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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Proper 6 Yr C
Editor's note: During the season of Pentecost, churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary have two options. One, often called "semicontinuous" or "Track 1", provides more detail about the Old Testament stories. The other, called "complementary" or "Track 2", more closely marries the Old Testament lesson to the gospel reading.
Luke 8:26-39
Luke 8:26-39
. . . As he [Jesus] stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me” — for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. . . . Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.
From sermon4kids.com: “After Jesus freed the man from the evil spirits, he was like a different person. People saw the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and speaking calmly. He was so happy that he wanted to go with Jesus and follow him wherever he went, but Jesus told the man to go back to his home and tell everyone what God had done for him. ”
Scripture: June 19, 2022—Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)—Isaiah 65:1-9; Psalm 22:18-27; Galatians 3:23-29; and Luke 8:26-39.
Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: Think of the many ways in which people are “chained” and how the word of God speaks differently to those prisons. What specific constraint is in your own life for which you might pray that the Holy Spirit show you a path toward freedom?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Image: Healing of the Madman by Victore Carpaccio
Sunday School—on summer break
Sunday School—on summer break
Eye Candy: “Man with unclean spirit” by Ian Pollock; “Liberation from demonic powers” by Solomon Raj (scroll way down); “Jesus casts out the devil” by Matthaeus the Elder
Elisha and Elijah, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/elijah-and-elisha
Ear Worm: “Our darkness“, Taize; “Silence frenzied unclean spirits“, dissonant, interesting; “Thou whose almighty word“, hymn
Brain Food: Jesus of Nazareth Went to Capernaum: Jesus of Naz’reth went to Capernaum, / To the synagogue to teach, / People, astounded, at his wisdom / Saw his power all to reach. / Jesus of Naz’reth, as we pray, / Please teach us, reach us, we beseech you; / Visit your people with your power; / With your life, our lives renew. / Into the room there came a man / Whose ranting, crying stole the show; / What would Jesus tell the madman, / All the people sought to know.
Jesus of Naz’reth, are you able / To cast out, blast out demons today? / Your love saves us in each hour; / Come to us without delay! / Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit / While the people were amazed; / “He commands, and they obey him!” / Thus his name to all was praised. / Jesus of Naz’reth, we are yours, / We follow and hallow your will for peace; / You have called us to your purpose, / So your love may here increase.
God has called us to be faithful / In an age of fear and strife; / War and greed are now our demons, / But in Christ we have new life; / Jesus of Naz’reth, we your people / Now go, to show your gift of grace; / Give us courage you to follow, / That your church may all embrace! ~Scott L. Barton
“Thoughts” from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Bible (scroll down)
“Into the wilds” by Rick Fry
Parables: “Amistad” (1997), attitudes about uncleanliness; “Spitfire Grill” (1996), soul-satisfying movie; “The Confession” (1999), making decisions about good and evil
Study guide, group activity, snacks
: young elementary: activity; bulletin games; crafts;
older elementary: activity; bulletin games; crafts
Today’s gospel reading from Luke deals with the forgiveness of sin. This event is typical of Jesus’ attitude toward those whose life outside the moral law and social convention made them objects of scorn to the “proper” people and the leaders of religion. It was Jesus’ announcement of God’s forgiveness, even of those regarded as unforgivable by conventional religionists, which intensified the opposition to him and led to his rejection and death.
In the first reading, David’s repentance for ordering the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, results in God’s forgiveness. Although David is forgiven, the child from his sinful relationship dies. This discomforting ending makes it clear that our sin brings bad results even though we are forgiven. We must remember that even though God freely forgives us when we repent, the harm our sin causes remains. Thus, our assurance of God’s forgiveness is no reason to take sin lightly.
Our reading from Galatians deals with the acrimonious debate in the early church over whether one must be Jewish and obey Jewish law in order to become a Christian. Paul reminds the “Judaizers” that the Hebrew scriptures teach that our relationship with God is established by faith not, by obeying the law.
We are called by God’s Spirit to gather as a people accepted by God based on faith. Having been forgiven generously by God, we are called to share with everyone the love and mercy of God.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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