Sermons from October 2013

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 23 Pentecost, Proper 25 – October 27, 2013 Luke 18:9-14 In this week’s Gospel lesson, we are confronted with two very stark images of sinners. The first, a Pharisee, bases his definition of sin on whether or not he keeps the law. For him, righteousness is keeping the law, sin is breaking the law. He prides himself on knowing and observing the law, so he does not consider himself to be a sinner. By his…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 22 Pentecost, Proper 24 – October 20, 2013 Luke 18:1-8 Today’s parable of the widow’s persistence is introduced as a parable about prayer and not losing heart, then moves into a story about justice, and ends with a question about faith. It begins with the introduction of the judge who neither fears God nor respects people. The un-respected people are represented here by a widow whose relentlessness is so bothersome to the judge that she…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 21 Pentecost, Proper 23 – October 13, 2013 Luke 17:11-19 Kermit the Frog said, “It isn’t easy being green.” Others say, “It isn’t easy being poor … or being a person of color … or being uneducated … or being a person with a disability … or …” Well, you get the idea. It isn’t easy being on the outside. Most of us have experienced that truth at some point in our lives. We haven’t…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 20 Pentecost, Proper 22 – October 6, 2013 Luke 17:5-10 Last week I talked about God logic. That God’s logic isn’t our logic. God doesn’t play by our rules. God said through Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways.” Our Gospel lesson opens with a plea from…