Matthew 16
\nSource of all wisdom and understanding, amid so many competing voices, let us
\nhear your word for our times. Send your Holy Spirit to help us discern your will
\nand follow the path Jesus sets for us as your Living Word. Amen<\/p>\n
In the gospel lesson we read today
\nJesus is with his disciples in Caesarea Philippi
\nThis is an area that boasts one of the largest springs that feeds the Jordan River
\nAs a result of the abundant water, the land in the region was fertile
\nThere were temples in Caesarea Philippi dedicated to various gods, Baal and Pan
\nto name two
\nIt may be significant that Jesus asks the disciples who he is at a spot where false
\ngods had been worshipped
\nPeter makes his confession of faith where the Roman god Pan had a temple
\nIt may also be that Jesus wanted his followers to reflect upon who he was right at
\nthis spot where the power of God the Creator was evident in the abundant water
\nand lush vegetation
\nRegardless of why the conversation happened at Caesarea Philippi
\nJesus asks who people think he is
\nAnd the answers given are based upon what people have seen him do
\nAnd what they expect
\nThe answers come from the head
\nSome thought Jesus might have been John the Baptist come back to life
\nAfter all, Jesus did wander in the wilderness and he taught with authority
\nJust like John<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Some thought that Jesus might be Elijah
\nThere was a promise in the Hebrew tradition that Elijah would come back
\nAnd Jesus did proclaim that he had a message from God
\nOthers thought that he might be Jeremiah or one of the prophets
\nSame criteria
\nSo far these are the conclusions that may have been discussed as the men
\ngossiped at the local gathering place
\nJesus steps the question up a level and says, \u201cWho do YOU say that I am?\u201d
\nSimon answers, \u201cYou are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God\u201d
\nThis answer comes from the heart
\nSimon has seen in Jesus something more than there has been in any other teacher
\nhe met before
\nJesus is divine
\nHe is more than any other person that Simon has ever met
\nIn Matthew\u2019s gospel Peter makes the confession of who Jesus is and he is given a
\njob and a new name
\nIt is as if Jesus is saying \u201cGood for you Peter\u201d
\nJesus does say \u201cOn you I will build my church\u201d
\nThe conversation Peter has with Jesus is only a part of the ongoing relationship
\nbetween the two of them
\nJesus is the divine energy in Peter\u2019s life
\nAnd being equipped by Jesus the Messiah, Peter is able to be the one on whom
\nthe church is built
\nI think the writer Thomas Merton was onto something years ago when he said
\nthat Jesus was a like a great magnifying glass,<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
And through him the light of God came to the world in a concentrated and
\nbeautiful way;
\nAnd when we place our dry and brittle lives under that light, the spirit of each
\nperson comes ablaze with newness.
\nTo me that is the power of Jesus Christ–divine light, divine energy and divine love
\nthat still combusts within the complexity of the human heart.
\nTo know that energy and to share it with others is everything. (Rev. Scott
\nColglazier)<\/p>\n
To recognize that Jesus is the Christ is to recognize that energy that can be
\nunleashed.
\nGod at work in our lives
\nIt is more than a statement of fact
\nIt is living as if that divine energy is our energy
\nThe word Messiah means anointed one
\nThe chosen one
\nThe leader
\nThe one given God\u2019s work to do
\nThe Messiah is the one who brings us to God and God to us<\/p>\n
This way of living
\nThis being touched by the divine spark
\nThis being in relationship with God
\nIs not something that can be described like a geometry theorem
\nIt is rather the story of an ongoing and growing relationship<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
Our lesson in the Hebrew Bible today is the story of the birth of one of the people
\nwho had notable faith
\nMoses
\nSometimes God calls us to big and bold things like in the call of Moses
\nWe all know the story of the call of Moses
\nHe heard a voice calling his name
\nHe heard that voice coming out of a burning bush
\nAnd upon closer examination he saw that the bush was not consumed
\nHe listened to the voice and led the Hebrew people out of Egypt.
\nMoses would never have gotten to that wonder moment without some faithful
\nwomen
\nJohn Bell has written a song in which he highlights two of the women who helped
\nMoses
\nThere is a line of women
\nwho took on powerful men
\ndefying laws and scruples
\nto let life live again.
\nAnd though, despite their triumph,
\ntheir stories stayed untold
\nGod\u00a0kept their number growing,
\ncreative, strong and bold.
\nSo sing a song of Shiphrah
\nwith Puah close at hand,
\nengaged to kill male children,
\nthey foiled the king's command.
\nAnd sing a song of Rahab
\nwho sheltered spies and lied;
\nand sing a song of Esther
\npreventing genocide.<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Shiphrah and Puah were the Hebrew midwives in Egypt
\nPharaoh was so intimidated by the Hebrews that he commanded that the male
\nchildren be killed at birth
\nThere was no voice from God that directed the midwives what to do in response
\nto this command
\nThere was no burning bush as there would be for Moses later in his life
\nThere was no angel who wrestled with them
\nThere was no pillar of cloud or of fire
\nThere was the daily prayer with which the faithful Hebrew began the day
\nHear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.
\nBlessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.
\nYou shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart,
\nwith all your soul,
\nand with all your might.
\nAnd these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart.
\nYou shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them
\nwhen you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down
\nand when you rise.
\nYou shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder
\nbetween your eyes.
\nAnd you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.<\/p>\n
These Hebrew midwives knew that to love God with all their heart, soul and might
\nmeant keeping the law of God
\nIt meant protecting life<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
It meant that they were to obey God before Pharaoh – so they did
\nThese women who made the catch at countless births were the ones who helped
\nto keep Moses alive.
\nMoses\u2019s mother was not about to let her son be slaughtered either
\nShe kept him hidden for as long as she could
\nMoses\u2019 mother was helped by her daughter, Moses\u2019s sister, Miriam
\nAnd then there was Pharaoh\u2019s daughter
\nWhen she found the baby Moses floating in his basket on the river she did not
\nobey her father\u2019s pronouncement
\nShe decided that she was going to take this child and raise him in the palace
\nMiriam, being a dependable and quick-thinking young woman offered her mother
\nas the nurse to care for Moses
\nThere we have it
\nMoses kept safe by 5 women and raised by his own mother.
\nThey were not conformed to the world
\nBut rather served God
\nMany years later the apostle Paul would write
\n\u201cI beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a
\nliving sacrifice
\nHoly and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service
\nAnd do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of
\nyour minds
\nThat you may prove the will of God\u201d
\nRomans has us consider how God has gifted us and to offer those gifts in service
\nNotice we are to consider how God had gifted us, and to use those gifts<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t compare ourselves to others, we offer who we are to God
\nIt isn\u2019t just the quiet uncelebrated people who doubt their abilities and place in
\nthe world
\nEven kings can doubt that they are doing worthwhile work for God
\nThe story is told of King Henry III of Bavaria who lived in the eleventh century
\nHe grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch.
\nHe made an application to Prior Richard at a local monastery,
\nHe asked to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the
\nmonastery.
\n\u201cYour majesty\u201d said Prior Richard,
\n\u201cDo you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience?
\nThat will be hard because you have been a king.\u201d
\n\u201cI understand,\u201d said Henry. \u201cThe rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ
\nleads you.\u201d
\n\u201cThen I will tell you what to do,\u201d said Prior Richard.
\n\u201cGo back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.\u201d
\nWhen King Henry died, a statement was written:
\n\u201cThe king learned to rule by being obedient.\u201d
\n(Source: told in Leadership Magazine, Fall 1985.)<\/p>\n
When Jesus asked Simon who he, Jesus, was
\nSimon gave an answer that showed he understood that Jesus was one who had
\nbeen sent by God
\nThe life that Simon would live as a disciple of the Messiah was one that would be
\na life of obedience in as much as Simon could offer obedience<\/p>\n
8<\/p>\n
We know that Simon Peter was a man who spoke without thinking,
\nwho denied knowing Jesus,
\nwho wanted to walk on water, but began to sink
\nWe also know that this man with all of his foibles
\nwas the one on whom the church was built
\nHe was a disciple for the rest of his life
\nHe travelled and taught about Jesus, living and teaching the gospel to as many as
\nhe could
\nThe divine spark was present in his life
\nHad the song \u201cThis little light of mine\u201d been written in that day, Peter would have
\nsung it<\/p>\n
And so today I ask, how has God gifted you?
\nWhat are the unique abilities that you have that can be offered to show the divine
\nspark that is in your life?<\/p>\n
The following story tells of the experience of one man in showing God\u2019s love
\nOswald Golter was a missionary in northern China during the 1940\u2032s.
\nAfter ten years\u2019 service he was returning home.
\nHis ship stopped in India,
\nand while waiting for a boat home he found a group of refugees living in a
\nwarehouse on the pier.
\nUnwanted by anyone else the refugees were stranded there.
\nGolter went to visit them.<\/p>\n
9<\/p>\n
As it was Christmas-time wished them a merry Christmas and asked them what
\nthey would like for Christmas.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re not Christians,\u201d they said. \u201cWe don\u2019t believe in Christmas.\u201d
\n\u201cI know,\u201d said the missionary, \u201cbut what do you want for Christmas?\u201d
\nThey described some German pastries they were particularly fond of,
\nand so Oswald Golter cashed in his ticket,
\nused the money to buy baskets and baskets of the pastries,
\ntook them to the refugees, and wished them a merry Christmas.
\nWhen he later repeated the incident to a class, a student said,
\n\u201cBut sir, why did you do that for them?
\nThey weren\u2019t Christians. They don\u2019t even believe in Jesus.\u201d
\n\u201cI know,\u201d he replied, \u201cbut I do!\u201d<\/p>\n
One way our faith is lived out is by supporting others who work on the frontlines
\nOn August 19 World Humanitarian Day was observed when we recognized and
\ncelebrated the efforts of humanitarian workers who provide life-saving assistance
\nto millions of people affected by conflicts, natural disasters and other
\nemergencies.
\nWhatever their faith, they are the living examples of what Jesus asked us to do.
\nOne way we support that work is through the efforts of PWD&D workers, as well
\nas those we support through our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing
\nWith daily reports of so many struggling around the world, we can give thanks to
\nGod for these selfless advocates, and we can give thanks that we are able to offer
\nunwavering support for their vital efforts.<\/p>\n
10<\/p>\n
For most of us our obedience to God is lived out in our day to day lives, like the
\nlives of the Hebrew midwives
\nWe live lives of obedience to God letting our light shine where we find ourselves
\nHelping by giving and sharing
\nLike the hymn writer we say
\nOn Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand<\/p>\n
Prayers of the people
\nBlessed be our God,
\nFor you created
\nheaven and earth.
\nso we praise you, God,
\non earth, as it is in heaven.<\/p>\n
We give our thanks to you,
\nFor all the ways
\nyou touch our lives.
\nWe are so grateful God,
\nthat you are always here with us.<\/p>\n
We beg for help, dear God,
\nFor all the things,
\nwe pray for now.
\nPlease hear our sighs, dear God,<\/p>\n
11<\/p>\n
and in your love, please meet our need.
\nWe pray for children in our world, that they may be safe and loved
\nHelp us to see how we may be like the Hebrew midwives, or like Moses\u2019 mother
\nor Miriam
\nHelp us to be brave to act on behalf of the disadvantaged and powerless<\/p>\n
We give thanks to you God that young women and men in Guatemala are learning
\nhow to stand up against gender-based violence. We pray for PWS&D\u2019s partner
\nAMMID and their staff as they work for women\u2019s empowerment.
\nWe pray for staff and campers at Camp d\u2019action biblique in Richmond, QC, as they
\nlearn and grow together in faith in a Christian camping community.
\nWe pray for the courage to seek justice where it is denied.
\nWe pray for staff and campers at Cairn Family of Camps in Baysville, ON, as they
\nlearn and grow together in faith in a Christian camping community.
\nWe pray for those who visit the Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre in Carlisle,
\nON. May they be encouraged and inspired by their encounter with the rich legacy
\nof faith present within The Presbyterian Church in Canada
\nWe pray for the Executive of the Atlantic Mission Society as they finalize plans for
\nthe annual meeting in September.<\/p>\n
We bring to you our prayer for those who are ill, or perplexed
\nWe pray for those who grieve
\nAnd so we join our prayers,
\nwith all the saints
\nand folks in heaven.<\/p>\n
12<\/p>\n
Listen to us, God,
\nnow and always,
\nAmen<\/p>\n
Commissioning and Benediction .
\nConsider the gifts God has given you
\nFind ways to offer yourself with generosity, diligence and cheerfulness.
\nAnd may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may
\nabound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of our Lord Jesus
\nChrist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Matthew 16 Source of all wisdom and understanding, amid so many competing voices, let us hear your word for our times. Send your Holy Spirit to help us discern your will and follow the path Jesus sets for us as your Living Word. Amen In the gospel lesson we read today Jesus is with his … Continue reading “Sermon for August 23rd, 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,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t