Sermon: "Wisdom from Familiar Sources"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

I want to share with you a fascinating series of apparently-unrelated circumstances.  As often is the case, such matters converge in a way that provides an interesting message, it seems to me, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

The Gospel readings from last week and this week provide the background.  Actually those two readings are parts of one episode.  Remember that Jesus has recently begun his public ministry, and he is being well received.  In fact, the reading last week indicated that he “was praised by everyone”(Lk 4:15).  At this point, he makes a trip to Nazareth, the town where he was raised.  And so, this occasion marks the homecoming of a local boy who was apparently doing pretty well.

In the synagogue, though, Jesus discovered some limitations on the people’s expressions of good will and approval.  Jesus was asked to read that morning and, then, to comment on the reading.  The scroll, or book, of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him.  Jesus reads a passage that represented a prophesy about the Messiah to come.  That is, when the Lord’s anointed One arrives, so Isaiah says, he will bring good news to the poor; he will proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; he will let the oppressed go free; and he will proclaim the year of God’s favor (Lk 4:18-19).  And then Jesus comments on that passage by giving what may be the shortest sermon on record.  He says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”(4:21).

It is important to recognize that in those words, Jesus makes the claim of Messianic identity.  He says to the people that the One they are awaiting – the One promised by Isaiah the prophet – this One is in their presence at that moment.  “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

You will perhaps not be surprised that a group of church people had different reactions to those words.  Some were amazed; others thought well of Jesus; and still others raised the question of whether this home-town boy ought to be speaking like that.  Jesus reacted by observing that “No prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown” (4:24).  Or, in the more familiar version, found in St. Matthew, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house” (13:57).

Now, with this biblical background, I ordained Bailey Norman a priest eight days ago.  And then, interestingly enough, I visited his home parish, St. Peter’s, Chattanooga, the very next day.  As I told that congregation also, this series of events has caused me to ponder some of my own experiences.

For instance, I recall returning to my home parish, in my hometown, following ordinations as Deacon, Priest, and Bishop.  On at least a couple of occasions, those return visits included invitations to preach.  I doubt that the sermons were all that memorable, to tell you the truth, and I certainly do not remember what I said.  What I do remember, though, involves the various comments I heard at the door after church.  Very little was said that referred to anything I had tried to communicate about the Gospel.  Instead, people were quick to share with me their memories of my having been an acolyte years before.  Others were even more anxious to remind me of times that I had gotten into trouble, doing a variety of things that boys sometimes do.

The Gospel reading indicates clearly that Jesus had difficulty communicating his message in his hometown.  In fact, he raises the question of whether someone can be truly accepted – or, honored – at home.  The personal experience I shared begs the same question.  I suspect that some of you also have had similar experiences and may have asked similar questions as a result.  Last week, I wondered aloud with the people of St. Peter’s about how they might receive their hometown boy when he returns to preach there.

Thus, I think that Jesus’ experience in his hometown is actually a fairly common one.  It points to a reality with which many of us are familiar.  Having said that, though, today I want to challenge the assumptions that we can make as a result. 

I wonder how often we may miss an important and profound message, simply because the speaker is familiar to us.  Do we, like people in Nazareth, not give credit to the content of what someone close to us may say … precisely because we know the person all too well?  If that is so, it really is sad because we probably spend most of our time with the people we know best.  We hear most of the information we receive from familiar voices.  Perhaps, therefore, we should pay more attention – not less – to those very people.  One message from the Gospel today and from the several circumstances I have mentioned is that we should value more what we hear and learn from our spouses, our families, our close friends, and our co-workers.

Therefore, I am suggesting a particular point of convergence, as we look at matters suggested by our Gospel reading from several perspectives.  It may be precisely the people we know best who have the most – not the least – to say to us.  It may be the familiar voices of our lives whose offerings from the standpoint of personal involvement really are most valuable for us.  Perhaps we would do well to grow in our appreciation for those closest to us, those most familiar to us.  Wisdom may truly be found close to home, and we might well learn to recognize and appreciate that wisdom, to our great benefit.  In doing so, we may discover a profound and holy perspective on the world, even among those most near to us.  Then perhaps we will affirm with Jesus, and with great wonder, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in (our) hearing.” Amen.

Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee