The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for August 13, 2023 was preached in response to Matthew 14:22-33 based on the notes below.
Ramshaw, “The hermeneutic of the Revised Common Lectionary is Christological. The selections were made to proclaim the life offered to the world in Jesus Christ and to enrich the faith of worshiping Christians.”
She continues, “Every Sunday is centered in God’s gift of salvation through Christ. Each week the lectionary intends to awaken and nurture faith, thus meeting its goal even for the many believers who attend worship only about once a month. Seen this way, the lectionary takes not three years, but a single Christological Sunday.”
The RCL is not thematic, for the most part, though the next three years we’re following the “themed” pairing from the Hebrew scriptures with the gospel text.
1 Kings and Matthew are about call, faith and response. The Romans reading can give us some direction and invitation about our call, faith, and response.
Elijah is throwing a pity party. “I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” He’s called to listen for God.
Jesus has taken time to pray after teaching crowds and sends the disciples ahead. They’re scared until Jesus offers comfort. Feeling alone with the boat battered and away from shore. Then they see a ghost!
1 Kings passage is a favorite because it’s a reminder that there are workers in the vineyard with me here and locally and globally!
When God speaks not in the wind or the fire or the earthquake but in silence God rejects the pity party. Tells Elijah others are working too, and God has work for them
“Share anything with you but their faith”
Scary. Carol, church of introverts
Romans passage, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Know it from being about salvation and Romans Road. But we have good news to share. You keep coming back each week. Why? Is there someone else that might enjoy this? Communal, amateur singing? Order over chaos? Queer acceptance? Striving toward antiracism? All of that in the face of the powers of death that assail us.
All markers of the salvation, the fullness of life, we know in Jesus. Not that we’ve just decided to do good and make the world better. We do that with the Spirit’s help. Not the Rotary or other excellent civic volunteering organizations.
May know “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me.” This shows up in the Gospel. Peter asks to come on to the water, indirectly. He walks on water with Jesus! Not on his own, but with God’s help.
“How are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?”…“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Church of introverts. Share anything with you but their faith. Invitation from Paul not to #getpeoplesaved but to share the good news of new, full life in Christ.
Disciples are scared and Jesus calms them. If we’re scared, we have calming balm here in Bread and wine. Peter wants to do more: Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.”
All three passages, Ramshaw, “made to proclaim the life offered to the world in Jesus Christ and to enrich the faith of worshiping Christians.”
We’re not working alone, not ourselves, not just in this church. No need for pity parties or panic. Invited out of the boat onto the water to share the good news of new, full life offered to the world.
Take a step to the altar, take a step out the door.