Reading
for Proper 7A:
Mt: 10:16-33
June 19, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
George Bernard Shaw, the great literary giant, was once asked what person in history he would have liked to have been. He responded: "I would have liked to have been the George Bernard Shaw I might have been but never became." How we live our lives, how we spend our resources, what we do with our talents, can have a profound impact on future generations. What I would like to talk about today is leaving a legacy. A legacy is a gift from one person to another, from one generation to the next. When we come to see ourselves as belonging to the family of God, the legacy that we leave will certainly impact the ministry of the Church. So let's begin by talking about genealogy.
Constructing genealogies has become the latest craze among many folks. People want to know where they come from and to whom they belong. As a result, people are spending an enormous amount of time and money, discovering their roots. There are software packages, workbooks, websites, amateurs, and paid professionals out there to help in this effort. Salt Lake City entices visitors to spend time in their city by boasting of the best library in the world for researching one's ancestors. Recently, I received an advertisement from a firm who would send me a book about the "Siegfriedt Line" for a mere price of $49.95.
At the core of this preoccupation with our past, is the desire to be in touch with our roots and in doing so, feel grounded, secure, proud, or (in some cases) amused. Wouldn't it be weird if we were one of Queen Elizabeth's children, or a direct descendent of Abraham Lincoln, or a cousin of Mother Theresa and didn't know it? We would miss out on a grand heritage, a significant part of our identity.
But flesh and blood does not ultimately determine our basic identity. Our spiritual roots do. We have forgotten that we are first, children of God. Because of this, we are missing out on a significant part of our identity. The answers to who we are, what we are to become, and how we should focus our life choices, often escape us. Because we have overlooked our divine heritage, we lack spiritual stability. We question the meaning of life. We are puzzled by the unfortunate consequences of our choices. And many of us are lost in the sea of decision making, trying to chart out a stable course that makes sense & offers joy.
Because we often overlook our intimate relationship to God, the creator of heaven and earth, we seek elsewhere for security, belonging, affirmation, and a happiness that only the divine presence can provide. The spiritual journey is a training in rediscovering our spiritual roots and consenting to God's presence in our lives. Once our spiritual roots are embraced, we are more apt to experience grace which not only heals the emotional damage of our past, but also empowers us to enter the path of unconditional love that Jesus showed us.
In today's gospel, Jesus twice refers to God as his father and twice he refers to God as our father. He says: "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." [Mt. 10] This statement is a powerful statement of faith which offers incredible possibilities in life for those who are willing to reconnect to their spiritual roots. I think what made Jesus "the Son of God," was not that his nature was any different from our nature; but rather that he was fully aware of his divine heritage and was willing and able to connect to the divine power that was his heritage. This power enabled him to leave a legacy which billions of people in the world today continue to be inspired by. The gospel calls for the full development of the human person. "The glory of God is the human person fully alive." [Ireneaus] "Behold, I am making all things new." [Rev. 21:5] The goal of the spiritual journey is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
In today's reading from the gospel, Jesus sends out his twelve disciples to proclaim the good news, to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal disease and sickness. What a worthy mission! It is the same mission that we are called to. We are called to witness to life over death, truth over deceit, love over fear, light over darkness, and health over sickness. We need to be the change we wish to see in the world, because the world changes only as we change. As we begin to choose forgiveness over retribution, the world becomes more a peaceful place in which to live. As we begin to choose generosity over stinginess, the world becomes a more abundant place. As we begin to lead a life of compassion and focus on reaching out to others, the world becomes a more hopeful place. As we begin to speak the truth in love, the world is exposed of its deceit. As we become agents of healing, the world begins to experience wholeness.
In the first century, disciples of Jesus were often flogged, judged, persecuted and betrayed for their witness. Perhaps that is why he advised them to be "as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves." In the United States, we are fortunate to be protected by the laws governing religious freedom. Thus death and persecution are not major concerns. However, our challenge in the 21st century, is to be willing to open up our minds and become critical thinkers grounded in the gospel. Our challenge today, is to become more conscious and to stand up and speak out against the self-centered values and distorted thinking of our culture. Our challenge today, is to be willing to move beyond our own comforts and massive consumption of goods, and offer our selves, our souls, and our bodies by generously caring for others. In other words, we are called to be a living legacy. "It is never too late to become what you might have been. It is never too late to become who you really are." [George Elliot]
I think it is a steep learning curve for people today, to look beyond their own flesh and blood relatives and realize their divine heritage. When we embrace the notion that God is our Father, and that all people are part of God's family, the ideas of tribalism, nationalism, and some so-called family values, are called into question. Since we think in very physical terms (i.e. in terms of flesh and blood), we spend almost all of our time and resources taking care of ourselves and our small family unit, forgetting about our extended family in Christ.
It is very important to celebrate, to nurture, and to take care of our families. If we don't take care of our own, who will? However, when we look to our family as the only source of stability, meaning, and happiness, and forget our spiritual roots (from where our true identity comes), then we will be very disappointed and unprepared when the basket falls and the eggs are broken.
Today I am charged with the task of reminding the people of this congregation about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provisions for the well-being of their families. I am reminding you to make a will or a trust while you are in good health, arranging for the disposal of your temporal goods. And I am requesting, that if you are able, to leave a legacy for religious and charitable uses. [BCP 445]
Legacies are special gifts, from one person to another, from one generation to the next. These gifts can be given to a Church while one is still alive or they can be specified in your will or trust to be distributed after your death. These gifts provide a wonderful support for long-range or special projects that require more resources than the annual budget can afford. Leaving a legacy reflects your values, your connection, and your appreciation for the ministry here at St. Jude's. It allows your parish family to fulfill dreams that will benefit future generations. For instance, several years ago, two long-time parishioners left a legacy in their wills, thus providing the seed money for the building of the parish hall in 1995. In more recent times, other parishioners have left a legacy so that we can further our outreach ministry. Because of the generosity and hard work of the founders of this parish church, we are recipients of a three-acre campus with four buildings on which to continue our ministry. Their generosity, their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, has provided us with a spiritual oasis where lives can be transformed.
So as you leave today, please stop by the planned giving table and find out how you can leave a legacy. Read over the brochure that was handed to you. Celebrate your divine heritage and remember, that "it is in giving that we receive, and that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." [Attributed to the prayer of St. Francis]
| Updated 6/27/05 |
|