Sunday, October 1, 2023

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
– Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
– Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-13
– Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-32

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

Exodus 17 – to place ourselves in the narrative, we are Moses in this grand old story.  Collectively that is who we are: Moses.  Together God has given us this task of delivering this people to the Promised Land.  We better hear it and hear it again—God has a plan; God has a way.  God has a plan for us.

What is that plan?  It is right in the text. What is the instruction? GO ON AHEAD!  Go on ahead.

Just at that very moment when we, oh Moses, just at that very moment when we are anxious and fearful—it is into that moment that God sends us on ahead.  Where the world says stop—God says go!

You and I best not think God is only calling us take care of our own business—God is calling us to lead others to the Promised Land of belief and life in Christ.  The reality of it is GOD is calling us, and at the table with whole world we are fed, nurtured, and commissioned for this work on this World Communion Sunday.

Do had better not hang back thinking that someone else will do it—we are called, appointed, and ordained in our baptism to be the ones, and we are nourished and made ready at the Lord’s Table.  Go on ahead! 

I hear people encourage others these days with the simple words, “You got this.”  And we do, because God’s got us!  Go on ahead.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk