Greetings on 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, only two more Sundays until the end of our liturgical year.
Our invitation to worship is a prayer which relates the purpose of Ghrist in the world – to remove the works of the devil and bring hope and restoration to all people. Our first lesson from the prophet Haggai talks about the restored temple which is glorious, not compared to the former temple but because it is God’s dwelling. The Psalmist’s refrain sings thanksgivings for God’s grace and preservation. The New Testament reading from the second letter to the Thessalonians calls us to not be distracted by the world and remember that we are the best that God has (not personally but as a community) and we share that hope as Christians. Our Gospel from Luke talks about Levirate marriage and Jesus’ reminder that God is not the God of the dead but of the living.
Our sermon today begins with the reminder that, no matter how hard we try, there are some things we cannot fully explain about God and how the Holy Spirit work. We are asked to try to make sense of God but not be disappointed to not wholly describe God. We preach the truth of God’s presence to bridge divisions and, more importantly, offer hope when things don’t seem to make sense. The life of faith and our prophetic mission is to share God’s presence in everyone and to help others allow God to reshape their lives and the lives of the world, especially in the absence of certainty.
Who is the one God is placing in your path to learn and embrace the mystery of God’s redeeming love and presence? Who needs to hear a message of hope? I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Haggai 1:15b-2:9, Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38.
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-22-sermon-1
