Month: July 2020

Sermon

Sunday closest to July 27, 2020
Year A
July 26, 2020

First Reading: Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans: 8:26-39 
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

God’s Purpose will Prevail

The Collect:

O, God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel:

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

In our Gospel today, Jesus is explaining to the crowds and the disciples about the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 

Jesus talks about 5 different parables regarding the kingdom of heaven.

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw our the bad. So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil form the righteous. 

Just Where is the Kingdom of Heaven?

I haven’t always understood these parables. The disciples understood. He is speaking their language where they could understand him. 

When I read it and re-read it, to find his meaning, Oh, wow, for some reason I always focused on the mustard seed and how small it was to grown into a big tree. With that parable and the others to follow, he tells us just how big the kingdom of heaven is.  He is saying, it is not far off in a distance, or up there, or somewhere out there. 

Mustard seeds are so small that they can go un-noticed when planting wheat and the farmer would sow his wheat and soon a mustard seed would sprout up with the wheat. The farmer of course would what them re-moved.

Jesus is saying, it is hard to separate the good from the bad, but has his kingdom grows and like the smallest of the seeds, become the biggest in the field, to offer shade and comfort to the smallest of birds. (people) Showing us and the people at that time, how God is at work in the world. 

Jesus goes on to describe growth of the mustard seed and the flour mixed with the yeast and it turns out to be leavened bread. Yeast was used for many reasons during the time of Jesus and it was not positive. Its symbolized impurity, evil and unclean.  But we also see how it grows, God’s kingdom grows, infiltrating all of creation and the world.

If we look and try to see God’s beautiful creation, imagining his presence it all things. His love is in all things, all people of race and color.  Yes, just like the field of wheat, the seeds are difficult to see and the bad mixed in with the good, it is difficult to separate out.  God is telling us, it is not your job to do that, I will do that when I send the angels and they will separate the evil from the righteous.

Jesus wanted them, to see that it was a way to describe, how God is growing in the community and working in them to spreading the news of how God grows in each one of us.

The problem with us, is we don’t see God in all places and in all things. We only look for God when we need him, we don’t realize that God is working in us everyday in his kingdom that is bigger than we ever thought. 

In Romans, we see that Paul says, all things work together for good for those who love God.

People are God’s creation and we can’t be separated from his creations we have been called and we are glorified in him.

Romans: 8:28-30

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed 

to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. “ 

Paul means, not that all circumstances of this life are good for us, God’s love is reaffirmed; despite all present adversities, and that amid all these things God’s purpose prevails.

Conclusion and Good News. 

The kingdom of God is as far as the ocean is wide and deep, the highest of the mountains and into space. We can’t even imagine the how big his kingdom is, because our minds do not reach that far.

Because we are in communion with Christ Jesus, God’s kingdom lives in each one of us and it is comforting to know that through us, God’s kingdom will continue to grow.

We are not gatherer together in churches today. We miss our music and liturgy and we pray that we can all return soon, it does help bring us together with singing, music and with each other in the church the building, But, remember   “that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   And God’s purpose will prevail!

Jesus, help us to remember not to focus on things that are on the surface, but to focus on what is eternal and to not live in the artificial world, but to live for the spiritual world which is where we find our strength and our salvation in God’s kingdom! 

Amen.
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Let us pray:

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today’s lessons are especially relevant currently in our world . The presence of our Lord and Savior provides us comfort in the face of confusion and hysteria. The pandemic provides the field for both the children of God and the agents of Satan to experience choices that either give comfort or create fear.

The choices we select as Christians set the path we travel in this life. With the social unrest currently being exhibited it would be easy to fall on the wrong soil and be overcome by the “weeds”. Our choice to exercise common sense and social concerns that provide comfort and lesson fear is surely the evidence that God is with us and will always be at our side.

As the days continue in these trying times let us hold close to our faith and share with each other the assurances that the days of calm and peace with return. Our prayers are being continued and our worship, even though modified a bit, still provide the grace and love of God. So as we stand together to travel this path let us be at peace knowing that we are the chosen crop to be harvested by angels and presented to our Lord as heirs of God’s love and residents of His kingdom.

As we hold to our faith and provide for each other the field of grace, love and hope the harvest will be plentiful and the crop savory and sweet.

Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord Hallelujah.

Hallelujah Amen
Rev John

This passage is about Jacob’s success over his brother Esau. We learn that Jacob the younger brother emerges from the womb gripping his brother’s heel. The boys grew to be very different men, not only did they look different, but they acted differently as well. They represented two very different lifestyles which were in conflict. Esau was a skillful hunter; Jacob was a shepherd. Esau’s livelihood was based on the wilderness inhabited with game, while Jacob’s livelihood required pastureland for his flocks. It is a possibility that the pastureland had started to encroach on hunting lands limiting the game that was available.

Jacob was cooking and Esau wanted some of the stew; Esau was on the point of starvation. Jacob asked Esau to sell him his birthright, which was Esau’s inheritance as first-born son. Esau agrees to sell Jacob his birthright in exchange for a meal. 

The story is not just about the two brothers who are very different, it is about the struggle that happens when the needs and desires of two dissimilar lifestyles come into conflict. Remember each of these boys became the head of two different nations. How many times have we seen this in our world today, the conflict between different nations.

Psalm 119: 105-112

This is a beautiful Psalm that professes a deep faith in the Lord and the righteousness of God’s law. The Psalm emphasizes the importance of God’s word in living a faithful life. God is not something to be heard or to read, but to apply the message to our hearts and our souls.

Romans 

Paul discuss the flesh and the spirit repeatedly in this passage. When we set our minds, of things of flesh ( our own destructive desires); We are not living in the Spirit our bodies are “dead because of sin” . Our spirits are still alive because of Christ’s Spirit, which dwells within us as righteousness. When we set our minds on the “Spirit it brings life and peace.” God dwells in us so that we can live with the spirit, we are called to live with a Spirit of hope. God is working through us, so that we can help create a better world for all those who inhabit it.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Jesus used parables to teach; when we take a deeper look at the parables of the sower. We are offered four ways of hearing the “Word of the Kingdom”  – as a path, to God’s Kingdom. The four ways are about soil, much like our souls. The first the farmer scattered the seeds in a wide arc, some fell on the path to be eaten by birds. Think of it as when someone hears the word of the Kingdom but does not understand it, basically the evil one comes and snatches it out of their hearts. 

The second, some of the seeds fall on rocky ground; when the plant springs up there is not sufficient depth of soil to put down roots; think of individuals who quickly and eagerly initially responds to the Gospel. But soon falls away when life creates obstacles for them. Then there are the seeds that fall into thorns and weeds which choke the plant growth out. These seeds are like those who hear the word, but outside concerns and desires for riches soon lure them away.

Finally those seeds that fall in good soil and bring forth an abundant harvest is like hearing and understanding the good news of the Kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus; helps us to live bountiful lives of discipleship. 

How may of us have been in all four of these places at various times in our life. We get so wrapped up in where, we want to go, and what we want, we neglect to notice what God has put right in front of us. 

To grow in faith we require practice; sometimes we find ourselves in the good soil and sometimes we find difficulty and questions, the key, is to keep practicing. God is always with us and will be there to help us try again.

Sermon
Firth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 9
Year A
July 5, 2020

First Reading: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49,58-67
Psalm 45:11-18
Canticle: The Song of My Beloved (Song of Solomon 2:8-13)
Second Reading: Romans 7:15-25a
Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19,25-30

Collect:
O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 11: 16-19,25-30
Jesus said, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another. “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn. ‘For John came neither eating nor drinking. And they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.  All things have been handed over to me by my father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Come To Me  
Jesus speaks to the crowds (11:11) that! John the Baptist is the fulfillment of prophecy, of Elijah and he is sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah.

In Jesus’ generation, John’s lifestyle led people to accuse him of having a demon, while Jesus’ habit of eating and drinking with sinners earned him a bad reputation. 

His generation, takes offense to both John and Jesus. 

The Scribes and Pharisees, are like children in the marketplace who cannot decide what games they want to play.

So, God is revealing these hidden things to the religious leaders, the “wise and intelligent” ones, or at least the scribes and Pharisees thought of themselves this way.

Instead, God reveals these things to infants, Jesus prays to the Father and thanks him.  

“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will”.

When he refers to the infants, he is referring to the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the persecuted, all those, Jesus calls blessed. They are the sick, lame, the lepers, the outcast of society. 

The tax collector and sinners ARE! the ones to come to Jesus for healing, because they are the ones who listened and the ones who believe.

They are the ones that God refers to as children…. they hear what Jesus is saying, they are not blinded by greed and self-importance.

Jesus reveals this greatest gift to us!

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Conclusion:

This scripture couldn’t be more powerful to me, then now. In the world of the pandemic, the loss of lives, the uncertainly of our future. So many people have lost jobs and businesses. 

These words…” Come to me and I will give you rest”, makes me relax in his arms…I know that our faith in Jesus will carry us all through these different and uncertain times and we can find rest for our souls.

Having faith is to believe that someone or something deserves to be trusted.

But faithfulness is also about being present in the love of God who loves us; a God who is present in each and every moment, every event in our lives, even the hard times.

It is refreshing to know that in every moment, God is already present and taking care of things. He has us to turn over our stress, our anxieties or fears.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2)

I have found this time in aloneness a time to self-reflecting and being silent and present in God. 

I feel the release, and catch a glimpse of just how much God loves us and it cost nothing. 

The Good News

He says, Come to me! No matter what we are going through Jesus invites us to “faith, trust, and hope” 

Faith is about being in a storm and knowing Jesus is standing right in the middle. 

We don’t have to figure out everything, we just have to let go. 

And!

When we center ourselves on Jesus, we have a power that cannot be taken away from us. 

We can go to him and rest our souls. 

We can be more like children and not worry…be joyful and have faith and trust. 

The more we come to Jesus, the more we find peace, his yoke and rest.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath