For
Sunday, January 20, 2019, Sunday after the Epiphany, MLK/Primo Sunday, Year C, Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36: 5-10,
The Making of a Black Bishop*/1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and
for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the
dawn...
[Isaiah 62:1]
For with you is the well of life. and in your light we see light, Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and favor for those who are true of heart. [Psalm 36:9-10]
For with you is the well of life. and in your light we see light, Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and favor for those who are true of heart. [Psalm 36:9-10]
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed... there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
[1 Corinthians
12:1,4-7]
The congregation is free and the Diocese is free. And being free, we are both free to be One. What binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ and to this branch of His Church. [Bishop Quintin Primo from The Making of a Black Bishop*]
The congregation is free and the Diocese is free. And being free, we are both free to be One. What binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ and to this branch of His Church. [Bishop Quintin Primo from The Making of a Black Bishop*]
When
the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no
wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you or
me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do
whatever he tells you"… Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
[John 2: 3-5, 7]
[John 2: 3-5, 7]
As with so many Biblical anecdotes and parables, the story of the wedding
feast of Cana is so well known that people of many
beliefs and cultures have heard it. They even sell really terrible wine on
the streets of a town that might be Cana but no one really knows for certain.
As we’re told in John's Gospel, Jesus turned water into wine ~ his first miracle ~ and he didn't
think he was ready. While quite an accomplishment, the setting for this
first sign may not appear to be auspicious enough for such a pivotal event or serve humanity in any important
way. Yet his mother asked and he complied, if slightly less than willing. He took the first step in his ministry.
The volume of the wine changed from the water is significant; it is an abundant amount given how late in the celebration. It is a metaphor for the way the love and Presence of God fills us all, God's own created vessels, up to the brim, just as the new wine fills the stone jars. And, it matters not how late in our lives we change and recognize the fullness of God's love within. The moment made believers of his disciples: Jesus, Son of God, Worker of Miracles! Let's follow him everywhere!
The volume of the wine changed from the water is significant; it is an abundant amount given how late in the celebration. It is a metaphor for the way the love and Presence of God fills us all, God's own created vessels, up to the brim, just as the new wine fills the stone jars. And, it matters not how late in our lives we change and recognize the fullness of God's love within. The moment made believers of his disciples: Jesus, Son of God, Worker of Miracles! Let's follow him everywhere!
Jesus was the embodiment of God's
gifts as we each are, in our own individual ways. For us mere mortals,
discerning our gifts is not easy and many of us ignore or disclaim them, hide
under a mask of artificial humility, mistaking confidence for conceit. We may
not all have the greatness to save the entire world but each one of
us has abilities, knowledge, and talent that make us unique, useful, even
admirable ~ if we accept them. Perhaps it is easier to hide
from them as if the acceptance and claiming requires some responsibility for
using them. Jesus accepted his gifts and used them for teaching,
preaching, and healing. Dr. King and Bishop Primo used their gifts and did
change the world and, often, especially as with Dr. King, at their own peril.
But of course Jesus, Dr. King, and Bishop Primo were
special people, called by God to do great and memorable things that are written
down and remembered. "For Zion's sake I will not keep
silent..." says Isaiah, and Dr. King, and Bishop Primo. What is Zion for
me? What will call me from just dreaming about what I might do someday to
pushing myself to action now? Dr. King said, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." Our first step begins with the Gospels. Bishop Primo was very clear when he said, "What binds us
together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ..." But not everyone agrees on how and what to believe. If the Gospel
message is so clear why are so many Christians arguing with and disparaging each
other? How can there be so many divisions, denominations, theological and
ideological differences determining who's in and who's out and who's right and
who's wrong, who should be condemned (or worse) and who should be
accepted? If being fully loved by God, as we learn from the Gospels, doesn't brings us all together, it does beg the question, "So, really,
What Would Jesus Do?" Well, in faith be true of heart and as Mary directed, do
everything He tells us. (And, listen to your mother.)
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
O God Most Loving, give us ears to hear, hearts to feel, and
souls to know the Spirit-charged words and voices of Your servants Martin and
Quintin. Activate our own spiritual gifts, that we may change the substance of
our lives from self-serving to full-service, to be true of heart and strong in
faith, now more than ever.
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
RESPONSE: In
You our souls are free at last
~ O God Most Loving, let
us not keep silent but give our voices loudly and often for those who are lost
and forsaken, in danger and despair in this life. Let us not rest until all
governments and authorities, locally and globally, make The Dream into
truth with peace, justice, and mercy for ALL of Your people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
In You our souls are free at last
~ O
God Most Loving, calm the hearts and minds of those with
physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, and lighten the load for all who
attend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… We
now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
In You our souls are free at last
~ O God Most Loving, console
all who mourn as Your steadfast and priceless love gathers our faithful
departed into the joy and abundance of Your House forever.
We pray especially for:
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
In You our souls are free at last
~ O
God, Most Loving, we pause in this
moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
In You our souls are free at last
~ O God, Most Loving,
nurture and enhance the gifts of our leaders in Your Church
who strive to impart Your wisdom, keep us aware of Your eternal Presence, and
guide us to discover our own. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
Righteous, Faithful Lord
In You our souls are free at last
The Celebrant adds: Holy God, our Well of
Life, as the vessels were filled at Cana, fill us, Your own vessels, with Your Light
that we may see light, with Your loving-kindness and favor, and bind us together
in our common loyalty to Christ, with refuge under the shadow of Your wings. We
ask through Jesus, Your Son and our Salvation; and the Holy Spirit, Your Infinite
Wisdom; who together with You, reign as One God forever and forever. Amen.
*A reading from The
Making of a Black Bishop by the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Jr.
[1913-1998]:
"The day of the yearly (Diocesan) Convention arrived.
Presenting to the assemblage our (St. Matthew's) formal application to become a
self-supporting unit of the diocese, the Rev. Canon James Birney, program
developer/director for the diocese, spoke most eloquently, ''What we
are doing at this moment is a symbol of what black and white people must
continue to do as we offer our lives to be instruments for bringing the Kingdom
of God reality on earth. For the past 122 years, the white congregations
have patronizingly supported the black mission of St. Matthew's. Today,
when black men everywhere are breaking the bonds of patronage which we hope are
the last remnants of slavery and inequality, the people of St. Matthew's now
both black and white, are freeing themselves and this Diocese from bondage to
each other. Subservience and patronage are both gone. The congregation is free
and the Diocese is free. And being free, we are both free to be One. What
binds us together now is our common loyalty to Jesus Christ and to this branch
of His Church. In this Christian context, you are demonstrating the meaning of
Black Power.'"
These
Prayers of the People are commissioned by the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew
and Matthew (SsAM) in Wilmington, Delaware, who in 2019 celebrates the 23rd
Anniversary of the blending of a traditionally white parish - St. Andrew's,
founded in 1829 - and a traditionally African-American parish - St. Matthew's
that began in 1845. St. Matthew’s was founded in the lower level of St.
Andrew's as the Robert Smith Sunday School until it became St Matthew's Parish
in its own location in 1891. Much later, in the racially fraught 1968, Bishop
Quintin Primo, then an African-American vicar, guided St. Matthew's from
mission status to full parish status and lived to see the joyous union of these
two parishes into one. As many of us were privileged to know him personally, we are pleased to
celebrate his life and prophetic voice this day along with the vibrant legacy
of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. The selection from Bishop Primo's biography
(above) is SsAM's second reading on this Sunday in lieu of the
lectionary's appointed reading from 1st Corinthians. To learn more about the
historical significance and current mission of SsAM see: http://www.ssam.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/09/WelcomeToSsAM_2015.pdf
All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com
