Happy "Blessings of the Pets Sunday!" Between six pets on Friday, not counting the beetles which walked through the churchyard, then eight or nine during worship today this is one of my favorite Sundays of the year.
Our worship on the 20th Sunday after Pentecost opened with a prayer to recall that God is ready to care for us more than we can imagine, and that God gives us abundance, mercy, and forgiveness beyond our imagination. Our lesson from Job is the opening portion recounting God provoking the accuser (not the devil but ha satan) to test Job’s faith. Realistically, the beginning of a troubling story for believers. The Psalmist’s song asks for God’s judgment and care, not because we do something special, rather we attempt to be integral in our following of God. The letter to the Hebrews affirms God’s place outside the world’s standards and God’s ability to hold people with grace and mercy. The gospel from Mark spurred the sermon today, a series of questions between Jesus and the Pharisees who are trying to trip Jesus by their interpretation of the laws of marriage. Jesus tells them and us that our mission as followers of God and Christ is to restore community and to work for the marginalized and outcasts of society. Our mission includes realizing our abundance, even when society says we lack, and to not count others out because God doesn’t discount any of us. Who is the one who will encourage you to live your true life of hope and reconciliation today and in the future?
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Psalm 124; James 5:13-20; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-20-sermon
