Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Ordinary 15A; Proper 10 God does amazing work through that which we fail to even notice. God brings forth an abundant life-giving harvest with the looked over, leftover and inadvertently tossed aside seeds. Did you notice this astonishing truth embedded in the parable of the sower? As the sower goes out to sow, throwing the seed, some of those seeds get dropped in the process. A few fall on the path, a few on the rocky soil, some get accidently scattered in the thorns, some of the seeds land on good soil. We get no information on if the seeds are tended, watered, weeded or fertilized — only that those seeds that fell as the sower went about her work yield a mind-blowing harvest. Surely this ought to give those of us attempting to do gospel-seed-sowing great hope. The sower seems oblivious to the fallen seed and its fate, yet the sower keeps throwing that seed hither and yon because that is the sower’s work. Sowers … [Read more...]

Matthew 11:15-19, 25-30; Romans 7:15-25a Ordinary 14A; Proper 9 This week we are grateful to pastor John Wurster for providing a guest lectionary reflection. In this week’s Gospel lesson, Jesus reflects on the tasks and challenges of discipleship — a balance between action and openness, between grasping truth and being grasped by grace. Following in the way of Jesus is not easy. It’s hard work, wearying at times and even burdensome. Thankfully, the one who commissions us to serve also cares for us in all things. The call to discipleship includes an invitation to rest. The passage begins with Jesus voicing lament over peoples’ reactions to him and his forerunner, John the Baptist. We hear Jesus’ disappointment, and we are left to wonder how our generation compares. Have we missed the moment, denied the truth, ignored the signs? Have we settled on platitudes, shirked responsibility, diverted our gaze? Have childish views led to immature expectations and simplistic … [Read more...]

This week we are grateful to pastor John Wurster for providing a guest lectionary reflection. Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 Ordinary 12A, Proper 7 In an article called “White Fragility” which was later expanded into a book with the same title, Robin DiAngelo explores the dynamics of white privilege and the inherent resistance of white people to engage authentically on issues of racial disparity.  Whiteness, DiAngelo writes, is a foundational assumption of “a universal reference point. White people are just people. Within this construction, whites can represent humanity, while people of color, who are never just people but always most particularly black people, Asian people, etc., can only represent their own racialized experience.” In this article DiAngelo goes on to argue for anti-racist education that moves white people to acknowledge their role in systemic racism with a responsibility of “either perpetuating or transforming that system.” Her presentation … [Read more...]

Genesis 18:1-15; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8 Pentecost 2A Jesus tells the 12 about-to-be-sent-out disciples that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. Jesus speaks metaphorically — the harvest being those ready to hear and receive the word of the kingdom’s nearness. However, in our current context, praying for laborers to bring in the plentiful harvest might be taken literally. The coronavirus and subsequent travel restrictions and rate of infection among migrant workers living in close quarters has left crops rotting in fields. Farmer Jeremy White told a reporter that 1 million dollars’ worth of blueberries might rot in the Georgia field if 100 workers from Guatemala do not arrive within days. He said of those workers: "We need 'em now. Absolutely, we need 'em now. As you can see, this fruit's turning blue and it's not waiting on anybody." Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture Gary Black added: … [Read more...]

Genesis 1:1-2:4a; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 Trinity Sunday, Year A I find comfort in knowing that those first disciples, in the presence of the risen Lord, experienced doubt even as they worshipped Jesus. That small caveat in this great commission humanizes an otherwise transcendent encounter. Some wavered even on that mountaintop, face to face with the once dead, now very much alive Jesus. I need this word of uncertainty even as the risen Christ appoints and sends the disciples. I am grateful to know those first followers are complex and questioning. I need to know that I do not have to be utterly unhesitating in following Jesus in order for God to use me to make disciples and preach and teach and baptize. What a great relief because right now, in this pandemic and with the video of George Floyd’s murder and the headline of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths and footage of a white woman calling the police on a black man politely asking her to follow the rules and leash … [Read more...]