Category: Sermons

Sermon

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 20
Year B
September 19, 2021

First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-31
Psalm 1
Second Reading: James 3:13-4:3,7-8a
Gospel: Mark: 9:30-37

Collect:

Grant us, O 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, for ever and ever. Amen

Wisdom and Humility:

When writing a sermon, we look for a common thread in each lesson we read, today if, you take it home and read them again, you will find wisdom and humility in each lesson. 

There are multiple sermon possibilities in this gospel reading. The passion death and resurrection, “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 

And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.    

However, I wanted to talk some about our second reading…

James the Apostle. The lesson in James this morning, has so much in it to read and re-read and let his words soak in. He writes in 3-17…But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

James gives the church much good advice, the wisdom of the world with the wisdom that comes from above and he points out that true wisdom is shown by a man’s good and gracious conduct. He also adds that true wisdom flows from a heart that is gentle and a spirit that demonstrates true humility.  

But if a believer tries to hide behind a fake impression, of heavenly wisdom or puts on a pretense of humility, while really being bitter or jealous and selfishness, within their hearts, they are living a lie and being false to the truth.

How different is the wisdom that comes from the Spirit of God? For it is pure and peace-loving, considerate, gentle, and kind. The men and women, that have been filled with the wisdom of God are the ones that are full of mercy and good and sincere.

This my friends leads us into the Gospel lesson today.

The Gospel of Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and the disciples pass through Galilee, they have returned from the north, and Capernaum marks the end of the trip…. Jesus is home. He has traveled incognito, 

as in (7:24), Here the purpose is to devote full time to the teaching of his disciples.

He knows his time here is short… and the disciples still… have trouble understanding his purpose.

The Gospel of Mark has three passions in his gospel and this is the second one.

“The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Jesus then asks the disciples, what they were arguing about on the way?

But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.

We all have experienced this in our life, we heard someone talking about us or whispering. 

The disciples have been told before by Jesus, that he is to suffer in human hands and to be killed, but in three days he will rise again.

And again, they don’t understand and get confused, so they focus on themselves and which one of them is most important or the greatest, they were silent and Jesus…responds by calling them all together and saying 

“Whoever what’s to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 

“First” is from the Greet root word protos. It means first in influence, honor, and rank; in this case, it would mean the chief of the disciples. “Servant” is from the Greek root word diakonos and simply means one who acts on the desires of another. And this is where we get our word for “deacon”

So, what we have here is human behavior that we all have today…we want to be recognized by our leaders, our bosses, or teachers and even children learn this at a very young age.

We all love to be first, in influence, honor, and rank…but we don’t all want to be a servant…who acts on the desires of another!

Then Jesus took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Children want to compete for attention from their parents and teachers, they often are rewarded for their behavior. 

And that is good, but often we see that exceptional child, that on his or her own…wants to do good for someone. 

Raise money to help those in need and give it all away. 

Organize a group or thousands of people to donate to their cause, maybe they are collecting shoes to send to a foreign county. 

Sometimes children are just sweet and kind and they open a door for an elderly person, help a disabled or elderly person get across the road.

We have seen countless stories on TV of this kindness in our children.

Not only are these children born leaders but they are born with a pure heart and a pure heart is a heart that has warmth and comfort, that will make others feel cared for and safe. This heart does not have a limit on caring or giving.  

We all start out in life like this, we are all born with a pure heart and it is up to us to dive deep within and retrieve that purity that we have been given by God.

Conclusion:

The most significant benefit of purity is that it allows you entrance into God’s holy presence.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

I go back to the reading from the Apostle James…. For it is pure and peace-loving, considerate, gentle and kind. The men and women, that have been filled with the wisdom of God is the ones that are full of mercy and good and sincere.

What will you remember when you leave here today?

To return to the pure heart of a child, the humility that Jesus taught his disciples and the wisdom of God.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

by The Reverend Kathy

Sermon September 12^th Proper 19

In the silence of our hearts or in spoken words
Let us give thanks for the gift of this day
And pray for the life of the world…

Proverbs 1:20-33

Today’s lessons all have one thing in common and that is the reference to “Lead a life that is faithful to God. Wisdom is personified as a prophet; Wisdom speaks out in the street in the heart of the city, where legal decisions were often made. This resembles the similarities of the prophet’s role. Those not listening to wisdom and hearing her are portrayed in the verse “to life or death, security or disaster. 

The book of Proverbs is a gathering of short sayings over long periods coming from practical experience. They are not from theological ideas but from wholesome advice from those who have lived a happy and satisfactory life.  The reading from today is from the first 9 chapters and is instructions given by a father to his son so as to guide the youth in doing what is right and fair.

Psalm 19

The Book of Psalms is significant for understanding the religious life of ancient Israel. The main purpose was for the expressions of the heart to be made in the spirit of worship. The living God is always creating and recreating and bringing forth order out of the original chaos. Let us look at each morning as a renewal of the first words of God. “Let there be light”.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving our souls. God’s statues are wisdom and enlightenment and we receive joy and rewards, even though we may fail again and again, we can look to God to preserve us from pride and self-assertion.

James 3:1-12

James also talks about living life acceptable to God, and the difficulties of keeping our tongues in check. The tongue is the power of the spoken word and is a symbol of all that needs to be controlled in our everyday lives. There is a reference to the horses’ bit, and a ship’s rudder and how something relatively small controls something much larger. The tongue can control the entire person; even wild animals can be tamed, but not our tongues; which utter both blessings and curses. By learning to control our tongues it is the way it should be if our faith is to be lived out, through our words and deeds.

Mark 8:27-38

The issue of how to live faithfully is also a question in the passage from Mark. Jesus puts two questions to the disciples. “Who do people say that I am?” and he asks “But who do you say that I am?” Jesus openly tells the disciples and they don’t really grasp the meaning of what is being said. They misunderstand the title of Messiah, and they will need to be led into a new understanding before they can tell others. When Jesus went on to tell them of the great suffering and refection by the religious authorities before his death. The disciples did not understand.  Peter immediately took Jesus aside to deny such notion, Jesus in response told Mark “Get behind me” Satan” Peter’s statement was not setting his mind on divine things, but on human things. 

God invites us to set our minds on heavenly things, which does not mean just thinking nice thoughts or striving to enlist God to our side. It means trusting that God often works through vulnerability and weakness rather than through strength and certainty. Remember that God always leaves us the freedom to choose to lead a life believing in heaven, The Holy Trinity, The divinity of Christ, and the Resurrection. It is when we accept these beliefs on faith and surrender ourselves to God’s will. Remember that God transforms weakness and despair into glory and hope.

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 the 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 your Name.

Amen
The Reverend Kathy

by The Reverend Lola

September 12, 2021
16 Sunday after Pentecost
Year B

First Reading: Proverbs 1:20-33
Canticle: A Song in Praise of Wisdom
(Wisdom 7:26-8:1)
Second Reading: James 3:1-12
Gospel: Mark 8:27-38

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 forever. Amen

Surrender it All

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

What does this mean to us? Surrendering to God means letting go of our plans, and letting God have his way in every aspect of our lives. Allowing Him to guide our steps and direct our decisions. As Christians this means we surrender our will for His perfect will and follow God. I have worn a cross around my neck for as long as I can remember. I have crosses in almost every room of the house and when we had our motor home, we had a cross hanging in the bedroom. 

I personally find comfort in the cross, I like looking at it, I like praying with it around me because I feel the presence of Christ with me. The cross is a symbol of my Christian faith and recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus the Christ on the cross, for not just my sins, but for all our sins. It resembles salvation through Christ’s sacrifice; redemption; atonement; suffering; faith. 

Matthew 16:24-26. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

We see crosses everywhere, around people’s necks, hanging from the mirror in their car, tattoo’s on people, everywhere, people showing that they are committed to the Christian faith and they are not ashamed to let anyone know.

Take up your cross and follow me.

Some have lifted this verse out of an important part of the Gospel, it does not mean, what we often hear.  You have just had a tragedy in your life and you say, 

“I guess this is my cross to bear.” 

Jesus says to his disciples and Peter…No it can’t be!

Jesus has just told his disciples that he is on this road that leads him straight to suffering, betrayal, rejection, and death on the cross.  “But after three days rise again.”

Peter speaks up and says, after telling Jesus he is the Messiah! Peter takes him aside and began to rebuke him. Jesus turns it on Peter, Get behind me Satan! “For you are setting your mind “not” on divine things but on human things.”  

Poor Peter…he was the first to follow Jesus and this must have hurt…he loves Jesus so much…he just couldn’t bear it. He wants Jesus to be this great leader they have all been waiting for. 

Peter missed the part that…he will rise again in three days! The Resurrection! And he will be with everyone, who picks up their cross and follows him…forever and years to come.

In the verse Mark 8:35 “Whoever loses his life for My sake…will save it.”

You ask, how can I surrender my life? It is to surrender in the same way that salvation comes to the sinner. There are needs to be, that is the confession of sin and a complete yielding of every area of our lives, our personalities, and our wills to Jesus Christ. Giving it all the God.

A full surrender is to always be continued, it is not enough for us to be confirmed or to make a decision for Christ at an altar. We cannot walk successfully and grow without returning and renewing our vows and commitments with the Lord. We continue to go back and go back again renewing our faith and surrendering it all.

In the verse Mark 8:36 “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

The bible does not condemn money or having material possessions. Because money and possessions can be a great thing for many if used in the right way. God’s argument is not with the material things, but with material gods and idolizing them. Just like we wouldn’t want to idolize the cross, but wear it as a reminder. 

Getting back to the money, the problem, the Bible has is not with the money itself, but with our love of money: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”.

1 Timothy 6:10 Don’t let money, or anything else, take God’s rightful place in your life.

When we give a cross to someone, a child, a family member, a friend… it is to mark that “you are a divine thing, this place in the house, it is a divine place, a Holy place and sacred place. You are saying God will be present with you, here with you and you have been marked as his own. When you come up for communion and you take the Holy Sacraments, you are in the presence of the divine.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

August 29, 2021
14 Sunday after Pentecost
Year B

First Reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2,7-10
Second Reading: James 1:17-27
Gospel Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen

Talk the Talk….Walk the Walk

If you say that someone talks the talk but does not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in a way that agrees with the things they say:

In the chapter prior to the Gospel that we read, Mark (6:39-43,50,54-56),

“I’m going to say, it was a beautiful day.” 

Jesus had his disciples feed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. 

That night a great storm occurred after his disciples fought the wind in the boats and Jesus walked on water toward them…reassuring them not to be afraid. 

The next day

If you can imagine…everyone recognized Jesus after they got back on land. The people rushed about the whole region and began to bring the sick and laying them on mats to wherever they heard he was…villages, cities and farms… They laid the sick in marketplaces, and begged him, that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak. 

Trouble

“Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”

Using our imaginations 

Here come the Pharisees….clean white robes…nice sandals and their little scribes following along…. all smug and important.  They gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.

The Pharisees had built this wall around them…following the traditions of the elders in the Jerusalem religious establishment, the Pharisees and scribes cultivated oral traditions of the elders… supplementary to the law of Moses,

In this story…. they focused on the purity codes for processing and eating food. The Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus, observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; also washing any cups, pots, and bronze kettles.

Explain

We should understand where the Pharisees are coming from; we also have a certain 

core of traditions and beliefs that are important to us that make us who we are, that 

define our own behaviors and the way we “think” other people should behave.

In years past, many people left the Episcopal Church, because of the changes that were occurring. 

I still have friends who did not like the change in the BCP from the 1928 prayer book to the current 1979 prayer book.

I recall “the tradition” how you wouldn’t go to church unless you had a dress on, a hat and gloves., But times change, things change and that’s ok.

What comes next!

Jesus “said” to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written…. You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. 

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.

 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: 

Story: 

We have Thousands of people in this country and other countries, that their primary purpose is serving as Humanitarian to save lives, reduce suffering ,and enhance the respect of human dignity.

I wrote this sermon a month ago trying to stay ahead on my Homily’s, and just in this short period of time, things have changed around the world. The devastating earthquake in Hatti and the storms that followed.The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban army…simply hurts down to our souls. We witness US forces lifting babies over the wall to save them.

We as followers of Jesus Christ have a difficult time understanding and we pray for a successful outcome. The story I am about to tell goes along with what has taken place recently.   

These humanitarians are noble and hardworking people serving those in need, in this country and other countries. Whether it’s supplying clean drinking water, rebuilding after a natural disaster and providing much-needed supplies all actions are taken with one goal in mind, decrease the amount of suffering and in some cases for the world’s most vulnerable people.

I was struck by a picture in an article I had read, and a picture can tell a thousand words.

In 2005 U.S. Army Sergeant Kornelia Rachwal was giving a young Pakistani girl water; from a bottle of water.  The U.S. Army was there in a Chinook helicopter on October 19th, 2005 to airlift some people out of a boomed area. In the picture, the Sergeant’s hands were dirty, her nails were dirty, the little Pakistan Girl had dirt on her face.

 “Now” who do you think God looked down upon as his own and found favor in his sight?  Do you think they were judged for not washing up?? Of course, not! Her intentions were coming from her human heart and all the other great humanitarians that serve from the heart.

What we eat and drink can’t hurt and defile us. Only what comes out of us-ungodly words and actions-can defile us.  Jesus wants us and he wanted his disciples to see that the core of goodness is our hearts, just like the US soldiers. 

Explain 

When God looks at us, the first thing he sees is the state of our hearts. God doesn’t care about what we look like on the outside. He’s more concerned about what’s on the inside. It’s not the dirty hands that defile, but it’s what comes out of your mouths and what you might harbor and hold in your hearts that can defile you.

We can shower in the morning, put on our best clothes and hat, holding our bible, and come to church…. take communion and still walk out with a heart filled with hate,  You might be fooling those around us, but we are not fooling God.

(Matthew 5:8)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Why does Jesus say we should be “pure in heart”? The reason is that our heart-our inner being—is the root of all our actions. From our hearts come our motives, our desires, our goals, our emotions. If our hearts aren’t right, neither will be our actions.

(Luke 18:9-14) a (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else:

Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood over by himself and prayed,

 “God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonest, and unfaithful in marriage like other people.  And I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there. I go without eating for two days and week, and I give you one tenth of all I earn.”

The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.”

Then Jesus said, “When the two men went home, it was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down.  But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”

Good news

I’m not saying we all need to go to Ethiopia or the Middle East to be a humanitarian we can be one here. I don’t want to rag on the Pharisee’s, they were living during a time where they were keeping a promise to God. Jesus was telling them and now he also tells us, its what is in your heart that is important.

We have been given a life in Christ, every Sunday when we walk up and we take the spiritual food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, we are given a new life in Christ. We say it in our closing prayer.

Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord.

Conclusion

Jesus is asking us to get our hands dirty, live for and in Christ every moment of every day, in every situation in which you find yourself in with every person.  Jesus is here and now and he is in and with every suffering soul.

If we want to talk the talk then we must walk the walk in Christ. Let your heart be filled with the love of Christ.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Thirteen Sunday after Pentecost
Year B
August 22, 2021

First Reading: 1 Kings 8(1,6,10,11) 22,30,41-43
Psalm: 84 
Second Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
Gospel: John 6:56-69

Collect:

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

I AM-WE ARE

A few scriptures back (John 6:28-34), the disciples had asked Jesus what they could do to perform the works of God? And Jesus tells them.

 “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent, they said, what sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? All this time, they want to know what work he has been performing? 

“Really” that’s what I say, in verses 19-20 the seas became ruff and he walked on water to save them. He also has fed 5000 people…a multitude of people with five loaves and two fish. And many other miracles.  

Our ancestors ate “Manna” from heaven, he gave them the bread to eat.

Jesus said to them.

 “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him Sir, give us this bread always.”

The Messiah was expected to reproduce the miracle of giving of manna. Again, the depth of Jesus’ meaning is misunderstood.

Today’s Gospel:

The Jews dispute among themselves, So, he tells them in verse 56, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This! Is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

I am sure a lot of Jews and Jewish leaders walked out on Jesus that day. The story is a little hard… even today to explain to people. 2000 years of many priests and faith leaders teaching us, we later know that Jesus himself is God’s gift of sustenance for time to eternity. 

Jesus “I am, is an expression of divinity and oneness with God…and as we learned before, He is the bread of life” He is the living bread…it is his flesh, Jesus became flesh and offered himself to God in death, thus sacrificing his life for the life of the world. 

We have thousands of years — a very long history of celebrating the Holy Eucharist. We have heard and watched the consecration hundreds of times as the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

We walk to the altar, every Sunday, we take and eat and drink… and we are renewed in Jesus Christ. 

We say in our closing prayer.

“Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.”   

The mystery of this still humbles me! We have been given new life in Jesus. 

Because of the incarnation, we receive the body and blood of Christ, 

We now are the new bodies of Christ, 

We now are the flesh and the blood of Jesus, 

We are and can be everything Jesus was, 

We are the incarnation of Jesus, passed down for thousands of years. 

As we approach the altar today…most will say…Amen…. You can also say…” I am”.

Amen

The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon August 8, 2021

Friday, August 6th was the Transfiguration of Jesus. Transfiguration is not just understood as a spiritual experience of Jesus while at prayer. Three of his chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John were permitted to witness. This was a series of supernatural manifestations, by which God authenticated Jesus as his Son. The other times were the appearance of the angels at the birth and at his resurrection, and with the descent of the Spirit at Jesus’ Baptism. The voice has been documented saying, “This is my beloved with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

As we begin to come to the end of the story of David as it comes to a close, the Prophet Nathan’s warnings are fulfilled, with rape, murder, civil war, overtaking the house of David.

David’s son Absalom had been exiled for three years over the killing of his half-brother Amnon. David did not welcome Absalom for two years. During this time Absalom began to plot to overthrow His father, David, while in exile Absalom raised an army to take the throne.

David asked his generals to “deal gently for his sake with Absalom. When the battle began; Absalom’s followers were no match for David’s professional army. Upon the death of Absalom, it was felt by the generals, he was seen as the enemy of David, and they disregarded David’s instruction to “deal gently.” We have to think about David at this time he is both King and father. As King, he is concerned for the future of Israel and as the father, he is concerned for the death of his son.

Psalm 130 is a Psalm attributed to David’s writings.

The first two verses of the psalm echo David’s despair at the loss of his son! David calls to the Lord out of the depths. If God kept track of human sin none of us would stand a chance. God is forgiving. We just need to forgive ourselves and others. The Lord will rescue us from our troubles, although his saving grace may not be as we want at the time of the troubles. Maybe we need to take a good hard look at the outcome over the years. In many cases, things were in our favor, just at a different time. God has a plan if we just listen and wait.

Ephesians 4: 25 – 5:2

The Epistle describes life in a community of faith, we see the love of God becoming a reality in Christ. The Epistle points out the commandments that define the way of life for us; We must become “centered in love. Our love can do nothing directly for God. We need to extend this love and compassion to one another. We are forbidden deceit, and to refrain from anger that allows the devil opportunity. We are asked to treat our neighbors as we wish to be treated. We should have no tolerance in our thoughts to bitterness and slander, or to any form of malice. We are to be kind, generous, loving, and forgiving and to remember. We have already been forgiven Christ gave his own life “AS An Offering and sacrifice to God.

John 6:35-41-51

In this gospel, John brings to our attention the deep demands of faith in Jesus. Like the Jews that Jesus was interacting with, we tend to ask questions. “What does faith in God really require of me.” Then next comes the demand of proof. We just need to remember that God is known now. God’s gifts of salvation are immediately available. The present time is the time of salvation; Eternity is now! The powerful statement reminds us time and again that the selfless action of God in giving us his only Son has enabled us to a life of abundance on earth and in eternity. The statement of “Whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.”

Those who take in or digest Jesus inwardly into every aspect of their life, especially into the demands of true discipleship, the reward is great. “The one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Gracious God, Source of all life, Author of all that is true and food: give us the wind of your Holy Spirit that we may venture beyond the safe confines of an easy faith, and step out bravely from false security to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a perishing world. All this we ask in the unity of God and in the power of your Holy Name.  

Amen

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 11
July 18, 2021
Year B

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Psalm 89:20-37
Second Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34,53-56

Collect:

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen

Before:

Let’s go over the past couple of Sundays in the Gospel of Mark…Chapter 5:21-35, Jesus was speaking to great crowd of people that had followed him. In these scriptures, was the women who had been bleeding for 12 years, she had spent all she had on doctors and nothing helped. She was considered unclean and couldn’t worship in the Synagogue. Because of her persistence, she found a way to touch the hem of his garment and with her faith, she was made well. He also healed the daughter of one of the Synagogue, leaders Jairus.

Mark 6: 1-13 Jesus leaves that place and goes home and is teaching in the synagogue…of course the leaders are not happy with him and neither are some of the people he grew up with…who is he and where did he get his wisdom?

Jesus gathers his 12 disciples and sends them out with nothing…go two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. They went out and proclaimed that all should repent, they cast out demons, anointed some with oil and many who were sick were made well. 

King Herod, being the one responsible for beheading John the Baptist, heard all this and because some were saying…maybe John the Baptist has returned, he was worried.

I spoke last Sunday about promises we make and in order to save face, we have to keep the promise or lose trust in those who we have promised, and maybe we wished we hadn’t made this hasty promise. Herod had regrets and guilt. We cannot go through life without regrets and guilts.

Gospel: Mark: 6:30-34,53-56 

In today’s Gospel, the story is divided into two parts, but pretty much says the same thing.

We Rest In A Quiet Place:

The Apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

We have seen this, where people put a lot into what they are doing, it doesn’t matter if it’s work, a volunteer position, taking care of aging parents or your spouse, your spending 24-7 doing it.

Soon your tired, burnt out, losing weight, not sleeping, not eating and you become short tempered and being a disciple of Christ Jesus, you’re not spending enough time alone and resting in God’s arms.  This reminded me of a prayer, I’m sure we all have heard, or different versions. 

Time to Pray

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task 
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided
“My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
Author unknown

Jesus listens to his disciples telling him all that they have been doing, and frankly he sounded quit worry about them. They sounded effective, but is it going to take a toll on them and then how effective will they be? Also, they were successful, just look at the crowds following Jesus and the disciples.

He wants to accomplish several things. He may have felt… they were getting a little ahead of themselves. When you see the results, they were getting, could it be going to their head a little? and not giving the credit to God!    Jesus knew what they needed, to be in silence and in prayer, to reunite and renew, so they can continue to receive the gifts… that God has given them.

As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Jesus, had not only compassion for his disciples, but he had compassion for the people. Their need was so great; the hunger they had for healing and for the power of God’s word was strong and he wasn’t about to send them away. 

Conclusion:

God calls us to rest in him. “Come to me…I will give you rest.”

Rest is important to your spiritual walk with the Lord, and many Christians today don’t appreciate the value of rest or keeping the Sabbath day holy. Rest allows our mind, body, and soul to renew and start with even more strength and focus.

Scripture is filled with God’s promises to provide rest when we seek Him. God is an endless source of peace and strength and He created us to need Him!

It may be hard to make time daily to build a space between here and in the spiritual world with God. But we can give him a few minutes every day, so we can go out and use the gifts he has given us through grace and he strengthens us when we are tired, he shows us the way to be compassionate, but also, he gives us the knowledge to know when to work and when to rest and pray.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Year B
July 11, 2021

2 Samuel 6:1-5
Palms:
Ephesians: 3-14
Mark: 6:14-29

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen

Gospel: Mark 6:14-19

After Jesus had healed the women who had been bleeding for 12 years and had raised and healed the synagogue leader, Jairus’ daughter, he left that place and went back to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 

On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? 

People knew he was Mary and Joseph the carpenter’s son. How did this little boy get his wisdom?

Later He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  

KING HEROD heard of Jesus and his disciples, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason, these powers are at work in him.”

Herod had overheard it, could be John the Baptist? and he, being the one who was responsible for beheaded him, Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man.  “Has he come back for revenge”? Herod has a guilty conscious…don’t you think?

He is more then aware of this new knowledge and painfully sensitive and concerned with worry about it. He made a promise to this young daughter of his, who had danced at his birthday party in front of all his guest. He was so pleased he offered her “Whatever she wanted”. 

“Big Mistake”

She asked for the unthinkable… he had to keep his promise to her and that was the head of John the Baptist.  So? he would rather commit murder than appear to be a fool.

Promises We Make and Can’t Keep  

We all have made promises in our life that we could not keep. It happens all the time. If we don’t keep our promise, we risk being a failure and not sincere, we are human and sometimes each of us struggle when we promise something, after all it’s our word.

We are so committed to projecting images of success and happiness, that many of us intentionally project and image of our lives to others, that is a fake self not our true self.  King Herod didn’t want to risk being weak or a failure, he promised her in front of everyone…all his guest in attendance.

Our history of humans, we have grown up with broken promises, maybe as a child you were promised that your parents would take you to the zoo, a movie, the beach, Disneyland, only you were disappointed when something came up and you couldn’t go. 

Hopefully you learn to cope as a child in disappointment and broken promises…then later as you become an adult, you now are making promises, that maybe you too can’t keep. Why?? Because we don’t think about the consequences ….if we could not keep that promise!

Regret’s

Also, we all have done things in our past that we regret doing. And say to ourselves, why didn’t I think this through before I said or did that? Now that Jesus is out in all the county sides, people by the thousands are following him and praising him, Herod is now regretting what he did to John the Baptist.

There are literally millions and millions of people that regret something they said or did years ago and it is catching up to them. In recent years we have seen things come to pass in the public eye and the responds from many will be negative…as if they have no skeletons in their closet!! (Right?) and there are many that regret something, but it’s not public and they are dealing with it in their own way. Sometimes not good either. 

Forgiveness 

First, be sincere and admit the thing or things we have done. Asking God’s forgiveness, we must say what we did or said and admit we were wrong without excuses. And saying I am sorry God, please forgive me, I sincerely regret disappointing you Father.

There are many ways to find forgiveness with God, I like to use scripture in my prayer, God’s word is powerful, and he encourages me to use it when speaking to him. We have a forgiving God and Jesus gave his life for us, so that we would have eternal life.

(Romans 6:23)

The end is eternal life; For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Paul says: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Chris before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.

Our past mistakes help us grow more in wisdom and faith, we root ourselves more deeply in God and God’s Word, and we begin to see that our lives have the potential to impact others with the love of God in a much deeper way than we can imagine.

We cannot control what happens to us in life, but we can make a conscious effort to create a new path for us and those who follow us, by being honest and true to ourselves. Maya Angelou said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath