August 17, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. You can tell it is August, and you can tell you live in Texas. Even my puppies are avoiding too much time outside. But those people who track our weather for us say there is a cool front coming in. Of course, everything is relative—a cool front means lower nineties and lower humidity. But we will gladly take what we can get.
Sue and I are still pretty much home bound. A doctor in Dallas who deals with high-risk individuals projects 2022 as the year to expect anything more normal. The number of Covid cases and deaths are on the rise in Texas and many other states. We need to follow the science and those experts and doctors who have dealt with infectious diseases, doing what they tell us. It is the patriotic thing to do.
We decided today that our Sunday School lesson writer has a theme, loud and clear. He seems to be hammering home the idea that we must be more compassionate and caring. Our class is made up of folks who really do care and try to treat others as we would like to be treated. But I guess we can always be better. The scripture was Luke 10: 25-37, about the Samaritan, who unlike the priest and the Levite, helps the man attacked by thieves and left for dead on the side of the road. That the hero of the story was a hated Samaritan was certainly not lost on those listening to Jesus. Our author says we all know we should do what is right: It is actually doing it that trips us up.
My sermon focused on Matthew 15: 21-28, Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman. The lady’s motives were simple and pure—she wanted healing for her sick daughter. Jesus and his band of followers are in Gentile territory, and once again the lesson of this story is how Jesus extends his grace and love beyond the prejudices of his homeland and his times. How often does Jesus seem to tell his Jewish listeners of Samaritans, foreigners, and immigrants showing nobility and purity? Many, many times in the Gospels. This idea bothered his listeners and the Jewish folks in the synagogues after Jesus’ crucifixion. The need to put behind us our own prejudices and preconceived ideas about others is hard for modern listeners also. We really hope there is some way we can convince ourselves that Jesus doesn’t really mean what he says—but we know he does. That makes us very uncomfortable. Compassionate care is required by Jesus, no matter the time or the circumstance. Look for ways to choose kindness.
Paxton Methodist will continue to collect children’s underclothes and socks during the rest of August. The August goal of Christian Services for over thirty years has been to help kids get ready for the start of school. We don’t know how this school year will unfold, and I think we are all still in a state of shock that this deadly pandemic has disrupted our lives so greatly and so long. The school staff has worked hard to make education accessible and safe; we pray that students and parents will find peace in this process and forge ahead.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
