For Sunday, August
11, 2019 ~ 9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings:
Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16;
Luke 12:32-40
Luke 12:32-40
The
word of the Lord came to Abram in
a vision, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield; your reward will be very great.” [Genesis 15:1]
Our
soul waits for the Lord; he is our
help and our shield. Indeed our heart rejoices in him, for in his name we put
our trust. Let your loving-kindness…be upon us, as we have put our trust in
you. [Psalm 33:2-22]
Now faith is the assurance of things
hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...For he looked forward to the
city that has foundations; whose architect and builder is God...they desire a
better country, that is a heavenly one. [Hebrews 11: 1,10, 16a]
Do not be afraid, little flock…Make
purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...Be dressed
for action and have your lamps lit...You must be ready, for the Son of Man is
coming at an unexpected hour. [Luke 12:32a, 33b-35, 40]
We are what we love. There is no difficulty in understanding and
recognizing the truth of the statement from Luke’s Gospel that where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It is worth the time to
consider where it is that we place our hearts, especially as, if by nothing else
but the sudden starkness of random tragedy, we are reminded by current events
and the Gospel that earthly life is startlingly and all too often abruptly short.
What material treasure in this life is so important that it disconnects us from
the path to that Heavenly Country prepared for us by God?
There is much to do to
be ready for the return of the Son of Man. In arranging our lives
around what is truly important, placing far less emphasis on the material and
much more on the spiritual, the unfailing treasure in heaven is the
goal for which we were created. Paul reminds us of the strength of the
faith of Abram, not yet Abraham, to leave his home not even knowing where he was headed, and God’s
promise to him was fulfilled through the innumerable descendants from two old
people, nearly as good as dead.
This faith work seems especially hard in these
days and times with so many delicious or frustrating or fearful distractions
that keep us from centering ourselves on our soul's vocation: Full-Time
Faithful Followers of Christ.
One key is obvious, the simplicity in reducing the
accumulation of unnecessary things, activities, and diversions. Another is to
begin and end each day in prayer and find moments throughout the day to offer
thanks in between asking for help, or a quick acknowledgment of God's Presence. Another is genuine, unplugged
(electronically and otherwise ) Sabbath time. Let us put ourselves in God's
way and allow God to get in ours. Yes, yes, I know, I'm working on it, I'll get to it as soon as I finish
writing this, cleaning that, paying the bills, checking on-line bargains,
texting, arguing on social media posts... Part-time
Christianity isn't what God has in mind. Our Heavenly Broker is all about
Vocation Vocation Vocation - using our life's work as preparation for the
unexpected hour when we will be called to the City of God. Light that
lamp. Be dressed for action, now. Prepare
to abandon earthly appointment calendars to be called forward into an unknown destination. Don't
let time slip by unnoticed. And mostly do not be afraid as God said to
Abram, and Jesus to his disciples. Now is the time to be energized by the love
of God in Christ continually flowing through us. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen now and in an unexpected hour.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God, our Help and our Shield, our souls need not wait upon
Your love that is within us and around us every moment of our lives. As we rejoice
in Your loving-kindness, guide us to awaken each day ready to abandon our human
plans in obedience to Your call, unafraid, even toward an unknown destination.
Most Loving Lord
RESPONSE:
We put our trust in You
~ O God, our Help and our Shield, open and fill us with true
conviction to stand among all who lead in this world, this nation, and our
community seeking the assurance and the delivery of things hoped: justice, the
rescue of the oppressed, and the defense of those made helpless through ignorance,
poverty, and greed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
~ O God, our Help and our Shield, release from despair all who suffer
in body, mind, or spirit, and peace to all loving helpers. We now join our voices to
pray aloud for those in need…
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
~ O God, our Help and our Shield, our sorrow lifts as we know
our loved ones live again in the boundless joy of Your Heavenly Country, and
the City You have prepared for them for eternity. We pray especially for…
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
~ O God, our Help and our Shield, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
~ O
God, our Help and our Shield, we give You thanks for those You have called to gather us, Your
flock, in Your Holy Name. Grant that our hearts become the purse of Your unfailing treasure that radiates divine love to friend and stranger, beloved or divided. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Most
Loving Lord
We
put our trust in You
The Celebrant adds: Creator, Almighty, You are the Architect
and Builder of all that is, seen and unseen. In our short and temporal sojourn,
urge us to prepare our souls continuously for the unexpected hour when the Son
of Man returns. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, the Living Word; and the
Holy Spirit, the Revealer of Truth; who together with You are One God,
infinitely, eternally, forever. Amen.
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