Reflections on WORSHIP and DISCIPLESHIP
by Margo Geesing
September 2024
“Challenges”
During the month of August, we got through the whole of John chapter 6 with the discourse on the Bread of Life. We got that, right? Jesus is the Bread of Life. You need to receive him to have [eternal] life within you. We, as people of faith, receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
We are back in the Gospel of Mark for September! Mark is the “GO” Gospel. Jesus is on the go; his followers are on the go. Most of the Gospel lessons begin with where he is going or where he came from. And he gives out challenges constantly. Challenges we are encouraged to fulfill, also.
First Sunday of September Jesus has landed the boat in Gennesaret and is met by the Pharisees who had come from Jerusalem, basically to confront him. His followers were not following all the prescribed “rules” for the faith: this time it was regarding ritual cleaning, but it could have been anything. Jesus reminds them that there is a difference between doing the “right” things without a connection to the why it’s done and doing something with regard for the heart of the matter. Jesus is more concerned with the reasoning behind actions rather than the perfectness of the action. Just following the rules is not living your faith. Living faith, what Jesus calls us all to do, involves not just your outward actions but your inward heart. Spirit versus Letter of the Law. This could make us reflect on how we judge the faith of others by what we see them do in relation to how we think faith “should be” lived rather than accepting that faith comes in many forms and expressions.
The second Sunday in September Jesus has an encounter with a woman who was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. Especially in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus interacts with women they tend to challenge him. He allows them to make him think differently. In a culture that did not give women much power, Jesus allows them to have power to change his thinking. In this case, he goes from addressing only the Israelites to beginning to include some of the Gentiles in his mission. Something similar happens when he encounters the Samaritan woman at the well. How do you deal with encounters with people who think differently than you do? Do you dismiss them or do you listen to them and evaluate your way of thinking? You may not need to change your way of thinking but perhaps at some points, you might. This Gospel lesson also has a second part. Jesus does a, “Shhh, don’t say anything.” Which is gleefully ignored. This happens to Jesus on numerous occasions, including when with his own disciples. You would think he would learn that the fastest way to get something spread around is to tell the person to say nothing. Think about your own encounters with Jesus. Do you keep them to yourself or do you share them?
The third Sunday of September we get a story about Peter. You all know I have a special fondness for Peter [and Paul]- They both allow their humanness to show through the passion and the stupid moments. Peter goes all in, all the time. Peter states that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God”. Can’t get faith much stronger than that! But the next moment, Peter is rebuking Jesus. Sadly, for us, Jesus brings things back around saying the hard things again and challenging us. Jesus reminds us that we are called to do more and to be more. Then Jesus sets a blueprint of what we need to do: a) deny ourselves, b) to pick up our cross and c) follow him. None of these are easy things to do. We like our comforts. We would like things easy. Following Jesus is hard. Our belief and love in someone greater than ourselves give us the strength needed to deny ourselves. It gives us the perseverance to pick up our cross and carry on. It gives us the power to follow. Jesus never said it would be easy; in fact, he frequently warns us just the opposite! Jesus looks to the heart and faith of his people and he looks with the eyes of love, compassion, and mercy. Have you ever felt challenged beyond what you thought you were capable of? What did you do? How did it turn out?
The fourth Sunday we have Jesus traveling to Capernaum. As frequently happens when a group of people travel together for a while, little irritations start to show up. A bit of bickering. A challenge of who’s better than who. The disciples were no different. Jesus calls them out about it. Jesus does a bit of foreshadowing. He states that that the person who wants to be greatest needs to be a servant to the others. Jesus does this at the Passover meal when he washes the feet of his disciples. Then, Jesus puts a child in front of them and tells them they must welcome this child. We look at this and think, who wouldn’t help a child? Or protect a child? Or welcome a child? But children were not important in society. Even today, children aren’t thought of as “important” members of society. Jesus was making a point. We cannot be good followers if we are focused on being important in society. We need to be better than that. We need to be a servant. We need to be aware of those in need; and moreover, do something. Too often we as human beings look around and see someone in need and respond with, “That’s SEP [Someone Else’s Problem]”. Or we look and see the insurmountable issues and throw up our hands and say, “I can’t do anything about this; it’s too big”. You see? Jesus challenges us – with small steps, small choices, and even small helping hands. Really, we can do the small. And that’s where we, as individuals, must begin.
Is it just me, or does Jesus get a little more morbid the closer he gets to Jerusalem? This last Sunday in September he is talking about cutting off body parts to keep from losing eternal life. He talks about being salted with fire. I think he is trying to prepare them for what will follow. They need, as we all do, to hear the hard truths. Ministry is hard. It involves service and sacrifice. Those first followers did not live long, happy, healthy lives. Our Saints and Martyrs are Saints and Martyrs because of the long rough road they walked to follow in Jesus’s footsteps. We are lucky that most of us will not have our faith challenged to the point of death. Yet, for others in our current world this is still not quite as true, even today. In some ways, I think the day-to-day relatively “Easy Life” (which most of us enjoy) makes it very challenging to live in faith and ministry. Sounds odd, but bear with me: If someone came into church one Sunday and said, “If you don’t renounce your faith and leave the building, I will kill you. Right now. Right here.” I would hope, and in my mind, I would stay. It’s a quick and powerful decision. The day-to-day living of faith authentically and fully is very hard. It’s every day, every hour, every minute, making decisions to act out of love, to see Jesus in the people you encounter, to answer the call of God, and to give water in the name of Jesus. Jesus challenges each of us in our vocation in life. He challenges us to live as Christians. To give water to the little, the lowly, the unseen, the forgotten, the dismissed, the untouchable.
October 2024
“A Step Further”
The first Sunday of October Jesus is again disrupting the status quo. This time he redefines the importance of marriage and the value of women in a society that looked at women as property. He continued with making children important, too. Jesus never seems to have a problem with expanding the rules to live by. He always looks at how to show the Father’s love for all his creation. He looks to raise those with low status. He looks to heal and support those in the most need. He calls all of us to do the same. This is your chance to look at how you value others. Who is important to you? Who do you respond to the quickest? Who are you trying to raise up?
The second Sunday of October Jesus again challenges his followers, even those whom are just coming to him. A rich man asks how he can inherit eternal life and Jesus reiterates the Commandments. Jesus also goes a degree further: He wants the rich man to sell what he has and give to the poor. Jesus continues on to warn those who are rich that it will be hard for them to enter the Kingdom. It sounds odd. If Jesus comes to save all and invites all to the Father, if this is true, then why does he exclude the rich? I think the challenge with being rich, is what to do with it? How do you treat others? What are your goals with the money? I think that Jesus requires the same from the rich as he does from the poor, it’s just a little harder because we are creatures of comfort, and we like to keep what we have. So, we are challenged to go that step further.
The third Sunday of October we hear a similar Gospel lesson, with more details, than the one from September 22nd’s Gospel lesson from Mark chapter 9 verses 30-37. Jesus calls out specifically James and John, the sons of Zebedee, for wanting to be placed at Jesus’ right and left sides. Jesus reiterates that to be great in his Kingdom, you must be a servant to all. He also reminds them that he is destined to die and reminds them that if they continue to follow him, they also will be subject to the same. Jesus does not beat around the bush about how this will end. He warns us repeatedly that, if you follow me, you will probably not have a happy, easy life. But, we as faithful Christians, continue to follow because the final reward is worth the costs in this life.
The fourth Sunday in October we will be celebrating Reformation Sunday. The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is from John. Jesus talks about true freedom. Freedom is a word that has been used a lot in recent times. How we act and what we do with our freedoms depends on a lot of factors from how we were raised, what we have learned, politics, friends, societal influences, and hopefully, our faith. Jesus’ freedom is a bit different. He has freed us from the slavery of sin. That slavery keeps us from God who is all good and all loving. Jesus has given us a place by his side. But, as with all freedoms, we need to accept it and use it wisely. Freedom is both a gift and a duty. What is your “favorite” sin? How are you working with Jesus to be free of this? How have you enjoyed and used the freedom that Jesus has given you?
November 2024
“Challenges to Face: How Do You Show Love?”
The first Sunday of November is All Saints’ Day when we hear the story of the Raising of Lazarus. In this narrative, we have Jesus in his human glory. He is perceived to have let down his friend’s family. He weeps for the death of his friend. He prays. But he also teaches. He has purposefully stayed away so that he could give glory to the Father. He teaches about trust and faith. He teaches about prayer. How do you approach God in prayer? Do you have the confidence that God hears you? How do you accept the answer to those prayers?
The first Sunday of November is also the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. It is an optional day on the calendar. The Gospel lesson for that day is from the Gospel of Mark. Jesus is asked what is the greatest Commandment. As we have been studying the Ten Commandments in Bible Study, it is appropriate to look at this idea: What is the Greatest Commandment? Jesus says, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There are no other commandments greater than these.” [Mark 12:29-31]. When we look at the Ten Commandments, we see the broad outline of: Worship God, Use God’s Name and Symbols with Respect, Give God Your Time, Respect Authority, Treasure Life, Respect Marriage and Your Sexuality, Respect Other’s Property and Ideas, Speak Only the Truth. Jesus simplified this list to: LOVE. How do you show your love for God in your own life? How do you show your love for yourself? How do you show your love for others?
On the second Sunday of November, we get to see what is important to Jesus. It is also the Sunday that we are having our Congregational Annual Meeting. Jesus has been engaging with the leaders of the Temple over how they are treating others, which is an ongoing issue in all of society. What is done for show compared to what should be done. In this case, he is watching people going into the Temple and putting money in the treasury. He saw people who had monetary wealth giving large sums. He was not impressed by the amounts they were giving. He also observed a widow giving just two copper coins. This is the person he called his disciples to pay attention to. He was more honored by this widow’s gift because she gave even though she was in need. The wealthy were giving from their excess. The widow from her need. Jesus seems to not like the wealthy very much. There are many instances where Jesus warns those who “have” to share with those who “have not”. Here again is the call to love others as ourselves. To love God. To be aware of our dear neighbor. To reach out. To share. How are you going to share your time, talents, and treasure with others? How are you going to share your time, talents, and treasure with God; the giver of all good gifts?
When was the last time you heard that we are in the end times?!? The third Sunday has Jesus warning his followers not to be taken in by people saying the end times are here and not to be afraid if they are. It was predicted so many times. First predictions were in 66-77 AD, then a few more, then in the years between 993-995, then the year 1000. Move ahead many years and predictions later. Then it we were going to end at the turn of the Century (was that 1999, 2000, or 2001 – who knows). Then in 2012 when the Mayan calendar ended. Take a dart and throw it at a calendar and you too can pick a date. We don’t know. We aren’t supposed to know. We have all lived through trials and tribulations and, if we are lucky, we will live through many more. Our job, our goal, is to have faith and trust in God. To stay steady and steadfast in our belief. How wrapped up in doom and gloom do you get? How much do you let it control your actions and thoughts?
The last Sunday of November we celebrate the last Sunday in the Church year, Christ the King. The Gospel lesson is from John and does not show Jesus as a King but rather as a prisoner before Pilate. Two different men who act with their power in very different ways. Pilate acts out of fear: fear of the Jews, fear of the crowd, fear of losing face, fear of those in power over him, fear of the unknown. Jesus acts out of love: love for Pilate, love of the Jews, love of the crowd calling for his death, love of truth, love for his Father, love of mankind. When you are asked about what you believe or when you have to make a stand for something, how do you answer? Do you answer with love and the truth or do you let others sway your stance?
December 2024
“Advent and Beyond”
Usually, Advent begins the last Sunday of November, but this year the whole of Advent is in December, starting December 1 with the First Sunday of Advent. So, all those Advent Calendars with just 24 days is correct this year! This year all of our Gospel Lessons com from the Gospel of Luke. Come along on the journey, perhaps you will learn something about your relationship with Jesus or perhaps someone will learn something from you through your relationship with Jesus but we always travel in relationship with Jesus!
December 1, 2024 – First Sunday of Advent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 21 verses 25-36
The First Sunday in Advent Jesus is warning his followers about the end times when he will return again. He outlines signs and portends of the coming tribulations. An interesting thing is that Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.” Yet, we are still here. He has not returned, yet. 0f course, we all think we are in the end times. The Jews believed that Jesus was coming back soon. Nostradamus foretold the end time on numerous occasions. The world was going to end at the change of the century mark, the world was going to end in 2012. The world is going to end in 10 years, 25 years, 40 years… Jesus flat out tells us that we will not know when this is going to happen. The Father is the only one who knows. Our concern is not to know when it is going to happen, but to be prepared when it does happen. Our concern is to continue the mission he started. Our call is to live the Christian life in love for the Lord and one another. This week of Advent, practice hope in your Savior.December 8, 2024 – Second Sunday of Advent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 3 verses 1-6
The Second Sunday in Advent we hear from John the Baptist, the foreshadower of Jesus and Jesus’s cousin! While John the Baptist did actually prepare the way for Jesus, we also need to prepare the way for Jesus. We need to prepare ourselves. We need to prepare our friends and families. We need to prepare our neighbors and communities. Not only do we prepare for the coming of Christmas this year but also for the Second Coming of Christ. It is not enough for us to wonder were we celebrating Christmas this year or with whomever we are celebrating with. We need to look forward to the future and where we are going to celebrate eternal life and with whom are we going to be with. We are called to bring all to Christ. To share the peace within ourselves that only comes from knowing the Lord. To live in the peace of Christ. This week of Advent, practice being at peace within yourself and the world around you.Sunday, December 15, 2024 – Third Sunday of Advent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 3 verses 7-18
The Third Sunday in Advent we are still following John the Baptist as he prepares the people for the coming of the Messiah. He calls the people to repentance and not to depend on who their forefathers were to be saved. He calls them to bear good fruit from the gifts they are given. He calls them to live their vocations with honor. He calls them to mercy, justice, and generosity. These are the fruits that we must bear. This message has been continuous in the Gospels; whether from John the Baptist, St. Paul, St. Peter, or Jesus himself. This kind of life has a natural joy that comes from living the life we are called to in harmony with God’s will for us. This week of Advent, practice living in the joy that comes from knowing Christ.December 22, 2024 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 1 verses 39-45 [46-55]
The Fourth Sunday of Advent we hear the story of Mary going to her cousin Elizabeth in the time of Elizabeth’s confinement. Then we hear the beautiful praise of God by Mary in response to Elizabeth’s greeting. The absolute trust and love that these women, and their men, place in God is astounding. These are not rich and powerful people with a life of ease. These are everyday people who so love God that they allow God to guide their lives freely. At no point does God tell them that their life will be easy or soft if they do these things for him. There is no bargaining with God. There is just obedience coming from their love. How often do we respond to God with this same trust and love? How often do we try to bargain with God? How often do we treat God as a vending machine – we put this into the relationship and I get this back from God? This week of Advent, practice living in love for God and his many gifts he has given to each of us.December 29, 2024 – First Sunday of Christmas
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 2 verses 41-52
The final Sunday in December is the First Sunday of Christmas. Jesus has grown into a twelve your old little boy. I was a parent of three children, one a little boy. If my son had answered me the way Jesus answered Mary, there would be words. I always wonder if the story Luke heard was a bit cleaned up. Think about it. They had traveled a day from Jerusalem. The looked through their friends and relatives for maybe a few hours. They returned to Jerusalem, another day of travel. Then they spend another day looking for him. So, their twelve-year-old son has been lost to them for three days. And his answer to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This is not an answer any parent wants to hear. They want to hear, I’m sorry, or, I won’t do it again. Luke glosses over the aftermath of this with, “Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them, …” Luke ends with that Jesus increased in wisdom and in years. And, hopefully, a little more care for his earthly parents! A final thought, it is interesting to look at this Gospel lesson from the beginning of Jesus’s live in comparison to the end of Jesus’s life. His parents search for him for three days just as Jesus was in the tomb for three days.December 24 / 25, 2024 – Nativity of Our Lord Christmas Day
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 2 verses 1-20
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Gospel is the announcement of Jesus to the shepherds by the angels. For me, this is the Christmas Gospel. And I hear it in the voice of Linus from the Peanuts. It is a beautiful lesson. I just suggest you sit with this and think about it. Our God came as a little baby to bring to the world the gifts of hope, joy, love, and peace.December 25, 2024 – Nativity of Our Lord Christmas Day
The Gospel Lesson is from John chapter 1 verses 1-14
The other possible lesson is from John 1:1-14. It is the declaration that Jesus is one with the Father. He was at the beginning of creation and he is the light of the world. He has passed that light to us in baptism. YOU are a light to the world. Go, light the world in hope, joy, love, and peace.
January 2025
“Epiphany and Beyond”
We hear from three of our four Gospel writers this month. John’s Gospel begins with one of the most quoted verses, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”, but he does not address anything about Jesus’s early life. In the Gospel of Matthew, we get some details of Joseph’s role in caring for Mary and Jesus and protecting them. There is just a paragraph in the Gospel of Mark referring to John the Baptist announcing the coming of the Christ and then Mark jumps to Jesus’s baptism. Luke includes a few more details of Jesus’s youth. It is in the combination of these Gospels that we get a small idea of who Jesus, before he began preaching, was. Interestingly, only two of the Synoptic Gospels include Jesus’s genealogy. Matthew does it at the beginning of the Gospel and Luke does it at Jesus’s baptism.
January 5, 2025 – Epiphany of Our Lord [actual: January 6th]
The Gospel Lesson is from Matthew chapter 2 verses 1-12
We hear the story of the Magi coming to worship Jesus in this Gospel. It is the presentation of Jesus to the Gentile world. The Magi bring gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Traditionally, we look at these gifts as declarations of Jesus’s Divinity, Kingship, and the Suffering Servant / his death. Frankincense was a perfume used in smoke as a gift to God, gold is worldly riches that was given to kings, myrrh was an antiseptic ointment that was often used for burial purposes. But it is not just about the Magi. It is also about Herod. It is about Herod’s fear and need to hold onto power. Herod is afraid of the potential of a new-born baby. He is so afraid that he lies to the Magi about wanting to worship this baby. Herod is so afraid that he commands his soldiers to kill every Jewish boy child from new-born to two years old in Bethlehem. So, while we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the gifts of the Magi, we are also reminded that there is also pain and suffering in the story of who Jesus was when he walked the earth. There is pain and suffering as we follow in Jesus’s footsteps in our own journey of faith.January 12, 2025 – Baptism of Our Lord
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 3 verses 15-17, 21-22
A couple of my own thoughts after reading Luke’s Gospel of Jesus’s baptism. First, John’s account of what the Messiah was coming to do sounds a bit scary. Do we really want our Messiah / Savior to be coming with fire? Ready to cast things into unquenchable fire? I wonder about John’s reaction to Jesus because nothing is said about it. Jesus is his cousin; how can Jesus be coming as the Messiah? Is it in the back of John’s mind all the shenanigan they had gotten up to when they were younger? I also wonder if just Jesus heard the voice of the Father and saw the Dove of the Holy Spirit at his baptism? Because, no one else is noted to have reacted. Did Luke get the story from Jesus? One would think, if all these people who were looking for the Messiah and asking John if he was the Messiah and they heard this voice from heaven declaring Jesus as “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” wouldn’t that have made Jesus’s life a little easier to get people to believe in him?January 19, 2025 – Second Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from John chapter 2 verses 1-11
The third Sunday of January we get the story of the Wedding at Cana. This is a Mary moment of “momma”. I’m a mom. And a grandma to two little girls and soon, two little boys. I look at my son, whose nickname from his friends is “Bear”, who is around 6’6” and pretty big. Dan [although born and raised in California] was raised in a very southern style. He learned his “yes, ma’am’s” and “no, sir’s”, he was an Eagle Scout. But I recognize that “momma” moment of Mary’s. All she expected was for Jesus to do as he was “volun-told”. She tells Jesus about the problem, (they are out of wine) and his “sassy” response, “Woman, why do you involve me?” Note her answer: nothing to him. She just turns to the servants and tells them, “Do whatever he tells you.” And walks away! Jesus is now stuck. She remembers that 12-year-old boy and is giving him some of his own back. Jesus turns water into wine. This is his first miracle. This is his revelation of himself in wine at a common wedding. This is where, although in his mind it was not his time, he fully demonstrated his perfect obedience to his mother, as a human son. He continues in his perfect obedience to his Father, as His Divine Son even to death.January 26, 2025 – Third Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 4 verses 14-21
The last Sunday of January Jesus is back in his home town. Here Jesus returns to Nazareth and reads from prophet Isaiah in the synagogue. A common happening in their worship. What is not so common is for the reader to sit down and say, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus proclaims himself as being anointed by God “to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” As we continue on the journey through Jesus’s life in the various Gospels, we find these prophecies are actually fulfilled in his life on earth. Even now, how would we react if someone did this in our own assembly? Especially if it was someone we have known for a long time? Would we believe or would we react like those in Nazareth, and drive them out? Would we be in fear of God’s retribution for allowing someone to say this and get away with it? Remember, the Jewish people are under Roman rule. They have lived through various captivities when God has chastised them before. Try as we might, it is difficult to listen to someone say astounding things and just let it pass; especially if we have known the person for a long time. These people have watched Jesus grow up. They probably remember Jesus wandering off when he was 12 and causing his parents worry. They probably remember Jesus and his cousin John running around town as kids. They surely remember Jesus working in Joseph’s carpenter shop. We don’t expect this kind of behavior from some kid we watched grow up. We know we are special enough to have this happen to us in our lives. But we need to remember we are special enough. God chose to create you just as you are. God loves you unconditionally, just as you are. Jesus died for you so you could hear and believe the Good News.February 2025
“Being a Prophet”
February 2, 2025 – Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 4 verses 21-30
This first Sunday of February continues last Sunday’s Gospel lesson. Jesus is still in his home town of Nazareth and is preaching in the synagogue. People are amazed and in awe of his preaching, until they stop and think, this is Joseph’s son; we watched him grow up; how can HE be telling us anything?!? Then they get angry, to the point where they try to throw him from a cliff. Why? Because he reminds them that God is not “owned” by them. God’s love and care cannot be limited to just them. God loves and cares for the “other” in this world. We are called to do the same. We are challenged to love and care for those we don’t understand, who are seen as “less than”. We are called to care for and to share God’s love with the poor, ill, hurting, disregarded, shunned, and the different. We are called to something higher than society’s judgement; we are called to live and care and work and love by God’s judgement which is always layered with love and mercy.
February 9, 2025 – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 5 verses 1-11
In this Gospel passage we have the calling of Simon, James, and John. This is different from the other Gospel’s telling of the story. This time Jesus begins by preaching and using Simon’s boat to preach from. He then sends them out to fill their nets again. They receive a great catch and Simon in his humility, begs Jesus to leave him since he is a sinful man. Jesus tells Simon to come with him and he will make him a catcher of people. And they lift with Jesus. This is the same thing that occurs at Worship. Jesus calls us to community, so we come to the church. We greet one another in hospitality just as Simon welcomes Jesus into his boat. We take time in humility and sorrow to ask Jesus for forgiveness just as Simon does. We follow Jesus in obedience as we pray and partake in Holy Communion just as Simon did in going out to fish again. Then we are called to risk all we have to follow Jesus just like Simon. We are told each week at the end of the service to, “Go in peace, share the good news.” in some form and this is what we try to do when we live out the Gospel message of love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion and share this message with others.
February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 6 verses 17-26
The third Sunday of February we hear Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. Luke places Jesus on a plain rather than a mount as he is in Matthew’s Gospel. Living in Arizona, I can understand that Jesus could be both on a mount and a plain at the same time. The mesas of the southwest are found as a flat place on the top of a hill or mountain. Luke focuses on four themes within his presentation of the Beatitudes and he pairs them with four “woes” to show counterpoint to the blessings: poor vs rich, hungry vs full, weeping vs laughing/mourning, hated vs being spoken of well. Both the blessings and the warnings end with the idea of how prophets were treated: good prophets got the blessings false prophets got the warnings. Just as Jesus was rejected as a “prophet” in his hometown at the beginning of the month, we need to be aware of when we are being a good prophet and how we are treated. But we also need to be mindful when we are being addressed by a good prophet, even when they are not who we would expect.
Sunday, February 23, 2025 – Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 6 verses 27-38
Jesus can be quite radical in his teachings. Today’s Gospel is just one example. He starts out telling his followers to turn the other cheek, and to give up their shirt. These are actually quite radical for the times. There were limits on how you could punish those under you. You could only hit with the back of an open left hand. By turning your cheek, it prevents a second hit. It was sinful for a person, other than a spouse, or doctor, etc., to see someone unclothed. The sin would be on the one seeing not the one unclothed. Therefore, if someone takes your cloak removing your shirt also, now becomes a problem. Jesus does not want his followers to be doormats. He wants them to be like him. Jesus was strong, forgiving, merciful, understanding, and loving. Jesus was also willing to stand up for what is right in God’s eyes, give his life for others, and address social issues of the time. Jesus calls all of us to that radical love where we love and pray for our enemies, where we do not judge a person, where we are kind, forgiving and merciful. And because we believe in a God of abundance: we will receive more kindness, forgiveness, and mercy from God. So, go, be a prophet of a kind, loving, forgiving, and merciful God.
August 2025
“Human: Treat with Care, Respect, and Dignity”
August 3, 2025 The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 12 verses 13-21
The first Sunday of August we hear of the story of the land owner who, rather than sharing his wealth, instead chose to build bigger storage to keep his “stuff”. We, as a nation, are among the richest people on earth right now, yet, we have children who go to bed hungry every night; we have people who want to work but cannot find a job with acceptable wages; we have people who live on the streets of our cities because they cannot afford housing; we have people who go without medications and medical care because they cannot afford it and food and rent. No, you as an individual person cannot fix all the woes in our world; or nation; or even our city or neighborhood. Just because you cannot fix everything, does not mean that you cannot help to fix something. It is time to look within and reflect on how you spend your time, talents, and treasure. What are you building up? What are you saving for “just in case’? Where are your most precious treasures; your riches: in the bank or in God’s hands?
August 10, 2025 The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 12 verses 32-40
The second Sunday of August we continue the theme of God’s generosity to those who are open and ready for it. Jesus uses the example of a master returning to his house and finding his slaves ready to receive him. Jesus says that the master will, in turn, serve them. God transforms us daily as we interact with Him, with others, and with the world that God created. How often do we actually see the good works of God in our own lives? What miracles do we see but do not recognize? How is God active in your life? What is your response to God as He works within your own life?
August 17, 2025 The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 12 verses 49-56
The third Sunday in August we have a very powerful Gospel lesson. In this lesson we have Jesus stating that he has not come to bring peace. Jesus describing the cost of discipleship, once again. Jesus again warns his followers that living the way of the cross; following God’s call; living in faithfulness; being a disciple; is never an easy path. I try not to actually laugh in people’s faces when they say things like, “Jesus was all about love and peace.” or “Of course I can do this; God wants me to be happy!” I have no idea what Bible or Gospels they have been reading but mine does not say that. Jesus repeatedly states that following Him is going to cost you. This week Jesus lists the costs (again) including family division. It is a hard Gospel lesson. We love our families. But, when it comes to a choice between being faithful to God or keeping the peace in a family, that is when the choice to follow Jesus truly is hard. Have you had do make a hard choice in your own life? How did you choose? Was there ever reconciliation? How do you feel about your choice now?
August 24, 2025 The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 13 verses 10-17
The fourth Sunday in August we hear the story of Jesus curing a woman on the Sabbath. She then praises God for her healing. And it follows that there are the “righteous” men in power that proceed to complain that it was done on the Sabbath! Jesus, in healing this woman, gave her back her innate dignity that comes from being created by a loving God. There are a couple of point I find really important in this lesson. First, is that the Sabbath was made a day of rest by God yet so often we, as “busy” people, do not take a day to rest; to reconnect with God; to be with family or friends; to recenter ourselves on our path, with our cross, to heaven. We need this time to just be in the presence of I AM. The second point that resonates with me is that Jesus called the woman to himself to free her. Then proceeded to rebuke the men of power by reminding them that she is a daughter of Abraham. It is a reminder to all of us that we are born with inherent dignity simply because we are created in the likeness and image of God and are born with the breath of the Holy Spirit in us. This is why we, as people of faith in the risen Jesus Christ, MUST treat each person we encounter with dignity and kindness. We need to look for the face of God within them.
August 31, 2025 The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 14 verses 1, 7-14
The final Sunday in August we have Jesus commenting on a dinner he was invited to. He has a discourse on honor which leads to the question of: how do we value people. Society says that people who are rich, or famous, or political, or own big businesses, or are in agreement with whatever the latest societal trends are: are the important people. Jesus says that we need to be humble; meek and that is what gives us honor in God’s eye. We usually think, yay, Jesu says the exalted will be humbled and those who are humble will be exalted! We always assume we are the latter. We also need to focus on the last paragraph of the Gospel lesson. Here Jesus directs us to include those not able to repay your invitation in your plans. When we were children there was always those cliques in school: the brains, the popular / pretty people, the jocks, the drama people … ant there were always the people that never quite fit in with anyone: the loners. Sadly, this exclusionary behavior does not end in high school. We, as a society, continue with the cliques but dress them up a bit. Jesus reminds us that all are welcome at HIS table. Jesus reminds us that our Christian Vocation is to bring Jesus to everyone we encounter. We are called to break those cliques and welcome all.
March 2025
“Lent”
March 2 – Transfiguration of Our Lord
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 9 verses 28-43
Third Sunday of February is the last Sunday after Epiphany. It is the Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday. We began the time after Epiphany with the Baptism of Jesus and ends with the Transfiguration of Jesus. The presence of the Trinity on both occasions includes the Father claiming Jesus as His own and giving us directions to listen this time! How did Peter, James, and John react? Fear but wanting to stay on the mountain. To dwell here. Instead, Jesus brings them down the mountain and tells them not to speak of what happened – until after the resurrection. This is one of the issues when you decide to become a follower of Jesus – what we want to do verses what Jesus want you to do. The “yes” to follow the call comes with a price: usually involving pain and sacrifice but definitely fear and confusion. We don’t get to hang out on the mountain top with God; we have to go down and deal with the nitty-gritty of reality and people. Which brings us back to being Salt and Light to the world.It’s Lent again! It was a long time coming this year, but Lent is finally here! I love Lent. Really. I love the lessons, I love the solemnity, I love the hymns, I love the fact that there’s not a lot of hoopla surrounding it, I love the encouragement to give and do more, I love that people pray more, I love the disciplines, most especially I love that it’s a time to slow down and reflect.March 5, 2025 – Ash Wednesday
The Gospel Lesson is from Matthew chapter 6 verses 1-6, 16-21
On Ash Wednesday we begin the season of Lent; we hear from the Gospel of Matthew. This Gospel lesson is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. In it we are given the outline of how we should live Lent, and the rest of our lives. We are called to do righteous deeds, give alms, spend time in prayer, fast and thereby build treasures in heaven. Jesus also gives us the warning: don’t do these to show off; don’t brag about what you do; do it simply, in our ordinary everyday lives, looking only for God to approve.Sunday, March 9, 2025 – First Sunday in Lent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 4 verses 1-13
The second Sunday of March which is the First Sunday in Lent, we, again, have one of those great understatements in the Gospel: “… was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, … During that time, he ate nothing, and at the end of it he was hungry.” (Lk. 4:2). One may think, gee, Jesus is God therefore if he follows the Holy Spirit nothing could go wrong. Oops. Not quite. Jesus goes into the desert to prepare for his ministry and there meets the devil who then proceeds to tempt him. The temptations that Jesus faces are the same general ones that we face: material comforts being foremost in our life; to achieve power and influence for our own purposes; being dependent only on ourselves and prideful in our self-sufficiency. This Gospel lesson brings into direct view those ideas and wants that are in direct opposition to the actions that we are called to do on Ash Wednesday. It is a good guideline for what to do (righteous deeds, give alms, spend time in prayer, fast, build treasures in heaven) and what not to do (seek material comforts, power, and influence, be prideful) as we journey through Lent.March 16, 2025 – Second Sunday in Lent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 13 verses 31-35
The second Sunday of Lent we have a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death and resurrection – 3 days reflection – “I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.” (Lk. 13:32). Jesus also laments over Jerusalem. It ends with a call for all to recognize that the Lord sent him: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Lk. 13:35). During this time perhaps we can more fully recognize who Jesus was and is and will ever be.March 23, 2025 – Third Sunday in Lent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 13 verses 1-9
The third Sunday of Lent we have a call to repentance and a reminder that we need to bear good fruit. This Gospel lesson also addresses that idea that bad things happen to sinners – and even worse things if they are big sinners. Jesus reminds us about a couple of important things in his response: we are not to judge others, suffering has a purpose, obedience to the will of God should be foremost in our actions. And about that bearing fruit, please note: there is no limit to when this bearing of fruit ends. In fact, there is the implication that if that tree stops bearing fruit there is a very real possibility of it being uprooted.March 30, 2025 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Gospel Lesson is from Luke chapter 15 verses 1-3, 11b-32
The last Sunday of March we begin with the accusation of Jesus eating with sinners; which is true! Jesus came for the sinners and outcasts. That was one of his purposes. It continues with the story of the prodigal son. In this story, a man gives one of his sons half of his treasure. The son then goes and spends it all. Then goes through bad times before deciding to return to his father and ask for forgiveness. The father not only forgives him, welcomes him back as his son, and throws a party for him. The other son is a bit jealous of all this attention lavished on the “bad” son. How often do we share those feelings? How often do we cry, “not fair” when we learn about good things happening to “bad” people? How often do we limit God’s forgiveness and mercy? But the father’s response is a reminder to us all that we do need to be grateful for what we have: for the people in our lives, for the relationships we have and built over years, for the love we have shared.During this month let us look at the mountains we need to climb to encounter Jesus. What obstacles do we need to overcome? What do we place in front of ourselves that keep us from the pinnacle of the mountain? How are we planning to spend this Lenten season? How are we responding to the call to do righteous deeds, give alms, spend time in prayer, and fast? What temptations keep you from responding? Where are we encountering Jesus in our daily lives? How are we presenting Jesus to others? What fruits are you growing? How are you planting and cultivating your own little patch? How are we asking for God’s forgiveness and mercy? How are we sharing it with others?
