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:

Repent, says the Lord,
for the kingdom of heaven
is at  hand.     

Matthew 4. 17

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 

Father of mercy, 
alone we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. 
When we are discouraged by our weakness, 
strengthen us to follow Christ, 
our pattern and our hope; 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Luke 13. 1-9

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 Divine Mercy"

I begin with this quote from Lee Griess, Theologian:

"A man borrowed a book from an acquaintance. As he read through it, he was intrigued to find parts of the book underlined with the letters YBH written in the margin. When he returned the book to the owner, he asked what the YBH meant. The owner replied that the underlined paragraphs were sections of the book that he basically agreed with. They gave him hints on how to improve himself and pointed out truths that he wished to incorporate into his life. However, the letters YBH stood for "Yes, but how?"

"Those three letters could be written on the margins of our souls: "I ought to know how to take better care of myself, but how?" "I know I ought to spend more time in scripture reading and prayer, but how?" "I know I ought to be more sensitive to others, more loving of my spouse, more understanding of the weaknesses of others, but how?" These are all good qualities, and we know that, but how can we acquire them? As Christian people we know the kind of life we ought to live, and most of us have the best of intentions to do so, but how? We are afraid because we know where the road paved with only good intentions leads!"

The Gospel for today is one of those, ‘Yes but How’.

What happens after the vinedresser digs around the fig tree, gives it some fertilizer and water?

With a simple read, it would suggest the gardener leaves and will not return for at least a year to see how it is doing — to see if it is actually going to produce fruit, or not.

My question or observation parallels with that of the comments from Lee Griess.

As Christians we all have great intentions. We all know what should be done. We all wish we could do more. At the same time, how do we get started?

OR
Today is one of those Sundays when the Scriptures appear in reverse order as for addressing.

In the Gospel today we have this image of the fig tree. What Jesus illustrates for us in this parable, tells us to repent and bear good fruit. 

Lent is about a time of “repent” and a time to discover “how to bear good fruit.”

And we know Jesus calls us to do that. At the same time, we are well aware our Christian life calls us to bear good fruit, BUT -there’s always a but – if we are honest about our life, then we often feel as if we are falling short. 

So, we are back to the question: “Yes, but how?”

At the same time, Jesus does not relent. Jesus never gives up on us.

We may that think Jesus is not observing how hard we are trying—he knows our need and continues to give us encouragement. But, do we listen? 

Jesus is like a good parent. I don’t know about you, but I do know that for myself, I often needed reminding. AND if I am honest, as an adult I still require reminding.

Jesus is the good parent, and he provides for us in so many ways.

In Paul’s lesson today we are reminded that he is our rock, our water, our food, and our drink. Christ is the living sign of God’s faithfulness. 

We live with two different individuals today in the Parable of the Fig Tree: we have the landowner and the gardener. 

The landowner is tired of the fig tree which is not producing fruit. He says, “Three years now and there has been no fruit. Cut it down! Get rid of it! It is wasting the soil!”

He has given up. 

The gardener says, “Don’t be so hasty!” He says, “Let us give it another chance.”

He wants to dig around the tree, give it some fertilizer, some new soil, feed the tree, water the tree, and give it a chance. 

We are not sure who the landowner represents, but we are sure who the gardener represents. The gardener represents Jesus. 

The landowner’s frustration sounds all too human. When we don’t agree with what is happening, we just want to walk away—get rid of it—move it out of our sight. But Jesus will not let us do that.

Jesus will not do that himself. Jesus never walks away on us.

It is Jesus who feeds us, cares for us, renews us, so that we too might bear fruit.

At the same time, I believe, Jesus is calling us to be the gardener on his behalf.

Jesus gives us a great lesson on being the gardener in another of his teachings. We call it the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 

The Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 10:25-37).

In this story, a Jewish traveler is attacked by robbers, stripped of his clothes, and left for dead.

A priest and a Levite pass by without helping him, but a Samaritan, who is considered an outsider, stops to help. He tends to the man's wounds and takes him to an inn, where he pays for his care.

The parable illustrates the importance of compassion and love for one's neighbour, regardless of our cultural or religious differences.

This is divine mercy.

We are called to achieve divine mercy in our lives. 

The subtitle of my sermon today reads: “Discovering Divine Mercy” to which our natural response may well be—YBH

(Yes but How).
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)

We pray for the church, called to be a witness to all peoples.
Grant humility and wisdom to bishops, pastors, deacons, elders, councils, and congregations, that they may call upon you in making decisions. 

God in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for the earth, called to provide abundantly. Teach your people the goodness of your generosity, that in sharing what we have been given, all life may flourish on the planet that is our
shared home.

God of mercy
receive our prayer. 

We pray for the nations, called to protect their inhabitants and collaborate in the work of justice and peace. Forge bonds of compassion and mutual care across human borders and boundaries, that all the world may have enough to live.

God of mercy
hear our prayer. 

We pray for those in need, called to receive your compassion. Comfort those whose lives have been disrupted through natural disasters and human conflict. Aid communities in coming together
to mourn, heal and rebuild. In our parish we continue to pray for:
Sheila S.; John R.; and Geoff E.; and those on our hearts. 

God of mercy
hear our prayer. 

We pray for this assembly, called to welcome its neighbours to the table of grace. Bless food pantries, community gardens, and kitchens, clean water projects, and all ministries that address human hunger and thirst.

God of mercy
receive our prayer. 

We give thanks for the faithful lives of those who proclaimed your gospel in times of challenge and strife, and for all those whose  lives of love and service have ended. May their witness inspire our own.

God of 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.  Amen.

And your people faithfully 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.

God of mercy,
We celebrate in thanksgiving our opportunities for service today.
We pray that as we are re-generated in the time of worship, we may take those gifts that we receive here out to the world to share and to serve as a light to the nations—a light for peace and for all of humanity.

And so, may we go out into the world this week knowing the love of God in our hearts, and be able to fulfil that question of “Yes, but how?” Amen.

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