Monday, September 24, 2007

nine::twentythree--nine::twentyfour

--twentythree--
Know this: God is concerned with the poor and the lowly. Money may mean something now, but in time it will not; what then will you do? Lose your faith in money. Have faith in the God who loves those without.

(Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13)

--twentyfour-a homily--

The Lord has done great things for us. In this place we come to contemplate the goodness of God, to remember God's good work in the creation, to praise God for God's work in Christ. We are here because the lamp has not been concealed. It is found on its lampstand, exposing all things secret, both good and bad. This exposure is transforming us, bringing us back to God in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our bodily temples. The Spirit has brought us together to commune with God and with each other, to be made a people of promise, to be people who may weep for recognition that not all is right all the time, and yet rejoice now and will rejoice as we enter into the good work of the Kingdom.

Let us rejoice in thanksgiving, for God has brought us here to do good things for us and to make us to do good as well. God provides bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ, more precious than gold or silver, to make possible this transformation. Goodness is revealed at the table. Let us be inspired to proclaim that God is building the Kingdom, that God is still doing marvels, even today, even in this place and in the places we go to from here, rejoicing. (Amen.)

(Ezra 1:1-16, Psalm 126, Luke 8:16-18)

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