Episcopal Ramblings from North Idaho

It was 2002 when Afghanistan held its first free elections following decades of Soviet and Islamic jihadist rule. People had to dip their thumbs or forefingers in purple dye to mark themselves as voters. It was intended as a prevention of voter fraud. But it also became a badge of honor.

In the U.S., we vote. This year, in 2020, we voted like no other year in recent history -- with high turnout in mail and in person for both presidential candidates. We take it as a privilege and responsibility. But we cannot take it as a weapon or a declaration of some "personal constitution."

Voting is not just my voice -- it is my voice added and then yielded to the total voice of the whole. 

Listen, and mark how you will seek conversation, understanding, and compromise, and how you will respect others who think and believe differently.

 

Who is your god? What is your kingdom?

These are questions for every follower of Jesus to take to heart, especially now in this season leading up to a national election.

I encourage you to read Exodus chapters 20-32. And I encourage you to read Matthew chapters 20-22. Then, listen again to this sermon.

The God of Life invites you -- to the way of the cross.

Forgiveness may seem hard to offer. Maybe that's because forgiveness is also hard to accept and receive. Do you know and accept that you are truly, fully forgiven by God?

For scriptures tied to this sermon, read Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 14:1-12, and Matthew 18:21-35.

 

Lessons from Joseph and from the Canaanite woman that meets Jesus help us glimpse the power of opening ourselves to feel and share our sorrows, our losses, our hopes and yearnings and dreams. In this time of pandemic and of pain across the world, let us dare to be this fully human, and meet the God who feels deeply with us and more deeply than we can imagine.

Jesus comes to the disciples straining against tormenting waves.

Joseph is sold into slavery by his own brothers.

God is in the chaos. Chaos happens. And God is there.