“Him?” A Sermon on St. Matthew for St Matthew’s, Buffalo September 24, 2017

+So there are two things about St. Matthew’s story that I want to talk about this morning. First, let’s spend some time on who he was---Matthew was a tax collector----when we think tax collector we think of some disembodied IRS worker on the other end of the phone line, or the IRS address where we send our yearly taxes---but in Jesus’ time the tax collector wasn’t disembodied at all. He was your neighbor and he stood in the town square hand out-stretched, expecting—demanding---payment. What the payment amount was wasn’t found on some tax table published by the Roman Empire, no the amount owed was determined by the tax collector. And the amount varied greatly. You see tax collectors in the Roman Empire didn’t work for a salary or an hourly wage. No, they lived on whatever they could skim off of what they collected. The Empire had their expectations of what everyone should be taxed, and they expected that the collectors would charge each household more than what the Empire wanted so that they—the tax collectors---could make some money. It was an underhanded, nasty business and the Jewish people detested them. Not only because the Romans were a hostile occupying force, but because the way money was handled violated their principles.
So in and of themselves tax collectors were disliked. And then you have Matthew. He was doubly disliked….why? Because not only was he a tax collector, working for the Roman Empire, he was Jewish---he was a turncoat, working against his own people for his own distasteful gains. Matthew was hated.
And yet, Jesus chooses him—a turncoat, yellow bellied tax collector---to “follow him.”
And it wasn’t just Matthew---many of Jesus disciples, the men and women who became the apostles of Christ, were of questionable repute. Jesus didn’t care who his followers were on the outside, he didn’t care what people, what society thought of them, he cared about who it was they wanted to be and n some cases who he knew they could become. Jesus attracted the curious and the searching, the lost and the lonely, the reputable and maligned, the unacceptable and the unexpected.
Consider this: Jesus walks in here, right now, and asks if he and his friends can join us. Now his friends may not look like you and me, they may not act like you and me, they may not smell like you and me, they may not sound like you and me. We may know them—they may be notorious drug dealers from down the street, they may be prostitutes, gang-bangers. They may Carl Paladino, or Osama Bin Laden. They may be ---they probably would be---people who make us uncomfortable, uneasy or even down right mad. But Jesus has asked them to “follow him” and here they are.
What would we do?
I think, when we consider the story of Matthew, we have to consider just how radical a story it is. Matthew was not a rational choice for Jesus. Which makes sense because, frankly, being a follower of Jesus Christ isn’t rational at all.
Which brings me to my second point about the story of Matthew. “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And [Matthew] got up and followed him.” (Mt9:9-10)
He gave up what he knew, he gave up his livelihood, he gave up his profession, such as it was, his friends, his family, and followed Jesus. So did Peter and Andrew John and James and the rest of the 12. The dropped what they were doing to follow Him.
Now while I know that our baptism doesn’t demand that we drop all that is familiar to us to follow some itinerant preacher, to be true followers of Jesus, to emulate the likes of Matthew, we do need to take risks. We need to stand up while others stay back, we need to speak out while others stay silent, we need to reach out to those others would just as soon keep out, we need to give even though there may be more that we want for ourselves. In short, to follow Him, we need to let go of things that we find familiar and comfortable and easy. Why?
Because following Jesus means looking outside of ourselves, moving beyond our comfort zones, stepping away from the usual and the familiar so that instead of being focused on us, we can be focused on Him.
So..what does that mean for all of us, here and now? I don’t know exactly. It’s up to each of us to consider this question…both as individuals and as a congregation. What blocks us from doing the work of Christ here and now?
What stands in our way….worry? Fear? What others may say?
What stands in our way? Our building issues, the decline of our neighborhood, the loss of church membership?
What stands in our way?
Lots stood in Matthew’s way. He was despised. He was wholly dependent on shady business practices to make a living. He had turned his back on his own kinfolk in order to make a buck. He was hated. He was feared. And yet he followed Him.
What do we need to do to be like Matthew, to risk everything for Him? That’s a question each of us needs to answer for ourselves. But what I do is that When we do that, when we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ---fully and completely, amazing things will happen:
Tax collectors will become our friends, fishermen will drop their nets and the Kingdom of God will grow, right here and right now.
Amen.

Proper 18 A Grace Lckprt The essence of God is in relationship September 10, 2017

+Our readings this morning are about following God’s commandments, working through disagreements and remembering that Jesus is present whenever we gather in his name. So, just how are these three themes connected? Well, Jesus clearly knew that once the church was organized, institutionalized---whenever 2 or 3 are gathered---conflict would occur. Jesus knows us and he knows that we’re going to fight.
So, instead of telling us that we shouldn’t, he tells us how to repair our relationships AFTER we fight.
We’re to speak to each other directly. That is, we aren’t to gossip or triangulate. Of course, that doesn’t always work, because sometimes the other person won’t speak directly with you, or maybe it feels too risky, too scary to do it alone. In that case we’re to bring one or two trusted people with us to have the conversation. If that fails and we can’t resolve the disagreement, it’s brought to the whole community for discussion, resolution and hopefully reconciliation.
So… why is this important? Why must we reconcile with each other?
Because wherever and whenever two or three are gathered the Divine is present. The essence of God is activated when we are in relationship with one another. It's why the Godhead is made up of three parts—- Creator/father God, Jesus/Son God and Holy Spirit God. The fullness of the Divine, the fullness of God cannot be experienced in the singular. Sure, each of us are in relationship with God, but if we really dug into that relationship we’d discover that our relationship with God has a little God the father, a little Jesus the son and a little Holy Spirit mixed in. To experience the Divine completely? We need to be in community. Just like the holy and undivided trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a relationship, so is the expression of God most fully felt when we are in relationship with each other.
I know this may sound convoluted, but hear me when I say that the glory of God is best experienced when we are in good and holy relationship with others. This is what Jesus is saying in today’ s gospel—-wherever two or three are gathered, He will be in the midst of them….and he doesn't want to be in the midst of rancor and discord, so he gives us a guidebook for how to make our relationships whole and healthy, for when our relationship with each other is whole and healthy, our relationship with God is as well.
We humans are built to be in community—- it is when we are at our best! Why? Because as Paul said in our epistle two weeks ago, we are, each of us, blessed with unique gifts; a variety of skills, talents, viewpoints. When we work together, with our own unique gifts, we create a community that is altogether new and wonderful.
But, as I said earlier, when two or three are gathered there is bound to be disagreement and conflict. Jesus gets that…. he isn't telling us we shouldn't have conflict, he knows we will— he's telling us to admit the conflict and work to resolve it.
More damage is done in our world when people ignore, hide or deny conflict. That breeds resentment and increases the volatility of anger a hundredfold. You know that old adage for married folk—- “never go to bed angry?” Well there's wisdom in that. For when we go to bed angry the anger settles in and festers. Soon that festering turns into an infection and what was a little disagreement becomes a civil war.
This is why diplomacy is such a vital part of national security. When two sides are speaking to each other, face to face, eye to eye, it is a lot more difficult to start a war. I think it is why some of the more seasoned diplomats in Washington get a little worried when the President tweets things---hard to be in relationship when you only use 140 characters!
The bottom line is that our job, as followers of Jesus Christ, is to, in all things, love. We are to love each other enough that when we disagree, we can talk about it, work it out, reconcile.
If there is one thing we need in this world, so especially apt as we remember the darkness of Sept 11 2001, it’s the ability to work out our problems without guns, bombs or airplanes turned into weapons. So let’s take a lesson from Jesus and show the world that even though conflict is bound to happen, we can, through the lessons of loving relationship given to us through the Holy and Undivided Trinity, resolve our conflicts and move forward in Love. For when we lead with love others will follow and soon the anger and darkness of this world will be taken over by the light and love of the next! Amen.

Get Behind Me! Pick Up Your Cross! And Be the Christian I know you Can Be! Proper 17A Sept 1, 2017

+For the past month our gospel readings have given us several versions of Peter—insightful and loyal follower of Jesus, braggadocious blow hard and everything in between. Today it seems Jesus has finally “had it.” Peter and Jesus have different understandings of what being the Messiah means. Jesus has just warned—“we’re headed for Jerusalem and it’s going to get nasty. I’m going to call out the hypocrisy of the authorities. You’ll betray me, I’ll be arrested and killed. You won’t be far behind…but don’t worry, it’s what has to be done and it’s worth it, for by doing this death will be defeated, forever.”
Of course this WAS NOT what Peter thought would happen. He figured that the temple authorities would be put out on their ear and the Roman Empire sent packing. In short Jesus would be the king of the world. And being King of the world does NOT include being arrested, flogged, spat upon, mocked, nailed to a cross, and killed.
Regardless of who thought what, to me the most difficult words in this gospel aren’t ‘get behind me Satan’ but, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.”
This sentence causes many of us to feel like Christian failures. But, it’s important to consider what it means to “take up one’s cross.” And what it doesn’t mean. When Jesus tells us to take up our cross he’s NOT expecting us to be arrested, tortured or killed (although that is the reality for some Christians in the world even today) Nor does it mean lamenting our sinfulness through self-flagellation or walking across a bed of hot coals. Nor is taking up our cross some excuse to wage a bitter war of vengeance on those who have wronged us. It’s not what Jesus meant then and it’s not what Jesus means now. This also doesn’t mean that somehow those who have been killed, tortured, imprisoned for their faith are doing anything wrong—they are not at all. What it means is that taking up one’s own cross is a very personal matter and what is “my cross” may not bear any resemblance to your cross.
What God wants us to do—always and everywhere---is to live full and joyous lives,  proclaiming the good news, loving our neighbors as ourselves and seeking and serving Christ in all whom we encounter.
Doing that---really really doing that---will not always look pretty or feel nice. At times doing that will feel like a burden, other times it may feel dangerous, still other times it may feel way too difficult. Because to live a full and joyous life in Christ means that we are not fulfilled and joyous until our neighbor is too.
It means that to be completely full of joy and peace the world must be ruled by joy and peace instead of terror and angst.
Sometimes it means going against social mores. Sometimes it means going against your own family, your spouse, your church. You see, living as a Christian, taking up our cross means that we take the teachings of Jesus and we attempt to apply them to all that we do. Everything. Always.
And that’s not easy…
For months now I have been increasingly frustrated and depressed about the lack of civility in our culture. People have become ruder. It seems like lying is not only accepted, but expected. The dog eat dog world of big business seems to have trickled down to everyday life. Just this week I heard about a woman pulling a gun on another woman who over the last 10 cent notebook at a Michigan Wal-Mart. A GUN! So, I decided the only way to bring more civility into our world was to be kinder. For the past month or so I’ve been determined to be a generous driver. When I get to a four way stop I let everyone else go first. When I am crawling along on Transit Road and someone is trying to turn into traffic from a parking lot, I slow down and wave them in. When cruising down the thruway and someone hangs right on my bumper event though I am totally boxed in and cannot make a move I am committed to not cursing or making any hand gestures or even giving the driver a taste of his own medicine when he finally maneuvers around me. And you know what? When I do this I actually feel better, Happier. More full of joy.
Trust me. This isn’t easy. And traffic behavior is really low on the list of situations where acting Christ-like is a challenge. Standing up for the disenfranchised, the destitute, the abused, the forgotten, the ignored…that’s a lot more difficult
Speaking up against bullying, vitriol and hate…much more difficult.
Going into the flood waters when everyone else is running for high ground….way more difficult.
Standing between a raised fist, a loaded gun or an angry mob…that’s p difficult and very dangerous. But…all of this is required of us through our baptismal covenant.
So, while taking up your cross doesn’t mean self-flagellation or walking across hot coals it does mean living according to the teachings of Jesus---and when we do that, when we love God and one another, we’ll find that, even through the difficulty, we are full of joy, full of love and full of peace.
So my friends, take up your cross in whatever manner fits for your circumstance. Whether it’s speaking up or speaking out, standing up or sitting in; marching against or marching for, when we live as Christ has taught us we won’t end up the King of the world, but we will end up full of joy and love and peace, just as Jesus promised. Amen!

Funeral Homily for Bud Burns Sept 2, 2017

+Bud Burns knew the Good Shepherd. He knew his Lord and the Lord knew him. On Monday afternoon Aug 21st as Bud took his last breaths, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, wrapped Bud in his arms and brought him home.
I have no doubt that Bud Burns’ and the Good Shepherd had and have a great relationship. I hope that gives Carol and the rest of the family comfort. I hope it gives all of us who loved Bud, comfort. Comfort in knowing that he never suffered, never worried, was never scared. For Walter J. Bud Burns knew that his redeemer lives and that it was his redeemer who accompanied him on the journey home.
Bud or Budly as I called him, was a child of God. And from the time he was knee high to a grasshopper Bud served God---both formally in his many years as an altar boy and then as an adult a chalice bearer, usher, lector and stalwart member of the Good Shepherd altar guild—and informally as a good and decent man who lived out his baptismal covenant promise to respect the dignity of every human being in all he did.
Now don’t get me wrong, Bud had flaws, he made mistakes and I don’t doubt that he had regrets----we all do----but in the years I knew him, I experienced Bud Burns as a man of integrity, of faith, of joy and above all else, a man who delighted in all things life brought to him. Whether it was sneaking into my office during the Strawberry Festival to share a beer, or talking to our dogs through the rectory windows, or laughing at the heron who kept stealing fish from his koi pond, or exuberantly greeting each and every child who entered this church, or walking across the sanctuary draining the last bit of wine out of the chalice when he was chalice bearer or whether when just about every chair up here was taken one Easter morning and he made himself quite at home in the Bishop’s chair, Bud Burns took delight in life. Just like the Good Shepherd…
…There are many images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd but my favorite is the one that has Jesus walking along with a lamb wrapped around his shoulders, surrounded by children and more sheep with a huge grin on his face. It’s an image of the Good Shepherd experiencing pure and utter delight in the moment. When Carol chose this gospel reading for today, this was the image that immediately popped into my head---but, in my imagination, next to Jesus stood Bud, walking alongside Jesus, a lamb wrapped around his shoulders, children and sheep around his feet and delight—pure and utter delight---shining through his grin.
You see, for so many people….many of us here today…Bud was a type of Good Shepherd. If you were feeling lost or lonely, sad or depressed, Bud would be there with a smile, or a joke, a hug or (often) all three. If you hadn’t been seen around church for awhile when you did return Bud might tease you at first but then he would tell you how much you were missed and how glad he was that you were back. Then there is Jack. Jack is a special needs adult who has been attending Good Shepherd for many years. When Jack would get upset, confused or angry, Bud was often the only person who could calm him down. Bud also encouraged Jack, protected Jack and loved Jack.
Yes, Bud Burns was Good Shepherd’s resident Good Shepherd. Quick with an act of incredible kindness, the first to bring a smile to your face and someone who would throw his head back and laugh alongside you. That was our Bud.
I loved Bud Burns…even if he was a Yankee fan.
I loved Bud Burns because every single time I found myself caught up in the bramble of life, me I felt overwhelmed or confused or sad as soon as I saw Bud and got my hug and my kiss, everything EVEYTHING was ok.
There was something about the essence of Bud. He exuded playfulness and joy. For those of you who don’t know, Bud and Carol met when Carol sold his house. She had a couple who lingered in the house for a long while, deciding whether this was the one they would buy. As she waited for this couple Carol says she just absorbed his spirit. What a beautiful thing….and I get it….for Bud had a spirit unlike any other---a spirit of peace, of joy, of hope and of light.
The world needs the likes of Bud Burns---kind, thoughtful, funny, irreverent and loyal---- and this world will miss him dearly. But in sure and certain hope of the resurrection we know that we will once again be graced by his presence on the last day. Until then Bud,  keep ‘em laughing at the heavenly banquet. We promise to carry on your spirit in all that we do…laughing at the absurdity of life, embracing the joy of life, and making sure that your dear beloved Carol is cared for….forever AND ever.
 Rest in peace, good and faithful servant. Job well done!
And thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Amen.