Chris Yaw

Has someone betrayed you?

Have they talked behind your back, stolen your girlfriend, or trampled all over you just to get that promotion?

Learn a lesson from Joseph whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery.

Joseph was not spiteful or vengeful, he didn't look back, but looked forward:

What was God doing? God was still with him! What good might come of this?

Joseph's decision to get through, not get even, led to the very survival of the Jewish race!

Because God can use your betrayal.

Jesus takes this a step farther when he tells us not just to ignore our enemies, but to actively wish them well - to love them.

We'll hear both stories this weekend, and will be reminded that God uses the harm that comes our way.

It may awaken you. It may make you more aware. It may spur you to new levels of growth and understanding.

Sure, it hurts, but don't take the bait and react, calm down and reflect!

Your betrayal may just be God's beginning of something big and better.

When Jesus said '“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." What if he was talking to the person who had been so stricken with the plight of the downtrodden that he had given all his money away to help?

Ya, that newly poor person he would be blessed.

When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled." What if he was talking to the man who had emptied his pantry to give to those who were starving?

When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." What if he was talking to the person who was so taken with empathy for the needs of his hurting neighbor, that he was reduced to tears?

When Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man." What if he was talking to the man who had stood up for a righteous, yet unpopular cause, like the human rights of the immigrant, the poor, the suffering, the transgender person, and was being barraged with hate?

And when Jesus said, "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation." What if he was talking to people who were holding onto too much of their money and possessions and had turned a blind eye to the suffering?

When Jesus said, "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry." What if he was talking to people who had refused to share their food?

When Jesus said, "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep." What if he was talking about people who refused to pay attention and be moved by the plight of the less fortunate?

And when Jesus said, "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets." What if he was talking about people who chosen popularity over purpose - not to get involved in anything outside their comfort zone, do anything controversial, or potentially upsetting to their charmed life?

Jesus is convinced that the best life a human being can live, is the one they give away - that we are truly blessed when we help the poor, hungry, and hurting -

And that our souls really suffer when we hoard, ignore suffering people, and refuse to get involved in anything that might be dangerous, inconvenient, or unpopular.

May God grant us courage and wisdom and strength to be blessed.

I love you so much I can't stand by.

When the suffering turns deadly, the danger too great, the pain too strong - it's time to heed our better angels: who won't sit still or stand by in the face of pain, injustice, and suffering.

Because love can't stand by.

You know it well - it's why you open your wallet for the needy, volunteer at your charity. and support your house of worship whose ostensible mission is to help those who are not its members.

This is why God sent Jesus: after watching his harried and suffering children tie themselves in knots of greed, violence, and selfishness.

God could not stand by - so God sent love in the flesh.

Love drops the nets, heeds the call, and follows - which is at the heart of the calling of the fishermen-disciples that we will hear this weekend.

What is so big, so pressing, so heart-piercing that's nudging you to drop the nets?

How are you coming face to face with the world's need that you are being drawn, interested, and persuaded that something more needs doing?

Don't stand by. Don't sit still. That's not what love does.

See you Sunday.

When the suffering turns deadly, the danger too great, the pain too strong - it's time to heed our better angels: who won't sit still or stand by in the face of pain, injustice, and suffering.

Because love can't stand by.

You know it well - it's why you open your wallet for the needy, volunteer at your charity. and support your house of worship whose ostensible mission is to help those who are not its members.

This is why God sent Jesus: after watching his harried and suffering children tie themselves in knots of greed, violence, and selfishness.

God could not stand by - so God sent love in the flesh.

Love drops the nets, heeds the call, and follows - which is at the heart of the calling of the fishermen-disciples that we will hear this weekend.

What is so big, so pressing, so heart-piercing that's nudging you to drop the nets?

How are you coming face to face with the world's need that you are being drawn, interested, and persuaded that something more needs doing?

Don't stand by. Don't sit still. That's not what love does.

The common Christian dream is to one day, be presented before the holy presence of God as a commendable and worthy servant

What do we yearn to present, other than a life of kindness, generosity, selflessness, forgiveness, and love!?

We want to be truth-tellers, merciful, helpers for the poor, impediments for the bullies! And walk in humility in all that we do!

And shape the contours of that day of presentation by what we do on this day which is unfolding before us.

How are we living honest, charitable, gracious, merciful, and caring lives? As we seek to love and serve God in and around us?

This weekend, we will hear this story of Mary presenting Jesus at the temple .

Here is our example, of a life fully yielded to God, to love, In dedication to the highest cause of goodness, humanity knows!

It brought awe and wonder to those who witnessed it! May our deeds of love and caring that we do today, bring similar adoration.

This week a cherished, prayerful friend and Episcopal colleague gave an Inauguration Week sermon at the Washington National Cathedral that made headlines.

Bishop Mariann Budde asked President Trump to put his feet into the shoes of LGBTQ Americans and law-abiding, but illegal U-S immigrants, and to lead with mercy.

These words fell on uncomfortable ears. Certainly it would have been easier to preach on the unlimited love of God or the grace of being an American.

But Bishop Budde, who had been planning her address for the last year regardless of who was president - saw her work as a serious endeavor that demanded serious words.

So she outlined three attributes of Christian leadership, honesty, humility, and dignity, then challenged the president, administration, and you and me.

This Sunday our Gospel tells us how Jesus began his ministry by speaking uncomfortable words to powerful people on behalf of the vulnerable.

It's an example to us who follow him.
How are we doing that?
How are we being called to do that?

Before long, if not right now, you will hear those voices: your finances are insufficient, your job is on thin ice, your relationship with your person is getting rocky...

...and it may seem like something big is about to go down the tubes.

Never forget that God knows this, and God is there to, at the very least, go down the tube with you - and even on occasion, turn the whole thing around.

That's what happened at a wedding reception in Cana of Galilee when the bar ran out of drinks, threatening to shame the hosts, disappoint the guests, and totally embarrass the newlyweds.

But then Jesus steps in, turns water into wine, saves the day, and says something much bigger:

Something really compelling about the groom, (God) the bride, (God's people), and what this relationship is all about.

You and I are not the only ones present at this celebration we call "life."

And when things go south, there's a spouse who walks with us who has the power to bring redemption out of ruin.

What happened at Cana happens all the time.

Don't think you're in this alone.

There's One very close to us who is ready to comfort and even save.

When Isaiah 43 says:

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you!," who is God talking about?

How about where Isaiah says: "When you pass through the deep and treacherous waters, I will be with you?"

Or: "When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned?"

Or: "You are precious and honored in my sight and I love you?"

Today you may be tempted to believe God doesn't care about you, has other things to do, or has forgotten about you!

Don't entertain those thoughts for a second!

You are invaluable, irreplaceable, and a pearl of great price! Let us never forget that our spirits are like radios that need to be tuned in to the right channel, Isaiah 43 is God's broadcast, let's listen to that.

Was it the first time you held a baby?

Was it getting that dream job?

Was it getting that all clear from the doctor?

Your moment of elation, unbridled and unadulterated joy - and what did you do?

When that moment, that feeling, that fulfillment came to the pregnant mother Mary in the Bible, she let loose with a song that remains with us 2,000 years later.

It's called Mary's Magnificat, Latin for magnify.

It's because that's what we want to do on those rare moments, those lifetime milestones, when we've won, we've hit it, we've scored.

The Magnificat is a calculated response, an intentional expression that invites participation.

What's your magnificat?

How would you articulate that joy, that wondrous elation, as a way to remember God's Good gifts, form us into a more thankful people, and testify to the world of God's goodness?

I'm curious - and would love to hear your Magnificat!

John, the Baptist would have a field day today!

John was the guy who called everybody out to the river to repent, enraged at an unjust system in which everyone was culpable

We can hear him today, screaming over the fact that 80% of American wealth is controlled by 1% of the people, 43% of Americans can't afford an unexpected $400 bill. Affordable medical care is perilously out of reach for too many people, who are literally dying in the clutches of a broken system.

And did you notice that John's outrage exonerates no one?

If you have two coats, give one away, two shirts? Give one away!

Want to change the system? Change yourself!

Don't be satisfied with a status quo that just assumes poverty and suffering for no small amount of people!

But work on yourself, It works on the system, because what we've got, clearly isn't working.

John's call to action inspires us to be alert to our surroundings, especially the suffering of others, and to do something, no matter how small to alleviate it. In this season of quiet preparation and soul searching, may John's message speak to us anew and inspire us to follow his example.

The most important job in any house painting project is to prepare the surface.

There's often sanding, scrubbing, filling in, and scraping off.

Because if you don't do this right, the paint won't stick.

This Sunday we'll meet John, the Baptist, and a quote from the prophet Isaiah about valleys being filled in and mountains being made low.

John's job, of course, is to prepare the surface, the canvas, the landscape for the message of Jesus, so that it will stick.

John is concerned with setting the stage, making it most conducive for people to absorb the message of Jesus.

And this begs the question from you and me, what are the conditions, what's the canvas and landscape of our lives, and how are we making it conducive to absorbing the message of Jesus?

In other words, what do we need to do to prepare ourselves so that the message sticks?

What needs to be sanded, scraped, scrubbed , or filled in?

The temptation is to get so caught up in our holiday shopping, cooking, cleaning, in preparation, that we lose the opportunity to use the holiday like we could:

As a chance to draw closer to Jesus, listening for his voice, using free time for devotion, self-reflection, and service to others.

What do we need to do to make the paint stick?

Welcome to the end of the Church year!

This Sunday we mark the last Sunday of the Season After Pentecost before charging heading into Advent.

And each year at this time we are assigned readings that remind us of the end of the ages.

In fact, time after time the Bible talks about the end of the world - why? Because you and I do well to remember three things:

First, remember, your time on earth is limited! We only have a brief window to make mark, gladden, encourage, inspire, and repair! Be strategic on how you choose to spend your valuable and limited time!

Second, there will be a judgment, so what we do here matters! Put people before stuff. Values before valuables.

Don't spend all your days in mindless entertainments, but mindful projects. Embrace your gifts and purpose knowing the ends rarely justify the means.

Third, the end of your days will consummate in paradise. Live today like you're going to heaven tomorrow.

Shed anxiety. Manifest joy. Embrace laughter. Your end, like your beginning, good Christian, is in God!

We all have a sell-by date!

So walk in love as Christ loved us, and gave himself as an offering and sacrifice to God.

When God made you in God's image, was it because God has a beautiful smile and dreamy eyes like you?

Consider that you're made in God's image because when you do good, you feel good.

And when you do bad, you feel bad.

Guilt, shame, regret - they all have their places in our hearts when we hurt, harm, and offend.

Joy, laughter, and contentment also have places in us, and are often rewards for doing the good and right thing.

Scientifically, sure it's evolution,

Theologically, it's God, it's God, it's love, in you.

Our most profound reflection of God is when we love God, ourselves, and one another

This is Christianity 101:

You were created in love, you do your best work out of love, and you will return to love.

Why are you a lover?

Because God is a lover - in whose image you were created.

Christians don't do good things to get to heaven, we do good things to say thanks to a loving God for giving us heaven.

See you Sunday.

Chris Yaw

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Beyond Betrayal

Here's What It Means to Be Blessed.

I love you so much I can't stand by

Presentation Is Everything

Uncomfortable Words, Courageous Faith

Never Alone

Hey Pearl!

O, Magnify!

Field Day at the Jordan

Painting for Jesus

It's the End of the World...

Imago Dei

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