John Henry Hobart

Sermon Preached on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Year 2, Proper 18, Tuesday, Daily Mass: Psalm 149:1-5, 1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-19

Today we celebrate John Henry Hobart, who served as bishop of New York at the beginning of the 19th century. Bishop Hobart is remembered mostly for his zeal in growing the disocese of New York. While he was bishop he doubled the number of priests in the discoese and planted new churches in nearly every town in the Diocese. His zeal for spreading the Gospel was contageous and was cought up by the clergy and people of the New York. His efforts not only grew the Episcopal Church, they also evangelized and energized much of New York.

Today we begin Saint Luke's account of the Sermon on the Plain. It is remarkable how Luke narates that Jesus came down from the mountain where he was alone with his disciples to be among all of the people. Whether we consider ourselves church leaders or not, our commission is the same: we are all called to bring the Gospel to all nations and to make Jesus presence known among all people.

The example of Bishop Hobart is a good one. Let the joy and zeal for the Gospel that the Holy Spirit filled him with also fill us so that we can evangelize and energize those around us and make the presence of Christ know to everyone, not as someone who is far off but as someone who is present in their midst.