March 17, 2024
Lent 5 Year B – George Yandell
I’ve been mulling over what I can offer you as we prepare for my retirement. I keep coming back to how grateful I feel being with you at Holy Family since August 1, 2010. It has been an incredible blessing to serve with you and my clergy colleagues. I’ve asked them to send me some of their recollections.
When Susan and I were in town house-hunting before I started as priest-in-charge, the clergy invited us for a meal at Byron and Anne’s house. Susan recalls that Scott and Katharine drove us with Ted and Debbie to the Tindall’s. I had some apprehensions about being the new kid on the block with a team of clergy that devoted themselves as volunteers and had kept worship and pastoral care alive after Mary had left. We were so delighted as we talked and shared a wonderful meal- I thought as we were going home- what a tremendous gift to have such sharp and devoted colleagues! And in the years since that first engagement, I’ve only grown in my respect and love for you all.
Byron offers these recollections:
Approximately 14 years ago, the Search Committee at Holy Family was in the process of interviewing priests for the position of priest-in-charge of our parish. As “retired” clergy and members of Holy Family, Katharine, Ted and I were afforded an opportunity to have some private time with each of the candidates.
March 10, 2024
Lent 4 – Year B – George Yandell
I like the word ‘oxymoron’. It means expressing two contradictory things at the same time. The word itself is an oxymoron – it’s a compound made up of two Greek words meaning “sharp” and “dull.” So oxymoron = sharp/dull. Some good examples are: bittersweet, original copy, jumbo shrimp, and a true Southernism—“pretty ugly”. I have often thought that having a firm handle on the concept of an oxymoron is vital to understanding the Christian faith. Is God oxymoronic? Does the Bible express truths about God that are mutually contradictory?
Dom Crossan has said: You can read the Bible all through and find evidence for two quite different, conflicting ways God acts. [How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian, Harper One, 2015, p.17] In one way – God is harsh, judgmental, strict; a god of law and punishment, of revenge and retribution, even violence; a god who keeps a careful tally of our sins and metes out appropriate penalties. In the other way – God is gentle, loving, forgiving, and indulgent; a god who condemns violence and loves us with a prodigal, spendthrift love. [Adapted from a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Delmer L. Chilton on The Lectionary Lab, March 15, 2015]
How do we hear and respond to the dialogue of Jesus with Nicodemus in today’s gospel? In shaping our responses, key words in today’s gospel demand some decoding and recasting.
March 3, 2024
Lent 3 Year B – George Yandell
When Jesus went onto the temple courtyard, he erupted in violent anger when he saw the Court of the Gentiles desecrated by the traders who set up shop there. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and threw them out. Why? Because they filled their pockets by ripping off the poor. He screamed at the vendors of sheep and cattle and doves. Anger coursed through him, he was outraged. What was Jesus really doing? Jesus might have waked up one morning, walked out of his house, seen the poverty and the hunger of all those around him and said, “This Stinks!” He was enraged at those perverting the true worship God intended.
What was the worship God intended? Jesus seemed to be channeling the great prophets’ teachings: Amos 5:21 ff., speaking God’s word to the people of Israel 750 years before Jesus: “I hate, I despise your festivals…. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them… Take away the noise of your songs, I will not listen to the melody of your harps… But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Isaiah 1:17 “Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Hosea 6:6 “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Micah 6:8 “[God] has told you….what is good;
February 25, 2024
Lent 2B – George Yandell
Paul writes in Romans about the passage from Genesis: the covenant with Abraham is evidence of Abe’s exemplary faith. The covenant depended on ‘the righteousness of faith’ rather than obedience to rules, since God’s promises rely upon grace. “Hoping against hope (vs. 4:18), Abraham became the father of many nations, despite his advanced age and Sarah’s barrenness. Abraham is therefore the father of all who come to trust in God. So sure was he of the fulfillment of God’s promises that he did not waver, but “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. (vs. 20). This same righteousness is also granted to the followers of Jesus, who believe in God as the one who raised Jesus from the dead.”
What is most important here is not the faith of Abraham himself, but God’s faithfulness. What truly matters is what God has done in Christ Jesus. He suffered death for our sins and was “raised for our justification.” (vs. 25) This is the ultimate example for the mysterious and faithful ways God’s promises are kept. [Adapted from Synthesis, March 4, 2012]
In the gospel passage Jesus calls his disciples to radical faith as he prepares them for his passion and death. What an extraordinary example Jesus gives as he accepts obediently the cross to which his father sends him. In the gospel Jesus teaches that he must undergo great sufferings and be killed.