Third Sunday after The Epiphany

 January 26, 2025

Good Sunday morning, good pilgrims of The Epiphany Season. It's the third Sunday after The Epiphany and, over in the lectionary page, Jesus has gone home to Nazareth and preached his first sermon in his hometown temple.

The sermon went fine. Short. Sweet. To the point. It was the feedback that almost killed him. But, we don't get to hear the way that episode in that story ends. Not this week.

That gospel story reminds me of the experience I had, years ago, at St. Edmunds, the Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach. Before we bought our own wee cottage, we vacationed for two weeks in a rented home in Rehoboth Beach. I loved to get up early, get over to daily mass, and then walk a bit along the boardwalk before going back home for breakfast.

In those days, there were quite a few priests on staff at St. Edmunds. So, every day, you would get a different priest. I don't think the service lasted more than 30 minutes but there was this one priest - he was my favorite - who preached the shortest sermons in all of Western Christendom.

I remember a few but my favorite was the time he stood up and read the Gospel where Jesus turns over the tables in the Temple. He read the story with particular passion. It was compelling.

And then, he closed the book and we sat down. He paced for a few seconds - but it seemed like a long minute - and then took the time to look us all in the eye.

Then, he opened his mouth and said this: "Jesus is really angry. I wouldn't mess with him."

And then, the priest sat down. He gave us a full minute - but it seemed like it took a long hour - to think about everything before he stood up and continued the service.

One of these days, I'm going to get that good.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.