On Eagles' Wings

 On Eagle’s Wings 

Above; Stellar Sea Eagle

According to Mass Wildlife a Stellar sea eagle paid a recent visit to the Taunton River in Dighton, MA. Never before has such a raptor been sighted in these whereabouts. The bird must have thought he could do better than that so he winged his way to Bar Harbor, ME. That certainly is a cut above Dighton. Birders from near and far have flocked to see this amazing creature that is so far from its native home in Asia and yet has somehow arrived to visit us. 

Watching an eagle in flight is a magnificent experience especially this particular species which dwarfs the American Bald Eagle. Biologists tell us that every feather has a purpose for the flight of such an avian. Its eyesight is able to focus in on prey ten or twenty time the distance we can see. Its talons can lift a victim 4 or 5 times its weight while in flight!

Imagine what we could do as a nation if we were truly to act as one people. This is the essential message of Paul today in his letter to the Christian folk in Corinth. Not unlike many churches down through the ages, factions had developed. Some folks said that they liked Paul, others liked Apollos and so on. All this bickering drove Paul to distraction, and so in today’s epistle, the Apostle reminds his friends that we are all one body in Christ. Christ cannot be divided. Can you imagine if an eagle’s right wing, said to its left, I’ve decided I don’t need you. Or if its eagle eyes said to its talons, I don’t need you either. Duh! How well do you think that would work out for an eagle?

Can you imagine how we would soar if we could be but one?

In some ways we have forgotten what that might mean for us. Take the nation of Israel for instance. They had forgotten the Torah, the Law of God. So long had they been in exile in Babylon that they had no time to practice their faith. Faith itself was discouraged and they took up with foreign gods.

But then the day came when Ezra the priest gathered the people by the Water Gate and read to them from the Law of God. He explained it to them, and gave its sense so that they could understand it. So moved were they that they broke down in tears; tears of sorrow that they had forgotten how much they loved God and how dear they were to each other as a nation and as a people.

But Ezra the priest said to them; “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Then the people, remembering who they were and whose they were, soared like an Eagle. 

God restored them and their spirits rose to the heavens as the Psalmist says; 

“The heavens declare the glory of God, *
      and the firmament shows his handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another, *
     and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language, *
     and their voices are not heard,
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
     and their message to the ends of the world.
The law of the Lord is perfect
     and revives the soul; *

Is there a lesson in there somewhere for us as a people and for us as a nation?

Which brings us at last to the Gospel for the day. After his wilderness experience and temptation in the desert Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit. His ministry was in its very beginnings and quite naturally he went to his home town and his own synagogue and there he read from Isaiah a passage he loved; 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus played to mixed reviews in his home town as we all know, yet still his spirit soared. There were so many things in store for him as he set his sites on the work ahead. He focus was on us, the poor, the sick, the outcast. His mission was to offer his life for our sake. His joy was in pouring his life out for the people he met along the way. And thus he began his journey.

His voice calls out to you by name and I know you hear it. You cannot help yourself. Day in and day out you reach out to those you love. That’s the call of Jesus. Family, friend and stranger alike; you let your light so shine before others that they may see the good you do and glorify God in heaven.

The collect puts it so succinctly; “Give us grace to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation”.

Back in seminary days we spoke often of our “call” to one another. Some of us had a clearer sense than others of what that meant. I knew early on that I wanted to be a priest, but I’ve told you that story many times before. Others were not so sure. My friend Gary once confessed to a bunch of us that he had no sense of whether God was calling him. He’d never “heard any voice speak to him”. We tried to explain to Gary that’s not how God works. Rather, we urged him to listen to the Silence in your heart of hearts. Gary was not satisfied. 

Being the kind of person I am I twinkled my eyes at another friend and he picked up immediately what I was up to. We went to another corner of the room and together we cupped our hands and whispered the name; “GARY”. I wheeled around, looked at Gary and said; “Oh my God, did you hear that!”

It didn’t really help much other than to give us all a good chuckle but Gary did go on to be ordained and he served a mission school in Puerto Rico for many years and was dearly loved and admired by his students. God does have a wonderful way with us when we answer readily his call to serve.

God has called us to this wonderful and sacred ministry. We are Baptized to it. We are nourished to continue it in the Eucharist. 

So may our spirits soar and exult with the Psalmist; 

“He will raise you up on eagles' wings

Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand”

In the Name of God the Most Holy Undivided and Everlasting Trinity. Amen

Fr Paul

Below are the lections assigned to be read this Sunday with highlights of words, sentences and thought that resonate in my heart.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

January 23, 2022

The Collect:

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God, *
      and the firmament shows his handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another, *
     and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language, *
     and their voices are not heard,
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
     and their message to the ends of the world.
In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
     it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
     it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
   and runs about to the end of it again; *
     nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect
                          and revives the soul; *
     the testimony of the Lord is sure
                          and gives wisdom to the innocent.
The statutes of the Lord are just
                          and rejoice the heart; *
     the commandment of the Lord is clear
                          and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean
                          and endures for ever; *
     the judgments of the Lord are true
                          and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
                          more than much fine gold, *
       sweeter far than honey,
                          than honey in the comb.
By them also is your servant enlightened, *
       and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can tell how often he offends? *
       cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
    let them not get dominion over me; *
       then shall I be whole and sound,
       and innocent of a great offense.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
                                   heart be acceptable in your sight, *
       O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.

Gospel: Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”