Bonnie Perry, Commencement, 2006
I propose to show that what we say, how we proclaim God’s word will change people’s lives so that those hearing this sermon will act with hope and conviction and move us all one step closer to the kingdom of God.
Gracious God
—you fill our hearts,
touch our souls,
now give us the faith and the courage
to speak your word and change this world.
In your holy name we pray. Amen.
Good Morning.
There’s a story of Phillips Brooks
that stands out to me.
It bears some relevance
for all of us gathered here today.
You may remember
that Phillips Brooks
was the founding rector
of Trinity Church, Boston,
the author of the well-known Christmas carol,
“O Little Town of Bethleham”,
and the one-time bishop of Massachusetts.
He is also regarded
by many
as one of the best preachers ever in the Episcopal church:
clearly a cleric to be remembered.
It seems that one day,
Brooks working with a seminarian.
He had just finished listening to the seminarian
practice preaching
his first sermon.
After the young man finished
—Brooks looked at him intently and asked,
“Do you seriously think
that what you say,
will actually change someone’s life?”
The seminarian mulled this question over for awhile
and then said, “ No—probably not.”
To which Brooks replied,
“That’s your problem.”
Indeed.
In Samuel’s time—as in this time
The Word of the Lord was rare in those days—
and visions were not widespread.
Visions were not widespread
and the word of the Lord was rare.
As it was then it is now.
As Biblical Commentator, Eugene Peterson says,
the book of Samuel takes place
at the millennial point
half-way between the call of Abraham
and the birth of Christ.
It is the midpoint
between wandering tribes
and an entrenched hierarchy;
the beginning
of a nation state and monarchy.
It was a time of
war and discord,
tribal upheaval and social unrest.
A time when each did as that one saw fit.
A time—not unlike our own.
In this time is born Samuel.
Samuel is a child
imbued with the Holy;
a gift from God.
Given to his mother late in her life—an answer to her prayers.
Samuel, a young boy, serves in the temple of the Lord.
One night, as he sleeps by the sanctuary light,
he hears a voice calling to him.
Three separate times
he hears the voice call—
“Samuel, Samuel.”
Three times he rouses himself
and goes to his mentor and priest Eli
—“You called me sir? What did you need?”
The first two times
—Eli dead with sleep
—says—
“What are you doing here boy?
—Go away—
Back to bed and leave me
to the bliss of my dreams.”
But the third time after Samuel comes in,
having heard again
a voice calling out to him
—it now becomes blessedly clear to Eli
—that this is no ordinary voice,
no ordinary boyhood dream—
it is the Holy of Holies
—the One who made Heaven and Earth
who is calling the boy.
So this time Eli coaches him—Eli says
“The next time you hear the voice, answer thusly,
“Speak Lord for your servant is Listening”
Eli returns to his pallet on the temple floor.
And not long after
the voice calls out again,
and this time
as Eli instructed, Samuel answers.
“Speak Lord for your servant is listening”
God speaks, and Samuel hears.
Samuel acts.
The world of the Israelites is irrevocably altered.
In those days,
the Word of the Lord was rare
and visions were not widespread.
And yet—
Eli recognizes
the Word of the Lord,
Eli hears the word of the Lord,
And Eli points it out to Samuel.
He points it out in such a way
that Samuel feels compelled to act.
Samuel acts on God’s word,
He becomes a prophet of great repute.
He is the one who finds David,
anoints David,
and sets in motion
the greatest monarchy of Jewish History.
Who utters God’s holy words?
Phillips Brooks said,
“Do you actually believe that what you say will change someone’s life?”
My friends, like Eli,
each and every one of us
is called to do
nothing more and nothing less
than change people’s lives.
The Gospel does not matter
if it isn’t changing someone’s life
—and you are called,
we are called
to hear the Gospel,
preach the Gospel,
embody the Gospel
in such an authentic, audacious way
that lives are literally transformed and made new.
We are called
to be Icons of God,
reflecting God’s grace and hope through us.
This is what,
this is why God created us,
this is what God had in mind for us
as we were knit together
in our mother’s womb:
cell to soul,
ligament to bone
nerve to muscle.
God created us to bear witness in the world to interpret God’s word, to proclaim
--that there is something more.
Frequently we in our world
cannot see beyond our immediate future
—beyond our immediate cares .
We need an Eli—
a priest in our midst—
will speak God’s word
in such a way that we will act.
In the Spring of 2003
Father Abraham Noon Jiel
from the diocese of Renk ,Sudan,
was a student at Seabury.
Abraham—spent many a moment
in the assistant development officer’s office
speaking to Connie Wilson.
Telling her of his life in Sudan.
Telling her of things she may of known
But didn’t know— didn’t understand.
He told her of the civil war,
the poverty,
and the extreme faith of his people.
He also walked in one day
—with a picture of his niece and nephew—
Elizabeth and David.
As he showed those pictures to her
—he said, “Connie they need your help.”
And so it began a story that many of you know—
\Connie’s connection to Sudan.
Her visit.
Her passion and her mission
to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars
to change people’s lives. To live the Gospel.
It’s a much longer story—
of which I know Connie will be happy to tell you more
—but suffice to say.
Abraham—was Connie’s Eli—
he made real to her—
God’s word and God’s call to her.
His words, God’s words through him,
changed her life,
changed the lives of anyone
Connie can get to listen.
He was her Eli—she is our Samuel.
And who my friends will you be?
The Word of the Lord was rare in those days
and visions were not widespread.
As it was then it is now.
Phillip Brooks said,
“Do you actually believe
that what you say will change someone’s life?”
You better—because we’re all God’s got.
God is calling you
—to get out there—
to leave this Holy Sanctuary
and preach the word, live the word,
So that God’s word
will become---our World.
In God’s Holy name we pray.
Amen.