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.
October 2020 Sermons
October 25, 2020 Rev. Dr. Barbara Elliott
Sermon: Loving One Another
Have you heard the advice that when you are in a conflict, you should ‘Go to the balcony’? This suggestion suggests that we gain a clearer perspective when we can ‘look down’ on the arrangement of all the pieces in front of us when we are trying to figure something out. So whether it is the next statement in a conversation, the next policy to change, or the next physical move in a maze, if we go to the balcony we are likely to see what we should do next.
‘Getting up onto the balcony…’ is what Jesus does in today’s Gospel story when the Pharisees are again trying to trap Jesus into saying things that would result in his stepping beyond the law and condemning himself. As we know from our previous weeks’ readings, this is when Jesus used parables to teach the Way of Love, or God’s way of loving one another in our relationships. Jesus’ parables showed how to do that.
But this time was different. This time the Pharisees were again hurling question after question at Jesus, and he avoided answering, until a Pharisee asked Jesus which of God’s rules is the most important one. There are more than 700 commandments recorded in the Torah, and as a good Jewish person Jesus knew them all. Jesus’ answer shows that he got on the balcony to consider the best answer. Then Jesus began his response in a rather predictable way: “’You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.” With these words, Jesus was quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
But then Jesus adds to his response, saying that there is a second commandment: that you are to love our neighbor as you love yourself. Here Jesus was paraphrasing a second law, found in Leviticus 19, which says “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord.”
Jesus’ summary of the Law reveals that by looking at the whole of the Law, his balcony view allowed him to focus his answer on Law’s purpose rather than on (word/intent) only one element of the law. Jesus’ answer focused on loving relationships, with our love for God (in the Shema) as only one dimension of our expected love; we are to love God, love each other, and love ourselves. Jesus explains to the Pharisees that this statement is the correct summary because it is inclusive of all the Laws and the teachings of the Prophets. His response again stopped the Pharisees in their tracks.
It is interesting that Jesus silences his accusers by summarizing the purpose for which God has created human beings. We are to love God and love one another as we love ourselves. This statement to the Pharisees anticipates what Jesus says to his Disciples--commands them to do—on Thursday night of this same week when he it trying to prepare them for his death. With this Commandment, Jesus named the basis of our Christian faith. We are to love God with all our hearts, our souls and our minds, and we are to love each other as we love ourselves. Loving relationships are the basis of our faith. We are to love one another. Indeed love one another…
How’s that going for you? These weeks are a true challenge for us and living this commandment. Holding and bearing grudges is a very human experience, and it prevents us from being the loving people we are called to be. It is not easy to love all of our neighbors. Today we look around and find it difficult to love—even tolerate—another person whom we know that God loves. These election days can make it hard to even hear what our neighbors have to say. How will we put things back together when we get beyond November 3rd?
But Love is a verb. We need to show love in our actions. It is into this reality that God’s grace enters. When we are at our worst and most unlovable, God comes to us. This is the transforming power of God, and it comes to us through our neighbors who are up-close and in our faces.
This week I came across this description, written by Albert Camus, which describes for me what it is to perceive God’s strength, our spiritual core, within us. May we each recognize ourselves in these words:
"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."
AMEN
Have you heard the advice that when you are in a conflict, you should ‘Go to the balcony’? This suggestion suggests that we gain a clearer perspective when we can ‘look down’ on the arrangement of all the pieces in front of us when we are trying to figure something out. So whether it is the next statement in a conversation, the next policy to change, or the next physical move in a maze, if we go to the balcony we are likely to see what we should do next.
‘Getting up onto the balcony…’ is what Jesus does in today’s Gospel story when the Pharisees are again trying to trap Jesus into saying things that would result in his stepping beyond the law and condemning himself. As we know from our previous weeks’ readings, this is when Jesus used parables to teach the Way of Love, or God’s way of loving one another in our relationships. Jesus’ parables showed how to do that.
But this time was different. This time the Pharisees were again hurling question after question at Jesus, and he avoided answering, until a Pharisee asked Jesus which of God’s rules is the most important one. There are more than 700 commandments recorded in the Torah, and as a good Jewish person Jesus knew them all. Jesus’ answer shows that he got on the balcony to consider the best answer. Then Jesus began his response in a rather predictable way: “’You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.” With these words, Jesus was quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
But then Jesus adds to his response, saying that there is a second commandment: that you are to love our neighbor as you love yourself. Here Jesus was paraphrasing a second law, found in Leviticus 19, which says “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord.”
Jesus’ summary of the Law reveals that by looking at the whole of the Law, his balcony view allowed him to focus his answer on Law’s purpose rather than on (word/intent) only one element of the law. Jesus’ answer focused on loving relationships, with our love for God (in the Shema) as only one dimension of our expected love; we are to love God, love each other, and love ourselves. Jesus explains to the Pharisees that this statement is the correct summary because it is inclusive of all the Laws and the teachings of the Prophets. His response again stopped the Pharisees in their tracks.
It is interesting that Jesus silences his accusers by summarizing the purpose for which God has created human beings. We are to love God and love one another as we love ourselves. This statement to the Pharisees anticipates what Jesus says to his Disciples--commands them to do—on Thursday night of this same week when he it trying to prepare them for his death. With this Commandment, Jesus named the basis of our Christian faith. We are to love God with all our hearts, our souls and our minds, and we are to love each other as we love ourselves. Loving relationships are the basis of our faith. We are to love one another. Indeed love one another…
How’s that going for you? These weeks are a true challenge for us and living this commandment. Holding and bearing grudges is a very human experience, and it prevents us from being the loving people we are called to be. It is not easy to love all of our neighbors. Today we look around and find it difficult to love—even tolerate—another person whom we know that God loves. These election days can make it hard to even hear what our neighbors have to say. How will we put things back together when we get beyond November 3rd?
But Love is a verb. We need to show love in our actions. It is into this reality that God’s grace enters. When we are at our worst and most unlovable, God comes to us. This is the transforming power of God, and it comes to us through our neighbors who are up-close and in our faces.
This week I came across this description, written by Albert Camus, which describes for me what it is to perceive God’s strength, our spiritual core, within us. May we each recognize ourselves in these words:
"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back."
AMEN
October 18, 2020 Rev. Dr. Barbara Elliott
Sermon: Matthew 22: 15-22
The gospel reading for today is also a familiar one: it is another parable that Jesus tells in response to the Pharisees and Herodians who are attempting to trap Jesus. This happens close to the time of Jesus’ death, when they were really getting fed up with Jesus. They were frustrated with his ability to undermine their Jewish rules and expectations by teaching people how to love and honor God and how to treat each other. In today’s reading, they ask Jesus whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor. We have all heard Jesus’ answer: Jesus explained that we are to “give to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ statements amazed the Pharisees and Herodians and left them without a comeback.
Over time, these statements have been used to justify our need to pay taxes among other things. Nonetheless, Jesus’ words do not provide any easy answers for us when we face problems with larger moral or political questions. This advice does not tell us who to vote for, or what policy to support, or which course of action is best. Problems like these continue to challenge us, regardless of these verses from Matthew. Still, what Jesus said to the Pharisees and Herodians does provide us a very good place to start as we try to answer today’s questions.
Returning to the specifics of the parable, Jesus is saying that since the Emperor’s image in on the coin, coins should be returned to him. In addition, knowing—as Jesus did—that you and I are made in God’s image, Jesus was making strong statements about how we are to relate to God.
As you know, in Genesis 1:26-27, we read that God intentionally created humans in God’s image. This verse in Genesis provides the basis for Jesus’ statement about our relationship with God: God created us, along with all that we know. This important background adds meaning to Jesus’ statements in today’s Gospel reading.
Since we are made in God’s image, Jesus reminds us that we are fully connected with God. That connection assures us that we have a lasting and worthwhile core—our spiritual center—as part of who we each are. This connection also provides the opportunity for us to live into Jesus’ commandment that we love God and love one another. And it provides an amazing insight that we are ‘God’s beloved’—every one of us.
Which brings us back to the question: where does this parable leave us when we think about how and what we are to ‘give to God’? What can we ‘give to God’? I ask this question in all honesty—at a time in our lives when there is lots of uncertainty along with the obvious political and financial challenges we encounter. Where does God fit into this picture for you?
God is at our core—that spiritual core that is often so hard to perceive or hear as a wee-small voice, or as our companion and advisor. How can we slow down enough to hear that voice and accept God’s peace that is available to us there? As Jesus taught, we show our love for God by loving each other too. St. Paul’s community is a place where we have encountered and learned to walk God’s Way of Love together. That is how we can give to God—by loving one another and walking God’s Way of Love in the world.
We are also able to show God’s love for each other by supporting and maintaining our St. Paul’s community through our financial pledges and donations. In these times when we cannot be together, it can seem remote to send money to church. However, in order to maintain our community, with its building and services, and pay salaries for our incoming Interim Rector plus those of us who put all the online programming together, St. Paul’s needs your support. This is another way of showing God’s love in caring for each other in these uneven times.
Actually, continuing your support of St. Paul’s as in the past would help us to ’hold our own’ while we weather the COVID storm and find a way to “be St. Paul’s again.” We will be defining who we want to be into the future as we search for our new Rector.
So, I return to the question raised a few minutes ago: Jesus observed that we are to “give God the things that are God’s.” What does that mean to you? How do you share your love? What does that mean for your commitment and pledging for St. Paul’s?
These are strange times. These strange times ask questions of us in new ways. May God bless and keep you while you find answers for these questions now and going forward.
AMEN
The gospel reading for today is also a familiar one: it is another parable that Jesus tells in response to the Pharisees and Herodians who are attempting to trap Jesus. This happens close to the time of Jesus’ death, when they were really getting fed up with Jesus. They were frustrated with his ability to undermine their Jewish rules and expectations by teaching people how to love and honor God and how to treat each other. In today’s reading, they ask Jesus whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor. We have all heard Jesus’ answer: Jesus explained that we are to “give to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ statements amazed the Pharisees and Herodians and left them without a comeback.
Over time, these statements have been used to justify our need to pay taxes among other things. Nonetheless, Jesus’ words do not provide any easy answers for us when we face problems with larger moral or political questions. This advice does not tell us who to vote for, or what policy to support, or which course of action is best. Problems like these continue to challenge us, regardless of these verses from Matthew. Still, what Jesus said to the Pharisees and Herodians does provide us a very good place to start as we try to answer today’s questions.
Returning to the specifics of the parable, Jesus is saying that since the Emperor’s image in on the coin, coins should be returned to him. In addition, knowing—as Jesus did—that you and I are made in God’s image, Jesus was making strong statements about how we are to relate to God.
As you know, in Genesis 1:26-27, we read that God intentionally created humans in God’s image. This verse in Genesis provides the basis for Jesus’ statement about our relationship with God: God created us, along with all that we know. This important background adds meaning to Jesus’ statements in today’s Gospel reading.
Since we are made in God’s image, Jesus reminds us that we are fully connected with God. That connection assures us that we have a lasting and worthwhile core—our spiritual center—as part of who we each are. This connection also provides the opportunity for us to live into Jesus’ commandment that we love God and love one another. And it provides an amazing insight that we are ‘God’s beloved’—every one of us.
Which brings us back to the question: where does this parable leave us when we think about how and what we are to ‘give to God’? What can we ‘give to God’? I ask this question in all honesty—at a time in our lives when there is lots of uncertainty along with the obvious political and financial challenges we encounter. Where does God fit into this picture for you?
God is at our core—that spiritual core that is often so hard to perceive or hear as a wee-small voice, or as our companion and advisor. How can we slow down enough to hear that voice and accept God’s peace that is available to us there? As Jesus taught, we show our love for God by loving each other too. St. Paul’s community is a place where we have encountered and learned to walk God’s Way of Love together. That is how we can give to God—by loving one another and walking God’s Way of Love in the world.
We are also able to show God’s love for each other by supporting and maintaining our St. Paul’s community through our financial pledges and donations. In these times when we cannot be together, it can seem remote to send money to church. However, in order to maintain our community, with its building and services, and pay salaries for our incoming Interim Rector plus those of us who put all the online programming together, St. Paul’s needs your support. This is another way of showing God’s love in caring for each other in these uneven times.
Actually, continuing your support of St. Paul’s as in the past would help us to ’hold our own’ while we weather the COVID storm and find a way to “be St. Paul’s again.” We will be defining who we want to be into the future as we search for our new Rector.
So, I return to the question raised a few minutes ago: Jesus observed that we are to “give God the things that are God’s.” What does that mean to you? How do you share your love? What does that mean for your commitment and pledging for St. Paul’s?
These are strange times. These strange times ask questions of us in new ways. May God bless and keep you while you find answers for these questions now and going forward.
AMEN
October 11, 2020 Dr. Liza Anderson
Liza used notes to give her homily extemporaneously.
October 4, 2020 Rev. Dr. Barbara Elliott
St. Francis Day – October 4, 2020
Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis. On this day, October 4, we commemorate Francis of Assisi, who is remembered for his deep connections with creation. Specifically, he is known as the patron saint of the animals and of ecology. When we celebrate his memory, we honor our relationships between all creatures, creation and the divine.
St. Francis was born into a wealthy family in central Italy, in the town of Assisi. As a young adult he left his father’s wealth behind and became committed to God, pledging his life to living simply as a part of the natural world. Francis believed that nature was God’s mirror. He called the animals his sisters and brothers. He is known to have preached to the birds and to have been able to talk with animals. One story is how he fixed a problem between the people in the village and some wolves. The wolves were attacking the people, then the townspeople responded with their attack, and then the wolves attacked again. The violence was escalating until Francis stepped in. Frances learned the wolves were hungry and told the people about it. The townspeople agreed to put food out for the wolves, and in return the wolves quit attacking the people in the village.
Over time, Francis became very connected to the animals and creation around him, and realized they provided for his needs. Francis celebrated these relationships by inviting all creation—animals, plants, natural forces, even brother Sun and Sister Moon—to give honor and praise to God. Francis demonstrated through his life that living in peace with God’s creation is possible …a lesson we are still needing today.
The Gospel reading this morning is one that supported Francis in his choices to live as simply as he did. Clearly the message of the reading is that indeed, God provides for each of God’s creations. All of this message—that God provides what is needed when it is needed, echoes our recent Sunday readings as well. The bottom line is the last part of the reading: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own…” God provides for us as God provides for all parts of creation around us. Our worries can only take energy from today’s resources and do not solve our problems.
Yesterday we had our annual Blessing of the Animals ritual when we brought our pets for blessing in a drive-by at the front of the church. What fun to share these (mostly) furry four-leggeds with each other—and to bless them as part of God’s creation.
It is amazing how our pets are truly part of our families. Especially this year—at least at my house this is true. We are all spending so much time closed into our homes and smaller circles of life these past months. I know how much I depend on our dog for company and comfort and indeed, for love. No matter what the day has brought, our dog is there to receive me and love me, no matter what. And as someone who grew up with cats and chickens, geese and horses and cows, too, I know each of those animals were part of my life as well. Our relationships were important to me—and to them.
How about you? Are there other living creatures that are part of your life? Maybe a turtle, or a lizard, or a bird—not just furry things? These animals pull at our heartstrings and offer joyous connections to creation. It is right that we remember St. Francis each year and honor creation and our animals as part of our lives.
Our recognition of St. Francis also extends our awareness to all of God’s created ecology. This is the time of year when we see this most dramatically, too—the leaves have changed from their summer green, through their fall yellow, orange and red palates. All of God’s living things have called for our attention these days…
Francis is remembered for his deep connections with creation—and that is what today is about. We are living in these amazing times of uncertainty, but St. Francis brings our eyes back to what is real and important and right in front of us. God has put our pets who love us right here. And God has put the world of grasses, trees, flowers stones and sand all around us too—and they are all inter-related, with each other and with us. That’s creation.
Francis’ message that peace is possible when we find balance in our relationships with creation. We clearly have a way to go, but Mother Theresa has offered some powerful guidance in how we can do this. She observed that we are not here to do Great Things, but we are here to do Small Things with Great Love.
We can each take these small steps within our own settings—our households and neighborhoods, where we can welcome all creation within that small space. Following St. Francis’ steps, we can both love our pets and also work to honor this peaceful balance, celebrating God’s creation which is all around us. Indeed—we are part of it. And it is up to us to be its stewards, by walking the Way of Love, one small step at a time. We know that God is walking with us. AMEN
Today is the Feast Day of St. Francis. On this day, October 4, we commemorate Francis of Assisi, who is remembered for his deep connections with creation. Specifically, he is known as the patron saint of the animals and of ecology. When we celebrate his memory, we honor our relationships between all creatures, creation and the divine.
St. Francis was born into a wealthy family in central Italy, in the town of Assisi. As a young adult he left his father’s wealth behind and became committed to God, pledging his life to living simply as a part of the natural world. Francis believed that nature was God’s mirror. He called the animals his sisters and brothers. He is known to have preached to the birds and to have been able to talk with animals. One story is how he fixed a problem between the people in the village and some wolves. The wolves were attacking the people, then the townspeople responded with their attack, and then the wolves attacked again. The violence was escalating until Francis stepped in. Frances learned the wolves were hungry and told the people about it. The townspeople agreed to put food out for the wolves, and in return the wolves quit attacking the people in the village.
Over time, Francis became very connected to the animals and creation around him, and realized they provided for his needs. Francis celebrated these relationships by inviting all creation—animals, plants, natural forces, even brother Sun and Sister Moon—to give honor and praise to God. Francis demonstrated through his life that living in peace with God’s creation is possible …a lesson we are still needing today.
The Gospel reading this morning is one that supported Francis in his choices to live as simply as he did. Clearly the message of the reading is that indeed, God provides for each of God’s creations. All of this message—that God provides what is needed when it is needed, echoes our recent Sunday readings as well. The bottom line is the last part of the reading: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own…” God provides for us as God provides for all parts of creation around us. Our worries can only take energy from today’s resources and do not solve our problems.
Yesterday we had our annual Blessing of the Animals ritual when we brought our pets for blessing in a drive-by at the front of the church. What fun to share these (mostly) furry four-leggeds with each other—and to bless them as part of God’s creation.
It is amazing how our pets are truly part of our families. Especially this year—at least at my house this is true. We are all spending so much time closed into our homes and smaller circles of life these past months. I know how much I depend on our dog for company and comfort and indeed, for love. No matter what the day has brought, our dog is there to receive me and love me, no matter what. And as someone who grew up with cats and chickens, geese and horses and cows, too, I know each of those animals were part of my life as well. Our relationships were important to me—and to them.
How about you? Are there other living creatures that are part of your life? Maybe a turtle, or a lizard, or a bird—not just furry things? These animals pull at our heartstrings and offer joyous connections to creation. It is right that we remember St. Francis each year and honor creation and our animals as part of our lives.
Our recognition of St. Francis also extends our awareness to all of God’s created ecology. This is the time of year when we see this most dramatically, too—the leaves have changed from their summer green, through their fall yellow, orange and red palates. All of God’s living things have called for our attention these days…
Francis is remembered for his deep connections with creation—and that is what today is about. We are living in these amazing times of uncertainty, but St. Francis brings our eyes back to what is real and important and right in front of us. God has put our pets who love us right here. And God has put the world of grasses, trees, flowers stones and sand all around us too—and they are all inter-related, with each other and with us. That’s creation.
Francis’ message that peace is possible when we find balance in our relationships with creation. We clearly have a way to go, but Mother Theresa has offered some powerful guidance in how we can do this. She observed that we are not here to do Great Things, but we are here to do Small Things with Great Love.
We can each take these small steps within our own settings—our households and neighborhoods, where we can welcome all creation within that small space. Following St. Francis’ steps, we can both love our pets and also work to honor this peaceful balance, celebrating God’s creation which is all around us. Indeed—we are part of it. And it is up to us to be its stewards, by walking the Way of Love, one small step at a time. We know that God is walking with us. AMEN