First Lesson: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, (11-20) Responsive Reading: Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18 Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 4: 5-12 Gospel Lesson: Mark 2: 23- 3:6 Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
“The world is mysteriously full of suffering.” But he also said, “The world is mysteriously full of the overcoming of suffering…overcoming which leads to life[1].”- Albert Schweizer Let me begin by telling you the story of a woman named Nadia[2]. While Nadia grew away far from here, Nadia’s experiences aren’t that uncommon. Nadia grew up in a family of six. Her father never showed her any love as a child. Nadia viewed her dad, not as a loving father but rather a stern judge. Nadia’s dad was physically and emotionally abusive to both his wife and all of his children. Nadia witnessed her mom being beaten to within an inch of her life[3]. Nadia understood her mom endured this as a means of protecting her children. Nadia witnessed her brothers fleeing from her dad out of sheer terror and despair fearing the same. Nadia’s family had heard plenty of religious messages over the years, yet the outcomes with her father remained the same. Nadia eventually leaves her home and moves far, far away[4]. She tried to come to terms with her faith. She could never wrap her head around how a God above though could be a loving father. Nadia lived every day of her life overwhelmed with negative views of the men she encountered. Nadia one day prayed to God to take her life. What ends up happening to Nadia, we’ll get back to her story in just a little bit. Today’s Lesson comes to us from the Life of the Apostle Paul[5]. We’ll be looking at Paul’s life and ministry in greater depth this Summer. Paul had grown up Saul; Saul had what could be described as a comfortable life of power and prestige. One day while walking on the Road to Damascus, Saul’s life gets turned upside down[6]. Saul converts from the Church’s greatest enemy to its greatest evangelist. Saul had not only come to believe that Jesus is Lord! Paul came to the belief that life came from death, purpose comes from pain, and suffering shall lead to eventual joy. So as Saul becomes Paul, he endures Malaria, shipwreck, and arrest. As hardship keeps coming Paul’s way day after day, he never despairs[7]. Today’s lesson comes to us from the Book of 2 Corinthians[8]. Paul begins our lesson by talking about a great treasure coming in “jars of clay” that we shall soon inherit. Paul speaks of this treasure coming in the very things that seemingly can easily break. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed[9].” How exactly does this work? How do we receive treasure though in clay jars? Margaret O’ Rourke Gaffney was born in Ireland in 1813[10]. Gaffney’s family was poor at a time when Ireland was poor in the country due to British rule and summer famine. When Margaret was five, her family immigrated to America. Conditions were so harsh on board her ship; everyone was only allowed one cracker a day to try to survive on. Her family eventually settles in Baltimore. At the age of 9, a yellow fever wave hits the city leading to Margaret losing both per parents and becoming an orphan. When things seemingly couldn’t get any worse, her older brother abandoned her, leaving her homeless at the age of 9. Margaret eventually gets taken by a woman of Welsh ancestry to work as a servant and washwoman. Margaret never learned to read or write on account of never receiving a formal education. Margaret at the age of 21, gets married to a man named Charles Haughery (how-er-ree)[11]. They would soon move to New Orleans. Charles though was sick as the couple had their first child Frances. Charles Haughery would die a short time after Frances’ birth, and Frances would die a short time later. Margaret lost her entire family for the second time in her life at 23. Margaret could merely remark: “My God! Thou hast broken every tie: Thou hast stripped me of all. Again I am all alone[12].” It was the loss of Charles and Frances that would forever change Margaret’s course in life. Margaret was going to dedicate her life to the causes of the poor, widowed, and orphaned[13]. Margaret went to work ironing clothes nearby an orphanage. When she got paid her meager wages, she would give a generous portion to this orphanage. She then began working full-time in the orphanage, when the orphans would run out of food, Margaret would give every cent to her name to provide for them. Margaret eventually got started trying to raise money for them; she raised so much money, several new orphanages opened in New Orleans. Margaret becomes an orphanage administrator. As an administrator, she eventually reveals herself to be a brilliant businesswoman: she purchased cows and made enough distributing dairy throughout the city that the orphans were nourished, and the orphanages were soon debt free[14]. She eventually becomes a bread baker turning her into a rich woman. She came to be known as the “Bread Woman of New Orleans.” Margaret saw to it that this bread ended up in the hands of any destitute who needed it. As the Civil War raged in New Orleans, Margaret found a new generation of orphans to support through her bread making. After the Civil War, Margaret became one of the most renowned people in the city with people from all walks of life coming to her for advice. Margaret throughout her lifetime gave away over $600,000 for New Orleans’ widowed, poor, and orphaned. This money would be worth over 15 million dollars Today. Margaret died in 1882. She was so renowned throughout the city that she was given a state funeral. Upon her death, due to her thriftiness including only owning two dresses, she was able to leave her entire vast estate to fund New Orleans’ orphanages further. In the wake of Margaret’s death, a monument was built in the city to honor her legacy. The monument read: “She was a mother to the motherless; she was a friend to those who had no friends; she had wisdom greater than schools can teach; we will not let her memory go from us[15].” Many Catholics today believe because of her efforts, she deserves being declared a “saint.” Margaret today remains one of the most prominent regarded people in New Orleans’ history[16]. Margaret Haughery’s life is the greatest of testimonies to receiving treasures in clay jars of becoming an orphan, abandoned by her brother, working hard-thankless jobs, yet all these things eventually revealing itself in a greater purpose. Margaret’s life reminds us that as fragile and broken as we might be. God can find treasure in the lowliest clay jars of life even upon a cross. “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake[17].” How God shines through our broken lives for the sake of our Gospel. How even certain death has ways of bringing about Resurrection. Jesus was hanging upon the Cross when he cried out what we maybe cried out a time or to throughout our life. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me[18]?” It was in Christ being forsaken that God’s greatest of promises would be known[19]. As Paul concludes our lesson for Today: “So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you[20].” What ends up happening to Nadia, who was contemplating taking her own life[21]? Nadia decides against killing herself as not to shame her mother. Nadia then encounters a woman from back home. The woman admits that she is a non-believer but that her daughter’s life had been changed upon an encounter no different than Saul becoming Paul with the Risen Lord. Nadia decides to attend a church near her home. Nadia has her Damascus Road salvation experience, like the Apostle Paul her life was forever transformed. Nadia began to see men in a new way, she no longer saw them as her mortal enemy but rather as forgiven sinners[22]. Nadia’s previous suffering began to lead to a newfound sense of joy. As Nadia begins to encounters a “new” loving heavenly father, she began to forgive her own “dad” slowly[23]. Nadia began to travel home more frequently. Nadia’s father at first seemed beyond hope of redemption. He left Nadia’s mom for a woman who was Nadia’s age. Her mother’s tortuous marriage had ended with unimaginable shame. Nadia though refused to give up on her father[24]. Nadia’s dad eventually gets a diagnosis of terminal cancer. His new wife leaves him. Nadia’s mom cares for him when no one else would dare. Nadia reaches out to him, yet again in the days before his death. Nadia tells him the story of Jesus and the Thief at the Cross “How it is never too late to receive God’s forgiveness. Nadia’s dad cries out for forgiveness as he grabs her mother’s hand[25]. The story of Nadia’s father shows us no matter how dark a path might be in this life; the cross ultimately changes everything. Saul of Tarsus was a man much like Nadia’s father. He was a man who persecuted the Christian Church and lashed out at those around him. Saul becoming a “Christian” seems too unbelievable to hear, even as unbelievable as the worst father in the world. The Cross does change everything. The Cross gives meaning to sin and suffering. The Cross gives hope. Saul becomes Paul. Paul proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the whole wide world. The stories of Nadia, Margaret of New Orleans, and Paul remind us that Grace continually comes to us in the most unlikely of places. Amen [1] Bowen, Gilbert. “Down But Never Out.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. May.22.2018 [2 Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father” Eternal Pespective Ministries 18.May.2018. Web. May.22.2018. Taken from Email Mediatations. [3] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [4] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [5] 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 [6] Acts 9:1-31. [7] Bowen, Gilbert. “Down But Never Out.” [8] 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 [9] 2 Corinthians 4:7-8. [10] “Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 29.Jan.2018. Web. May.26.2018. [11] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. [12] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia [13] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. [14] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. [15] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. [16] Margaret Haughery.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. [17] 2 Corinthians 4:5. [18] Mark 15:34. [19] Malcolm, Lois. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:5-12.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 3.June.2018. Web. May.28.2018. [20] 2 Corinthians 4:12. [21] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [22] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [23] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [24] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. [25] Nadia (Psedouymn). “I Couldn’t Call God Father.” Eternal Pespective Ministries. Comments are closed.
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