August 30th: Proper 17, the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for Sunday, August 30th, was preached extemporaneously. The gospel text was Matthew 16.21-28.
The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for Sunday, August 30th, was preached extemporaneously. The gospel text was Matthew 16.21-28.
Jesus the resurrected Christ has
command over death. In Marcos’ baptism — as we’ll be reminded shortly in our prayers — he was joined to that resurrection. Marcos has died, but death has been defeated. He has gone on ahead with Jesus to that place Jesus prepared for him and for us. In Jesus’ Father’s house are many dwelling places. Many mansion is how the King James version puts it. And we’re here tonight, praying for Marcos as he moves closer to God.
Look around. From gathering to pray for the dead even if on Zoom to planned pizza parties and ice cream socials, the church stands. We’ll never find a savior at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue. We don’t need to, either.
If we’re like the people in the boat, struggling to have faith, Jesus reaches out a hand to save us. If we’re like this woman: wrong and not supposed to do something but desperate for help Jesus reaches out a hand to save us. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less.
Outside is chaos. Listening to the news is chaos. Having no idea what’s going to happen any time in the near future nothing being predictable — is chaos. Here comes Jesus, in the dark when things are terrifying, to rescue us. Here comes Jesus saying, Hey, it’s me. Calm down. Don’t be afraid.
Once again, we’re providing backpacks for students at Scriber Lake High School, the Edmonds School District alternative high school. To simplify the process, the project coordinator – Carol Rypkema – is asking for cash donations to buy the backpacks and contents, which will be dropped off at the alternative school in early September. We’d like …
As the COVID pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our state, our thoughts turn again to our hungry neighbors. Please consider helping our community by donating to a food bank, to Child Strive (which provides lunches for the preschoolers and families it serves – mark your donation “ECAP lunches”) or to Connect Casino Road, which …
In God’s reign, everyone has enough, and God hears the prayer to “Give us today our daily bread.” From the midst of his grief, Jesus makes sure the crowds whose cheers will soon enough turn to jeers have enough. In his compassion Jesus directs his true followers to care for those around him. Sending them away is practical. Feeding them is God’s reign made manifest.