Rev Kathy Christianson, Deacon

As a result of my formal religious education as a young person, I used to believe that God lived up there (pointing finger upward). I envisioned this large man sitting on a big thrown which rested on a lot of clouds – big, fluffy clouds. When he spoke, it was in this loud, deep voice. When he spoke, it was to inform me what I did right and what I did wrong. But I must have been doing good because I was with HIM! There was a whole bunch of angels – some flying and some sitting near God. I envisioned that there was music continuously playing. It was a warm place, filled with love and free of any type of frustration or hate. And this was God’s kingdom. It was called heaven.

On this wonderful spiritual journey I am on, I have come to believe that God is not far away, way up in the clouds – separate from me, watching me, judging me. I began to believe and trust that God lives here (pointing to self) – part of my soul, part of my Spirit. So, not only was I not separate from God, I wasn’t separate from each of you, or the stranger on the street or my friend in California. I began to understand that the kingdom of God resides with each of us. When I began to understand that all of us were truly made in the image and likeness of God, well then it only made sense that we all had to be connected because this one God was in all of us. I believe God lives here (pointing to self). God is not separate. God is not at a distance. God is right here. We all live in God’s kingdom.

There is a statement in our liturgy, during the consecration of the water and wine where we ask God to help us “manifest the divinity of our humanity as does Jesus”. In other words, may we recognize and act on that which God asks of us – to trust that He is with us – always. God loves us and will take care of us. There is divinity in this kingdom within us. And Jesus showed us how to love God, to love ourselves and to love one another.

In today’s Gospel, the first parable (Jesus loved to speak in parables) says that “the kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field which someone found and hid; then in his (or her) joy he goes and sells all the he has and buys that field.” I would like to offer that the field that Jesus is referring to is us. That we have a treasure within us that remains hidden, unknown to us until we come to believe in the “divinity of our humanity”. Then in the joy of realizing that God was never really far away, God resided in us the whole time, we know we have the power to be divine, to be that close to God, that we give up all old beliefs and our old ways that separated us from God and we buy into the fact that the kingdom of God is ours for the asking when we act out the “divinity of our humanity”.

It is the same thing with the merchant in the second parable who searches for the finest pearls. But in finding just one pearl of great value, the merchant realizes what he has and he sells everything to acquire it and keep it. I hear the message again, that we can have and live in the kingdom of heaven right here, right now, if we don’t put great emphasis on our material possessions, or money or status or power and just pay constant attention to God who lives in each of us.

In the third parable, I believe that the message is that we have to look inside of ourselves and work hard to see ourselves as God sees us – as images of Himself in all his goodness and greatness. We should look within ourselves and distinguish the “bad fish” from the “good fish”. In other words, start changing those aspects of ourselves that are not God-like and capitalize on our good qualities to bring joy to ourselves and others.

In the final passage in this gospel Jesus says, “Therefore every scribe who has trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” I feel that Jesus was saying that we all have the ability and the choice to tap into this kingdom of heaven which resides in each of us. Our own kingdoms consist of the wisdom that we have accumulated over the years as our hearts grow in love, understanding and compassion. We are also given the opportunity to gain new insights, new awareness’s of how we can be closer to God.

As Jean spoke the words of God in her homily last week, our lives will be joyful and fulfilling if we just remember that God is with us – always. You are never alone in this journey for God and the kingdom of heaven is with you always. He is but a heartbeat away.

Most Rev. Dianne Sullivan

The Transfiguration

The event of the the Transfiguration is found in all three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is an extraordinary event. Jesus allowed Peter, John and James to have the privilege of accompanying him up the mountain; some say Mount Tabor, south of Galilee; others say Mount Hermon north of Caesarea Philippi where he had been ministering.

Some scholars have said this spiritual experience was meant to strengthen the faith of the disciples for the challenges they would later endure. Perhaps it was meant to strengthen Jesus as well for what was to come. Here Jesus is in the company of Moses who represents the Law and Jesus the fulfillment of the law; and Elijah the prophet as was Jesus.

It was a gracious gesture on the part of Jesus to bring his inner circle of disciples. But it was only a temporary event. It was not meant to be permanent.

In the same way, at certain times in our life, God may give us a special experience of grace that strengthens our faith, lifts us and transforms us.

And so often just like Peter, we too would like to pitch our tent in that place of grace and stay forever, and just listen, mamela. Or to forever contemplate this vision. But like Peter we are told that it is not possible, not yet.

“Transfigured.” The Greek term is well-known in English; from metamorphoo (pronounced meta-mor-phaw-o) we get our word “metamorphasis.” The word describes the complete change of the form and substance. For example, we use it to describe the change from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Here then we have a complete change in the appearance or form of Jesus in the presence of the disciples. He now was brighter than the light, revealing His true glory to them.

In our first reading there is a transformation that takes place in what appears to be a vision, a vision of people of the earth coming together through love. It is the face of love that changes us. Hope can lift us. Justice issues can mobilize us. Grief can crack open our hearts. But only love can truly change us. And love has many faces.

Dr. Larry Michaelis, 73 and his daughter Dr. Laura Michaelis 47 are in a conversation with one another.
Laura says of her father, “ I learned a lot more about you by becoming a physician. By walking in your footsteps I have learned how much you have loved your patients and how much you care. You have given a lot and I know it has hurt.”
Laura’s father Dr. Larry says, “We are many generations of healers with heart. It’s in your blood to care. “

There’s the story of Angelo and Eddie sanitation workers who took pride in their work. They used work as a way not only clean up their city but to watch over their neighborhoods, clean up relationships, give of themselves, keep watch over their people. They saw their work as a way to make way for life to go on in their streets, for things to happen. Their pride for their work contained love of order, love of relationships, love of helping others,
love of beauty.

Some years ago…”You are my treasure.”

There is something that runs quite deep in us all that enables us to be “transformed” by love, by grace by the power of a word, a vision, or an event.

Our hope is that each week you too are renewed and transformed. And even if there is nothing of this service you remember that is fine. What touches you and causes you to love more deeply or quickly is most important.

If your humanity is lifted or if you feel yourself to be softer and more open then the transfiguration has graced you. Perhaps you too will hear God say, “You are my beloved and I am well pleased with you.”

And if you desire to pitch your tent in this place, we

Prayers of the People

We come to God with hope and confidence knowing we are all part of a glorious symphony.
We seek guidance, especially in matters of love.
Our response, “God of love hear our prayer.”

God of Love we celebrate with care and respect all your people, all traditions, all races all sentient beings. Teach us to be present.
We pray:
“God of love hear our prayer.”

God of Kindness may leaders of church and state follow your way of kindness and justice for the good of all. We all matter.
We pray:
“God of love hear our prayer.”

God of Compassion may our church thrive and grow in openness, acceptance and good will towards all.
We pray:
“God of love hear our prayer.”

God of Life protect and raise up all who suffer because of the effects of the hurricanes, earthquakes and climate change.
We pray:
“God of love hear our prayer.”

God of Awareness we pray for all those who suffer mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
We pray:
“God of love hear our prayer.”

We are grateful. May we follow the path of love and forgiveness.
Amen

A reading from Wisdom Literature
From the Broadway play, “Dear Evan Hansen”

Have you ever felt like nobody was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
Like you could fall, and no one would hear?

But see, see the thing is, when I looked up and my friend was there

That was the gift she gave me, to show me that I wasn’t alone
To show me that I mattered Everybody matters.

That’s the gift

Well, let that lonely feeling wash away
Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be okay
‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand


And someone will coming running
And I know, they’ll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in
‘Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again
Lift your head and look around-You will be found!

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

Most Rev. Dianne Sullivan
September 17, 2017

Forgiveness: Difficult for most but essential for each.
Jesus says to Peter, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
Forgiveness of oneself and forgiveness of others is essential to our soul, our spirit, our mental, emotional and physical health, yet oh so difficult.
When we don’t forgive or we can’t forgive it is as if we are carrying around a sack of rocks in our heart. The sack gets heavier with time and it becomes more difficult for forgiveness to become our reality.

In the story in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus compares God to the King, who cleverly asks of his servant to be accountable. We ask the same of ourselves, to be accountable, to take responsibility for our actions, for how we have loved, for our sense of mercy and forgiveness. The servant is frightened because he knows the King’s power and he pleads his case to the king. The king is moved and effected by this man and his plight.

I am taken by this. What this speaks of is that we effect God. Our pleas, our prayers, our aspirations, our dreams, our concerns, effect God.

We move God. That touches me deeply.

The King forgives the entire debt. My sense is that Jesus was speaking of the enormous gracious forgiving nature of God;
that God is magnanimous, neither narrow nor stingy;
that God is wide and abundant in every conceivable and inconceivable manner.
God is glorious!
As Julian of Norwich, the English mystic speaks of “All will be well, in every manner of good, all will be well.”

It follows that we are to be as wide in forgiveness and love as the King. Jesus speaks frequently of the necessity to love one another.
He speaks of love with authority, as if every fiber of his being,
his DNA is made of love. He says, “Please love one another, just as I have loved you.”
Without love we cannot thrive.

Study of infants in World War II, clustered around the nurses station

When we forgive the act of love is our currency.

In June of 2015 a horrendous shooting of nine innocent people took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. This was a tragedy that was unspeakable.

What I remember distinctly was the heartfelt sentiments of profound forgiveness from family members.

I watched and listened with astonishment as family members overcome with grief forgave this young man.

It was as if each instinctively understood that without forgiveness their grief would be locked in their soul.

Only God’s unconditional love pouring through each individual can account for such active and dynamic love.

Back to our gospel, when the others who served the king witnessed the one individual who could not or would not forgive the debt of the other, they understood this wrong-doing. So as a group they acted. They too had power to report what they witnessed, just as we do. We all have the power to stand up, reach out and declare injustice when we see it.

The story of Mrs. Rosa Parks is the story of woman, along with countless others who stood up to segregation in Montgomery Alabama. The truth is she had been activist for years, along with countless others. Everyone had a hand in reversing the segregation of the south, everyone leads

Each one us can feel like we don’t count or matter, lethargic and aimless. But like our first reading we have a place, if when we reach out, there is someone there, we will be found. There is every reason to believe that we will be ok. We are not alone. Loneliness can be corrosive, but oh so human. Darkness can blind us but always we will be found…That is our greatest responsibility as human beings to find one another; to bring comfort, joy, relief, hope, to forgive, to easy one another troubles and to lead with love.

We are like a symphony; each one of us has a melody, a piece to play and it’s glorious!

Rev Kathy Christianson, Deacon
September 10, 2017

During our time on this earth, one of the biggest challenges and it can also be our greatest reward is our relationships with people. These people could be our family, our friends, co-workers, acquaintances or neighbors. Some of these people we may be with often and some only see occasionally.

As life happens, the chances are great that difficulties could arise in any one of these relationships, maybe based on misunderstandings, expectations not met, envy, personality clashes. It could be for a lot of reasons.

In Matthew today, I believe the message from Jesus was that when these situations arise that we should not let the situation stew within us. That we should seek out the person in order to make amends or to reestablish a connection.

I have a friend whose mother is a very angry woman. The Mom’s anger manifests in her harsh words, the hurtful and not true gossip that she spreads about every family member, and the exclusion of her children at various times. No one knows the cause of her anger. Each family member suffers greatly because of this anger from their mother. And the one who suffers the most, although she may not realize it, is the very angry mom.

One of the daughters, my friend Marion, has tried on several occasions to talk with her mother about the way her mother treats her. She has asked her mother why this occurs. She has explained how it makes her feel. She has asked her mother to please stop. I think this is an example of what Jesus was saying. My friend didn’t let the hurt just stay inside her. She made several attempts to reconcile with her mother – to form a connection, to have a relationship.

The mother has not been able to see the consequences of her actions, therefore she has not made any changes in the relationships with her children. When I was thinking of this Mom (and I said a prayer for her), it reminded me of a pumpkin at the end of the Fall season. The outside of the pumpkin may be hard and look well formed, but the inside has become mushy, maybe developed mold that has started to make its way through the hard outer shell from the inside. I imagine that that’s what our inside might look like if we hang on forever to hurts and pent up anger. And then if feelings are not shared and there has been no opportunity to work things out, ultimately the daughter could become just like the mother.

But Marion has done what Jesus was asking us to do in his words in this gospel. Jesus was asking us to try and keep trying to create a positive connection with the person who has caused you pain. The connection may not even be a full, blown loving relationship. As in the case of my friend Marion, it might just have to be a connection based on love. Marion has found a way to love her mother but be very watchful of her mother’s words and actions. Marion does not allow herself to be the target of her mother’s anger. She lovingly leaves the room or when her mother is in the middle of a tirade, tells her with grace, “I’m hanging up now. I love you, Mom”.

We can see in Marion’s story who is “bound” and who is “loosed”. Keeping anger, hurt, or frustration inside of us without attempts to make amends will bind us to a loveless relationship. In being bound to the anger, a person will take it wherever they go and it could impact all of their relationships. Carrying this kind of anger and hurt perpetuates a darkness that prevails in every interaction. It most likely will lead to a life of sadness, misery and possibly being alone.

But if we choose to break free of the anger, hurt or frustration, we are loosed. In other words, we are free to love ourselves and others. We see lightness and we are able to experience love, happiness and joy. There is no darkness – only light. We are free.

In this same chapter of Matthew, it is also written:
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]
In the forgiving and letting go lies one of life’s greatest rewards – peace.

Mos Rev. Dianne Sullivan

I’d like to tell you a wonderful and true story about,
Sr. Doreen O’Grady, a Passionist sister, a friend and confidant and very Irish. Sr. Doreen was delivering a Friday evening service with her customary remarks in the small chapel of the retreat house, filled with weekend retreatants. Two elderly women sitting in the back row, were talking in rather loud voices. One said to the other, “She’s a little long winded.” The other responded, “What did you say?”
“I said she ‘s a little long winded?”
“What, I can’t hear you. What did you say?”
Sr. Doreen intervened at this point, always quick witted, and walked up the aisle next to them and in a rousing voice repeated, “She said, she’s a little long winded but thank God she’s finished.”

Sr Doreen’s spirit lingers in me as does the spirit of so many who have touched my life. And for each one, they have left me with the language of love.

There is a story of a wise old woman who lived on the edge of a small village in Ireland. She was well known and sought out for her sage advice. One day a young woman from across the seas, probably Hartford, came to her seeking peace. She said, “My life is drab and ordinary, nothing pleases me, nothing catches my interest. I am often in turmoil. What do I do to find peace?” The old woman paused and said, “My darlin’ there’s a path on the edge of the woods, follow that path. Perhaps it will take you where you need to go and help you to find what you are looking for.” The young woman agreed and set out on her journey.

Some years later she returned seeking the wise old woman once again. She said, “I followed that path and it took me to places I never dreamed of. And yet I still have not found peace. What do I do?” The old woman paused and said, “My darlin’ there’s another path on the edge of the woods, follow that path.” The young woman agreed and set out on her journey.

Years later she returned seeking the wise old woman once again.” I followed that path, she said, “and it led me to finding a wonderful man, a family and a notable job.
Yet my life is ordinary and I am often in turmoil. I’m certainly not so young anymore. How do I find peace?”

“My darlin’ there’s another path…..” But the not so young woman quickly interrupted.

“If you are going to suggest that I follow another path, I am tired of this endless search. I am not leaving where I stand until I find peace.”

“My dear,” said the wise old woman with a very long pause, pointing to the younger woman’s heart, “this is the path. Right here where you stand, not out there, only inside. That’s where you’ll find peace, in your heart.”
“But why not tell me this when I first came to you so many years ago?”
“Ah,” said the wise old woman knowingly, “You can’t rush a life.
This pilgrimage has no short cuts. Besides you would not have believed me.”

So like this woman I stand here in this place, in this moment speaking to you my truth: it is in this church, in this ministry that Spirit has called me. And in that I have found deep peace and joy.

So we have a roadmap, and the path is within. At the same time the vitality of the path leads us beyond our own borders, connecting every life form in one global body, where the individual nature of each life has a unique place and importance in that body.

Dr. Jane Goodall is a researcher who specializes in chimpanzees, who are most like humans. Their DNA differs from human DNA by a little over 1%. They share the same human emotions and their grief is profound. When one of their family dies, they too have been known to die of grief.

Dr. Scott Cloud Lee’s words resonate deeply, “God’s truth is encoded in every seed that grows and within every river that flows” and every sentient being.

When one suffers we all suffer and when one rejoices we all rejoice. We are all connected.
When a child hurts, no matter the age, a parent suffers.
When unspoken stories and dreams are diminished the potential for us all is compromised.
When negative messages are absorbed by the mind, we all feel less than alive.
Where discrimination is present we are all made to feel less than adequate.
When the people of Manchester, England and Kabul, Afghanistan suffer, we all are harmed.
When Mother Earth is degraded we all feel the impact.
When a soldier dies we all die a little.

We effect one another, from one end of the planet to the other. We cannot hide, we cannot pretend, and we cannot dismiss our place and need for participation in the mending and making of life. We are all servants of Spirit.

It is often said that the highest form of love is to serve. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples they were hesitant, he insisted. He knew the value of this kind of vulnerability, the mutuality of caring and being cared for, of serving and being served. He knew the value of modeling this kind of undefended love. This was love in action. This was the model for comforting the dying on the streets of Calcutta, for walking miles for the cure, for giving freely your time and support, or your blood, or in some cases everything you have.

The life of the historical Jesus was a manifestation of the Divine Spirit.
The DNA of his Divine inheritance compelled and guided Jesus to reside in the clarity of a peaceful loving heart, despite what others thought, or expected or assumed. This same Divine Spirit resides with all of us, inspiring generation after generation.

Ours is a legacy of hope, of a peaceful heart, a legacy of commitment, stewardship, compassion… a legacy of love, the language of Spirit.

The question is what are we actively and consciously seeking?

Like the wise woman we know the way and like the young woman we need to find our own way. A life cannot be rushed.

Be generous with your life.
Be generous with your time.
Be generous with your love.

Kathy Christianson

We all have suffered in the past or may be suffering today. I’m not sure I know of anyone who has not expressed distress of some kind in their lives – sometimes for a moment and sometimes for a long time; sometimes an issue at a time, sometimes many painful moments at a time.

I believe that the message that Peter shared with us in today’s Gospel is that we may suffer many times in our lifetime and not to be surprised that this is going to happen. Because of our God-given free will and consequently the choices that we make, we will often have “fiery ordeals”, as Peter calls them. What deserves attention though, is one step beyond the suffering.

What lies beyond the suffering, without discounting what is going on inside of us, is a place of peace, if we choose to go there.
As Peter wrote, maybe we could find a sense of peace in knowing that what we are suffering is minor compared to someone else. Christ suffered. Maybe we come to recognize that His suffering was a lot larger than ours when we think of all He went through, including being nailed to a cross. Maybe, when we move one step outside of our own suffering, we find a sense of gratitude that whatever we are going through could be worse; saying to ourselves ‘I can be grateful that whatever I am going through is not as bad as something else’.

If we can go beyond our own suffering, and don’t get stuck in it, it leaves room for us to SEE beyond ourselves.

This is a story about Katherine Wolf, who on April 21, 2008, at the age of 33, experienced a severe stroke. She, and her husband, Jay, created a blog called Hope Heals on the Internet to share their experiences with others. Katherine writes:
“My suffering, both after the stroke and to this day, has been a powerful informant for me. I lived a fairly oblivious life before my stroke. While undeniably awful and painful, calamity has meant this beautiful and heartbreaking deepening in me. I’m not quite as naive to the world around me – both the beauty and brokenness.
I am close to Christ in a way that I never was before this happened. I have tasted true suffering. I still taste it to a degree every day of my life. As a severely disabled 33 year old, I NEED to believe the truths of our Father. I don’t just believe in him anymore.
The state of California deemed me permanently disabled in the fall of 2010. As a 28-year-old girl, I was put on Medicare, my driver’s license was revoked, and I was issued a PERMANENT handicapped license plate for our car.
I have had 11 surgeries since my stroke, much painful emotional and physical heartbreak, a severely broken leg, 2 dramatic, cutting-edge facial reconstructive surgeries, and almost 2 years in hospital settings while my son was 6 months – 2.5 years old.
Deep pain and suffering of every sort has been a reality of my life for the past 7 years. I have learned NOT to fight it. Despite what every self-help piece of propaganda will tell you, I have embraced the suffering. I have learned not to fight, but to lean in hard when it hurts the most. The pain has been the instructor through which I have learned deeper truths about myself and God.
I have been broken and battered, but I am not bitter. I feel special in fact. I was chosen for this. We all “were chosen for such a time as this”. We long to lead lives worthy of our calling. We truly do see our pain as an award – a special club we were initiated into on April 21, 2008. Nothing will ever be the same, and we don’t want it to be.”
That is Katherine’s story. The lesson; with increased awareness of what is around us and being in gratitude for all that we are and all that we have, will, as Peter also tells us, allow us to “be glad and shout for joy when [Christ’s] glory is revealed”. Our hearts will be lifted because we will be able to SEE, really see, this beautiful glory of Christ because we are looking beyond ourselves.

by Kathy Christianson

It’s been four weeks since the resurrection. The wonder and the mystery of the exceptional event that just occurred is still being talked about. I will bet that Cleopas and his companion walking on the road to Emmaus were not the only ones talking about this magnificent happening!!

What stood out for me in this gospel story is the part that says “…Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him”. So, here the two are, walking down the road, and the very person that they are talking about joins them! And they do not recognize him. Why were their eyes kept from recognizing him? Was it disbelief that it could possibly be Jesus since he had “disappeared”? Was it because they were so engrossed in sharing what they had heard that they didn’t give the stranger a second glance – they were not totally aware?

One aspect of faith that is important is that just because we can’t see Jesus doesn’t mean he isn’t here. That he isn’t with us. He and his words of wisdom are still among us every day. He will help us, if we ask. He will share with us, if we listen.

I struggle, and I mention this often, that I get very caught up in the tasks of everyday living. My growth, and I keep practicing, is to remember the lessons taught by Jesus and he said–“ Love your neighbor as yourself, knowing that all men and women are your neighbor and that in loving them, you are loving God. So many search the earth and do not realize that they gaze into the face of the divine every day, for the divine is in each of us.” And I forget that often. Sometimes, I realize afterward that there Jesus was – standing beside me the whole time and I didn’t even recognize him -so caught up in myself, so caught up in the situation.

Opening our eyes and recognizing Jesus and all he stood for will lead us to happiness and peace.

I was very touched by the part of the gospel that says that as the three neared the village of Emmaus, that Jesus went to walk away and the two walking partners invited Jesus to stay with them. They offered their hospitality for the night. It was while they were eating dinner, and Jesus blessed the bread and broke it and passed it around that his two traveling companions recognized him. Oh, the familiarity of what they just witnessed – breaking of bread. They had seen it before! This is him! And they became aware. Their eyes were opened.

Sitting and dining with loved ones can create a very strong connection. I still remember at our dinner table growing up (there were 7 of us), the sense of connection as the trials and tribulations of the day were either shared at the table and you received support, or the trials of the day disappeared as we shared stories or news or just sat and basked in the comfort of all being together at the table. I didn’t understand that so much then. But I understand and feel it now.

Warm memories as we gathered at the table. Like the time, Mother had made ginger bread with whipped cream (real whipped cream – not canned) for dessert. One of brothers said, “Mom, when we were at the beach I saw a crab come out of the sand.” Mother said, “Oh, it must have been a sand crab.” Now, this was said just as I took a mouthful of desert. This struck me as so funny that I sprayed the ginger bread all over the table and the milk carton in front of me. Everyone at the table roared with laughter. Now, that was 50 years ago. And I still remember it in detail. Memories and connections created while being together.

And Jesus also asks us to remember him as a powerful connection is created when we are part of the blessing of the bread, breaking it up so that all may partake and eating it as we are gathered at the table together. Food for the journey. I think that for Jesus it wasn’t so much about being personally remembered but more about remembering his words and the lessons that he gave us for a better life – a happier life. Invite Jesus to stay with you. Offer him your hospitality and let him rest with you. Don’t forget he is near.

“For those with ears to hear it, let them hear it.”

Amen.

A reading from Wisdom Literature
By Most Rev Dianne Sullivan

What does it mean to surrender your life?

You enter death? You die?

What does it mean to surrender while we are living?

We learn there is a force that pulls us away from our best interest.
We learn there is a force that pulls us away from God.

There is nothing as dark as the total darkness.

Some call this “ego” or pride. It is a real thing that exists in each of us. It is that force that refuses to surrender.

When we surrender we give up this ego; the pride, the position, the sense of importance, everything that flatters, everything that appears to make of us more than who we are.

When we surrender our life we give ourselves over for something that is more; we give our time, our love, our goodwill, our energy and our lives.

When we surrender we follow the lead of Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Mohammad, Dorothy Day,
Rosa Parks, Queen Esther from Hebrew scripture, Joan of Arc, St. Theresa of Calcutta, Gandhi and more.

To surrender is to find ourselves and help mend this world. We cannot be of service and not touch the beauty of vulnerability and follow the one who sent us.

A reading from Wisdom Literature
R: Thanks be to God