Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2023

The Holy Apostles Silas and Silvanus and their companions

Title

The Jesus We Build Upon

Outline

We are not individualists; we are part of a body, a building

Paul uses multiple images: field, building, and in other passages body

Paul does not see himself as an individual, but as a part of a team with and under God and with other his co-ministers.

But while Paul takes responsibility for starting their Christian life, laying the foundation, which is Jesus Christ, he makes it clear that they are responsible for their ongoing spiritual life - either reward or fire

What is more, God, the Spirit, is present in believers, and Paul indicates that God will “destroy” those who “destroy” his temple. I do not know all that this needs, but I do not want to find out.

But who is with us whether in Spirit or in person?

Jesus gives his disciples a living parable

They had been out preaching and he has dismissed the crowds, apparently told them to take the boat back to “base,” (they must have expected him to join them later, walking by land) and had gone off to pray. They had obeyed, but it had not gone well: the wind was against them, so they were rowing hard, and waves were battering the boat.

In the middle of the night Jesus joined them, walking on the water. Rather than crying out in relief, they cried out with terror, for they had yet to get who Jesus was, his nature. Jesus reassures them, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” But that was not enough for Peter, who says, “If it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” What he was thinking of, I do not know, but he finds himself walking on the water and then stops focusing on Jesus and starts focusing on the situation of wind and waves and starts to sink.

Peter cries out in terror and Jesus grabs his hand, but notice his statement: “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” “You do not trust me. And you do not realize that if I am there the wind and waves are nothing, powerless.”

The disciples worship, getting at least part of Jesus’ nature: “Truly you are the Son of God.” But will the trust Jesus next time there is a crisis? Will they realize he is with them even if they cannot see him? Not before the resurrection.

Brothers and Sisters, this is for us

Some of us want the Church or its leaders to carry us along - or a significant leader, a bishop or pastor - and are not taking responsibility for our lives. That is a bad mistake.

Some of us - all of us at times - do not realize that Jesus is with us, seen or unseen, and may even be afraid when he “shows up.” We do not get that we are always living in the presence of the Son of God who is present to help us. And to the extent that we do trust him, we are prone to turning our eyes away from him to the circumstances around us that are very visible and that we fear. We have not heard his, “It is I, have no fear.” Instead we self-destruct in fear.

Let these narratives penetrate our hearts; use the words of Jesus as a mantra. There is never a time when we can get away from the present of Jesus, for we are built upon him and he is always there in the Spirit. We are indeed always responsible for how we build out lives with his help, but do not fear, he is not present to judge us (although if we turn from his presence we choose that) he is there to save and help us. “Do not fear; do not doubt; it is I.”

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-25-2024: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

1 Corinthians 3:9–17

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-25-2024: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

Matthew 14:22–34

22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30 but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (7-30-2023: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, July 30, 2023 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-25-2024: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Matins Gospel John 20:19–31

Epistle 1 Corinthians 3:9–17

Gospel Matthew 14:22–34