Mary Houck, Decatur, GA

Warm-up Question

• Name something you once believed was 100% true that you’ve since learned is untrue. 
• Do you and your friends have any “fun” things you like to argue about (e.g. sports teams or favorite players, favorite musicians, foods you like or dislike, etc.)?

A Matter of Perception

It was almost 9 years ago now, but you may remember a controversy that erupted on the internet in February of 2015. There was a picture of a dress.  Some people swore it was white and gold; others were adamant that it was black and blue. For days, people went around showing the picture to friends and acquaintances who hadn’t seen it yet, asking what color the dress was. 

Depending on the answer, debates ensued about whose perception was correct, both sides passionately certain they had it right. How could it possibly be that two people looked at the same thing and perceived it so differently? Of course, it was not possible for everyone to be correct since it was a picture of a real dress, and eventually the truth was revealed: the dress is indeed blue and black. 

It took vision scientists two years to explain what happened and confirm their findings. As it turned out, the different color schemes had to do with how each viewer perceived the photo as a whole.  Was the lighting natural or artificial? Was the dress in shadow or in light? The colors a viewer sees even correlates to whether they are typically a morning person or a night person— which affects our assumptions about light sources and shadows. Basically, our way of perceiving the world causes certain assumptions when looking at the picture, which affects what colors we see. 

Discussion Questions

• What do you do when a disagreement arises that is not just a difference in taste or opinion (country vs hip- hop), but a difference in understanding what seems to be a clear truth about the world (gravity exists).
• What sources do you go to when you want to find out the truth about something? Is it a person you trust? A news source? The Internet? How do you tell whether a source of information is trustworthy or not?
• Are all opinions equally valid?  What distinguishes “fact” from “opinion”?

Reformation Sunday

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Romans 3:19-28

John 8:31-36

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

This week we celebrate Reformation Sunday, remembering when Martin Luther started the Reformation movement in Germany by sharing his 95 theses. At the time, the Roman Catholic church dominated all of Europe. It had turned into an organization that often used the faith of the people to accumulate power, influence, and wealth instead of walking alongside them in a life of faith. 

The church had set itself up as an unquestionable authority: anything the church said was the truth. Luther, who was teaching the Bible to men training to be priests, thought he saw discrepancies between the Bible and church teachings.  The 95 theses, based on these perceived discrepancies,  were assertions which Luther wanted to debate with other theologians. He hoped to correct errors which had crept into church teaching and practice.

Luther’s goal wasn’t freedom from the church. He first tried to reform the church from within. His primary concern was to free people from what felt like slavery to sin. Luther felt deeply oppressed by his own sin, never feeling he had confessed enough or been penitent enough. It was through God’s word that Luther found freedom in the truth that we are saved by grace received through faith, not through works (actions we take to try to make up for our sins and earn God’s forgiveness).

Today’s gospel is a perfect one for Reformation Sunday. Jesus tells the disciples that they will find the truth by continuing in his word and that the truth will set them free. In typical disciple fashion, they still don’t understand him and think he’s talking about literal slavery. (I can’t help but imagine Jesus face-palming or at least letting out a big sigh. After all he’s shown them, they still don’t get it) Jesus patiently explains that he’s talking about freedom from sin. 

However, in order for the truth to set us free, we have to be able to identify the truth. In today’s world people assert as truth all kinds crazy conspiracy theories and bigoted opinions about people who are different from themselves. Looking for a way to describe the American popular understanding of truth, comedian Stephen Colbert coined the term “truthiness” to describe “what you feel to be true, rather than what the facts will support.” Others say we are living in a “post-truth” era, when there is nothing more than opinion and appeal to emotion is more important than objective facts. 

So how do we figure out what the truth is? We turn to God’s word, but of course the Bible was written a long time ago and cannot speak directly about current events or issues. There are no Bible verses about whether the dress is blue or gold. And, even more confusing, the Bible can become the dress in a way.  Different people read the same words of the Bible and come to completely different conclusions about the truth.

Just as we all made unconscious assumptions when looking at that dress, our individual ways of seeing the world affect how we read the Bible. Paying attention to our unconscious assumptions about the Bible and truly listening to others with open minds as we study it helps. Martin Luther had another tip as well: Look for what “shows forth Christ.” Does this interpretation look like Jesus? How does it urge me to act like Jesus? Does it reveal to me the love and grace of god in Christ for the whole world? These are the truths that will set us free.

Discussion Questions

• Can you think of a time that the Bible answered a real-life question for you? How did you find the truth in the Bible?
• The controversy over the dress was fun because it didn’t have any bigger implications. People enjoyed arguing about it because it didn’t really matter who was right in the end. However, many disagreements about the truth have much bigger consequences for people’s lives. For example, the recent terrorist attack by Hamas and massive response by Israel has intensified the ongoing debate about Israel and Palestine. Is Israel a peaceful nation that is the victim of terrorism and violence from Hamas? Are Palestinians the victims of an oppressive Israeli government, which routinely takes away their land, homes, water, and freedom? Is there truth on both sides?  Can you think of similar controversies where each side make legitimate arguments ?
• Are there times when knowing the “truth” and being “right” are less important than finding ways to create reconciliation?  How might that preference for reconciliation be related to Reformation Sunday?  What was the great “truth” which Luther thought most important?

Activity Suggestions

• Play Two Truths and a Lie: each player states two things that are true about themselves, and one that is untrue. The rest of the group has to guess which thing is untrue. 
  • Discuss: Who gets to be the ‘authority’ on the truth about us? Does everyone hold their own truth which should be treated as valid, or do we have to fit into the story our culture tells about us? 
• World View Interviews
  • Come up with a list of questions you’d like to ask people to better understand how they see the world. 
    • Choose questions that are open-ended, and which do not pressure someone to answer a particular way. For example, don’t ask “you’re a Republican, right?” Ask, “do you identify as a member of a political party?”
    • When you ask, listen carefully and non-judgmentally. You are there to learn about the person, not judge them. If one of their answers surprises you, however, you can ask follow-up questions to learn more. 
    • Some examples might be:
      • Where were you born?
      • What was your first language?
      • How many places have you lived?
      • What did your parents teach you about money?
      • Have you or your family ever served in the military?
      • Do you have a favorite sports team?
      • What do you like to do with your free time?
      • Do you identify as a member of a political party?
      • What foods do you like to eat?
      • Have you lived through any wars? How did they affect you?
    • Interview each other, other people in your faith community, or even your own family. You are certain to learn new things, even about people you think you know well.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you for your truth which sets us free, and for the example of our brother Martin. Help us to discern the truth when the world is confusing. Open our minds and hearts when we struggle to understand someone else’s view of the world. Give us the courage to speak the truth even when it is unpopular. Amen.

Drew Tucker, Columbus, OH

Warm-up Question

Think of something that affects everyone, that’s often unpopular, and that’s necessary for living in a society. Share with a group or a trusted friend how you feel about that thing that you’ve named. 

Taxing Question

Thanks to the recent threat of a government shutdown, averted by a last-minute stopgap funding bill that President Biden signed into law on September 30^th, 2023, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how we fund living in our shared society. From infrastructure like roads and utilities to people like first responders and postal workers, our taxes pay for many services we utilize frequently without ever having to think about it. Thanks to taxes, I’ve never had to build a bridge to cross a river or put out a fire at my neighbor’s house or pay for disaster relief after a hurricane. In that way, I’m thankful for taxes. 

But  I’m aware that I’ll never even see about 20% of my income because it goes directly to federal, state, and local governments. When I’m being selfish, I think about the vacations I could take or how much more quickly I could afford a new car if so much of the money I earned didn’t disappear into the vacuum of government tolls. And as the recent specter of a government shutdown revealed, even when we pay our taxes, that doesn’t mean that the things we need are necessarily guaranteed! 

Ultimately, I know that taxes are necessary because they help us to connect with one another.  They provide support for those who don’t have the same access to resources that I have and ensure we can weather the literal and metaphorical storms that face our country. So I guess today’s news is this: taxes are complicated.

Trust me, I know that it’s no newsflash that taxes are complicated. Indeed, throughout my life, I’ve vacillated from thinking we all pay too much in taxes, thinking we all pay too little in taxes, and thinking some people should pay more taxes than they do while others should pay less. Amidst all that confusion and imperfection, which is often what makes taxes so unpopular, it’s clear that taxes affect everyone because most pay them and all benefit from them. To live in a society where we share one another’s burdens, taxes are necessary. 

Discussion Questions

• What are your favorite things that taxes provide? 
• How does the possibility of a government shutdown make you feel? 

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 45:1-7

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Matthew 22:15-22

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

How much we pay in taxes and to whom we should pay our taxes isn’t a new question. Ben Franklin once said that “nothing is certain but death and taxes,” a phrase that’s evolved into a popular aphorism for people of all political persuasions. Jesus’ ministry preceded Franklin’s politics by nearly 1,800 years, but as we see in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus also took on the question of taxes. 

The Pharisees didn’t necessarily hate taxes in themselves, but as religious purists, they hated the idea of sending taxes to Rome and its Gentile allies. The Herodians, so named for their allegiance to King Herod and his descendants, accommodated with Rome and generally supported the empire’s efforts, including Roman taxes. In other words, this wasn’t an argument about whether taxes should exist; no one in this passage is claiming that taxation is theft.

Instead, the question is to whom we should pay taxes, about who has the appropriate authority to demand taxes. While the Pharisees and Herodians disagreed on who had the authority to demand taxes, they agreed on one thing: Jesus was dangerous to their power. In asking whether to pay the imperial tax, they tried to frame Jesus either as a rebel to the empire or a traitor to the Jewish people. 

Rather than take sides, Jesus takes this as a teaching opportunity about generosity and identity. The coins in circulation, with Caesar’s image, carried value because the Empire said so. The same is true for money today. When Jesus says, “give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (v. 21), he’s subtly reminding his listeners that, just as the coin’s carry Caesar’s image, so too people carry God’s image. 

To this Hebrew audience, who would all be quite familiar with the Torah, the idea of an image stamped on a coin would deeply resonate with the divine image God gives to people in their sacred creation stories. Jesus encourages his followers to recognize we have a place in a political society, even as we have an ultimate allegiance to God.

The Lutheran tradition adds a layer of reflection to this when it recognizes that God doesn’t exclusively work through the church, but also through the government. This theology of Two Realms (often called Two Kingdoms, though that wasn’t Luther’s language) emphasizes that the political or secular realm serves a purpose in God’s creation.  Ideally, it ensures that civic life promotes the good of all. Giving ourselves to God doesn’t mean we have to avoid paying our taxes.  We live in two realms simultaneously; God is ultimately in control of both. We give ourselves to God in lives lived with grace and we share our wealth with Caesar (or Uncle Sam) because God is at work in first responders who offer care in natural disasters. God is at work in utilities that provide warmth to survive the cold weather.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think taxes have been so confusing and polarizing for thousands of years? 
• Share one way you can render to God what is God’s that makes a positive impact on your neighbors. 
• Share one of the ways you notice God at work through political or civil organizations outside of the church. 

Activity Suggestions

• God’s Image Affirmations – Sit in a circle and have one chair in the center. Take turns having members of the group sit in the middle seat and have every person in attendance share one way that they see God active in that person. Emphasize that the image of God is not necessarily a physical trait prior to beginning the activity. You can also choose to write everyone’s name on paper bags, have participants write their responses, and then deposit them in the bags to ensure participants leave with a constant reminder of God’s work through their lives. 
• BiblOpoly – Yes, this is a real thing, and yes, you should play it. To win, rather than defeat your fellow players, you work to assist them in succeeding as well. It can help players experience the benefits of rendering to Caesar and rendering to God. With the recent resurgence in popularity of tabletop games, consider more broadly how you can use these as tools to teach and apply Christian values and biblical teachings. 
• Making Change – Get a sampling of all types of coins and have everyone choose one at random. Group people by the coin they chose and challenge them to identify whose image is stamped the coin and share as much information as they can about the person. To elevate the challenge, do one round without their phones and another allowing them to utilize the internet. Use this activity as an opportunity to discuss why we celebrate certain people, what values they’re meant to represent, and what values we carry as people stamped with God’s image. 

Closing Prayer

Generous God, remind us that your work is not limited to the church. Inspire us to give generously to your work in all arenas of life, even when we are not in control of the outcome. Remind us that you are at work in all realms of life, and that in those realms you seek justice for all, peace for all, abundance for all. Ground us in the witness of Jesus and empower us to give all of ourselves to you, whose image we bear. Amen. 

A. J. Houseman, Summerville, SC

Warm-up Questions

• Who, among those you know, got vaccinated for COVID-19 first? Do you know why they chose to be vacicanted.
• When did you get vaccinated?
• Do you know how many lives the COVID-19 vaccines saved?

Faith and Vaccines

The vaccines for COVID came out rapidly, which helped curb the worst of the threat and saved lives. The more people got the vaccine the less the threat of this virus, to both themselves and others.

When the vaccine came out, it was first offered to the most vulnerable in our society, the elderly.  Then to the first responders who would be out fighting to save lives every day.  Next to those just a little younger who were also vulnerable.  Finally, we were all encouraged to get vaccinated, so that each of us could do our part to help protect everyone else around us—our loved ones, strangers on the train, and all of God’s children.

Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their research on mRNA, which led to the creation of the Modera and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. “These laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.” (Nobel Assembly)

They worked for decades without much support for their research and their findings were finally published in 2005.  Many institutions didn’t see any relevance to their research or think it would ever amount to anything.  And because of this, it was hard for them to find funding and support for their research.  Then a global pandemic meant we needed their help.  Their research and findings on using mRNA to make vaccines in record time saved millions of lives. Katalin(Kati) Kariko said, “We were not working for any kind of reward, we were working to make a product that can save lives.”

Discussion Questions

• How did the pandemic change the way you think about vaccines?
• How did you feel about getting a vaccine?
• What were other ways, like vaccines, to care for others during the pandemic?

Isaiah 25:1-9

Philippians 4:1-9

Matthew 22:1-14

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

This parable Jesus tells is directed towards “them”, the same church leaders he has been arguing with for the last few weeks of our Sunday lessons.  He tells them once again what the kingdom of heaven is like. Often when Jesus tells a parable, he uses dramatic exaggeration, so that the point is not lost on the audience.  In today’s text a King throws a great feast and sends out the invitations.  But who responds? Not the church leaders.  In a shocking display of contempt for the king they reject the invitation with lame excuses.  Those who respond and attend are those considered unworthy by those same church leaders.  

What does it mean to respond to this call? Jesus offers us another dramatic image, a missing wedding garment,  because discipleship is more than just showing up.  The person who has no wedding garment is not ready to fully enter into the celebration. The image of the garment is not about clothes, it’s about what we do with our invitation. Jesus calls us to share the good news, to go out in service to the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lonely, and lost. 

We are saved by grace through faith in the gift of salvation given to us by Jesus.  And as Lutherans, we say that our job is to live in response to this gift. You have been called to the banquet, rejoice!  But it isn’t enough just to be called. How we respond to this gift in our actions shows what it means for us to be guests at the heavenly banquet.

A quotation often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the gospel (the good news) at all times and only when necessary use words.”  While scholars say there is no  evidence that Francis actually spoke these words, their meaning still holds.  It’s undeniable that that our lives makes our words more believable.  And actions do indeed often speak louder than words.

Discussion Questions

• How do we respond to God’s call?
• What are ways that we share the good news of Christ with others?
• What does it mean to put our faith into action?
• What do these words by St. Francis mean to you?

Activity Suggestion

Brainstorm ways that we can use science to help our neighbors and our world. Write these ideas out on band-aids and stick them to a picture of a broken globe (or get an actual broken globe and repair it with the band-aids).  Some say that individual actions are indeed just small band-aids on the great problems of our day (global ecological collapse, hunger many, war of all types).  Discuss how the way of Jesus might address the underlying causes of suffering.

Closing Prayer

God of grace and mercy, thank you for the gift of science, scientists, and the ability to save lives through their work.  Thank you for helping us to share the good news of your love and serve our neighbors through scientists like Kati and Drew.  Please be with those who still need healing and care.  Help us to be your hands and feet of love.  Amen. 

Courtney Geibert, Redwood City, CA

Warm-up Question

What is your relationship with nature and the planet? 

Climate Crisis and Stewardship

In March 2023, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its final report on climate change. Drawing from the research of over 700 scientists, the IPCC spent thirty-five years recording the physical science, impacts, and mitigation of climate change. According to the IPCC, humans have made unprecedented changes to our planet in a short time, resulting in irreparable harm to people and the environment.

Today, over 3 billion people live in countries susceptible to climate impacts such as extreme temperatures, flooding, famines, and droughts. Emissions from fossil fuels have increased global average temperatures by 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since the 1800s. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hasn’t been this high since ancient humans carved their first stone tools! If a child were born today, they would witness a future where the sea level rises by several feet, numerous species face extinction, and millions of people are forced to migrate from areas where their lives are no longer sustainable. 

Luckily, there is hope! We have all of the tools we need to prevent this global crisis; countries just need to implement them. The IPCC has urged the international community to discontinue using coal, oil, and gas as these sources are accountable for more than three-quarters of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. According to the report, electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and wind has become more affordable than power derived from fossil fuels in numerous areas. It is essential for countries like the United States, which ranks second in carbon dioxide emissions, to take greater responsibility for environmental changes. This will prevent vulnerable people and nations, who produce minimal CO2 but are most affected by climate change, from bearing the brunt of its impact.

Discussion Questions

• What emotions do you feel when you think about climate change?
• What motivates you to care about the environment?
• How are nations and individuals responsible for preventing climate change?
• What do fair and equitable solutions to the climate crisis look like?
• What steps can we take to encourage governments and corporations to take prompt action to address the climate crisis?
• Where do you find hope in thinking about the climate crisis?

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 5:1-7

Philippians 3:4b-14

Matthew 21:33-46

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

On Wednesday, October 4^th, we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. He was a 12^th-century monk who cared deeply about creation. Many people commemorate him by blessing animals, recognizing our responsibility to care for creation and the creatures God entrusted to us. 

Just as we are entrusted as stewards over the earth and all of her creatures, in today’s Gospel story, the tenants were responsible for caring for the landowners’ vineyard. The landowner sent his servants to collect his share of the produce during harvest time. But the tenants seized the servants – beating one, killing another, and stoning the third. After this happened again, the landowner sent his son to collect the produce from the tenants, assuming they would respect him. They did not and murdered the landowners’ son. Jesus concludes the parable with a question for his hearers, the elders and chief priests: “When the landowner returns to his vineyard, what will he do to those tenants?” 

In sharing this parable, Jesus calls out the religious leaders (the tenants) for abusing God’s people (the vineyard). The landowner (God) entrusted the religious leaders to lead the people of Israel with mercy and care. Yet, they have harmed the people, disobeyed God, and killed the servants (the Prophets) and the landowner’s son (Jesus). On the surface, this story is about wicked tenants, but underneath, the parable critiques the religious leaders and holds them accountable for their failure to care for God’s people. 

You might not be a pastor or a deacon, but you are obligated to care for what God has given you. As in the gospel story, we are not owners but stewards entrusted by God to nurture creation. God is the owner, not us. At the very beginning of creation, God gave humanity dominion, or care for, creation (Genesis 1:28). We are merely caretakers, cultivating what God has called good. Sadly, looking at the current state of our planet, humanity has shifted from dominion to domination – taking whatever we can at the expense of vulnerable creation and people.

The climate crisis feels overwhelming. Is it possible to get us out of this mess? Yes, but it will take all of us. As a concerned body, we can pressure our elected government officials and corporations. As individuals, we can do small actions like following the ELCA Youth Adults in #noplasticsforlent, taking public transportation, walking, or composting our food. Many of these actions will inconvenience us but are necessary to help our planet breathe again. God has entrusted us with our beautiful world; let’s live up to our calling. 

Discussion Questions

• How do you hear this story, knowing Jesus called out religious leaders and held them accountable for their failure to care for God’s people?  Where are you in this parable?
• What does this Gospel story teach you about environmental stewardship and accountability?
• If God were to speak about the current state of our planet, what would be God’s message?
• How does your faith interplay with environmental justice?

Activity Suggestions

• Read the ELCA’s social statement, “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice,” or just the summary. This statement was written in 1993. What would you change 30 years later?
• In 2023 the ELCA Church Council adopted a social message about climate care entitled  Earth’s Climate Crisis, How does it update the Caring for Creation statement.
• Go to the ELCA Synods and Congressional Districts Resource. Find the State Public Policy Office and your congregational district. Consider meeting with your lawmaker, contacting an ELCA-affiliated state public policy office, or writing an op-ed encouraging your local government and corporations to take action on the climate crisis.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, help us be faithful stewards of your creation. Empower us to advocate for environmental justice and those affected by the climate crisis. Guide our leaders to take swift action to address the climate crisis. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

JesusShannyn Fuerst, Seattle, WA

Warm-up Questions

Who is in charge of your life? Who is in charge at work? At home? At school?  At daycare?  At church? What gives them authority or power?

Who Has Authority?

I was listening to a story on NPR’s This American Life about Malcolm Gladwell, who writes for the New Yorker and has written a number of well-known books. He talked about his first job, writing for the Washington Post newspaper. Malcolm sat at the business desk and for six weeks he did pretty much nothing. Someone finally took pity on him and told him to write a story on the business earnings of a local bioscience company.  However,  he mistakenly wrote that the company lost $5 million in the previous quarter, when in fact they had made $5 million in the previous quarter. 

On the morning the story ran, the stock dropped 10 points. Of course, Malcolm got into all sorts of trouble for his mistake.  But as he was thinking through his story and where he went wrong, he had an epiphany. He realized that he had made up the story–even though unintentionally–AND he moved the stock market.  

Malcolm eventually moved from the business desk to the health and science desk. One of the first stories he did there was a story about an AIDS conference. Three cities were being considered to host the next conference: Rome, Vancouver, and Amsterdam. It was a big deal for a reporter, because you got to go to one of these cities, and it was a week’s paid vacation. 

Malcolm had already been to all three of those cities and he wanted to go somewhere new. So, as he was writing up the story, he wrote that NIH officials were considering Rome, Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Sydney, Australia (though Sydney was not originally under consideration). Sure enough, his addition was picked up and the conference was held in Sydney.  In all this, Malcolm says he had a sense of real power for the first time.

Right around that time, a new reporter, Billy Booth, joined the newspaper. Malcolm and Billy had a contest to see who could get certain articles printed in the paper. They would find obscure topics on different diseases, bolden them up, and watch as the articles moved from page 15 to page 2 in the paper. Drunk on power, they came up with a contest–to see who could get the phrase, “raises new and troubling questions” in American journalism. The person who got it printed the most in one month won. 

Discussion Questions

• Where does authority come from? Is it given? Earned? Presumed?  How does authority get exploited?  
• Through their game these two journalists gave themselves authority and power they hadn’t planned on having. Have you ever experienced authority or power that you were not planning on? 
• What is healthy authority and what is unhealthy authority? How is authority used well and how is it abused?
• Is there a difference between power and authority?  Can you have one without the other?

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

Philippians 2:1-13

Matthew 21:23-32

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Authority is an interesting concept. Often, when we think of authority, our brains immediately go to politics, workplace authority, or people in positions of power. It can bring us to a place of argument or anger, of debate and struggle. Who is right? Who is wrong? We instinctively embrace a category or strong belief system. 

Jesus wanted disciples who were both committed and thoughtful.  He asked questions and pushed people to think deeply about who they were and why they believed and acted as they did.  Jesus wanted to help them avoid arbitrarily falling into one camp or another. He even said, “What do you think?” 

What do you think about authority?  What gives someone authority?  To whom do you grant authority?

Authority exists in helpful and deeply meaningful ways that go beyond politics, beyond opinion, and beyond culture.   It gives us the courage to act when we feel confused.  Taking the authority of Christ seriously brings us back to being Jesus for one another. It brings us back to authentic care within the body of Christ. 

Two years ago my husband (also a pastor) died in a mountain climbing accident. I will forever remember my Bishop, a person in authority, looking me in the eye as she held my head with a face of streaming tears, and said, “He fell into Jesus.” That gracious, powerful exercise of her authority, that pastoral care moment, is nestled deep in my heart and brain. She had talked with others in authority, Search and Rescue, who knew their craft just as she knew her craft. These authority areas came together for good, to care for people, and to use their giftedness in a time of deep trouble. We often consider authority to be negative, but authority can also be positive. 

Finally, Christians look to Jesus Christ as their ultimate authority, as the guide when the way is unclear.  We look to Christ to give our actions direction and justification.  We hear him say, “What do you think?” and with our eyes on him we can dare to step into the messiness of gray choices. 

Discussion Questions

• What were the feelings in your body when you first read the text? What emotion or reaction rose to the surface?
• What biases do you think you hold when it comes to the concept of authority?
• As you think about good and healthy authority, how does that impact how you read Jesus’ words and insights?
• How does grace-filled, Christ-centered authority show up in your life?
• Share a story or experience about helpful authority.

Activity Suggestions

• Using finger paints, place blobs of different colors on the paper. For a minute keep the colors separate as you start to finger paint. Perhaps, assign a topic or issue to each color (e.g. a color for the authority of a teacher, a color for the authority of a parent, a color for the authority in a friend group, etc). Talk about an issue, and as the authorities overlap mix the colors. This creates a visual of how authority and opinion overlap and can look messy – and beautiful –  all at the same time. 
• This activity could also be done using the scripture text. Use different colors for Jesus, the chief priests, and the crowd and retell the story as you paint. 

Closing Prayer

Holy God, in the midst of discord and distrust we experience the abuse of power and authority. We pray for leaders and people in positions of power, in households, schools, hospitals, corporations, and government.  We pray that compassionate authority will reign. Fill the world with forgiveness, open minds, and open hearts. We pray with gratitude for the places and spaces offering healthy authority. We pray for the places and spaces of unhealthy authority and abuse, that justice will reign. Thank you for Christ’s authority that comes to us in confession and absolution in the midst of our sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.