Pastor's Paragraph - April 23, 2020

These words of Brené Brown articulate well how I have been feeling and the work to which I feel called to devote my time and energy:

We will not go back to normal.  Normal never was.  Our pre-corona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate and lack.  We should not long to return, my friends.  We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment.  One that fits all of humanity and nature.

Using my gift of preaching I want to contribute to a new normal.  Since I find Jesus’ teachings to be timeless, timely and always relevant I want to keep us focused on the loving way of Christ, the One who can fit us with that new garment.

So far this year we have followed closely the story of Jesus as told by Mark.  Mark’s brief and fast-paced narrative presents Jesus ministry of transformation through teaching and healing; a ministry his disciples are trained to continue through prayer, listening and care.  Despite the pressures of large crowds of needy people and the occupying authorities determined to advance the empire’s agenda, Jesus stayed focused on his mission even if it meant walking the path that led to the cross, the means of God’s ultimate victory of grace, goodness and life.  Written in the wake of Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a message of the triumph of Divine grace was most encouraging.  Do we find the same encouragement from Christ in our adversity?

Chronologically speaking, the next gospel to take up the story is attributed to Matthew.  Relying heavily on Mark’s storyline he also adds his own unique stories of Jesus, highlighting the liberation reminiscent of Moses.  These are the stories that will garner our attention as we move through Eastertide, seeking to find meaning in the Resurrection in our place and time.  Here are the unique stories of Matthew we will study in May:

May 3              Matthew 1:1 and 17                           Curious Pedigree

May 10            Matthew 1:18-25                                A Prologue to Liberation

May 17            Matthew 5:17-20                                Fulfillment of the Law

May 24            Matthew 5:21-30, 33-37                    You Have Heard

May 31            Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18                         On Practical Matters of the Spirit

I look forward to learning and growing in discipleship with you.  May the Spirit and wisdom of Jesus transform us, and through us, the world God loves and sent Jesus to save.

Eastertide blessings,

Pastor Marc