Greetings on the second Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday after Trinity Sunday. And my first Sunday back after retreat and re-creation in Massachusetts.
Our invitation to worship asks God to make us have perpetual love because we have set ourselves on God’s sure foundation. Our first lesson from First Kings, and the source of today’s sermon, was the story of Elijah fleeing from Jezebel after the destruction of the priests of Ba’al. The Psalmist’s refrain gives the images of a deer at a stream and God being the source of stillness in our soul. The New Testament reading Galatians tells us that the law was key until we meet Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Our Gospel from Luke is the story about Jesus healing the man who was possessed by Legion – the demons – and the demons being sent into the swine and the swine jumping off the cliff and dying.
Sometimes we wonder why we’re here, doing the work we do for God. In today’s lessons we hear the story of Elijah as he flees from Jezebel. It seems that Elijah has forgotten that God has been with him in his ministry – healing the widow of Zarephath and defeating Jezebel’s “yes men” with God’s help. In his condition, he feels there’s nothing more he can do, but after listening for and to God he has a nap, a snack, and moves to hear and recognize God's continuing call and presence in Elijah's ministry. Our ministry often needs a snack and a nap so we can move on to the place where God is calling and supporting us to work for God.
Who is helping you look past what you expect to find what God has in store for you and your community? I invite your comments,
Les+
1 Kings 19:1-15a; Psalm 42 & 43; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39.
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-2-sermon-1
