – exclaims, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
This story, this parable – has been known over the years as the story of the “rich young ruler.” Maybe even Peter has a touch of the “rich young ruler.” Maybe it causes us to think about the “works versus faith” argument. The rich young ruler has done all the requisite “works” – yet he hasn’t done enough, something is missing. And now Jesus says, “sell what you own, and give the money to the poor…then come follow me.” But Jesus asks him to show his love, his love for his fellow men, for Jesus. But would he be willing to give up all he had to follow Jesus? No.
Maybe he would understand “grace” as sort of a business transaction – I do all the right things – attend church, support the church financially and in other ways. I try to be nice. And at life’s end I have an all-expenses paid trip to Heaven. I give something, I get something in return.
But maybe grace is more like a marriage or a close relationship or a deep friendship.
Say I love someone.
And if I am blessed – someone loves me back, in return.
We go through life together, we support each other, we sacrifice for each other – we have great joys together – and maybe even we go through great sorrows together.
And, yes, if circumstances should happen to require it, I hope, I think, I would give up everything for that one I love as I believe would the one who loves me.
I visited a museum one time that had rebuilt an ancient temple in one of its large rooms. Tall impressive stones, imposing – which spoke of an ancient deity now largely forgotten. “Quite impressive.” I said to myself as I left the empty room, passing quickly to the next.
God – our God – the real God – is not like that ancient deity in that ancient temple.
Our God is real, our God speaks to us, even in these days.

I think our God was speaking to followers of His, friends of His – from different Christian denominations – to go into a prison and share the Good News of Him there.
Further I think God was speaking to the young inmate who sensed the reality of God reading the Book of Job in the Gideon Bible in the hole.
He is here as well. Speaking to the members of this congregation in the spoken word, in the worship of Him in its services, in the music in His service, in its services to the community through Clothes Closet, Veterans Dinners….
Who was the author of Hebrews? We do not know. Some commentaries suggest it was probably written before 70 A.D. Some have suggested a woman author. Regardless this great Christian writer has blessed Christians down through the ages with words which speak of God’s love for us. It would be fitting to close this message with his prayer for us with which he closes Hebrews:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Richard Robertson

My title for this message is “How does a Christian make it an age of Jerks?” My “inspiration” for the title came while driving in traffic recently. I suspect many of you know why. You too have had some driving experiences recently you would rather not repeat. And for which you are glad that you made it through in one piece.

Why are people in such a hurry? Why do people tailgate? Why are people so rude? There is less courtesy, less willingness to let someone out in traffic or have the opportunity to go ahead of us. There is less willingness to slow down when someone is walking. Or working close to the road. And it seems like almost everyone you meet seems to have a chip on their shoulder, to have gotten out of bed on the wrong side, to have a bad attitude…I think you get the idea. And to tell you the truth on some days – maybe that describes our own feelings.

Friday mornings a small group of us meet informally at St. Stephen’s for what we call “Men’s Prayer Breakfast.” The only breakfast to it is if you stopped at MacDonald’s on the way and picked up a sausage biscuit, you’ll have something to eat. But the Keurig puts out coffee just fine. We use a one sheet “program” of prayers put together by Jim Dalton from the Book of Common Prayer, Cursillio and Kairos. We talk about who needs our prayers, we pray for them, and then we talk about what’s going on and sometimes what is on our minds.

So, on a recent Friday morning I talked about my experiences and my thoughts – how do we make it when there seems to be so much unhappiness, so much controversy, so much bad feelings just out driving, just getting from one place to another. We agreed that our experiences driving – and many others shared similar incidents while driving – that what we are experiencing is something unusual – almost an epidemic of bad or rude driving. But maybe it’s more. Maybe it’s deeper. Maybe it’s a symptom of our health as a society. We especially see it in the sharp divisions and controversies of the current political race. With the hatred and bad feelings now – what will happen when this election is over – will the different sides make up and resolve to work together for the good of the country? We live in a dangerous world.

Were there controversies in Bible times – New Testament times? I began this message with some words of James from one of our readings this morning. James was no stranger to disagreement and controversy. We also meet James in the Acts of the Apostles. In Chapters 14 and l5 of Acts we read of a controversy that arose when new Gentile converts to the faith were told they needed to be circumcised. This so upset matters that Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem to get this straightened out.

They appealed to the church – the apostles and elders – the Christian church in Jerusalem. There is a great meeting and there is much talking.

Listen now to the account in Acts: “… after there had been much debate, Peter speaks, …God…bore witness to [the Gentiles], by giving them the Holy Spirit as he did to us, having cleansed their hearts by faith, now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the disciples[who are bringing the Good News to others]…we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

“…the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Paul and Barnabas as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them to the Gentiles.

“After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophet agree…Therefore my judgment [is] that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God and write to them – [and then James lists some requests that ask Gentiles to refrain from doing certain things that would be uncomfortable for an observant Jew. But, importantly, certain Jewish customs such as circumcision would not be required of the new Gentile converts to the Way, the Christian faith.]

This is our introduction to James, the author of our epistle reading this morning.

Notice how the meeting was conducted. There was an opportunity for full discussion. Peter, Paul and Barnabas were heard from. And then James announces his decision. It is not a “who wins, who loses” decision but rather encourages and supports taking the “Good News” to the Gentiles – yet not tying their hands to require new non-Jewish converts to observe certain challenging Jewish requirements – such as circumcision. In those days many of the converts and potential converts were Jews. Accordingly, James asks the new Gentile converts be respectful of certain Jewish customs.

So, what can we say about James as a leader – and as a Christian.

He listens to all sides respectfully. He obviously is a leader – both Peter and Paul listen and defer to him. He is a leader who sees beyond the petty concerns and personalities of the day to the greater purpose and meaning – the sharing and spreading of the Good News.

Some years ago, I was a member of a different, smaller congregation. We were struggling. The bishop at the time came to talk to us – sort of “fish or cut bait” talk.

“Do you really want to be the church? He asked. Sort of like saying, “You’ve experienced the challenge of keeping a church going? Are you willing to accept the challenges of keeping it going?”

Sometimes it’s good, it’s honest, it clears the air – to just speak frankly.

Sort of like James.

“Do you really think you are wise and understanding and have all the answers? Show by your good life that your works are done with a gentleness born of true wisdom. But if you have envy and ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come from above – it’s earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of very kind.

‘Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

‘A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

‘Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

At our men’s breakfast this past Saturday Jerry Hodges’ daughter Kathryn Matchett described her pilgrimage in Spain. It was a pilgrim’s journey of over a route 500 miles to the Cathedral in Santiago which holds the grave of James. The same James who knew both Peter and Paul and our Lord his brother. The same James who speaks to us this morning through his words copied down carefully and shared now over two thousand years. Pilgrims have been making this particular pilgrimage for 1000 years. This was the same pilgrimage described in the movie several years ago featuring Marin Sheen, “The Way.”

Why would someone make such a journey? Such a question is sort of the “plot” of the movie, “The Way.” Kathryn graciously volunteered an answer to that question – which is the question most anyone would ask of a person who did such a thing. Yet the true answer, the full answer, is something that cannot, maybe should not be answered – because maybe it involves a conversation between that person – that soul – and God.
Maybe a question of that seriousness, that magnitude, should – could – be asked of us – Why do I really go to church? Why do you really go to church?

Kathryn started on this pilgrimage alone, by herself. And there many parts of it where she would hike alone. But she was not alone. She met many people. Many became friends. They helped each other, they enjoyed being with each other, they supported each other. And many learned, recognized that they were not alone, even when they were.

And maybe that’s sort of a lesson for us – maybe – hopefully – sort of why we do go to church.

Maybe there is another lesson or two in our readings this morning.

Jesus and his disciples are walking through the region of Galilee. Along the way he shares what will happen to him – how he will be betrayed, killed, and rise again on the third day. On the way Jesus had listened to his disciples talking. They were talking about who was the greatest – sort of a version of who was going to be in charge. They were talking of things as probably we would be talking. Who is going to be in charge, who is going to win?

Finally, they make it to Capernaum.

Jesus asks them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”

Our reading tells us that at this point, “They were silent.”

I guess so.

Time for another lesson – and a lesson for us.

He set down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then he took a little child and put it among them and then taking the child in his arms said,

“Whoever welcomes such a child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”

Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make the journey with us. So…be swift to love, and make haste to be kind…
Amen.

Richard Robertson

So, when I’ve been asked to bring our message – which is both a great responsibility and a great honor – I try to give it my best efforts. And use the opportunity to study something about our readings that is not so well known or understood or appreciated and talk about that. Sometimes the scriptures make that fairly easy. Sometimes it can be challenging.

Such as is our reading from Samuel this morning – challenging.

Not long ago I read Natan Sharansky’s autobiography, “Fear No Evil.” Sharansky is a Russian Jew who grew up in the later years of Soviet communist rule. He was not particularly a “religious” Jew in those days but became obsessed with the idea of emigrating to Israel. The Soviet communist government refused and Sharansky objected so strongly that he was thrown into prison. Now in prison he said to himself, I am a Jew. I will learn the Hebrew language. I will study the Psalter in Hebrew. And then, somehow, he acquired a small Hebrew Psalter.

Over a period of time, he learned Hebrew. He studied the psalms and found them soul changing – particularly the 23rd Psalm.
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil
For thou art with me.

The psalms are attributed to David. Indeed, they are sometimes described as the “Psalms of David.”

From the trip to the Holy Land – over twenty years ago now – I keep remembering things I saw or experienced. Our tour group did a lot of walking. One day in Jerusalem we walked down one side of a ridge toward the Pool of Siloam. We walked past areas which are thought by some to be the location of structures David might have occupied in what is called the City of David. And as we walked, we could look down across to houses on a lower level on the other side.

So, who was David?

I found a book about David by David Wolpe. Rabbi David Wolpe. The blurb on the book jacket describes David “as a warrior who subdued Goliath and the Philistines; a king who united a nation; a poet who created beautiful, sensitive verse; a loyal servant of God who proposed the great Temple and founded the Messianic line; a schemer, deceiver, and adulterer who freely indulged his very human appetites. “I first read the book a few years ago and re-read a good bit of it in preparation for this message. I want to share parts of it with you.

So, let’s begin with David and Goliath.

Goliath has issued a challenge to Israel and no one has taken him up. David has been sent by his father to take food to his brothers who were already at the front. He hears from the Israelites milling about of Goliath’s challenge and the possible reward for anyone who can defeat him.

Now David utters the first words we hear him speak in the text of the Old Testament Scriptures: “What will be done for the man who strikes down yonder Philistine and takes away insult from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should insult the battle lines of the living God?”

As Rabbi Wolpe continues: “Here is the characteristic Davidic combination of idealism and self-interest, mixed with stunning self-assurance. David wishes to know what is in it for him. He also feels the national and even theological affront of Goliath’s impudence. Underlying both is the certainty that, should he choose to fight, he will win…. David has no unease about his suitability and readiness for his mission.”

Some others report David’s words to Saul, King Saul. Saul brushes aside the possibility that David can fell a giant. David insists, saying that as a shepherd he has killed both lions and bears protecting his flock. As there is no one else who wants to take on Goliath, Saul reluctantly fits David with his armor. It is so heavy that David is unable to maneuver in it. So, he takes it off.

Without the heavy armor David is ready. First there is the “trash” talk, then David let’s fly. Again, quoting Rabbi Wolpe, “Unerringly hitting the one place on Goliath not covered by armor, the stone strikes his forehead and the giant falls forward. This in apparent violation of physics – the force should have driven him back…His stone hits and the stricken giant falls forward.”

Continuing: “[David has used] an element of deception that displays clear cunning. David, it is assumed by everyone, will attack with a sword. When he does not, Goliath taunts him, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” This is presumably David’s staff, and perhaps Goliath is assuming David will use his staff to attack. But David is concealing his real weapon, the slingshot. Had Goliath anticipated it, a shield would have effectively have rendered it useless. David’s eloquence, nerve, deception, ruthlessness (he wields Goliath’s own sword to cut off the Philistine’s head; the stone only knocked him out), and triumph are all elements of the king we will come to know.”

The Rabbi contrasting David with Saul: “David brims with self-assurance. He has his eye for the main chance (and the second and third chance, for that matter.) He not only identifies the opportunity but assumes that he can accomplish what no one else in Israel would dare to do. Whatever the reason Saul would not fight Goliath…it hardly matters. The contrast is palpable and, for Saul, no doubt painful. Although David stands before Goliath and declares that he comes in the name of the Lord of hosts, God does not instruct him to take on the giant; David just knows instinctively that he should and that he can. Whereas Saul disobeys God’s will, David anticipates it. The qualities that [we might] come to dislike or distrust about David, his audaciousness, his entitlement, are here on display in a way that makes it clear that he, not Saul, must be king…. David, self-confident, quick-witted, gentle when needed, considerate with subordinates, and determinedly ruthless, is a king.”

Yet this ruthlessness is a hard thing to take.

Our reading, our story, this morning ends with the ominous message in David’s letter to the battlefield commander, Joab: “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.” To complete the story Joab cannot send just one man forward; it would be too obvious. So, he sends several. So, several die, compounding David’s sin in a very literal way. Possibly we will have the rest of the story in readings on a future day. Let me go ahead and share a little of it. Uriah is killed and shortly thereafter David marries Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet confronts David about what he has done – and outlines what David has done in pretty gruesome detail. And he adds what will now happen to David. David says, “I have sinned against the Lord. “To which Nathan says, “The Lord has put away your sin, you shall not die.” And adds. “Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die. Then Nathan went to his house.

Rabbi David Wolpe says what is remarkable about all of this is what didn’t happen. What didn’t happen is that Nathan went to his house – he did not die by confronting David. Even in these brutal times – he just went home to his house.

David respected the man of God who told him the truth.

The message this morning has been about someone who was very flawed. God did not give up on him. Indeed, David passed away in his sleep in his own bed. Sometimes we can be very flawed. God does not give up on us. God loves all of us, wants to make use of us, wants us to be a part of the Kingdom of God. Indeed, David and Bathsheba are granddad and grandmother – many times removed – of our Savior Jesus. Let us close our message with this wonderful prayer Paul sent to his friends at Ephesus – and to you and to me here in North Little Rock:
May God the Father
Out of the rich treasury of his glory,
Strengthen you through his spirit
With a power that reaches you innermost being,
May Christ find a dwelling-place through faith in your hearts,
So that rooted and grounded in love,
You may measure with all the saints,
In its breath and length
And height and depth,
The love of Christ,
Which surpasses understanding.
That you may be filled with all the fulness of God!
Amen!

Richard Robertson
Two books I would recommend for further reading:
Natan Sharansky, “Fear No Evil,” 1988, Random House, Inc.
[Rabbi] David Wolpe, “David, the Divided Heart,” 2014, Yale University Press, Jewish Lives

And then there is that tightly packed mass of words, a book of theology and hope packed in one paragraph, the words of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus we have heard this morning as our second reading.

As I read that paragraph initially – and re-read it. As I heard it read, , I kept hearing one word: “destined.” Destined. Not pre-destined as in “pre-destined for the Firey torments of hell as sinners might be in the hands of an angry God…No, we all are “destined.”

Let’s listen again to Paul’s words:
“Blessed by God…who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing…just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will…”
“Before the foundation of the world…he destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ.”
Some say there are two schools of thought about the creation: one might be All that is, all that was, and all that there will ever be, is the result of random happenstance – an accident – no reason, particularly, it just happened. We live, we die. No big deal.

Another approach might be that Someone created all of this, caused all of this to be. That, that Someone had, has some purpose in this creation, that, that Someone has a love, a pride, a joy in this His creation. And so, loving His creation would want the best for all of His creatures. That Someone fixed in certain of His creation, men and women, a freewill…He could have created creatures who puppet-like mimic whatever he would have wished – but what is the creativity of that? So, he destined all of us to be the most that we could be – however that might go.

Again, Paul’s words: [Through Him] we have obtained an inheritance, having been destined [there is that word again] …so that we…might live for the praise of his glory.
“[And all of this] as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things in earth.”

So maybe our proper response, our grateful response, could be summed up [in words attributed to St. Augustine] “love God and do whatever you will…”
Or as Father Carey suggested to me as we discussed this Scripture – and this is attributed to the theologian Paul Tillich, [We are called by God] to accept our acceptance.

Again Paul, “…when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, [you] were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people…”

Our first reading, is a reading from the book of Amos:
“I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel…
…the high places of Issac shall be made desolate,
…the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste…
…and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword…”
What is going on?

It is sometime around 760 B.C. God’s people in the Holy Land are divided into two areas – two nations – the northern kingdom – called Israel – and at this time ruled by a king Jeroboam – and to the south of this Judah which is less arable, much less prosperous. The northern kingdom is seemingly more prosperous, more satisfied with itself. Its priests are part of a “guild” supported by and supportive of the king. That means paid by the king.

So Amaziah as a member of the priests’ guild is “offended” by what he considers an upstart “priest” – a mere herdsman – who says everything is not right – we are not on the right track with God – and we need to change. Amaziah arrogantly tells him to go back to Judah – to an impoverished Judah – “earn your bread there – and “prophesy” there.

To which Amos replies “Yes, I am a herdsman…but the Lord took me from following the flock…and told me, ’Go, prophecy to my people Israel.’”

Sometimes a people, sometimes even a church can become so satisfied, so pleased with itself, so sure that it has all the answers, that God sends someone – even a “herdsman” – with a raw, frank, message that needs to be heard and that God wishes to be heard.

Let our prayer be that we always have ears to hear God’s message.

How do we make sense of our third reading, a reading from the Gospel of Mark?
It is an ugly story – a sordid tale. Evil seemingly has the upper hand, Evil seemingly is in charge.
Herod’s comment that begins the story is sort of odd. It is after the brutal murder of John ordered by Herod.
Those surrounding King Herod are discussing a new religious figure who is being talked about. Some say it is John the Baptist now risen. Some Elijah, some a prophet.
But Herod says, “John, whom I beheaded has been raised.”
In a sense he is acknowledging that what he has done is so bad, so evil, that God has brought him back to life.
There were in fact several “Herod’s.” Herod the Great is the one who rebuilt the Temple. He is one who made it a point to “religiously” observe the Jewish dietary laws – such as abstaining from pork. The commandment “Do not Kill” not so much. Along with many others he ordered the execution of his wife and his sons. One of the Roman emperors reportedly commented, “It would be better to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.”

We live in a time of many Herod’s. From Stalin to Hitler to the many “wannabes” of our own times. And as mortals we face our own time of ending. Yet as Paul would tell us we are destined for more.

I can see clearly now…
Listen to what the Lord God is saying,
…He is speaking peace to his faithful people
And to those who turn their hearts to Him.
Truly his salvation is very near…
Amen.

Richard Robertson