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St. George's Episcopal Church Roseburg, Oregon Proper 10 , 16 July 2006 Go To St. George's Home Page

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Psalm 24:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29
Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 74 th General Convention of the ECUSA

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Grace in Action
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop

     I bet this has happened to you: While standing in the supermarket line or while sitting in a waiting room, a perfect stranger come ups and asks, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” or “Boy, you look just like a fellow I knew in Baltimore!” That kind of thing happens to me so often that I wonder if I have a twin out there that my mamma never told me about! Or maybe you’ve had the experience of someone saying, “You look just like Brad Pitt (or Angelina Jolie)!”

     “Get outta here! No way! Stop messin’ with my head. There’s no way… Really? Brad Pitt you say? Well, yeah, I guess maybe you’re right.”

     Well if anything like that has happened to you, I have a web site for you. It’s called http://www.myheritage.com.[1] Here you can upload a head shot to the myheritage.com web site, and then a computer algorithm will analyze the image and compare it with their photo data base of 3200 celebrities. Then the computer matches your photo with comparable celebrity faces, with each match ranked by a percentile similarity score based on facial features.

The myheritage site says the photo of the preacher (right) is a 72% match to the photo of former primer minister Sir John Major (left)

    When I ran one photograph of my face, I had a 72% match with former prime minister John Major, a 60% match with Alan Rickman, and a 59% match with Colin Firth. When I ran another photograph, I had a 59% match with Mel Gibson and a 50% match with Dustin Hoffman. Maybe that explains why my face seems familiar to so many people!

     One interesting feature of the site is that it offers comparisons of your face with faces of both genders. This is not gender confusion. Rather, the site is intended to look for features held in common regardless of gender. This can help the seeker find relatives in their photo database through similarities of genetically-encoded facial features that run in family lines.

     As we all know, not only are facial or other body characteristics passed along through our genes, certain behavioral characteristics may also be inherited. I can for instance see my father in some of my behaviors; in many ways, my daughter has some of the temperamental characteristics of my mother. But so far – and thankfully so – no one has put together a character match site. Can you imagine how that would work? Question 1: “Have you recently punched a photographer and smashed his camera?” Question 2: “Have you had your most recent Vegas-style marriage annulled within 72 hours?” Question 3: “Did you smash your $130,000 Hummer into a civic monument lately?” “Well then your celebrity match is …”

     While it may be interesting, I suppose, to see which celebrity we most resemble physically or in terms of social behavior, we might be better served to ask how many character matches we have with who we believe Jesus to be. While it might be easy to match physical characteristics between people or photographs, it is much harder when we try to score spiritual points.

     How godly are we? In order to determine this, we need some kind of standard. In other words, is there a way to know how to live a godly life; to do godly things; to behave in a godly fashion?

     Today, we begin reading a new book in the New Testament: The Letter to the Ephesians. This letter was probably not written by Paul, but rather by a pseudonymous writer who attributed it to Paul. The first part of the letter, where our reading today comes from, invites the reader to join in giving thanks to God for the plan of salvation that has united them with Jesus. The second half of the letter encourages the reader to persevere in the social and personal dimensions of their lives as new creations in Christ.[2]

     The writer begins by telling us that the blessings we have received come from a beneficent God who wants nothing more than to hold, and cherish, and love all of creation – especially God’s beloved human beings. The author sees the grace of God so powerful and so encompassing that different groups are unified in Christ. The unity of this universal society is the result of everyone being the Body of Christ.

     Ephesians calls us to be a people who reflect God. The universal and deep love God has for us is what we are called to give to one another. And that is because we, like the Ephesians, are a blessed people.

     But what does “blessed” mean? It does not mean that we are luckier than others. It is not what lets us find the parking space in front of the lot; or win the lottery; or speed and not get caught; or drop glassware that doesn’t break.

     It does not mean that we have “good karma.” Having good Karma is like tipping the balance in favor of being rewarded for doing good things. And conversely having bad karma means that you will eventually be punished. Being blessed is not about having good karma, or trying to undo the effects of bad karma. If that was the case, we’d all be like Earl in My Name is Earl. Earl was a bad person, and when he wins $100,000 in the lottery, he feels blessed, and then uses the money to right his past wrongs. But that’s not what blessing is about.

     We are blessed not because of anything we do, but rather we are blessed because God blesses us. God takes care of us. God is there when we hurt. God is there when we celebrate. When we fully acknowledge that reality, then we will behave like blessed people. And then we will reflect a God who blesses by being a blessing to others. Others will see the connection between ourselves and God, and be enriched by the experience.

     Now if this sounds a little like we are called to be perfect, maybe that’s right. But while God is perfect, God is not a perfectionist. God knows full well that we are not perfect, and that we will not always remember that we are God’s children or that we are to reflect God’s blessing to others. God knows that there are times when we will not love God, and when we will not treat our neighbors with love and respect. There will be times when the spiritual match between God and our lives is far less than 100%.

     But that is okay. It is not something for us to get anxious about. Because the letter to the Ephesians, and the authentic letters of Paul, remind us that we are a grace-gifted people too. Grace means getting what we don’t deserve. God is especially good at giving us what we don’t deserve. We aren’t perfect, and we can’t legalistically achieve holiness or perfection by stacking up good works. We can’t buy our way into the presence of God.

     We don’t need to. Because we have God’s grace, and, like we spoke about last week, God’s grace will be sufficient. Ephesians exhorts us to reflect God’s grace; not God’s perfection. And one way we can do that is to ask this question: “Does what I do make more of Jesus or make more of me?” We don’t live for the praise of our own good decisions. We don’t live for the praise of our good looks or our intelligence. We don’t live for praise of our values or our sense of discipline. We don’t live in order to get something in return. We do not live to stack up credits like frequent flyer miles. We live to do. Because in the doing we emulate Jesus, and we do honor to God.

     Here at St. George’s I think we are a blessed people. We are a people who gather to worship God, and say our prayers for one another, and for many others who have asked for our prayers. We are a people who offer each other help. We care for one another. We also care for our community, and do many good things for our community through service work, the fundraisers that we have put on this past year, and through individual effort. I don’t think we consider ourselves lucky, or think that we create good karma, or undo the effects of bad karma.

     What I see in this room is a people who act as if they are blessed; blessed by a God who’s grace is felt and actualized.

     At the 2006 prayer breakfast, President Bush praised the rock singer Bono saying that Bono was willing to move beyond inspiring words to practical actions. Bush said that this reminded him of a story about a Texas preacher whose sermons kept prompting a man to jump up and shout, “Use me Lord, Use me!” week after week. Finally, the preacher confronted him and said, “If you’re serious, I’d like for you to paint the pews.” The next Sunday the man jumped up after the sermon and shouted, “Use me Lord, but only in an advisory capacity.” What is different about Bono, said Bush, is that “he’s a doer. The thing about this good citizen of the world is he’s used his position to get things done.”[3]

     You people of St. George’s have consistently responded with devotion and dedication to requests for your time, talent, and treasure in the service of this church and this community. That is grace in action. You are a blessed people of grace. You are a people of God.

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2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale- Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

Psalm 24:1-10

1 The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;

2 for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.

5 They will receive blessing from the LORD,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.

6 Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah]

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory. [Selah]

Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Collect of the Day

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[1] Timothy F. Merrill. “Look-alikes.” Homiletics 18(4):26-30, 2006.
[2] Pheme Perkins. “The Letter to the Ephesians.” The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol XI. Leander E. Keck, Sr. Ed. ( Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000), 349-466.
[3] Terry Mattingly as quoted in “Look-alikes.” Homiletics 18(4):28-29, 2006.

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Copyright © 2006, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
13 July 2006

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