Christmas Eve 2021 - WONDER!!

 Christmas Eve
Dec 24, 2021
Fr. Phil Eberhart

 

Hurry, hurry, hurry…  shop till you drop.  Is it just me?   I feel like Christmas snuck up on me a little bit this year.  And here we are.  Christmas eve!! 

It takes work to keep from being sucked into the vortex, that seems to start earlier and earlier each year, depending on how desperate the economy and the retailers are to get their bite of the Christmas pie!

 

But on this night, hopefully, in some way, all that drops away.  We had it dark and candlelit at the beginning so that you would have that sense of “wonder” that comes with these services and celebrations.  We’ll go back to it with full candlelight after communion tonight as we all light our candles and sing “Silent Night – Stille Nacht.” 

 

WONDER

 

It’s kind of a child’s special habitation, isn’t it?  Our granddaughter is here tonight and we get to spend about a day a week with her.  The more she grows the more she wants to grow.  The more she experiences of life, the more she wants to experience.  I’m finding it difficult to keep up.

 

Wonder…

 

There is a lot here to wonder at tonight.  Not just the beauty of the evening, the music, the candlelight and the trees, the presents when you get home or in the morning.  All this is window dressing, like these candles in the windows.  Like the lights on the trees, it’s all a twinkle, signifying something that is the real object of “wonder.”  W O N D E R !!

Wonder that this night even exists at all!  It is a testimony of the unfailing love of God that we can celebrate this night!  John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “The Lamb of God”  -  we’re going to sing that little song  -  The “little lamb” that Mary had, John said,  was “slain from the foundation of the world.”  I heard a song this past few weeks that said “The Cross is the reason for Christmas!”  Jesus was a gift of unimaginable love and sacrifice by His Father, to us – to all humankind – to the whole world that God SO LOVED.

 

WONDER AT GOD’S LOVE…

 

Why 2000 + years later do we remember this night that was…  Silent … Holy …

Awesome … History changing.   World shaking … yet, almost invisible!  With the whole host of heaven in attendance and here come 3 -4 shepherds and later, three wise men, with gifts from the east, guided by a star. 

This is one crazy story!

 

WONDER AT GOD’S WAYS…

 

He tells us that His ways are higher than our ways.  That His thoughts are higher than ours.  God sees the end from the beginning.  Nothing is ever out of his view, past, present or future.  It’s for that reason that we can trust in Him and in His goodness in planning for each one of us here.  There are no accidents!

 

WONDER AT HOW BIG GOD IS …

 

You can trust Him.  In fact He invites that trust, over every little particular in your life, from parking spots to having kids;  from cocoons and butterflys to governments and world peace!  God has it all in view, nothing escapes… ever.

The smallest decisions you have to make and the life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime defining moments are all in His Hands.

 

WONDER AT TRUSTING HIM…

 

Jesus the baby is God Almighty.  The Creator of the Universe in swaddling clothes and lying in a feeding trough in a barn.  I grew up on a farm, so I know what that means.  This was a gritty picture.  One that combined all the lowness of the lowly, with all the glory that heaven and earth could muster – angels, wise men or foreign dignitaries attending – right next to shepherds, and peasant s, a carpenter attended by kings!

 

WONDER AT WORSHIPING …

 

All the best that has come in human history has come as the issue of this night!

Cathedrals,  Science, mathematics, technology, medicine, hospitals, missionaries, education, schools, colleges, music – Handel’s Messiah!!...

The list can go on and on…  almost everything we take for granted in our world, especially here in the USA, has risen out of this NIGHT!  I’m not kidding.

 

Isaiah said it nearly 3000 years ago in his prophetic words:  

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

WONDER AT HOW GOD LOVES YOU AND ME…

AT HOW HE HAS FILLED OUR LIVES WITH GOOD THINGS…

AT HOW HE IS IN CONTROL OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERN US…

WONDER…

AT THE LOWLY BABE IN A MANGER…

THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE – OF ALL CREATION…

A HUMAN BABY – 9 MONTHS IN MARY’S WOMB,

EVEN RECOGNIZED AS THE “LORD” THERE BY JOHN AND ELIZABETH!

WONDER…

EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHT.

AND HE TOOK ON OUR FLESH AND MADE HIS TABERNACLE AMONG US.

WONDER… 

LET US PRAY:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Advent IV - A QUESTION OF OBEDIENCE

Advent IV
Dec 19, 2021
Fr. Phil Eberhart

 

A Question of Obedience

 

 

Have you ever questioned something that you felt God say to you?

 

Most people would say that they have never actually heard God speak to them, and even fewer have ever encountered angels speaking in their prayer times!   This morning I want to share a couple thoughts about the questions that Mary and Zechariah posed to the angel (same angel) who spoke to them during their visitations from God.  There is just a word or two difference, in fact.  But there is a world of difference in those few words!!

 

Before this morning’s gospel reading, in the earlier part of Luke 1, Mary is visited by Gabriel, the Archangel, the “messenger” of God and told that she will become pregnant, supernaturally – [overshadowed by the Holy Spirit] – and that she will bear a son, calling his name Yeshua / Jesus.  Upon hearing this pronouncement, that we call The Anunciation, Mary had a question.  Like many of us, the question was not one of disbelief, but an inquiry about the ways & means:  “How shall this be?”

 

Often in our lives, when God is leading us, the ways and means are obscure, until the time is full and the prophetic word is full-filled, in God’s way, and in God’s time.  We are not unacquainted with this process in our own lives, nor in our life together here at REZ.  It seems that the most common question in our life, perhaps, has been, “How shall this be?”  Not a sacrament of unbelief, but a simple question of ways and means.  We are required to go forward, walking ”by faith, not by sight!”

Mary’s question took into account the reality of her situation as a young, unmarried maiden, a “virgin.”  The HOW question loomed large in her mind. It was a very practical issue, and one that bore considerable consequence for her future and for her daily life in the community in Nazareth.  Assumptions will be made, and this will be difficult in our small town!  (You know small towns – everybody knows everybody else’s business, and what they don’t know, they make up!)  I’m certain that Nazareth was no different – some things NEVER change!

 

Perhaps that is why the trip to see Elizabeth.  Life is just easier if you put some distance between you and the rumor mill!  Easier for you, easier for Joseph, easier for everyone.  So a tri-mester away seems like a good idea.

 

So let’s consider Zechariah for a minute, and his encounter with the same angel, Gabriel, the messenger of God.  Zechariah was going about his duties as a priest in worship, burning incense in the temple.  He was faithful to fulfill the works of the law – a shining example of the Old Covenant righteousness.  It says he was doing his duty and that he and Elizabeth lived blamelessly!  Zechariah, and later his son, John, were the last of the temple worship and the prophets, before the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant Kingdom of God.  The Law & the Prophets are about to give way to a NEW COVENANT, a NEW COMMANDMENT, and a NEW (GREAT) COMMISSION.

 

But Zechariah, asked his question of Gabriel in a different way than Mary did!  His words told a different tale:  “How shall I know this to be certain?  How shall I know your words to be true?”  (The Message asks: “Do you expect me to believe this?”)  Zechariah places his doubt in the forefront, and was, shall we say, IN YOUR FACE, with Gabriel!  Gabriel recognizes it for what it is, and Zechariah comes away from the meeting unable to speak at all – until the time He confirms that the baby’s name will be John.  Until he comes into full obedience to the word he received from Gabriel.

 

What we read here in Luke 1 are the intimate details of these visitations and the different responses of the hearers. (It was likely that these stories were recounted to Luke personally by Mary herself, in later years, as he began to write this account.)

God’s will was not hindered by Zechariah’s unbelief, but his experience was very different from Mary’s willing obedience:

“Be it unto me according to thy word!”

Our liturgical tradition has two songs or canticles in it’s Morning & Evening Prayer offices that rise from these two encounters:  The Song of Zechariah, a.k.a. The Benedictus (BCP, 19) and The Song of Mary or The Magnificat (BCP, 45).   Each song came after their individual obedience to the Word of God, Mary’s immediately and Zechariah’s upon the birth of John and his naming.

 

I guess the question I have for us this morning is when can we sing our song?

I think that God wants to give us each a song – one that celebrates the destiny of His purposes in our life.  One that tells the story of His ways and means, of His faithfulness to both call and equip us to do His will in the world.  One that celebrates what God has accomplished through simple obedience, as a result of our willingness of heart and availability to Him – walking by faith, not by sight!

 

If there is a lesson from Luke 1 it is the difference between responding in faith [Be it unto me according to Thy Word] and responding in unbelief [You expect me to believe that?].  Unbelief is always a limiting factor to the plans of God.  It was even for Jesus, as he continued to encounter it later in his hometown!   

But faith…

Simple faith, taking God at His Word even though we wonder about the how, moves mountains!  As Gabriel said to Mary, “Nothing shall be impossible to God!” (1:37)

Let us consider our response to God, as He encounters us day by day.  God is speaking – are we listening in faith and obeying?  Are we willing, available, AND obedient?

Let us pray:

115. for the Coming of God’s Kingdom

Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by [obedient] faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

A Covenant Prayer

by John Wesley

 I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt,

rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

AMEN

Advent II - The Word Made Flesh (Fr. Phil Eberhart)

Advent II

Dec 5, 2021

Fr. Phil Eberhart

 

 

We seem to live today in a world of polls and pollsters – trying to “read the mind” of the everyday man or woman on the street.  From questions on history to questions on faith and belief, everyone seems to want to know what everyone else thinks about subjects that matter.

 

Once again, our collect has spoken to us about the vigilant faithfulness and the process that we need to embark on to see that the Word of God truly takes root in our lives and bears fruit in our lives.  Remember your hand illustration:

And our prayer we just heard at the beginning of the service:

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hear them; read them; mark them; learn them, and inwardly digest them!

And I’ve spoken to this recently, so this morning I want to go beyond to the WHY…

 

Let me tell you why its so important. 

 

This past week on our clergy call, Bishop Bill introduced us to some research done last year at Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center, in collaboration with pollster, George Barna, regarding the state of Christian beliefs in our nation.

Though I hate these things, let me lay out a few statistics for us:

Inside the American Church the prevailing belief is that people are basically good and that you can “work” your way to Heaven in some way.  One study discovered a waning of belief in the sinless divinity of Jesus, and confusion on the persons of the Trinity.  Many are muddled on the moral issues of our day, unclear on how the Holy Scriptures speak to certain “hot topics” in our culture.

I read yesterday that the Bible is being put on trial in Finland, as “hate speech.”

We’ve had that statute in the Colorado laws for the last half decade!  It’s not new news!

One of the conclusions of the studies of the Worldview Center was that we have substituted “moralistic, therapeutic deism” for Biblical Christianity in much of the American Church today.

Moralism is taking up the political causes of our day as a way to build your “stairway to heaven.”  It is undergirded by the straw foundation of tolerance and relativistic humanism which is rampant in our educational system and popular culture.  Moralism bends truth to its own shape, and unbendingly forces opposition views to submit. It is tolerant only of its own opinion!

Therapy is something that is good, in most ways, but when it becomes the middle leg of our faith, it has overtaken its scope of usefulness and threatens to usurp God Himself, as we look to our therapist or our sharing group for all the answers to life and living.

Deism is the most dangerous of all, as it relegates God to “somewhere, out there!”  A Bette Midler god, who is watching us from a distance, but is either too aloof or too powerless to intervene and make a difference in our everyday lives. And we don’t really want that kind of God anyway, because when He shows up, He usually messes things up.  We like to be in control after all, and an actual God who thinks He’s in charge is very messy and inconvenient.

 

And so, by in large, in broad strokes, our American Christian worldview has been watered down to such a degree that it is powerless and useless – something to be discarded by the cultural “revolution” that seems to be in ascendancy right now in America.

 

So Why is it important for us to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures in our day? 

1.    Because they inform and should FORM our worldview.  Worldview is just what it says it is – how we ‘see’ the world around us. In what terms and by what definitions do we “live and move and have our being?”  Are they based on Truth?  Do they provide an actual Way to live according to that truth?  And is that Life going to reach a certain end and leave a legacy of positive fruitfulness in its wake?  There is only ONE who said HE was THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE!  And He is the Living Word!

2.    Because the Scriptures link us to the God who speaks through them.  We don’t hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them because we “have to” but because we “get to” and more so, “need to.”  Communication is the key to all relationship, both in our present mortal life, with spouses and friends, co workers and strangers!  It is also the key to our IMMORTAL relationships with Almighty God, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has made a way for us to have ‘access’ to Him, through His Son, by the power of His Spirit.

3.    Because the Scriptures, if obeyed, will lead us on the path to everlasting life, beginning today! Everlasting life is not simply a life with the time-stamp removed!  It is a life of quality; of value; of meaning; of real significance, that begins NOW!  A life that is “marked as Christ’s own forever.”  This kind of life is an examined life, where the Word is “living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, discerning the depths of our motivations, down deep to joints and marrow, to the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb 4).

4.    Because the Scriptures are the only instrument of renewal and revelation that we have at our disposal. When we leave them, we leave behind the anchor for our souls and place ourselves at the whim of wind and wave.

They provide us with correct teaching, with appropriate rebuke, with needed correction and practical training in righteousness. (2 Tim 3:16)
They are the renewing force for our minds, as we gain more and more the “mind of Christ” and are transformed into His image from glory to glory!

5.    And finally, the Word of God is the sure foundation; the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us.  He is the exact image of the invisible God and our relationship with Him in salvation, is the only WAY to the Father and ultimately to our heavenly reward.  But this isn’t about “pie in the sky by and by!”  This is about the living of a life in which the “precious promises” have enabled us to become “partakers of the divine nature!”  Imagine what the world would look like from that worldview!  Peter tells us:  Friends, add to your faith:

 

Goodness or Moral Virtue: integrity, virtues of courage, nobleness, and vigorous moral valor. Add to that…

 

Knowledge:  of God’s ways, of God’s Word, Intelligence, Understanding

Self-control; Temperance… (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites)

 

Patience, Steadfastness, Constancy, Endurance
the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

 

Godliness, Holiness, Piety towards God

 

Brotherly Love, Kindness  the love in which Christians cherish each other as brethren

 

Unconditional Love, AGAPE, or OT HESED: Unfailing Love

 

Now listen to the promises after these verses:

⁸ Since these virtues are already planted deep within,^[s] and you possess them in abundant supply,^[t] they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately.

[2Pe 1:8 NASB20] 8 For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Put in the positive:  If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will make and keep you useful and productive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Friends,

Why do we “hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” the Word?  Because these “precious promises” will become your power to “partake in the very nature of the Almighty God of the Universe.”  You will begin to look like Jesus, which is the whole enchilada of God’s plan for you and for this world! 

 

Let us pray:

70. For inner renewal through The Word (BCP 667)

Gracious God and most merciful Father, you have granted us the rich and precious jewel of your holy Word: Assist us with your Spirit, that the same Word may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according to your own image, to build us up and edify us into the perfect dwelling place of your Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues; grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.