In this Sunday's readings we have the amazing story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Are we, like Abraham, being tested? Consider Dan Clendenin's "A Terrifying Text: Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah," and, along with Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, put yourself in Abraham's shoes. Compare this with last Sunday's gospel where Jesus says that whoever loves his son or daughter more than me, or who does not take up their cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. What does God ask of us?
Enjoy the story of wild haired college student John, who squats in the isle of a church service in Christopher Burkett's "The Smallest of Good Deeds."
What does God want us to do? Thinking about freedom this Indepence Day holiday? Read Denae Ashley's "Shake off the Dust." Finally, read Fr. Ric Morley's "sit up straighter..." Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.
"His
eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me." Words from a
favorite hymn. In this week's scripture, from Hagar's despair over her
son, Ishmael, cast out in the desert and death of her son looming, to
Jeremiah's lament, to Jesus telling the disciples that God cares for
them as he sends them out to take his message of love and forgiveness to
a hostile world, we learn that God sees, hears, is present, and
provides. God knows when every sparrow falls, and every hair on our
heads is counted, Jesus tells us.
And what about that hostile world and our greatest fears? How is God with us? What does God's peace mean for us? Read Debie Thomas' essay, "What to Fear."
In "Sent," The Rev. Joslyn Ogden Shaefer says Jesus sends out his disciples to interrupt the world-as-they (we)-know it with new possibilities for healing, wholeness, truth-telling, and repaired relationships.
During times of turmoil, tragedy, and darkness, it is natural to ask "Where is God when we need God?" As we see senseless killing, or abuse by those we trust to provide care for us, whether it be by the police, spouses, parents, guardians, and even the Church, and the anger and sorrow that killing or abuse produces, what are we called to do?
Consider our reading from Paul's letter to the Romans when he talks about character, and what that produces.
And finally, read the gospel reading from Matthew and Debie Thomas' "I Am Sending You," as we ponder, and maybe agonize over, what we can do. What we are called to do?
This is Trinity Sunday. In these troubled times of pandemic, economic uncertainty, division, and the pain and suffering so many are experiencing with issues regarding race, brutality, and civil and violent protests, why does knowledge and appeal to the Trinity - God in three persons - three in one - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - matter? What difference does it make? What can we learn, and rely on to help us through these times?
Debie Thomas, in The Undivided Trinity, gives us a timely and important lesson.
This Sunday's gospel also contains Jesus’s commission to spread the good news to all the earth, the ends of the earth. How and what does he mean? Read Dan Clendenin's "What I Do Is Me."
