{"id":677267,"date":"2025-01-07T12:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T17:50:46","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-08-25T10:44:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T14:44:25","slug":"the-god-of-time-the-presentation-february-2-2025","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/the-god-of-time-the-presentation-february-2-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The God of Time, The Presentation \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-yellow-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-yellow-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=DFMS1712829856&#038;light=true\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-yellow-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-yellow-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>[RCL] <\/strong><strong>Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84 or Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Pres-2025-Cover-FB-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-327269\" style=\"width:512px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God is the God of time. The readings appointed for this week in the lectionary each give a powerful reminder that God is not an aloof entity who stands above and outside of our world. We worship a God who has actually entered into human history. Even more perplexing and mysterious is the claim these readings make that God continues to enter our story. The season of Epiphany offers an extended meditation upon this remarkable theological claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The liturgical cycle begins each year with Advent, that season leading up to the great feast of Christmas. If Advent is a time to express waiting, longing, and hope, Epiphany is a season to reflect on encounters with the divine: those hopes made reality. The past few Sundays have proclaimed the stories of Jesus\u2019 baptism, beginning of ministry, and the crowd favorite, turning water into wine. Today is the celebration of the Presentation of our Lord. The passages from Malachi, Hebrews, and the Gospel of Luke each speak a deep truth about God\u2019s presence in our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prophetic book of Malachi speaks of God\u2019s sudden arrival: \u201cThus says the Lord, \u2018See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord who you seek will suddenly come to his temple.\u2019\u201d God\u2019s appearance, according to Malachi, will be abrupt. In Luke\u2019s account, Mary and Joseph have taken Jesus to the Temple in obedience to the purification laws. When they arrive, the righteous and devout Simeon greets the holy family and declares that he has now seen God\u2019s salvation, who will be a light to all people. Simeon also adds that Jesus will be opposed and cause the falling and rising of many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As if one strange Temple encounter was not enough, Luke continues the story with another.&nbsp; Immediately after Simeon blesses the holy family, the prophet Anna comes. Anna then spoke about Jesus \u201cto all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.\u201d In other words, the redemption that was hoped and longed for by those present was fulfilled in Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the story, Anna and Simeon had been waiting a lifetime to encounter the Messiah. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he laid his eyes on God\u2019s anointed. When Simeon encounters Jesus, he takes him in his arms and declares those words that are known as the <em>Nunc dimittis<\/em>: \u201cNow you are dismissing your servant in peace.\u201d The church took these words as early as the 4th century and incorporated them into evening and night prayers. They remain in Episcopal and Anglican prayerbooks around the world. God is the God of time, and God has chosen to enter into human time. The <em>Nunc dimittis<\/em> reminds us that <em>now<\/em> is the time of the Lord. <em>Now<\/em> is the time of salvation. <em>Now <\/em>is the time for peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a world of increasing political turmoil, polarization, and anxiety, it can be difficult to see where God is present. Looking to the war zones across the globe, it certainly does not seem like the Prince of Peace reigns over this world. Browsing the vitriol on social media on either side of the political aisle does not look like it brings glory to God. The anxiety in young people is almost palpable, exacerbated by things like the climate change crisis, in addition to increasing stress around school, body image, and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But one of the pronounced lessons in the readings from today is that God does not make an appointment for God\u2019s arrival in our lives. As Malachi says, the Lord will suddenly appear in the temple. Even Jesus\u2019 own parents were amazed at what Simeon said about him. God appears unexpectedly. God appears in God\u2019s own time frame. And God will appear again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many, to speak of the arrival of God on earth is to speak of Jesus\u2019 triumphant return. Perhaps there will be a rapture or a descent on the clouds on a white horse. Biblical scholars and theologians have wrestled for many centuries over the who, what, when, and where of the second coming. But there is divine presence still among us, even amid the turmoil and anxieties of every present age. And that\u2019s what the season of Epiphany is there to remind us: God\u2019s kingdom is here in our midst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The author of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus has fully entered into our world of time and space: \u201cHe had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect.\u201d This is a theological claim that the church has proclaimed since the early councils: Jesus was fully human. Luke\u2019s gospel teaches us that part of that humanity was his growth, as the King James translation phrases it, \u201cAnd Jesus increased in wisdom and stature.\u201d When the church embraces the sudden and unexpected dimensions of God\u2019s character, the church, like the Christ child, grows in wisdom and stature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many in The Episcopal Church will know the story of women\u2019s ordination in our church. In 1974, eleven women presented themselves for ordination to the priesthood. The canons of the church had not yet been changed to explicitly allow women to be ordained as priests. Though a motion in 1973 had majority support, the way votes of diocesan delegations were counted meant that the motion failed. As General Convention happens every three years, this meant that it would be another three years before canon law could be amended to explicitly allow for women\u2019s ordination to the priesthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By July 1974, eleven women who had already been ordained as deacons presented themselves for ordination to the priesthood at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia. Three retired bishops stepped up to ordain these women as priests. Despite threats of violence and all manner of discouragement, these women were truly prophetic\u2014answering God\u2019s call when the institution and structures around them sought to keep them from full participation in the life of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many critics at the time\u2014and even today\u2014could not understand why these women and bishops would not wait until the next General Convention. After all, what is three years of waiting compared to a lifetime of ministry? But for these women and bishops, the call of God was <em>now.<\/em> There are times for waiting. And there are times of immediate response to God. In answering God\u2019s call, these women blazed the path for women across the country to embody God\u2019s sacramental presence to those within and outside the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The church does not always get everything right. But the church can only grow when individuals and leaders respond to their encounters with God. Sometimes that growth is painful. Often, that growth is met with resistance. Jesus\u2019 growth in wisdom shows his humanity; our growth in the church reflects God\u2019s presence with us. Within the story of scripture and of church history is a message of God moving into the messy reality of human space and time. Epiphany is a season to reflect on these encounters with God, past and present. Encounter with the divine sparks movement. In our world today, there is plenty of room to move for justice, peace, and proclamation of the gospel. As we move in response to our encounters with the divine, may we in turn embody God\u2019s presence to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This sermon was written by <strong>Michael Toy.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-e4f365a7-fa93-4ae7-81c4-ef77587f564c\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sermon-Presentation-English.docx\">Word \u2013 Presentation Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sermon-Presentation-English.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-e4f365a7-fa93-4ae7-81c4-ef77587f564c\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-d093ff6f-78d5-4672-b7a5-bc51271ae3c4\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sermon-Presentation-English.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Presentation Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Sermon-Presentation-English.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-d093ff6f-78d5-4672-b7a5-bc51271ae3c4\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[RCL] Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84 or Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 God is the God of time. The readings appointed for this week in the lectionary each give a powerful reminder that God is not an aloof entity who stands above and outside of our world. We worship a God who has actually entered&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[32,43,52,3],"tags":[266],"class_list":["post-677267","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","category-epiphany","category-sermons","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-feast-of-the-presentation"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":32,"label":"Epiphany"},{"value":43,"label":"Sermons"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":266,"label":"Feast of the Presentation"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/677267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sermon"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/677267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3485651,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/677267\/revisions\/3485651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=677267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=677267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=677267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}