Proper 16 Yr A
Who am I

Eye Candy:
"Keys to the Kingdom” (2015), painting by Elisabeth Stilton;
“statue of St Peter“, basilica in Rome; 
“Crucifixion of St Peter” by Michelangelo;
"The charge to Peter" by James Tissot;
"Statue of Saint Peter", Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican 

Ear Worm:
“Father, I adore you”;
“Many gifts, one spirit”, choral;
“Like murmur of a dove’s song”, congregational singing

Brain Food:
commentary on "Rock" by Kris;
“Who do you say that I am?” by David Lose;
"Leaks" by David Peters 

Parables:
“Bicentennial Man” (1999, PG), kindness of a robot, a robot becomes more human, Review 1, Review 2;
“Three Kings” (1999, R), creative take on greed during war, Review;
“The Bone Collector” (1999, R), a captivating detective story but hard to watch, “Healing can happen when disease/disability remains”, Review;
"Living" (2022, PG-13), humorless bureaucrat takes time off after a grim diagnosis, Review

Hymn Notes: The story behind "Father, I adore you" by Terry Coelho (b. 1952) (referenced above): 

“Father, I Adore You” is one of the more enduring praise choruses of the latter part of the twentieth century, partly because it's a humble and simple text and partly because it’s enjoyable to sing as a round. The text expresses praise, subjection, and love to the triune God. Out of the oral tradition in which choruses like this one prevail, the song's trinitarian text has prompted an additional, concluding stanza: “Three-in-One, I adore you.” Some hymnals use the plural form, "Father, we adore you."

Terrye Coelho (b. Camp Roberts, California, 1952) states that she composed both text and tune for this hymn in 1972 "while driving a car and worshiping God." The song was first performed, published, and recorded at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California, in 1972. In 1971 Coelho was converted to Christianity, joined Calvary Chapel, and became a singer for Maranatha! Music. Educated at Arizona State University and at a medical assistant's program in Anaheim, California, Coelho is a songwriter and homemaker. She has written many lyrics, most of which are unpublished.

Today we reach a watershed moment in Jesus’ ministry as recounted by Matthew. Jesus asks his disciples who the people and they believe he is. It is Simon Peter who replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus affirms Peter’s leadership of the church even though Peter will show lack of certainty in this confession later.

Track 1. As we continue the story of God’s people, last Sunday found them living a privileged life in Egypt. Several centuries have now passed and today we hear that a new king arose in Egypt “who did not know Joseph.” The Hebrew people, the children of Israel, are now slaves and suffering. However, to one of them is born a child who is saved and adopted, ironically, by the daughter of the Egyptian king. He, Moses, will be the central character in the next several weeks.

Track 2. Just as Simon was called “the Rock” (in Greek, Petros), so in the Hebrew scriptures Abraham and Sarah are the rock from which the people of God are hewn. From them comes a people for whom God provides a joyous salvation.

We continue to read from the Epistle to the Romans in the second lesson. The final section, which we begin today, deals with the way God’s people are to live in relationship to each other and to the world. Today Paul focuses on the varied ministries of all members of the Church given to us in baptism.

All our attempts to explain our faith—from Peter’s faltering faith to Paul’s complex theology—rest upon the encounter we have as a people with God. That encounter leads always into the symbolic, the metaphorical and sacramental expressions of Christian worship and that always leads us into the various ministries to which God has called us. Our most profound theological expression is this action of Word and Sacrament, of story, song, meal, and bath, which is at the center of our worship.