07/28/2024 ~ Proper 12 ~ Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Tenth Sunday after Pentecost ~ 2 Samuel 11:1-15 ~ Psalm 14; 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-18; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21 ~ VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/992092422

Define Miracles

“…Jesus said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’” — John 6:20

His name was Murry. He was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan just before the start of World War I. This next point is well documented. Because of the make up of the population on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at that time he was Jewish.

Just as he was graduating from college with a degree in chemistry, this country entered World War II and Murry found himself in the Army. The Army thought a degree in chemistry was a valuable asset to be effectively used Stateside. So he was never destined to go overseas.

Instead Murry was assigned to a weapons arsenal at Fort McClellan in Alabama. You see, when the right chemicals get put together it makes things go boom!

In one sense Alabama did him in. He fell in love with a Methodist Southern Belle. After WW II that chemistry degree is what landed him in Norwich, New York at least forty years before I landed at the Congregational Church located there.

Why were Murry and his wife at the Congregational Church and not at the Methodist Church? Their children liked the youth group at the Congregational Church.

And why did Murry land in Norwich? He worked for Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals and chemistry made that place run.

You may never have heard of Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals but you’ve heard of what they invented: Pepto-Bismol. Procter & Gamble bought them out and eventually moved that whole operation to other places, that area being way to rural for Procter and Gamble to think of it in good terms. But by the time that happened Murry had retired.

And so, I landed at the Church in Norwich when Murry, in retirement, had concocted a little outreach program. He organized and put together a Thanksgiving basket project. Church members put together and gave out about 100 of them.

Murry kept all the details of how this operation came together in his head. And so, in my second year there I sat down with him and suggested the church needed to strengthen, modernize, be a little more involved and maybe even expand the program some.

Certainly one need was to take all Murry knew about the operation out of Murry’s head and move the logistics into the church office. Once there it could be computerized. Much to my surprise, Murry was all in with this. (Slight pause.)

Two years later Murry was out on the golf course and did not feel well. He told his playing partners to keep going and he would just ride the cart for the remaining holes. He then drove himself to the hospital where he was told he had a heart attack and needed surgery ASAP. A veteran, after the surgery he landed at the local Veterans’ Home for rehab.

That Thanksgiving the basket project went well despite the fact that Murry was not involved as he was still at the Vets’ Home. In fact, the church had $700 left over from the money which had been allocated for the project.

I visited Murry at the Vets’ Home and let him know that. With a gleam in his eye he said, “You know the Methodist Church runs a Christmas Basket project, right?” I nodded in the affirmative.

“We set aside that money to feed people, right?” Again, I nodded in the affirmative. “So, why not give that money to the Methodists to feed people.” Again, I nodded in the affirmative.

“It doesn’t matter which church is doing it, right?” I nodded in the affirmative and smiled. And so we gave $700 to the Methodists. Murry died several months later. (Pause.)

I told that story at Murry’s memorial service. At that service I also explained, as he had told me dozens and dozens of times, the name Murry was Yiddish but had been Anglicized. What did Murry really mean? It meant Moses.

Moses— the one who saw the burning bush and heard God say that the prophet stood on holy ground. Murry understood, I said, we are all called to do the work of God and we all stand on holy ground when we do the work of God. God is present to us. God walks with us. (Slight pause.)

“…Jesus said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’” (Slight pause.)

For reasons beyond me we do not seem to understand as a society what miracles are about. But that’s not new. Many of the people who populate Scripture often did not seem to understand what miracles are about. (Slight pause.)

I am convinced that by putting together the two readings we heard today the folks who compiled the Revised Common Lectionary are trying to let us know that “oohing and ahhing” over the specific miracles of Jesus as if they were unique in the Bible is a stretch. There are miracles all over Scripture.

Also, by assigning the long reading from John with both the feeding of the crowd and Jesus walking to the disciples on water, I think those who compiled the lectionary are trying to tell us something very directly. Do not “ooh and ahh” over miracles at all. Pay attention to what miracles mean, not the details of the phenomena. Pay attention to the message, not the magic. (Slight pause.)

That brings me back to Murry. Murry saw a need, a need to feed people. So Murry started a little project. Yes, the project fed people. But it built fellowship in the church as people volunteered to work with Murry and it did the work of God, which meant feeding the people of God. Maybe that was a miracle.

The project grew over the years. At one point that church coordinated a town wide effort which supplied 450 baskets in a town of less than 7,00. But the point was to do the work of God, work which meant feeding the people of God. And yes, maybe that was a miracle.

And when Murry could no longer, himself, work at the project, his eyes were still on the work which needed to be done. And that was to do the work of God which meant feeding the people of God. And maybe that very understanding was a miracle.

But what Murry really understood is that we all stand on holy ground all the time. What Murry really understood is God walks with us all the time. What Murry really understood is doing the work of God is or should be an imperative in our lives. (Slight pause.)

That brings me back to those folks who compiled the lectionary. When they assigned the reading from John why did they string those stories together?

At the end of the passage Jesus says, “…do not be afraid.” This phrase which can be translated as “do not be afraid” appears over 300 times in Scripture. That phrase is always said by God or a messenger from God. And it always means God is in some way present.

When Jesus says, “It is I;…” this is meant to be a reflection of what God says to Moses from the burning bush. I am Who I am.

Indeed, when God speaks from the burning bush and proclaims “I Am” God also tells Moses, “You are walking on holy ground.” And yes, Jesus is saying in that all you have seen and are seeing you walk on holy ground. God is here with you. (Slight pause.)

In one sense, the real message of miracles is that we, you and I, can do them when we pay attention to the work of God. And in paying attention to the work of God we need to understand the presence of God is there, walking with us at our side.

So what is the real miracle? God is here. God walks with us. Are we paying attention? Amen.

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “I need to say this congregation pays attention to outreach. So, do miracles happen? Are they real? The answer is yes, when we are aware of the presence of God. The way I see it that says you, this congregation, is aware of the presence of God since you pay attention to outreach, mission. Some might call that a miracle unfolding in front of us. Yes, but I also call it being faithful.”

BENEDICTION: We are people of the Spirit. We are children of God bearing witness to God’s love, truth, justice, equity and peace each day. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, and the presence of the Spirit of Christ which is real and available, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge, love and companionship of the Holy Spirit, this day and forever more. Amen.