A Meditation

It’s difficult for us to reconcile Jesus’ tenderness and empathy, with his radical statements about what we need to do to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus proclaims difficult, even impossible lessons. We encounter this Jesus in Sunday’s gospel from Luke: “Jesus said to a man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’” And “Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

I have to say that these quotes, if not exact, are pretty close to what Jesus taught. No, there is no honest way you can soften their rough edges. Jesus was, like many spiritual leaders of almost every stripe, hard to get along with. Jesus taught his truth in an “all or nothing” kind of way. Religious leaders make enemies.

We tend to see a the leader “telling it like it is.” I think that is a simplistic formulation. I think it’s more accurate to say that you can’t do what you want all week, do what Jesus wants you to do only on Sunday, and you’ll be a good (enough) Christian. You can’t get by by being nice to your friends and family, and bully and cheat the people who live in a different neighborhood. You can’t say what St. Augustine said, “God save me, but just not yet.” Jesus had no patience for that selfishness.

The time to lead a faithful life is precisely now. If you fall short, the time to repent is precisely now. If you get distracted, the time to fly right is precisely now. The time to forgive those who’ve wronged you is precisely now. You get the point. Jesus believes that if you’re not living faithfully, you’re living faithlessly. Don’t kid yourself. You’re sure not kidding God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Pastor Neil

 

Gathering

Celebrant ☩ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People     And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever.

Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Collect of the Day

 Celebrant         The Lord be with you.

People               And also with you.

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD The Old Testament

1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21

The Lord said to Elijah, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.”

So, he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Reader    The Word of the Lord. People    Thanks be to God.

 

Let us read psalm 67 in unison.

1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; * I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.”

2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, * upon those who are noble among the people.

3 But those who run after other gods * shall have their troubles multiplied.

4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, * nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.

5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; * it is you who uphold my lot.

6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; * indeed, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; * my heart teaches me, night after night.

8 I have set the Lord always before me; * because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.

9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; * my body also shall rest in hope.

10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, * nor let your holy one see the pit.

11 You will show me the path of life; * in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

 

The Gospel

Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,  according to Luke.

People      Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Luke 9:51-62

When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Celebrant The Gospel of the Lord. People      Praise to you, Lord Christ.

  

Sermon                                                        Pastor Neil

 

THE NICENE CREED

 We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

 We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE    

 Celebrant

In calling forth creation from the void, God, you revealed yourself in human form. You manifest your concern for your whole universe. Hear the world’s needs, as we bring the matters of our hearts before you.

Leader

 Pour out your life-giving Spirit on your holy church throughout the world, and equip its members to boldly proclaim their common faith and your bountiful blessings across the earth. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Let your Spirit move over our unruly time and heal its people broken in spirit and body. Bring peace to a weary and struggling world. Intercede and bring peace to Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the streets of Baltimore. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

 Help those suffering mental illness, broken families, and homelessness. Protect Mother Earth from human neglect and destruction. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

 Create changed hearts within us. Help us to become our best selves, as you intended us to be. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Burn out all that is evil in us; consecrate us for holy service. Empower us to work toward the salvation of the world. Give us energy and insight for our personal mission. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Renew the faith of all who who call you Lord, so that we may devote ourselves to worship, teaching, and prayer—all to reveal your grace to a fragile humanity. Give noble purpose to our secular leaders, and a desire to do justice in the land and in the world. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

Be with those who are dying and ill, and their families and loved ones. Bless the pastoral ministries of this congregation. Safeguard immigrants and refugees. Provide solace and healing to those beleaguered by the reality of their lives. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

We especially pray for those silently name now. (Pause) Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

 

Celebrant

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all

things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord

of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth,

divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

A Confession of Our Sins to God

Celebrant Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence will be kept

Minister and People Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, ☩ forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

 

The Peace

Celebrant  The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People     And also with you.

 

 

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Celebrant       The Lord be with you.

People              And also with you.

Celebrant         Lift up your hearts.

People              We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant         Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People              It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

Celebrant         It is indeed right and salutary that we should in all times and in all places give thanks to you, holy Lord, Almighty Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a new people in Jesus Christ our Lord, to show forth your glory in all the world. Therefore, we praise your name and join angels and archangels by saying:

 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given ☩ thanks to you and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given ☩ thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

 

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

 Christ has died. Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

 

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. ☩ Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the

Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him.

Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ.

Together: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 People      Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

A Call to Communion

Celebrant   The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. This is God’s table, and at God’s banquet, all God’s children are welcome—without exception!

Celebrant will distribute communion to people in their chairs.

 

The General Thanksgiving

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Blessing

Celebrant         Sisters and brothers, we go out into the world in peace. We live and walk as part of God’s beloved community. May God help us all to be of good courage, to hold on to what is good, and to return to no one an evil for an evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, aid the suffering, do justice, honor all people, and let our gentleness be known by everyone. May God, who raised our Lord Jesus from death, lift us up and restore us to wholeness. And may God bless us all, ☩ in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Celebrant Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People      Thanks be to God.