WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.959 Bless the Lord who unburdens all of our sin. 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.320 God's mercy endureth forever. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:07.919 Let's pray together. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:16.719 Almighty God, under whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:22.079 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:29.839 And that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:30.800 Amen. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:39.200 Hear what the Lord Jesus saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy exceedingness. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:43.359 This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:45.840 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.520 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:54.719 And so let us give thanks to God for all the gifts freely bestowed upon us. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:59.600 For the beauty and wonder of your creation and earth and sky and sea. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:07.200 We thank you, Lord, for all that is gracious in the lives of women and men, revealing the image of Christ. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:13.920 We thank you, Lord, for our daily food and drink, our homes and families and our friends. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:20.079 We thank you, Lord, for minds to think, hearts to love and hands to serve. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:26.560 We thank you, Lord, for health and strength to work and leisure to rest and play. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:33.680 We thank you, Lord, for the brave and courageous who are patient and suffering and faithful in adversity. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:40.159 We thank you, Lord, for all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:45.760 We thank you, Lord, for the communion of saints in all times and places. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:47.680 We thank you, Lord. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:53.519 Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:02:01.200 To him be praise and glory with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:02.159 Amen. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:03.680 The Lord be with you. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.359 And with thy Spirit. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:06.959 Let us pray. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.280 O God whose glory it is always to have mercy. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:30.879 Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your word, Jesus Christ your Son, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God for ever and ever. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.159 Amen. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.919 Walk before me and be blameless. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:12.400 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:19.520 Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, As for me, this is my covenant with you. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.520 You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:32.319 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:40.719 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:56.080 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:06.560 God said to Abraham, as for Sari, your wife, you shall not call her Sari, but Sarah shall be her name. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.960 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.879 I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:18.399 Kings of people shall come from her. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:16.560 It is as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:24.720 In the presence of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:30.319 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become the father of many nations. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:34.639 According to what was said, so numerous shall your descendants be. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:43.040 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead, for he was about a hundred years old. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:59.600 Or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb, no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he knew strong in his face, faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:03.120 Therefore his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:09.680 Now the words, it was reckoned to him, were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:20.480 It will be reckoned to us who believe in him, who are raised to Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handled over to death for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:23.839 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:59.039 Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:01.360 He said all this quite openly. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.679 And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Jesus. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:17.120 But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan, for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:27.120 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:35.919 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the good news will save it. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:40.320 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:43.759 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:55.519 Those who are ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man, will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:58.320 The gospel of the Lord. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.360 Amen. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.879 Please be seated. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:33.759 This is, I think, one of the least historically understood passages of the New Testament in which Jesus invites his disciples to take up their cross and follow him. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:52.159 And I want to suggest it's been misunderstood because our whole thinking about the cross has been sort of played with artistically and even theologically, so that we've sort of lost sense of what the cross and crucifixion was about and what it was like. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:03.279 Often I hear this sort of thinking, take up your cross and follow me quoted as a way of saying, well, look, we're just supposed to suffer. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:08.399 So I'm just taking up my cross when I talk to that guy I can't stand. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:13.600 Or I'm taking up my cross where I'm at wear a mask in public. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:29.120 But I think it's important without being gruesome, and it is really important to hear that the cross is about as gruesome as capital punishment gets, to think about what it was like and who it was for. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:36.000 And part of the thing that we often miss is that people weren't crucified in the middle of town and crosses weren't 30 feet tall. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:47.360 People were crucified right outside of the city gates, primarily because in ancient cities the walls only accommodated a select few. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:58.799 Most people lived in caves or huts out in the fields, and they brought their produce or their flocks inside to the market every day. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:08.960 And on their way in and out, they would pass the ancient billboard of crosses, advertising for the Roman Empire. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:13.120 This is what happens when you mess with our government. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:19.600 People were not crucified because they wanted to do religious reform. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.799 People were not crucified because they stole bread. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.919 They had their hands or their thumbs cut off for that. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:30.480 People were crucified because of their politics. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.799 This is really important. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:46.720 Jesus is encouraging people to live into their faith in a way that is threatening to the way Rome is governing the empire, or they would not have killed him. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.799 He was not killed by Jewish people. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:54.080 He was killed by Romans. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:00.480 People who had means were not crucified, they were beheaded. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:12.080 Crucifixion was for poor people accused of sedition or treason, resisting the system of Rome. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.639 That could have included people who encourage you not to pay your taxes. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:21.200 By the way, you'll see that Jesus' opponents try to get him to do this. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:23.600 He doesn't come out on that clearly. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:27.360 Give to God, what is God's, give to Caesar, what is Caesar's? 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:32.559 People were not crucified 30 feet above the ground. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:34.960 They were crucified at eye level. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:44.399 There were permanent posts outside the city gates, about five and a half feet tall, with a little notch in them. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:51.120 When you were to be crucified, you carried a two by four, not a 300-pound railroad tie. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:56.480 Jesus was led out with a two by four, and you didn't need a ladder. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.919 You needed two people to pick it up and set it in a notch. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.360 And crucifixion could take days. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:08.639 It is arguably humanity at its worst. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:23.919 And Jesus invites his disciples not to be inconvenienced, not don't hear this the wrong way, not to give up chocolate for Lent. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:36.320 He invites his disciples to resist the forces of the world to dehumanize people who are made in God's image and likeness. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:47.759 He invites them to suffer on behalf of others so that we can live in dignity and equality as God intends. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.440 Some of those forces are really, really big. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:15:05.120 Usually they end with the word ism, like race-ism, age-ism, sex-ism, heterosexism, denominational-ism. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:17.519 Those are the forces, and we say this every time we say the baptismal covenant, the powers of this world that are greater than any single individual that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:24.879 And Jesus says, be willing to bear the punishment of resisting. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:31.279 And what's interesting, right, is that we have crosses all over the place. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.879 And they didn't look like that. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.559 They looked like that. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:42.399 We have them all over the place as a symbol of victory, because that is the amazing part of the story. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:46.000 God was able to transform our worse into something life-giving. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.320 But by the way, we're not supposed to settle for our worth just because God can change it. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:55.759 We're supposed to resist what is worth resisting, these powers. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:08.480 When Jesus tells his disciples to take up their cross, he's not talking about chocolate or saying thank you, although those are included. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:18.879 He's talking about resisting political, social realities that hold other people down. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:26.879 He's talking about realities that no single person can resist or change by themselves. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:35.360 Systems of inequality that are often so embedded in ourselves that we don't even know that they're there until we have a daughter. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:45.120 Until we have a professional spouse who is female, until we have a relative or a friend who is not cisgender. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.120 Things we're not even aware of because we don't have to be. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:56.400 Now don't tell anybody. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:03.839 And Jesus says, look, the Messiah will pour himself out for other people, not quash all the enemies underfoot. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:12.319 People who are anointed by God offer their life so that other people can have more. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.559 And Peter says, no, no, no, you're too important for that. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.799 And we get the rest of this story. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:27.440 Dead in the middle of Mark's gospel is the question, who do you say I am? 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.559 And he's not, Mark is not talking to Peter. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.680 He's talking to you and he's talking to me. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.559 We know there's Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and John. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.680 There's four of them. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.799 Mark wants there to be an infinite number. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:46.400 Mark wants there to be a gospel according to Jim and to Lewis and to Mike. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:48.720 Who do you say Jesus is? 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.559 And to be honest, we have the words of the creed that we're going to say in a few minutes. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:57.279 Oh, he's God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:07.359 And sometimes those words, I think, while they convey a truth, they can distance us from who Jesus truly invites us to be and how it is that he walks with us. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:14.000 And our bishop encourages to go ahead and pick up the cross and talk about, pick up our cross and say who Jesus is to us. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.359 So I'm going to do that. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.720 And at the end, I doubt that you'll crucify, you might just leave. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.319 And that's okay. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:25.039 Because the answer is, how am I going to tell you in 10 minutes who Jesus is to me? 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:29.200 Because honestly, it changes not just every day, but throughout the day. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:36.799 Sometimes the guy drives me crazy, and sometimes I feel sorry for him, and sometimes I'm willing to take him seriously. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:52.400 And what I struggle with quite a bit this length that I'm really trying to live into, if I'm honest, is that our doctrine says Jesus was like us in every way, but without sin. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.640 Boy, that's a tough one, isn't it? 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.119 It's tough. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:06.000 I grew up with the all-powerful God man on the flannel board who walked into a room and read everybody's minds. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:08.400 He knew exactly what they were thinking. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:13.039 And like Santa Claus, he's making a list and shaking it twice, so you better watch out. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:17.519 Because if you're naughty, that God man might send you to hell when you die. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:23.839 I grew up with a Jesus who was so detached from humanity. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.319 How could I possibly follow him? 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:32.400 You heard me say last week that sin means a couple of different things. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:38.160 It means missing the mark, like you shoot and you miss. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:44.160 So you just change your aim, or you change how you hold the bow. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:49.440 It doesn't mean your righteousness is ragged before God. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.759 It means you missed. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.960 Burden. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:09.920 And I wonder if Jesus was out is without sin because he learned how to lay his burdens down, and I haven't figured that out. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:18.559 In my own spirituality, I'm delighted to pick up new burdens every single day, which is kind of sad, but it's where I am. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:35.039 And this idea of sinlessness that Jesus was able to lay burden down, put burdens down, that maybe Jesus' divinity was the fact that he was fully human. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.359 It's snagging me this year in a new way. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:46.559 You know the Christmas story. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:52.559 Mary was betrothed, and she was pregnant, and they weren't married. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:56.799 And you know what you call a child that's born out of wedlock? 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.880 It's not an ice word. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:06.240 And Jesus grew up, I'm sure, being called that, and he figured out how to lay that burden down. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:11.200 He didn't earn it, he didn't deserve it. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:15.759 And he was without sin because he figured out how to lay that burden down. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:18.640 Don't you want to figure out how to lay that burden down? 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.119 God, I do. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:32.640 I gotta tell you, if Jesus never regretted anything he did, he didn't have much to say to me. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:38.640 But maybe he figured out how to lay that burden down. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:44.000 Wouldn't you love it if you could walk that road with him? 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:49.839 How to lay down regret so you could actually live in the present. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:55.440 I'm not convinced everything Jesus did, frankly, was always right. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:01.440 I mean, you know, the last week of his life, he makes a whip and chases people away. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.000 Didn't sound all that friendly. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:11.119 And maybe he figured out how to lay that burden down. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:20.240 John Wesley, and I can say this because I went to a Methodist seminary, he wrote, this is really interesting. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.519 He was an interesting guy. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:25.440 Um Wesley wrote that actually being ignorant is not sinful. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.720 Choosing to stay ignorant is sinful. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:39.279 And I gotta tell you, it is meaningful me, even if it's heretical, to think that Jesus was raised in ignorance, and the thing that was different about him is he chose to learn. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.000 That might be heretical. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:46.079 It means a lot to me. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:54.559 It means I don't have to stay in this state of sin that I didn't earn or deserve. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:59.759 That there might be a way forward. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.359 Boy. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:19.279 And maybe it means having to pick up things that we put brass on top of now, but that are really harsh and ugly. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:29.839 And result, frankly, in something that's so painful, that is dying to a way of being that we're used to that has been killing us all along anyway. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:34.720 I think that's why we get to hear these other stories. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:48.640 You know what I love about Genesis is it's not just something, well, I guess it could be it could be a book that was written a long, long time ago, and it's great to think about the fact pattern of it, but instead I want to suggest it's inviting us into some realities we can live into. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:57.440 And the story begins where Abraham is 99 years old, and Paul says, in rather ageist fashion, he was as good as dead. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:01.279 That is ageism, by the way. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:05.680 Abraham lives another um 57 years. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:11.359 Um this reminds me of something I told my children. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.680 It's right. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.279 It's never too late. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.680 It just gets harder. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:26.640 And isn't it amazing to think at the beginning of Lynch it is not too late, even though it might get harder. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.279 Why? 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:34.480 Because we've got these cumulative layers of burdens that not only we've carried, but that we think we're supposed to be carrying around. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:38.960 A lot of times I've heard in my Christian walk, God wants you to dislike yourself. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:42.160 Boy, and you hear it so many times that you think, oh, that's the gospel. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.319 I'm supposed to not like myself. 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:48.000 It's never too late. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.720 But it can get harder. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:57.279 And God promises this new future to Abraham, promises him a future. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:59.279 And God changes Sarah. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.160 Sarai means my princess, like she belonged to Abraham. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:08.559 God changes her name into Sarah, which just means princess, like of the world. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:18.799 And God would like to change that reality of us where we live no longer unto ourselves or quite honestly our false selves, but we live in the reality that God is beckoning us to as a world. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.279 Paul does this really interesting thing. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:27.200 Remember that when you read the lectionary, the people who put it together presume you've already read the Bible. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:40.880 And we get to sniff it, it's very convoluted, where Paul is really trying to say, listen, Abraham didn't earn God's favor, he just chose to live into what was already there. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:50.319 Abraham didn't earn God's blessing, he accepted it. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:55.359 Very imperfectly, if you read the story, but nonetheless, he accepted it. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:28:03.920 And there's this little bit where Abraham believed God, and it was, here's how the text reads, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:12.640 And Paul is trying to say, God credited Abraham's belief as righteousness. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:16.400 But our Jewish brothers and sisters read the text the other way. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:23.759 God promised Abraham a future, and Abraham credited God with righteousness. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:32.160 That God would give somebody 99 years old a new future, that God would say, it is never too late. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.319 Abraham credited God with righteousness for that. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:43.200 To be honest, I think it's lovely to hold on to both at the same time, isn't it? 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:49.200 And it makes me wonder as I hear this line from the Psalms. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.160 This is a tough line. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.240 I didn't even hear it at 8 o'clock. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:29:00.640 The Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty. 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:07.119 There's a reason we have Lent every year. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:12.079 Because we've got to turn away from things like that. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:28.640 From the belief that our culture would like to tell us that the poor are poor because they deserve it, that they're poor or poor because they're lazy or they're not bright, because they haven't made our choices. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:37.599 We're presented with a Jesus who was not a middle manager, white CEO at a chemical plant or aeronautical engineer. 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:42.319 We're presented with a Jesus who was unlike us because he was impoverished. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:45.440 I have a hard time even imagining that. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:51.839 That's why we come back to Lent every year so we can re-imagine that story. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:56.160 The white Jesus, I don't have to pick up any cross because I'm already white. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:30:04.079 But to think through this is somebody who suffered epithets as a child because of something he didn't even do. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:08.400 The scriptures say God did it and he had to suffer for something God did. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:10.000 Think through that. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:17.119 And this is somebody who went out and stood in front of Home Depot every day hoping somebody would hire him so he could buy food. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.519 I have never lived that reality. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:33.519 We're called to think about that so that we can literally pick up the cross for the Jesuses that live on the outsides of the neighborhoods we live in. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:31:01.599 We're called to pick up the cross honestly for the ways in which we carry around burdens and we do it thinking God blesses that, when God would be so grateful if we would dare try and lay them down, and if we would dare pull the burdens off of people that have been given to them, that they did not earn or deserve. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:10.880 So that all people, ourselves included, can hear the kernel of faith and blessing. 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:18.079 It is not too late to live in a God's future, even if it does get harder. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:22.400 And we can do more together. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.519 We believe in one God. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:33:35.279 We always are the people. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.400 Hear us. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:48.160 For it is your spirit who speaks through us as we pray. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:00.000 Lord, hear us. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.239 In your steadfast love. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.920 You provide for your creation. 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:18.239 Grant good rains for our crops. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:20.159 Lord, hear us. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:23.519 Gracious God, you inspired the prophets of old. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:27.840 Grant that your church may faithfully proclaim your truth to the world. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.599 Lord hear us. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:32.639 Gracious God, you sent your Son into the world. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:36.159 Reveal him to others through his life in us. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:42.639 And Lord Jesus, you sent your apostles to make disciples of all nations. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:46.239 Bless the clergy and the laity of our diocese and church. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:56.239 Together with Andy, Hector, Jeff, and Kai, our bishops, and in the diocese cycle of prayer, St. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:58.320 Matthew's, Austin, St. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.079 Michael's, Austin, and St. 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:08.559 Paul's Pflugerville, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Michael our presiding bishop. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:15.840 Lord Jesus, for your sake, men and women forsook all and followed you. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:21.920 Call many to serve you in religious communities and in the ordained ministry of your church. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:28.559 Lord Jesus, you called your disciples to take up the cross. 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:31.920 Deepen in each of us a sense of vocation. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:34.079 Christ hear us. 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.199 You prayed for your church to be one. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:40.880 Unite all Christians that the world may believe. 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:45.599 You forgave the thief on the cross. 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:48.880 Bring us all the penitence and reconciliation. 00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:53.679 And you broke down the walls that defied us. 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:57.119 Bring the people of this world to live in peace and concord. 00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:59.519 Christ hear us. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:04.159 You taught us through Paul, your apostle, to pray for kings and rulers. 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:06.880 Bless and guide all in authority. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.639 Christ hear us. 00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:12.800 You were rich, yet for our sake became poor. 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:17.760 Move those who have wealth to share generously with those who are poor. 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:19.599 Christ hear us. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.400 You sat among the learned, listening and asking them questions. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.280 Inspire all who teach and all who learn. 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.800 Christ hear us. 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.960 You cured by healing touch and word. 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:37.119 Heal the sick and bless those who minister to them. 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:43.360 You were unjustly condemned by Pontius Pilate. 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:49.119 Strengthen our brothers and sisters who unjustly suffering violence and persecution. 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:54.079 You lived as an exile in Egypt. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:57.679 Protect and comfort all refugees. 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:02.960 You knew the love and the care of an earthly home. 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:09.119 May your presence and protection be made known to migrant workers and their families. 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:14.000 You open and none can shut. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:19.519 Open the gates of your kingdom to those who have died without hearing your gospel. 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:27.840 You have been glorified in the lives of innumerable saints, especially Saint Thomas. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:31.199 Give us strength to follow in their footsteps. 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:39.119 Holy Spirit, you help us in our weakness and intercede for us when we cannot. 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:50.880 Remember our petitions and thanksgiving before God, especially for Chris, Sean, Mark, Jerome, and Leslie. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:54.960 And enhance our vision to see your presence in them. 00:37:57.920 --> 00:38:03.519 The congregation is invited to name their own celebration or petition silently or aloud. 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:15.280 And your infinite compassion. 00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:22.320 Compassionate God, make your healing and peaceful presence known to the world. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:24.239 Comfort those who mourn. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:31.760 Strengthen those who are weary, encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullness of life. 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:41.519 Father, we know that you are good and that you hear all those who call upon you. 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:55.760 Give to us and all people what is best for us that we may glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns through us in the Holy Spirit now and forever. 00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:32.400 If this is your first time or haven't done this before, in the room right behind us, it's called Anarthex, there are some cards that say welcome, and we would be tremendously grateful if you'd fill out one of those cards if you haven't done so before, so that we have a record of your visit. 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:34.719 And again, thank you for worshiping with us today. 00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:37.760 There are a few announcements I want to call to your attention. 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:40.880 Most of these you'll see in your e-news on Wednesday. 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:45.280 And if you're not getting that and would like to, please just see me and I can make sure you get signed up for it. 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:50.400 First is that this coming Saturday is our next food distribution. 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:53.280 It starts at 7:45 a.m. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:55.280 We're usually done by 10. 00:39:55.440 --> 00:40:02.559 It really is a great way to bear some minor inconvenience on behalf of giving life to people who really could use it. 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:07.679 So it is a great opportunity to serve this Saturday at 7.45. 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:16.559 We partner, as you know, with a number of organizations that really help be hands and feet of giving life in the world. 00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:21.840 And two of them have sort of gone on red alert this last week. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.639 One is St. 00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:24.960 Vincent's House in Galveston. 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:33.840 Many of you know that Galveston essentially has two worlds, a world of haves and a world of have, like nothings. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:41.039 And particularly after this winter storm, there is a strong call for children's clothing by St. 00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:42.159 Vincent's House. 00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:54.000 Maybe you have some in your closets or your grandchildren's closets, or perhaps you're willing to do some shopping or even to donate some funds so that they can close children on the island. 00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:56.880 They have asked us that emergency status or help. 00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:58.960 So you'll find a bin in the hallway. 00:40:59.039 --> 00:41:03.599 And if you're interested, I'm happy to give you more information on how we can be a help to them. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:12.000 The other, of course, is that Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church, that's a church that ministers to currently and formerly homeless men, women, and children. 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:26.880 They have run out of a number of sponsors, and so they're struggling to be able to give people non-perishable necessities like bottles of water, protein packages like tuna or granola bars, something that a homeless person can eat. 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:33.679 We're collecting those goods in a hallway as well, and we make regular trips up there to drop those off. 00:41:34.719 --> 00:41:39.760 Nobody can do everything, we know though, but everybody can do something, and we can do more together. 00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:44.719 So I just invite you to consider these along with the other organizations you support. 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:50.239 Speaking of support, uh our school, St. 00:41:50.400 --> 00:42:07.039 Thomas School, who is pre-K3 through fifth grade, normally holds a really lovely gala somewhere like a Lakewood Yacht Club every year to raise money for financial aid, frankly, to allow people that can't afford to go to school here to come to school here. 00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:12.960 And we're not able to physically have that gala, so you'll see this on in our e-news and on our Facebook page. 00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:15.199 Their gala is coming up March 12th. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:20.159 It's an online auction, and those funds raised go to financial aid. 00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:23.679 I've even heard that they're looking for a few items still. 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:38.719 It's a tough year for businesses to offer things, it's a little bit drier wells than normal, but I hold up to you that our school educates children in knowledge and wisdom and faith, and that um I'm really proud of it. 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:47.599 And I want you to be proud of it, and that um the fundraiser is coming up on March 12th, and you can do that online or not, but please do be aware. 00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:52.480 And um, the last opportunity I want to hold up to you, and it's not limited to Lent. 00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:58.480 I hope it is something we will build in the fabric of our community, even though it's taken me five years to figure out to offer it. 00:42:58.719 --> 00:43:13.119 I would love to visit with you at your home or to have you in my home, or have you in my office, or meet you outside in a way, of course, that is socially distanced and safe, and not because you need your priest to pray for you, although I'd be happy to do that if you would like. 00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:14.800 I would like to connect with you. 00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:22.800 So please take me up on this offer and consider joining me at my office or home or having me in your home. 00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:28.559 I'm not looking for you to feed me, I'm looking to have time with you, and would be grateful if you take me up on it. 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:30.880 Continue to walk in love. 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:35.920 As Christ first loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. 00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:54.639 Lord, I want to be a Christian in my Lord, in my Lord, I want to be a Christian, Lord, I want to be more lobby, in my home, Lord, I want to be more lobby. 00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:33.599 In my heart, in my heart, Lord I want to be like Jesus in my heart. 00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:16.239 All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee. 00:47:16.480 --> 00:47:19.760 This is the table not of the church but of Jesus Christ. 00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:23.679 It is made ready for those who love him and those who want to love him more. 00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:32.960 So come, you who have much faith, and you who have little, you who have been here often, and you who have not been for a long time or ever before. 00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:36.880 You who have tried to follow, and you who have failed. 00:47:37.199 --> 00:47:42.559 Come not because the church invites you, it is Christ, and he invites you to meet him here. 00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:45.599 The Lord be with you. 00:47:47.199 --> 00:47:48.639 Lift up your hearts. 00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:53.599 Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. 00:47:56.239 --> 00:47:59.519 It is very meet, right, and are bound in duty. 00:47:59.760 --> 00:48:22.559 We should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father Almighty, everlasting God, who dost bid thy faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast, that fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by thy word and sacraments, they may continue to the fullness of grace which thou hast prepared for those who love thee. 00:48:22.719 --> 00:48:39.760 And therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we laude and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. 00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:42.960 Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. 00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:48.719 Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. 00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:56.239 All glory be to thee, O Lord our God, for that thou didst create heaven and earth and make us in thine own image. 00:48:56.480 --> 00:49:05.840 And of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. 00:49:06.239 --> 00:49:21.199 He made there a full and a perfect sacrifice for the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of that, his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. 00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:30.400 For in the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and when he'd given thanks to thee, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat. 00:49:30.639 --> 00:49:32.960 This is my body which is given for you. 00:49:33.199 --> 00:49:35.280 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:49:37.760 --> 00:49:41.039 Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine. 00:49:41.199 --> 00:49:51.840 And when he'd given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you all for the remission of sins. 00:49:52.320 --> 00:49:56.079 Do this as often as you shall drink it in remembrance of me. 00:49:59.119 --> 00:50:19.920 Wherefore, O Lord and Heavenly Father, we thy people do celebrate and make with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy son hath commanded us to make, having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming again with power and great glory. 00:50:20.239 --> 00:50:33.199 And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and with thy word and Holy Spirit to bless and sanctify these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 00:50:33.519 --> 00:50:46.320 And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this, our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, whereby we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies. 00:50:46.639 --> 00:50:57.360 Grant, we beseech thee that all who partake of this holy communion may worthily receive the most precious body and blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ, and be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. 00:50:57.599 --> 00:51:05.840 And also that we and all thy whole church may be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:51:06.320 --> 00:51:15.119 By whom and with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. 00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:16.320 Amen. 00:51:17.199 --> 00:51:21.119 And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray. 00:51:21.440 --> 00:51:32.079 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:51:32.320 --> 00:51:51.679 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. 00:51:52.079 --> 00:51:52.719 Amen. 00:51:54.239 --> 00:51:57.440 Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 00:51:57.840 --> 00:52:00.320 Therefore, let us keep the feast. 00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:05.039 These are the gifts of God, and we are the people of God. 00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:15.039 I invite you to receive bread or blessing by coming to the aisle closest to your right, coming down front to receive, and returning to your seat on the far side. 00:52:49.920 --> 00:53:06.000 Such a way as gives us breath, such a truth essence of strike, such a life as kiss. 00:53:19.280 --> 00:55:08.880 Such a life cause as feast, such a fix, such a strength as man is such a joy, such as the pray together. 00:55:09.519 --> 00:55:42.480 Almighty and ever-living God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou hast fed us in these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and dost assure us thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us, and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people, and are also heirs to hope of thy everlasting kingdom. 00:55:42.719 --> 00:56:05.360 And we humbly beseech thee, O Heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honor and glory, world without an end. 00:56:05.679 --> 00:56:06.320 Amen. 00:56:07.760 --> 00:56:11.280 Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. 00:56:11.679 --> 00:56:15.760 All things break, and all things can be mended. 00:56:15.920 --> 00:56:19.599 Not with time as they say, but with intention, so go. 00:56:20.239 --> 00:56:24.639 Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. 00:56:25.039 --> 00:56:29.039 The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you. 00:56:30.159 --> 00:56:36.639 And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you this day and remain with you always. 00:56:37.440 --> 00:56:38.079 Amen.