At Shrine Mont, reflecting on 1 Corinthians 12, 13:1-5 - The Diocese of Virginia

I am at Shrine Mont, with the clergy and parish staff of the Diocese of Virginia, listening to the Rev. Dr. Frank Wade give a fascinating presentation about Spiritual Gifts and the Church.  We are about to reflect on 1 Corinthians 12 and consider in relation to our present contexts.  Very fascinating discussion and program...

...(and then later, a bike ride!!)

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

1 Corinthians 12

 ¹Now^(A) concerning^[a] spiritual gifts,^[b] brothers,^[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. ²You know that^(B) when you were pagans^(C) you were led astray to^(D) mute idols, however you were led.³Therefore I want you to understand that^(E) no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is^(F) accursed!" and^(G) no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.

 ⁴Now^(H) there are varieties of gifts, but^(I) the same Spirit; ⁵and^(J) there are varieties of service, but^(K) the same Lord; ⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is^(L) the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ^7(M) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of^(N) wisdom, and to another the utterance of^(O) knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another^(P) faith by the same Spirit, to another^(Q)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another^(R) the working of miracles, to another^(S) prophecy, to another^(T) the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another^(U) various kinds of tongues, to another^(V) the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit,^(W)who apportions to each one individually^(X) as he wills.

 ¹²For just as^(Y) the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,^(Z) so it is with Christ. ¹³For^(AA) in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(AB) Jews or Greeks, slaves^[d] or free—and^(AC) all were made to drink of one Spirit.

 ¹⁴For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸But as it is,^(AD) God arranged the members in the body, each one of them,^(AE) as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts,^[e] yet one body.

 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²²On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, ²⁴which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, ²⁵that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored,^(AF) all rejoice together.

 ²⁷Now^(AG) you are the body of Christ and individually^(AH) members of it. ²⁸And^(AI) God has appointed in the church first^(AJ) apostles, second^(AK) prophets, third teachers, then^(AL) miracles, then^(AM) gifts of healing,^(AN) helping,^(AO) administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But^(AP) earnestly desire the higher gifts.

1 Corinthians 13:1-5
 ¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have^(A) prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith,^(B) so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.^3(C) If I give away all I have, and^(D) if I deliver up my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, I gain nothing. ^4(E) Love is patient and^(F) kind; love^(G) does not envy or boast; it^(H) is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It^(I)does not insist on its own way; it^(J) is not irritable or resentful

Sermon work for Easter 3 - Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

At Shrine Mont-A great run up North Mtn!

A person is a person through other persons - Easter 3 sermon work

We say in our African idiom, ‘A person is a person through other persons.’ The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. I need you in order to be me as you need me in order to be you. We are caught up in a delicate network of interconnectedness. I have gifts that you don’t, and you have gifts I don’t–voila! We are made different so that we may know our need of one another. The completely self-sufficient human being is subhuman. Thus diversity, difference is of the essence of who we are.

~Desmond Tutu, An address at University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall, February 16, 2000

May 2011 ~ Emmanuel Way Article ~ The Rev. Peter M. Carey

The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Emmanuel Way Newsletter Monthly Column

May 2011

Easter is 50 Days!

With the Easter candy arriving in the stores shortly after the Valentine’s candy left, it might feel like we’ve already been “observing” Easter for a couple of months.  However, those of us who strive to follow the church liturgical calendar know that Easter Sunday begins the season of Easter.  While the stores might be now stocking the shelves for the next minor consumer holiday, we know that the season of Easter has only just begun, and continues for 50 days, until the Day of Pentecost on June 12^th.  On Easter we proclaimed, “Christ is risen – the Lord is Risen indeed – Alleluia!” and this is our proclamation for each day of Easter season. 

What might it mean to live “Easter Lives” or to be an “Easter People”? 

Well, we know that the disciples huddled in fear in the upper room after hearing the story from Mary Magdalene about the Resurrection.  In the midst of that room, Jesus came and proclaimed “Peace be with you!”  In the midst of fear and doubt, Jesus stepped into the room and blessed them, and gave them a charge to bless others and to forgive them.  Jesus forgave his disciples, even though they abandoned him.  He blessed them, even though they did not really deserve blessing.  We have been blessed – whether or not we feel like we deserve it.  God blesses us!  As we are! And we have been forgiven.  We have been empowered to live as “Easter people” who would be the sort of people who would go out “rejoicing in the power of the Spirit” and who would be a blessing, and offer blessing, and forgive others. 

What needs blessing in your life?  What needs your presence, your attention, your prayers and compassion?  You can offer a blessing to those places, relationships, and patterns that need it?  Where is forgiveness needed?  Start with yourself, what about yourself needs your own forgiveness?  Stop and feel God’s forgiveness for your own regrets and mistakes.  Take time, be gentle with yourself.  After working on your own forgiveness, see if there is one person, one relationship, one memory, that you can offer forgiveness.  Don’t rush it.  If you are not ready, don’t rush.  However, strive to forgive, for you have been forgiven.

Easter is 50 days!  Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!  The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery

established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all

who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body

may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

May you feel God’s blessing and forgiveness as you strive to be a blessing and offer forgiveness, Peter+