As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional 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:  

 I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord:
no one comes to the Father, but by me.

John 14.6

O Come, Let Us Worship

Collect: 
Almighty God,
we are taught by your word that all our doings without love are worth nothing.
Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent give of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtue;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.        Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

 Luke 13.10-17

Sermon:  The Venerable Brian Evans  

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

 “ What Do You Expect from Jesus? "  

I could have made my title: “Why Did You Come to Church Today?”  

Or “What Are You Expecting from Jesus?”  

These titles would suggest that Jesus only works on Sunday.

In response to our Gospel for today, one might assume Jesus does not, or should not, work on the sabbath, or Jesus takes one sabbath day a week.          

At the same time, we live with people 24/7: people who are marginalized; people who are the targets of prejudice and misunderstanding; people with disabilities; people from minority religions; people who have grown up in situations of abuse; people who have served time in prison.          

We lived in a very cosmopolitan world; a world growing closer to us each day, with the advance of technology.

In the year 2000, a Danish researcher decided to set up what he called a “human library”. He invited people to sit for 30 minutes, in a question-and-answer situation, with a variety of people, from a variety of real-life situations: people who were strangers, one to another.          

Think about spending an afternoon with a person who basically lives in a wheelchair 24/7.

• There would be no time for spontaneous experiences.
• How would I offer help, or when should I offer assistance.
• Where are the handicap washrooms?
• Are they truly handicap “approved”?

The list could go on.  

I think of my uncle who was blind; how he managed in his life. Early on as children, we were taught to put things back where we found them, particularly in the refrigerator.          

In each situation, if we were to spend even 30 minutes with that person, how our empathy might develop for a world we are exposed to every day.   Not only is about empathy: it is also about understanding, and appropriate compassion.          

With this thought, I wonder what it would have been like to spend 30 minutes with the physically challenged woman we read about in the Bible today.  

• First: I find it interesting, the differentiation the law of the day, in the time of Jesus, makes between teaching and acts of healing on the sabbath. What is work and what is not.   Then I think, “Oh right, what I am doing today is not work. Maybe I should not get paid for today!!! OK. We are not going to be that literal.  
  
  
• Second: What do we learn from Jesus’ teaching?          

It is worth hearing this again:

‘And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.’          

Then look what happens: in that moment, Jesus is ridiculed for “working” on the Sabbath.          

Let us step back for a moment.   Think for a moment about the story this woman would have to tell. Think about her “before-and-after” story, her human-book story.   I am sure it would make a “best-seller” novel.          

Back to our title: “What Do You Expect from Jesus?”       

What do I expect of Jesus?  

Each week, one of the Bible Commentary sites I subscribe to has a very modest clip art with the following words: “Welcome: Glad you are here" , or words similar.            

I hope we all feel like this is a home.

I am reminded of one of my first wardens, in a discussion about new flooring for the church, to which there were some who were in opposition. His response was: “All I’m going to say is, ‘I see church as an extension of my family, and I would not expect my family to live with the condition of the present flooring’.”   I am sure you can anticipate the resulting vote!          

What Jesus saw on that sabbath morning was a member of the “family” in need. Jesus acted just as we would act if it were family.   For Jesus, this woman was family.          

What we experience, or I should say, what we experience from the people in the Bible who have a first-hand encounter with Jesus is: that they come away surprised, challenged, changed.   I think of the many people who, over the centuries to this day, even yesterday, who have had a first-hand encounter with Jesus, and how their life has changed!

Possibly, the most significant in the Gospels is not the after experience; rather it is the actions of Jesus in the first place.  

Throughout the Gospels, we experience a Jesus who is looking to transform people’s lives; to assist in the healing of people; to share God’s love. At the same time, some people were grateful, while others were prepared to crucify Jesus for his ministry.          

The next part of the equation is: what is next, after the encounter?   What is next for the person who comes to the community looking for acceptance, looking for love, looking for family, looking for a caring and supportive community?          

So often, like the story of the crippled woman, we do not know the rest of the story, and that is OK.   Often in our thinking, we are not prepared to accept the fact that people come, people are fed, and people come rejoicing.  

What happens next? Is it about filling the pew next Sunday, or is it about the experience?   Then leave it at that.          

As an Archdeacon, leading parishes through some transformation exercises, I have heard a number of related experiences, similar to this: “We tried that, and it didn’t work; and people came for a period of time, then some just quit coming.”

At the same time, my question would be: “Have you ever thought of the difference you may have made in that person’s life?”          

Do we have any idea how that person may be living out the love we have showed them?

When our life is changed by Jesus, by coming to worship in this community, how are we living out the rest of our lives?          

Without naming, I am mindful of the people I have the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with, and how their lives have changed. Does it mean they are all in a church, somewhere in the world this morning? Not likely. At the same time, I do know where their heart is.   

I am mindful of Wednesday of this week, when we Commemorated the life, work, and witness of John Stuart, Missionary in Upper Canada who died in 1811.

Part of his epitaph was: “To lead a good life, preach sound doctrine, and to be industrious and zealous in the discharge of the functions of an honest and upright clergyman.”          

I invite each one of us to change some of the words and make it our daily mantra.   The question is always with us: “What do you expect from Jesus?”  

Thanks be to God,  Amen.

Let Us Pray

Trusting in God’s extraordinary love,
let us come near to the Holy One in prayer.  

Our response today:
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

You crown your church with steadfast love and mercy.
Guide us continually in our baptismal covenant to
strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
Use our diverse gifts in service to the whole people of God.   
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

You satisfy the needs of all creatures.
Protect the habitats of fish and birds.
Repair ecosystems damaged by misuse, neglect,  or natural disaster,
that all creation may thrive. 
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

You make your ways known to all people.
Inspire the rulers and leaders of nations with your compassion and mercy.
Raise up activists and community organizers to restore places
affected by violence, poverty, and inequality. 
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

You provide justice for all who are oppressed and relief to all who are afflicted.
Heal those who are bent over by addiction, depression, and anxiety.
Set free all who cry out under the weight of mental, emotional, or physical distress.
In our Parish:
Roy & Gail; Daryl & Sue; Maureen; Geoff; Jay;
John; Carolyn; Joseph; and those on our hearts.
In our joy and in our tears, be near us. 
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

You call us to delight in the sabbath.
Renew our bodies, minds, and spirits in this worshipping assembly.
Give rest to all who lead our congregation in worship, study, and service.  
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.   

Generations bless your holy name.
We give you thanks for the communion of saints
who have gathered in prayer and praise in this place.
Support us in your love until we rest forever in you.  
Merciful God,
Receive our prayer. 

Receive the prayers of your children, merciful God,
and hold us forever in your steadfast love;
through Jesus Christ, our holy Wisdom. Amen.  

As our Saviour taught us,

Our Father 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 we forgive those who tresspass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Increase in us the healing power of your love.
Guide us and direct us that we may please you in all things,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.    Amen. 

The Doxology:

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.  
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and Christ Jesus, for ever and ever.  Amen.   

The Blessing