Month: September 2020

Proper 21

17 Pentecost

The Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt, they quarrel with Moses and demand the comforts they had been used to, without any consideration to the fact they are now free. They still expect that Moses and the Lord to take care of them. Their persistence in their complaints causes Moses to go to the Lord and ask for help with their wants. How many times do we ignore our relationship with God and feel that it is someone else’s responsibility to take care of us? God wants us to take care of ourselves, ask for directions and comfort but not to just complain and not take action to rectify the situation. The Lord provided for their safety and sustenance despite their doubt and unfaithfulness. There are times in our lives that we need extra help and God is always there for us. 

The Psalm calls attention to the splitting open of rocks for water, splitting open the sea, being led by a cloud. God’s people were to tell the stories to their children so that they would never forget the compassion and power of the Lord on behalf of Israel.

Paul is encouraging the believers be of one mind and spirit. In todays world it becomes easy to be pulled in different directions, due to the Political and Ideological difference that we hear and read about daily. We are reminded by Paul’s message to the Philippians encouraging the people to be of one mind and spirit by having the same love to all and to set loving examples. Unity can occur if we give up our selfish ambition as Christ has done with humility treat the needs of others as more important than our own. 

Paul goes on to state that we are to “work out your own salvation”, This is not to contradict justification by grace. Rather we are to take responsibility for our salvation, but to remember that the Lord is also at work in our lives 

When Jesus was questioned by what authority, was he is doing his teaching, Jesus opponents were hoping to discredit and trap him into declaring that his authority came from God, which makes him vulnerable to a charge of blasphemy. Jesus replied with another question. “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Jesus question to the chief priests and elders put them in a quandary, forcing them to admit, “We do not know” Jesus responds to them was “neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things”

Jesus goes on to tell a series of parables. The man had two sons he asked the first son to go and work in the vineyard, but the first son refused. He then asked the second son who responded “I go, sir” but in fact he did nothing. Jesus then ask’s “which of the two did the will of the father. The first son changes his mid and goes to work in the vineyard, we might look at this as repentance, while the second son is shown to be a liar and a hypocrite.

The message here is that what matters is what we, do in response to God’s call. The religious respectability affirming the right thing, but not acting upon it, stands in the way of authentic response to God.

Let us pray:
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Today we are given an insight to how easy it can be for us to blame others for our discomforts. In the first reading the Israelites complain to Moses and Aaron when their travel becomes challenging. After years of enslavement they have been freed and given a path to God but, when the travel is hard they choose to complain rather than trust in God’s promise. How many times has life thrown us a curve and caused us to question the presence of God in our trials? The pandemic, social injustice, fires, economic stress all are triggers that determine how we choose to handle those situations in concert with our faith. Hearing the words that promise us safety, comfort and resolution of our fears and concerns but leave no immediate evidence of that sometimes can leave us questioning the path we follow.

Imagine the position Jesus embraced with no hesitation. He could have elected to return to the Father and let us fend for ourselves in the quest for a relationship with our God, but instead He chose to remain in the thick of things, fully aware of the consequences, to provide us an example and assurance of His love. On top of that He chose to share this love and commitment to all who reached out to Him regardless of their station in life or origins. The story of the landowner who shared with his community in his abundance provides us with an example of this faith based act. The only stipulation asked was to agree to the conditions presented, to share equally regardless of the circumstances.

As he so artfully put it when questioned by those who he offered a reward, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

Here is the core of all we have heard in these readings. God provides as He chooses to all who come to Him. Regardless of our situations the one and only true and everlasting promise is that our Lord and Savior embraces us as we accept His love and supports us as we share that love with our neighbors.

My prayer for us today is that the spark that burns from His love in our hearts fuels us to acts far beyond our imaginations as we share in our responses towards all people. May the peace of God be with us and remain with us this day and forever.

Amen
Rev John

On the seventh day there was silence in heaven. The mighty wind of life was still. The sea was calm. The morning stars glistened. And earth slept. The work was finished. Creation had been born. And the mother of all things rested. It was a holy day. The heavens and the earth were well. God saw its fullness. And there was evening and morning, creation’s seventh day.    (from Genesis 2)

Collect:

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things, direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

EXODUS 14:19-31

The reading from Exodus is about the escape of the Israelites from the Egyptian army and what led the people to strengthen their faith. When the Israelites fled Egypt they were covered by a thick cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The turning point for Israel, was as they witnessed what the Lord did against the Egyptians that led to a stronger belief in the Lord and Moses; strengthening  their faith in the Lord. Think about what events that have happened in your own life that have strengthened your faith.

PSALM 114

This Psalm points to the power of God and praises his power. Israel was brought out of Egypt, the sea fled before God’s people, and the river Jordan was driven back. Mountains trembled at the presence of the Lord. We can only imagine how the people who were being led out of Egypt must have felt watching what was happening in order for them to no longer be slaves and seeing the power of God first hand. 

ROMANS 14:1-12

Paul talks to the Christians regarding certain practices and he talks about tolerance in viewing then. Paul stressed the importance of motivation rather than the specific practices because whatever is done should be “in honor of the Lord;” we are not to pass judgement on one another . There should be a mutual tolerance that honor each person’s conscientious decision as a personal response and obedience to God. 

We live and die not to ourselves, but to the Lord. For this Christ died and rose again. Every person takes responsibility for his or her own deeds at the day of judgement. 

Matthew 18: 21-35

Jesus calls us to practice unlimited forgiveness in all of our personal relationships. Peter thought 7 times, but Jesus said no 70 x 7, the exact number is not the point, there is no limit on forgiveness. The spirit of forgiveness should so pervade our lives that we simply lose count of the number of times. We read in todays gospel that the appeal for God’s mercy can be made only by those who show mercy to others. Thus, we are always to look to our own repentance before God. We are called to forgive our brothers and sisters from our heart. No one can earn forgiveness from God; forgiveness is a free gift that extends to every person. We are to repent and, in mercy and compassions extend such forgiveness to others. 

C.S. Lewis commented: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea – until they have something to forgive.” The Greek verb “to forgive” is aphiemi, meaning “to let go, to set free.” Perhaps one of the hardest tests of faith is to let go of injury and free the injurer.” Even if it is ourselves.

Prayer For the Day

O God of unrestricted love and limitless grace, by the gift of your Holy Spirit may we daily be willing to set aside unforgiveness of any sort: may we aspire to that Kingdom love that empowered our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive his executioners even as he was perishing on the Cross, and this we ask in the power of you Name.   Amen

Rev. Kathyleen Funk

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 18
Year A
September 6, 2020

First Reading: Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149: 1-9
Second Reading: Romans 13:1-4
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Collect:

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts: for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

UNITY:

In the Gospel of Matthew 18:12-14 Jesus is teaching about the life and relationships within the church, a shepherd, a common image for a community leader, must seek out even the lowliest person.

“If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, ninety-nine that never went astray. So, it is not the will of your’ Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”  (Matthew 18:12-14)

In the Gospel for today, he goes on to tell them. “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If a member listens to you, you have regained that one. If the situation is not solved with one person, get two or three witnesses. 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Jesus is teaching them how to solve a conflict with a voice of reason. Instead of letting a situation get out of control. 

We have a responsibility as shepherds to save even that one who is lost to us. 

When I was in the working in a medical office and in charge of the back-office technicians, there was always conflicts between two technicians. I would call each one into my office. I would ask what was going on?  Getting both sides of the story. Then I would have them both in my office to help resolve the situation, before it became worse. If I had not, they would go to their friends and each voicing their opinions, getting allies on their side.  It was always better to help them work out their differences. I did not teach love and compassion, but I brought it to the table in my own actions, by how I treated others.

In the second reading today Romans 13:8-14. Paul says to the Romans. “Owe no one anything except love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. He sums it up in the some of The Commandments, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” 

Unity in Christ gospel is what we are taught then and now, we are all one in Christ, we all share in Christs teaching. (1 Corinthians 10:17) “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 

Conclusion:

Directly and clearly Jesus lays out the best practices for solving conflict and dealing with its aftermath. And not surprising, the secret is LOVE.

There are times when all of us are faced with a conflict and something that cannot be overlooked, I pray we have the faith, the courage and the common sense to act with a humble heart, and a spirit of our loving Christ.

We are reminded in the gospel that a Christian life is not a solo-act and it is certainly not without certain challenges for all of us. But we have Christ’s perfect example, we have his instruction and his encouragement and more than that, we have his assurance that he is with us in every situation and his love will see us through it.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be lose in heaven. 

 “For where two or three come together in my name, I am with you.”

Let us pray:

We know Father, that you are with us when we are alone and we do not have to be with anyone for you to be present.

We need the reminders that we can put on the armor of light and follow you in love and respect for each other. Give us the Wisdom to listen to the Holy Spirit and to be guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus Prayed for the unity of his followers before his crucifixion. We know  that we can overcome all divisions, especially when it is combined in prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.
The Rev. Lola Culbreath