Matthew 10, 24-39, 2026
\nGod of wisdom, open our minds to your will, our hearts to your love, and
\nour hands to serve you in the world, as we listen to the Scriptures. With
\nyour Holy Spirit, equip us to follow Jesus, who is your Living Word, and our
\nexample for showing love for you and for each other. Amen.<\/p>\n
Our gospel lesson today is an invitation for followers to be like Jesus
\nIt may be that Jesus was responding to questions raised by people as to
\nhow we are connected to God
\nJesus tells people that we are treasured by God
\nWe are so loved that hairs of our head are numbered
\nWe are of more value than a sparrow, and God is aware of every sparrow\u2019s
\nfate
\nAfter telling us that we are treasured Jesus has more to say
\nJesus said what I say to you in the dark, tell in the light
\nThose who find their life will lose it
\nAnd those who lose their life for my sake will find it
\nJesus is using startling language to make the point that following him will
\nnot be like anything else a person has ever done
\nThere will be no worldly wealth gained in being a part of the kingdom of
\nGod
\nThere will not likely be fame and fortune
\nIn short, most peoples\u2019 hopes for success will not be realized
\nThe kingdom of God that Jesus was all about, stands in direct contradiction
\nto the power of the day, the Roman Empire
\nRome was hierarchical
\nStrength oriented<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Power hungry
\nIt was an empire that was built on the backs of conquered peoples
\nThe wealth and strength of Rome was everywhere displayed
\nThe good life experienced by the conquerors was being lived out before the
\nconquered people
\nThere were the Roman soldiers who received deference
\nThere were the Roman dignitaries who had wealth
\nIn the face of this bold display of success and the good life
\nJesus says those who lose their life for my sake will find it
\nAnd then he says take up the cross
\nIn that day the cross was not simply a symbol of suffering as we
\nunderstand it to be
\nIt was a symbol of shame and torture
\nThe vilest of criminals was sentenced to crucifixion
\nThose who first heard Jesus say \u201ctake up the cross\u201d probably wondered
\nwhat that meant, they may even have been afraid of what it meant<\/p>\n
Those who first heard these words from Jesus would wonder what exactly
\ndid Jesus want people to do?
\nHe wanted them to be like the master
\nTo have no fear
\nHe wanted the same from them as he wants from us today
\nNow we do not live under an occupying foreign government
\nBut we are exposed to values that are not in line with the values Jesus
\nteaches
\nWe can easily be bewildered by the tumult of the world
\nWe hear messages that tell us more is good<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Bigger is better
\nIn the face of that, Jesus says take up your cross
\nWe hear, and see practised that might is right
\nAnd Jesus says lose your life to gain it
\nYou are loved by the heavenly Father.\/
\nJesus tells us that everyone who acknowledges Jesus will be
\nacknowledged and everyone who denies him will be denied
\nJesus has not come to bring peace but a sword
\nHe then goes on to talk about welcoming each other and giving a cup of
\ncold water
\nThe sort of service that Jesus asks for values humility, meekness and
\nobedience
\nThese are not qualities that are publicly admired
\nThey are qualitied that we like to have shown to us. but they are not so
\neasily practised
\nOften the people we hail as great are those who are bold, brave and single
\nminded
\nSo if you lose one\u2019s life in Jesus, and offer simple gifts such as a cup of
\ncold water you may not be thought of in the same way as a president or
\ncolonel
\nThose who are mature in faith know the value of humility
\nThe theologian Thomas Merton has said \u201cPride makes us artificial; humility
\nmakes us real,\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1984 a movie Places in the Heart , was released
\nIt tells the story of people who learn to work together to help one another
\nThe story is set in the southern US in the 1930\u2019s<\/p>\n
4
\nIt tells of the recently widowed Edna Spalding who has a family to protect
\nand a cotton crop to harvest
\nShe relies on a black man for advice
\nShe relies on blind man to keep the crew fed and to keep watch over the
\nbusiness
\nShe relies on workers who are labouring in the hope that she will gain
\nenough from the sale of the cotton to pay them
\nShe has no power that the bank will recognize
\nShe has determination and strength of mind and character
\nIt is when the various people in the story are able to put their own goals on
\nhold, and work together that they can accomplish what they need to
\nRace and status are of little value to the characters of the story
\nThey need to be more concerned about the group than about the individual
\nThis is a pale comparison to what Jesus is asking of us
\nPut your trust in him and you will have life
\nGive up your life and get it back<\/p>\n
The theologian J\u00fcrgen Moltmann has this reflection on who we are before
\nGod
\n\u201cBut the ultimate reason for our hope is not to be found at all in what we
\nwant, wish for and wait for; the ultimate reason is that we are wanted and
\nwished for and waited for.
\nOr to put it another way
\nGod is our last hope because we are God's first love.\u201d
\n\u2015 J\u00fcrgen Moltmann, The Source of Life: The Holy Spirit and the Theology
\nof Life<\/p>\n
5
\nThe ultimate reason for our hope in not what we want, but that we are
\nwanted
\nWhen we put aside our hopes and goals and ambitions and come to God
\nwe are given life<\/p>\n
As those who have responded to Jesus, continue to try to follow the one
\nwho said \u201cthose who lose their life for my sake will find it\u201d
\nIn the face of a society that values wealth and possessions and power
\nWe who are followers of Jesus know that we are called to give<\/p>\n
One challenge before us is the path to reconciliation between ourselves
\nand the indigenous people of North America
\nThis is Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day Sunday when we are encouraged to pray
\nand work for reconciliation
\nOne who has much to share on this subject is Danny Zacharias, who I
\nmentioned last week
\nHe is a man who describes himself first as a servant of the Creator and a
\nfollower of Christ.
\nHe is a part of the Cree and Anishinaabe nations on his mother\u2019s side of his
\nfamily
\nAs a servant and follower of God who is Indigenous, he brings a unique
\nperspective to reading and living scripture
\nHis study of today\u2019s gospel is insightful
\nReminding us that if Jesus was suspect and looked down upon, that we will
\nbe too
\nHe highlights what is possibly the hardest part of this passage that Jesus
\nhas said he has not come to bring peace but a sword<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
We want peace in our lives
\nWe call Jesus the prince of peace
\nBut here is Jesus saying not peace but a sword
\nThis was certainly the case for the early followers of Jesus
\nWhen they worshipped God and served Jesus they were in defiance of the
\nRoman practice of worshipping the many gods of the Roman pantheon.
\nThe honoring of the gods was a civic and moral duty, and Christian refusal
\nto participate was deeply offensive, resulting even in the charge of being
\natheists.
\nFor Danny reading this passage of the Bible as an Indigenous man, he is
\nreminded of the way that religion was used to demonize indigenous culture,
\njust as the Romans used religion to demonize the early Christians
\nAnd Danny lives in the perplexity of being part of the people who were hurt
\nby European colonization and residential schools, and also being one who
\nis a follower of the Jesus way
\nDanny truly loves and serves Jesus and he does not confuse the
\ninterpretations people gave to God\u2019s actions with the reality of God
\nHe finds himself sometimes at odds with his Indigenous community
\nbecause of his devotion to Jesus, while simultaneously being at odds with
\nthe church because he is proud of who he is as an Indigenous people, and
\nhe seeks to follow God the way he has made us\u2014something that is often
\ndeeply resisted within the wider church that desires more cultural control.<\/p>\n
Danny finds himself in the position of loving and serving Jesus and being
\nable connect with both those of Indigenous and European descent
\nWe need those bridge people to be reconciled<\/p>\n
7
\nAnother person who had words along this line is Florent Vollant who is an
\nInnu singer- song writer
\nI heard him on a CBC program, Chaakapesh, that was being aired to share
\nindigenous culture in the sprit of reconciliation
\nHe says that we all have work to do in reconciliation
\nEach one of us, whether we are Indigenous or European, have a
\nresponsibility to listen to each others\u2019 stories
\nUsually history has been told from the point of view of those who came to
\nNorth America, or Turtle Island, as settlers
\nThis telling of history often portrays Indigenous people as victims, which
\nimplies guilt for those on the other side of the story
\nVollant says that as Indigenous people tell their own history, they will not be
\nviewed as victims
\nAnd he feels that the telling of history from more than one point of view
\nmeans that our children will inherit something other than prejudice<\/p>\n
What do taking up one\u2019s cross and reconciliation have to do with each
\nother?
\nI feel that they are both what Jesus is calling us to do
\nAnd they are both challenging
\nWe need to grace of God to strengthen us to respond to the call<\/p>\n
Our gospel lesson invites us to be like Jesus
\nJesus who has reconciled us to God calls on us to be reconciled with one
\nanother<\/p>\n
8
\nJesus concludes this passage with a profound challenge: \u201cWhoever does
\nnot take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me\u201d (10:38). This
\nstatement, made before his crucifixion, foreshadows the cost of
\ndiscipleship. To take up the cross is to embrace a way of life marked by
\nsacrifice, service, and faithfulness. Jesus\u2019s words affirm that discipleship is
\nnot about personal gain but about embodying God\u2019s love and justice in the
\nworld.
\nThis is a tough pill to swallow, especially in the modern day when comfort,
\nconvenience, and safety are so highly prized. And the final verse offers a
\nparadox: \u201cWhoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for
\nmy sake will find it\u201d (10:39). This teaching calls believers to release their
\ngrip on self-preservation and embrace the deeper life found in Christ. We
\nwill find abundance in life if we take up the life of Christ. True life is found
\nnot in accumulation or personal achievement but in living in right
\nrelationship with Creator, with community, and with creation. Jesus\u2019s words
\ninvite his followers into this reality\u2014where life is defined not by status or
\nsecurity but by faithfulness to God\u2019s call.<\/p>\n
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
\nGod of compassion and courage, in our weakness you are strength.
\nIn our sorrows you are comfort and peace. We thank you for your
\nembracing presence in our lives.
\nEmbrace each situation we lay before you today with your steadfast love.<\/p>\n
We thank you for moments of joy that break into our lives, for love given
\nand received,<\/p>\n
9
\nfor friends who furnish our life with meaning and happiness, and for family
\nwho embrace us with love and understanding.<\/p>\n
We pray for those who cannot feel joy today, for any estranged from family
\nor friends,
\nfor those feeling stress as the costs of living rise, and for those who face
\nany kind of loss.
\nEmbrace us all with your mercy, O God, And give us grace to respond to
\nthe needs around us.<\/p>\n
God of the world, We pray for people in our communities, both friend and
\nstranger:
\ndraw us towards and deeper into relationships that open doors of
\nconnection, respect and understanding among neighbours.
\nWe give thanks for your abundant gifts, and for resources to support those
\nfacing difficulties in our communities, and in other parts of the world.
\nChallenge those who govern to listen to, and respond to, the needs of
\nthose they serve.
\nChallenge us to commit to international efforts to preserve the earth, work
\nagainst the inhumanity of war, and work for peace with justice.
\nGuide leaders to set fair policies that protect vulnerable people and respect
\nevery person\u2019s dignity.
\nEmbrace us all with your mercy, O God,
\nAnd give us grace to respond to the needs around us.
\nCreator God,
\nDuring Indigenous History Month,<\/p>\n
10
\nWe give thanks for the opportunities we have to learn about the rich and
\ndiverse histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Innuit and M\u00e9tis
\npeoples.
\nWe give thanks for Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and leaders
\nwho work for the wellbeing of Indigenous nations and communities and
\npray for their health and strength in this essential work.<\/p>\n
Eternal God,
\nWe thank you for your people in every age who have entered into your
\nheavenly presence,
\nespecially those dear to our own hearts.
\nThank you for memories that inspire us, for love and laughter shared and
\nlessons learned.
\nHear us now as we offer prayers in silence for the concerns on our hearts
\nthis day\u2026
\nSilence for at least 10-15 seconds.<\/p>\n
And so we offer to you our prayers as we pray in Jesus\u2019 name Amen<\/p>\n
BLESS
\nLet us go as listening, pausing, responding people,
\ncalled to live the gospel\u2019s love.
\nAnd as you go, know that you are comforted by a God of many stories,
\nknow that you are walking alongside Jesus, a friend for the journey,
\nGod\u2019s embodied love in human form,
\nand know that you are inspired by the Spirit\u2019s call to respond. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Matthew 10, 24-39, 2026 God of wisdom, open our minds to your will, our hearts to your love, and our hands to serve you in the world, as we listen to the Scriptures. With your Holy Spirit, equip us to follow Jesus, who is your Living Word, and our example for showing love for you … Continue reading “Written Sermon for June 28th, 2026”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t