Month: August 2023

Thirteeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16
Year A
August 27, 2023

First Reading: Exodus 1: 8-2:10
Psalms 124
Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-8
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20

Collect: 

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all people, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

To Build a Church, It takes a Village

Exodus 1: 8-2:10

Two brave women, two Hebrew midwives, Shophrah and the other, Puah, were told by the new King of Egypt, Pharaoh, to kill all newborn males born to the Israelites. He is also going to increase their labor, by killing all the newborn males he is trying to interfere with God’s promise to Abraham of numerous descendants.

These brave women, were more afraid of God, then the King, so they just would not do it.

And from this we have the story of Moses, his mother hides him in a basket in the river and he is found by Pharaoh’s daughter.

The women of the story, the mother and sister of Moses, the daughter of Pharaoh, and the midwives who earlier refused to be a part of this scheme, all become for us beacons. Stepping up to the plate, so we can have this foundation that was promised in the Hebrew scriptures.

Romans 12: 1-8

Paul’s appeal is that we not… let what is happening in the world change us to be like everyone else, but to continue to renew our minds, so that we continue to discern what the will of God is, good and acceptable and perfect. 

Spiritual worship, in volves the presentation of the body, accomplished by the renewal of the mind.

We are all one body in Christ, we are all individuals and members of one another. As Christians we are to live now, being transformed from within. We all have gifts that have been given to us.

Matthew 16: 13-20

“Who do you say that I am?”

We hear Peters confession “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Simon Peter becomes the first person to make the great Christian Confession of faith. He names Jesus the Messiah, the hope of Israel, the son of the one who created heaven and earth.

Peter gets it right, He has answered the question from Jesus correctly and it is of no surprise; he is, after all, the number one disciple among the twelve. 

Peter has been paying attention to the public ministry of Jesus at least for the moment. 

 He has observed the healings of mercy, he heard the sermons on justice, and how Jesus fed thousands with a small amount of bread. His revelation that “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” On the boat he also said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 

An important moment in the disciple’s lives, Peter is anointed by the Son of the living God.

“Blessed are you, “For the flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”

Everything the disciples have experience with Jesus, all that they have seen, toughed, listened to, sights…. It was not just the knowledge and experience, through flesh and blood, but it was revealed that it was a revelation from God.

Whatever Jesus reveals, is what God reveals and this is also from Jesus to Peter and the disciples. 

“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heave, and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven.”

Conclusion:

“You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”

This church and all churches that the Lord began with Peter, and that we are a part of, is a holy and sacred thing. It is not just a place together of voluntary like-minded people; it is not primarily or at its heart a human institution.

It is instead a dive mystery, a holy vast space today, that continuity serves Christs presence, a continuance of faith, tradition and doctrine and a connection to those who went before us.

I said earlier in Romans, The Church, the scripture goes on to say. “For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many are one body Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” 

Christians are to live now, being transformed from within, they are no longer bound by external law. 

It takes all of us to build up the church in the community, it takes all of us, as disciples of Christ to grow and help the village. We have all been given gifts by Gods grace.

We need to be strong like the women Shophrah and the other Puah, recognizing who needs our protection.

Amen,
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: 
Year A
August 13, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Second Reading: Romans 10: 5-15
Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-33

Collect:

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

How Great is your Faith 

Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-23

This past week we were all horrified by the fire that swept across Maui and destroyed thousands of buildings, homes, and communities. 100’s of souls may be missing.

The fire burned the beautiful town of Lahaina. A town filled with history, the 200-year-old banyan trees, and the historic church, that was among the beloved landmarks. 

The church has been standing since Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1800.

I have never had to escape for my life, in a fire, war, flooding, other natural disasters.  So, to say I understand is only a cliché, that should not be used. We do not know what they went through, but we can imagine the horror of it all; and bow our heads in prayer. I do know, if I was in a situation like this, I would be calling out to Jesus, just like Peter did.

“Lord, save me!” 

In the chapter 13 prior to this one and in chapter 15, the chapter after, Jesus had found out about the death of John the Baptist and He had gone off alone in a boat to pray. 

What did the crowd do? They followed Him. 

The disciples wanted Jesus to send them away, it was getting late. Jesus wants the disciples to feed them first. They replied, but we only have 5 loaves and two fish. Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples and all ate, about 5000 in all.

Jesus sends the disciples out in the boat to the other side. Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray…again! When evening came, He was alone again, and the boat was far out in the lake, the wind had become so strong, they were trying to row against it, waves crashing up against the boat, rocking it around. Some of the disciples were experienced fishermen and most likely had callused hands from rowing, but to row against the wind is another story.

The wind in Maui, is what caused the fire to destroy so much in its path, no matter how we try we can not stop the wind, we are however trying to use the wind to our advantage by powering electricity, but to stop it, it is not happening. 

Jesus came walking toward the disciples on the water, at 4:00 in the morning and when they saw him, they were terrified, thinking maybe a ghost! Jesus, spoke and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Now the disciples are truly terrified. The same words are used to express Herod fear at getting the news from the magi that a child was born to be king; the same fear that Zachariah mute when an angel of the Lord appeared in the Temple. These same words familiar to them. 

“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Was it the storm that tested the disciples or was it the presence of Jesus in the storm?

We have read in different lessons of the gospel, “do not be afraid,” the angles spoke to Joseph and Mary, about Jesus, the same words to Peter, John, and James on the mountain, and by an angel to the woman at the tomb of Jesus.

Great Faith

In the world we are living in today…I cannot think of a time when we need “Great Faith.” I feel we need to get down on our knee’s, in front of our Lord and ask him to help us. We need to pray not only for ourselves, but for our nation, our cities, and communities. And especially the Hawaiian people.

Our job is to recognize the presence of Jesus, He is always walking toward us. Listen to his words, trust Jesus, and get out of the boat. Ask for help when you need it. Cry out if you need to “Lord save me.” 

Pray that God will help those in Hawaii and hold your people together in these times.  Ask for his mercy and grace to help us all, to be patient with each other, and continue to love one another. 

We are living out our faith and we are being tested through trials and our faith should grow into the “Great Faith” that invites us to Him; empowering us to seek Him in every situation; and for us to trust Him always.

Jesus says, “Take Heart it is I; do not be afraid.”

Amen
 The Reverend Lola Culbreath

The Transfiguration Sunday
Year A

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99 or 99:5-9
Second Reading:2 Peter 1:13-21
Gospel: Luke: 9:28-36

Collect:

O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

FAITH and LIGHT

Imagine Jesus on a normal day walking with three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John.

Jesus appears to them to be normal, when he asked them to come with him…. But on this day, he leads them high on a mountain, by themselves…Right before their eyes, He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  

This no ordinary morning, no ordinary walk…the light was so bright, it was almost blinding. We all at one point in our lives, have looked at a light so bright, that we had to look away or close our eyes, it was so bright.

Suddenly they see Elijah and Moses talking to Jesus…they were so terrified by this, that Peter, not really knowing what else to say…says, “Rabbi, maybe we shouldn’t be here, you want us to go and prepare three dwelling places, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”? what else could he say?? Maybe it is his way to honor them, by putting up areas of worship for them.

Then a great cloud overshadowed them…and a voice came from the cloud. 

“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Let us go back…They climb this mountain and are separated from the other disciples, then Jesus is transformed before them in a bright light, and two of God’s greatest, are there talking to Jesus.

Next comes the shadow of heavy clouds and a Thundering voice out of the clouds….” This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” After this dramatic moment, Jesus was found alone and 

James, Peter, and John left and went back down the mountain and kept silent and did not tell anyone what they had witnessed.

I am pretty sure they agreed to this, who would believe them and how would they explain it…after all Jesus is still there and they do not really know what is going on!  One thing they did know was this was no ordinary walk, it was not an ordinary day but a cloud came over them and over shadowed them; they were scared…terrified!

Conclusion:

Peter, James, and John have experienced the past, the present and the future all in an instance.  

The Ascension of Jesus, does not mean he is gone somewhere up there! Jesus, like God is in all things and in all places.

Yes, the Ascension of Jesus Christ to be at the right hand of God, and He rose to the elevation and the position of all authority in heaven and on earth, to share that authority with God.

I wonder how we would find that experience? That Peter, James and John had?

It is possible, that some of us have had different experiences in life, maybe not as clear and involved as the three disciples, but we… all have had our own time on the mountain of life or in the desert in life. 

We all have connected to God in different ways, through experiences of our own through our faith.

Good news

The Transfiguration is about change. This is a reminder that calls us to change into people who live with a sense of security. 

When we face challenges, we become afraid of the change. We have become people use to things to being a certain way, developing a sense of security. 

So, when we face a challenge or a change in our lives, we look to Jesus who says “Do not be afraid.” You can except these changes, “I will be with you.” And we will have times in our lives, when our faith is being tested and challenged, and Jesus will always be there to help us transform ourselves, climb that mountain, we cannot just have one experience and then say, okay, I made it, and I can stop there, we must come down the mountain with him and turn around and go back up. 

There is plenty more of growing to do and we must be ready for that invitation from Jesus to go, to walk in faith and asked to be transformed.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath