Sermon - July 19, 2020

<p>This morning, I am going to be very honest with you about something.  Over the past week, I have found myself feeling overwhelmed by the pain and grief over what is happening in the world.  I have been overwhelmed by the agony, grief, and pain in our country as I think about:</p> <ul> <li>the threat of this virus</li> <li>the painful fact that our country makes up only 4% of the world’s population, yet 25% of COVID deaths worldwide have been in the United States as we have seen over 140,000 lives extinguished</li> <li>the cruel fact that 5 million laid off workers just lost their health insurance during a pandemic</li> <li>the fact that we see so many stories of people who put individual rights before love of neighbor and care for the common good</li> <li>and the fact that this emphasis on personal rights and independence has become a form of malignant, grotesque selfishness which exacerbates this pandemic</li> </ul> <p>As I felt that sense of overwhelming pain, I also experienced a deep, profound yearning for the Kingdom of God to be fully realized, NOW!  The desire for God’s justice to break into our lives right now was burning in my very bones.  At the same time, I was feeling a very real sense of <strong>fear</strong>. Then, in the depth of that experience, I began studying today’s scripture readings, and God’s word truly came to life for me. It was a life-giving word!</p> <p>First, in our reading from Isaiah, the Lord says, “Do not fear, or be afraid.”  The words “<em>Do not fear!”</em> are some of the most repeated words in scripture.  Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord says we do not need to fear because we are God’s witnesses and there is no other rock but the God in whom we place our trust.  God is the first and the last and God is in control.  Yes, even in these present disheartening, disconcerting circumstances, <strong>God is the rock!  God is ultimately the one in control and we don’t need to fret because God ultimately has this!</strong></p> <p>Then, as I read the words of St. Paul in his lette