Sunday, October 29, 2023

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
– Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
– Second Reading: I Thessalonians 2:1-8
– Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:34-46

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

It is Reformation Sunday…it honors the events that led to significant shifts in the life of the church.  Going on about 500 hundred years ago now…we are still called to make significant shifts. 

And we figure out what those are based on the balcony view.  (Thank you, Ron Heifetz and your book, “Leadership Without Easy Answers” where you help us see the whole by getting off the dance floor and up into the balcony.)  Get up there to that mountain, Moses.  Climb up to Jesus, and there and then we see the transformation we are called to be.

It is who we are—we are the ones who are transformed by the view Jesus gives us: “Love God…love neighbor…love self…love God…”

Everything else…well, there really isn’t anything else.  It is what matters.  It is where there is meaning; it is where life takes on hope and depth and peace.  “Love God…love neighbor…love self…love God…love neighbor.”

Why Jesus?  Jesus is the balcony that makes it possible for us to see the transformation we are called to be today in this strange moment in life and history.

Love God.  Love neighbor.  Jesus is the balcony that makes it possible for us to be the transformation we called to be.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk