The Sermon on the Plain

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on February 10, 2022

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

These beautiful prophetic words anticipated that God would reveal His glory by creating a new reality, the Kingdom of God coming to earth. This would be accomplished metaphorically by the leveling of mountains and the smoothing of rough, uneven ground. On Sunday, the sixth Sunday after Epiphany, the gospel reading (Luke 6:17-26) helps us to explore the prophet’s imagery of God smoothing out hills and uneven ground to usher in His Kingdom.

After a night in prayer on the mountain, Jesus chose twelve disciples. He then came down to “a level place” where a great multitude of people gathered, both Jews and Gentiles. They hungered for healing and Jesus began making “the uneven ground level” by healing everyone unmindful of social distinctions. Jesus understood that the people’s greater need was to be discipled into the everlasting blessing of God’s Kingdom of love, joy, and peace.  How can we all be made ready for the blessing of God’s Kingdom? 

Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ preferential attention to the poor speaks of the state of the heart and soul. It is in the lowliness of our needs, our sorrow that we learn dependence on Christ and develop a passion for constant prayer and by so doing draw closer into Christ’s own self. And so, the sermon is foremost about the glory of Christ Himself who opens the gate to the Kingdom. He is the Suffering Servant, “who though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor.” He endured the temptation of physical hunger. He hungered spiritually for our salvation. He was demeaned and reviled for us. But when His work was completed, Christ received the greatest blessing. He sits eternally at God’s right hand in glory. All God’s people are invited to participate in the humility of Christ and His earthly suffering, and ultimately receive the blessing of rest, refreshment, and peace in God’s kingdom.  

Worldly wisdom asserts that our life and happiness are built on amassing wealth, prestige, and power. But Jesus pronounced woes on attitudes of self-sufficiency and dependence on materialism as they put us at risk of eternal separation from God. The woes stand as Jesus’ urgent call for us to hold loosely to material possessions, share with others and acknowledge our need for God. The Kingdom of God is built up as a level plain because we are all frail needy humans saved only by God’s grace and mercy. Thanks be to God for His invitation to grow in love and trust and receive the Kingdom blessings! “Blessed are those whose trust is the Lord.” Amen.

Tags: love, joy, kingdom of god, peace, healing, blessings, smoothing out hills, prepare the way for the lord

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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