George Hermanson

The Carpenter's Son

January 31, 2010
St. Paul's - Richmond United Church
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

Luke 4:21-30
Read the passage: The Message   or    The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

Every so often we hear in a new way something that is very familiar. This happened to me when I heard Fred Craddock in Victoria. He was preaching on Jesus’ baptism and he pointed to Luke’s description of it. In it, Jesus lines up with all the others. Lines up, not taking any special place. Lines up with all who line up: the poor, the rich, the soldiers, the shepherds, and all who seek. Lines up.

This insight was in my mind when I read this week’s text. We have the reaction to Jesus reading in the synagogue. This activity was a normal event in the Jewish male’s spiritual journey. Think of it this way - Jesus turns up in worship and takes his turn in reading the assigned text. Turns up, reads and then the mumbling begins - first that was interesting. And then when it sinks in - "Isn’t this Joseph's son?"

We have all done this - listened, began to be moved and then held back. Isn’t this the snot nose little kid I use to know? I remember him in high school.

Haiti - A Reflection

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The earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti forces us to rethink our assumptions about reality. Over the past few weeks we have heard and seen many voices offer their response of words to make sense of the event. Along side those words has been the overwhelming responses of care. This out pouring of gifts and action lift our spirits, and for many this is enough to solve the existential questions that arise in such a wide spread disaster.

A.C. Clark the science fiction writer offered a reflection on human hubris. The idea that we can control nature was shown to be false for “nature has its own ways.” Natural disasters are just that - natural, and one can explain the process of why they happen - no mystery. Yet while we can describe the event and have developed tools of technology to monitor and aid us in responding to nature, we cannot control it. This causes us we to rethink our relationship with nature. This is to understand its freedom. That is, nature is not controllable so we must live in some sort of harmony with it. This is to respect its awesome, creative, and destructive power.

Still, such events do call into question the meaning of God and life. Just as all death reminds us that we too die, the staggering numbers remind us of interdependent universe, that one death touches so many. So we respond with action and prayers. We see the pain of others and respond in ways to alleviate that pain. And the generous response we see gives us hope about us as men and women. And we see that generosity even more so when we see the apathy of some and the evil others engage in, from stealing to exploitation. We see such acts for what they are, perversity. That perversity enhances the good that others show, that compassion maybe more true of us.

Charity Doesn't Begin at Home

January 24, 2010
Richmond United Church
Third Sunday After Epiphany

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Read the passage: The Message   or    The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

Luke 4:14-21
Read the passage: The Message   or    The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

When we are faced with events like the earthquake in Haiti we are forced to ask questions about our responsibility to others. Our basic values determine our responses. We can sum up that basic value in a few sentences or one image.

One such saying is "Charity begins at home." This view point does well in a self referencing world, where we think everything that happens is about us. Just look at all the reality shows on TV - these are social artefacts that are completely egotistical. The self has become the center of experience and self interest is considered the highest value. As the old song goes, "You are so vain that you think this song is about you." Our culture wants to reinforce that sense of the ego that is so common today. Just look at ads, or the issues about health care, or the well being of society.

Beginning at home, or the self, as the basic reference seems benign, harmless, as a guiding principle. It does not work as a guiding principle in face of events that are distant and events that are not immediately touching us. It is ultimately destructive. When we focus on our own needs first, the needs of the larger good get lost.

With Jesus

January 10, 2010
Richmond United Church
First Sunday After Epiphany

Luke 3:15-22
Read the passage: The Message   or    The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 

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The Rev. Dr. George Hermanson

This morning we have Luke’s version of Jesus baptism. And the implications of it for the early church.

Baptism is one those things we do in church and think we know its meaning. But there is confusion. The confusion is seen in the words ‘done,' or ‘christening.' Then there is the debate over adult or infant baptism. What we know is understandings have changed over time.

Our passages give us many understandings from which the church has built doctrine and rites. To understand how our understandings have changed requires discernment.

This morning I will be giving a teaching sermon. Today we know much more about the times in which Jesus lived then we ever did. And we know more the shape of the religious reality of his day.

I think faith is a basic trust in wonder and beauty and that meaningful existence is possible. But faith needs language and a system so it can be shared and be more than private experience. This is where a belief system comes in. We live in the Christian belief system that has evolved out of historical experience, personal experience and human reflection.