Sermon – 02-23-25 – Epiphany 7 – Cycle C
Scriptures: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50;
Luke 6:27-38
Sermon Title: “Extreme Mercy”

The cross of course! We can accept this extreme mercy or not. We can leave Jesus the Christ hanging on the cross forever. We can carry our sins with us until they erupt and cause havoc in our lives. Or, we can accept this extreme mercy and receive the extreme peace that follows.

Here it is not even Lent yet, and I have us thinking of the cross. Well, the cross is with us always. The empty cross is with us forever. This empty cross is not rotting as the years go by. This cross is not made of metal and hangs on a chain. As much as the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” continues to engage us emotionally, it has become a part of history. As we just sang the hymn about past, present, and future, we are reminded that there is more to come. God’s protection and energy and mercy are alive for us to accept with open arms. Picture with me, please, this bundle of energy and mercy coming into our arms. We could let it slip to the ground. We could press it into our hearts and minds for safe-keeping because we know we will need it sooner than later.

But do you know what happens when we keep and do not share? Whatever we are trying to keep, slides away or shrivels. The secret is in our gospel lesson today. Give and it will be given to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. You may be very good at this sharing and forgiving thing. Some of you are natured that way from birth. Some of us have to work harder to get the hang of God’s way. Mercy we receive, mercy we must share, mercy will return.

In our Old Testament reading today, we find Joseph. This Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob. You know how we say Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – that Jacob. This is a long fascinating story. Jacob’s first wife was not his first choice. Jacob really loved his first wife’s sister but as God would have it, Jacob had ten sons with the first wife. Finally, God arranged for Jacob to have the sister he loved as his second wife. Jacob and this second wife had two sons – Joseph and Benjamin. It seems obvious that these last two sons were more favored by Jacob than his first ten sons. Naturally, the older ten sons were jealous. They sold Joseph to a caravan going to Egypt so they would be rid of him.

Remember, this was all God’s doing. Joseph was noticed for his ability to interpret dreams so he found himself being promoted to second in command of the country of Egypt. Through his ability to see ahead, he knew that seven years of drought were coming, With the permission of the first in command, Joseph started saving grain through the seven years of good weather before the bad weather would come. When the drought came, Egypt had enough grain stored for the people of Egypt plus enough to share with people from surrounding countries.

Thus, Jacob sent the ten older brothers to Egypt from Israel to accept their offer of grain. They had no idea they would meet the younger brother they had sold into slavery. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him – this person who was doling grain as a gift of mercy.
Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. They are frightened now. What is going to happen? Has Joseph really forgiven them? Joseph has. He invites Jacob and all 11 brothers to come to Egypt to live and Joseph will care for them. You may detect a switch of power here but the main point is the forgiveness idea, the granting of mercy to enemies. Joseph hugged his younger brother, Benjamin, and kissed each of his stepbrothers and they talked together. The exchange of mercy.

The Apostle Paul speaks from the point of God creating man, Adam, to need mercy and then God sends the Son Jesus to earth to give mercy. A cycle is in place. May we continue the momentum of the cycle of mercy and peace. AmenSermon – 02-23-25 – Epiphany 7 – Cycle C
Scriptures: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50;
Luke 6:27-38
Sermon Title: “Extreme Mercy”

The cross of course! We can accept this extreme mercy or not. We can leave Jesus the Christ hanging on the cross forever. We can carry our sins with us until they erupt and cause havoc in our lives. Or, we can accept this extreme mercy and receive the extreme peace that follows.

Here it is not even Lent yet, and I have us thinking of the cross. Well, the cross is with us always. The empty cross is with us forever. This empty cross is not rotting as the years go by. This cross is not made of metal and hangs on a chain. As much as the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” continues to engage us emotionally, it has become a part of history. As we just sang the hymn about past, present, and future, we are reminded that there is more to come. God’s protection and energy and mercy are alive for us to accept with open arms. Picture with me, please, this bundle of energy and mercy coming into our arms. We could let it slip to the ground. We could press it into our hearts and minds for safe-keeping because we know we will need it sooner than later.

But do you know what happens when we keep and do not share? Whatever we are trying to keep, slides away or shrivels. The secret is in our gospel lesson today. Give and it will be given to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. You may be very good at this sharing and forgiving thing. Some of you are natured that way from birth. Some of us have to work harder to get the hang of God’s way. Mercy we receive, mercy we must share, mercy will return.

In our Old Testament reading today, we find Joseph. This Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob. You know how we say Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – that Jacob. This is a long fascinating story. Jacob’s first wife was not his first choice. Jacob really loved his first wife’s sister but as God would have it, Jacob had ten sons with the first wife. Finally, God arranged for Jacob to have the sister he loved as his second wife. Jacob and this second wife had two sons – Joseph and Benjamin. It seems obvious that these last two sons were more favored by Jacob than his first ten sons. Naturally, the older ten sons were jealous. They sold Joseph to a caravan going to Egypt so they would be rid of him.

Remember, this was all God’s doing. Joseph was noticed for his ability to interpret dreams so he found himself being promoted to second in command of the country of Egypt. Through his ability to see ahead, he knew that seven years of drought were coming, With the permission of the first in command, Joseph started saving grain through the seven years of good weather before the bad weather would come. When the drought came, Egypt had enough grain stored for the people of Egypt plus enough to share with people from surrounding countries.

Thus, Jacob sent the ten older brothers to Egypt from Israel to accept their offer of grain. They had no idea they would meet the younger brother they had sold into slavery. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him – this person who was doling grain as a gift of mercy.
Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. They are frightened now. What is going to happen? Has Joseph really forgiven them? Joseph has. He invites Jacob and all 11 brothers to come to Egypt to live and Joseph will care for them. You may detect a switch of power here but the main point is the forgiveness idea, the granting of mercy to enemies. Joseph hugged his younger brother, Benjamin, and kissed each of his stepbrothers and they talked together. The exchange of mercy.

The Apostle Paul speaks from the point of God creating man, Adam, to need mercy and then God sends the Son Jesus to earth to give mercy. A cycle is in place. May we continue the momentum of the cycle of mercy and peace. AmenSermon – 02-23-25 – Epiphany 7 – Cycle C
Scriptures: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50;
Luke 6:27-38
Sermon Title: “Extreme Mercy”

The cross of course! We can accept this extreme mercy or not. We can leave Jesus the Christ hanging on the cross forever. We can carry our sins with us until they erupt and cause havoc in our lives. Or, we can accept this extreme mercy and receive the extreme peace that follows.

Here it is not even Lent yet, and I have us thinking of the cross. Well, the cross is with us always. The empty cross is with us forever. This empty cross is not rotting as the years go by. This cross is not made of metal and hangs on a chain. As much as the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” continues to engage us emotionally, it has become a part of history. As we just sang the hymn about past, present, and future, we are reminded that there is more to come. God’s protection and energy and mercy are alive for us to accept with open arms. Picture with me, please, this bundle of energy and mercy coming into our arms. We could let it slip to the ground. We could press it into our hearts and minds for safe-keeping because we know we will need it sooner than later.

But do you know what happens when we keep and do not share? Whatever we are trying to keep, slides away or shrivels. The secret is in our gospel lesson today. Give and it will be given to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. You may be very good at this sharing and forgiving thing. Some of you are natured that way from birth. Some of us have to work harder to get the hang of God’s way. Mercy we receive, mercy we must share, mercy will return.

In our Old Testament reading today, we find Joseph. This Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob. You know how we say Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – that Jacob. This is a long fascinating story. Jacob’s first wife was not his first choice. Jacob really loved his first wife’s sister but as God would have it, Jacob had ten sons with the first wife. Finally, God arranged for Jacob to have the sister he loved as his second wife. Jacob and this second wife had two sons – Joseph and Benjamin. It seems obvious that these last two sons were more favored by Jacob than his first ten sons. Naturally, the older ten sons were jealous. They sold Joseph to a caravan going to Egypt so they would be rid of him.

Remember, this was all God’s doing. Joseph was noticed for his ability to interpret dreams so he found himself being promoted to second in command of the country of Egypt. Through his ability to see ahead, he knew that seven years of drought were coming, With the permission of the first in command, Joseph started saving grain through the seven years of good weather before the bad weather would come. When the drought came, Egypt had enough grain stored for the people of Egypt plus enough to share with people from surrounding countries.

Thus, Jacob sent the ten older brothers to Egypt from Israel to accept their offer of grain. They had no idea they would meet the younger brother they had sold into slavery. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him – this person who was doling grain as a gift of mercy.
Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. They are frightened now. What is going to happen? Has Joseph really forgiven them? Joseph has. He invites Jacob and all 11 brothers to come to Egypt to live and Joseph will care for them. You may detect a switch of power here but the main point is the forgiveness idea, the granting of mercy to enemies. Joseph hugged his younger brother, Benjamin, and kissed each of his stepbrothers and they talked together. The exchange of mercy.

The Apostle Paul speaks from the point of God creating man, Adam, to need mercy and then God sends the Son Jesus to earth to give mercy. A cycle is in place. May we continue the momentum of the cycle of mercy and peace. Amen