Year C 3rd Sunday after Epiphany 2025 All in One Accord

Year C 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, 26 January 2025

St James the Less Episcopal, Ashland, VA

“All in One Accord”

Collect: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News

of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and

the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

All the people of Israel gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of

the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men

and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing

the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who

could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of

all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the

Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and

worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation.

They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the

people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of

the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom

nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.

He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.

He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it

was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then

he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Good morning, friends. There are not many Sundays when I couldreally preach on any of our lectionary readings and deliver amessage I want to deliver passionately. Often there might be two,usually there is at least one. But this morning, our readings fit hand in glove with one another, and it fits where we are so well.

When people receive an organ transplant they are given anti-rejection

drugs, immunosuppressants. But those drugs not only suppress the

rejection of this new thing recognized as foreign in the body, but it

makes all other infections more likely as well. But we would have to be

in dire need to take that drug, because then we can live.

We are meant to be whole. We are meant to work in unison with all our

parts and pieces. While some get more attention, which is what St Paul

is alluding to in today’s I Corinthians reading, all are so necessary. We are

made to be a community where all that is needed is provided and all the

parts work together for the common good.

That is our Common Wealth, the strength and security of being as one.

That could be our family, our church, our nation, our world. The more

we work and provide for the common good the better we all are. It has

been proven over and over and over again.

In our Old Testament and Gospel readings we see two different ways

this can go.

In both readings we see that what brings people together is the reading

of God’s word.

You may not know the context of the Nehemiah reading. This is when

the people were sent home after the Babylonian Exile. They had been

invaded and captured, and the best and brightest had been taken off to

be the servants of the mighty Babylonian Empire. But after 70 years or

so, they were allowed to go home and worship in the Temple. But first

things first. Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priest, called the

people to a solemn assembly and reminded this new generation who had

never been in their ancestral home who they were and where they came

from. So they read out loud the law of Moses. The Torah, the five books

of Moses, was the artifact that made them who they were. It was a

record of God’s creation of everything and particularly their nation,

their call and following of God, and instructions for a good life. This

document reminded everyone why they mattered and why they were

cared for.

This follows when Nehemiah called upon all the people to rebuild the

walls of Jerusalem and make it safe for everyone. He battled hard

opposition, but was just and continued doing what needed to be done.

He convinced those around him to be unified for all their sake and to

accomplish the important task at hand.

And in response, the nation came together to worship, remember,

celebrate, and rededicate themselves to the call of God on them as a

people. In today’s reading we see a snippet of this powerful story.

I have stood in Jerusalem and seen the work of their hands. I distinctly

remember seeing a glass floor in an underground shopping mall. Just

outside the Gap Store, yes, the Gap Store, there is this view of the

Nehemiah’s Wall just below one’s feet. This is not some story, this is

history. Our reading says the people were so overjoyed in hearing God’s

law that they wept. 

"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or

weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of

the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and

drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for

whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord;

and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Celebrate, friends, because you are beloved by God! “The Joy of the

Lord is your strength!”

The people came together out of need, rebuilding their wall. The people

really came together in their identity, including the men AND the

women (the passage says this directly all who could understand were

included!), and they rededicated themselves to what their ancestors long

before had promised. 

They were all in one accord, and those walls are still there to this day.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel reading, comes home. Word had gotten around

that this kid they knew for the last decades was making a name for

himself across Galilee. He was sitting in the synagogue there in town,

and is asked to do the reading and an accompanying talk, or sermon, or

homily on what he read. They wanted his 2 cents, and in a sentence he

gave it.

Now, just as an aside. When the people returned from the Babylonian

Exile, the synagogue structure was one of the things they brought home

with them. Not being allowed to worship in the Temple for 70 years, the

organized in groups of at least 10 men to form prayer and worship

circles. Instead of traveling across the country, every Sabbath God’s

people could congregate to worship and pray. I love that Luke says of

Jesus going to worship weekly, “as was his custom.” If Jesus felt the

need to be in a worshiping community weekly, what does that say to us?

So Jesus shows up and he quotes Isaiah here, and a tagline from

Leviticus. 

This is the passage he looks up…’

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Remember now, to the people then, and to us now, Isaiah is a prophet.

And a prophet is not just a teller of the future, though that may be a

part of it. A prophet is one who speaks for God and delivers God’s

message. Often that is what is to come. Often that is a judgment against

sin. Sometimes it is hope-filled, after a time of faithful longing. 

And Jesus, when he reads to the friends and neighbors who watched

him grow up, says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your

hearing."

Part of our Vestry meetings every month is starting with Bible Study so

that your leaders and I are in the right space to discuss the spiritual and

practical leadership to our parish. We use the Gospel lectionary reading

for the next Sunday, which is today’s Gospel.

Someone brought up what it would have been like to hear Jesus

proclaim the fulfillment of prophecy. Now the verse directly following

his one sentence sermon goes thus:

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that

came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (v. 22)

So they were nodding politely until someone said, “Hey, who does this

guy think he is!!!” And it escalates from there. And after some back and

forth, they decide he has gotten too big for his britches and take matters

in their own hands. Never be surprised by the idiocy of the mob…

When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with

rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to

the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that

they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the

midst of them and went on his way.

So in Nehemiah, the people were unified and dedicated themselves to

God. From Luke, the people who knew Jesus best were unified in

getting rid of him.

He quoted Scripture. He gave a message of inclusion and making sure

all were in on God’s goodness in the emerging Kingdom Jesus came to

bring about. The last on most peoples’ priority lists over the centuries

were first on Jesus’ list.

From this week’s headlines we see that things have not changed very

much. Tell people to put themselves first, and there are cheers. Remind

people to respect all and have mercy for the “least of these,” like Jesus

did in the synagogue, and people are vilified.

Friends, for us to be the people of God, we need to be unified. That is

the only way we can accomplish Christ’s work in this world. As Jesus

said, and Lincoln quoted, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

It is house in Matthew and kingdom in Mark. Either way, our only hope

is being with one another. Which reminds me…

What kind of car did the Disciples drive? A Honda. Because they were

all in one Accord. 

Dad joke? Really bad Bible joke? I will let you make the call. But it is still

true.

We need to all ride together or we will not make it where God would

have us go.

After all the press the Episcopal Church received this week I saw several

on social media say that they were atheists or agnostics, but they are also

Episcopalians, supposedly. If you are with us for the first time this week

because of that, welcome. We are honored that you are with us. I hope

you will join us in our coffee hour so we can speak. I really want to meet

you!

I work very hard to not be political, truly. Christ welcomes one and all.

After the election, I said, and had someone repeat to me last week,

“God is not an elephant and God is not a donkey.” I strive to preach

and teach God’s word and the Good News of Christ found in the

Gospel. 

Bishop Budde quoted our baptismal covenant about being a respecter

of all people and then the prophets about including the ones last one

the world’s lists. Asking for mercy for those without power is something

Jesus did. It is something we do and always should do.

The overwhelming vehemence and the overwhelming applause shows

me all the more, the Good News of God in Christ is needed still. And together, we can make a difference in Ashland, and Hanover, and

all the world. When the enemy works to divide us, God’s kingdom is

hurt. God has given us all we need to make this work do-able. Now it is

up to us to hang together, or we will certainly hang separately. Thank

you, Ben Franklin, by the way. Let us respond to Christ’s call:

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how

can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything

but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be

hid. (Matthew 5:13-14)

Amen.