Proper 18 Yr C
Fearfully and wonderfully made

Scripture: September 7, 2025 (Proper 18, Year C)—Jeremiah 18:1-11 (image); Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 (image); Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (image); Psalm 1 (image); Philemon 1-21 (image); and Luke 14:25-33 (image). Also The First Sunday of Creation. Creation theme: Pray.

Additional Creation Reading: A Reading from “Our Relationship with Creation”, Br. Keith Nelson, SSJE

Br. Keith Nelson was raised Baptist, studied at Kenyon College and Harvard Divinity School, and practiced Buddhist meditation before life professing as an Episcopal monastic with the Society of St. John the Evangelist in 2019.

When we violate, abuse, exploit, or even simply ignore non-human creatures, we are rejecting a core dimension of our humanity and of God’s calling for us. We are crucifying the earth. We are interrupting, speaking over, or bickering with God’s gentle language of love, in which each creature is like a syllable of the living Word. Each creature is an instance of Divine Gift, God’s gift to Godself, the love language of the Trinity. We believe God became a Creature in Jesus Christ and redeemed Creation from the inside out so that we creatures can participate directly in this infinite pattern of God’s giving-and-receiving.

Additional Creation Reading: A Reading from “Grief in a Silent Sea”, Tim Gordon

Tim Gordon is a marine biologist at the University of Exeter and at the Australian Institute of Marine Science; his research focuses on the impacts of climate change on tropical coral reefs.

Jesus never scuba-dived on a dying Great Barrier Reef. He never saw the colors fade, the architecture collapse and the symphony silenced. But I think his words and actions at Lazarus’ tomb show us how he might respond to today’s environmental crises. If, while on earth, Jesus had seen the riches of creation reduced to a rubble field, he surely would have wept with us for its loss. He surely would have pointed us to its future redemption. And he surely would have used this as motivation to protect all that still remains of the planet’s wonders.

“I am the resurrection and the life,” said Jesus, as his cheeks shone with tears. One day, the sea will sing again.

Collect for Proper 18: Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect for Care of Creation—Pray: Grant us, O God, the courage to choose Jesus’ way even at great cost, bearing our cross and releasing our possessions, for the liberation and healing of your world; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Reflection: 

Track 1: Where have you seen relationships redefined by faith? Who have you come to claim as a family member, against all odds? Who do you still label “useless”? What would it take for you to see that person as a sister or brother?

Track 2: Where do you experience mutual love in your life? Is there someone you disdain? How might you show love for that person in thought, word, or deed?

Eye Candy:;;;.

Ear Worm:;; 

Brain Food:;; 

Parables: “Gravity” (2013), “discipleship necessitates that the teacher cut loose from the disciple when the time is right”; “Amazing Grace” (2006), about campaign to end slavery; “Babbette’s Feast” (2006), “needs of the flesh and gifts of the spirit”

For families: Study guide and activities, group activity, kid video

For children: See family guide/activity above, bulletin

For middlers: See family guide/activity above; bulletin; puzzle

Coloring:  cross; Psalm 139; following Jesus, Luke 14

For youth: Focal point: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

• In what ways do our “possessions” defining us?

• I wonder if we are being called to have a huge garage sale and get rid of everything we own?

• I wonder if “the cross” we must carry consist of making decisions and sticking with them?

• What will we be giving up?

• What will we be receiving? 

Comments encouraged.

The gospel reading today is another of the passages from Jesus’ teaching as he approached Jerusalem and his death. For weeks now, we have been reminded of the call to discipleship and its cost. Today’s reading describes his call to bear the cross, setting aside all earthly concerns which would turn us away from faithfulness to Christ.

Track 1: The first reading is again from Jeremiah. He has watched a potter at work. When a pot is spoiled, the potter reshapes it. In the same way, we are told, God can change his mind. If a nation such a Judah rejects God, God can raise up another nation. Judah is urged by God to change its ways lest God bring disaster to the kingdom.

Track 2: The first reading is from Moses’ concluding instructions to the people of Israel before his death. He reminds them again of the commandments and calls on them to choose between obedience and life on the one hand, and disobedience and death on the other.

In Paul’s brief letter to his friend, Philemon, he describes the transformed quality of Christian people’s relationships with others. Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, has become a Christian and Paul instructs Philemon to receive him back as a brother in Christ. The work of Christ’s Spirit in our lives places us in a new stance in which we are all brothers and sisters, and children of the living God.

Each gathering to celebrate the Holy Eucharist challenges us to renewed commitment to the new life that God gives us. We find ourselves part of a family given us in baptism. In company with our brothers and sisters, we respond by choosing life rather than death, and in union with our Savior, we take up our cross and join in pilgrimage toward the resurrection.