22nd Sunday after Pentecost

Readings for Today.

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We’ve heard the saying: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”  And we have all practiced it or can recognize examples in our culture. Like when we see an outfit or a hairstyle we think is particularly attractive or that communicates a message we want to embody, we work to re-create it for ourselves.  Thinking back a decade or three, remember the ‘power tie’ for men or the ‘red power suit’ for women? Or, more recently, ‘Bieber hair’ or ‘Pantsuit Nation’? Millions of advertising dollars are spent to make us think: ‘If I just wear that, I can garner that kind of respect and power, too.”

21st Sunday after Pentecost

Readings for Today.

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“You lack one thing.”  “Oh, yeah, what’s that?”  We can imagine the man’s surprise and dismay at Jesus’ words.  “But I’ve done everything I was supposed to. I kept the law and the commandments.”  Doesn’t that make him righteous? He has a comfortable life, with many possessions. Isn’t he successful?  

From the outside this man looks like he lacks nothing.  Even the disciples are perplexed at Jesus’ judgment. Jesus tells the man to sell everything he owns and give the money to the poor - and then come and follow Jesus.  The man goes away grieving at the thought of selling his many possessions.

What IS the one thing the man lacks?  

20th Sunday after Pentecost

Readings for Today.

Listen to the Sermon.

Good morning, friends.  Today it is especially good to be here with you, with God’s people gathered in community, seeking an extra measure of hope and courage this week.

As if the many feelings swirling around the confirmation process for Justice Kavanaugh were not enough, the gospel today about divorce is one of the most difficult in the lectionary because of the emotions associated with divorce.