"Little Things" **A sermon for Proper 12B + 28 July 2024**

            Luke 6:37-38 from The Rhyming Gospels

            Jesus is talking about love, judgment, and forgiveness.  The more we give away, the more we end up having.  But, as is often the case with Jesus, Jesus’ wisdom can also apply to how you and I give of our time, our talents, and treasure. 

            Monday, July 29 started out like any other day.  The liturgical calendar noted it was the Feast of Saints Mary and Martha.  Jesus’ two dear friends from Bethany.  A three hour service at The Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia would for ever change the course of history.

Several hundred people gathered to witness the historic ordination of 11 brave women to the Episcopal priesthood.  The ordinands were Merrill Bittner, Alla Bozarth-Campbell, Alison Cheek, Emily Hewitt, Carter Heyward, Suzanne Hiatt, Marie Moorefield, Jeannette Piccard, Betty Bone Schiess, Katrina Swanson, and Nancy Wittig.

Three Bishops were on hand to ordain what has now been called “The Philadelphia 11:” Daniel Corrigan, retired bishop suffragan of Colorado; Robert L. DeWitt, recently resigned Bishop of Pennsylvania; and Edward R. Welles II, retired Bishop of West Missouri.  With prayer and the laying on of hands, the stained-glass ceiling was cracked.

            Prior to and after their ordinations, both the women and the bishops received death threats.  The women found very few places willing to open Altars and Pulpits to them.  The ordinations were called “irregular” by many in the church and the world.  General Convention would not approve women’s ordinations for another two years. 

A recent documentary, “The Philadelphia 11” chronicles the 11 women’s journeys.  The documentary reveals their courage and bravery.  These 11 women were faithful and persistent servants of God.  Merrill, Alla, Alison, Emily, Carter, Suzanne, Marie, Jeanette, Betty, Katrina, and Nancy knew they had gifts to offer to God, to the Church, and to the world.  And, like the little boy in the Gospel, they offered those gifts freely.

            Five loaves and two fish are not a whole lot.  We are not talking about a king-sized loaf of Wonder Bread^©.  The loaves were probably more like our Communion bread at St. Mark’s.  Also, the fish were no doubt small, too.  Most likely the size of a couple sardines.  This was a little boy’s lunch we remember.

            Yet the little boy offered what he had freely.  He gave all that he could and all that he had to God.  And, in God’s hands, powerful things can and do happen.  A sack lunch becomes a feast for over 5,000 people.  Even something little, like that lunch, when freely offered to God can be multiplied and used to the glory of God.

            Women in ministry have come a long way in the past 50 years.  The crucifer at the service, one Barbara Clementine Harris, went on to become a priest herself.  Barbara also went on to become the first woman ordained as a Bishop in TEC.  There are now many, many more women in the House of Bishops.  And several of color, like Harris herself.

            Fifty years has seen the number of clergywomen increase.  The church has come to recognize the gifts women have to offer the church and the world.  There is still a long way to go, however.  Much work needs to be done.  Women make less, have to work harder, are respected less, and often are forced to serve smaller parishes than men.

            This past year's General Convention authorized the setting aside of July 29th to remember and celebrate the "Philadelphia 11."  General Convention also approved the commemoration of Bishop Barbara Clementine Harris in February.  These new feast days, and our lesson about a little boy have we wondering.

            What might you and I have to offer up to God’s service?  Are there gifts and skills we can freely give for God to multiply?  What prevents us from freely bringing those gifts to God?  Fear?  Uncertainty?  The thought that what we have to offer is small or insignificant?  A worry that we’ll have less when we give from what God has given us?  An old hymn reminds you and me:

“Freely, freely, you have received,

Freely, freely give.

Go in my name and because you believe,

Others will know that I live”