2 Epiphany, Year C (2010)
2 Epiphany, Year C (2010)
I Cor 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
In the name of the One, Holy and Living God. Amen.
An Epiphany is a divine manifestation –
an event through which God is revealed to the world.
Today we find ourselves in the season of Epiphany,
the season which began January 6th when we celebrated the arrival of the sages from afar to visit and pay homage to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
It was in this visit that God made known that Jesus is the light for the whole world,
not just for a chosen few.
This Season we hear stories of how God was, and is, made known again and again in Jesus the man, Jesus the Christ.
Throughout this Season we celebrate the Light that Jesus has brought into the world,
striving to be more mindful of the world around us,
realizing that we are the hands and feet of Jesus who continue to carry the Light of Christ and make it known to people near and far.
In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we hear that we are all gifted by the Spirit to share the Light of Christ through our own lives…
“Now 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.”
The Christian community is one Body with many members.
Our diversity comes through the incredible variety that is the manifestation of the Spirit;
our unity comes through our baptism into one Body.
Our great diversity is necessary and makes the Body complete.
This past Tuesday I attended a workshop entitled, “proactive conflict resolution.”
One of the leaders of the workshop asked this question: “Is your congregation a safe place?” meaning “Is your congregation a place where differences can be voiced, heard, honored and respected?”
I am not sure. I certainly hope so.
It is a good question for ourselves:
Is our community one that respects diversity,
one that honors the dignity of every person who comes here,
wherever they may be on life’s journey –
in places of faith or doubt,
varying traditions and beliefs,
maybe even wondering if they believe at all….
people of varying faith, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds…
Is this a safe place?
Two historical events mark this week in time:
-this past Tuesday a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti and
-tomorrow the celebration of the life and witness of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King’s life was about respecting the dignity of every human being.
He said that there will be no peace without justice.
That does not mean justice for a few but justice for all.
Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died in witness to justice for all.
This past week I have been able to focus on little but the tragedy in Haiti –
Perhaps you, too, have been glued to the TV or internet looking at pictures and reading stories of horror upon horror.
Cherrie Henry, the Presbyterian campus minister here at Duke, told me Thursday that Haiti is one of the most missionized countries in the world. That is to say, they have more missionaries working with all aspects of community life there than any other country. Despite this, they remain the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Three weeks from right now I am scheduled to be on top of a mountain on La Gonave Island at St. Innocents’ Church preaching and celebrating with our Haitian brothers and sisters.
As I was preparing for this sermon, I remembered the following quote from an Aboriginal Activist Sister:
“If you have come to help me you are wasting your time.
But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine,
then let us work together.”
We are all one Body – in the midst of our great diversity.
There will be no peace without justice,
justice for all.
There are varieties of gifts,
There are varieties of service,
There are varieties of activities,
But it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each of us is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
In today’s Gospel Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Through this miracle Jesus revealed God’s glory,
and the disciples believed.
God has gifted each of us with gifts through which the Light of Christ may shine in the dark places in this world…
May we be bold enough to bear the light through our own lives
and bear the Light not just for a few but for all.
Amen.
