Uncategorized – Candle in a Cave

24 May 2026

Podcast Episode: Sermon: Pentecost RCL A – “The Gift”

Pip: There are days when only a strong moral principle stands between you and knocking someone’s hat off in the street. Fr. John opens with Melville, and somehow ends up at the Holy Trinity.

Mara: This episode follows that journey — from Moby Dick to Pentecost, from the veil between Heaven and Earth to what the Holy Spirit actually does inside a human soul. Let’s start with the gift itself.

Sermon: Pentecost and the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Mara: The central question here is one most people quietly carry: if the Kingdom of Heaven is real but unreachable, how do we actually touch it? That’s the tension this sermon sets out to resolve.

Pip: The setup is a Venn diagram — God and the Kingdom in one circle, us in the other — and the sermon asks what lives in the overlap. The anchor quote comes from Richard of St. Victor’s De Trinitate: “Love not only tends to another person, but also tends to sharing love. When two persons mutually love each other, they can love and be loved and communicate their riches, but they cannot share their love. For that, still another person is required, a companion of love. Thus, love can be realized by a duality of persons, but it can only be completed by a trinity of persons.”

Mara: So the Trinity isn’t an abstract theological puzzle — it’s the structural requirement for love to be complete. The Father and Son need the Spirit the way a shared joy needs someone to share it with.

Pip: And that architecture has a practical consequence. God didn’t create us because He needed a hobby. The sermon is clear: He created us to love us with the same love that moves within the Trinity, which means a conduit had to be built — something that runs both directions, Heaven to Earth and back.

Mara: That conduit arrives in two steps. First, the Son. Then, as the Eucharistic Prayer puts it, “he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.”

Pip: The phrase “first gift” does a lot of work there. Not a consolation prize for the ascension — the intended completion of it.

Mara: Saint Cyril of Alexandria makes that explicit: the Spirit doesn’t substitute for Christ’s presence, it is his presence, dwelling inwardly where the incarnate Christ could only stand alongside. The sermon calls this ongoing — not a single Pentecost flame but a continuous exchange between the soul and God.

Pip: Which loops back to Melville. The Holy Spirit is, among its many offices, what keeps a person from methodically knocking people’s hats off. Useful work.

Mara: The sermon closes on Romans 8 — nothing in creation can separate us from the love of God — and frames Pentecost not as anniversary but as present tense. That inward, unbreakable connection is the gift being celebrated.

Pip: And if the Spirit is the conduit that holds Heaven and Earth together, the next question is what that looks like when we try to live it outward.

Mara: The thread running through all of this is proximity — the Kingdom closer than it looks, the Spirit already inside the veil.

Pip: The soul of God’s children, each one of us, is the address where the gift, the Holy Spirit, gets delivered.

22 April 2026

Travel: Luxembourg (Vacation Day)

It was a rather noisy beginning today—the renovation of the room above me started. I said, to myself, “Self, you need to do penance, so just endure,” but then my selfish self said, “Nope. Not while on vacation!” So, I did something very much unlike me, I asked for a new room. The staff was kind and understanding and understood that I can do penance when I return home, and gave me a new room. Very nice.

Once settled, I did something unusual for someone who is about 5,000 miles from home, I spent the day writing. The mind took an amazing journey and I put down many words (even ran out of ink in my pen and had to go in search of a new one!)

I do believe the next vaca will be a writing retreat. We shall see. The story (have I already mentioned this) is Execution Day. It will be a part of a collection of short stories—nothing like I’ve written/published before—titled Seven Deadly. At this point, they are all a bit weird, but too much fun to write. I’m always killin’ off somebody!

At about 7:30 p.m., I realized that I had only a light breakfast to eat and went in search of ramen. The ones near by were closed, but I found “Asian Soul” and had some delicious Thai food and beer… I think the second beer was actually from China.

Fried shrimp cakes with an onion, garlic, and pepper pickled for dipping.

Shrimp in green curry, toned down for me. Perfect amount of spice and so very good.

During and afterward, I stopped to take a few pictures. This first one is called “The Ordinary in Light” (doesn’t he think he is the artiste giving his pictures names!)

On the way back to the hotel, I saw the light playing off the buildings and…

And from the balcony of the new room (sorry, brother, no more garden)…

Tomorrow will be a bit busier. Following breakfast, I will make my way to Adikt Ink where Matteo will give my new adult “sticker.” Something to remember this journey by and inspired by Joan, my hero in Rouen, France. Afterward, I will visit a local bookstore where I can find a Stephen King in some language other than English (I won’t be able to read it, but other than the new “sticker” it will be one of my few souvenirs. FYI: the exchange rate is miserable, so I’ve done little to no shopping.

During my occasional scroll today, I came across this from Fyodor Dostoevsky: “From the outside, you seem mature with a philosopher’s mind. But inside, you’re just a child lost in a sweet delusion.” Don’t be afraid to be a child. They are always curious and poking their little noses in all sorts of interesting places. Along the way, someone is bound to tell you “No!” or “It’s not possible!” Don’t you believe it. Even a sixty-one year old child is finding out those sweet delusions can, in fact, be reality.

May you have a blessed day, may your Grand Marnier always be a long pour, and may Our Lord and God bless you immensely. He does love all His silly children.

For those curious about The Queen, she apparently has a new favorite game at The Cat Resort…

17 December 2025

Sermon: Dorothy Sayers

Dorothy Sayers is not one of those capital “S” saints, but she is on the Episcopal/Anglican Church calendar for her contributions to writing.

Her father was an Anglican priest, so she knew the church arena well, and she had a talent for conveying the Christian message in ways that made it more understandable for the general public. One of these writings was the radio play The Man Born to be King.

In one scene, she has a family driving out to see this new prophet in the land, John Baptist. There’s quite a bit of interaction from the crowd, but I’ll mostly share with you the words of John.

JOHN BAPTIST: Men and women of Israel! Once more, once more I call you to repent. And quickly. For God’s Kingdom is coming as the Prophets foretold. Not in some distant future. Not a year or a week hence. Not tomorrow. But now… Are you ready for it? You know very well you are not. For years, you have been saying, “Some day, some day the tide will turn. Someday, someday Messiah will come, and all will be well with Israel.” But your hour is upon you-Messiah is at your very gate—and what will he find when he comes? I see a worldly priesthood, a worldly ruler, a worldly people—a nation of shopkeepers and petty bureaucrats, their hearts fixed on cash and credit, and deaf and blind to righteousness. Sackcloth and ashes! Sackcloth and ashes! The Kingdom is at hand, and you are not prepared. Now, now repent of your sins and the sins of the whole nation. Now let God wash away your guilt in the clear waters of Jordan. Wash and be clean, that you may be fit for the task that is laid upon you, for the great and terrible day of the Lord is at hand.

The Religous leaders show up.

JOHN BAPTIST: Some of you, I see, are Pharisees. Religious men, keepers of the Law, patterns of respectable piety, what are you doing here? (with sudden violence) Hypocrites, humbugs, brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the vengeance to come?

CROWD (indignant murmurs): “Well, I never.. insolence. Upon my word,” etc. (mingled with) “That’s right! Give it to ‘em hot… confounded lot of prigs.”

JOHN BAPTIST: Yes, I know what you will say: “We need no repentance. We keep the Law. We are the privileged children of Abraham. God will look after us, whatever happens.” Don’t flatter yourselves. God doesn’t depend on you. He can find His children everywhere. He could raise them out of these desert stones, which are no harder than your hearts. You too will be lost if you don’t repent and do better. Messiah is coming like a woodman with his axe, and all the rotten trees, all the barren trees, will be cut down at the roots and thrown into the fire. All of them.

When the crowd asks what they must do to be saved, JOHN BAPTIST says,

Be generous. Do more than the Law demands. You, there, with the good coat—you don’t need a cloak as well. Give it to the naked beggar beside you. And you with the picnic basket, how about sharing it with some of these poor children! (his voice rising harshly again) Renounce the world—weep, wail, and beat your breasts—and await the Kingdom in fear and trembling.

When the religious leader asked who he was, JOHN BAPTIST says,

JOHN BAPTIST: I am the herald of God’s Kingdom. I baptise, but only with the water of repentance. There is a far greater man coming soon. I shan’t be worthy so much as to tie his shoe-laces. He will baptise you with spirit and with fire.

CROWD: Where is he? Show us the Messiah! Show us the Christ!

JOHN BAPTIST: Christ will come among you like a man thrashing corn. He will gather the grain and burn the chaff. There will be a great purging of Israel… Make ready to meet him. Draw near, confess your sins, and be baptised in Jordan. (Source)

When it first aired, the atheist got all bent out of shape because the BBC was promoting Christianity on the radio, and the conservative Christians got all bent out of shape because she hadn’t used the traditional King James Bible version. However, the general public loved it, with students being let out of school early to catch the latest installment. And, for added credibility, if needed, C.S. Lewis told Sayers that every year, he used the print version of the play for his Lenten Devotional. That’s good enough for me.

17 November 2024

Sermon: Proper 28 RCL B – “Your Future”

On October 30, 1938, Earth was invaded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed . . . Wait a minute! Someone’s crawling out of the hollow top. Someone or . . . something. I can see peering out of that black hole two luminous disks . . are they eyes? It might be a face. It might be . . . Good heavens, something’s wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now it’s another one, and another. They look like tentacles to me. There, I can see the thing’s body. It’s large, large as a bear and it glistens like wet leather. But that face, it . . . Ladies and gentlemen, it’s indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate.”

It may not have actually happened, but at the time, hundreds of listeners believed it was. The broadcast of War of the Worlds, written by Orson Welles. Welles said, “I had conceived the idea of doing a radio broadcast in such a manner that a crisis would actually seem to be happening, and would be broadcast in such a dramatized form as to appear to be a real event taking place at that time, rather than a mere radio play.” It worked. Before the broadcast was complete, there were police in the studio lobby demanding that Welles stop the play and announce that it was all a radio drama. There were reported riots, suicides, and mayhem. Did the author and radio cast intend for such results? No.

From an article in the Smithsonian, “No one involved with War of the Worlds expected to deceive any listeners, because they all found the story too silly and improbable to ever be taken seriously.” (Source)

Now, listen to these words given to us by John.

“Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

“The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

“The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

“The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.” (Revelation 8:6-11)

You are all still here? That’s from Holy Scripture. I thought that would have the same effect as the War of the Worlds broadcast. Why haven’t you run for the hills? Could it be that we also find these writings “too silly and improbable to ever be taken seriously”? A zombie apocalypse is far more likely. Right?

The same indifference can be said for the passage from Mark’s Gospel that we read. The Disciples wanted to know when the end would come—those last great days. Jesus said, “Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.” (Mark 13:5-8) Today, there are wars and earthquakes and famines, but we’ve always had these things—from the very beginning. This is nothing new, so there’s no reason to get excited about it. It’s just another day in the neighborhood. Right?

Many have spent a lifetime trying to sort out when the end will come. They pull out the Book of Revelation, Daniel, and the Prophets. They do math, counting days and years. They assign names to individuals and events they believe are associated with the end and place them on timelines to plot the future. It is an interesting exercise, but each and every person who has taken on such a challenge has failed. Why? Jesus said, “Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) And, the bottom line, we’re really just not too concerned. We won’t say it’s silly because it is from Holy Scripture, but we’re OK with the description of it being too “improbable to ever be taken seriously.”

Fine. Let’s take this End—with a capital “E”—and set it aside for a few minutes, and talk about another end, specifically, your end.

We may not be too concerned about the end of the world, but how many of you have a five-year plan? Something that deals with goals, financial status, job, health, weight loss, etc. You’ve got your plan all laid out nicely. Question: as it relates to your end, in your five-year planning, did you include the care for the widows and orphans in your midst? How does your plan account for feeding the hungry? Clothing of the naked? Sharing the Gospel message with others? You may know the financial yield of your IRA down to the penny on the day of your retirement, but how have you planned to extend your hand in love to those around you so that on your last day, you hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant?”

You say, “Well, Fr. John, I don’t have a five-year plan, much less an IRA, so this doesn’t apply to me.” And I say, “Not so fast.” Do you have plans for your next day off? Got it worked out what you might be doing, or just happily thinking about a day away from the boss? Have you wondered if you might have enough left over to take the kids to a movie? I hope you do. Truly! I hope you are joyfully looking forward to living your life, but have you said your prayers this past week? Have you stopped long enough to listen for the voice of God? (And just in case you’re hedging on your answer, this morning in church doesn’t count!) I’m not asking if you spent an hour each day in deep meditation, but did you stop long enough each day to pray even the Lord’s Prayer? “Thank you, Fr. John; I now feel sufficiently guilty.”

I’m not saying you shouldn’t plan; you must be responsible, and I’m not trying to make you feel guilty either; live your life and enjoy it to its fullest. In addition, I’m not saying that the end of days is not something to consider and be aware of. Still, Jesus and John in the Book of Revelation or any other apocalyptic messages were not necessarily given to us so that we would sit around and be harassed by the future. The main point behind those writings is not to have us focus on “The End” or the future, but instead, to focus on our end. How is it we are living today?

It’s not, have you identified the Great Babylon in John’s Revelation, but have you identified your place in God’s plan?

It’s not, have you discovered the person of the anti-Christ, but have you discovered the person of Jesus Christ?

It’s not whether you can afford to retire early but whether you love God each and every day.

The focus is not solely on the end of the world, your five-year plan, or your weekend plans. It is about your relationship with God today, and it’s about encountering, serving, blessing, and being blessed by Jesus here and now.

Yes, we must be responsible in our daily lives, and we must plan for the future, but an unhealthy preoccupation with the End of Days, the future, and all the “What ifs?” can lead us astray from the opportunities of today.

The end of days, the end of the year, the end of the week, the end of this sermon—yes, these are things to be considered, but they should never lead you astray or distract you from what God is doing in this very moment and how you should be making plans for and considering your own end.

I’m honestly not trying to depress you or make you feel guilty. However, the War of the Worlds may have been “too silly and improbable to ever be taken seriously,” but your end is not. In all you do, ask, “How am I storing up treasure in Heaven,” so that on your last day, Jesus says to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)

Let us pray:

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs,
We do not pray;
Keep us, our God, from stain of sin
Just for today.

Let us both diligently work,
And duly pray.
Let us be kind in word and deed,
Just for today.

Let us be slow to do our will,
Prompt to obey;
Help us to sacrifice ourselves
Just for today.

And if today our tide of life
Should ebb away,
Give us thy Sacraments divine,
Sweet Lord today.

So for to-morrow and its needs
We do not pray,
But keep us, guide us, love us, Lord,
Just for to-day.

Amen.

(This prayer is from the St. Augustine Prayer Book)

7 May 2024

Sorry…

For some reason, WordPress keeps reposting the same post (Oslo 3) and sending emails. Trying to get that sorted out.

26 April 202426 April 2024

Travel: Ireland / Rock of Cashel

The picture below is not mine, but is Devil’s Bit Mountain. The Devil’s bit is that gap in the middle.

Legend has it that Saint Patrick vanquished the devil from a cave. The devil became so infuriated that he took a bite out of the mountain. When he did, he broke a tooth. Being in pain, he spat out the mountain and his tooth. The site of the Rock of Cashel (about 22 miles south of Devil’s Bit Mountain) is the bit of the mountain and the devil’s broken tooth that was spat out. Originally the Rock of Cashel was a castle, but was later donated to the church by someone seeking favor. From there, it was transformed into a great community. It now lays in ruin, but you get an idea of what it once was.

From the website (Source):

Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, The Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.

Originally the seat of the kings of Munster, according to legend St. Patrick himself came here to convert King Aenghus to Christianity (note: this occurred in the year 432 a.d.) Brian Boru was crowned High King at Cashel in 978 and made it his capital.

In 1101 the site was granted to the church and Cashel swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most significant centres of ecclesiastical power in the country.

Apparently, she also gave considerable money.

As with all cities and castles, it was built on a hill to give a commanding view of the surrounding lands.

Cormac’s Chapel dates to the 11th century. Pictured below is the restored chapel. In the process of the restoration, beautiful frescos were discovered beneath the centuries of dirt and whitewash. Although no longer fully intact, the second image is what it is believed to have originally looked like.

After such a hard day of walking and looking, what better place to stop than a traditional Irish pub and have a very tasty Irish coffee.

I hear that the weather has been absolutely remarkable and it was again today, although a bit blustery. The foot is doing well and did not give me any grief. A very good day. Next Wednesday, I travel again. Where will I land this time?

19 April 202419 April 2024

Camino to Ireland

Today has been a day of travel. I went from Los Arcos to Logroño. My bus was late so I missed my second bus to Madrid. There was another one at 12:45 PM and I got that one. Four hours later I arrived in Madrid. I went and found a new suitcase because I had been carrying my possessions in a bag that I found in the back room of the hotel. I gave away my hiking shoes in Los Arcos because the hikers I had were murder on my foot. The walking I did in my sandals hurt like the dickens at the beginning, but settled in after a bit. I somehow suspect that a little bit later tonight I will regret that walking. I have found some new shoes! Skechers. There were several other brands, but these are recognized. Soft on the bottom, and more importantly, soft on the top.

I have stayed in some very nice places the last several nights. However, the hotel I’m staying at in Madrid is a paradise. I’m sitting down, waiting on my octopus to be delivered for my supper. I’m thinking it’s going to be delicious although you who have issues with my mackrel during the week may not find it so appetizing.

I continue to think about many things. We really don’t change. We are who we are and we fight the battles. It doesn’t matter where you are, your demons will follow you. If you pray that those demons might release you and they remain, does that mean that you are a complete loss and destined for level nine? Or does that mean that Saint Paul heard correctly, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Do we continue to fight against the demons? I look at the person that I am, and I wonder, is this really who God wants me to be? I can’t imagine the person that I am is satisfying to Him. We desire to be more but… all that remains is who we are…. hold that thought, supper has arrived…

I absolutely complained to the management. It was a terrible supper. The baby octopus was two days too old. Horrible. I ate it so that I would not embarrass the chef. For those of you who know that I eat mackerel out of a can, please know that this was even better, and if I could get it in a can, I would be eating it every day! Just for the record.

I see that I have mentioned this earlier, so I am just rambling now… Before I arrived at my hotel, I purchased a new suitcase and a new pair of sneakers. My foot is very appreciative of the new sneakers. The suitcase actually contains everything after the great purge. I got rid of my backpack and many of the items that I needed for the long walk. However, I was left with a small day pack, and it was bursting at the seams. It made it this far, but I think it had just about met its maker.

When I walked into the luggage store and the shoe store, they both looked at me as though I did not belong. That is something worth preaching on. However, when they realized that I could actually pay… do you remember that scene from Pretty Woman, apparently they did… they helped me out.

I have been rambling all day long. My apologies. Not great writing. However, I’ve been struggling from one place to the next and I’m just about to the place where I can stop. I need a haircut. I need a shower. I need somebody to trim my eyebrows (I can’t be that shaggy English guy!) I need about a 12 hour nap. Who doesn’t? We go too hard. We must learn to find peace and rest…………

I do not believe that we know how to breathe. I think we try so hard to prove to the world and to ourselves… What?… Something.… That we are… Important? Have relevance? Deserve to be heard?…

… Maybe we just want the world to know that we exist or existed? Maybe we are all the good thief who cries out in all desperation, “Remember me.” …… I’m talking to myself now…..

Wait! I forgot about my white crane this morning. She/he was sitting on their nest at the top of the bell tower in Los Arcos. A beautiful bird, and so very peaceful to watch. So high up that she/he did not care that we were down below observing them.

If you do not hear from me in the next six months, start searching for my body in this area of Ireland. I’ll be headed there tomorrow.

Sleep well. know that God loves you.

My scars hurt.

18 April 202418 April 2024

Camino: a day in Los Arcos

It only looks like I need to wash my feet, but it is actually a bruise on my right foot brought on by a stress fracture. The swelling was enough this morning that I could barely get my sandal on. I did not try my shoes.

And, yes, I am aware that I have finger toes, and that there is a massive gap where another toe could fit in.

What does this all mean? I am seeking further advice from a podiatrist. I have to be out of this hotel by noon tomorrow so things could happen quickly.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller.

Stick with me my blog reading friends, we have a change of plans. Two to four weeks of little walking or it will be a couple of months in a boot. I choose to rest, and what better place to rest than the Irish countryside. I’ll be there for three to four weeks, then we’ll see what’s next. Heck, I already have an invitation from friends to meet them in Vienna and I’m definitely still planning on Norway. Regardless of the aches and pains, life is very good. Love living it.

Tomorrow is mostly travel: hotel to bus stop (car), Los Arcos to Logroño (bus), Logroño to Madrid (bus… about 4.5 hours), and Uber to hotel. The flight to Dublin leaves Saturday morning.

Dora sent me this one…

I do believe that I will. Can’t wait!

7 December 202310 December 2023

Sermon: Advent 2 RCL B – “Procrastination”

*The Preaching of St John the Baptist*
c. 1690

Once upon a time, the devil decided to destroy humankind. He called in all his little devils to make the plans. Anger came first and asked to be allowed to do the job by setting brother against brother. He would make people angry with each other, and they would destroy themselves.

Lust also offered to go. He would defile minds and turn people into beasts by making love disappear. Next, Greed spoke and offered to destroy humankind with the most destructive of passions: uncontrolled desires. Idleness, Hate, Jealousy, and Envy each claimed in turn that they could do the job. But the devil was not satisfied with any of them.

Finally, the last assistant came forward. He said, “I will talk with people persuasively about all that God wants them to be. I shall tell them how fine their plans are, to be honest, clean, and brave. I shall encourage them in good purposes of life!”

The devil was shocked at such talk. But then the assistant continued, “I shall tell them there is no hurry. They can do all of these things tomorrow. I shall advise them to wait until the conditions become more favorable before they start!” The devil replied, “You are the one who shall go to earth to destroy humans!” The assistant’s name was Procrastination.

According to Merriam-Webster, procrastination is defined as “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.” That much we understand, but there is a bit of science as to why we put things off.

Within the brain, there are various areas. Two small areas, one on each side of the brain, are called the amygdala. They are about the size of almonds. It is the area of the brain that processes emotions and informs our minds about what things might be beneficial or harmful. When the amygdala is happy, it assists in giving your brain a nice shot of the happy chemical—dopamine. What’s something that can make you happy? For me, cat videos. Cat videos make me happy. So, I watch cat videos, even though I have a sermon to write. It is not that I don’t like writing sermons, but it takes a lot more work, but the dopamine happiness kicks in at the end of the task, whereas the cat video gives me that quick fix.

Another part of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex, helps us think, plan, and sort through future projects and needs. It’s what says, “You’ll need to sit down Thursday morning and write the sermon for Sunday; otherwise, you’ll have to write it over the weekend.”

The issue is that where the amygdala works on its own, the pre-frontal cortex requires a conscious decision to get moving. So, if my brain is happy—receiving dopamine—from cat videos, it has little motivation to switch gears and go to work on the sermon, so it procrastinates. “Let’s just sit here, sip coffee, and be happy.” (Source)

It is probably a bit more complicated than all that, but that’s the big picture. Miss Scarlett knew it well, “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” (Gone with the Wind) To do what is required means you must consciously decide to get up off your backside and go to it.

Last week, in our Gospel reading, Jesus spoke about the end of days and concluded by saying, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:32)

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist said, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me,” and those two thoughts are what got me to thinking: no one knows when the end of days will be except for God, but what if we did? What if John the Baptist had said, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me, and He’ll be here on December 11, 2023 (that’s tomorrow) at noon.” Question: if you knew that for certain, what would you start to do differently in your life than you are doing now? What would you change?

Some of you may remember the little story I told you a few years ago. The church administrator bursts into the priest’s office and says that Jesus has returned and that He was on His way to their church at that very moment. She then asks the priest, “What should we do?” The priest quickly turns back to his computer and blurts out, “Look busy!”

Perhaps not intentionally or even consciously, but for many, that is their plan. The pre-frontal cortex tells them there will be a day when the Lord will return. It knows that Jesus has told us to stay alert and to watch, but those two little almonds deep down in your brain keep being satisfied with cat videos. I want to be happy now. I want immediate gratification. Yes, yes, I know that the day will come when the Lord returns and that I will be judged, but “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Today, we choose to procrastinate. We have time to make those changes in our lives. We can align our lives with God’s calling a little later.

To escape that place of procrastination, we must consciously decide to follow God. Not just once, but daily. Joshua told the people, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” That is not only a one-and-done choice we make for the general direction of our lives, but it should be a guiding principle for each of our days and all of our actions.

St. Peter said in our second lesson, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief… Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God… Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish.”

If the Lord were to return tomorrow, what would you do differently? I would like to pray more that I might enter into a deeper relationship with God. Do that today. I would like to know more about Holy Scripture. Instead of opening up some social media and watching cat videos, open up God’s Holy Word. I would like to serve those around me. I would like to serve my church. Then, don’t procrastinate. Make that conscious decision and do it.

A king had a court Jester who entertained him marvelously. One day, he told the jester, “O, court jester, you are the biggest fool I know.” He extended to him his royal scepter. He said, “Court Jester, you are the biggest fool I know. Keep it until you find a bigger one.” For years, the court jester kept the royal scepter of the king. Then, the day came when the king knew he would die. He found himself upon his deathbed, never again to arise. He called for his court jester to come in and said, “O, court jester, I am going on a long journey, never again to return.” The court jester said, “O, sir, what preparations have you made for this long journey?” The king shook his head and said, “Alas, I’ve made none.” At that moment, the jester returned the scepter to the king and said, “Here, sir, you are a bigger fool than I. I have jested about things in this life; you have procrastinated about things in the next life.”

St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1b-2)

Our procrastinating in our walk of faith robs us of time with God and one another. Now is the time. “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Not just at some random tomorrow in the future, but today, for now, is the day of the Lord’s salvation.

Let us pray:
Lord, for tomorrow and its needs,
We do not pray;
Keep us, dear God, from stain of sin
Just for today.

Let us both diligently work,
And duly pray.
Let us be kind in word and deed,
Just for today.

Let us be slow to do our will,
Prompt to obey;
Help us to sacrifice ourselves
Just for today.

And if today our tide of life
Should ebb away,
Give us thy Sacraments divine,
Sweet Lord, today.

So for tomorrow and its needs
We do not pray,
But keep us, guide us, love us, Lord,
Just for today.

Amen.

Sermon: Pentecost and the Gift of the Holy Spirit

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