September 30, 2007
Pentecost XVIII

Resources

The Gospel reading today calls our attention to our behavior towards others and most importantly about the use of our resources. Having money is not the problem. The problem lies in allowing money and that concern about money to dominate us to the point where we do not care about others outside our sphere of interest. If this gospel reading bothers you, it is a good sign. It tells us that we care, It tells us that we hear Moses and the Prophets and have listened and are being convinced by the testimony of the one who has risen from the dead. We gather as a community of faith precisely because we listen to the one who has been raised from death, the one who, the rich man while in Hell, told Abraham his five equally rich brothers would hear and change their ways.

I would like to invite us to discern and live with some questions about whom and what we are as a Parish of St. Philip.

Are we here to be blessed and strengthened by God?
Do we worship to truly listen and live In God's Word?
Are we bold to go and do as God calls us?
Are we ready to seek justice and dignity for every human being, as we promise in baptism?
Are we walking and living In love and kindness towards everyone around us and beyond?

Let us allow the words of Jesus in today's gospel to open our hearts, ears, and eyes to see and understand the behaviors that create a chasm of not caring towards others so that we may change our ways to the ways of God's love and grace

Silito

Take a look at some of the previous messages from the Rector