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.
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.
We don’t see yeast as it works its microbial magic and makes dough rise. We can’t see with our naked eyes how a plant — any plant — grows at the cellular level from a seed to be a large bush. This is what God’s reign is like…God’s reign is creeping all around us, started by God becoming human in the person of Jesus who defeated death and the grave, opening eternal life to us all. In God’s own time there’s so much bread that it has to be a party.
Paying attention to the news, we may find ourselves (regardless of what media we consume!) counting off: child of the evil one, child of the evil one, child of the evil one. I heard those sermons growing up and I hope this isn’t one of them! It’s Jesus who sends the angels to do the collecting, not us.
The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for Sunday, July 12th, was preached extemporaneously . The gospel text was Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23.
We carry a heavy load when we close our eyes to the existence one of Gods creations. Bring your guilt and justifications and find rest and receive God’s grace and spiritual knowledge.
The falling monuments to white supremacy — whether cast in metal and bought from a catalogue or on state flags — make it clear that we’re at least as divided as we’ve ever been. This is what Jesus sends his disciples to. This is when Jesus promises a reward. This is when the church, Jesus’ body on earth here and now, is called to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for Sunday, June 21st, was preached using the below manuscript. The gospel text was Matthew 10.24-39. The Rev. Joseph Peters-MathewsSt. Hilda St. Patrick Edmonds21 June 2020Pentecost +3, Proper 3Matthew 10.24-39 ‘”Take up your cross,” the Savior said,“if you would my disciple …
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The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for Sunday, June 14th, was preached using the below manuscript. The gospel text was Matthew 9.35-10.23. In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.In our passage from Matthew today,Jesus is about to start out on …
June 14th: Proper Six, the Second Sunday after Pentecost Read More »