The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16), August 25, 2024

Well this is a moment of transition of faith. The Priests are to place the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, “in the inner sanctuary of the house the most holy place, underneath the winged of the cherubim.” This part of Solomon’s story is about identity and relationship and where each fits in. The people have once again veered from faith of the one God and this moment is to set the tone of who the people belong. And God is making it clear who God is to them.

Solomon before the assembly says in v. 23 “O Lord, God of Israel, (the one God of us), there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you in all their heart.”

              Solomon is having to make clear to the people who they are and who they serve in good times and bad.  Even with all the other religions and gods that are all around them; there is but one God. This is a great text Preacher-Teacher to discuss identity and relationship and sometimes to walk to our own beat and not to march with others, because what is popular in a society, is not necessarily the way to go, the true God is here there and everywhere and is paying attention to us and how we live. How are we living?

In Joshua we continue the going back and forth between God and God’s people. There are many out there claiming to be God, but the One says:  I AM your God, yes Preacher-Teacher have some play with the I AM you have Hebrew-Old Testament references and of course Jesus saying it again and again in the  Gospel of John’s texts in all the many ways.  Joshua reminds us we all have short memories especially when we think God has not been there for us, Joshua reminds the people, in v.17 “it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs In our sight. He (God) protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed,”

And as we have seen before the Psalmist seems to have enough faith for us all, can you hear the singing?  84:2 My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God…”   This says it all does it not and in a fully connected embodied way.  “my heart and flesh sing.”   Not only does the Psalmist remind us Preacher-Teacher God is here now but we get to embody it, sing it, and tell others who may doubt or question.  And we ourselves might be the one who is the doubter tomorrow, can I get an amen?  Take comfort the Psalmist reminds us our faith is indeed living and we Preacher-Teacher know our faith ebbs and flows that’s what makes it living.  We just need to live into and remind our listener it is ok to live into and to trust. The Dynamic Divine trusts us, let us trust in the Divine.

And to make the point; Psalm 34 is the song from the Divine’s point of view.  V’s.17,22 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles….The Lord redeems life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in God will be condemned.”   Yes, there will be up and downs, there will be afflictions, there will be those against you.  But God can handle it and in fact says let me be in relationship WITH you and protect you from those who may condemn.   Preacher-Teacher, God after all is relational not coercive.  All we are called to do, if we choose is to, is participate, God  will welcome us.

And now to Paul, citizen of the Empire saying to his Gentile audience, using the imagery of Rome, dominance, power, and “staying in line” and turning it to “stick it to the Empire.”  6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength and power.  And with their strength protected in armor they the people of God vs. 11-12  “…will be…able to stand against the wiles of the devil…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”   Poetic language in naming the evil of then and of now?  It is worth looking at what and who is the empire? And it is worth looking at  who is, and what is, of the Divine?

The finale of our bread texts!  Preacher-Teacher does it feel like “Oh my gosh how many ways can I talk about bread?”  Do not be weary, take on a different creative approach! Focus on the questions Jesus the teacher, asks.  Focus on where they are Capernaum, Jesus asks in v.60 “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?”  Then Jesus asks in v. 61 “Does this offend you?”  And don’t you love this one?  v. 62 “Then what if you were to see the Human One, ascending where was he before?”    Well that is THE question isn’t it? Process theologians dig in, you can be very creative…you might want to go to the “in the beginning.”

And then Simon Peter must chime in, a great opportunity to talk about the humanness of us all trying to understand our existential existence.  So make this the finale indeed take from each of the Johannine texts of the last several weeks talk about what is sacred, what is profane, what is death what is life, what is of heaven, what is of earth, maybe you’ll find it is all of the above.  This is your chance Preacher-Teacher to remind your listeners, the world is not binary, either is God; but there is a difference in quality in life and the choices WE make.  Will we sustain ourselves on the “I AM BREAD of LIFE” or just snack on potato chips because they are easier to reach for.  Up to you to preach and teach!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

This week’s lectionary integrates scripture, film, and music. Today’s congregants never receive scripture or sermon in isolation but in context of our cultural images, many of which involve drama and music. Below are some suggestions of some pop culture expressions that could add to your storytelling. This by no means is exhaustive just some that have meaning for me that might give light to your imaginations. I have my own tastes and realize there might be some genres missing, use these suggestions to let your creativity flow.
Themes: service, relationship, commitment, protection, loyalty, discernment and good decision making, gratefulness, substance vs filler,
Key words: wisdom, service, faith in action, prayer,
Pop Culture films and TV shows: Any of the Indiana Jones movies, Prince of Egypt, The Mission, Jesus of Montreal
Potential songs: Deliver Us, Prince of Egypt, Drink With Me, Les Misérables

---

Reverend Doctor Monica Corsaro is the Settled Senior Pastor of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa.  Her career combines traditional ministry and political activism,steeped in a process understanding, serving diverse communities in Washington State, Illinois, Colorado, and Southern California.

Before coming to Orange County, she led United Methodist and Christian Church, Disciples of Christ congregations in the Seattle area, and served a variety of higher education communities and settings, as campus minister at the University of Washington, chaplain of community engagement at Monmouth College, University Chaplain at Illinois Wesleyan, and Director of Spiritual Life at Knox College.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Illinois State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology, and a doctoral degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.