Please note that these sermons were composed to be spoken out loud, and are typed in as such; so sometimes grammar and punctuation might be different than if they were originally written only to be read off a page.
September 2020 Sermons
September 20, 2020 Rev. Dr. Barbara Elliott
Matthew 20:1-16
Each day we wake up and face a new day. What do you need to get through the day?
I know this is a big question maybe a confusing one, too—but it is a very real question for us as we find ourselves in these unexpected, and in many cases, undesired times. Each day we have tasks and obligations to complete and they may differ day-to-day, but we need to get through.
What is your answer to this question about what you need to get through each day? Perhaps you said food. Or maybe energy. Some of us are grateful for the job we have—that it is necessary, too. Others might know they need the wi-fi for their own work and so the kids have school connections they need… In any case, we are getting through our days. If you are like me, I am often not even aware of the gifts I receive that make it possible for me to accomplish our days!
Actually, this question is basic for each of us. Today. Now. And amazingly, this question is the basis of today’s Lectionary readings, too. Once again, our Bible has important teachings for us. First to our Hebrew Bible reading today: In this part of their story, the Hebrews were leaving Egypt with Moses, and they were hungry: they were complaining that they needed food to sustain them in their journey across the desert. What happened? God provided manna for them, a crust of food that formed on the ground overnight. The Hebrews did not recognize it at first, but Moses and Aaron showed them how to scoop up what they needed—enough to satisfy them—and after that they did so every morning from then on! One other thing about manna which I find interesting, too: they could not save any manna for another day. God provided it for them to meet their daily needs.
Today’s Gospel reading gives us another window on how God has provided for people in our Biblical history. In this parable, there were dayworkers who were hired for their day labor in the vineyard. Some went for full day’s work, others for half day’s work, and still others for just hours of work. In the end, God paid them all the same amount. God’s gift—or pay—is what the people needed to get through the day (not what we humans think is fair).
Which brings us back to the question: What do you need to get through the day? God’s gifts to us are helping us get through each day. As I think about it, these gifts include a variety of essential things. For example, God gifts us hope (for example, hope for a safe, healthy and routine day)… and trust (for example, trust that children will do their schoolwork while we get work done)…Also, God gifts us personal connections with others (which reassure us that we are connected and cared for). Other gifts that come to mind are our needs for confidence, patience, faith, and endurance, each of which help us to get through each day.
These gifts that we are so dependent on as we face each new day are often invisible. Like the manna was to those in the desert. And other times, these gifts feel so uneven—like others are doing better than we are; this parallels the story of the laborers in the parable.
Recently I came across a description that helped me understand of how we each need different resources in order to get through the day. Imagine with me a group of people standing together on one side of a tall fence. They each need to get over the fence. This group includes people of all different sizes. The first resource they get is a set of 4-foot tall stools to boost themselves up—which was perfect for those in the group who were more than 6 feet tall. But not for the rest of the group. They then found a few 5-foot tall stools—again, helping some, but not others in the group see over the fence. Eventually ladders were brought and everyone was able to get over the fence. This made it possible for them to move forward with their plans.
The bottom line of this story is that our community can work when each of us in the group is gifted what we need to get through our days. God puts resources in front of us—some are actually invisible to us, and others that we can see don’t seem fair—and yet, we need every one of these gifts to make it through each day. This was true in Moses’ time, it was true in Jesus’ time, and it is true today, as we face these unexpected days.
God’s grace is amazing. God knows what we need and gifts it to us each day, even when we cannot recognize it, and even when we think God is turning the world upside down. Yes, God continues to help us as we stop, pause, and let our souls catch up with us. We are God’s beloved. Thanks be to God. AMEN
Each day we wake up and face a new day. What do you need to get through the day?
I know this is a big question maybe a confusing one, too—but it is a very real question for us as we find ourselves in these unexpected, and in many cases, undesired times. Each day we have tasks and obligations to complete and they may differ day-to-day, but we need to get through.
What is your answer to this question about what you need to get through each day? Perhaps you said food. Or maybe energy. Some of us are grateful for the job we have—that it is necessary, too. Others might know they need the wi-fi for their own work and so the kids have school connections they need… In any case, we are getting through our days. If you are like me, I am often not even aware of the gifts I receive that make it possible for me to accomplish our days!
Actually, this question is basic for each of us. Today. Now. And amazingly, this question is the basis of today’s Lectionary readings, too. Once again, our Bible has important teachings for us. First to our Hebrew Bible reading today: In this part of their story, the Hebrews were leaving Egypt with Moses, and they were hungry: they were complaining that they needed food to sustain them in their journey across the desert. What happened? God provided manna for them, a crust of food that formed on the ground overnight. The Hebrews did not recognize it at first, but Moses and Aaron showed them how to scoop up what they needed—enough to satisfy them—and after that they did so every morning from then on! One other thing about manna which I find interesting, too: they could not save any manna for another day. God provided it for them to meet their daily needs.
Today’s Gospel reading gives us another window on how God has provided for people in our Biblical history. In this parable, there were dayworkers who were hired for their day labor in the vineyard. Some went for full day’s work, others for half day’s work, and still others for just hours of work. In the end, God paid them all the same amount. God’s gift—or pay—is what the people needed to get through the day (not what we humans think is fair).
Which brings us back to the question: What do you need to get through the day? God’s gifts to us are helping us get through each day. As I think about it, these gifts include a variety of essential things. For example, God gifts us hope (for example, hope for a safe, healthy and routine day)… and trust (for example, trust that children will do their schoolwork while we get work done)…Also, God gifts us personal connections with others (which reassure us that we are connected and cared for). Other gifts that come to mind are our needs for confidence, patience, faith, and endurance, each of which help us to get through each day.
These gifts that we are so dependent on as we face each new day are often invisible. Like the manna was to those in the desert. And other times, these gifts feel so uneven—like others are doing better than we are; this parallels the story of the laborers in the parable.
Recently I came across a description that helped me understand of how we each need different resources in order to get through the day. Imagine with me a group of people standing together on one side of a tall fence. They each need to get over the fence. This group includes people of all different sizes. The first resource they get is a set of 4-foot tall stools to boost themselves up—which was perfect for those in the group who were more than 6 feet tall. But not for the rest of the group. They then found a few 5-foot tall stools—again, helping some, but not others in the group see over the fence. Eventually ladders were brought and everyone was able to get over the fence. This made it possible for them to move forward with their plans.
The bottom line of this story is that our community can work when each of us in the group is gifted what we need to get through our days. God puts resources in front of us—some are actually invisible to us, and others that we can see don’t seem fair—and yet, we need every one of these gifts to make it through each day. This was true in Moses’ time, it was true in Jesus’ time, and it is true today, as we face these unexpected days.
God’s grace is amazing. God knows what we need and gifts it to us each day, even when we cannot recognize it, and even when we think God is turning the world upside down. Yes, God continues to help us as we stop, pause, and let our souls catch up with us. We are God’s beloved. Thanks be to God. AMEN
September 13, 2020 Rev. Dr. Barbara Elliott
Matthew 18:21-35
Among the ancient Celtic myths is this story:
A warrior named Konan was sent by the King to find the treasure in the neighboring Land of Down, and then he was to return to Ireland with it. Konan traveled there and was able to fill a great chest with the treasure. He knew he needed help to transport all of the riches on the months-long trip home. Konan was able to engage a group of strong, brave, and happy people to help on the trip. They set out, singing and committed to their work, carrying the heavy load, eating their familiar food and enjoying their company with each other. This pattern continued, day after day—more singing, companionship and carrying their heavy treasure towards Konan’s home. Months—measured as moons—past and they were happy through these times because their songs were still bringing the protection of their ancestors with them. When the workers looked around, they saw they were traveling in a new country, with different plants and animals, even the landscape looked different. Then one day the workers couldn’t continue. They sat down unable to sing or even talk. They even became trancelike.
Konan ordered them to get up and keep going. No response. No amount of force or threat could even get their attention. So, Konan sat down next to Agma, the elder in the workers’ group, and gradually was able to awaken him with gentle conversation. It took a long time for Agma to emerge from his trance—but he was able to then explain to Konan what was happening. Agma said: “We have moved so far, so fast, these past moons. Who we were and have been doesn’t work any longer. We have no choice now. We need to sit down and wait for our souls to catch up…”
Konan knew Agma was right; the workers needed to let their souls catch up with who they had become and the new place where they were living. The workers were like us. The layers of change we are living and experiencing are amazing. Unprecedented, as we often hear. We have all the changes in our world: the pandemic, racism and violence, climate change…And now we have all these changes at St. Paul’s, too.
We are experiencing a new reality, one that is different physically, culturally, intellectually from ever before—and these changes have been all around us as our world for many moons now, so the changes are settling in deeply. Now it is time for us to truly sit and reflect, to connect with the deeper parts of ourselves, to be clear, and sort out what is really important.
Besides not being able to use our building and the repairs to the leaking bell tower, the changes here at St Paul’s include new leadership through these times of reflection. I am the Priest in Charge for the next month or so, after which our Interim Rector will guide us through the time of our Search for a new Rector. More about this later. But rest assured, while we wait for our souls to catch up with us, and we clarify who we are becoming, our services at St. Paul’s and our special occasions will be honored and continued. For example, today we will also bless backpacks and briefcases, while praying for schools and teachers and parents through these times.
Using the words of the story I just shared, our faith is one way we bring our ancestors with us. We bring those protections and continue to walk the Way of Love each day, looking to our Bible stories and lessons to guide our way forward.
Today’s stories remind us of these guidelines and offer lessons with more kernels of insight for our upcoming week. First, the Exodus story reminds us that the Lord does give us what we need, even in times when we feel at grave risk while we move toward change. The Lesson from Paul’s writing to the Romans reminds us not to pass judgement on the people around us—God does the judging. Today’s Gospel from Matthew includes Jesus’ description of how we are to forgive one another: we need to treat each other as we would want to be treated ourselves.
This is all to keep us alert as we walk the Way of Love together and observe the changes the world around us brings. Yes, we need to truly take time to reflect on who we have been, and who we are today, as we love one another through these times. Our tasks now are letting our souls catch up with us, while we allow ourselves space to discern our walk forward along the Way of Love together. AMEN.
Among the ancient Celtic myths is this story:
A warrior named Konan was sent by the King to find the treasure in the neighboring Land of Down, and then he was to return to Ireland with it. Konan traveled there and was able to fill a great chest with the treasure. He knew he needed help to transport all of the riches on the months-long trip home. Konan was able to engage a group of strong, brave, and happy people to help on the trip. They set out, singing and committed to their work, carrying the heavy load, eating their familiar food and enjoying their company with each other. This pattern continued, day after day—more singing, companionship and carrying their heavy treasure towards Konan’s home. Months—measured as moons—past and they were happy through these times because their songs were still bringing the protection of their ancestors with them. When the workers looked around, they saw they were traveling in a new country, with different plants and animals, even the landscape looked different. Then one day the workers couldn’t continue. They sat down unable to sing or even talk. They even became trancelike.
Konan ordered them to get up and keep going. No response. No amount of force or threat could even get their attention. So, Konan sat down next to Agma, the elder in the workers’ group, and gradually was able to awaken him with gentle conversation. It took a long time for Agma to emerge from his trance—but he was able to then explain to Konan what was happening. Agma said: “We have moved so far, so fast, these past moons. Who we were and have been doesn’t work any longer. We have no choice now. We need to sit down and wait for our souls to catch up…”
Konan knew Agma was right; the workers needed to let their souls catch up with who they had become and the new place where they were living. The workers were like us. The layers of change we are living and experiencing are amazing. Unprecedented, as we often hear. We have all the changes in our world: the pandemic, racism and violence, climate change…And now we have all these changes at St. Paul’s, too.
We are experiencing a new reality, one that is different physically, culturally, intellectually from ever before—and these changes have been all around us as our world for many moons now, so the changes are settling in deeply. Now it is time for us to truly sit and reflect, to connect with the deeper parts of ourselves, to be clear, and sort out what is really important.
Besides not being able to use our building and the repairs to the leaking bell tower, the changes here at St Paul’s include new leadership through these times of reflection. I am the Priest in Charge for the next month or so, after which our Interim Rector will guide us through the time of our Search for a new Rector. More about this later. But rest assured, while we wait for our souls to catch up with us, and we clarify who we are becoming, our services at St. Paul’s and our special occasions will be honored and continued. For example, today we will also bless backpacks and briefcases, while praying for schools and teachers and parents through these times.
Using the words of the story I just shared, our faith is one way we bring our ancestors with us. We bring those protections and continue to walk the Way of Love each day, looking to our Bible stories and lessons to guide our way forward.
Today’s stories remind us of these guidelines and offer lessons with more kernels of insight for our upcoming week. First, the Exodus story reminds us that the Lord does give us what we need, even in times when we feel at grave risk while we move toward change. The Lesson from Paul’s writing to the Romans reminds us not to pass judgement on the people around us—God does the judging. Today’s Gospel from Matthew includes Jesus’ description of how we are to forgive one another: we need to treat each other as we would want to be treated ourselves.
This is all to keep us alert as we walk the Way of Love together and observe the changes the world around us brings. Yes, we need to truly take time to reflect on who we have been, and who we are today, as we love one another through these times. Our tasks now are letting our souls catch up with us, while we allow ourselves space to discern our walk forward along the Way of Love together. AMEN.
