Month: November 2020

Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
Year A
“Christ the King Sunday”

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
Psalm 100
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Today is the
Feast of “Christ the King”

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen (BCP 236)

Wisdom and Glory
Ephesians 1:15-23

I pray that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

This lesson is about how Jesus Christ has been given supreme wisdom, power, dominion, and glory. The Apostle Paul, speaks to the Ephesians and he has heard about their faith and love toward all saints and he lets them know, that very reason is why he remembers them in his prayers.

Judgement Time
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.”

“When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me in. When I was sick and imprisoned, you cared for me.”

The people on the right (sheep) were surprised: Lord, when? They asked. “When did we feed you, or give you drink, or clothe you, or welcome you, or care for you?” And Jesus said “Whenever you did it to one of the weak ones, you did it for me.

He turns to the people on the left (goats) and they faced the reality…that as people, they failed to help anyone. They will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

We have been taught, that Jesus will come again in glory. Matthew tells us, Jesus will sit on the throne of glory. 

I see him next to God and every nation gathered around. To us “all people” will be gathered around.  He tells us, we will be separated like separating sheep in a herd, that have goats mixed in and the sheep and goats will be separated. The sheep on the right and goats on the left.   

Normally we read a lot of parables about the Kingdom of God. How to follow Christ’s teachings and to live a Christ like life.

Our baptismal covenant found on (pp. 304-305) says: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching…persevere in resisting evil…proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ…seek and serve Christ in all persons…strive for justice and peace among all people? I know!! It’s a lot to ask, God expects us to fail, but then we continue to do as we have been taught, and help those less fortunate then we are. 

This isn’t a parable, it’s the fact and most of us do not like to be judged, but we have to face the fact that we at some point in our life now or later we will have to face the throne of God.

When my brother and I were about 5 years old to 8, we went into our neighbor’s strawberry patch and picked a big coffee can full of strawberries. We didn’t expect to get caught, except we had a path leading from our yard into his yard and it was pretty obvious to my dad. So, first, we had to stand in judgment before my father, that was scary enough, but then he made us go and apologize to our neighbor and we had to stand before him in judgment. 

To our surprise both my father and the neighbor forgave us. The punishment was standing before them.

We know by the scriptures that we have been forgiven by the grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So, what is it? Are we forgiven? Have we been forgiven by the Grace of God? Or is God going to hold our sins against us? I believe as most of you do, that all our lives we have heard about God’s grace and it is true, he does forgive our sins and he forgives us if we have disobeyed him. 

But we also need to realize that what he expects from us is that…we will continue in the apostles’ teaching.

We will never directly provide Jesus with a good meal, a bed to sleep in or a warm coat, but if we do this for anyone in need of these things we have done it for Jesus.

Faith and Love

We will be in the advent season next Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year; the season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas. 

It may be a time for a new beginning for us as Christians; it lets us focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus. Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation.

Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over, we will continue to grow.  Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds.

As we wait in expectation and preparation for the coming of the Lord, let’s remember what the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians…. 1:15-23

I pray that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Let us Pray

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Todays words remind us that when we are in tumult or distress that our savior has assured us we are not alone and will always be blessed with His presence. As the world around us can be diluted with stress, hysteria, chaos our savior is the voice that calmed the sea and heals all afflictions yesterday, today and tomorrow. Todays message also reminds us that we need to trust each other as our lives move in this topsy turvy world. Our courage is bolstered by the Passion Christ lived, died and rose for and displays the vision provided to insure us that this world is not the property of evil or fear but it is the gift we are given to shape, share and promote love and compassion in all peoples.

With all we are being exposed to today to be reminded of our saviors presence is indeed the one and only non wavering guarantee to ease our dismay. We share this with all our family, friends, all seekers of peace. I know that the challenges can sometimes seem insurmountable but be sure our shepherd stands at the gate and protects all the lambs in His flock. I was provided a wonderful prayer in the past week and want to share it with all.

My Jesus I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritualy into my heart. I embrace You as if You are already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen

God bless and keep you all during this most trying but wonderful holiday season.

Rev John

Proper 27-Nov 8th

Hope and fear, laughter and tears have been part of our journey.
Joy and pain, longing and doubt meet on the pathway.
Often, we do not believe, O God,
and sometimes we doubt that your promises can be true.
Grant us and our world the freedom to laugh, the courage to cry,
the heart to be open and the faith to believe. (J. Philip Newell)

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

In the final chapter of Joshua, he has guided the twelve tribes into the land of Canaan, as promised by God, and the renewal of the covenant is the culmination in the life of the people. 

The people rehearse the story of God’s saving acts toward them; freedom from slavery in Egypt, protection on the journey, and the land promised by God. Our memory connects the past to the present state of things, and by recalling old stories it helps us make sense of the present condition. This is a way “Joshua” encourages Israel to choose life through their worship of the Lord. 

The people promise to serve the Lord. Joshua then calls them to be witness that they have made their choice and instructs them to prove it by getting rid of all symbols and tokens of other gods that they may possess. The choice to worship the Lord requires the movement of the heart; by choosing to serve the Lord with mind and heart.

Psalm 78:1-7

The Psalmist in this psalm is a teaching voice from among the people; “Hear my teaching, O my people.” The storyteller intends to share the story and instructions of God so that it may pass from generation to generation. It is how we show a commitment to the covenant given by God. Later generations rely on the commandments to have order in both personal and communal life. We as of 2020 are still honoring the covenant of God. The stories of God and of ourselves in our community in the tradition of God’s teaching the sacred word passed from generation to generation.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, power of memory is at work again however, the memories of loved ones by the community now creates deep worrisome questions for the community. Paul is attempting to respond to a concern held by the community relating to the fate of those that died before Christ’s return.

Paul’s uses memory to call the community into hopefulness through Christ. Through the memory of Christ’s resurrection, Paul gives words of hope to the people in a time of grief. Unlike others who have no hope in death, the community is reminded that they are covered in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The death of loved ones prior to Christ return, the dead will be the first to bask in the warmth of Christ’s love in the resurrection.

Matthew 25:1-13

The week following All Saints’ Sunday is a time to contemplate the whole company of heaven and we should expect a parable attentive to the second coming of Christ. Our attention to the coming season of Advent in two weeks will be a time to meditate on the second coming of Christ. In the reading from 1 Thessalonians shares Jesus’ parable about the ten bridesmaids and waiting anxiously and following a sleep. “Keep awake therefore, you know neither the day nor hour” Some of the bridesmaids are prepared. They have come with extra oil for their lamps. The foolish do not. With the approach of Advent, the message seems to reverberate; “Prepare the way of the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3)

The split in the group of bridesmaids is a focus on the positive and negative behavior of members of the community. Those who are prepared and those that expect God to satisfy every need; this if the group that holds to the idea that it is God’s duty to care for their needs. This is not just about being prepared; But is a “call to live each day though it were the last, not in mortal fear of the worst, but in hope for the best; “the new heaven and the new earth.