Sunday, June 21, 2020

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Genesis 12:8-21
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Second Reading: Romans 6:1b-11
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:24-39

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

To take up the cross is to live that courageous faith which claims the burdens of others.  The world says to us all the time, “Hey, it’s not your problem.”  “Stay out of it.”  “Look the other way.”  “Turn your head.”  “Do not get involved.”

No.  The way of the cross is the courageous faith that we receive as a provision of God.  Such faith calls us to involvement.  This faith calls us to get into other people’s business.  We are called into the messy business of other people’s lives.

The reality of this life of faith is it is messy.  Sarah pressed Abraham to send away their messiness.  It did not work.  It was not the way of faithfulness.  Abraham soothed himself when he sent her away by sending her with a skin of water and a loaf of bread.  It was only a temporary patch.  It was not enough.  God provided.

And God provides, through us, a courageous faith.  God provides that we are the ones who don’t just provide a temporary patch or a momentary relief and send them on their way.  God provides and calls us to a faith that is the way of the cross which invites us to lay it on the line and truly be in relationship in such a way that it is permanent and passionate.

That kind of faith is courageous faith—not counting the cost but courageously living the passion of faith in Jesus Christ.  This very way of courageous faithfulness is “taking up the cross.”

Even here, even now, COVID and on camera, be the Church and be the disciple you have been called to be living in the courageous faith that God provides.

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk