SERMON: GOSPEL OF LUKE 13:31-35 MARCH 17, 2019 BY: REV. KAREN KENNEDY PRAYER: MAY THE LIGHT OF GOD ILLUMINE THE HEART OF MY SOUL. MAY THE FLAME OF CHRIST KINDLE ME TO LOVE. MAY THE FIRE OF THE SPIRIT FREE ME TO LIVE THIS DAY, TONIGHT AND FOREVER. AMEN. J. PHILIP NEWELL 1 Happy St. Patrick's Day!! Since today is a celebration to commemorate the feast day of St. Patrick, I thought it would be nice to spend some time reflecting on his life journey this morning. St. Patrick is Ireland's patron saint, known for spreading Christianity throughout Ireland as a missionary during the fifth century. Because of his work as a missionary, he is referred to as St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland. Much of his life is unknown, even the date of his birth, and the date of his death are a bit uncertain. Many of the articles I found, suggested that Patrick was born in Roman Britain, which for a short time included southern parts of Scotland. It was also told that as an adolescent, Patrick was captured by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and to tend sheep. It is believed that Patrick spent about six years in captivity. Even though he was held captive in a land of Druids and Pagans, Patrick did not embrace these influences, but instead, found God and turned his life over to Christianity. After having a vision that his escape ship was ready to sail, Patrick did manage to escape and found his way back to Britain. He was eventually reunited with his family, ordained a deacon and later, around 432 A. D., he was ordained a bishop. Patrick experienced another vision in which the children of Ireland were reaching out to him, calling him to come back and walk among them. He knew he was being called to spread Christianity to those he left behind. Patrick returned to Ireland on a mission to spread the Gospel in the land of Druids and Pagans. 1 Celtic Benediction: J. Philip Newell pg. 5 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan
It is believed that Patrick died around 461 A.D. in Saul, Ireland, where he built the first Irish Church, and was buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. St. Patrick is credited with two short works: The Confessio, a kind of spiritual autobiography, and A Letter to Coroticus, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians. Some of his legends include: Driving the snakes of Ireland into the sea to their destruction; The story of his walking stick turning into a tree; The Interrogation of the Old Men; And perhaps the most well known, is the legend of the shamrock. Patrick used the shamrock as a way to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to unbelievers, helping them to better understand by seeing a visual of the three-leaved plant connected to one stem. While in Ireland, Patrick lived a life much like the apostles of Jesus. Each journeyed far and wide, baptizing, living in poverty, enduring much suffering, living in constant danger of martyrdom. Yet, none of them would let fear be the driving force that would distract or give them cause to give up doing God's work. Patrick faced his own version of foxes, powerful enemies who wanted to stop him from spreading the Gospel and Christianity in a land of Druids and Pagans. St. Patrick, was indeed Ireland's Apostle. As we turn to our Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus gives everyone a very clear message in regards to what his mission is. In a very peculiar turn of events, it is some Pharisees who come to Jesus and warn him that Herod wants to kill him. One might wonder if some of the Pharisees had a change of heart, yet it has also been suggested that the Pharisees who warned Jesus were actually working for Herod, who had conceived a plan to drive Jesus out of Jerusalem, freeing Herod of the responsibility of dealing with this, (in his own eyes),very dangerous, yet popular prophet. However, Jesus is not rattled or distracted by the warning of the Pharisees. Instead, he instructs them to go back and tell the fox that he is much to busy to be bothered with his threats. Jesus makes it clear that he has work to do, he has unfinished business. There are demons to drive out and healing to be done. Jesus is focused on continuing God's work, not to be distracted or discouraged by Herod's threats. Jesus knows where his journey will end and it will be in God's time, not Herod's. Jesus will finish his mission in Jerusalem and then be on his way. He is well aware of what is to come and he knows he will not die outside of Jerusalem. Jesus exposes to all of us, two very different lives. Herod, who uses his power and wealth to his own advantage, to plot and kill. And Jesus, who follows a path of healing, hope, compassion and love. One life centered on earthly treasures, the other centered on the Kingdom of God. Jerusalem, a city which holds so much importance in the journey in the life of Jesus.
As an infant, Jesus was brought there to be presented in the temple. As a young boy, it is here when Jesus wanders away from Mary and Joseph and found arguing with priests in the temple. In last weeks Gospel, the devil tempts Jesus at the pinnacle of the temple, the highest point in Jerusalem. And it is upon entering the city of Jerusalem where Jesus begins his passion journey, a journey that will lead him to the cross. Jerusalem, a city that broke Jesus' heart. We hear his sadness when he speaks of Jerusalem as the city who rejects prophets who are sent to it, stoning and killing them. Jesus speaks of longing to gather the children of Jerusalem together under his wings, like a mother hen would gather her babies. Like a mother, he longs to care for and protect them, because he has such great love for them. Yet, they were not willing, and instead rejected his love. You can almost feel the ache in his heart. Jesus was busy doing God's work, and not even the threat of death could turn Jesus away from this mission. Following God's will, not Herod's. His mind was set on the Kingdom of God, not on earthly treasures. The apostles continued this ministry after the death and resurrection of Jesus. St. Patrick began his ministry of doing God's work, upon his return to Ireland. While doing their ministries, they all faced their own version of foxes. Yet, they never gave up on doing God's work, even at the risk of their own lives. Jerusalem is not alone. Throughout history, humanity has turned away from Jesus. But as Christians, we know that Jesus is still present in our lives today, still longing to gather all the children of our world together, under his wings. Like a mother hen, he longs to care for and protect us, because he has such great love for all of God's children. Yet, we too are not always willing. We too turn away, and yes, we too have broken Jesus' heart. As followers of Jesus, we are also called to do God's work. In our world today, there are many things that can interfere, distract, and discourage us from doing the work we are called to do. We are exposed to powerful images of those who respond out of fear and hate, yet we are called to not let these powerful forces cause us to be discouraged, causing us to give up on doing God's work. People can use their wealth and status generously in helping others, or they can use it to their own advantage, as we have seen most recently this week in the college admissions scam. We hear of the suffering and starvation unfolding in the Central Africa Region, as war lords battle over gaining control of a land believed to be rich with unclaimed gold and minerals. We can feel overwhelmed and discouraged in trying to do God's work. But, it has never been easy. Not for Jesus, his apostles, or St. Patrick. If, we are to follow Jesus in the, Way of Love, we are committing to a mission of action. We must have voices of love that will speak louder than voices of hate, we must have a faith
that stands strong in the face of fear, hope that shines bright in the darkness of despair. We must have the courage to speak out against social injustice, even when doing so may not be comfortable or popular. Just as we have foxes in our society today, we also see powerful examples of people facing great obstacles, yet doing God's work. I think of Chaplains on the Harbour. They have faced great opposition, resistance and even threats, yet they faithfully continue in doing God's work like so many others, with the homeless and those living on the out skirts of society. We hear of the humanitarian workers trying to bring help to the people in the Central Africa Region, at great risk to their own lives. We see examples of young children doing what they can to reach out and help others in need. Jesus is still present in our world. We can do the best we can to continue serving God. In each act of loving kindness, we help in bringing about God's Kingdom here on earth. We participate in Jesus' mission of gathering all of humanity together as one family together under the wings of a loving God. Jesus makes it clear that the blessed will not be those whose minds have been set on earthly treasures, coming forth in the name of wealth and power. Jesus said, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen. 2 A Celtic Prayer: You have taught us, O Christ, to love the world. You have shown us the light that is within us and within all things. May we learn to love you more and in loving you more, learn to love the earth and all its people more, for you are the light of all life. References: 1. Celtic Treasure: J. Philip Newell 2. Feasting on the Gospels: Luke: Vol. 2 Cynthia A. Jarvis & E. Elizabeth Johnson 3. Feasting on the Word: Year C, Vol. 2 David L. Bartlett & Barbara Brown Taylor 4. Catholic Online: www.catholic.org 5. www.biography.com 6. Wikipedia 7. Encyclopedia Britanica 2 Celtic Treasure: J. Philip Newell William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, page 178