Many blessings and warm greeting to you from soggy Chuckatuck. It has been raining almost incessantly since midweek. Thankfully, the property seems to be stable and no more trees have defected. There has been a congregation of assassin bugs (and their kin) around the property and, while they aren’t cute, they do prey on destructive insects so they and I have an agreement of sorts. Today was our second Sunday in a row with 9 in worship and quite a few watching remotely. It was nice to have a visitor in the house and one of the regulars who has been holed up during Coronatide. It came to my attention that the order of worship had the incorrect gospel reading, thankfully I did not base my sermon on the gospel reading; the one listed below is the correct reading.
In worship we were reminded that we need God’s grace to accept God’s grace and the redemption provided by Jesus. Our collect reminds that Christ’s example leads us to follow the steps necessary for a holy life. Our reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans speaks to the vastness of God’s grace. The most recently called aren’t better or more favored than those called before – each has a place in God’s kingdom and grace. Our gospel reading from Matthew served as a reminder that the ritual isn’t what saves us or what defines who we are, rather it is our actions and relationships. What comes from inside is what separates us from others – for good or for ill. The sermon today focused on the reading from Genesis. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and helps allay their fears, that Joseph might want to return tit-for-tat. Joseph showed a change of heart that set aside his power for God’s grace. He reminds us that we are ones who need to point to God’s grace, even when the grace is hard to see. Who is Joseph to us? And who can we be Joseph to in our world?
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Genesis 45:1-11; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:10-28
Video of worship: https://youtu.be/qiYuiDOlqFM
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