The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
30 July 2023
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Prelude, Welcome, and Information Hymn #532 Gather Us In |
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Psalm: Psalm 119: 129-136 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name. Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept. |
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The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. |
Reading: 1 Kings 3:5-12
A reading from the first Book of Kings
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
The Word of the Lord
Reading: Romans 8:26-39
A reading from the letter to the Romans
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Verse:
Alleluia! Many will come from east and west and will eat in the kingdom of heaven Alleluia! (Matt. 8:11)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon (added at the end of the document)
Hymn #793 Be Thou My Vision
Thanks and Offertory
Prayers of the Church:
Gracious God, make your face shine upon your servants, and teach us your statutes. With faith and trust in your mercy, we ask you to hear our prayers this day.
Gracious God, teach us your ways and in grace, show us the right path for our lives. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, grant us your wisdom as you had to Solomon and our ancestors in the faith. Give us the grace to follow your Son where he leads. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, continue to send us your Holy Spirit that we might rejoice in your gifts of grace and salvation. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, support and uphold all who work the land and grant your world what is needed to feed the hungry. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, grant peace to your people throughout the world, especially in Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan. Keep our hearts from the fever of war and bless all those who suffer the terrors and dangers of violence. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, many still suffer from disease of mind, body, and spirit and are in need of healing. Grant that it be so. Strengthen and uphold those who work for healing in any way. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, hear our prayers this day for the people of Nova Scotia who endure flooding. We pray as well for all in our nation who suffer from natural disasters. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, today we remember and pray for National Bishop Susan Johnson, the ELCIC staff. and support staff. Bless their faithful service. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we ask you to hear our continual prayers for those we care for and for those who have asked for our prayers … * Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. {*Gail Mauer, Deb Kirschner, Rose Gotzmeister, Rick Cerna, Rose Ungar, Marjorie Weber}
Gracious God, if you are for us, who can be against us? With that in mind, we turn to you in faith and ask you to hear our prayers made in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn ELW#488 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
The Lord’s Prayer
Finally let us pray for all things as our Lord would have us ask:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Closing prayer
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen. (Colossians 3:12-17)
Benediction & Sending
May the Lord bless us and keep us.
May the Lord’s face shine upon us with grace and mercy.
May the Lord look upon us with favor and X give us peace.
Amen.
Hymn #519 Open Your Ears, O Faithful People
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
W
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Upcoming Services for August & September: (All services begin at 11:00am) August 6 Holy Communion at St. John’s (Pentecost X) August 13 No Service scheduled August 20 No Service scheduled August 27 Holy Communion at St. John’s (Pentecost XIII) September 3 Service on YouTube (Pentecost XIV) September 10 Holy Communion at St. John’s (Pentecost XV) September 17 Service on YouTube (Pentecost XVI) September 24 Holy Communion at St. John’s (Pentecost XVII) |
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
· Paul wrote to the Christian community in Rome to present his “credentials”, that is, presenting his teaching since he was not personally known to that community. He was to visit them for the first time and before he could make it to them on his own, he was arrested and imprisoned. Church tradition is unclear on what happened next. One version says he was executed in the Colosseum while another says he went to Spain before returning to Rome and his execution. Both versions have their backers.
· Paul wanted to prove himself to the Roman Christians. They were important because Rome was an important place, although not the center of the Christian world. He understood that the Roman community was one under suspicion and persecution. With his letter, he attempted to build them up as well as introduce himself. After all, he himself had endured suspicion, persecution, and beatings.
· This final point of our reading today carries Paul’s assurance from his experience that nothing in this world or the next can separate Christians from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
· That’s a pretty brave statement in the face of the Imperial power of Rome under the Emperor Nero. The extent of his persecution of Christians is questionable, but that it existed is known and acknowledged. Both Paul and Peter are believed to have been martyred in that period.
· Since then Christians have been persecuted in many places. Ten of the eleven apostles listed in Acts were martyred, only John escaping a violent death. In our own lifetimes, there have been Christians shedding their blood for the Gospel. Paul’s message of the radical love of God will ring true for all. There is an old saying that “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.”
· Although we may not face persecution here and now, we face other challenges that might make us feels that we are separated from God’s love. Physical or mental illness can obscure our awareness of the love of God. Broken relationships, separation from loved ones by death or other reasons, exile from favoured places, anger, or self-loathing can give us the impression that God is far away and even uncaring. This not the truth even if it feels that way.
· Paul lists a lot of things that could be seen as separating believers from the love of God, even naming some that we might consider odd. “Powers”, “angels”, or even “things to come” all have an other worldly or mythological sense about them. By naming them, Paul insists that neither the many ranks of angels nor any possible future can pry us away from God. He even wraps it up by saying all these thing and even anything else in all creation will separate us from the love of God.
· It is a comforting thought to hear that nothing can separate us from the love of God. It’s something that Paul probably thought the Christians in Rome needed to hear. They might have needed assurance that God remained in charge despite all that was going on around them. Paul wrote all things work together for good for those who love God. Despite a rather “Polly-Anna” approach to that phrase by some, it does not mean that everything will always be great and fine and wonderful, for Paul also wrote “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”, acknowledging that persecution and other problems are real even while proclaiming that those things cannot rip us away from God.
· One commentary I was reading while preparing this homily/sermon brought up the memory of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. The opening of the border was not a result of negotiation with anyone or of a plan by the East German rulers. It was the result of a misinterpretation of a policy, basically an accident. The commentator slyly added “Or was it?”
· No matter what was behind it, God remains in charge as God remained in charge during the persecution of Nero, the fall of Rome, the Reformation, and all things since up to the present. Ultimately what God desires will not be thwarted.
· Take comfort in what Paul says. Believe it, even if you can’t feel it. The truth of the statement does not rely on our emotions or even our meagre faith. It relies on the power of God in grace through Christ Jesus. Believe it even if you can’t.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
