May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable unto you, O God, our strength and our salvation. Amen.
What is your favorite fragrance? The first hint of the magnolia blossoms opening on Commonwealth Avenue in the spring? The sweetness of the rose garden in full bloom in June on the Fenway? The glorious scents of the varied flowers and now herbs and vegetables growing in our garden right outside the church in the most unlikely setting of the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets here in Boston?
Is it just another episode of a rather clichéd daytime soap opera?
Is it just another story of a “golden boy’s” descent into greed, lust, and the chilling abuse of power?
Is it just another story in which the puffed-up pride of a man who has had too many years of victory makes him believe he is exempt from the rules?
Is it just another story confronting us with the idea that the necessary twin of power is corruption?
Is it just another episode of “Lost” that I missed last season?
Remember the “Street Cries” from Porgy and Bess?:
“O they’re so fresh and fine. And they’re just off the vine. Strawberry. Strawberry.”
Or perhaps you were walking through the Haymarket in the North End yesterday?
“Fresh, sweet cherries!” “Plump, delicious raspberries!” “Ripe, juicy peaches”
“Watermelons! Summer’s succulent, savory delight! Get your melons here!”
Transcript
Isn’t it strange how queens and kings,
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings
And ordinary people like you and me
Are builders of eternity?
Each is given a list of rules,
A shapeless mass, a bag of tools,
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping-stone.
Will you pray with me? May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
Wait! Did you just hear that? It sounded to me like a knock on the door! Oh, great! And just when I am scheduled to give this sermon! Wouldn’t you know it? Don’t you think whoever it was would have the decency to call ahead and let me know they are coming? I mean, it’s only the polite and proper thing to do, right? So who could it be? Let’s go see!!