Jeremiah 7:23–28
Luke 11:14–23
Psalm 95:6–11

On Thursday, September 1, 1988, I set out from the rectory to carry out my first assignment as the new rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Warrenton, NC.; get the mail. A hot, muggy day I could feel the moisture beading up on the inside of my stiff new plastic clergy collar. As I rounded the corner of the church I could see a woman standing very primly on the top step of the post office. On this already uncomfortably warm day, she was wearing a hat and gloves, both hands holding her silvery pocketbook, her pastel blue suit complimenting her blue-gray hair curling out from under a veil. I smiled at her as I started past her into the lobby. Just then she turned towards me and began her speech. “My dear, I am here to welcome you to Warrenton and to tell you that we are so thankful that that Bishop of yours sent us a woman and not a black.”

How I wished I had the words that Jesus would say. People often told him to his face how deviant he was. “What good can come out of Nazareth?” “He casts out demons by Beelzebub.”

Clearly, the group who had sent this woman, whom I never saw again, labeled the Episcopal Church, the Bishop, members of the black race and women priests deviants.

Labels, stereotypes keep us distant and distrusting. Sometimes that seems to be what part of the larger community tries to teach us to do.

How often do I deny myself the gift and opportunity of knowing someone for their uniqueness because I lack the imagination and the empathy to make that discovery?

Gracious one, may our hearts not be hardened. Help us to listen for your voice. Amen.
-Vicki Wesen

Deuteronomy 4:1–2,5–9
Matthew 5:17–19
Psalm 78:1–6

As a Lutheran seminary student and then as a pastor’s wife, I used to hear “law and gospel” bandied about frequently. Lutherans are the “original gangstas” of Protestants so us cool kids had to teach the Zwinglians, Calvinists, and Anabaptists how it was done. A friend of mine, an LCMS pastor, even had a tie with clay tablets on it and I joked that he needed to add a tie pin in the shape of a cross to accurately reflect his views on this subject.

Back to the phrase “law and gospel”, it is the basis of our salvation. We couldn’t keep the Law, so Jesus had to come and die for us, which is the Gospel. Many of us would like to think that Christ’s death on the cross vacates our requirement to keep the Law, but it does not. We are still bound by the Ten Commandments, even if we may have relaxed some of the rules in Leviticus.

Today’s passages talk about the wisdom embodied in the Law and I agree. The Ten Commandments give us a basis for how to treat others ethically. The Book of Deuteronomy does an excellent job of rehashing where the Israelites have been to remind of where they are going as they cross into the Promised Land. Israel continually fouled it up and eventually faced exile. What Jesus is saying in the Gospel is that we still are held to that standard, but He came to fulfill its promises of a Messiah. The Law brought death, but the Gospel brings healing to us.

Help us, O Lord, to see the wisdom in your Law, that we might learn to treat others better because of it. Amen.
-Jen McCabe

Song of the Three Young Men 2–4,11–20a
Matthew 18:21–35
Psalm 25:3–10

These three young men had nothing to give as a sacrifice or offering to God. They were deeply humble, however, and asked God to accept and deliver them from their terrible ordeal. Their faith and love must have been tremendous!

Many times in my life, I have felt a desperate need of help, both physically and emotionally. Crying out to God, falling on bended knee, begging for help; God has always answered. Maybe the help didn’t arrive how or when I wanted but it always came. Looking back, I see the many times deliverance was freely given to me by God, even when I didn’t deserve it.

Dear Lord, You are so mighty, strong and good. You care for me in ways I cannot always understand but You always know what is best. I have no power of my own, it is only through You that I am saved. Amen.
-Sister Katherine

Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
Psalm 19

One of my favorite Internet memes is this one:

Our Lord pulls no punches when it comes to people polluting the Temple, a place that should be dedicated to the worship of the God of Israel, with commerce. In fact, I wonder what Jesus would think of the Christian marketing movement and the amount of schlock that gets bandied about with Bible verses on it. I remember the “Prayer of Jabez” craze that took place in college, based off an obscure verse reference that author Bruce Wilkinson turned into a book. It seemed like plastering “Prayer of Jabez” on something would cause it to sell, especially something as mundane as a mousepad or a scented candle.

Do I think that everything branded as “Christian” is a marketing ploy and should not be sold? Not necessarily, but I do think that we should be mindful of the medium we are using for our message. Psalm 19:14 is a prime example. In it, the psalmist prays simply, “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” I have heard various priests pray it before they preach, and it seems like a wise prayer. Our words and what we show of our hearts speak more of who our God is than any notepad or tote bag will do.

Help us, Lord, not to let our love of commerce pollute the message you want us to share with the world. Amen.
-Jen McCabe

Micah 7:14–15,18–20
Luke 15:11–32
Psalm 103:1–4(5–8)9–12

The story of the prodigal son never fails to spark some lively theological conversation between Carol and me. We’re both eldest children…and frankly, while we appreciate the point of the parable (God’s infinite love and mercy, blah, blah, blah), we both harbor some suspicions about God’s parenting. I mean, let’s face it…the eldest child got hosed. Responsible parents just don’t behave that way.

The burden of being the eldest child isn’t just about the added responsibility we carry with regard to our siblings, but also about taking the brunt of our mother’s and father’s “failings” as first-time parents. We are so often plagued with a profound sense of injustice, and I think we carry that with us for a long time.

These days, having watched our children grow and become parents themselves, Carol and I are more inclined to see Luke 15:11-32 through the eyes of the father, rather than those of the eldest child. As a parent, you realize that while you love your children equally, you love them for who they are — which, of course, means differently. As sinners saved by grace, we know that we fall short of the perfect (i.e., unconditional) love of God, as expressed in our Old Testament and psalm readings — but any parent can certainly relate to how God feels about Her children.

If he is to grow in grace, the eldest son needs to realize that celebrating the return of his wayward sibling takes nothing away from him. His father’s love was always a given. When we truly believe in a God as loving as the God of Micah, concepts such as “fairness” seem more like a way of keeping score. And when you are as loved by God as we are, who has time for that?

God’s love isn’t a zero-sum game — so go hug your brother and help yourself to another slice of the fatted calf. There’s plenty to go around.

Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
-Michael Boss