Welcome on the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, as fall begins to dig in and some much-needed rain to water the dry earth.
Our invitation to worship is a prayer asking for God’s grace to not only lead us, but to follow us in the work we do, so we might be encouraged to do the sometimes-difficult work of faith. Our first lesson from Jeremiah invites the Israelites to make sure they survive and that their community survives. The Psalmist’s refrain is a reminder to give thanks and sing glory to God, regardless the pain we feel we suffer, because God doesn’t leave us alone. The New Testament reading from Paul’s second letter to Timothy offers encouragement to Timothy because earthly conditions do not constrain us in the benefits of our faith. Our Gospel from Luke is the parable of the one with leprosy who turns back to give thanks, while 9 show themselves to the powers that be, to confirm their healing.
Our scripture names attributes we should strive to exercise and count on in our polarized society. Specifically, God’s calling does not occurs in vain, when we survive we will see God’s blessings come to fruition. Sometimes we won’t realize God’s blessings until we pass through the trials of life. We need to remind ourselves of the blessings we receive and celebrate the God given successes we recognize. Our celebration is something which touches more than we imagine – us, others in our community, and the psyche of those who will observe us. Celebration begets hope and grumbling begets darkness. The suffering of this moment is not the end of our existence, simply a waypoint on the journey.
Who do we need to partner with to help all of us grow stronger in our faith and overcome the fears of life? Who can we share our celebration with to spread God’s grace and presence to the world? I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-18-sermon-1
