Rev. George Miller
Feb 2, 2025
Luke 6:1-16
Once at Bible Study, Donovan shared an
idea - “As people discovered Jesus, he discovers himself.”
This made me think- “As we discover Jesus,
we discover ourselves.”
May this message be one in which we hear how
Christ encourages us to discover our best self.
Today’s reading involves sacred days, actions
of faith, disagreements, controversy, and chances for learning, events that appear
whenever two or more are gathered to explore what it means to be a person or
body of faith.
Today’s reading can apply to the controversy
and questions that arose since the announcement of my Installation being postponed.
Let us seek the presence of the Holy
Spirit as we journey in discovering the why, how and the where to go…
…First, let’s discuss a little about
me. Back when the Search Committee met
with me on January 19, 2024, it was nothing but love and possibility.
The follow-up interview, the initial
visit, the trial sermon, all rich with joy and unlimitedness.
Then the unexpected happened- I underestimated how difficult it would be to
move from a community, Cozy Cottage, friends, and a boyfriend that I saw as my
“forever person.”
Homesickness crept in; intense.
Add to that the Election, the weather, with
rains resulting in a watery basement, a unique snowstorm, lingering gray skies,
long dark nights.
Thank God for all those people who care
and have shown their love.
Then, St. Lucas- the conflicts, disagreements,
issues that have gone on for years, allowing space for and acceptance of
behaviors that aren’t always the best way of being.
My first week, my first day, folks let
these stories be known.
I then witnessed meetings in which someone
raised their voice, bullied another. E-mails in which things I said were either
misrepresented, misunderstood, or filled with lies.
Add to this the issues with Saturday Night
worship , it felt like hosting a festive, celebratory Installation did not feel
appropriate…for now.
“For now” is the key word, because as
people of Christian Faith, rooted in the stories of our Hebrew Ancestors, we
know that our God is a God who is full of surprises, possibilities, and ways of
transforming the bleakest moment into an era of jubilation.
That’s what Resurrection and Easter are about.
So, now that we’ve discussed this, what do
we do?
We take a page from today’s reading- moving
forward, just as Jesus and the disciples did in the field, finding ways to rest
and be nourished.
We honor our worship space and building just
as Jesus did- caring for those in need; acts of healing.
What do we do? Just as Jesus called the disciples, we find
ways to build upon, grow, surround ourselves with folk who care about the Good
News- transformation, Resurrection, healing.
As we experienced in today’s reading, controversy
and conflict will always exist; the entire ministry of Jesus is surrounded by
controversy.
Here is a part that is so affirming- Jesus
used those moments to teach a lesson and encourage deep thought.
Jesus addresses folks with a question
about doing good and saving a life, restoring a person to wellness.
By responding this way, Jesus allows folk
the chance to learn, grow, think in ways that are life affirming.
Today we begin our Stewardship Campaign-
Love Grows Here; which started off as a statement.
How does Love Grow Here? The
Yellow Bags going to Feed My People, our work with Habitat for Humanity,
our youth as they prepare to travel to Back Bay Mission.
“Love Grows Here” is also a Prophetic statement.
It is a reminder of why we do what we do,
calling us to new ways, brave ways, healthy ways to address and be honest about
our conflicts and disagreements.
How does Love Grows Here? By creating space to discuss the things that
affect us- loss, fear, grief, moving forward while honoring the past, while not
being trapped in it.
“Love Grows Here” means that we are prophetically
called to nourish and care for the spiritual soil we have been entrusted with
by God.
We start by acknowledging and addressing the
things that can choke out or impede the seeds of hope and possibilities we are
planting.
We find ways to water the soil, give it
sun, through worship, song, acts of compassion, hospitality, kind words, words
of forgiveness, acts of grace.
Another important part is allowing time of rest, sabbath, rejuvenation.
We discern the seeds we feel called to
plant. Some seeds already exist- the ONA
Committee, the Pastoral Care provided through Pastor Janet and the Caring Ministry,
the involvement and appreciation of our youth.
Friends- there is no denying that we are
in a time of transition.
It could be long; messy. It will not end all disagreements and
conflicts, nor the issues I personally face.
But if we do the work, if we find ways to best
communicate with each other, have the honest conversations, be less afraid and
more brave to deal with conflict, face disagreements, pray, and to weather the different storms that come our way, we can
experience true transformation.
When we do this, we can walk as the disciples
with Jesus in the grainfield.
We can experience nets being raised up
full of fish.
We can experience the joy of Resurrection and
new beginnings.
Let us journey together, planting those
seeds, tending the soil, discuss what needs to be discussed, so that we can say
with all certainty that “Love Grows Here.”
For that, let us say “Amen.”
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