On This Rock

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16 Year A)

Matthew 16.13-20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 20:30)

 

Over the last month or so, our lectionary readings have dealt quite a bit with issues of identity. The ongoing revelation of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and as the Son of God, and of our own identity as members of the Body of Christ. Today’s Gospel reading is the end of several chapters in which Matthew specifically focuses on this issue of Jesus’ identity and how that was initially revealed in a variety of ways. Up until now, there has been little if any explicit statements about the relationship between Jesus’ identity and the individual and collective identities of his followers. This side of the Resurrection, we are able to infer that relationship between Jesus’ identity and that of his disciples—the relationship between Jesus’ identity and our own identity as members of the Body of Christ—because we know the full story. But in the chain of events as presented in Matthew’s Gospel, that process is ongoing, with today’s pericope finally making that connection explicit. More or less.

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Identities and Barriers

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15 Year A)

Matthew 15.21-28

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 18:35)

 

Who are you? A simple enough question, but not always so simple to answer. Who we are is a very complex matter. There is so much that goes into our conception of who we are as individuals and as a collective—into our identity. So many aspects and characteristics that form our unique identities. Some of these being “given,” being beyond our control, such as sex, race or ethnicity, nationality, family of origin, sexual orientation, and virtually every physical attribute we possess. Aspects and characteristics that are more or less visible, and by and large, not readily changed other than by natural processes such as growth and aging (sex and gender identity being the exception for some). And then there are those aspects of our identity over which we have some conscious choice. Such as religion, moral values, political beliefs, choice of vocation or profession. Aspects and characteristics that are not directly visible, and which are more readily changeable if one so desires. Although, by and large, only changed after careful consideration and often with substantial effort. And then there are those aspects of our lives which help form our identity which are based more on interest, necessity, or circumstance, such as where we live, our choice of friends and acquaintances, organizations we belong to. Things that can and often do change over time, yet influence our sense of identity nonetheless. All of these coming together, combining and contributing to the unique identity that makes each of us who we are.

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God's Productivity Tools

 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14 Year A)

1 Kings 19.9-18; Matthew 14.22-33

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 23:40)

 

I would venture to guess that most of us are familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Demands of work, home, personal life, plus other organizations or activities we are involved in, including church. And for many, add to that the demands that come with also having to care for the needs of other family members, such as elderly or infirmed loved ones, or helping take care of grandchildren. At times, there seems to be so much that we just don’t know how it is all going to get done. Because of this we hardly have time to catch our breath, to have a moment to ourselves. And, if you’re like me, under such circumstances when we don’t have time for one more thing, and certainly don’t have time for ourselves, where or how do we find time for God?

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Confirmation by Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Exodus 34.29-35; 2 Peter 1.13-21; Luke 9.28-36

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 19:50)

 

The Transfiguration is one of those pivotal moments in the life of Jesus and his disciples. It is so important that we hear this Gospel lesson, or the comparable version from Matthew or Mark, every year on the last Sunday after the Epiphany—on the Sunday before the start of Lent. But in addition to that placement in our lectionary, there is also an entire day devoted to commemoration of the Transfiguration: August 6^th. In the Episcopal Church, our liturgical calendar has a hierarchy of feast days and holy days, and designations as to which take priority over others. Of course, there are what are known as “Principle Feasts:” the seven major holy days that take precedence over all other days, such as Easter Day and Christmas Day. Next in the hierarchy are regular Sundays, with each Sunday considered a feast of our Lord commemorating the Resurrection. Each Sunday has its own set of readings, referred to as “propers.” Referring to the “proper” readings and prayers designated for each Sunday of the three-year lectionary cycle. But the Transfiguration is so important that it is one of only three commemorations that take priority over the regular Sunday propers. And because of the way the calendar falls, August 6^th only occurs on a Sunday once every six years. This year being one of those years. As such, we interrupt our regularly scheduled lectionary readings to focus on the Transfiguration.

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