As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.

Call to Worship:

All I care for is
to know Christ and
the power of his resurrection.

~Philippians 3.10

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

Gathering

Almighty God:
To you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Today 

Most merciful God,
 by the death and resurrection
 of your Son Jesus Christ,
 you created humanity anew.
 May the power of his victorious cross
 transform those who turn in faith
 to him who lives and reigns with you
 and the Holy Spirit,
 one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 12. 1-8

May the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to You, O Lord.  Amen.

A Pilgrimage with Through Lent:
“Discovering Humility”

Humility, a troubling thought for many. 

Humility means “the state of being humble.” Both it and humble have their origin in the Latin word humilis, for meaning "low." (Miriam-Webster Dictionary)

and from Proverbs 11.2

‘When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.’

And quoting Julius Lester:

‘Eating grits and fatback for breakfast and washing up every morning in cold water from a hydrant in the backyard helped one learn humility and humanity.’
— Julius Lester, Falling Pieces of Broken Sky, 1990

As we approach Palm Sunday next week, today is a great opportunity for us to consider the gift of Humility on this year’s pilgrimage in Lent 2025.

Interesting, our scriptures today invite us to join with the scholars of the past on an adventure called “humility.”

If we track the exodus of the Israelites on their journey through the desert, we can only imagine what humility there must have been when they have finally arrived in their new land. Today, the Prophet Isaiah shares how God is doing a new thing with them.

This example of humility comes when they have given up all hope. 

Paul then, writing to the first century church, talks about pride and humility. Paul, speaking to the people, says, 

‘Look at me, look at all I have accomplished in my life.’

We are not sure of his power and authority, except reading between the lines, it is possible he had accumulated some great riches and has had authority over many. Paul goes on and says, 

“Look at me,
“…circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin
“Look at me… a Hebrew born of Jews; as to law a Pharisee.”

In that time and day, that was quite a lineage.

He goes on to share with us, if not all that was impressive enough, he says,
“as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”  

Then he shares with the world his confession to humility.
Paul goes on and says, 

“More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

We may not always encounter Paul with this sense of humility, except here we have this moment of his being humble, in relating to his relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

You will recall last week when I quoted from:
1 Corinthians 15:10 and how it assists us in understanding more about grace:  

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

Last week, I suggested the quote assists us in understanding grace. Well, it could be that the quote could also assist us in engaging in humility. 

Understanding we are not quite at Maundy Thursday, but we have one of the first actions or incidents of foot-washing today in our Gospel; or more accurately, the anointing of Jesus’ feet. 

With Mary’s anointing of our Lord’s feet, we experience not just a gift of love and extravagance, but also a sense of humility.
    
I was not raised in a church where foot-washing was part of Holy Week. My memory of Easter is “one service on Sunday morning.”

I am not sure of Christianity in Eastern Europe, and the experience of observing a liturgy of foot washing. But what I have experienced here, in the West, is the revival of this liturgical act—particularly, in the last 2 or 3 decades. 

What I have experienced, though, is the opportunity to share in ministry also with some curates. And as they have come out of college, after I had been there many years before, they often arrive with new ideas, and we can only be grateful for that.
 
But what I remember greatly or extensively was the challenge to do foot-washing on Holy Thursday.

I must admit —it is possibly the most humbling experience. Truly, it is to experience humility in its richest form, and it’s on both sides —humility for the person washing; and humility for the person receiving that washing.

Accepting or proclaiming an experience of humility in this time in history is not always seen as something to share or that may impress others. In fact, some would likely see it as being humiliated, or a sign of weakness.

We are surrounded today with leaders and heads of major corporations who would be the last to accept or show humility in their lives. 

A goodly percentage of society would see humility as only for losers. A goodly percentage, then, would pass by this day.

Today we give thanks for these great scripture lessons demonstrating for us humility as a gift from God, which is in those experiences in life which permit us to be humble before ourselves, and before others. 

One sentence I read this week goes like this: 
"Paul becomes an example of how we can survive by learning what we thought we have done right, isn’t as right as we thought—what we thought we were doing right, isn’t as right as we thought."

There’s great old gospel hymn; and it goes like this:

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Chorus:
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Chorus:

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Chorus

According to a site called Hymnary.org, this was written by Knowles Shaw:

 “…and as a singer, reporters of the press all spoke of his singing as something wonderful. Soon after beginning to preach, he started to compose and write hymns; and many of them are very popular.”

He published five books of hymns. He published different hymns, and all were very popular in their time. But "Bringing in the Sheaves" is likely one of the most, and it is possibly the last song that he wrote. 

Shaw gives credit to these scripture verses as the influence for “Bringing in The Sheaves”. 

First of all, he refers to Galatians 6. 7
 ~ 'Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, there will he also reap.'

And in 2 Corinthians 9.6
 ~ 'The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.'

And in Job 4.8 
~ 'As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.'
    
So, as we consider this theme of “humility”, next week we will walk with Jesus into Jerusalem, waving palm branches and sharing with the people a sense of joy, only to have it dampened by the week to come—but then—that great moment will happen when the stone is rolled away!
    
And so today, let us be grateful for God’s gift of humility to sustain us on this pilgrimage with Jesus. 

And, yes, we will be rejoicing when it is all over. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

Led by the Spirit, let us turn to God in prayer for the church, the world, and all in need.
(Silence)

The church declares your praise O God.
Guide us in the example of Isaiah’s imagination, Paul’s transformed identity, and Mary’s faith and devotion; that our lives, too, may be poured out in love as we trust in your promises.
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

The earth declares your praise, O God.
Make a way for the planet’s future in the sea and the wilderness, the mountains and plains, the
tundra and wetlands. Repair habitats and sustainable ecosystems on, above, and beneath the ground.
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

The nations declare your praise, O God.
Where religious differences divide, bring together those who worship you in the name of Jesus Christ and those who call you with different names. Guide interreligious dialogue, that faith may unite rather than divide communities. 
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

The people declare your praise, O God.
Restore those whose hope has been dampened through a health diagnosis, job or home loss, divorce, or death. Bring healing to those in need. In our parish we continue to pray for:
Sheila, John, and Geoff, and we give thanks for the Celebration of Life of Sue Gray yesterday in our  parish, and those on our hearts.
May all who weep now sing songs of joy again. 
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

The gifts of the Spirit declare your praise, O God.
We thank you for artists who proclaim the gospel. Inspire music, poetry, and images that proclaim the new thing you are doing.  
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

The communion of saints declares your praise, O God.
Giving thanks for those who have died, we trust in the one who has made them his own:
Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Saviour.
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

Receive these our prayers, Gracious God, drawing all things together in your love, in the name of Jesus who leads us from death to life. 

And who taught to pray

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

As we go into the world this week, we give thanks for the gift that you give us in calling us to your word and to your sacrament. May we continue to rejoice in thanksgiving for the bread of live and may you continue to draw your people together in your name. 

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. Amen.