Proper 7 - Year A

Welcome Statement

Grief, is a painful emotion for all of us. It can be extremely loud, it can also be quiet during the everyday moments of life. It can be sudden, and it can be a quiet burden. Grief while important and normal, takes away from life’s joys, and can blind us to the truth we are promised.

Old Testament Reading - Genesis 21:8-21

Genesis 21:8–21 NRSV

The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

A Covenant Fulfilled

God Promises Abraham that he will be a blessing among the nations, and that many nations will flow forth through him

Even though Hagar was not part of the plan, God incorporated her because of his love towards all who followed him, and his just nature means he would keep his promise that all would be included through abraham.

Grief Strickens a Mother

A mother is convinced she must say goodbye to her child, like a hidden mouse trap, she puts her child in the bush so she would not have to witness his death, but she finds the lord’s favor in her grief, her grief is answered, not forgotten.

The pain of the child is also heard, and God blesses them.

Abundance in Grief

God shows how abundance can break through the deepest of sins (mistrust and ego) as well as grief. Through God Abraham finds himself with multiple lines of lineage flowing forth, showing Abraham was never only going to impact the nation of Israel. This covenant passes through generation after generation. This covenant, reaches to us today.

New Testament Reading - Matthew 10:24-39

Matthew 10:26–31 NRSV

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Life is simply, turmoil

Jesus shows, that we will find grief, and pain, while following him, but through that grief and pain, they will find life

New Testament Point #2

words

New Testament Point #3

words

Closing Statement

words

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for attending to us in our grief. That showing us that even those who appear to be outside of your covenant are actually the ones you seek out the most. In our strife to be faithful Christians, we find ourselves embattled in our own communities, and families trying to stay faithful and show what the Kingdom of God is truly about. Lord, reconcile all things, make all things new, so that we can see justice and Hope revealed in our lifetimes, so that we can truly be a glorification of what you are, Love in the deepest and fullest sense of the word.

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!