For Sunday, July 26, 2020, Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 TRACK II*
And Solomon said…”O Lord my God…Give your servant therefore
an understanding mind to govern your people able to discern between good and
evil… [1 Kings 3:7a, 9a]
Turn to me in mercy, as you
always do to those who love your Name. Let your countenance shine upon your
servant and teach me your statutes. [Psalm 119:132, 135]
If God is for us, who is
against us?...Who will separate us from the love of Christ?...neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, not things present, nor things to come...will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:31b, 38]
Jesus
[said]: " The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed...like
yeast...like treasure hidden in a field...[and] like [a pearl] of great
value...[and] like a net that...caught every fish...when it was full,
they...put the good into the baskets but threw out the bad. [Matthew
13:31, 33, 44, 45, 48-49]
In Solomon’s time as in our own there were
corporate/communal rituals and worshipful actions along with precise words that
allow for congregants to say in unison. Then, as now, there were also individual
conversations with God – aka prayers – for a more intimate expression of emotion
and thoughts to share with God. Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 3:6-9 is an early
example of such a prayer. God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks Solomon what
he wants – clearly a test that Solomon passes very well as he is now the icon
of his reward: wisdom. The Psalms, of course, are also expressions of prayer
and cover every human emotion possible from joy, rage, peace, adoration and
more. Today’s Psalm is promise to remain faithful with God’s constant help.
Even Paul is teaching us about prayer
and ways to access God’s help when we often don’t know our own minds or hearts.
He reassures us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness if we have
faith – however small and however it wavers. It is our intention that will be
known by God. We may need to be reminded that prayer isn’t about telling God
what to do, but rather to ask and seek to know what we are called to fulfill.
Jesus lets loose quite a barrage of parables to further explain the
kingdom of God in everyday illustrations for that time and some in our own.
There is something for everyone to do whether we are planting tiny mustard
seeds to grow into large trees for nesting birds and human food, mixing yeast
with flour to expand the dough of life, finding buried treasure in the field of
an everyday experience, or discovering a pearl so perfect that we choose to
sell all we own to buy it. And there are times when we must allow ourselves to
be caught like fish in a net, and the goal of that moment – and every other –
is to be sorted into the baskets with the good fish rather than thrown out with
the bad.
One message here is that there is no perfection in humanity but in choosing well, our smallest efforts can grow and yield a large return. We are to remember that God is always present even if that discovery sometimes requires some digging on our part. Paul tells us that to be separated from the love of God through Jesus, even with all of our faults, is nearly impossible. After all, If God is for us, who can be against us? Only ourselves! And the choice to be separated would have to be our own.
One message here is that there is no perfection in humanity but in choosing well, our smallest efforts can grow and yield a large return. We are to remember that God is always present even if that discovery sometimes requires some digging on our part. Paul tells us that to be separated from the love of God through Jesus, even with all of our faults, is nearly impossible. After all, If God is for us, who can be against us? Only ourselves! And the choice to be separated would have to be our own.
The Spirit of God, if we open ourselves in faith, is the yeast that
expands our understanding, our relationship, and the willingness to seek God’s
purpose in all that we do. The love of Christ is what blends us all, as
Christ’s own, together, and God gathers the yield of all the harvest. Some days
in God’s Creation are better than others yet God is the constant that draws us.
All we have to do is choose what’s in our basket: a great pearl or bad fish?
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord, our God, the smallest seeds, the
yeast that gives rise, and the hidden treasures of everyday life, are a few of the
markers of Your bountiful love. Guide us to see the ordinary as miraculous in
Your Creation, filling our souls beyond measure through faith.
O
Spirit of God
RESPONSE: Our
help in weakness
~ O Lord, our God,
endow all who govern in every area of our World with wise and
understanding minds, able to discern and choose good over evil for the health
and welfare of all Your people. We pray especially
for: Donald,
our President; Tom, Chris, and Lisa, our Members of Congress; John, our
Governor; Matt, our County Executive; and Mike, our Mayor.
O
Spirit of God
Our
help in weakness
~ O Lord, our God, ease
the burdens and fear of illness, injury, or despair for those who suffer, and
bring relief to those who give them care. We now join our hearts together
to pray for those in need…
O
Spirit of God
Our
help in weakness
~ O Lord, our God, we
hold closely in our hearts all who have traveled to the end of their human
experience, and now shine in Your eternal radiance and peace. We pray especially for…
O
Spirit of God
Our
help in weakness
~ O Lord, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials…
O
Spirit of God
Our
help in weakness
~ O Lord, our God, bestow
the gift of grace-filled respite for all who are called to lead us in Your
church, teaching us to pray, worship, and work together, all according to Your
purpose. We pray especially for: Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Kevin our
Bishop; David, our Rector; Lloyd, our Rector Emeritus; Emily and Peter, our
Associate Priests.
O
Spirit of God
Our
help in weakness
~The Celebrant adds: O God of Mercy, as You are always for us, nothing can separate us from
the enduring love of Christ but ourselves. Catch us in Your ample net and draw
us from the troubled waters of this life, into the eternal good of Your
Heavenly Kingdom. We ask through Jesus, our Hope and our Savior, and the Holy
Spirit, our Advocate and Counselor, who together with You are our One God,
forever and ever. Amen.
*We will be using Track II for Pentecost 8 & 9
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