Synchronicity

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Owings Mills MD

February 8, 2026

Year A: The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Isaiah 58:1-12

Psalm 112

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Matthew 5:13-20

Synchronicity

Well, the leaders of our church had a very busy January.

As most of you know, throughout the month we held Focus Group meetings on Sundays after the morning services and on Zoom during the week.

These meetings were an opportunity for our leaders to present a vision of how we might meet some of our current needs and to dream a little bit about the future of this old but quite active church.

It was really gratifying to see how many of you attended the meetings – sometimes coming back for more – and it was great that so many of you shared your own ideas and hopes.

A month ago, the kitchen was much lower on our priority list than it is now.

And we heard you about enhancing our offerings for children and youth.

Whatever we decide about a capital campaign – whatever the outcome of this process – the work we’ve been doing – the work itself – has been holy and valuable.

In spiritual terms, we’ve been engaged in discernment – sacred listening and reflection – opening our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to determine God’s will for us – trying our best to follow where God is leading.

Unfortunately, discernment is often limited to people like Rev. Amelia and me, who have “discerned” that we are called to ordained ministry.

But God is always calling all of us – both lay and ordained.

God is always calling us onward, nudging us forward.

But God is usually subtle, so we have to pray and listen and reflect on our own, and together as a community.

When I was in seminary, I actually took a whole class about discernment.

It was a great course, though I sometimes think I should have paid more attention – I’ve kind of zigzagged a lot over these past twenty years.

But one of the discernment exercises that we did in the class has stuck with me: we were each asked to create a synchronicity journal. 

A synchronicity journal.

The idea was that when we wrote in our journal, we should pay close attention to how different strands of our life that might seem disconnected could be heading in the same direction, kind of like a spiritual merge onto the “Beltway” of life.

So, here’s a very basic example: let’s say the rector of your church suggested that, you know, you would make a great lector. Would you consider reading the lessons or leading the prayers in church?

“Hmm. Well, thank you! I’ll consider it.”

And then, during the week somebody at work says to you, you know, you have a great voice. Have you ever done radio or voiceovers?

Well, that would be a couple of different strands, from different parts of your life, seemingly coincidental but, in fact, converging, heading in the same direction.

And so, in your synchronicity journal, you might notice these converging strands and write about that and think about how God might be calling you – how God might be calling you to use your voice.

Now, synchronicity isn’t magic and you can’t force it, but when you really start paying attention, you’re likely to become more aware of God’s call and God’s will.

And synchronicity isn’t just something that happens to us.

With God’s help, we can choose synchronicity.

We can line up the different strands of our life so they all point in more or less the same direction.

We can live lives of integrity and consistency.

We can live in a way so that what we say and do here in church matches what we say and do out in the world.

Which brings me to today’s powerful and challenging first lesson from the Prophet Isaiah.

Here’s the context:

In the 6th Century BCE, at least some of the people of Israel returned from exile in Babylon.

They had thought that once they got back home, all their problems would be solved, and God would restore Israel’s might, power, and glory.

But that has not happened – and the people are puzzled.

I mean, they think they’re doing everything right – they’re going to the temple and making the required sacrifices – the necessary prayers are being offered – they’re even fasting, for heaven’s sake.

And still nothing.

So, what’s the problem?

Well, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, God gives the answer: Your worship and prayer and sacrifices don’t match how you are living your lives.

While you’re busy being “religious,” you’re also oppressing your workers.

      While you’re busy being “religious,” you’re fighting among yourselves.

      This inconsistency, this incongruity, is a sad state of affairs – one that should be familiar to us because throughout history - and certainly today - we’ve seen people say they are Christians, wear shiny symbols of our faith, go to church and pray piously, and then go out into the world and say and do the most appalling things.

      It’s a sad state of affairs, but God didn’t leave the people Israel there.

      And God doesn’t leave us there, either.

      God calls us back to synchronicity – back to consistency and integrity between what we say and do in here and what we say and do out there in the world.

      God says:

 Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of injustice,

to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

        Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,

and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

        Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

        Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

Today, considering what’s going on around us, we might want to take the bulletin home with us and reread those words - reflect, and pray on those words.

In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus picks up on the theme of light – calling us to let our light shine – not to brag, not to be praised or admired by others, but so people give glory to God.

And, you know, the fastest way for us to dim our light is by being inconsistent between how we are in here and how we are out there.

People see and smell that and will rightfully reject us as hypocrites, like so many others.

But if, with God’s help, if we gather the different strands of our life and live synchronous lives – if we live as the same people when we’re in church or at home or at work or at school or in the store or in the car or on the internet – if we live those kinds of lives, then God is glorified. 

      And our overshadowed world will receive much-needed light.

Amen.