Greetings from St. Mark’s on the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost, a bright and sunny day in Medford.
We were gathered with a reminder that God was revealed to the nations at the birth of Jesus and that Jesus mediates God’s mercy to the world. Our first lesson from Exodus details God revealing himself to Moses on the mountain, even though Moses does not see all of God’s glory. The Psalmist sings a song detailing God’s power yet also recognizes God’s grace and mercy. The reading from the first letter to Thessalonians offers Paul’s encouragement to give thanks for God’s presence in individuals and in groups of believers which empowers them to stand firm. Matthew’s gospel presents the no win situation presented by the Herodians and the Pharisees with respect to the proper relationship with Rome.
There are questions about the way we are invited to live as faithful followers of Jesus and God who find themselves in the middle of a world which is not simply black and white. Jesus was confronted by adversaries who saw Jesus as a hinderance to their program, the Pharisees and the Herodians. Even though they don’t get along, they cooperate to try to “catch” Jesus offending one group of leaders. Jesus asks them to look at the world and the people in the world and determine what belongs to the world and what belongs to God. Our job is to do the deep discernment which will help us spend the “coinage” of the world and heaven in an appropriate place. We must remember that there is little in the world which is simply black and white.
How do we work with others to help all feel the hope which exists in the messy middle? To whom are we called to minister with and to as we invite God’s light into the darkness of the world? I invite your comments,
Les+
Lessons: Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
Sermon link: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/pentecost-21-sermon
