sermons & Illuminations

Faith can be a source of strength in the face of fear. Listen for this reassurance in Sunday’s readings, first about Joseph and then about Peter. Our first reading continues our journey with the Bible’s dysfunctional first family into the fourth generation: Israel, previously called Jacob, loved his son Joseph more than he loved any of his other children. This, unsurprisingly, makes Joseph’s brothers jealous. They briefly consider murdering Joseph, but decide to sell him into slavery instead. Once again, as it so often does, scripture reminds us that even the patriarchs weren’t noble people but flawed, broken, sometimes downright bad individuals. Yet still God loved them, as God loves us, and Joseph will eventually forgive his brothers, as God forgives us.

Psalm: Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b
Holding up Joseph as an example that God remains faithful even in hard times, these verses from Psalm 105 recall Joseph’s life as a slave in Egypt. His feet were bruised in fetters and his neck was choked in a heavy iron collar, but God remained faithful to him. From a beginning as a foreigner and a slave, Joseph gained the Egyptian king’s trust and eventually rose to a place of power in Pharaoh’s court. God has done marvelous things for the people, the Psalmist exults. Sing praises! Glory in God’s holy name!

Second Reading: Romans 10:5-15
In this week’s selection from Paul’s letter to the Romans, he continues addressing Rome’s reunited Christian community: Its Gentile converts and its Jewish Christians who have recently returned from exile. Paul urges them all to live in harmony and love one another. Salvation is for all through Jesus, Paul writes, emphasizing that there is no distinction between those of Jewish and Gentile Greek heritage: God is God of all, and is generous to all who recognize Jesus as Lord and call upon God’s name. Don’t judge our neighbors, Paul says, but proclaim the good news of the Gospel so that all may be saved.

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
The striking image of Jesus walking on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee makes this one of the most familiar Gospel stories. Jesus had sent the apostles ahead to cross the sea without him so he could take some time to pray alone. His grief at the beheading of his cousin John by Herod had been interrupted by the huge crowd that had to be fed with a few baskets of loaves and fishes, and now he sought solitude again. Meanwhile, the apostles, alone on the boat, are terrified by the wind and waves. Suddenly Jesus appears, calmly walking across the stormy sea! Peter, first to believe that it really is Jesus, steps out onto the water to meet him. But Peter’s faith isn’t strong enough to keep him from sinking until Jesus extends a hand to save him. Then the wind eases, they get into the boat, and the awed disciples now for the first time worship Jesus as the Son of God.