September 7,
2003; 13 Pentecost B
The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith
"Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly." Great change occurred for the deaf man. How did he reach that point of transformation? One thing is clear; the man did not get to that point by relying on his own strength. We hear that his friends brought him to Jesus.
Our gospel reading tells us of the importance of community. The man's friends played an indispensable role in his life. We hear about the gift of community. His friends helped the man find Jesus. So much of our culture tells us that we must rely on ourselves to get what we want. Our faith, however, emphasizes the importance of helping each other.
When I think about the important events of my life-the events that led me to this point in my life-I realize what little control I had over those times. I like to think about the people who helped me find Jesus. There were many people who helped me make sense of my call to be a Christian and, then, later, the call to be a priest.
Most recently, the call to come and be with you started with others
discerning the possibility. I had thought that I would stay in
In the six days that I have been here, I have been discovering the love and strength of Jesus in this parish. I am excited and joyful when I think about the ministry that we are going to do together. All ministry is shared ministry. We need each other. We help each other. Everyone has something of value to contribute.
I like to pray with our children at the beginning of worship for several reasons. I want the children to know that they are important to us and to God. As a church, we are here to nurture our children in the faith. But children's ministry and youth ministry is not just ministry to them. Children and youth minister to us adults; they bless us. They bless us by their presence, by their insights, and by loving us. They help us to know God in fresh and creative ways.
Friends helped the deaf man to find Jesus. This idea of finding Jesus interests me. We don't just find Jesus once, do we? We encounter him again and again in new ways as we journey through life. Different people help us in different ways to find God in our midst. Who comes to mind for you when you think about those who have been important in your faith journey? Friends, family, the church, can be so important in helping us to encounter Christ. God works through people to bring us close.
In the gospel reading today, after the friends bring the man to Jesus, Jesus takes him aside. God works through the community, but God also comes to us as individuals. Jesus had a particular gift for the man. Jesus wanted some time alone with him. The transformation is intensely personal for the man. The transformation is personal for the man, but it is not private. The people gathered at a distance are touched as well. Their faith is kindled, and they want to tell everyone about Jesus.
What Jesus did for the man was personal, but it was not a private matter. Through God's action, in a particular time and place, we learn about Jesus. We learn that Jesus comes to bring release. Jesus comes to give us freedom.
You may be thinking, how do I experience this freedom? How does this story connect with me? In the days ahead, look to see God at work in this community. I wonder how God will affirm the good and positive parts of your history. I wonder what new things God will bring about through us.
In a sense, we are always at a point of transformation when we worship. When we receive communion, we are being transformed by God's great love for us. Prayer is a transforming experience. I have found the Ignatian method of prayer to be very helpful.
Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, believed that God works through your imagination when you pray. You put yourself in the gospel scene. Imagine yourself being brought to Jesus by the community. Who is there? How does it feel? What does Jesus do for you? What do you hope Jesus will do? Imagine that you are one of the community, helping another to find Jesus. What would that be like for you? How would you help? As thoughts and images come to your mind, you can start to pray about them.
God is in the business of transformation. God makes all things new. The prophet Isaiah captured the dramatic nature of God's power to transform what was dry and without life. "Waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the ground springs of water." Amen.