God invites us, Millbrook, into a kind of community that is not about the haves and the have-nots, but rather, a community about everyone having enough.
When we love God, and we love neighbor as we love ourselves, we not only follow the example of our beloved saints, but we help bring about that day when God’s enough-ness will trump Caesar’s scarcity.
Today’s text is not an endorsement for the tax collector over the Pharisee. Today’s text is a commentary on systems that prevent us from living full and happy lives, systems that prevent us from living into our created purpose: to be children of God!!!
We wrestle to understand the complexities of our God. We show a determination to be God’s people (though admittedly, we have our good days and bad days). God notices that determination. God notices our stubborn desire to live in covenant. And God smiles. And God offers blessing. And even when we fail to live into God’s covenant, God remains our God. God offers us grace and love. And it seems to me this process continues each time the sun rises and sets.
When we come to praise our Maker, we proclaim that God is present in our lives. When we come to praise our Maker, we proclaim that God matters. And when we come to praise our maker, we proclaim, however difficult it may sometimes be to admit, that a power much, much bigger than us is at work in the world. And that power is good and decent and pure and whole and EVERLASTING!!! And our every action should acknowledge such a power.
The chasm continues in the next realm. The rich man, even in an other-worldly dimension, barks out orders. Have Lazarus bring me some water. Upon learning there’s no relief for himself, he insists that someone tell his five brothers so that they can avoid the same fate. But again, there is a chasm. He’s really seeking to maintain a sense of control by ensuring the system is perpetuated by those who share his privileged status.
Reasons to Rejoice Pentecost Fourteen, 9/14/2025 Bob Stillerman Luke 15:1-10 Bulletin | Sermon Text Luke 15:1-10 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 15:3 So Jesus told them […]
