Sermon by The Very Rev Chris Yaw, 1/5/2025
Centering Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Awaken me to myself and others
Once upon a time there was a tiny lion cub - who woke up abandoned in the middle of the forest.
Luckily there was a herd of benevolent sheep nearby who decided to adopt the helpless orphan.
Growing up among the flock of sheep, the lion cub learned to walk like a sheep, drink like a sheep, graze like a sheep, and even bleat like a sheep.
Many were the days that lion cub spent leaping and frolicking in the pasture, wrestling, playing tag, and bonding with his sheep family.
Then, one day, a huge, scary, full-grown lion appeared in their midst! With a roar, he charged into the middle of the flock of sheep!
And sighting the lion cub, turned to him and said, 'What are you doing here?'
The lion cub said, 'Don't hurt us! This is my family!'
The lion picked up the cub by the scruff of his neck and took him down to the river bank -
- where, for the very first time, the lion cub looked at his reflection in the water.
And for the first time in his little life, he gave a hearty roar!
And he saw, indeed, that he was not a sheep - he had been a lion all along!
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One day, a busload of tourists was making its way through the most beautiful, lush and hilly areas of the Irish countryside.
Verdant green hills were outlined by centuries-old, hand-stacked rock fences –
As horses, cows, and livestock dotted the landscape - all underneath the canopy of a rare, rich, blue, cloudless sky.
But inside the tour bus - the blinds were closed – And people were busying themselves – One, cursing under his breath, as he tried to work through a word-puzzle book – Two others arguing over who the dorkiest-looking guy on the bus was – And still others grumbling about the length of the ride; the occasional jostling that comes with climbing and descending hills in the Irish countryside; and when everyone was finally going to stop for lunch!
Parking at a rest-stop, people got off to take a brief break, and the bus driver got back on the bus and pulled back all of the blinds.
When the trip resumed, books were laid aside and arguments and complaints ceased – as mouths were tightly shut and eyes were widely opened to the awe and wonder of their heavenly surroundings –
that had been there all along.
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Poor and hungry, a widower left his run-down cabin up in the Ozark Mountains to wrestle up some food on his family farm.
Too many rocks and poor soil meant that farming was not an option –
So the man had taken his trusty shotgun - that had belonged to his dad, and his dad's dad.
The man spotted deer, quail and squirrel -
Which is what he was firing at in a marshy area of his land –
And while he missed the squirrel - he noticed he had hit something else.
And if I had my banjo, I would finish this story of Jed Clampett in song -
To remind us that Jed Clampett had struck oil on his property –
He and his family were now rich - and would soon move to Beverly Hills.
But it makes me wonder how many generations Jed's family had been trying to eek out a living on that Missouri farm - never knowing that they were literally sitting on a fortune all along?
(Black gold, Texas Tea...)
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And so it is with Epiphanies...
These are realizations that we have of really important things - that we didn't know we had!
And today marks the beginning of our season to 'wake up' to our true identity - we are lions!
To 'pull back the blinds' and see what things really look like - we are surrounded by heaven!
To 'take stock of the landscape' and realize the 'black gold,' we're sitting on.
Epiphanies are when we are the Wise Men who are awakened to the things that those around us aren't seeing!
The star has been shining over Bethlehem for days - but only the Wise Men saw it!
The baby lying in the manger has been infused with divinity - but only Wise Men recognized it!
Treasure chests spilled out riches for the Incarnate Son of God - but only Wise Men knew to bring it!
Epiphany is our season to Wake Up and get Wise!
To recognize our true identity -
To awaken to the heaven around us -
To realize we're sitting on gold.
So let's take our cue from the Wise Men!
And ask ourselves, "How do Wise Men get wise?"
Can we put ourselves in a better position to experience an 'Aha!' moment?
Like that great hockey player Wayne Gretsky, who scored more goals than anyone else -
Why? Because he put himself in a position to do so -
Christians and Jews have long-held that wisdom is distilled in the Bible - and we can argue that Wise Men - and Women - get Wise this way:
Wise men study.
Wise men pray.
Wise men act.
It's easier to win the lottery if you buy a ticket!
It's easier to embrace an Epiphany when you study, pray, and act!
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Yes, Wise men study - The Book of Proverbs says:
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you."
Hosea warns against the lack of study when he says: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Second Timothy says: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
So what do we study?
Certainly the Bible - but because the Universe is the Lord's:
Study what you will: have at it!
Most every invention is not born out of thin air - but is iterated - it is built upon previous ideas - ideas we have to know about if we're going to discover something new.
How? We study.
How is God inviting you to study this year?
Study what? When and how?
Want an Epiphany?
Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest not just Scripture, but the wisdom that comes your way.
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Another thing Wise Men do is pray.
This is something that typified Jesus' life - remember he was the Wisest man of all.
And prayer is something he did all the time!
In Luke 6 Jesus prayed on a mountainside overnight
In Mark 1 Jesus rose very early in the morning... went out to a desolate place, and prayed.
In John 12 Jesus prayed in Jerusalem before his arrest: "Father, glorify your name!"
And in Matthew 11 Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane with his face to the ground
Philippians tells us: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
The Book of James tells us: The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
And Colossians tells us: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Want an Epiphany?
Elvis said: Wise Men Say -
But we know that: Wise Men Pray!
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And finally, Wise men act.
The most profound word embossed on this building's interior - and exterior - is the People's Window right behind you and that 2-letter word: Go!
It embodies Jesus' words to you and me - that faith needs to get out of the building - and do something! And if there's a congregation that knows all about this, it's you!
Jesus says in Matthew: Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
James 2 says "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?"
1 John says: “Children, let’s not merely SAY that we love each other; let us show the truth by our ACTIONS.”
To quote that great theologian Janet Jackson - "What have you DONE for me lately?"
Want an Epiphany?
Go!
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And so, on this day of Wise Men - when we're mystified over a star, floored by a Camel's Caravan from the East, mesmerized by a divine birth –
Let us capture anew that wonder, awe, and excitement for the year ahead!
If you missed making a resolution on New Year's - or you've already broken it and want a 'Do-Over!' - then you've got Epiphany Sunday today - or Epiphany tomorrow - to restart –
Let us never underestimate the power inside of us - given by God - to do much more than we realize.
This is my prayer for us all this year - the prayer of possibility - of awakening - of Epiphany - that the Wise Men bring.
Let us be Wise Men -
Wise men study.
Wise men pray.
Wise men act.
And let us realize how incredibly lucky we are to be here.
Let us embrace anew the sheer wonder of our existence and possibility!
May we know deep in our hearts the complexity and divine caprice at work in our bodies, in our families that go back centuries, in a land that goes back millennia - that have come together for you and me to be here.
May we comprehend, if we can, how many perilous diseases and accidents we've avoided, sidestepped, and ever-so-narrowly ducked –
And the precious relationships we've fallen into, out of, and embraced that have made us who we are.
May we know deep in our hearts how very gifted, blessed, privileged, and favored beyond measure we are just to take that next breath.
And in doing so:
May we recognize our true identity -
May we awaken to the heaven around us -
And may we realize we're sitting on gold.
Amen!