Here is a rough transcript of my homily from worship this morning. The video was more of a service with prayer time and readings but it ended up weird because I was trying not to be too loud because of people sleeping in the next room so instead of sharing the video here, I’m sharing this written version.
The scripture reading is from Proverbs 1:20-23
Wisdom shouts in the street;
in the public square she raises her voice.
Above the noisy crowd, she calls out.
At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:
“How long will you clueless people love your naïveté,
mockers hold their mocking dear,
and fools hate knowledge?
You should respond when I correct you.
Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.
I’ll reveal my words to you.”
My Friends,
As I’ve pondered this week’s scripture reading I couldn’t help but think about all that is going on in the world around us right now. We have people panicking, we have people hoarding, we have people who are afraid, we have people laughing at those who are afraid. We have people who are sick, who’ve lost or been separated from loved ones, who feel lost, alone and unsure. And we have people downplaying every bit of it. People who are in total denial, people who refuse to listen to reason.
It’s a difficult world we live in right now. As I read the scripture for today, I thought to myself, yes, wisdom is at the door screaming for our attention. But are we listening? Are we giving her our attention? That’s what our Lenten series is all about right? Listening… listening for God’s voice, listening for our own inner voice and wisdom.
Would you please pray with me? May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts and minds be acceptable to you, O Lord, Our Rock and Our Redeemer. Amen.
With all that is going on, it is easy to get caught up in fear and worry. It’s also easy to dismiss it all and deny that there is anything to worry about. I personally think, Wisdom is calling out to us. Calling us to stay calm, to use our common sense, to be kind and loving, to be rational and smart.
Wisdom is at the door and begging for us to listen. This is real, be cautious but keep your head!
God placed a wisdom in each of us when we were born. A wisdom that tells us to love our neighbors, to help them, to be kind to them. A wisdom that calls us to live in community even when we can’t be physically together – we can use the phone, the internet, even snail mail! A wisdom that calls us to remember what Jesus taught us… to be servants.
During this time of uncertainty, we need to listen to the facts and make decisions, not just for our own good but for the good of the community as a whole. Right now that means distancing ourselves socially, but it also means checking in on one another. It means preparing for the possibility of not being able to get out but that doesn’t mean buying the stores out and leaving nothing for others in our community. It means sharing. It means continuing to give as we are able so that we can help others in need.
During this difficult and rather chaotic time we need to get creative as we continue our mission as the body of Christ in the world, without being too much in the world. We can also use this time to quiet ourselves, and listen, listen for that still small voice, the voice of God, the voice of Wisdom, and yes, perhaps even begin to truly find our own voice. We can do this through meditation, breath prayer, daily examen, lectio divina, journaling, walking, gardening, painting, the list goes on and on.
This week, take time to listen for the still small voice and yes, your own inner wisdom as well. Don’t forget to check on each other too!
Simply Sherri 
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