St. Mark's Parish

Greetings from Medford on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost and the continuation of Southern Oregon summer.

We gathered with a remembrance and request for God’s continuing presence which impels us to believe and have faith for the future. Our first lesson from Genesis was the story of Joseph and his technicolor coat and his brothers plotting to sell him to the Egyptians. The Psalmist sings a song to give thanks to and praise God with all we are. The reading from the letter to the Romans is Paul’s declaration that Jesus is not something we can domesticate but something which we have in our heart. Matthew’s gospel is the story of Jesus walking to meet the disciples who are at sea in a storm and leading them from fear to faith.

In our scripture, we hear stories about the human emotions of faith; Joseph lording his position over his brothers, Paul’s reminder that true knowledge of God comes from within and not by our personal power, and the fear associated with being led by God to places which may cause discomfort. In the story of Peter and the disciples tossed in the sea, they are fearless in the storm – probably because they know how to deal with a storm. But when Jesus comes to them walking on the sea they don’t understand what or who he is. But Jesus meets them and calls them forward in their lives. Our faith communities are invited to explore how they respond to the unknown places where Jesus is waiting for them.

To whom is God inviting us to share hope and faith in the face of fear? What do we fear which would make us more complete in our life with God and community? I invite your comments,
Les+

Lessons: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-18; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-11-sermon-2