Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us that we might be
your action in this community. Amen.
You know how sometimes in school we have vocabulary tests? We study the definitions so that we know how to properly use the words. Having the right word for the right moment can be like a treasure. Well, this morning as we celebrate our patronal feast of St. Luke, I want to think about the word “church” and what it means. In particular, I want to think through what part of speech church is.
God of possible impossibilities, help us to open
our hands and let go so that we can receive your gracious love. Amen.
The rabbi and leadership consultant Edwin Friedman has a collection of fables that offer insight into the human condition. One is called “The Bridge.” The protagonist is a person who spent the first part of their life searching for truth and trying out different things, encountering both successes and failures. Through prayer and reflection, they finally have a sense of purpose; they feel like their life has a direction and destination.
A lot of people turn to religion for answers. We want to know, like Job, why bad things happen to good people. We want to know what the meaning of life is. We want to know how to live more peaceful lives. So we turn to faith, hoping for an answer. And while it’s true that faith is more about helping us to ask better questions than it is about giving us pre-formed answers, in today’s Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus actually does give us a very clear answer about life and faith. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom belongs to the little children.
Thank you, God, for all that you do for us which we
will never know about. Amen.
You’ve heard me quote part of an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem before and it bears repeating. “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only they who see take off their shoes, the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” I carry the imagery and wisdom of that poem around with me because, indeed, fantastical things are happening all around us, earth is crammed with heaven, Creation is enchanted with the grandeur of God.
We thank you, gracious Lord, for receiving us into
your loving embrace and help us to welcome others in your name. Amen.
We love greatness. Whether it’s a list of the 10 greatest baseball players of all time, the 10 greatest albums, or the 10 greatest travel destinations, we’re attracted to greatness. History is full of examples of emperors who built tributes to themselves and we often compare ourselves to others based on degrees, accomplishments, titles, and lifestyles. Before we make a purchase, we check to see how many stars it has. Humanity is obsessed with greatness.
Gracious Lord, forgive the sins of the preacher,
that only your Word might be proclaimed and only your Truth be heard. Amen.
Whoever said “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is both a fool and a liar. The fact of the matter is that bruises fade, but memories remain. How many of us still carry wounds and insecurities from a comment we overheard or something that was said in the heat of the moment? Broken bones heal, but broken confidence or trust is much harder to recover. To be clear, violence is never to be tolerated, whether physical, emotional, or verbal. But to deny the power of words is not only foolish, it is bad theology.
Thank you, gracious God, for the gift of your love which is making all things well and all things new. Amen.
We love a good motivational speech, don’t we? Part of what makes a movie powerful is a rousing speech given in a moment of crisis. Braveheart, Remember the Titans, Dead Poets Society, and Independence Day are all memorable movies, even decades later, because of their stirring speeches. Or think about how JFK’s Moonshot, MLK’s Dream, or Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” are addresses that galvanized a nation around audacious goals. When our backs are against the wall, a mighty speech can give us courage, clarity, and hope.
