Pentecost 21: Psalm 96: Great is the Lord

 We only have about five weeks left in this liturgical (church) year. November 26 is Advent I and the New Year of the Church. There will be a new series then.

Today we look at the expansive inclusiveness of God’s love. God cares for all people, not just those who consider themselves ‘religious’ or knowledgable, or even powerful. In fact, God seems to prefer the least likely. We hear of non-Jews who God welcomes, and we often hear Jesus criticizing those in religious power in his day as he points to God, the only One who is truly great. 

In the Hebrew Scripture reading from Isaiah (45:1-7), we hear God tell King Cyrus of Persia, I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For 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.” God uses the reign of this Persian king to bring about the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the 6^th Century BCE.

The Epistle (I Thessalonians 1:1-10) speaks of how the faithful in Thessoloniki in Greece have became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia…how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. The Greeks, considered pagan by the Jewish leadership are welcomed into the Family of God. 

As humans, we have a long history of denying this gift to anyone who doesn't agree with our theology, or who doesn't accept our leadership. We have, generation after generation, gone to war to gain power and control over anyone who isn't like us. When will we discover that we have more in common than is different? When will we recognize that, as the song says, "We are one in the Spirit, we are One in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored." You might want to listen to this version of the song by Kingdom Expression.

In light of events in the past couple of weeks in Jerusalem and Israel, we might wonder if God is absent or if God is enacting ‘wrath’ because of our actions. In fact, God is with all the people—on all sides of the conflict. God, I am sure, weeps with those who weep and cries out for peace and compassion just as much as those who seek to find a new (and lasting) peace. God, I am sure, does not take sides, but holds all humanity in love even as we kill and destroy one another. Fear and hatred of the ‘other’ leads to kidnapping, displacement, destruction, and death. This is not God’s way, nor God’s will.

Our Gospel today (Matthew 22:15-22) is a confrontation of Jesus by the religious leaders. They are hoping to trap him into making seditious comments. Instead, he responds, give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s. The leaders of the world think they have power. True power is God’s.

God is in the midst of all our petty strivings for power whether it is as a nation or in our job or just the attempt to be important to someone. God can use the ways of the world to move the Kingdom closer, just as God used Cyrus of Persia and opened the hearts of the Greeks. Nothing is impossible for God, even though we humans may think we have the final word, we don’t. God’s love is the final word.

God is always seeking us, even in those times when we forget to look for God. James Finley says, “Our longing for God is an echo of God’s infinite longing for us.” No matter how far we stray, God is still right there waiting for us to return.

As Psalm 96 says, we must learn to Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. It is our call in this time to continue to point to the One God who is able to save us from ourselves. As a human race, we have perhaps forgotten that it is the Lord who made the heavens. All families of the peoples [are to] ascribe to the Lord honor and power. Let us remember to Tell all the nations how wonderful he is! Tell people everywhere about the amazing things he does.

Psalm 96:1-9 1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. 2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; he is more to be feared than all gods. 5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but it is the Lord who made the heavens. 6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary! 7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; ascribe to the Lord honor and power. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. (Book of Common Prayer)

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole world sing to the Lord! 2 Sing to the Lord and praise his name! Tell the good news every day about how he saves us! 3 Tell all the nations how wonderful he is! Tell people everywhere about the amazing things he does. 4 The Lord is great and worthy of praise. He is more awesome than any of the “gods.” 5 All the “gods” in other nations are nothing but statues, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 He lives in the presence of glory and honor. His Temple is a place of power and beauty. 7 Praise the Lord, all people of every nation; praise the Lord’s glory and power. 8 Give the Lord praise worthy of his glory! Come, bring your offerings into his courtyard. 9 Worship the Lord in all his holy beauty. Everyone on earth should tremble before him. (Easy to Read Version)

Pray for all war-torn parts of the world, esp. Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.
Pray for the innocent caught in the cross-fire and forced from their homes.
Pray for those who think war is the only solution to differences.
Pray for our children and children’s children.
Pray for the Family of God.
Pray that God's peace may be restored.