God on the Loose
This sermon can be listened to here
Gate Pa – Year B 4th Sunday of Epiphany 2021
Readings:
Psalm Psalm 24
First Reading
Malachi 3:1-5
Second
Reading
Luke 2:22-40
Gospel Mark 1:21-28
What I want to
say:
Explore what Epiphany, Candlemas, and Mark offer as
we begin a new year
What I want to happen:
ð In light of that
o
what are the possibilities
as we start this new year?
o
what boundaries might we cross?
o
how might we join the work
of liberation?
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Since Sunday nearest Epiphany –
January 6th
-
January
3
-
Remembered
coming of Magi to visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus
been in the season of Epiphany
second half Christmas (two combined
make 40 days)
finishes on February 2nd, remember presentation of Jesus in temple or
Candlemas
-
Although
some people carry it on to Lent
Season Epiphany is time to celebrate and
consider the ways Light of Christ is revealed
-
becomes known and visible in and to the world.
o
Gentiles through magi
o
Made known as divine –
baptism
o
Through call of first
disciples
This Sunday we celebrate Jesus being revealed during his
Presentation of in the Temple.
put the theme another way
-
Time
to reflect on how God is revealed in person, life, ministry and teaching of
Jesus
-
How
that invites our amazement now
2. Feast of Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
Most of our readings
for this Sunday are for Feast of Presentation of our Lord in the Temple
-
including the reading
from Luke.
-
Offers picture of poor
but very devout family
-
Doing more than required
by law
-
World that Jesus grew up
in
We have two prophets.
-
Simeon and Anna and their
words
o
In this baby the hopes
and dreams of Israel would be fulfilled
o
Glory/Shekinah of God
restored
-
Simeon’s words forming
canticle said by those us remember as part night prayer/evensong.
o
Nunc Dimitus
3. Candlemas
Also known as Candlemas,
This is the traditional
day candles to be used in the church for the next year were blessed.
These candles were
thought by some to have protective and healing powers and lit the way of the
dying beyond this life.
All of which is an
interesting thought in a world full of pandemic
These candles remind
us both of God’s presence and life giving activity in the darkest of times
and they help to see
beyond things as they are.
4. Marks Gospel
Also chose use Gospel from 4th Sunday Epiphany
In part because it is one gospels we focus on this year (other is John)
And this first chapter sets out themes rest gospel explores
-
Need hear and pay
attention
-
Need hear them
Also want pick up themes of Epiphany and ask
What does this gospel reveal about the Light of Christ being revealed -
becoming known and visible in and to the world.
Go further and ask
-
What deserves our
amazement now?
5. The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son,
Last week looked at
some of how Marks starts telling the story of the beginning of the good news about Jesus
Christ, God’s Son
“After John was
arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now
is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust
this good news!”” (Mark 1. CEB)
Invites first
followers
Begins live out God’s
kingdom
In sense rest Mark
explores what God’s kingdom looks like in what Jesus teaches and does
That should blow our
minds
Like last week few
themes in how Mark carries on in the rest of this story
6. Liberating
Ways Jesus teaches is liberating.
-
Not like scribes care and
precision recite traditions how law and prophets was to be understood
-
Jesus offers own insights
and thought
-
You have heard it said,
but I say to you
-
A new yoke
-
Which he teaches in
parables
-
Inviting listeners to engage
in the task of finding meaning
Liberating people like man trapped by unclean spirit
ð
Caged
ð
Stifled and restrained
ð
Denied opportunity to
thrive, to flourish
Jesus defeats powers that afflict and deprive
ð
breaks cage and frees man
into new life possibility
where do we see
Jesus today confronting powers that deprive
that cage and limit
ð
where do we see Jesus
bringing freedom and chance flourish
this is God’s kingdom
does this blow our mind?
7. Upsetting the order of things
Crosses the accepted boundaries
Does unexpected
Upsets the order of things
What unclean spirit squawks at him
“couldn’t you just
leave things as they were?”
God’s kingdom is intrusive
-
Breaks the old boundaries
-
Defeats all powers that
seek to cage and stifle
-
Liberates and frees so
that all can flourish
In Mark’s gospel God is on the loose
-
not meeting expectations
-
blowing people’s minds
Invited to pray for faith have our minds blown
-
See liberating work today
-
Join this God on the
loose
8. Authority
One big themes in Marks gospel is authority
Where does Jesus get
his authority?
ð
to teach as he does
ð
act in this way and to do
what he does
where get authority to break the boundaries
-
and liberate so that all
might thrive?
The question that those with something to lose is
-
Why can’t he just leave
things as they are?
It will be what gets him killed in the end.
9. Conclusion
Epiphany is time to see God’s kingdom
-
Knowing the time is now
-
To know that things do
not have to be as they always have been
-
God is still on the loose
-
Crossing the boundaries
That is little scary
-
Really freeing
ð
Wonder what blows our
mind as we listen to these stories?
ð
In light of that
o
what are the possibilities
as we start this new year?
o
what boundaries might we cross?
o
how might we join the work
of liberation?
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