Pastor Stewart MillerTrinity Lutheran Church

SERMON FOR Lectionary 29 Proper 24 -- October 19/14Texts: see notes following the sermon;

Money, politics AND religion … there they are.. all three of the things

we are never supposed to talk about together in church .. & they’re IN THE

SAME LESSON. All we have to do is somehow find a way to include sex in

this and you will all be running for the doors in terror!?!?!?! Doesn’t Jesus

know the rules??? Doesn’t He know that we are never supposed to talk

about those things.. TOGETHER.. in polite company?? Apparently not!?!?

Well… having thus been dare & dissuaded by social convention… I

guess the only sensible thing for me to do is.. also do exactly what I’m not

supposed to do. As in I guess I too am, going to talk about just those

things… those things that I - with Jesus - DO think ARE important for us to

talk about. And while, you might think that breaking the rules in this way I

should probably begin with an apology.. of course, I’m not going to!!?! I am

not going to because - in the end - I think that is going to be the most im-

portant part of what I want you to think about this morning - the truth that

while these may be THE uncomfortable topics.. while these may be topics

we don’t like to put on our “desktops” side by side… they really actually are

THE things we need to get a lot better talking about .. together! They have

to be!!!!! And.. what’s more.. I’m even going to suggest that doing so may

finally be one of the most crucial things we can do for ourselves and our

lives of faith and faithfulness!!!!

The odd thing is, you see, that .. if one was to take a survey from

people, both within and outside of the church – asking about what is miss-

ing in sermons… asking about what people WANT to hear – the highest

likelihood is that what I would get is a whole bunch of comments about ser-

mons needing to be more “real”, more “practical”, more “connected to day

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to day life”. I would get a whole bunch of comments about how people are

looking for help in figuring out how to deal with the pressures & the “pow-

ers” out there that seem to so easily & consistently overwhelm us… com-

ments about how people are yearning for help figuring out how to find

peace in the midst of all that.. how to balance & have life in the midst of

life!?!?

The problem then being that IF that really is what people are looking

for & “yearning” for, well then, how are we pastors supposed to meet those

longings without.. “being real”(???).. without talking about those very

things that ARE so tangibly what we are about out there in the world…

without talking about those “real things” that so many of us spend so much

of our time struggling with.. feeling overwhelmed by.. and being consumed

by.. as in money.. or power.. or influence.. or values & priorities (especially

as they then translate into the life decision & political decisions we make in

our lives). How am I going to be of any real help unless I DO talk about

those messy things (maybe even including sex) that make life such an in-

timidating obstacle course!?!?!??? Like it or not, what people are actually

asking us to talk about are those very things… money,.. politics,.. AND how

our faith and “religion” speak to those parts of life.

The only question being then that .. as pleading as we might truly be

for help in figuring out how to wade through that “muck”… are we then also

as ready to listen to what Jesus is going to say to us when we go to Him

with those longings?? Are we going to be READY to let Jesus speak about

just those REAL but “personal”… REAL & PRACTICAL but also oh so dis-

quieting things LIKE.. how your faith REALLY does have a great deal to

say about how we live out who we are.. IN the world?????

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You see, at the core… that ends up being the big twist in today’s little

story - that what Jesus wants us to realize is that being ready to talk about

& wrestle with what faith has to say about living life ARE what its all

about. .. To recap.. it is the Pharisees’ hope, you see, that (by coming up

with the prefect question) they are going to “catch” Jesus saying something

that will either compromise Himself (in terms of Jewish laws) or put Himself

at treasonous odds with the Romans (and thus get himself arrested). And

so it is, with this “taxes and graven images on the coins problem” they think

they have finally set Jesus, the perfect trap.

All of which makes it that much more delicious that what Jesus does

finally give them as an answer that not only turns the whole question up-

side down & confounds them… but also leaves us with a haunting chal-

lenge that reverberates to this very day!?!?! For you see, far from compro-

mising Himself OR making it easy for them to put their lives into polite Rub-

bermaid compartments, what Jesus actually does is completely muddy the

waters (on purpose) AND make it harder for any of us to dodge our ulti-

mate responsibility. Oh sure, to begin with, it might sound easy enough to

hear Jesus politely suggest that we “give to Caesar what appears to be

Caesar’s and then to God [what we so carefully & safely decide] is God’s –

thus freeing us to compartmentalize our life and decisions into safe, sepa-

rate boxes. Except that.. what we really know – or are supposed to know is

that’s actually absolutely impossible to do .. that its actually impossible

to divide things up that tidily … that believing that that distinction even ex-ists is to utterly lie to ourselves!!!

After all wasn’t that the whole point of Thanksgiving Sun & what we

talked about last week - taking time to remind ourselves that ALL we have..

that ALL we are.. that ALL of life is GIFT.. gift to us from God? Wasn’t the

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whole point of last week’s eatathon - taking time to remind ourselves that ir-

respective of the various illusions we have of “independence”..irrespective

of how much we may want to be able to lay hold of some things as “ours”

and to designate far fewer things as “God’s” … the most important truth of

life is found in remembering that ALL we have and who we are is God’s

hand holding and shaping us???

Which means… that the trick behind what Jesus does finally give as

His answer today is that there just is no easy answer! On the one hand, it

is true that we do live in the world and that means we ARE going to get our

hands dirty by having to deal with “filthy lucre” and the like - with money,

with being part of “the system” and all that entails .. including having to de-

cide how to support or not support our government… how we spend money

on this or that… & how to be involved in how our world unfolds. At the

same time though we do all of this remembering that it is also true that the

first claim on us… the first claim on all we have and do… the first priority

in our lives will always be ..GOD!!! That meaning then, that what we do

when we handle that money, that power, that life of politic will - MUST - al-

ways first & most critically reflect that claim God makes on us… reflect the

commitment to God we claim we have made! It means that we do have to

realize that we are going to have to — all of us — “go there”!?! We ARE

going to have to learn to sit with each other & have precisely those uncom-

fortable discussions we so dislike having … those discussions of what we

each feel God is calling us to do with our money… with our vote… with our

time & energy & commitment. And we ARE going to have to both listen to

Jesus when HE talks about such AND have those very conversations with

each other. For indeed, if we know nothing else about ourselves, the one

thing we do know is how easy it is to lie to ourselves & delude ourselves

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with selfishness & pride. And thus, that it is only when those outside voices

get together with our inside voices that we have any ghost of a chance of

being truly sensible and faithful.

The simple fact is that “real life” is complex and messy! “Real life” is

life we live WITH one another! And the call of God is mostly that we get in

there and get at it … no matter how messy or uncomfortable that feels..

maybe ESPECIALLY then!

AMEN

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Sunday, October 19, 2014Lectionary 29Proper 24Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

INTRODUCTION

In today's first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ulti-mate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,the Sovereign over all the earth,the Wisdom from on high,our merciful Judge and Savior.Amen.

Let us boldly approach the throne of grace,trusting in God's mercy and love.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Generous and faithful God,we confess to you all the ways,known and unknown,that we reject and undermine your steadfast love.Though you made us your people,we treat strangers with suspicion.Though you forgave our debts,we collect without mercy.Yet we are quick to pass judgment on others.Have mercy on us, O God,and remember your promise to us,for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.Amen.

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The grass withers, the flower fades,but the word of our God will stand forever.Through the living Word, + Jesus Christ,God forgives your every debt, your every sin,and gives you a new heart and a new spirit.Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (LBW)

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the na-tions. Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (102)

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW)

Alleluia. Shine like stars | in the world,*holding fast to the | word of life. Alleluia. (Phil. 2:15, 16)

VERSE (LBW)

Alleluia. In fulfillment of his own purpose God gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Alleluia. (James 1:18)

READINGS

Isaiah 45:1–7Exodus 33:12–23 (Semi-continuous)Psalm 96:1–9 [10–13]Ascribe to the LORD honor and power. (Ps. 96:7)Psalm 99 (Semi-continuous)Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God. (Ps. 99:5)

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1 Thessalonians 1:1–10Matthew 22:15–22

FIRST READING: Isaiah 45:1–7

The prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the Lord has anointed to end Israel's exile. The Lord makes this choice so that the whole world will recognize this Lord as the only God. Persia had a god of light and a god of darkness; the Lord claims sovereignty over both light and darkness.

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,whose right hand I have graspedto subdue nations before himand strip kings of their robes,to open doors before him — and the gates shall not be closed:

2I will go before youand level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronzeand cut through the bars of iron,

3I will give you the treasures of darknessand riches hidden in secret places,so that you may know that it is I, the LORD,the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

4For the sake of my servant Jacob,and Israel my chosen,I call you by your name,I surname you, though you do not know me.

5I am the LORD, and there is no other;besides me there is no god.I arm you, though you do not know me,

6so that they may know, from the rising of the sunand from the west, that there is no one besides me;I am the LORD, and there is no other.

7I form light and create darkness,I make weal and create woe;I the LORD do all these things.\

FIRST READING (SEMI-CONTINUOUS): Exodus 33:12–23

Moses successfully interceded with God to accompany Israel to the holy land after their sin with the golden calf. In response to a request to display his glory, God recites a sen-tence that appears frequently in the Old Testament: "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious." Moses is not allowed to see God's face, but only God's back.

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12Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." 14He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."

17The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." 19And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will pro-claim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gra-cious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." 21And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."

PSALM (ELW): Psalm 96:1–9 [10–13]

Ascribe to the LORD honor and power. (Ps. 96:7)

1Sing to the LORD | a new song;sing to the LORD, | all the earth.

2Sing to the LORD, bless the name | of the LORD;proclaim God's salvation from | day to day.

3Declare God's glory a- | mong the nationsand God's wonders a- | mong all peoples.

4For great is the LORD and greatly | to be praised,more to be feared | than all gods. R

5As for all the gods of the nations, they | are but idols;but you, O LORD, have | made the heavens.

6Majesty and magnificence are | in your presence;power and splendor are in your | sanctuary.

7Ascribe to the LORD, you families | of the peoples,ascribe to the LORD hon- | or and power.

8Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the | holy name;bring offerings and enter the courts | of the LORD. R

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9Worship the LORD in the beau- | ty of holiness;tremble before the LORD, | all the earth.

[10Tell it out among the nations: "The | LORD is king!The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be movedwill judge the peo- | ples with equity."

11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the | earth be glad;let the sea thunder and all that is in it;let the field be joyful and all that | is therein.

12Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your com- | ing, O LORD,for you come to | judge the earth.

13You will judge the | world with righteousnessand the peoples | with your truth.] R

PSALM (ELW) (SEMI-CONTINUOUS): Psalm 99

Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God. (Ps. 99:5)

1The LORD is king; let the | people tremble.The LORD is enthroned upon the cherubim; let | the earth shake.

2The LORD, | great in Zion,is high a- | bove all peoples.

3Let them confess God's name, which is | great and awesome;God is the | Holy One.

4O mighty king, lover of justice, you have es- | tablished equity;you have executed justice and righteous- | ness in Jacob. R

5Proclaim the greatness of the LORDand fall down be- | fore God's footstool;

God is the | Holy One.6Moses and Aaron among your priests,and Samuel among those who call upon your | name, O LORD;

they called upon you, and you | answered them,7you spoke to them out of the pil- | lar of cloud;

they kept your testimonies and the decree | that you gave them.8O LORD our God, you answered | them indeed;

you were a God who forgave them,yet punished them for their | evil deeds.

9Proclaim the greatness of the LORD and worship upon God's | holy hill;for the LORD our God is the | Holy One. R

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SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Most likely this letter is the first written by Paul. Paul is giving pastoral encouragement and reassurances to new Christians living in an antagonistic pagan environment. Their commitment of faith, love, and hope makes them a model for other new Christian com-munities.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace. 2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers,

constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

GOSPEL: Matthew 22:15–22

After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with ques-tions. First they ask if God's people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.

15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sin-cere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it law-ful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" 21They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God's creation.

A brief silence.

Lord of the church, help us to give to you what is yours. Make us faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Lord of creation, help us to share our bounties. Plant in us a willing and able desire to utilize the world's resources wisely and without bias. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Lord of the nations, help us to put aside malice. Teach us to fight for justice, to liberate the oppressed, and to advocate for those who have no voice. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Lord of life, help us in our need. Restore the minds, bodies, and spirits of those who are sick and soothe those who despair (especially). Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Lord of all, help us to support one another. Bless our communities, sustain local busi-nesses, and remove enmity between neighbors. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Lord of the resurrection, help us to rejoice in your promises. Gladden the hearts of those who grieve. Greet those who die with your reviving grace. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Trusting in your mercy and goodness, we bring before you these prayers and whatever else you see that we need, in the name of the one who sets us free, Jesus Christ, our Savior.Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hillswere gathered together to become one bread,

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so let your church be gathered togetherfrom the ends of the earth into your kingdom,for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever.Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

The reign of God is at hand.Come, taste the joy prepared for you.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

O God, the host at every meal,at this table you spread out a feast for all peoples,the bread of life and the cup of salvation.Send us from this banquetto invite others into these good things,to let justice roll down like waters,and to care for the least of our sisters and brothers;through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and our Savior.Amen.

SENDING OF COMMUNION

Gracious God, you took the form of a servant,offering yourself as food, comfort, and strengthto a sick and hurting world.Anoint with a servant heartthose who take your word and sacramentto our sisters and brothersin their homes/in prisons/in hospitals.Grant grace, mercy, healing, and hopeto those who feast on your body and bloodand receive your words of new life.May we all recognize that we have a place and a homein the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.

BLESSING

The blessing of almighty God,the Father of glory,

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+ Jesus Christ our peace,and the Spirit of truth,be upon you and remain with you always.Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Christ is with you.Thanks be to God.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26024.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thursday, October 23, 2014James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62

One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Tes-tament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. Scholars are uncertain whether this means a blood brother. He was a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Sunday, October 26Philipp Nicolai, died 1608; Johann Heermann, died 1647; Paul Gerhardt, died 1676; hymnwriters

These great hymnwriters all worked in seventeenth-century Germany in times of war and plague. Nicolai, a pastor, lost 1,300 parishioners to plague, 170 in one week. He wrote "O Morning Star, how fair and bright" and "Wake, awake, for night is flying." Heer-mann's hymns, including "Ah, holy Jesus," often express the emotions of faith. Ger-hardt, perhaps the greatest Lutheran hymnwriter, was a pastor in Berlin.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26024.