Wedding Feast

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:1-14

I have performed many wedding ceremonies in many different churches, venues and outdoor settings. The couples have been from humble and wealthy families. Weddings are not for the couple alone but for the whole community and family. And I have noticed that some guests only come for free food and alcohol, and hoping to find a new partner, perhaps. Yet no matter how humble or glamorous the setting, if everyone is there to support the couple and family, then it is a beautiful moment. We can spoil great moments with our selfish, childish ways. The hurts can be lasting. God invites us today to honor the people, the culture and the traditions of the places we have been invited.  God loves every clan and culture and every corner of this earth and our Creator is in the midst of us now.

Loving Creator, source of all the living

you have made us is our great diversity

yet we are fearful of others and deride them

hiding behind our sense of false superiority.

You set the table for every single human being

welcoming us from the four corners of the earth

drawing all people with your loving heart.

Let us be those who come dressed and ready.

Help us be those who make room for others. Amen.

 

Good Fruit

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. Matthew 21:33-46

Yesterday there was testimony in front of Congress, that modeled good fruit. Someone brave enough to tell the truth despite the consequences. This young woman knew her testimony would bring reprisals, and abuse, yet she put others and the nation first before power, control and money. She could have remained silent and saved herself great anguish throughout her life. Bearing good fruit often calls us to do the hard things, the self-less things, those acts which serve the common good. Selfishness and greed are never good fruits. May we all live with courage as we tell the truth, fight for the overlooked and the hurting and seek justice and freedom for all in God's love.

Creator, we live in troubled times

yet you look upon us with your love

your compassion rolls down like rain

and soaks into all the dry places.

Give us courage and strength to be faithful

in times when others serve only themselves

and help us be agents for love and justice

in a world broken by great greed. Amen.

Believing

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:23-32

Some of us have a hard time trusting others. Lack of trust can look like smugness, silliness or arrogance. Most often it comes from a place of trauma and deep hurt. It is simply easier to believe that people are out to do you harm, since that has been your experience. Jesus is being tested by the religious elite who were faithful because it was easy for them. Yet Jesus pointed to those who had been harmed by others - the poor, the outcasts, the sick and the defiled - as those who were true believers. Their suffering had been relieved and they would follow him. May we who have suffered and been healed and relieved of our suffering,  reach out to those who are still suffering.

Gracious and loving Creator, source of healing

you light permeates the deepest darkness

and breaks through the scars and the pain

walk with is today as we seek to serve.

May our fears and our wall be put aside

and may we know others with your compassion

may our faith be a beacon and a guide for others

to bring healing and light to this world. Amen.

Third Sunday After Pentecost June 26, 2022

The Collect

 Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

 Old Testament 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21

The LORD said to Elijah, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place." So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant. 

Psalm 16  

1 Protect me, O God, 

for I take refuge in you; * 

I have said to the LORD, 

"You are my Lord, 

my good above all other." 

2 All my delight is upon the godly 

that are in the land, * 

upon those who are noble 

among the people. 

3 But those who run after other gods * 

shall have their troubles multiplied. 

4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, * 

nor take the names of their gods upon my lips. 

5 O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; * 

it is you who uphold my lot. 

6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; * 

indeed, I have a goodly heritage. 

7 I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; * 

my heart teaches me, night after night. 

8 I have set the LORD always before me; * 

because he is at my right hand I shall not fall. 

9 My heart, therefore, is glad, 

and my spirit rejoices; * 

my body also shall rest in hope. 

10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, * 

nor let your holy one see the Pit. 

11 You will show me the path of life; * 

in your presence there is fullness of joy, 

and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. 

The Epistle Galatians 5:1,13-25 

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 

The Gospel Luke 9:51-62 

When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

It has been a hard few days for many people. The several supreme court rulings have been the topic at many tables. Many are fearful, many are afraid and some are glad. We live in a conflicted country and a conflicted world. Into the chasms of our ache and polarization, Jesus invites us to follow him. Some responded to him with a "yes, but." Jesus is saying to us now, "follow me." We need to decide if we will say yes or yes but. The world needs our faithfulness, our love, our care and inclusion now more than ever.

Abiding Creator, you are our beginning and our end

we struggle in these times of great sorrow and conflict

we are torn apart by politics and the power of money.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray.

You were always with the outcast and the hurting

your healing was for all and you teach us to welcome

let our words and our actions be an honor to you.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray.

You did not condemn the criminals hanging with you

even on the cross you carried forgiveness and love,

so let us to in these burdensome times reflect your love.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray.

You did not come to bind us but set us free

let us renew our commitment to the freedom of all.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray.

There is fear and pain, anger and many tears

let your love shower down like summer rain.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray.

Let you justice and freedom ever roll down on all

so the world might know your presence here now.

Make us your steadfast followers, Savior, we pray. Amen.

Compassion

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!’ Jesus stood still and called them, saying, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34

People can be wounded by things we do, and by what we fail to do. Often, those who are born with a disability are sidelined and ignored. Sometimes they are abused, teased and ostracized. And children who are different for reasons of size, color or culture face daily abuse by teachers and children alike. Despite laws like Americans with Disabilities Act, folks who have challenges, are often not hired in their fields and if hired, paid less and often overlooked. Jesus never overlooked them, then or now. He saw these two blind men as beloved children of God and sees each of us as beloved children of God.

Compassionate Creator, lord of our hearts

instill us with the compassion of Christ

let our hearts be moved by the needs of others

and let our lives be always ready to serve.

You healed the blind ones who had called to you

and you bring healing now to those who cry out.

Let us see the need and hear the cries of our family

and make us compassionate with neighbor and stranger alike. Amen.

Leading by Serving

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:17-28

I often think about people we don't see but who provide us great service. Most of the restaurants here have wait staffs predominantly white young people. Yet the people in the heat of the kitchen, the cooks and the prep workers, the cleaners and the bus people are almost all Latino/Latina and are never tipped or recognized. Times have changed but in every time there are people we believe are meant for service and hard labor. They move silently, making all of the food flow and the joyous times possible. I expect that many would be surprised to know how blessed and desired these silent servants are by God. Our Creator see our service and our selfishness and know the truth in our hearts.

Gracious Creator, lover of all your creation

we divide and separate ourselves by clan and color

yet you love us equally and honor all servants.

We struggle for place, prestige and honors

you ache for us to be loving and care for others.

Let us now seek to serve everyone we meet today

seeing them with the heart of our Savior Jesus. Amen.

Last Will Be First

Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16

As a child I always hated the process of picking teams. Two athletic types would choose their teams one at a time. It was always hard to be picked last, to be understood as less than valuable on a team. The kids who had all the athletic skills and the popular ones, never knew what it was like to be last, the leftovers. We rarely pay attention to the last in line, yet, it is often those who watch from the back of the line who not only survive but thrive. Those who are behind you notice so much more than the born leaders. Jesus remind us today that God is always generous and we should be mindful of those last in line. They are truly important to our Creator.

Loving Savior, you taught us to be humble

to lovingly care for the outcast and rejected

knowing how loved they are by you.

Let us strive to walk with the back of the line

let us go at the pace of the least and the poorest

so that we might witness your love in action. Amen.

First Day of Summer 2022

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Matthew 19:23-30

This place is what summer has always been to me. Yet it has changed a lot. Once a humble, out of the way, unglamorous beach town, now a place discovered by the wealthy. It's simple charms have been bulldozed for ever larger monstrosities of opulence. I am reminded how easy it is for the wealthy to have power and place, and how hard it is for them to enjoy the simplest pleasures of life. I feel so blessed to know the depths of those blessings. They are imprinted on my heart. And, God's abiding love, which I learned to know in this simple place, will always be there too.

Wondrous Creator, you bring us summer's wonders

your greens sparkle in the sun and the water cools us

we are ever grateful for your tremendous blessings.

Help us to understand that letting go is a blessing

and controlling people and places provides little

as you bless us with every thing, every day.

Let our hearts always seek you in these mornings

let us be humble and willing to be made new

so that you live might shine through the way we live. Amen.

Juneteenth 2022

Then little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way. Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many  possessions. Matthew 19:13-22

Statue by Wesley Wofford

We are spending time in the place I consider home, Cape May, NJ. The house I grew up in, an 1820's federal style farmhouse on Cape May Point was razed a few years back after it was sold. It was a hard loss. Last year, I got to visit the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May with my family. Our home had been on the underground railroad, and kind folks rescued floorboards from our house for the museum. We took off our shoes and stood barefoot on the ancient flooring, knowing there were still echoes of those who sought their freedom, not so long ago. We were standing on holy ground. We expect that Harriet herself came though our home. Americans, particularly white Americans, have no concept of how precious freedom is, and what this holiday truly means. Most only care about possessions and big houses. Yet the whispers and the cries of those who hid, carried children, and gave their lives so others might be free, still ring through my heart. Let us not, ever, hinder anyone.

Loving God, you call us all to compassion and care

asking us to bring release to the captive and freedom

for all people, no matter their nation or their color.

We have done great damage and cruelty as a nation

we talk of freedoms and liberties for ourselves

yet we daily take it away from those we fear.

Help us, on this Juneteenth to live as you call us

sharing the blessings of your love with everyone

and never hindering others from receiving your full blessings. Amen.

Proper Seven Sunday, June 19, 2022

The Collect 

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament Isaiah 65:1-9 

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that did not call on my name. I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the LORD; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. Thus says the LORD: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it," so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there. 

Psalm 22:18-27 

18 Be not far away, O LORD; * 

you are my strength; 

hasten to help me. 

19 Save me from the sword, * 

my life from the power of the dog. 

20 Save me from the lion's mouth, * 

my wretched body from 

the horns of wild bulls. 

21 I will declare your Name 

to my brethren; * 

in the midst of the congregation 

I will praise you. 

22 Praise the LORD,

 you that fear him; * 

stand in awe of him, 

O offspring of Israel;

all you of Jacob's line, give glory. 

23 For he does not despise nor abhor

the poor in their poverty; 

neither does he hide 

his face from them; * 

but when they cry 

to him he hears them. 

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; * 

I will perform my vows in the presence

 of those who worship him.

 25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, 

and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: * 

"May your heart live for ever!" 

26 All the ends of the earth shall remember

 and turn to the LORD, * 

and all the families of the nations 

shall bow before him. 

27 For kingship belongs to the LORD; * 

he rules over the nations. 

The Epistle Galatians 3:23-29 

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. 

The Gospel Luke 8:26-39 

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

We can simply get used to almost anything. We might even say, " they have always been this way!"  We fear change, although we all live in constantly changing times. I am in New Jersey, very far south, and everything has changed here since I was a child. I ache to have it back the "old" way. And yet, living faithfully, and growing into life's fullness, means always adapting to the changes, and trusting that God has blessings we can't see yet in this new way and place. The swineherds and the people had gotten used to their crazy, demon-possessed friend. Fear was how they responded to his healing. Yet, the one who was healed couldn't stop telling his story of blessings. May we have the courage to tell our stories of healing and new found freedom. We may let go of much, so that God promises can fill us again and again.

Gracious Creator, you heart is with the suffering

those who are physically and mentally in pain

and those caught in wars and power struggles.

Help us to tell of your love and healing today.

You came to a shore town and healed a man

he had suffered so long and everyone knew

but fear kept them from seeing your love.

Help us to tell of your love and healing today.

We often fear the changes before us today

and don't see the healing and mending you do

instead we hide behind walls of difference.

Help us to tell of your love and healing today.

Savior, teach us to seek healing every day

Help us to tell of your love and healing today.

Loving one, help us to embrace the suffering

Help us to tell of your love and healing today.

May our lives be witnesses to your everlasting promises.

Help us to tell of your love and healing today. Amen.

Forgiveness

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35 

In most Indigenous cultures we talk about doing everything for the sake of the seventh generation yet unborn. Thank includes who we forgive or hold grudges against. We can poison our children with hate our we can infect them with love and forgiveness. Hate and anger are normal responses to slights, hurts and violence. And yet, we all grow stronger and closer to God when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness in from the heart of our Creator.

Wondrous God, who loved us first

you forgive our missteps and mistakes

you delight in our kindnesses and gifts

and call us to share blessings with all.

Help us to follow you by forgiving

seventy seven times, again and again

so we may draw close to your heart

and bring your love and peace here today. Amen.

Lost Sheep

‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ Matthew 18:10-20

Like me, some of us wander and are curious about what's around the next bend. That often leads to us getting lost, reminding us how we need our family and communities to bring us back home. And we need our good shepherd, Jesus, every day. We have seen in the past few years, how even the most safe and routine lives can be upended by a previously unknown disease. Many thought they could fight it alone and found themselves in grave danger. We are invited today to count on those who lead us and to care for those who are lost and need our care.

Gentle Shepherd, you seek the lost

the broken, the confused and all

who are self-assured and on the edge

of being lost and caught in snares.

Help us to care for the most vulnerable

help us to rely on your direction

and let you love be our guide and companion. Amen.

Humble Like This Child

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes! ‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. Matthew 18:1-9

When our daughters were small, I marveled at the way they interacted with the world. Reaching and exploring, tasting and feeling, everything was gift and possibility to them. We can often forget what it is like to be a child. We can be jaded, angry and hurt by the world by the time we are grown. And then, we can live our lives without the joy of exploring and interacting with others as if they were gifts to be opened. Jesus invites us to continually return to the basics, to daily see the world with a child's vision, a child's hope and a child's heart.

Creator, you are the parent of us all

and our wounds and falls keep us

from loving you and our neighbors.

Heal the wounds we carry today

so that we do not wounds others

and so we can live as your children

with hearts open to new miracles daily. Amen.

Paying Tolls

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.’ And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes, he does.’ And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter said, ‘From others’, Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.’ Matthew 17:22-27

When I was a child, the trip down the Garden State Parkway always meant that we were truly going home to that place where simple joys were possible. Coins were tossed after the car stopped at each toll booth. Later there were tokens available which my father bought in rolls with great delight. Now that there are electronic toll booths, and we don't have to slow down, we often forget the price we pay. Jesus wants us to pay attention to the tolls and the tributes in life. To understand that the power in this world is not the power and love of the Creator.

Gracious God who plants us in communities

help us to honor those who hold power

without making them more important

than your love and the needs of this world.

You molded us all for compassion and care

help us to shine light in the places of suffering

and to reach out in love to those in need. Amen.

Move Mountains

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’ Matthew 17:14-21

Last night we gathered at the cathedral to celebrate the life of Bishop Barbara Harris. It was a long overdue gathering. She was loved by so many and stood for so much. She was a larger-than-life character. Barbara could move mountains in the hearts and minds of people. Her faith was deep and strong. Barbara took Jesus at his word. And despite all the barriers and attitudes she faced, she knew Jesus loved her and was with her. May we all have faith like Barbara - faith that can move mountains.

Loving Creator, source of all power

you give us the strength to believe

and the capacity to move mountains.

Let not our fears nor our mistakes

keep us from believing your words

that if our faith is but a mustard seed

we could change hearts and minds

and move mountains for your love. Amen.

Trinity Sunday

                                Trinity Sunday 2022

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Old Testament Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 

Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race." 

Psalm 8  

1 O LORD our Governor, * 

how exalted is your Name 

in all the world! 

2 Out of the mouths 

of infants and children * 

your majesty is praised 

above the heavens. 

3 You have set up a stronghold 

against your adversaries, * 

to quell the enemy and the avenger. 

4 When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers, * 

the moon and the stars you 

have set in their courses, 

5 What is man that you should

be mindful of him? * 

the son of man that you 

should seek him out? 

6 You have made him 

but little lower than the angels; *

you adorn him with glory and honor; 

7 You give him mastery over

 the works of your hands; * 

you put all things under his feet: 

8 All sheep and oxen, * 

even the wild beasts of the field, 

9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, * 

and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea. 

10 O LORD our Governor, * 

how exalted is your Name in all the world! 

Romans 5:1-5 

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 

The Gospel John 16:12-15 

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Trinity Sunday is often a challenge for preachers. To understand the three in one and to explain it well is hard work. A dear friend and Bishop Charles Vache, was rector of Trinity Church, Portsmouth, Va. He decided to invite the Bishop every year on their feast day, partially to avoid preaching on the Trinity. Then, he was elected Bishop, and returned annually to his former parish to preach and celebrate. Science has taught us, through understanding DNA, just how interrelated and intertwined we all are. The Trinity, God in three persons, remind us how intertwined and interdependent we all are.

Wondrous God, who expresses yourself three persons

help us to recognize our difference and diversity

as gifts of your presence and your love for all.

Blessed Trinity, one God, be with us this day.

You walked the earth as we do, waking and sleeping

you breathe new life and vision into everyone of us

you call us to reverence and worship you as one.

Blessed Trinity, one God, be with us this day.

We see differences as fears and great challenges

you invite us to know you in all our diversity

making friends with those who we don't truly understand.

Blessed Trinity, one God, be with us this day.

Holy God, in perfect spirit, flesh and holy mystery

you are every with each of us and renewing the earth

let us walk humbly knowing you in every breath we take.

Blessed Trinity, one God, be with us this day. Amen.

Follow Me

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’ Matthew 16:21-28

I am one of those folks that don't follow the crowd and avoid group tours and travel. I like finding byways and highways, and enjoy getting lost from time to time. The call to follow Jesus comes to all of us and we follow in our own ways. It can be dangerous to try to make others follow Jesus exactly as we do. Each of us have been given different gifts, expressions, languages and cultures. We are called from our places of origin, with all that means, to live daily as we follow different roads and are called to diverse places.

Loving Creator, you are our source and destination

we might wander but you will never lose us

you daily lead us into new and special places

where hearts and hands are reaching for your love.

Help us to step forward always in compassion

encounter all beings with kindness and care

let the suffering and pain we might endure

be a light burden and our gift of service and love. Amen.

Loosed in Heaven

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

Today started with dark clouds and heavy rain. The rain moved out for a bit and it got steamy. The clouds returned and loosed more rain, soaking all the flowers and the unprepared. I have always loved the rain, cold and dense in the fall and warm and puddling in the summer. The gift of water always delights me. It is also to be respected at all times. I have no control over it. None of us do. Yet God has given us the power to bind and loose. We are invited to be very careful and prayerful about what we let loose and what we bind. Respecting the good and damage we can do makes us compassion and real.

Wondrous Creator, your world is perfect

and your world is dangerous in power

in every good gift comes it's misuses

and you call us to be tender and careful

with all of this blessed and wondrous creation.

Help us to walk softly and tread lightly

make our words gentle and our acts uplifting

may our hearts always be tuned to yours

so that our lives might sing your praises. Amen.

Sign of the Times

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ Then he left them and went away. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have brought no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, ‘You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’ Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:1-12

It is comforting to know that even the disciples often misunderstood what Jesus said. We all want signs that confirm our opinions and give us directions. We are called to walk in faith and yet we all want a reliable GPS for faith. I love maps, and love finding back routes and out of the way places that cannot be found from the highway or the standard navigation tools. Jesus calls us to listen, look up and take each step, each day in faith. Rules and tools are so much easier, yet the way of love is shaped by God alone.

Precious Creator, you hung the stars

giving us a way to chart the seas

teaching us ways to be community

renewing us in every season.

Help us in these times to follow you

guide our steps as we step out in faith

let all our words and actions be love

and let us share your love with others. Amen.

A Few Loaves and Fishes

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. Matthew 15:29-39

My mother was an expert at feeding large crowds. I came upon her recipe for a simple casserole for a family of six. Below the recipe, written in her hand, were the amounts needed for 20, 40 or 60 people. She always fed as many people as showed up and no one went hungry when Betty was around. She knew, after a childhood in great poverty, that God's love is often found in the simplest of things - a good meal, a cup of cold water, a loving hug.

Generous, Creator, we are grateful for your love

you fill our lives with people who love us

you send us companions and friends

to walk with us and strengthen us

as we travel through this hungry world.

Help us to live with generosity and kindness

so the world might know you love

in simple gifts of food and loving welcome. Amen.
 

Great is Your Faith!

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28

We have three daughters and I would do anything for them. They are a part of my being. I still pray for my grown daughters every day and sometimes every moment. I have prayed them trough good times and bad, through all the unexpected challenges and hurts that come their way. They will now call me and ask me to pray. Our story of the mother who came to Jesus, a stranger, a Canaanite, an enemy of the Jewish people, resonates completely with me. There is a fierceness in her, a persistence, that comes with a mother's heart. Jesus sees her love and her faithfulness.

Great Creator, who love us like children

who fiercely cries out for our well-being

who aches when we fall and turn away

and who rejoices when we return again.

Loving God, be with all the broken ones

with all the parents who are grieving

with those who cannot get a hearing

and with all who ache for healing today.

Let us be your heart and hands sharing

your love for all your beloved children. Amen.

 

New Wineskins

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.’ Matthew 9:9-17

Today I will be attending the convention of the Diocese of Albany for the first time. It is a new ministry for me, so much to learn and so many people to meet. This is all new for me and I want to see with new eyes and listen with my heart, setting aside all preconceptions and expectations. This is new wine for me and I want to make space and be a new wineskin and approach the coming days with the joy of Christ.

Loving God, you love us all the same

the high and mighty and the lowly

the proud, the mean spirited and lost

we are all your children called to the table.

Help us to gather newly as one family

let our old worries and squabbles give way

to the outpouring of your love and healing

and may we be renewed by your love today. Amen.

Stand Up

And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town. And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic—‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. Matthew 9:1-8

Having lived with repeated spinal and knee surgeries there have been times in my life when I could not walk.  I have always been blessed with skilled surgeons, and been blessed by communities and my family who have held me in prayer. Being dependent on other for one's basic needs is terribly hard. We all want to pick up our beds and walk home. And yet, the faith of the paralytic's friends, was what changed everything, and what still changes everything. The faith of the beloved community draws Christ near.

Holy Creator, you forgive us all

you seek to being light to our darkness

and healing to our broken places.

Help us to take up our beds and walk

let us run with joy to our homes

sharing the good news of your love

to our communities in need of that love. Amen.

Cast Out

When Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. Matthew 8:28-34

We can all be possessed by fear, hurt, anger, despair and rage. In the past weeks we have witnessed violence against innocent children and adults who were victims of someone else's displaced rage. We rarely talk about demon possession, but we all know what it looks like. Like the people who asked Jesus to leave their neighborhood, we often get used to our own evil, and fear being made whole. May we pray and act today as followers of Jesus who prefer healing to our familiar demons.

Wondrous Creator, healer of all

we cry out to be made whole

we want to be revived by you

yet we hold on tight to our demons.

Help us today to be ready and willing

to set down those ways and objects

that keep us from living as disciples

the familiar and comforting demons

that destroy our beloved communities. Amen.