{"id":684002,"date":"2025-07-05T14:22:26","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T18:22:26","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:07:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T15:07:25","slug":"dont-be-afraid-pentecost-9-c-august-10-2025","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/dont-be-afraid-pentecost-9-c-august-10-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Don&#8217;t Be Afraid, Proper 14 (C) \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=DFMS9812013938&#038;light=true\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/proper-14c\/\">[RCL] Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t be afraid, little flock. There\u2019s no need to spiral, to crash out, to stress yourself over things that won\u2019t last. Instead, root yourself in what truly matters. You don\u2019t have to figure it all out on your own. Open your hands. Melt your heart. Relax your shoulders. Breathe. Lean into the voice of the Shepherd\u2014the one who sees beyond what we can, who calls us into a grounded, enduring faith. Don\u2019t be afraid, little flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What a gift this message is, spoken through Scripture. It is so tempting to spiral into anxiety over the things of this world\u2014things that may not even be worth the energy of our stress. Yet Jesus reminds us: \u201cIt is your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.\u201d We are invited to wait and watch for glimpses of that kingdom, to seek it in faith. God is a generous parent who delights in drawing us into divine life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this scene from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. As he travels, people gather\u2014drawn to this odd religious teacher, this magnetic figure. We enter a kind of Q &amp; A or \u201cAsk Me Anything\u201d moment where someone in the crowd asks Jesus to settle a financial dispute. He wants Jesus to take his side, act as judge, declare what is fair. Jesus responds not with legal judgment but with a sermon on wealth, greed, and what really matters. Through his teaching and parables, he is clear: Greed is futile. Wealth is unimportant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as a church\u2019s budget, or a family\u2019s, tells a story about its values, where we store our treasure shows where our hearts reside. If we see our material possessions as our treasure, then our hearts are anchored to this world. But Jesus invites us to set our hearts elsewhere. He calls us to seek the reign of God\u2014glimpses of divine justice, right relationship, and true love\u2014and to let go of the anxiety that surrounds material things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, that\u2019s easier said than done. For those responsible for feeding, clothing, and housing the disciples, managing the common purse and almsgiving, it\u2019s easy to imagine them rolling their eyes. Many of us do lie awake at night worrying about material things, anxious about money for groceries, the status of that 100th job application, the check engine light, medical debt, student loans. Jesus doesn\u2019t ignore this. He understands the weight of these concerns and sits with us in them. And still, he reminds us: if all we worry about are material things\u2014status, health, retirement funds, attendance on Sundays\u2014we might miss the kingdom of God altogether, which brings light and peace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Pr14-2025-Sermon-Title-FB-EN-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-334010\" style=\"width:512px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prophet Isaiah says as much in his rebuke of the people of Judah. He proclaims that God doesn\u2019t care about religious ceremonies, offerings, and incense if the people are unwilling to surrender to God. Isaiah does not mince his interpretation of how God might feel about this: \u201cI have had enough! Who asked for this? It\u2019s futile, an abomination! Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.\u201d There is no confusion here!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like giving jewelry instead of an apology, or a car instead of a parent&#8217;s presence, Isaiah reminds us that God desires something deeper: hearts cracked open, relationships righted. He says, \u201cCease to do evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Rescue the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Plead for the widow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These, too, are heavy and daunting tasks. But they are the kind of work that fills a shallow and anxious life with depth, spirit, and hope. We will not and cannot achieve the fullness of God&#8217;s reign on our own. But that\u2019s not the call. The call is to participate in God\u2019s vision\u2014to stay rooted in faith, even when we don\u2019t understand the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It won\u2019t always make sense. We may argue with God: \u201cIt would be easier to follow you if I didn\u2019t have to worry about my job, my bills, my child\u2019s tuition.\u201d We might think we can figure it out on our own\u2013 I\u2019ll write a big check to that capital campaign, I\u2019ll volunteer at the food pantry at Thanksgiving, I\u2019ll pray before dinner, then I can go about my daily life. It\u2019s God\u2019s world, I just live in it, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrong. It\u2019s God\u2019s world, and we are called to participate in it, following God\u2019s call even when it doesn\u2019t fit into our material ambitions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The author of Hebrews reminds us of our spiritual ancestors\u2014people like Abraham and Sarah\u2014who also struggled to trust in God\u2019s call, putting their faith in their material, physical world instead of God. They were promised descendants as numerous as the stars, but it wasn\u2019t happening in the way they expected. They took matters into their own hands. Still, God\u2019s promise prevailed, but in a way that required trust and openness to surprise. God didn\u2019t follow Abram and Sarai\u2019s Plan A, B, or C. God\u2019s gift was beyond the alphabet!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s faith: the willingness to go where God leads, even when it doesn\u2019t fit into our five-year plan. Faith is messy. It doesn\u2019t make sense. It is, as Hebrews puts it, \u201cthe conviction of things not seen.\u201d It\u2019s a journey toward a city whose architect and builder is God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This faith is why we must not worry, we must not panic. It might not make sense to us, but it doesn\u2019t need to. Because of Christ\u2019s assurance, we can open our hands, not clinging tightly to things that fade. Jesus calls us to sell our possessions, to give alms, not out of obligation but out of freedom. He tells us to keep our lamps lit, to live with abundance, not scarcity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be ready, he says. The Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour. The glimmers of God will catch us by surprise. And when they come, we must be ready and willing to respond\u2014not with fear but with faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So don\u2019t be afraid, little flock. Don\u2019t try to figure it all out on your own. Don\u2019t flutter around making frantic plans. Be still. Be at peace. Listen. Live the way of Christ. Light your lamps. Yearn for the knock at the door, the arrival in the night. Keep yourselves ready to do good, rooted in what truly matters. Don\u2019t be afraid, little flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This sermon was written by <strong>the Rev. Cn. Anna Sutterisch<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-a001e73f-1dc8-4618-b899-9f3acd29035d\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sermon-Proper-14-English.docx\">Word \u2013 Proper 14 (C) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sermon-Proper-14-English.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-a001e73f-1dc8-4618-b899-9f3acd29035d\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-4f49b7b0-f7bf-4782-ad1f-382b2a427c6a\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sermon-Proper-14-English.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Proper 14 (C) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sermon-Proper-14-English.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-4f49b7b0-f7bf-4782-ad1f-382b2a427c6a\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[RCL] Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Don\u2019t be afraid, little flock. There\u2019s no need to spiral, to crash out, to stress yourself over things that won\u2019t last. Instead, root yourself in what truly matters. You don\u2019t have to figure it all out on your own. Open your hands. Melt&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[43,52,33,3],"tags":[338],"class_list":["post-684002","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","category-sermons","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-proper-14c"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":43,"label":"Sermons"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":338,"label":"Proper 14C"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/684002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sermon"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/684002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3473354,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/684002\/revisions\/3473354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=684002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=684002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=684002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}