These notes are intended for distribution to members and friends of the Kirk of Kildaire, Presbyterian Church family. While effort is made to give credit for work done by others, the notes may use material for which appropriate credit is not given. Also, the notes may differ from the actual sermon as it was delivered. Remember, sermons are meant to be preached and are therefore prepared with the emphasis on verbal presentation; the written accounts occasionally stray from proper grammar and punctuation.

Matthew 2:1-12

“Early on the morning of September 23 in the year 63 BC, a boy was born inthe City of Rome. A messenger stood ready, and immediately upon hearing, “It’s a boy! “ raced to the Senate building and breathlessly announced to the waiting assembly,

“The ruler of the world is born:. Later, he was declared by the Roman Senate to be “Caesar Augustus.”  At his bidding ships of war sailed, at his word legions marched, his enemies falling (easily). Octavius made “Caesar” not simply a name but a title, (like Czar). He is immortalized in the calendar, the eighth month bearing his name. When Octavius was 66 years old, he was on top of the world. 

Meanwhile,it was probably in this same year, in a remote village of no consequence in his vast empire, that another birth announcement was made:

 “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ 

In this quiet story, (as you may remember from Christmas eve) Caesar Augustus is mentioned but merely as an instrument of God, a mere pawn in God’s plan whose decree brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, an unwitting player of an ancient prophecy:

   “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd by people Israel” 

This ruler, Jesus Christ achieved more than Octavius ever dreamed. [1]

When Jesus was born, God gave us a new ruler that would be unlike any ruler people had seen for a long time. He was not like Octavius—who ruled with armies and political power. He was not a ruler like Herod—who ruled with fear and terror— the Herod who will slaughter all the children under two years old around Bethlehem hoping to just kill this one child. The same Herod who even killed 3 of his own sons in his drive to keep his crown. Caesar Augustus even said, “it is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” 

Jesus was unlike any ruler or politician the world had known for a long time… in fact, he was more like a shepherd. He ruled with a staff not with a gun. He ruled with love, not power. He inspired people to follow him—not out of fear, but out of a faith he inspired in them.  He truly was a shepherd leader whose power was hidden in humility. His power was love. He walked the talk of love. As this baby grew up we saw what this powerful love looked like didn’t we. 

There are so many stories… so many stories about what his rule looked like and still looks like. He preached of hope and trust in God. Not fear. He spoke of sin as something to be forgiven, not punished while also encouraging us to live holier lives.  No “I don’t get mad, I get even” kind of talk in his kingdom. Shepherds don’t deal with sheep like that! You guide them when they stray, you don’t kill them!  He responded to the needs of the hungry… healed the sick… he cared for his flock.

He also protected them when the self righteous, the religious and powerful and arrogant came after them. He did not hold back when it came to confronting those who would hurt the sheep. He had their back. As the Christmas hymn said it, “he ruled the world with truth and grace.” 

He was indeed the good shepherd as John would put it. A good shepherd who ruled with love.

Today as we ordain and install our new officers and as all of us think about discipleship and leadership… may I suggest that Christ is the one we are to follow as we lead.

We are called to be shepherd leaders now… who rule with truth and grace and love…

Our officers may remember reading something JoanGray wrote in her book on Spiritual leadership. She is talking about what it looks like to be a servant leader:

She says,

  “Parents will tell you that raising children often involves sacrificing your desires for their sake. You get up for the 2am feeding when you would much rather stay in bed.

 You would love to sit down with the paper when you get home from work, but instead you take your child to soccer practice. You may prefer a sporty new car, but you buy the cheaper used model and put the difference into the savings account for college. Parents are called to rise above their own self-interest and preferences when necessary in the interest of their children. Leaders are often called to do the same thing in regard to the church.”

Leaders who follow the way of Jesus will rise above personal preference and ego and seek those things that are best for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Father Mulcahy understood this. You remember him. He is the priest from MASH. 

He may be the only TV preacher I ever really loved. Or could stand. He was not a caricature, but human. He was also a servant leader.

He would minister to people of all faiths… (though he admitted that he was somewhat intimidated by the Southern Baptist service). He stood up for the underdog. After the cease fire, he elected to stay in Korea to care for orphans.

What I like about him most is that he struggled with his humanity and ego… as he sought to be faithful.  He yearned for a promotion that never came his way. Got no respect from those in military chain of command. He longed to be respected.

 There was the story of the time when the Cardinal is coming for a visit and the Father is trying to get the others to put up a front to impress the Cardinal. He wants to prepare an impressive sermon. Meanwhile there is a private named Gary who has a broken arm and is very concerned about his buddy Dennis who is very ill. Gary wants to give his own blood for Denny. Unfortunately, they discover that Gary has leukemia— with no known cure.

Hawkeye wants to send him to Tokyo but Gary insists on staying for his buddy. Father Mulcahy learns of Gary’s sad news and chooses to spend time with Gary instead of work on his sermon to impress the Cardinal.

The next morning- Sunday– the Cardinal, in full vestments, is in the mess hall with the many soldiers, all waiting for the Sunday service to begin. Father Mulcahy is not there-  he is still with Gary. He’s been totally absorbed in his ministry and lost track of time… even time to prepare a sermon. So the Father, still in his bathrobe, arrives late to the mess hall for worship.  Col. Potter is at the podium, and yields to the priest. Father Mulcahy begins:

“Good morning. Well, here we are. It’s Sunday again. I’m sure you’ve all come expecting to hear a sermon. Well, I have to admit I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be. I’m not even dressed as I’d like to be. I was working on my sermon, which I’d hoped would be particularly inspirational in honor of Cardinal Reardon. But I was called away. Well, to be honest, I never got back to it. If you’ll just bear with me, I’d like to share with you the reason why.

“I want to tell you about two men, each facing his own crisis. The first man you know rather well. The second is a patient here. Well, the first man thought he was facing a crisis, but what he was really doing was trying to impress someone. He was looking for recognition – encouragement – a pat on the back.Whenever that recognition seemed threatened he reacted rather childishly – blamed everyone for his problems but himself – because he was thinking only of himself.
 

“But the second man was confronted with the greatest crisis mortal man can face – the loss of his life. I think you’ll agree that the second man had every right to be selfish; but instead he chose not to think of himself, but of a brother – a brother.

And when the first man saw the dignity and the selflessness of the second man, he realized how petty and selfish he – I – I – I had been that made me see something more clearly than I’ve ever seen it before:

“God didn’t put us here for that pat on the back; He created us so He could be here Himself – so that He could exist in the lives of those He created in His image.”

I think it would be good for all disciples of Christ… and especially all church leaders to remember this from time to time.

Father Mulcahy understood better than most- who Jesus was and what Jesus was all about. Jesus was the servant leader. And so was he. May God grant grace to all of us who bear the name Christian do be and do the same. The world would be a better place if we did. Amen.

Matthew 2:1-12

“Early on the morning of September 23 in the year 63 BC, a boy was born inthe City of Rome. A messenger stood ready, and immediately upon hearing, “It’s a boy! “ raced to the Senate building and breathlessly announced to the waiting assembly,

“The ruler of the world is born: Later, he was declared by the Roman Senate to be “Caesar Augustus.”  At his bidding ships of war sailed, at his word legions marched, his enemies falling (easily). Octavius made “Caesar” not simply a name but a title, (like Czar). He is immortalized in the calendar, the eighth month bearing his name. When Octavius was 66 years old, he was on top of the world. 

Meanwhile, it was probably in this same year, in a remote village of no consequence in his vast empire, that another birth announcement was made:

 “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ 

In this quiet story, (as you may remember from Christmas eve) Caesar Augustus is mentioned but merely as an instrument of God, a mere pawn in God’s plan whose decree brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, an unwitting player of an ancient prophecy:

   “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd by people Israel” 

This ruler, Jesus Christ achieved more than Octavius ever dreamed. [1]

When Jesus was born, God gave us a new ruler that would be unlike any ruler people had seen for a long time. He was not like Octavius—who ruled with armies and political power. He was not a ruler like Herod—who ruled with fear and terror— the Herod who will slaughter all the children under two years old around Bethlehem hoping to just kill this one child. The same Herod who even killed three of his own sons in his drive to keep his crown. Caesar Augustus even said, “it is better to be Herod’s pig than his son. 

Jesus was unlike any ruler or politician the world had known for a long time… in fact, he was more like a shepherd. He ruled with a staff not with a gun. He ruled with love, not power. He inspired people to follow him—not out of fear, but out of a faith he inspired in them.  He truly was a shepherd leader whose power was hidden in humility. His power was love. He walked the talk of love. As this baby grew up we saw what this powerful love looked like didn’t we. 

There are so many stories… so many stories about what his rule looked like and still looks like. He preached of hope and trust in God. Not fear. He spoke of sin as something to be forgiven, not punished while also encouraging us to live holier lives.  No “I don’t get mad, I get even” kind of talk in his kingdom. Shepherds don’t deal with sheep like that! You guide them when they stray, you don’t kill them!  He responded to the needs of the hungry… healed the sick… he cared for his flock.

He also protected them when the self righteous, the religious and powerful and arrogant came after them. He did not hold back when it came to confronting those who would hurt the sheep. He had their back. As the Christmas hymn said it, “he ruled the world with truth and grace.”  

He was indeed the good shepherd as John would put it. A good shepherd who ruled with love. 

Today as we ordain and install our new officers and as all of us think about discipleship and leadership… may I suggest that Christ is the one we are to follow as we lead. 

We are called to be shepherd leaders now… who rule with truth and grace and love… 

Our officers may remember reading something Joan Gray wrote in her book on Spiritual leadership. She is talking about what it looks like to be a servant leader:

She says,

  “Parents will tell you that raising children often involves sacrificing your desires for their sake. You get up for the 2:00 a.m. feeding when you would much rather stay in bed.

You would love to sit down with the paper when you get home from work, but instead you take your child to soccer practice. You may prefer a sporty new car, but you buy the cheaper used model and put the difference into the savings account for college. Parents are called to rise above their own self-interest and preferences when necessary in the interest of their children. “Leaders are often called to do the same thing in regard to the church.” 

Leaders who follow the way of Jesus will rise above personal preference and ego and seek those things that are best for the cause of Jesus Christ. 

Father Mulcahy understood this. You remember him. He is the priest from MASH. 

He may be the only TV preacher I ever really loved. Or could stand. He was not a caricature, but human. He was also a servant leader. 

He would minister to people of all faiths… (though he admitted that he was somewhat intimidated by the Southern Baptist service). He stood up for the underdog. After the cease fire, he elected to stay in Korea to care for orphans.

What I like about him most is that he struggled with his humanity and ego… as he sought to be faithful.  He yearned for a promotion that never came his way. Got no respect from those in military chain of command. He longed to be respected. 

There was the story of the time when the Cardinal is coming for a visit and the Father is trying to get the others to put up a front to impress the Cardinal. He wants to prepare an impressive sermon. Meanwhile there is a private named Gary who has a broken arm and is very concerned about his buddy Dennis who is very ill. Gary wants to give his own blood for Denny. Unfortunately, they discover that Gary has leukemia— with no known cure. 

Hawkeye wants to send him to Tokyo but Gary insists on staying for his buddy. Father Mulcahy learns of Gary’s sad news and chooses to spend time with Gary instead of work on his sermon to impress the Cardinal.

The next morning- Sunday– the Cardinal, in full vestments, is in the mess hall with the many soldiers, all waiting for the Sunday service to begin. Father Mulcahy is not there-  he is still with Gary. He’s been totally absorbed in his ministry and lost track of time… even time to prepare a sermon. So the Father, still in his bathrobe, arrives late to the mess hall for worship.  Col. Potter is at the podium, and yields to the priest. Father Mulcahy begins:

“Good morning. Well, here we are. It’s Sunday again. I’m sure you’ve all come expecting to hear a sermon. Well, I have to admit I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be. I’m not even dressed as I’d like to be. I was working on my sermon, which I’d hoped would be particularly inspirational in honor of Cardinal Reardon. But I was called away. Well, to be honest, I never got back to it. If you’ll just bear with me, I’d like to share with you the reason why.

“I want to tell you about two men, each facing his own crisis. The first man you know rather well. The second is a patient here. Well, the first man thought he was facing a crisis, but what he was really doing was trying to impress someone. He was looking for recognition – encouragement – a pat on the back. Whenever that recognition seemed threatened he reacted rather childishly – blamed everyone for his problems but himself – because he was thinking only of himself.

“But the second man was confronted with the greatest crisis mortal man can face – the loss of his life. I think you’ll agree that the second man had every right to be selfish; but instead he chose not to think of himself, but of a brother – a brother.

And when the first man saw the dignity and the selflessness of the second man, he realized how petty and selfish he – I – I – I had been that made me see something more clearly than I’ve ever seen it before:

“God didn’t put us here for that pat on the back; He created us so He could be here Himself – so that He could exist in the lives of those He created in His image.” 

I think it would be good for all disciples of Christ… and especially all church leaders to remember this from time to time. 

Father Mulcahy understood better than most- who Jesus was and what Jesus was all about. Jesus was the servant leader. And so was he. May God grant grace to all of us who bear the name Christian do be and do the same. The world would be a better place if we did. Amen.