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Read it online here.
Aloha nui loa, ‘Ōmea! Today I want to continue with the idea of being part of a faith community. Here is a passage that addresses that issue:
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
And here is a little illustration of the same idea put another way:
Sermon without a word
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending Services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher Decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers Visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing.
In the heavy silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly-burning ember, and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he silently sat back in his chair.
An ember on the hearth …
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host, with a tear running down his cheek, said, “Thank you so much for your visit, and thanks especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
We live in a world today which tries to say too little with way too much. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
What we do says who we are. Actions speak louder than words.
Will the Lord see YOU in church next Sunday? I hope so!
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The ember on the hearth is not consumed in the fire on the grate, and therefor has no part in the “life” of the fire. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” In this story the fire is burning without us, and we are a cold lump of charcoal, no longer like the living wood, but more like “ashes to ashes and dust to dust.” We are dead, dead, dead – unless we get back into the Fire into which we have been baptized. We can again be part of warmth and light even though we are consumed in the transition.
In Jesus’ parable, though, the branch removed can never be expected to bear fruit again. It will remain not only fruitless but also, eventually, lifeless – a dead, dried up strip of crumbling kindling. Usually, that is.
But I know of vines that have been transplanted, or grafted into another vine. When that happens, it is possible that life will continue, perhaps as a struggle at first, but still possible. I guess I think of that as what happens to people like me who are converts. I was well-nourished, pruned, nurtured, and bore fruit in one sort of vine. After about 20 years of that, I was cut off from that vine and lay around fruitless and drying up for a while. Then the Vinedresser grafted me into a better, more beautiful, and way more nurturing vine and my life has flourished since then. Oh, I still put out a few yucky fruits now and then (THAT’s an understatement!), but – on the whole – the good fruit is so much better and way more abundant.
In part that is because of the workers in the Vineyard who make sure the vines are living an optimized life. That would include you and all the MBN. So, God bless you for all that you have done and will do to make the Vineyard a cause for Joy from the Master. The branch is viable only on the vine, but the vine – and the faithful worker – are rooted to the Vineyard planted by the Master. And instead of being consumed and going to ash, the vine, the branches, the vineyard, the worker, and the Master produce Life that yields fruit and even wine to cheer the heart and save the soul.
As always, thanks for your prayers and your participation in the MBN. I deeply appreciate your presence in our lives.
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Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
Share-A-Prayer
Thanks for your prayers for M who had chicken pox. Recovery went well and he was able to return to work this week. Let us pray to the LORD to say THANKS!
Please continue you help us pray for KD whose health continues to be a growing problem. Pray for strength, courage, and understanding as things progress.
We learned recently that CN landed in some very serious trouble resulting in some serious charges. Parents, Aunts and Uncles, friends and family are praying that CN will get the help he needs to get his life straightened out. I’m asking the MBN to pray for his conversion – let him come to the Lord for healing.
Here are some suggestions for your daily intention in your intercessory prayers:
We pray for Christians, and for people of all faiths, who are being persecuted for their beliefs.
We also pray that those who fear they cannot or should not be forgiven will find that your mercy exceeds all their fears.
We pray for the conversion of sinners everywhere. Help them to nurture and cherish the spark of your Spirit that dwells in every living soul.
We pray for the children and youths, especially on our island. We ask that you will watch over them and reveal yourself to them through the loving care of family and community so they can recognize and embrace God’s infinite love for them.
Bless and protect the lives and works of the gallant men and women who serve in our Armed Forces around the world. For those who are in most danger in combat zones, send your mighty angels to stand with them against our foes.
Lastly, I humbly ask for your prayers as I take on a new responsibility as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council for St. Catherine’s. Please ask God to bless all the council members so that we can serve our fellow parishioners according to His will.
