Category: Sermons

Nativity-The Birth of Jesus Christ
Year C
December 24, 2021

First Reading: Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus: 3:4-7
Gospel: Luke 2: [1-7], 8-20

Collect:

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Good News of Great Joy

Gospel: Luke 2:1-7 (8-20)

Our Gospel has two parts. The birth of Jesus and the annunciation to the shepherds.

Joseph and Mary have traveled 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into the city of David called Bethlehem.

Joseph was a descendent from the house of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

For hundreds and hundreds of years, the people have been waiting for this very birth. The promise from God’s old prophets. (Isaiah 7:14) “Behold,” he wrote, “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. 

I never get tired of hearing about this miracle birth of the Messiah.

We are told over and over again, how the “Great I AM” Jesus has come to live among us.

A divine human and yet a fully human like you and I. 

This is how God intended it to be, a story that gets told for thousands of years, reminding us what a blessed birth it is, no matter… who tells the story about Jesus, God’s greatest gift to us!

I think of him as “divine” at Christmas, His baby face glowing with love, I smile, thinking how Jesus as a baby, like all babies look into his mother’s eyes, smiling down at him. 

My mind drifts to that little Holy Child, a child like you and I. He starts discovering things like his feet and playing with his toes, he is a baby, a divine baby, a Holy Baby.

As Jesus grew, he learned all that our Heavenly Father wanted Him to learn.

Isaiah wrote, “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Lord.” 

“The Jesus that cried with us, the Jesus that healed the crippled and made the blind see and the deaf to hear.” 

“The Jesus who prayed and taught his disciples… how to pray.”

“The Jesus who said “I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life! (John 14:6)” 

The baby born tonight! A baby wrapped in a white cloth, being held by Mary, as Joseph looks over them. 

And so, it is at this time, when I, again see him as divine Emmanuel “God is with us! 

The manifestation of God himself…as Jesus. 

He wasn’t born in a temple, dripping with gold, but in a wooden structure with a grass roof, a place where life stock was kept.

The town of Bethlehem was where everyone came for the censes and because of that, they had no place to stay and Mary about to give birth to our savior. 

Joseph and Mary had nothing to worry about, they knew that all this had been planned out for them and this was how it was supposed to be told.

The Annunciation to Shepherds and Their Visit.

A star above, oh yes, the shepherds living in the fields…and the angel of the Lord stood before them, and startled them, by saying, “Do not be afraid; for see…I am bringing you good news of great Joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  

The angels, God’s messengers are sent to the shepherds, that the newborn Jesus has been born.

It tells us that God sent his messengers to those who were the recipients of his promise—not kings, theologians, or even relatives, but those whom a grown-up Jesus would love to gather under his wings: 

What I feel today and every year when I hear the Christmas story. That God meant it to be this way, and that the birth of Jesus Christ was a…wonderful gift to us, we are given hope, joy, love and peace, every year a re-do. 

Jesus will always bring good news and great joy to all the people. Jesus would “preach good tidings unto the meek” and would “bind up the brokenhearted,” and “proclaim liberty to the captives.” Isa 61:1

Isaiah, knew the wonderful things the Savior would do for us. The good tidings of the gospel teach us of His Atonement, which makes it possible for us to repent when we make mistakes. He suffered for each one of us. “Surely,” Isaiah wrote, “he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.

Conclusion:

As we celebrate Christmas this holiday, lets focus on the future and the gift given to us year after year.

Yes, as we look in the rear-view mirror of 2021, we pray for cures and healing of our nation and world, but we never forget the sacrifice of all the millions who lost their lives to the viruses, violence, natural disasters and those who still suffer. 

We also see all the good that happen this year and all the people and organizations that step up to help those in need. All the donations of gifts, food and kindness. This is what we are to be thankful for.

Good News:

Knowing we are never alone is a message of comfort and joy. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” 

May the God of Hope fill you with Joy and Peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)  

Amen

The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sermon Advent 4^th, 2021
From: Celtic Treasure

You have been our strength, O God,
At the beginning of the day, you brought us from darkness into light. 
At the ending of the day, you lead us from busyness into stillness.
In earth’s cycles and seasons you offer us new life and fresh beginnings. 
Be our strength this day and the strength of the new beginnings in our world. 
Be our help, O God, and the help of those who cry out in need.

Micah 5;2-5A

As we await the birth of Christ, the readings remind us of the promises made to the house of, King David. The uniqueness of the prophecy is that it names Bethlehem where the Messiah will be born. The prediction also indicates that the Messiah will be representative of the poor classes of people. Micah also refers to a woman who is in labor and will bring forth the One who would draw the rest of Israel home. The savior would be great not only in his own time and place but for all the people in all times; That is our Jesus Lord.

When we read the readings from the Old Testament, we gain knowledge of the troubles that many were experiencing and look at today’s times. Advent is a time for Hope, Love, and Peace.

Psalm 80

The hope is for a better future, they ask that the Lord God of hosts; to show the light and to restore them. In today’s times with the pandemic still with us and the destruction from the Tornado in the mid-west and Kentucky, we are still asking to be restored. Give us the Spirit that we can do what we need to do, as we are today’s people of God; we can provide assistance to those that are hurting, this holiday season. We all are waiting for God’s salvation. But many more are struggling at this time, than ever before.

Hebrews 10:5-10

The letter to the Hebrews relates the hope for the restoration of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ. Burnt offerings did not take away the sins. The one thing that truly pleases God is our obedience and the desire to perform God’s will. This is what Jesus Christ comes into the world to do. Jesus comes bringing the reality; the self-emptying at the cross. He becomes the High Priest for the human race; it also sanctifies all those who put their trust in the Lord’s offering.

Luke: -45

In Luke’s gospel Mary shows her trust in what God expects from us in order to accomplish His work in the world. Mary is a great example of faith …. Mother of believers – much in the same way Abraham is the Father of a nation. But both launched out on a journey without maps or directions, just trusting in God fully with no assurances or guarantees. Their direction was from faith obedience became their paved path. The proper relationship of an obedient servant of God is one of praise and joy. 

God does not care from what station of life we come from He cares about our obedience, trust, and loving our neighbors. 

O God purify our hearts today, we pray, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming may find prepared within us a fit abode for his presence.

Amen

Sermon
Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2021
Year C

First Reading: Baruch 5: 1-9
Canticle 16: The Song of Zechariah
(Luke 1: 68-79)

Second Reading; Philippians 1: 3-11
Gospel: Luke 3: 1-6

Collect:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and
prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and
forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen

Malachi 3:1-4

“See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord
whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple”.

The prophets, were sent as messengers to preach repentance and to bid God’s
people to prepare for salvation.

Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet who lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus
Christ.

(Isaiah 9:6) prophesies that Jesus Christ will come as a baby; Jesus is described
this way. “For a Child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rest upon
his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.”

And the Prophet (Malachi 3:1-4), proclaims that a holy messenger is on the way,
the prophet raises a question for all who proclaim God’s arrival with joyful
expectation. Are you ready?

Are We Ready?

For most of us, we are preparing for the Christmas season and it’s to be filled with
baking cookies, decorating, attending church services, and preparing for families
to come visit. But are we ready for the Messiah?

Some families haven’t seen each other in two years because of the pandemic.
Christmas to most, is a time of season with wonderful smells, sounds of laughter
and traditions, memories of past Christmas.

For some, Christmas can be overwhelming with loneliness and grief.
The prophet Isaiah’s message to us, in chapter 9 verse 6, The coming of the
Messiah, The One, is whom the gospel message centers on.
This verse can bring great comfort to all.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Advent means “Coming” and it prepares for Jesus’s coming.

Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. It is a time
for preparation, for the birth of Jesus our Lord. It is also meant to be a time of
reflection and a time set aside to renew our connection to Him.

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

In our Gospel reading today, you might ask… Why is John the Baptist in Advent?
Advent deals not only with Jesus’s first coming as a babe, but also with his Second
Coming at the end of salvation history. He is the last old covenant prophets and
he is here to pave the way for the coming of the Lord, his message and death.

Luke 3:3-6

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words
of the prophet Isaiah.

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be
filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be
made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.”

John the Baptist was coming to pave the way for the coming of the Lord. 
Our troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned.

Whatever weakens our reason…. impairs the tenderness of our conscience,
obscures our sense of God… and takes off the relish of spiritual things…that to us
is sin.

These types of things, put God second and we need to put God first in our lives, to
let God’s light, shine through us so much, that we can show the world a new and
better way. We need to be ready!

Advent opens wide the door of our faith, as we recognize the fullness of our
humanity: birth, life and death.

Advent, is also about what is to come and the joy preparing for the birth of Jesus,
born of Blessed Mary.

Jesus taught us, healed us and died for us, so that we might have life eternal.
We are reminded that Christ has come into the world and that Christ continually
comes into our world, as we get ready and open our hearts to Him this Advent
season.

Conclusion:

May the Lord prepare our hearts, by the teaching of his word and the convictions
of his Spirit.

The high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted,
crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every problem be
removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his
heavenly kingdom.

The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the
earth.

Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for weak believers, and those
of a sorrowful spirit.

Each Advent season, the church offers us these weeks at the beginning of our
Christian year to remember, that we worship a God who loves the world enough
to become flesh and walk on this earth.

Good News:

Our God walked and talked among us in person of Jesus Christ, to teaches us
through his life and through his death, about his enormous love for the world.

The liturgical season of Advent, grants us the space at the beginning of our
Christian year, to remember and to anticipate the One who is the Messiah.
The One who has saved us from our sins, and who comes to offer hope to the
world.

We get these weeks to remember, that God is with us and we are ready.
Amen.

The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sermon

November 21, 2021
Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
Year B
“Christ the King Sunday”

First Reading: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-13, [14-19]
Second Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8
Gospel: John 18:33-37

Today is our:

 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)

On this last Sunday of our liturgical calendar year, we give a special recognition to the dominion Christ our Lord has over all aspects of our lives. It’s perfect to lead us into our Advent season of Hope-Peace-Joy-Love…. 

Gospel: 

In our gospel lesson today, we read how Jesus is summoned by Pilate…he questions him again…

“Jesus” are you King of the Jews? Jesus, puts him on the spot, are you saying that or is it because others told you?  

Pilate…tells Jesus, that your own nation and chief priests have handed you over to me.

Pilate is nothing more than a governor, he holds authority in the headquarters, he is not Jewish, and really, he doesn’t want the responsibility of a trial…Jesus is Jewish and let his own judge him.

I feel they were cowards; they all know there is something special about this man.

Pilate asks Jesus “What have you done”? Jesus reply’s, “My kingdom is not from this world…because if it was my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.

“Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “you say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. 

“Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus came into this world to change the way people had been for years. Hope of a new life a new beginning. He came to the earth: to save his people from their sins by his life, death, and resurrection. His great purpose was to restore sinners to their God so that they may have eternal life forever with him.

Kings put people into slavery, Jesus freed people.

Kings crucified people; Jesus saved people. 

Kings ruled over people with fear and disgrace. Jesus loved people; Jesus gave people not fear, but hope.

Jesus brought Joy into the world. Every time He healed a person, cast out a demon, or forgave a sin, joy was the immediate result. Those who followed Jesus had peace, finely. 

All those who listen to his voice he brought Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. Instead of separating people, he brought them together.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  

Hope, Peace, Joy, 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

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 the 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, Almsgiving – 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 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.

Sunday 24^th Pentecost

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.

During the travels of Ruth and Naomi, they were able to sustain their lives because of Jewish law; grain on the edges of a field was to be left for “the poor and alien” to harvest. The field belonged to a single man named Boaz, who just happens to be a kinsman of Naomi’s husband Elimelech. Boaz marries Ruth according to the marriage laws of that time, “the brother of a man who dies without a son must marry his brother’s widow”.

God works in surprising ways through the lives of often unlikely people. Ruth, a Moabite woman non-Israelite becomes the ancestor of Jesus. The son Obed was the grandfather of King David. Ruth becomes King David’s great-grandmother. 

Psalm 127 reflects the spirit of the story of Ruth and express’s the trust in the Divine providence and blessing of children. The focus on children as the “Lords’ heritage, “as a gift of God: They ensure the survival of the family. The Psalm reflects the spirit of the story of Ruth with its expression of trust in the Divine providence and the blessing of children.

In the letter to the Hebrews, we are shown once again, that Jesus made himself the perfect sacrifice once and for all. He dwells in heaven and offers limitless intercessions on our behalf. With Jesus’s sacrifice and no other offering would ever be needed to do away with our sins. 

Mark’s gospel reading has two distinct pronouncements. One contains the pronouncements against excesses of religious leaders. The next focus is on the truly sacrificial giving of a poor widow, in contrast to the arrogance of the scribes. 

Scribes were specialists and official interpreters of the Scriptures. After their lengthy study, a student was ordained as a scribe. Jesus talked to the scribes about their excesses and showy behavior, at the expense of compassion and justice. The Scribes knew the rules better than others, they were able to exploit the knowledge to their own advantage. Jesus is not criticizing all scribes but those against a certain type of individual found among people of all faiths. 

The possible taking advantage of widows, the scribes (as lawyers) may have served as trustees of property and then taken a large share of the estate as their fee. In this case, the widow without her husband to represent and support her is “now a symbol of all oppressed whom the privileged religious class can easily exploit,

One thing that Jesus realized was that the widows giving was more at the high risk. “She out of poverty as put all she had to live on.

This incident shows us that giving of things, without giving of self, is of little value in the sight of God. The humble, faith-filled act on the part of the nameless widow serves us to remember that giving of things, without giving of self is of little value in the sight of God.

Prayer For The Day

O God of grace and glory, in whose service we find perfect freedom and true purpose, by the invisible working of your Holy Spirit, keep us forever awake to the needs of the world and alert to respond in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, until the end of the age.

Amen

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.