June 20, 2023 — Psalm 62 

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken. How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion, in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.” Psalm 62 

In 1777, Dr. William Dodd, a London clergyman, was condemned to be hanged for forgery. He wrote his last sermon in prison, and when it was published, a friend commented to Samuel Johnson that the effort was far better than he had thought the man capable of. Dr. Johnson replied, “Depend upon it, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” The difficulty with reading and looking for some comfort in Psalm 62 perhaps is this: very few of us have ever been in the desperate straits that the Psalmist was in and so we cannot truly relate to what he says here. “How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you…” It appears many were threatening his life and scheming to kill him. 

The main theme of the psalm is the right and wrong objects of faith. If we trust in G-d, we will not allow anything to deter our hope or distract our minds. If we trust in men or in things of this earth, we’re depending on that which is just a breath. “On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.” This is a statement of faith we can all find comfort and rest. 

Prayer

Lord God, in a constantly changing world we look to you as our rock of hope. Hear us as we pour out our hearts to you, and give us your grace and secure protection; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

June 18, 2023 – Pentecost +3A  Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1-23

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Jesus commissions his disciples, calling together all of his twelve disciples to his side and gives them authority….to cast out demons, and to cure diseases. And, they are told to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven had come near.  So who were these twelve men? We have conflicting lists, based on which Gospel you read, but here is who is mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel:

Peter (Simmon); Andrew, Peter’s brother; James, the son of Zebedee; John, also the son of Zebedee; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas (called the twin); Matthew (the tax collector); James (son of Alpheus); Thaddeus; Simon (the Cananaean); Judas Iscariot

Now, some of these names are well known to us, familiar in their own right — while others are unknown. I think this is what gives me such a good feeling as I read this list of names, because most of these men were just regular people — not the aristocrats and leaders of Galilee and Jerusalem — they were veritable nobodies with whom Jesus connected with despite a pedigree or name. So these are the twelve disciples mentioned in Matthew. They were not well known, though a few might be considered “infamous”. But they were a rag-tag group with different life experiences, different political affiliations, brothers, childhood associations, and a mix of urban and rural backgrounds. But one thing they have in common is their willingness to remain open and to follow Jesus’ calling.

Now is the time for you and me to answer the call of Jesus — to share the hope that comes through Jesus — for he is the good news that the Kingdom of G-d has come near.

Pastor Dave

June 19, 2023 — Psalm 61 

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings. For you, O God, have heard my vows;  you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.” Psalm 61 

Psalm 61 was written by a Psalmist at a time when he must have been far from home and safety. It begins with his desperate cry to G-d. He is despairing, lost, and struggling. “My heart is faint!” he tells the Lord. If we are honest, many of us can relate to these feelings. We know what it is like to sit in darkness, being alone, scared of things we cannot see and wondering if all of this will soon end. In his sorrow, the Psalmist calls out to G-d in prayer. He knows that the only way he can rest and find safety in the Rock of Salvation is if G-d reaches down and places him atop the rock. 

In G-d, many have found the shelter they needed in their darkest hours. Many have found rest, comfort, and retreat when the world has closed in and all seemed lost. So why would we not, in our darkest moments, cry out to the G-d who is our “rock,” our shelter, our hiding place, and our fortress? And as we cry out, just like the Psalmist we know we will find comfort in G-d’s grace and care. 

Sometimes, when our hearts are overwhelmed, all we need do is cry out to G-d and ask that in our desperation and fear, G-d would place us on stable ground. G-d would comfort us and lead us to safety. G-d would shelter us and deliver us. Hopefully, the words of this song and Psalm will bring you comfort and a small amount of peace as you remember that when your heart is overwhelmed, you can always find rest in G-d your rock. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, love and truth of the Father, you came to earth to relieve the pain of our exile; you took our weakness as your own. When our hearts grow faint, uphold us until we stand with you before God and praise your name forever.

Amen.