Month: October 2021

Sermon Proper 25 

Joel 2: 23-32

The prophet Joel is writing about, the devastating loss of crops due to the swarm of locusts, and Israel is suffering; for the people who survived. Anything that affects crop production, floods, insects, lack of rain etc. – had tremendous and lasting effects on emotional well-being and religious imagination. The Israelites perceived the end of these disasters as a sign that God had not abandoned  his people 

Joel reminds the people of Zion, to be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God.  Joel’s prophecy is that God’s spirit will be poured out richly on God’s people and all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 65

Psalm 65 begins by recognizing the need for all our transgressors to come to God. One of God’s gifts to us is forgiveness, our sins are stronger than we are, but God will forgive them, as Christians we have the joy of knowing God’s presence resides in us throughout each day, along with the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist points out that God cares a great deal about our lives and longs to bless and affirm our work. Let’s shout for joy, and thanks for his love and care of us.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Paul is writing this letter while under arrest in Rome, shortly before his death. The words are those of a man looking back over his life. Paul faces death at peace with his life knowing that he did his best in carrying out the work that God had given to do. In verse 6 Paul has allowed himself to be poured out as a libation, a drink for others of God’s grace. Paul teaches us an important lesson – our lives are not about us. We are called to be poured out for others, and it is only in that great act that we will find the peace and satisfaction that Paul talks about in this scripture. God is faithful and will never abandon us, no matter the circumstances.

Gospel Luke 18:9-14

In today’s Gospel reading Jesus teaches us a message that most of us don’t want to hear. The way up is to do down. We cannot “earn”  God’s approval by showing ourselves to be loyal, disciplined, rigorous soldiers. We fall into God and God’s mercy, compassion, and love through humility and our acknowledgment of our brokenness. The crack in our hearts – the broken place that this little tax collector seemed to be keenly aware of – This is where the light gets in. The things that the Pharisee is doing fasting, praying, alms  giving – are all good and necessary parts of good religious practice. But the Pharisee has committed the greatest sin; he has given in to the greatest temptation – doing the right thing for the wrong reason.  Basically, his worship is directed towards himself, not God. God does not seek empty piety; God seeks a genuine and authentic relationship with us. We can only do that when we come to God, like the tax collector, in a state of humility and honesty.

Sermon
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 24
Year B

October 17, 2021

First Reading: Job 38:1-7, [34-41]
Psalm 104: 1-9,25,37b
Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10
Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

Collect:

Almighty and Everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Are We Able to Drink the Cup That Jesus Drank?

If you remember the last time I was here, we talked about the 3 passions of the gospel of Mark. This was his last and most detailed passion.

 The announcement of Jesus Death…. The failure of the part of the disciples…. And Jesus Teaches on Discipleship.

1. Jesus will suffer, be rejected, killed, and will rise after three days. (8:31) Peter rebukes Jesus.
2. Jesus will be delivered, killed and will rise after three days. (9:30-31) The disciples do not understand the saying and are afraid to ask him about it.
3. Jesus will be delivered, condemned, mocked, flogged, killed, and will rise after three days. James and John ask that they may sit nest to Jesus in his glory. (10:35-37)

Gospel of Mark 10:35-45

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives his final and most detailed description of his upcoming trial that will have him suffering his death and his resurrection. He is about to enter Jerusalem and will be confronted by the temple authorities. 

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

James and John are alone with Jesus, and have found some courage to ask or request privileged places, to let them sit at his right and his left hand “in your glory”.

Jesus responds to this idea that they do not know what they are asking of him. 

Jesus says, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared”

Of course, they are bewildered and confused as always. They have given up everything to follow Jesus and his explanation just confuses them more. 

He is again, telling them what is about to happen to him, was meant for him, he is talking about the violence, the torchers, the death he’s to endure and he will die a despised and powerless king.

All those who are in power…in Jerusalem, will do all they can to protect their exclusive and particular class of authority.  

James and John can’t sit next to him in glory…. they think it’s going to be like a King’s Palace as if it will be how a king reigned over kingdoms in their day and they want a place next to Jesus. 

Their request indicates that they have completely misunderstood Jesus’ mission and movement as well as refused to hear what Jesus has repeatedly told them.

We all know how it ends…we have seen the final curtain and Jesus is on a cross, he has been stripped beaten, flogged a crown of thorns on his head, spit upon and he is nailed to a cross, this is not a king, he is next to common criminals and he will offer them a place next to him in glory.   

A month or more, a friend had suggested watch Top Chief, a competitive cooking show. 

I like to watch things from the beginning and this went back to 2006. It doesn’t matter if it was last year, people are all the same, no matter when it is. They all want to get to the top…to cook the best dish that will get them further in the competition and to be noticed by the judges and to win the coveted title. 

James and John wanted this coveted spot next to Jesus a human behavior still today.    

When the other 10 disciples hear all this, between James and John, they respond with disgust and anger, just as we would do in the same situation. They claim they are prepared to follow the path of Jesus into martyrdom for the cause which he promises will happen, but he rejects their request as presumptuous.

Jesus talks about rulers’ verses servants, “But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The request for positions of power and privilege results in conflict among the disciples.

But in contrast to the imperial practices of the nations, there will be no rulers in Jesus’ movement or communities!

Rather, would-be leaders must take the role of servants, following the paradigm of the Son of Man, Jesus, whose martyrdom will be a ransom of many.

Conclusion: 

In our society we have thousands and thousands of examples were Christians and non-Christians who are willing to give up all they have and serve others.

“We are” willing to drink the cup… Jesus drinks and it guides us in our Christian lives. We know what truly matters, in the complicated world we live in, and God sees everything we do and what’s in our hearts.

Jesus says our true worth lies in relationships: with God, and with each other, and with the work we are called to do.

We all have been given different gifts from God and it’s up to us to find those gifts, to support others in their gifts, and help each other’s live out each individual callings in the world. 

Romans 7:4 says, “You are part of the body of Christ and now you belong to Him in order that we might be useful in service of God.”

God says that the way you know you’re a part of the body of Christ is that you serve others. Serving is the proof of our identity as members of His family.

The Good News:

The readings today help us focus on the question of what God expects of us, and how we are loved by God, and how we will continue to serve others, before ourselves and because of our sacraments by God’s grace and our Baptism, we are members of Christ body and we able to drink the cup that Jesus drank.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath 

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 23
Year B
October 10, 2021

First Reading: Job 23:1-9,16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31

Collect:

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that w may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen

For God All Things Are Possible

Hebrews: 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested’ as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Having discussed Jesus’ “faithfulness” the author turns to reflect on his “mercy” Through the heavens, Jesus has passed through the series of heavens above the earth and entered into the highest where God dwells. 

His entry is the basis for the confidence and hope of Christians… Approach the throne of grace.

Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

“Why do you call me good? 

No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments:
God gave the Ten Commandments for personal well-being of His people.

 In Exodus 20-2, God said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaver.”

God had already redeemed His people and brought them out of slavery. And now that they were out there on their own, He was giving them the rules that would govern their lives.

The Ten Commandments, though, were never meant to be a pathway to heaven. They were given so that the community of God’s people could live together. The rich man understood this because he had kept all of the commandments and he still felt that something was missing. The Kingdom of heaven was not something you inherited, but you earned by following the teachings of Christ.

What touch me next… in this lesson was “Jesus, looked at him “loved him”            and said, 

“You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man was shocked and walked away grieving because he had many possessions.

The story tells us of a good and faithful man…. Who is loved by Jesus?  Remember…” Jesus, looking at him loved him. “But there is one problem: he is more attached to the cares of this world than he is to follow Jesus.

 It was easier to walk away then to give up his processions.

Putting ourselves first puts God second or third and this separates us from God.

After Jesus makes the next statement, Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 

We all have wondered about his description that “it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 

There have been many theories on what he meant by this. Imagining it, means it would be impossible. 

“They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God;

 for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.

Conclusion:

Job:
He tries to find God, he has faith in God, he serves him and prays to him, yet finds him distant or remote. Job has been known to hide from God.
But we know from (Acts 17:28) God is not far off at all,

 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.
“We know we do not have to hide from God.”

Hebrews:
“Let us, therefore, approach the throne of grace with boldness, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Gospel of Mark 10:17-31
And Jesus, looking at him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

You have to admit some of us have more than we need and some of us have way too much. Jesus doesn’t want us to go to heaven in poverty. What he doesn’t want…. is that what we have, doesn’t to get in the way of following him.

He doesn’t want us to be blinded by greed and possessions, because again we would be putting our possessions before God.

The man’s question is interesting.

He asks how he can inherit eternal life?
We know as Christians, we have received our inheritance through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

It is God’s gift to us.
Jesus assures Peter that those who follow Jesus and sacrifice in Jesus’s name will be richly blessed in this age and in the ages to come.

Good News:
For God All Things Are Possible

Our Faith in God has saved us and we have Eternal life in the fullness of God’s love. 

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Job: 1:1, 2:1-10,
Psalm 26,
Hebrews 1:1-4,2:5-12,
Mark 10:2-16

Proper 22 Oct3,2021

For ourselves and for the world 
we seek wisdom. 
For ourselves and all people
we seek understanding. 
For ourselves and the whole creation

We seek your blessing’s, O God 

The book of Job in the Old Testament is recognized as a classic of world literation. Victor Hugo who is considered the great novelist stated that if all literature was to be destroyed; that if, it was left to Hugo to decide the one work he would retain would be the book of Job. In today’s reading, Satan has been granted permission to afflict Job with physical ailments. Satan’s attitude was that if one’s wealth was taken away, then individuals would do anything to save their own lives. Even though Job’s faith has been tested to the limits. He refuses to question God for his misfortune. What we know is that no one in this life is spared the realities of pain and loss. Faith does not prevent our suffering, but it holds us in a relationship with each other and God who gently carries us through our afflictions.

Psalm 26:

The words from Psalm 26 reflect some of Job’s feelings. The entire Psalm asks for God’s judgment on his integrity and expresses confidence in ‘God’s continual presence. Remember that God’s love, mercy, and grace are not dependent upon our purity! God’s forgiveness, acceptance, and divine embrace is waiting for each of us, right now, and we can come as we are! 

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

The beginning of Hebrews contains one of the main themes, which is in the Epistle. Jesus is identified as the ultimate revelation of God, which in every way is the imprint of God’s very being. Jesus’s sacrifice; for our sins; places him superior to the Angels and all other beings. Jesus took on human nature to suffer and die as one of us. When he made this choice, he tasted death for all of us and was made perfect through suffering. As someone who was fully human, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, for we all have the same God and Father.

Mark 10:2-16

Jesus takes on the Pharisees as they test him with questions about divorce and laws. The Pharisees are hoping to draw Jesus into a conflict with the religion’s authorities. Jesus does not become embroiled in these interpretive controversies and states that the permission to divorce was no more than a concession to human self-will and not part of God’s design. Divorce is possible in the legal sense but Jesus is calling attention to the pain caused by the breakage of the personal bonds between two people.

Our second look is into the Kingdom when Jesus insists the disciples give the little children access to him. In welcoming, holding. And blessings these children, Jesus shows again that the greatest of all is the servant of all, including the least of all.

Entrance into the Kingdom cannot be earned; it is a gift to be accepted. This stands in marked contrast to-self righteous legalism and is a lesson the disciples must learn and probably each of us 

Prayer for the Day

Gracious and ever-faithful God, a friend of sinners and sanctifier of the faithful: suffuse us in the wonder and power of the Holy Spirit, that we may know the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a banquet of Liberation, a celebration of the magnificence of your love. And may we witness, in word and deed, to this eternal truth unto the ends of the earth.    Amen.