Yogi Berra Spirituality: Life is 90% mental and spiritual; the other half is physical

4 Epiphany B  January 28, 2018
Deut. 18:15-20  Ps. 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13   Mark 1:21-28

Lectionary Link

One of the Cosmic themes of the Bible is the battle of good versus evil, and the protagonists are God versus the Devil.  This battle is waged and recorded in the salvation history of the Bible.  It is expanded to tell about Lucifer as a prideful fallen angel, who then is able to become the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  He tricks Adam and Eve to take two small bites for a man and a woman but one giant leap for all of humanity in the eviction from Paradise forever for them and for all of us.

And so disharmony ensued within the conditions of freedom as evil seemed to reign and the devilish forces continuously disrupted harmony from being the rule of the diverse orchestra of everything in creation.

Adam and Eve were not the champion heroes against the serpent; who would be that hero?  Patriarchs, Moses, David, the prophets, and other leaders arose to teach and promote order for a world that suffered from disharmony.  How could harmony be restored?

The general failure at achieving harmony through all of the godly manifestations of ministry in Israel created the longing for a hybrid hero; someone like David but greater than David.  When God's people spent so many years in exile and under occupation, the intensity of the expectation for this Messianic hero grew.

And how did the early church understand Jesus of Nazareth to be such a Messianic hero?

St. Paul wrote that struggle was not with flesh and blood.   It was not a matter of having armies and weapons of war.  St. Paul said the struggle was with the principalities and powers of darkness in high places.  In other words, the battle was an interior one.  Life begins with winning the battle in spirit and in the mind.

Do you remember the mathematics of the famous Yankee player and manager Yogi Berra?  He said, "Baseball is 90 percent mental; the other half is physical."

What Yogi was trying to say with his funny math is that it is mind over body; it is learning how to be interiorly at peace and in order so that one can with self control and finesse make one's bodily life perform what needs to be performed.

How did the Gospel writer relate the ministry of Jesus to this belief that life is 90 percent psychological and spiritual?

The exorcism accounts indicates that an encounter with the Risen Christ through power of the Holy Spirit is an inside job.  The deep prayer of the Psalmist is the deep prayer of everyone and not just of the severely disturbed: "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me."  

The stories of exorcisms are accounts of Jesus as a people whisperer, whispering people to having a clean and renewed heart and spirit.

What a terrible designation to have, to be said to have an "unclean spirit."  That's saying you are rotten to the core and not worthy to be among people.

Jesus is the Mr. Clean of the spirit.  He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  He is the anointed one, because he is the one who anoints us with Holy Spirit to clean our inner lives and allow us the freedom of self control.

And with self control we can practice the love of God and the true practice of fellowship in loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Let us seek Jesus, the people whisperer today.  Let us allow him to baptize us with God's spirit to help us win the interior battle against all of those principalities and powers of selfish darkness.

And let us be commissioned by the People Whisperer, to go forth and whisper people living in fear and anxiety into the peace and calm of Christ.  Amen.

Aphorism of the Day, January 2021

Aphorism of the Day, January 31, 2021

It is one thing to say God is beyond words, and while one is doing that one is using the words, "God is beyond words."  So one deconstructs oneself even while uttering this.  Another way to express what we might call mystery and mysticism is to admit that having Language or Words means that words always refer to things which are not words and so words seem to be the threshold between words and what words are referring or pointing too.  And if we think that we can escape "words," we need to admit that the entire context of of being here or there is already pre-coded by language.  By language, we reflect reflexively upon the language experience of humanity.  One needs to be careful about thinking one has "escaped" language while language is omni-present in pre-coding our human existence.

Aphorism of the Day, January 30, 2021

The way to read the Gospels is to discern the presentations of liturgical practice, teaching, and doctrines of the early church in the narratives about Jesus.  The Gospels represent a later stage than say the writings of Paul,  of a more institutionalized organization which arrived at the genre of the Gospel to embed the undergirding Christian practices in various phases and places of Christian communities.

Paul Aphorism of the Day, January 29, 2021

The main issue in life is the know the relationship between one's inner life with one's outer life to be characterized with such designations as love, creativity, fellowship and the like.  When one's interior life is so confused that it prevents such outcomes in our exterior life, one realizes that the taming of the interior is required.  The interior might be known as a very wild place because of early childhood trauma causing dissociative disorders or the brain chemistry may be chronically unable to allow interior peace.  It could be that Jesus as a people whisperer, was able to appeal to the Me Underneath Everything In My Body, and resurrect the image of God within.  And the result is to know a profound Peace which can begin to heal all of the scars that have plowed deep grooves in one's memories which have determined the hurtful practices of one's life.

 Aphorism of the Day, January 28, 2021

The Gospel literary function of the exorcisms of Jesus is to present him as triumphant over principalities and powers in the cosmic battle of God versus Satan, who is seen in the salvation story, as one who is given permissive freedom to cause havoc in the world.  Jesus, is seen as the hero to face the one who creates havoc in the exterior world but also in the interior world of people who can be continuously threatened by the accusing voices and misappropriated desire which leads to addiction/possession by unworthy compulsive forces.  Jesus as the Risen Christ/Holy Spirit is the Higher Power to give people freedom from addiction and "possession" due to warped desire.

Aphorism of the Day, January 27, 2021

In classifying mental health disorders, that is the behaviors which seem to indicate an interior disordered life, with disordered being defined by community standards of appropriate public behaviors, some of the Gospel communities had the diagnosis of "unclean spirit," or "demons," to define the disorders of the persons who were disturbing the community norms for how to interact and behave.  Some can view Jesus as a "demon zapper" bringing instant soundness of mind to people.  Certainly, we wish we had access to a pan-healing demon zapper to instantly cure all of the varieties of mental health disorders which trouble us today in our world.  One can also understand the exorcism stories as post-Pauline wisdom instantiation of the spiritual life being against the disorienting "diabols" inside of each person which contribute to the inability to peacefully unite our inner lives with how we manifest our outer lives in word and behaviors.  We know that "healing" of any sort is never "final" since our bodies still have death as a teleological event.  Our bodily and mental lives are going through continuous states of relative health and unwellness.  If we appropriate Jesus simplistically and literally as a superhero demon zapper, it can perpetuate the untruth that "complete" health is a static state that one achieves, rather than the truth of life including varieties of states of health/disease in the progression of time.

Aphorism of the Day, January 26, 2021

One can use themes of "medical anthropology" to analyze the presentation of people who had degrees of severe mental health disorders.  Exorcisms of "unclean" spirits by the people whisperer Jesus are included in the synoptic Gospels, but not in the Gospel of John. Does this mean that in the context for the writing and editing of John's Gospel, exorcisms had become an "unfamiliar or unacceptable" spiritual mental health "treatment?"

Aphorism of the Day, January 25, 2021

In a public health system which had as a diagnosis as condition as "unclean spirit," one would be regarded as persona non grata, especially at public gather of worship.  Jesus, people whisperer, was able to turn one designated as having an "unclean spirit," into one who had the unclean removed.  It is always good to get a Public Health system negative label on oneself removed.

Aphorism of the Day, January 24, 2021

The call of Christ might come in the form of creative advance in one's life which does not just involve one own benefit but the benefit of others.  The call of Christ happens when we check our egos at the doors for the benefit of other people in our world to be able to experience and share good news for their lives.

Aphorism of the Day, January 23, 2021

A call of Christ is both event and and a way of life.  You can have the call of Christ as a way of life without having dramatic Damascus Road calling "events." 

Aphorism of the Day, January 22, 2021

It could be that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were thrilled to be delivered from the "tedium" of commercial fishing as their daytime jobs.  The call of Jesus gave them the impetus to "leave" the family business whose gifts were perhaps untapped by simply throwing the net and hoping for a catch to sell.  The call of Christ can provide a way out of the drudgery of what one might be stuck in.

Aphorism of the Day, January 21, 2021

Sometimes a vocation or a call is reduced to a specific religious ministry or vacation.  This can end up in the neglect of the general call to be upon a holistic path of transformation, a continual repentance, in the renewing of one's mind.

Aphorism of the Day, January 20, 2021

Jonah is a story about a man who was called to do something that he did not want to do because it was way outside of his comfort zone and required that he live beyond his own limited "exceptionalism."  Jonah believe in the exceptionalism of his Torah based identity and why would God offer that benefit to the foreigners of Ninevah?  The lesson is that God calls us beyond our own biases because of God is love, and such love is for everyone, meaning we owe the best of love to everyone.

Aphorism of the Day, January 19, 2021

Can you imagine St. Peter before he was crucified in Rome thinking, "Wow, I've come a long way from tending nets on the Sea of Galilee?"

Aphorism of the Day, January 18, 2021

The call of Christ made fishermen public speakers and travelers to places far beyond the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  The call of Christ is a spiritual awakening which holistically changes ones entire life in manifold ways.  It really can be a "life make- over."

Aphorism of the Day, January 17, 2021

Sometimes the "call" to do things get over-valued in light the the always already call to "general" virtue like love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and kindness.  The manifestations of such virtues are always specific in situational deeds and so they are not theoretical.  Let no one think that they don't have a call.

Aphorism of the Day, January 16, 2021

In church history, the emphasis upon "heroic" calls of the remembered saints has covered up the importance of the quotidian call for everyone to be kind.  Paul wrote that one could be heroic and yet miss out on the most important thing, love.

Aphorism of the Day, January 15, 2021

The words of the call of Jesus were: "Follow me."  If one wants to do an analysis of one's values, one should ask, "who am I following?"  The authorities whom we privilege reveal the ones whom we are following, both politically and spiritually.  Whose teachings have caught one's attention as being worthy of making one a devoted follower?  If one can answer that honestly, one knows the nature of one's calling in life, and how one is constituted toward the actions determined by one's values.

 Aphorism of the Day, January 14, 2021

Often when studying the call of God from the Gospel stories, we focus on the first and initial call.  An initial call is only one event in time; what about the necessary continuity of the call because a call is only an introduction when "people start speaking."  The continual relationship in time as a continuing call is more important than one mere milestone.

Aphorism of the Day, January 13, 2021

Historically, the notion of a call from God or a "vocation" became seen as pertaining mostly to the clergy and the religious of monastic communities.  Call and vocation came to regarded as something heroic based upon what one had to give up from "normal" pedestrian life to respond to the harder requirements of the call to poverty, obedience and chastity.  One of the results of the liturgical movement was the recovery of the "lay apostolate" and the recognition that the baptismal calling is an equal grace-filled calling that results in different articulations of that equal call of God.  Epiphany is a season of highlighting the call of God, really to everyone, based upon the inside job of the image of God being within everyone.  Everyone has the call, but not everyone realizes and actualizes the call.  Very few are struck to the ground with Damascus road call experiences, many are realize the call in a beautiful sunset or a sleeping baby.

Aphorism of the Day, January 12, 2021

The season of Epiphany includes the theme of the call of God.  The Gospel provides "call stories" about how the disciples came to follow Jesus.  One's call involves the dynamic of projecting our love on mentors and ideals that are icons of who we want to be in the future to surpass ourselves in excellence.  When we find traces in people and words of what we are not yet, the "call" happens as a lure to our transformation.

Aphorism of the Day, January 11, 2021

Nathaniel was amazed that Jesus saw him from a distance when he was under a fig tree.  What message do we send from a far when there is no one intentionally "watching" us?  Are we sending the "kindness of strangers" message when no one is looking?

Aphorism of the Day, January 10, 2021

Baptism might be understood as a "rite of passage," signifying the interaction of a person within a community as the acknowledgment of the baptized becoming coded passively and actively with the "grace markings" of the community's best practices, namely, being loved by God, forgiven, set on a path of the repentance and learning to love one's neighbor as one's self.   Such grace markings comprise the social ontological change which happens to the baptized.  The baptized and the community of the baptized are different after the baptism because each has surpassed their former states of becoming.

Aphorism of the Day, January 9, 2021

Some are used to presenting baptismal grace as sort of causatively and mechanically attached to a "water rite" in the church.  Why not see baptism as an event of reconnection of the original grace of creation which never has left the world with new discoveries of it in time?  In wanting to put God's grace "in control" of church bodies, we can reduce grace to canon law and church administration.

Aphorism of the Day, January 8, 2021

One can view baptism as a time specific causative occasion when grace moves upon the baptized, or one can see baptism as an individual in community event when the realization of the goodness grace of creation is re-realized by the community as a manifestation of the prevenient grace of values of the social ontology of the community being imprinted again in an actualizing event of inculcating the future church.

Aphorism of the Day, January 7, 2021

When a baby enters the world, we can say that such a little being is an "unfinished" being.  There are many events to look forward to in the becoming more "finished" as a person, as a mature person.  What does being finished or mature mean?  With the community of faith, it means growing to be more Christ-like, and this growth process never ends.  Baptism, no matter when it happens, carries with it the "community social programming values:"  love God and neighbor as oneself and respect the dignity of every human person.  These are the values of being "more finished" in our lives.  Baptism is an important confirming graceful gateway into these sublime and totally worthy teleological values.

Aphorism of the Day, January 6, 2021

Baptism in its essence is the acceptance between a person, the fellowship and God of a covenant of identity.  In this identity one is saying, "I belong to God in Christ, and I belong with the fellowship of those who confess the same."  Together the baptized and his or her fellowship are hearing the voice of God say, "You are my beloved children, with you I am well pleased."  This is the event of esteem for the fellowship of Christ.

Aphorism of the Day, January 5, 2021

As we practice baptism, it is a covenant ceremony, an initiation event signifying that one is undergoing a process of mystification, sanctification in the belief that Christ is is in one as the hope that one is being propelled to surpass oneself in excellence in a very open future.  There is nothing superstitious about the rite itself even as it does posses the ingredients of how the social ontology of the church functions.  In community, one becomes different through baptism by virtue of the baptismal meanings beginning to constitute how one understands one's own identity and how others understand one's identity.  A difference between the baptism of Jesus and ours is this:  Jesus was baptized as an expression of his full solidarity/union with humanity, the significant hominization of the divine.  We are baptized to celebrate the possibility of progressing in divinization/godliness to grow in the God-identity aspect of our lives.

Aphorism of the Day, January 4, 2021

Kenosis is how the "emptying of God into Jesus" is poetically described.  The Plenitude of Everything that Is has reductive representation is what is most excellent in human form.  Christians have a hard time dealing with Christ as the Cosmic unlimited being and Jesus as the one who accepted all of the limitations of living in his particular context and setting, even as he did it with superb excellence.  Kenosis is expressed as "solidarity" with human life and one of the human things people of faith were doing during the time of Jesus was to get baptized by John the Baptist.  Jesus too was baptized by John as an act that is understood as another occasion of kenosis in the life of the eternal Christ-Word in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Aphorism of the Day, January 3, 2021

To treat the star of Bethlehem as an actual "drone hovering star," is to miss the metaphorical meaning of the wisdom story of the early church regarding the validity of God-experience of "foreigners."

Aphorism of the Day, January 2, 2021

The magi story includes a "drone" star, that is, a star that can move and hover like a God-directed drone.  It is the divine GPS before there was GPS.  The magi were representative of Gentiles in story form of God-fearing seekers who like the Psalmist found that the heavens "declare the glory of God," in a general way, but that glory can lead one to the birth site within oneself of the Christ nature.  Incredible how so many have sacrificed the mystagogy of the early church to assert that such an event could have been empirically verified, assuming the early church mystics did not know the difference between poetry and commonsense.

Aphorism of the Day, January 1, 2021

It is good year to lean how to be magical magi.  In magic, one does not seek outside intervention; one manages the focus on quick changing referential frames of foreground and background to direct the eye to what one wants others to "see" and "not see."  As maturing people in emotional intelligence, learning to direct intentional focus is part of the magic of managing life.  We can let the overwhelming reality of the bad and evil, like the pandemic dictate our behaviors, or we can with artistic rhetorical finesse "see" other things that can inspire behaviors of faith based upon the yet unseen outcomes of hope.

Quiz of the Day, January 2021

Quiz of the Day, January 31, 2021

Which Gospel does not have accounts of exorcisms?

a. Matthew

b. Mark

c. Luke

d. John

Quiz of the Day, January 30, 2021

The Venite is which Psalm?

a. 100

b.  23

c.  95

d.  1

Quiz of the Day, January 29, 2021

Which of the following was a "big" issue in the Corinthian church?

a. eating food that had been sacrificed to idols

b. entering the temple of a deity

c. re-baptizing Jews who had been baptized by John the Baptist

d. whether women were allowed to marry

Quiz of the Day, January 28, 2021

The philosophical school called "Thomism" derives from whom?

a. Thomas the Apostle

b. Thomas of the Mar Thoma church of India

c. Thomas More

d. Thomas Aquinas

Quiz of the Day, January 27, 2021

Who of the following did not have a recorded disagreement with St. Paul?

a. Cephas

b. Barnabas

c. John Mark

d. Demas

e. Silas

Quiz of the Day, January 26, 2021

Which of the following is not true?

a. Timothy and Titus were proteges of Paul

b. the letters of Timothy and Titus are deutero-Pauline

c. Titus was required to get circumcised

d. Paul circumcised Timothy

e. Timothy had a Greek father and Jewish mother

Quiz of the Day, January 25, 2020

Which of the following is not true about the conversion experience of St. Paul?

a. it was on the road to Damascus

b. Saul saw a flashing light from heaven

c. Saul heard a voice

d. Saul fell off his horse

e. Saul's companions heaven a voice

f.  Saul lost his sight

Quiz of the Day, January 24, 2021

Who wrote the words of "O Little Town of Bethlehem?"

a. Samuel Seabury

b. Jonathan Edwards

c. Phillips Brooks

d. Isaac Watt

e. Charles Wesley

Quiz of the Day, January 23, 2021

Which of the following is not included in the Pauline spiritual armor?

a. sword of the Spirit

b. breastplate of righteousness

c. belt of truth

d. helmet of salvation

e. shield of faith

f.  spear of love

Quiz of the Day, January 22, 2021

Jesus did not say the kingdom of heaven/God was like

a. a mustard seed

b. leaven in dough

c. sorting out the catch of a net

d. baking a loaf of bread

Quiz of the Day, January 21, 2021

Which is not a condition for the seed which was sowed in the parable of the sower?

a. dry ground

b. rocky ground

c. thorns and brambles

d. good soil

e. seeds exposed to birds

Quiz of the Day, January 20, 2021

Which of the following is not true about Cyrus the Great?

a. he was the Emperor of Persia

b. his empire succeeded the Babylonian Empire

c. in Isaiah he is called a messiah

d. he was overthrown by Darius

Quiz of the Day, January 19, 2021

The Week of Christian Unity occurs between which two feasts?

a. Martin Luther King, Jr. and St. Paul

b  Martin Luther King, Jr. and Peter

c. Martin Luther and Pope Gregory I

d. St. Peter's confession and St. Paul's conversion

Quiz of the Day, January 18, 2021

Where did the confession of Peter regarding Christ being the Messiah occur?

a. Capernaum

b. Caesarea Philippi

c. Jerusalem

d. on the Sea of Galilee

Quiz of the Day, January 17, 2021

Where is the holy place for the Samaritan Torah based community?

a. Mt. Hermon

b. Mt. Gerizim

c. Shiloh

d. Mt. Tabor

Quiz of the Day, January 16, 2021

Jesus was said to be a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek; who in Hebrew Scriptures is associated with Melchizedek?

a. Moses

b. Levi

c. the king of Salem

d. Abraham

e. a and b

f. c and d

Quiz of the Day, January 15, 2021

What is the tetragrammaton?

a. four consonants in Hebrew

b. the Holy Name of God

c. the representation of the name of God in script which is not pronounced by most Jews

d. a Hebrew word that has been translated as "I am"

e. all of the above

Quiz of the Day, January 14, 2021

Of the disciples, whose mother-in-law was healed by Jesus?

a. Andrew's

b. James'

c. Simon's

d. John's

Quiz of the Day, January 13, 2021

What "heresy" was Hilary of Poitier known for opposing?

a. docetism

b. donatism

c. Arianism

d. Marcionism

Quiz of the Day, January 12, 2021

In which Gospel can one find Nathaniel?

a. Matthew

b. Mark

c. Luke

d. John

Quiz of the Day, January 11, 2021

According to the Gospel of Mark, what did Jesus do after his baptism?

a. cleansed the temple

b. preached on the banks of the Jordan

c. went into the wilderness to be tempted

d. called the first of his disciples

Quiz of the Day, January 10, 2021

Which Gospel does not have an account of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist?

a. Matthew

b. Mark

c. Luke

d. John

Quiz of the Day, January 9, 2021

In which of the following pairs can be found reference to the "grapes of wrath?"

a. Genesis and Revelation

b. Psalms and Isaiah

c. Isaiah and Revelation

d. Ezekiel and Revelation

Quiz of the Day, January 8, 2021

The town of Cana is associated with which sacrament?

a. baptism

b. Eucharist

c. ordination

d. confirmation

e. reconciliation

f.  matrimony

g. unction

Quiz of the Day, January 7, 2021

Which New Testament book contains a critique of seven churches located in seven cities?

a. Jude

b. Acts of the Apostles

c. Epistle to the Romans

d. Revelations

Quiz of the Day, January 6, 2021

Which of the following is true about an Orthodox Christmas?

a. it happens on January 6th

b. it happens on the Feast of the Epiphany

c. it is determined by fealty to the Julian Calendar

d. the discoveries of Galileo caused the different dates for Christmas in churches

Quiz of the Day, January 5, 2020

What book of the Bible includes the most listings of the faith heroes of the Hebrew Scriptures?

a. Psalms

b. Acts of the Apostles

c. Genesis

d. Hebrews

Quiz of the Day, January 4, 2021

What is another name for Mt. Sinai?

a. Tabor

b. Herman

c. Horeb

d. Nebo

Quiz of the Day, January 3, 2021

In which Gospel does Jesus say, "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood...?

a. Matthew

b. Mark

c. Luke

d. John

e. not in a Gospel but in 1 Corinthians

Quiz of the Day, January 2, 2021

What is the meaning of the name Abram or Abraham?

a. Father

b. exalted or lifted up father

c. father of many nations

d. father of a multitude

Quiz of the Day, January 1, 2021

The practice of circumcision derived from

a. the creation covenant
b. the covenant with Noah
c. the covenant with Abraham
d. the Mosaic Law

Sunday School, January 31, 2021 4 Epiphany B

 Sunday School, January 31, 2021  4 Epiphany B

Theme:

Being a people whisperer.

Have you ever seen a mother calm her crying baby?  How does she do that?

Have you ever seen a dog owner calm a barking dog?  How does a person do that?

Have you ever seen a horse trainer, tame and calm a wild horse?  How does a person do that?

Some one who knows how to calm an animal is called a whisperer.  A dog whisperer is able to be so friendly with a dog that a dog becomes calm, friendly and peaceful with a dog whisperer.  A horse whisperer can be so friendly with a wild horse that they horse calms down and will let the horse whisperer ride without being bucked off.  How does a horse whisperer do that?

It is something that you can learn, but it is also a special gift.

We might call Jesus a people whisperer.  Today we read about Jesus meeting a man who was really upset.  He was like a crying and screaming baby out of control.  But he wanted to be in control.  He wanted to find someone who could calm him.  The people were afraid of this wild acting man and they wanted him removed, but Jesus calm the man down and showed him how he could be friendly and peaceful.  Jesus was a people whisperer.

You and I are supposed to be people whisperers too.  How do we do that?  When people are hurt or in pain or when people are sad and angry, we can help them by being kind and feeling safe.

When we say: The Peace of the Lord be with you, we are accepting our role to be people whisperers.  We are to learn how to make people feel calm and peaceful and we are to learn how we can accept the help of others when we need it to have some calm in our lives.  

Let us remember that Jesus was a people whisperer and he taught us to be people whisperers today.  Remember we exchange the greeting of peace today, we are accepting our role as people whisperers.

Sermon:

Today, we read about when Jesus went to a synagogue.  A synagogue was a place where people in the time of Jesus went to pray and to read their holy book. 

  And Jesus surprised the people by how he taught.  Usually, the teachers of his time were taught by a famous teacher or rabbi.  And when a someone graduated from the  school of a famous rabbi, a student’s diploma depended upon the reputation of the teacher whom he studied with.

  So, the people were surprised by the teaching of Jesus.  Because they did not know where he had learned everything that he knew.

  They said that he taught with authority.  What is authority?  Authority is a power and strength and ability.  We say a doctor has authority, because a doctor knows all about medicine.  A doctor can use knowledge of medicine to help patients recover from their illnesses.  So, a good doctor has authority…power and ability to make people better.

  Jesus was a person who had authority.  He had power and ability to make people better.

  How can you and I get the kind of power and authority that Jesus had?  We like powerful people.  We like football heroes, baseball heroes because of their strength and their ability.  We like super heroes because of their power.

  Big muscles may make us strong and powerful, but that does not give us the kind of power and authority that Jesus had.  Jesus wants us to have the same kind of authority and power that he had.

  And how can we have that same authority?  How do you and I get authority in our lives?  We get authority by keeping our word, and by doing the right things that we’re supposed to do.

   Why is it hard to clean your room?  Why is it hard to do your homework?  And why does it look easy when your mom or dad are cleaning your room?  If we do not have practice in cleaning our room, we do not have authority or power.  Mom and dad have cleaned before many times and so they have authority and power to clean.  The same thing with our homework.  Mom and dad can do your homework because they have practiced.  So they have authority and power to do it.

  Jesus wants you and me to have authority.  And how do we get authority?  We get it by practicing.  When we learn how to do something well, then we have authority.  Sometimes practice is very difficult, but we need to remember that with practice we are gaining the power to have authority.  We are gaining the power to do something well.

  Jesus wants each of us to have authority and power today.  He wants us to work hard at practicing how to live good lives, so that we can have power and authority.  Jesus wants each of us to be a superhero of our own lives.  I am powerful.  I have authority.  I can control myself.  I can practice to be better everyday.

Intergenerational liturgy with Holy Eucharist

January 31, 2021: Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

To God Be the Glory, Christ Beside me, Dona Nobis, We Are Marching

Processionial Song: To God be the Glory, Renew! # 258

To God be the glory great things he hath done,

so loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

O Come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory, great things he hath done.

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be God’s Kingdom now and forever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy   

Moses said, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb…

The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 111

Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the deeds of the LORD! *they are studied by all who delight in them.

His work is full of majesty and splendor, *and his righteousness endures for ever.

He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

He gives food to those who fear him; *he is ever mindful of his covenant.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. And Jesus healed a man who was troubled in his heart.  They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. …At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Offertory Song:  Christ Beside Me   (Renew! # 164)

1          Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart;  Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

2            Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me—shield in the strife:  Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising—light of my life

3          Christ be in all hearts, thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues, telling of me; Christ be the vision, in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

4  Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

All are born into the family of God by Baptism.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbors.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death, resurrection of Christ and that his  presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing, (Children may rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father (Sung): (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed by thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Word of Administration.

Communion:  Dona Nobis Pacem, (Renew # 240)

Dona nobis pacem, pacem, dona nobis pacem. 

Dona nobis pacem, dona nobis pacem. 

Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: We are Marching in the Light of the Lord, Renew! # 306

We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

            we are marching in the light of the Lord

            We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

we are marching in the light of the Lord

We are marching in the Light of the Lord;

we are marching in the light of the Lord

We are singing in the Light of the Lord…..

           

Refrain: We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.       

We are marching, marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of the lord.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God!