We hear from one of the lesser known prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. Habakkuk lived at the same time as did Jeremiah just before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple which was approximately 580 years before Jesus. The defeat of Jerusalem by the Babylonians was a foregone conclusion. It was very dark period of inevitable calamity. The words of Habakkuk reinforce a trust in God’s promise that at times seems to be empty and broken. Yet the story of God is a story of His Fatefulness and how so often we fail to trust in His presence and Faithfulness.

One of the dominant themes of the two letters to Timothy was an encouragement to those who have taken on the belief and Faith in the gospel; in other words those who have been baptized. The journey of being a disciple from the very beginning has been a journey that is filled with struggle and the need for courage and trust in God’s faithfulness.

The essence of Faith is what God will do in our lives. The secondary element is our response and belief in God’s words. We need to do very little and God will bring about wonders through us and in our lives. What is asked of us is to be committed servants to the call of God given to us in the gospel of the Lord.

A week ago Friday my brother had bypass surgery. Last Sunday I went out to Northern Virginia outside of Washington to be with him and my sister in law and their family as he recovered in the hospital. All such surgeries are serious and his was a very serious one. It lasted nearly seven hours. He came though it and the doctors were all very reassuring. Yet as many of you know when someone you love has been through a serious surgery they do not look very good. Just being there can be unsettling and worrying.

Initially there was talk that he would get out of the hospital in five days which everyone knows is a ridiculously short time. As the week went on and I realized that I had planned on returning on Saturday to be here for the weekend I began thinking about what the homily would be. I failed to bring with me a book with the Scriptures so I at a loss as to what to base the homily on. Then I thought to myself. Wait a minute I was living through one of the profoundest experiences that any of humans can go through. One does not get more in touch with one’s vulnerability than the experience of illness. I began to think of all the different individuals who were a part of this past week. How much God was a part of the trauma of sickness.

First of all I was aware of my brother. He is my younger brother and older brothers want to take care and protect younger brothers. I was helpless to do anything other than to be at his side as he experienced the terrible pain that is consequence of such surgery. The medical staff wanted to strike a balance between managing the pain and allowing him to be able to do the necessary movement. A problem arose which the nursing staff and doctors said happens often but when it happened to Bob it added to our concern. He seemed so tired and exhausted. Through it all Bob was truly patient. He experienced pain but he did not let his ordeal be an occasion of anger or impatience to others. There have always been the “thank you's” to the  nurses, physical and respiratory therapists, the doctors and those who brought the sometimes unappealing food from the dietician. He was probed with needles and his temperature and blood pressure and blood sugar were checked at all time. He slept fitfully at night and on and off during the day. Through it all his concern and gratitude toward others was unending.

His granddaughter called him to let him know that she had lost her first baby tooth and was going to put it under the pillow for the fairy godmother’s reward. There were complications that just yesterday seemed to be coming under control. If all goes well he will be discharged tomorrow. Yet we shall see. I took great consolation when I first read the words of Habakkuk “For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment and will not disappoint. Through it all there has been trust in God.

All of the staff at the hospital made a reality the words of Jesus when He said “When you have done all that you have been commanded you can say “We have done no more than our duty”.

The commitment of the medical staff went far beyond doing a job. They brought an affection and commitment not only to my brother but to all the other patients as well as to the families who sit and stand by helpless and worried. I would suspect many of them are people of Faith who see what they do as medical staff the continuing work of the healing Lord.

I would ask that you would pray for my brother but not only for him as he continues his recovery but also for all parishioners and family members and friends who are ill. Often there is so little that we are able to do other than love them and pray for them. When we have done that we have done no more than our duty.

Homily preached at the 8:00 Liturgy

Sunday October 7, 2007

Reverend William D. Mannion