Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

No special Ambon Prayer

Prefestive Day of the Entrance of the Mother of God. Our Venerable Father Gregory the Decapolite. Our Holy Father Prochus, Archbishop of Constantinople. Our Blessed Mother Josaphata Hordashevska.

Title

True Security

Outline

People seek security but rarely find it

The Crusaders found security in building strong fortresses - eventually all fell

People find security in relationships, including marriage, but people are both fallible and mortal

Nations find security in alliances, but alliances can fail, either gradually or individually

People and nations find security in goods and money, from those who find security in self-sufficient, well-stocked bunkers to those who want recession and inflation proof investments.

Our readings tell us all of this is misguided

Jesus had been asked to adjudicate the division of an inheritance

Instead, he tells a parable

An already well-off landowner harvests a bumper crop - no cheating or stealing or anything else negative, just an unexpectedly vast harvest.

He sees it as an opportunity for future security, so he plans to build bigger barns to store it all in - we might say higher level securities - and that will let him relax.

The idea of giving his surplus to the poor seemingly does not cross his mind, although Luke is very aware of it

God does not call him prudent, but a fool: he does not know it, but he is about to die, not because of his wealth, but because life is uncertain. His windfall will go to others and not benefit him at all. But, Luke 14 tells us, had he trusted God and given his wealth away, his welcome into eternal dwelling places would have been proportional.

Paul tells us that at the root of our search for security is a desire for peace, for shalom.

Jesus has created this well-being in his cross.

Paul’s immediate issue was the hostility and rivalry between two factions; there is no need to create your own security for Jesus has “reconcile[d] us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.”

No matter where the possible risks are, “he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

We find security in our new nationality, for we are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

We have better than a fortress for we are parts of a Temple of the Living God.

That is security

So, brothers and sisters, speak back to fear

When insecurity and fear threaten you, do not hunker down or try to get your own security. But, as Evagrius of Pontus says, “Speak back to the demons.” The truth is that you are security in Christ, for you are being made one with him.

There is no security in goods or possessions or investments or relationships or alliances or anything else, and certainly not in good health.

Jesus is the only security and investing in his kingdom as he gives us opportunity is the only way to secure lasting treasure.

And this truth should help us come to peace and find true shalom in his presence.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-27-2022: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

Ephesians 2:14–22

14 For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. 17  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-20-2022: Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

(26th Sunday)

Luke 12:16–21

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (11-20-2022: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-27-2022: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Dark Vestments

Matins Gospel Mark 16:1–8

Epistle Ephesians 2:14–22

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-20-2022: Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Gospel Luke 12:16–21 (26th Sunday)

Red