The Light Increases

Today's sermon, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buffalo, NY
The spotlight can be seductive.
After my oldest nephew was born my family spent an inordinate amount of time just watching him on the floor. Being a somewhat smart-alecky teenager at the time, I remarked, “what in the world did we do before we had him?” As if to say, really folks is this how we are going to spend our time, watching a baby? Of course we all do this, a baby draws us, we are attracted by their newness, their innocence, the shear miracle of conception, gestation and birth. We can spend a lot of time in awestruck wonder, watching this little human. And this is perfect for the baby because she learns about the world through us. In her world, she is the center and all that exists exists within her field of vision and touch. So with our undivided attention her belief that she is the center of the universe is repeatedly reinforced. A baby is, by her very nature, ego-centric. There is a certain sadness when a child learns that they aren’t actually the center of the universe. Of course there is also sadness…and annoyance…. when a child never accepts that they aren’t the center of the universe. And we all know adults for whom this revelation remains elusive. We all know ego maniacs, we all know people who seek the spotlight, who hunger for power and rejoice in being the top, the number one.
Our society actually encourages ego-centric behavior. It is as if American culture is developmentally still a toddler.
The spotlight is seductive and it takes a rather mature and restrained person to resist that seduction.
Now I don’t know about you, but I have never thought of John the Baptist as mature and restrained. But upon reflection I realize that in today’s Gospel this is exactly what
he was exhibiting---mature restraint. He was being proclaimed a prophet and thought by many to be the messiah. He had the ear of the rich and powerful, he could have taken that attention, that spotlight, and kept it all for himself. Yet he didn’t. When pushed to tell the authorities who he was, John demurred. He wouldn’t talk about who he was-- proclaiming instead who he wasn’t. “I am not the messiah” “I am not.” “ No. “What do you have to say for yourself John?” And even when he finally answers them, he uses the words of Isaiah not his own. He doesn’t toot his own horn, he steps out of the spotlight—to prepare the spotlight for the actual Messiah, the true and full light of the world. John dims so that Jesus will fully shine. He decreases so the Light of the World can increase.
The Gospel of John is full of this light imagery. For the evangelist darkness is the enemy of light and the coming of Jesus Christ is the ultimate defeat of all powers of darkness. The shining light vs. the encroaching darkness. These Advent readings of Jesus and John the Baptist , come during a time of great darkness---December brings us the shortest of our days. Daylight is in short supply leading up to the winter solstice, but there is hope amidst the dreariness, for with the passing of the winter solstice our days actually begin to lengthen…the light begins to win out over the darkness. [many thanks to Fr. Paul Lillie for the insight into the relationship between the solstices and the nativity dates]
While the arrival of the Christ comes amidst a darkness which is beginning to wane, in an interesting juxtaposition, the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated in June, just a few days after the summer solstice, or the day our daylight begins its slow trek downward….when the long brightness of summer daylight begins to wane.
John and Jesus are inextricably linked with light. From his leaping in Elizabeth’s womb at Mary’s visitation, the role of John the Baptist is as a witness to the light and just as the daylight lessens leading up to the darkest and coldest December day John decreases leaving the spotlight for the true Light of the World, Jesus the Christ. A Light which to be fully experienced, must be shared. Our role as we witness the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world is to share this light---to invite others into the warming rays of salvation. Yes, to fully experience the true light of the world, we must give it away.
. John the Baptist teaches us a hard lesson today—a counter cultural message of voluntarily stepping aside, of humility. A counter cultural message of minimalism decreasing so that others may increase. A counter cultural message of staying true to a vision, regardless of the seductions in one’s path. My nephew did not grow up to be an egomaniac. He learned that he was not the center of the universe, he learned that the spotlight was not for him, he learned that he was part of a much greater whole whose task it is to be a witness to the true light of the world.
It’s a tough transition to make—to realize you are not the center of the universe….but generally we all make that transition and assume our supporting role in the greater whole.
We don’t quit and say “hey if we can’t be the star then forget it, we won’t play..” No, we learn to find our place in the greater community and fulfill our role in that community the best we can. This is what John is teaching us today---yes he needed to step aside so that the light of the world, Jesus Christ, could shine without cloud or blemish---but he did not disappear, he did not quit. He continued to witness to the light, all the way to his death.
To be a Christian Community we cannot hog the spotlight proclaiming to the world like so many of the fallen from grace tv evangelists that we ourselves are the way and the truth--but we also cannot sit passively by just wondering at the miracle and blessing of it all. As a Christian community we must witness this light. As a community we must determine our roles within that witness and then fulfill those roles to the best of our ability. As witnesses to the miracle in a barn in Bethlehem and as witnesses to the miracle of the empty tomb we must prayerfully discern how best to proclaim the gifts God so graciously bestows upon us, not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify the Light of the World.

Amen.

Pizza night at Casa Di Pizza

We had a great time last night--the photos show a chicken wing with a thyroid condition, Allie and Casey peering over the table after too much pizza and the boys being boys.

SCHEDULE CHANGE

The Casa Di Pizza outing has been changed from November 2 to November 16. we will meet at Casa Di Pizza from 5:00 pm -6:30 pm. THANKS!

Ordination

Well it happened. I have posted a couple of photos.
It was a whirlwind of activity and I am very thankful to all of you who helped out--the girl choristers who sang, Juliette, Doug, Cullen and Greyson who served. Allie who read....it was great, thanks, Cathy+

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES Sept. 2008

Hello to all,
Today I mailed out a letter to all the J2A parents. Yesterday a letter went out to all the Godly Play parents. I have enclosed both below.

J2A letter:
9 September 2008
Dear ,
Welcome to the 2008-2009 youth program year at St. Paul’s Cathedral. This year our youth programming will have some added features. For those of you new to the youth group, and for you returning veterans, read carefully as the schedule is full!
Sundays during the education hour (10:15 am-11:00 am) meet in the youth room at 128 Pearl Street. Those who have been confirmed will meet with Allie to read the paper and discuss current events. Those who have not been confirmed will meet with Deacon Cathy in her office to discuss the Gospel of the day.
On the third Sunday of every month (September 21, October 19, November 16 and December 21, January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19 and May 17) we invite all the youth to attend the 11:15 Eucharist and immediately following the service we will go to Spot on Delaware for coffee and conversation.
On the first Sunday of every month ( October 5, November 2, December 7, January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3) we will have an evening gathering, meeting from 4:30pm-6:30pm for social and service time. Once every few months we will serve at Friends of the Night people, but the other months we will go bowling, skating, to the movies or whatever else we come up with. We ask for a parent to volunteer for each of these evening outings (including FOTN). The volunteer parent will help organize the event, arrange transportation, figure out costs etc. Please email, call or talk in person to Deacon Cathy about signing up for your Sunday.
Ongoing The cathedral is going to host a number of activities for the youth of the Liberian Refugee Community. We will offer tutoring, cultural literacy events, pot lucks and movie nights. Any youth who needs to complete community service hours will get credit for participation in these events, in addition to the satisfaction which comes from reaching out to those in need. This program is in its infancy so more information will become available soon. We’ll keep you posted.
Enclosed you will find a short write up about our youth programming philosophy.
Please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with you to discuss the youth programming at St. Paul’s.

Faithfully,


The Rev. Deacon Cathy Dempesy

J2A Insert:
What in the World is J2A?
J2A is short-hand for Journey to Adulthood. Our job, as a congregation, is to walk with our young people as they take this journey from childhood to young adulthood. It can be a precarious, exasperating and scary journey, but it can also be surprising, refreshing and amazing. Everyone takes this journey, every child, every parent. Even Mary and Joseph took it with Jesus, as wonderfully related in Luke’s Gospel:
When Jesus was twelve years old, he and his parents went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:42-52)
The Journey to Adulthood Program operates on two basic premises:
1. Manhood and Womanhood are free gifts from God to be celebrated, explore and cherished.
2. Adulthood must be earned.
Our goal, here at the cathedral, is to offer our young people (grades 6-12) a safe space to explore their identity and a nurturing place in which they can grow into a mature faith. This is accomplished through the development of a community, study of scripture and application of basic Christian tenets in day to day life.
J2A is based on the principles of relational youth ministry which maintains that ministry with youth is based on adults taking an interest in the young person, being interested in who they are, what they think and what they feel. Additionally this ministry acknowledges that as adults we are role models for our teens and that by being faithful members of this faith community, we model a Christ-centered life for them. All of us at the Cathedral must take an active interest in our youth, they need us and we need them.

Calling all Youth Group Parents

An informational meeting about J2A will be held at my home Thursday September 4 at 7pm. Call or email me for directions. See you then!

The Black Knight

I saw this film the other day and I was blown away. I have never gotten into the DC Comic characters and my closest association with Batman was the tv series which was a lot of camp and little substance. This movie had a lot of substance---the commentary on the ability of just about all of us to turn to the "dark side." It was an uncomfortable movie to watch because in the name of good a tremendous amount of bad occurred.
Anyone else see it? It is quite violent so I don't think some of you should see it, but the older ones I am sure have seen it and have comments, right?