Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary 1st Reading Psalm 2nd Reading Gospel
Anglican lectionary
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
89:21-38
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Catholic lectionary:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:13-18
(both)

NOTES ON THE READINGS

2 Samuel 7:1-14a

God provides David and his nation with rest from his enemies. While in this state of rest, or might I say relaxation, he realises that he is living in a house of cedar and ‘God is in a tent’. He calls upon the prophet Nathan and relays that he would like to build something of stature for God to dwell. Nathan agrees and states that it is a good idea with good intentions, despite the possible political motivator of centralising worship in ‘his city’.

However, God refuses and does not respond out of anger but says that this is not needed. God has dwelt with the people all along and has never asked for a place built of cedar or anything grand. To add God in turn states that he has taken David to great heights from his days in the pasture and promises to establish his household for generations to come.

Ephesians 2:11-22

This passage continues after Paul communicates that we were all doomed and deserved death for our transgressions. We are saved through the undeserved grace of God. We have become kins of Jesus through his love sacrifice made for us.

Paul in this passage speaks to the notion that Gentiles, the uncircumcised, did not have a place in this family but are now welcomed as full members through the merit and embodiment of Jesus. Jesus reconciled and brought peace to ‘circumcised’ and ‘uncircumcised’, the Jew and Gentile, and through the cross broke all barriers bringing all in communion with God through him.

He concludes by saying that Jesus is the cornerstone and that everything was built and brought together. And lastly, that God dwells in all who accept him through God’s spirit.

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Jesus had sent out the disciples to do ministry and in this passage, they return and report back to him what they have witnessed and have done. However, they were recognised and a crowd was forming. To properly give attention to their reports, Jesus requested that they go away to a quiet place to complete this task. The people followed suit, even getting ahead of them. Jesus seeing the large crowd when they landed had compassion on them. He recognised that they were lost and in need. The writer states that “they were like sheep without a shepherd” and that he stayed and taught them many things.

The latter part of the reading again speaks about Jesus landing in Gennesaret where people recognised him and came to him to be healed or just to touch him to be healed. Here we truly see the heart of Jesus. Jesus is for the people, he moved and dwelt among them. He did not shy away from being with them and meeting their needs. Even though he could not get to everyone, he certainly changed the lives of those he encountered.

 

DRAFT SERMON/SERMON OUTLINE

 

There is a definite theme across the readings about God dwelling with the people. The ark of the covenant, where God was in the ‘tent’ and pushed back at David, because God is where God needs to be and always has been. 

In the Ephesians reading we see Paul ends with God dwelling in those who accept Jesus and the invitation to join the family of God. The Gospel reading highlights how Jesus had compassion for people and dwelt among them.

In recent weeks, the Western Cape, Cape Town in particular, in South Africa was hit with heavy rain and powerful winds, which led to flooding and people’s houses and living spaces being really badly damaged. The ones hit the hardest are those who live in informal settlements and the homeless. Hurricane Beryl in the US, was also really severe, to the point where there was loss of life and many lost their homes and were displaced.

These natural phenomena occur all the time and have devastating effects on people’s livelihoods. we often seek help or answers and unfortunately, we are likely to hit a dead end. The passages of today remind us that God is with us even in disaster. God was with David in battle, with Paul through his trials and with Jesus even when the world was against him. We need to remember that even though we might not hear a direct answer at times, we can rest assured that God is there, God is present and that God chooses to be with us, just as Jesus had compassion on those who came to him, God loves us deeply and is deeply moved with compassion for each every one of God’s children.

On July 18 we celebrate International Nelson Mandela Day (or Mandela Day), we are called to show love and compassion to those less fortunate than us and also to be mindful of the state of the world in terms of sustainability and injustice. Keeping in theme with Mandela Day, I believe it would be a blessing, a gift and a help to all if we look to help our environment on this day or choose a day in remembrance of Mandela Day to do something like a beach cleanup, clearing a storm drain, cleaning a river, a community cleanup, clearing up the garden of the elderly or something else of the sort. Get a friend or friends and family members involved. Perhaps even your organisation or prayer group.

Let us be the stewards to show the world true compassion and be agents of God’s love by showing love to God’s earth and its inhabitants.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

 

https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-07-16/ephesians-211-22-2/

https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-07-16/2-samuel-71-14a-2/

Mandeladay.com –https://www.mandeladay.com/#:~:text=Mandela%20Day%20is%20an%20annual,impact%20in%20their%20own%20communities.

Cape Town Storms – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sehmst1gROE

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Ryan and Jesse at CoTT

Ryan Baatjies

An ordinand from the Diocese of Cape Town and a seminarian at the College of the Transfiguration (the Anglican Church of Southern African residential seminary) as part of his journey to the ordained ministry.

 

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