Worship and Devotions
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost - Season of Creation 2024
Sunday, September 8, 2024
James tells us to stop showing favouritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honour as a child and heir.
Music
Can You Feel The Seasons Turning
Can You Feel The Seasons Turning - Elw/Acs 1065 (Youtube.Com)
Thanksgiving for the Earth
God of Holy Dreaming, great Creator Spirit, from the dawn of Creation you have given your children the good things of our mothering Earth. You spoke and the gum tree grew. In the vast desert and the dense forest and in the cities and at the water's edge, Creation sings your praise. Your presence endures at the rock at the heart of our land. When Jesus hung on the tree you heard the cries of all your people and became one with your wounded ones: the convicts, the hunted, the dispossessed. The sunrise of your Son coloured the earth anew and bathe it in glorious hope. In Jesus, we have been reconciled to you, to each other and to your whole Creation. Lead us on, Great Spirit, as we gather at the four corners of the Earth; enable us to walk together in trust from the hurt and shame of the past into the full day that has dawned in Jesus Christ. Amen (Aboriginal and Torees Strait Liturgical resources)
Prayer of the Day
Gracious God, throughout the ages you transform sickness into health and death into life. Open us to the power of your presence and make us a people ready to proclaim your promises to the whole world, through Jesus Christ, our healer and Lord. Amen.
Music
God Bestows On Every Sense
God Bestows on Every Sense - ELW/ACS 1069 (youtube.com)
Isaiah 35:4-7a
These verses are a word of hope to the exiles in Babylon. Isaiah 34 portrays God’s vengeance on Edom, Israel’s age-old enemy, which makes the path from Babylon to Zion safe for the exiles’ return. The desert itself will flow with water to give drink to the returning exiles.
4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7athe burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
The sayings in the book of Proverbs impart the collective wisdom of centuries. Speaking of wealth and poverty, these particular verses teach that those who are blessed by God should honour the poor, for they are within God’s special care.
1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
2The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.
8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.
9Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.
22Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
23for the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17
Faithful Christians do not show partiality to the rich and powerful of the world, especially at the expense of the poor and weak. Likewise, faith does not pay mere lip service to God’s will. Instead, a living Christian faith expresses itself in acts of compassion and mercy for those in need.
1My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 8You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. [11For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.] 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel - Mark 7:24-37
In Mark’s gospel, encounters with women usually signify turning points in Jesus’ ministry. Here, a conversation with a Syrophoenician woman marks the beginning of his mission to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Lord.
24[Jesus] set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 28But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go — the demon has left your daughter.” 30So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 31Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Praise to you, O Christ.
Music
Light Dawns On A Weary World
Light Dawns On A Weary World - Elw 726 (Youtube.Com)
Sermon
Rev. Douglas Reble, Assistant to the Bishop, Eastern Synod
In the name of the God who loves us all, grace to you and peace.
Before I turn to my sermon, which happens to be the second to last of this year’s ELCIC Summer Sermon Series., I should begin by introducing myself. My name is Pastor Douglas Reble, and it is my privilege to serve as Assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod, for three more weeks or so as I transition into retirement. Good to be with you this morning either online or in print.
But now to my sermon. Our gospel reading, this morning, introduces us to a most remarkable woman. She is clever. She is cool. But most of all she is a loving mother who will do anything to help her sick daughter. A child.
The story itself has always been one that I would just as soon skip over because, at first blush, it makes Jesus come off like some insensitive jerk. This does not sound like the Jesus that you or I know. In fact, I wonder why such a story was preserved in the gospel record anyway. But then the lectionary drops it in our Sunday morning cycle of readings and says handle it!
Let me remind you what Jesus says to the woman who is only trying to help her daughter. He says to her: “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Jesus, in essence, calls her a dog. Can we “rescue” Jesus here, find some way of explaining this conversation that will put him in a bit more flattering light?
The biblical commentators have certainly tried to explain. Some have said that Jesus was just having a bad day. He and the disciples had gone north, out of Galilee, the only time the gospels have Jesus leaving his native land, for some rest and relaxation. But instead, he is discovered and confronted by this insistent mother, admittedly courageous, who was violating every standard of acceptable feminine behaviour of the time by publicly conversing with a man who is not even her husband. Instead of reacting to her as he normally might, by ignoring her for example, Jesus tries to blow her off with an insult, then finally wises up and acts decent again.
It was bad day, persistent woman or not. Even the Son of God is entitled to one every so often. That is what some commentators say. I have trouble with that.
Others suggest that this event was part of Jesus’ growth and development—a learning experience for him. If, as the account of his boyhood attests, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God” to quote the Gospel of Luke, we may presume that his growth continued as an adult. Being raised a Jew and being taught by heritage that Gentiles like this woman are nothing more than fuel for the fires of hell, Jesus learns here that divine love knows no boundaries, racial or otherwise. This was a “learning experience” for him. Perhaps, but I am still not comfortable with that.
Other biblical scholars? Some say that this bantering back and forth between Jesus and the woman was merely Jesus’ way of teaching something. By his initial reluctance to care for any Gentile, he was simply giving voice to the not-so-quietly harboured feelings of his Jewish followers. By finally acceding to the woman’s cry for help, Jesus was demonstrating the inclusiveness of God’s love and thereby taught his disciples that racism had no place in the kingdom. This encounter was simply one more of Jesus’ parables, this time, come to life.
That is possible, but it is still a stretch though, at least for me. How about the language of that encounter, Jesus sounds awfully rough. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Mom knew the ill-feeling between Jews and Gentiles but calling her a dog to her face? Umm. I don’t like it.
Again, folks explain that away, and they had better! After all, calling someone a dog, even a puppy dog as the Greek here suggests, is a term of abuse, if ever there was one. But this woman was sharp enough to realize that this was only playful banter, she responded in kind, and it worked—her daughter was healed!
Okay, I can live with that, although still a bit reluctantly. I live with it best when I remember that I am reading and hearing with Western eyes and ears, and truly we must read this text through the culture of the Middle East, otherwise we are victimized by our ethnic blinders.
I believe that this story of Jesus and the Gentile mother is a truly wonderful encounter that used the playful banter of the day that is unfortunately lost on us modern readers. The gospel writer understood it, even if we do not and that is why it is with us still today.
Come to think of it, perhaps its placement in the narrative right next to the healing of the deaf man, the second part of today’s gospel reading, should have given us a clue all along. Two things jump out at me from the gospel account. First, the reference to spit. Indelicate, yes, but in the ancient world, it was believed that the spit of a famous person had magically curative powers. Something akin to children knowing that a mother or father’s spit is the most powerful cleaning agent in the world. “Come here, let me clean that off for you.” Was Jesus’ spit necessary for healing this man? I doubt it, but Mark reports it anyway.
The second thing that grabs me is this untranslated Aramaic command: “Ephphatha… Be opened!” Perhaps this is the inspired writer’s way of lighting it up, setting it in flashing neon, ensuring that no one would ever miss it. We have just been reminded that the gospel knows no boundaries, not geographic, not sexual, not racial, not any.
Ephphatha… Be opened! Can the good news of Jesus Christ be limited by race? The story of a Gentile woman who sought healing for her daughter says no. Ephphatha… Be opened! Can it be limited by geography? Not in Jesus’ day and certainly not in ours. Ephphatha… Be opened! What about sex or gender orientation for that matter? Sorry, not even that. Ephphatha… Be opened!
The word of Jesus to the church is loud and clear “Ephphatha… Be opened!” The gospel is not the exclusive province of one group of one denomination or another. If we ever hope to heal the divisions that separate us, we will remember and obey the command “Ephphatha!”
The word is not just for the healing of the church. Remember, it came first to a man who needed help. The Spirit of Jesus is speaking again and saying to us who need help!
“Ephphatha! Be opened!” Let your ears be open to Christ’s word of forgiveness for your sin.
“Ephphatha! Be opened!” Let your eyes be open to see the opportunities God is making available in your world.
“Ephphatha! Be opened!” Let your mind be open to new ways of thinking that will expand God’s will for you and yours and this world created by God in love.
“Ephphatha! Be opened!” Let your mouth be opened to share what God is doing in your life.
“Ephphatha! Be opened!” Let your life be open to the movement of the Spirit, open to release from whatever is scaring you, stopping you, holding you back, from becoming the person you want to be, especially the person God wants you to be.
My dear friends in Christ. Ephphatha! Be opened! It is a word we need to hear over and over and over again.
In the name of the God who loves us all. In the name of the God whose love is unconditional, diverse, inclusive.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Drawn together in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray with confidence for the church, God’s good creation, and all who are in need.
A brief silence.
God of the land, the sea, the sky: creator of all that is seen and unseen. open our hearts to the rhythm of creation in the swells of the ocean, the movements of air and wind, the breath of all living things. open our eyes to the fragile beauty of the biodiversity of which we are a part. open our ears to the sounds of life around us. open our minds to the awareness of our deep relationship with all your Creation. Creator God, may we hope and act with Creation.
God of Light, Life, Love: Help us to seek and find your Presence in all Creation. Help us to understand the roots of the ecological crisis and give us the wisdom to live resiliently in harmony with your Creation. Keep us firm in the faith that your reign of love is manifested in our common love for you, for ourselves, and for our neighbour- both human and non-human. Creator God, may we hope and act with Creation.
God of truth and justice: Fill us with your spirit of compassion, so that we may live and act with and in solidarity with Creation. Guide us in the paths of righteousness that help us to tread softly on the land and sail gently on the sea. Give us wisdom and courage to recognize our role in the evil of systemic exploitation and extraction and to speak truth to power. Give us strength of heart and arm to be agents of the ecological conversion the earth so desperately needs. Creator God, may we hope and act with Creation. (Rev. James Bagwan, Pacific Conference of Churches)
Awaken in our communities of faith a spirit of radical hospitality. Encourage our churches to celebrate and embrace people of diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities. Deepen our commitment to ecumenical and interreligious partnerships. Fill our people and leaders with your love and the gifts of your Spirit. Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
Inspire leaders of cities, nations and tribes to lead with wisdom and humility., Bring peace among peoples in conflict especially Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and Russia and all places where peace is not.Comfort those who weep for what is being and has been lost, for lives, livelihoods and identities, homes, and memories. Guide all who seek refuge from war to a safe haven. Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
Nurture in all people the gift of your creating Spirit. Inspire artists and musicians, woodworkers and quilters, poets and dancers. Revive those whose artistic wells have run dry and enliven all who doubt their creative talents. Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
We give you thanks for all who have died and now find their rest in you. May their faithful witness guide us in our daily life with you. Hear us, O God, your mercy is great.
We entrust these and all our prayers to you, holy God, in the name of your beloved child, Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Amen.
Adapted from Sundays and Seasons, © 2024 Augsburg Fortress
Music
Earth And All Stars
Earth and All Stars (youtube.com)
For The Wholeness Of The Earth
For The Wholeness Of The Earth - Elw/Acs 1067 (Youtube.Com)
Go Now In Peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQg2XqZcZjI
Season of Creation Devotional Practices
Sunday, September 15, 2024 Readings
Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-9; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
Semicontinuous Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
During this week, you may wish to read them ahead of time especially the Gospel.
Where did you stop?
What questions or thoughts arose as you read?
Where may the Spirit be nudging you?
Season of Creation
September 1 - October 4, 2024
Reading for the Season Of Creation
Romans 8:19-25
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope, we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Creation Is Groaning In The Pains Of Childbirth
Romans 8:22
This biblical image pictures the Earth as a mother, groaning as in childbirth. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used. Saint Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. How can Mother Earth look after us if we do not look after her? Creation is groaning because of our selfishness and the unsustainable actions that harm her. Along with our Sister, Mother Earth, creatures of all kinds, including humans, cry out because of the consequences of our destructive actions causing climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and human suffering as well as Creation’s suffering. And yet, there is hope and the expectation for a better future. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amidst the struggles. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life is coming forth.
Music To Enjoy During the Week
Open My Heart - ELW/ACS 1079 (youtube.com)
Listen, Now for the Gospel - ELW/ACS 972 (youtube.com)
If We Live, We Live to the Lord - ELW/ACS 1025 (youtube.com)
Healer of Our Every Ill - ELW 612 (youtube.com)
Spirit, Open My Heart (youtube.com)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness | Maranatha! Music (Lyric Video) (youtube.com)
He Comes to Us as One Unkown - ELW 737 (youtube.com)
