Worship Sundays at 9 am
This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
…from Good Sam in Worship on August 17, 2014
First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (Click to see the NIV Bible Text)
The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God’s imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.
Gospel: Matthew 15:10-28 Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be pagan and unclean approaches him for help.
Isaiah (ch56) has a vibrant vision for what the Temple of God should become in it’s next incarnation. What would it take to make God’s house into place of prayer for all people? If we can assume that God is busy creating circumstances in which God’s house can be a place of prayer for all people, then we must also ask what must happen among the faithful for this to come about. Making God’s purposes my hearts desire is a good start. Isaiah suggest maintaining justice until God accomplishes this task. I suggest these things:
- Make a point of meeting people ( I know this takes some of us out of our comfort zones)
- Pray for the people you meet
- Affirm their gifts and be curious about their journeys toward life and healing
- Desire to be a gift
- Welcome them as though they are a gift to you (you never know what key they might hold to your journey)
- Realize that part of this work of God is doing is changing us to be the welcome and the greeting of God’s Word.
…message from Worship at Good Sam on August 17, 2014 “What Does It Mean to Say, “All Are Welcome?”