Greetings to you from the Rector’s Study in Chuckatuck as we begin the transition to summer. So far, late-spring is confused and it has been cooler than normal. This past week we had celebrated the lives of two parishioners who left our rolls in 2021: Leone Vigil on Friday (the homily is linked below) in Chuckatuck and Marvin Seaman at Arlington National Cemetery. Both were wonderful celebrations of their lives as they reflect God’s presence and grace. We look forward to the summer and all that the change of season holds for us. May you be blessed as you begin your summer journey.

As we settle into our post-Pentecost/Common Time journey we listen for the message of God’s presence in the day-to-day times of our lives. We are reminded to recognize that God’s inspiration (both in ideas and in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is what fuel’s us for ministry. Our Hebrew Scripture was the story from Genesis where God calls Abram from his country to go to the promise land. God tells him that God will lead him always. Our Psalmist offers us the reminder that we need to rejoice in God’s active presence with all that we are. Our New Testament lesson was from Paul’s letter to the Romans as he reiterates that Abram is the source of hope and assurance that God is in charge of our lives.

The gospel reading was the basis for our sermon today. We heard Matthew’s account of Jesus’ call of Matthew and the healing of the woman and the synagogue leader. Our faith that God will not abandon us helps us navigate the unknown. We are invited to check our expectations about our interaction with God: (1) are we sure that God will exactly work like we imagine, (2) do we hope that God will work like God promises, or (3) do we throw up our hands and say things will be what they will be? Thankfully, we know how God promises to act and how we can count on God’s presence. This doesn’t make change easier, simply assured that the change is from something good to something more fulfilling.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Listen at: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-1/song/2nd-sunday-after-pentecost-sermon

Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/Q6kbkvloTUk

Video of worship: https://youtu.be/q-F3y7XuxTM

Leone Vigil memorial sermon: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-1/song/homily-from-leone-vigil-memorial