Wishing you Sunday greetings on the tenth Sunday after Pentecost, a Sunday where our society’s new program looms around the corner.
Our invitation to worship is a prayer asking God to empower us to emulate Christ in our work and being leaders in our community. Our first lesson from the Prophet Isaiah as Isaiah sets the setting with God’s power and the story of God nurturing Israel even as they are being oppressed, even though their pain is a response to their own choices and sins. The Psalmist’s refrain calls for our shepherd to guide and protect us when we are beset upon. The New Testament reading from Hebrews is a continuation of the faith we have and the hope found in the life of our community. Our Gospel from Luke is a challenge to his society to prepare for new life by standing firm, even when others don’t agree with us, and to clear out the junk that prevents us from being faithful to God’s call.
The lessons and our sermon highlight the paradox of the life of faith. Our mission and ministry are straightforward, to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. But the gospel we are given is not as simple as many claim. We are called, not by design but by practice, to be ones who shake up the status quo and restore hope in God, not in the possessions and practices we follow. We are called to preach peace, but not at the expense of preaching restoration and redemption. The work God, through Christ, gives us is to bridge between our neighbors and God so that all can be restored to their rightful place with God.
How are you empowered to make your work more about God and less about what we can amass here? While the work we do is rewarding both now and in the not yet, but the not yet isn’t the aim of our service and work. Who can you help in the now? I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-52
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-10-sermon-1
