Pentecost +15 2020Forgive MeRev. Doug FloydSirach 27:30–28:7, Psalm 103, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 In our lessons today, we are encouraged to show mercy to one another, to refrain from judging each other’s faith, and to practice forgiveness. We continue to rehearse a pattern of loving one another in community even as we continue to cry…
Pentecost +14 2020Rev. Doug FloydEzekiel 33:1–11, Psalm 119:33-48, Romans 12:9–21, Matthew 18:15–20 As we reflect on our lessons this week, it might help to think about these in light of family. Ezekiel is warned by the Lord to deliver the words of judgment to the people, so that Ezekiel won’t be held liable. Who is Ezekiel addressing? His people. His covenantal family,…
Pentecost +13 2020Take Up Your CrossRev. Doug FloydJeremiah 15:15–21, Psalm 26, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:21–27 Jesus tells his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Earlier in Matthew 10, he says a similar thing, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of…
In this moment when I live, I do not strain for a past that is long gone or stretch toward a future that may never be. Rather, in this moment, I trust that the Lord is absolutely faithful, evening as I walk in the midst of trouble. He is the one who preserves my life, defeats my enemies, delivers and fulfills His purposes in me. I trust in the steadfast love of the Lord. I know that he will not forsake me, and he will lead me step by step, day by day, moment by moment into the fullness of His love.
We have been welcomed into the community of the beloved. As we grow up into the love of God, we love and welcome the outsider, the wounded, the marginalized, those scarred by life, those burned out by the engines of church production.
Pentecost +10St. Brendan’s Anglican ChurchRev. Doug FloydJonah 2:1–10, Psalm 29, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:22-33 The Bible is a book full of stories within stories within stories, and the stories are always interacting with each other. We read and hear songs and prayers and proverbs, and different styles of writing, but, in fact, they all operate…
Pentecost +9 2020St. Brendan’s Anglican ChurchRev. Doug FloydNehemiah 9:16–21, Psalm 78, Romans 8:35–39, Matthew 14:13–21 We live in the middle of our lives; that is, we live in the middle of all the confusion, all the joys, and sorrows, all the questions that usually don’t have clear answers. We may try to make decisions using…
Pentecost +8Rev. Doug FloydSt. Brendan’s Anglican Church1 Kings 3:3–14, Psalm 119:121-136, Romans 8:26-34, Matthew 13:31–33, 44–50 The ancient Greeks valued big things, big people, big statues, glorious big architecture. In some sense, everything was larger than life. Their love of bigness is similar to the American love of big things, big buildings, big houses, big vehicles, and even big churches. When I…
Pentecost +7 – Longing for the Kingdom ComeRev. Doug FloydWisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19, Psalm 86, Romans 8:18-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43 This week is the seventh Sunday after Pentecost, and fir several weeks we’ve been meditating on Romans 8 and Matthew 13. The Romans 8 passage emphasizes our adoption into the family of God, and…
Pentecost +6 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 55, Psalm 65, Romans 8:7-17, Matthew 13:1-9;18-23 For as the rain and the snow come down from heavenand do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it…