11th Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
The invitation this Sunday is not to come and share in God’s abundant generosity or seek the Christ who offers to provide rest to the weary and those carrying heavy burdens. It is an invitation to come to the waters, but not like when God provided Noah with all the instructions to survive the flood or when the waters of the Red Sea were parted so God’s people could walk safely and escape a bloodthirsty Egyptian army in pursuit. This time the invitation is to join Jesus amid the storm and trust that he is who he is.
This trust comes only from the Spirit that dwells in us. Paul teaches the early church in Rome that those who are made righteous by faith shall confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead and therefore be saved and never put to shame (verse 9-14). However, no one can confess Christ without hearing from someone. So, disciples are sent to be proclaimers and to bear witness to the word. This leads the Apostle to declare, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
In a dangerous time when God’s people treated the covenant of salvation with disdain, the author of 1 Kings tells us that the prophet Elijah is asked to leave his hidden enclave on Mount Horeb, take heart, and go down to the wilderness to once more be the voice of the Lord.
The Psalmist sings:
“Righteousness shall go before the Lord
and shall prepare for God a pathway (Psalm 85:13).”
Come worship with us!
Pastor Mauricio
Bridging Faith 