The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday (Proper 15), August 18, 2024

King David, that scoundrel and loyal servant of the one God is now dead, and Solomon his young son now seeks his own relationship with God. And in this intimate, one on one, conversation with God (God appears to Solomon in a dream) as God does. And is proud of Solomon for Solomon’s questions of God are mature and of someone who wants to be a student of God, and to be in real relationship with God and in fact seeks the wisdom of God.

In chapter 3:9 Solomon asks: “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?” v. 10 “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.”

None of us can be to all to others, and know it all, all the time, especially in the Spiritual life, leading others in. Two amazing observations in these few lines of scripture. Solomon already knows the life he is about to enter is much more than just about him. Solomon knows it is about the relationship. The better relationship Solomon has with the Divine the better leader for his people he

will be. He is not asking God how he can bend his people’s will to obey him in the name of God. Solomon longs to be in authentic relationship with the God of love. Although we may try we cannot make God the God who serve us for our means. This you might say is wisdom.

And the wisdom path continues with the Proverbs and Psalm texts in her and his packaging you might say. Proverbs is preparing us, we even get the details of the preparing “slaughtering her animals, having the wine mixed.” Be prepared and take time to prepare before you have people to the table, especially when having bread and wine, it is sacred after all… not the the bread and wine itself, Preacher-teacher it is the act of the invitation.

9:5 Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 Lay aside immaturity and live and walk the way of insight.”

Wisdom literally means do NOT follow God blindly but use your intelligence you will discover insight. The journey is not just of heart but of head. But we do not leave out the heart either, and offer with enthusiasm like our Psalmist does in 111, it is about head, heart and hands the, Psalmist knows. All that we have which is in abundance is from God. Psalm 34 Preacher-teacher, can tell our folks God is here, there and everywhere but that does not give you permission to live any way you want…no, no, no. have wisdom, v:13 “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. “

We have spent time in Wisdom and now continuing with the feminine expression of the Divine we now are filled with the Spirit and Paul is telling us all about it. Preacher-Teacher this is a great time to celebrate with your folks that the Christian walk does not only happen one day a week. But is a lifestyle, and sometimes that lifestyle is not easy. You may have to speak against the dominant culture, which is Empire power driven not Christ driven, Paul reminds the Ephesians

then: “ Do not get drunk with the wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” what is the wine that is keeping our folks or ourselves from God?

Through the Christ: The Gospel of John tells us that; Jesus “is the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Again, the bread is not only the kind that is made with ingredients from the earth, it is so much more, and the flesh is not just the skin of one person, but all of us who are human.” God is committed to us. Are we committed to God? And Jesus wants to know if you are committed what are you going to do about it? The life with Christ is not just a dabbling to dip into once in a while. It is a lifestyle change and commitment after all the reward is eternal life. Is that not worth it?

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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, discernment and good decision making, gratefulness, substance vs filler,

Key words: wisdom, serve, seeking, drunk, bread of life, flesh, love, truth.

Pop Culture films and TV shows: O Brother Where Art Thou, Darkest Hour, Invictus, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Potential songs: Love Rescue Me, U2, Turn, Turn, Turn, The Byrds, Thank You For Hearing Me, Sinead O’Conner, Don’t Give Up, Peter Gabriel.

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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.