Sunday, June 23, 2019

12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Proper 7/2^nd Sunday after Pentecost

First Reading: I Kings 19:1-4 (5-7) 8-15a
Psalm 42 and 43
Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-29
Gospel Reading: Luke 8:26-39

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

The Sunday following Trinity Sunday begins the long stretch of time that extends to Christ the King Sunday (this year November 24) where the liturgical color is green, and the time is referred to as “ordinary.”  Yet, it is not “ordinary” as in humdrum, but ordinary in the sense that it is normal.  During this normal time in the life of the church, we live into the mission of God and grow the church.  Green is the symbolic color for the growth of the church.

This week there is that wonderful text from I Kings 19.  In Elijah, we see ourselves and the church.  As one reads this chapter it is as if one could replace Elijah with The Church Where We Serve.

Elijah (The Church) may be frustrated, tired, worn out, BUT he (The Church) is not done.   God still has a plan and a job for Elijah to do.  Elijah may be frustrated for sure, and he does not have to give up that frustration, BUT he is not allowed to give into it.  God will not let him give into his frustration.  There is work to be done. 

Run away from it all.  Sure Elijah, sure—not too bad of an idea.  We so often want to just run away from it all.  Enough already!  We can want to, but we do not have to.  We can run, but God will not let the work that God has called us to do go.

God has called you to a specific task.  And God has called The Church to a specific task.  And God has called us together to a specific task (go, baptize, heal, reconcile, forgive, love, feed, nurture, clothe, serve, give…).  There is no running away from it.  That task is all about building community.  That task is loving each other.  That task is keeping with each other and lifting each other up so that we together can stand tall.  That task is not done.  God calls us to come together, God calls us to serve the needs, and God calls us be in each other’s lives.

There is work to be done…and Christ sets us to it.  “Follow me,“ he bids us.  And so, like Elijah, we get back up and GO!

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter