Sermons are now being posted here. To access the sermons from August 2009 to May 2011, please go to the St. James the Assiniboine website. The link is in the column to the right.

To add your own comment, click on the '# Comments' phrase at the bottom of each post: it will take you to the composing window.


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Hmmmmm. Ever heard that phrase, "Grow up!!!" Usually, it's from a mom or dad reacting to a child's tantrum, or perhaps two adults arguing about something nonsensical.

Growing up seems like such a straight forward concept, but in many ways, some do not, and some do not want to. Remember that children's movie, "Peter Pan?" It's about trying to remain forever young.

Wouldn't that be nice? I used to think so, until I discovered that life itself is all about "growing up." Childish attitudes get you nowhere. Childish behaviors often result in arguments and even violence.

A more mature way to look at life is that with each day we not only grow older, hopefully we learn from mistakes and get a little wiser. I have Aboriginal heritage on my mom's side. Elders in the Aboriginal tradition have taught me thgatwe are born into this life in order to become an elder. The task of the elder is to guide the young...it's a neat job!

If we are any good at it, hopefully we can instill some positive values around respect, loving your neighbor or just being the best person you can, despite the hardships life throws at us.

As a priest, I am privileged to walk alongside many and accompany them on the journey of life. There are many today who consider themselves "spiritual" and not "religious." I'm okay with that. However, I'd like to be able to dispel the myth that suggests a person can be a good Christian on their own without the Church. In order to grow, in order to understand, in order to be effective, Christians need each other as the Apostle Paul described. We, as Christians, are part of the same body and we need each other. If you are not in Church, we miss out on the very gifts oyu have been given. If you are not in Church, you miss out on the message God has for you for your personal journey.

But the Church is full of hypocrites you say!!! They say one thing and do another. True!!!! Love is preached but many do not act in love towards others. Jesus has said the Church is a hospital, a place for imperfect people. The perfect have no need of a doctor. The Bible has much to say about our lives and how to live them. We can always use one more hypocrite!! why not join our effort, and see how God will use you mightily inside and outside the Church.

We grow up spiritually when we connect with the very One who created us and knows us intimately. I invite you to do as the commercial says on the radio..."Come, investigate Jesus!"

2 comments:

  1. When I was young, I wanted to grow up, because 'big people' got to do more things! Now that I am grown up (At least I like to thik I am) I don't want to be a grown-up anymore, because 'growing up' brings responsibities that the young don't have. (I am working on a keyboard that has no delete key!... maybe that's a metaphor for Life?). So I'd like to say now that I never want to grow up ... but I want to grow.
    I never want to finish growing up, because I want to be able to look at the world with the eywes of a child, but not with childishness. As one of those people who considers herself spiritual ,and avoided church services for years, I saw God in everything around me, from the plantrs and insects and new growth in spring, to the 'miracle' of heavier than air flight and space travel/.
    I wonder if that's what chidren see, without having to be told, when they look at a dandelion fairy ... God's wonders in action?
    Elizabeth B

    ReplyDelete
  2. And Jesus took a child into His lap and said 'Let the little children come unto me..." and, unless you become like little children, you cannot inherit the Kingfom of God." Elizabeth's comments are quite meaningful, as it is the "child like" nature we need to have, one that is open and trusts. Child-ish behavior, on the other hand, causes us to be in conflict with each other, to tear down instead on build up.

    It is sad in today's world our trust is destroyed by yet more devastation...a military officer accused of murder, a priest who abuses, a mayoral candidate who cmmitted adultery. These things could cause anyone to doubt there is a God...look at Haiti...it's all hard to comprehend.

    Yet, we have a loving God, who wants us to trust and to be open to new ideas, to be willing to take risks and to grow. If we but allow Him to be a part of our daily lives, we will see growth and the child like character within us will be nurtured. I hope, as Christians, we never forget how to play, to have fun, to enjoy each other's company and to build up the Body of Christ.

    At St. James, I look forward to more opportunities to play, to fellowship, to learn from each other and to take those learnings, that joy, to the neighborhood around us. May God continue to belss us in the days ahead!

    ReplyDelete