Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost August 23, 2020
In Isaiah the people are advised to look to their spiritual ancestors as the rock from which they were hewn. Jesus declares that the church will be built on the rock of Peter’s bold confession of faith. God’s word of reconciliation and his mercy are keys to the church’s mission. St. Paul urges us to not be conformed to this world but to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, using our individual gifts to build up the body of Christ. Receiving God’s grace through the word, we go forth to offer our spiritual worship through word and deed.
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 9, 2020
Elijah finds the presence of God not in earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the sound of sheer silence. When the disciples face a great storm on the sea, they cry out with fear. Jesus says, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Amid the storms of life, we gather to seek the calm presence of Christ that soothes our fears. In comforting words of scripture, God grants us peace and sends us forth to be a sign of God’s presence to others.
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost August 2, 2020
In today’s first reading God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. In that act, we remember all who are hungry or poor in our world today. As we see the Bread of Life in our midst, we are sent forth to give ourselves as bread for the hungry.