Friday, June 24, 2022

Freedom


Photo credit: Julian Jagtenberg

Third Sunday After Pentecost

**Please note this service is based on the format of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). Hymns and other prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.

**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.

Introduction to the day

We have no good apart from God. That makes Jesus’ call to follow him an invitation to freedom. This is freedom to revel in the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, and patience. This is freedom to not be imprisoned by anything that would keep us from the fullness of the life God has given us. This is the path of life.

Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

whose steadfast love endures forever.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Merciful God,

we confess that we have not followed your path

but have chosen our own way.

Instead of putting others before ourselves,

we long to take the best seats at the table.

When met by those in need,

we have too often passed by on the other side.

Set us again on the path of life.

Save us from ourselves

and free us to love our neighbors.

Amen.

Hear the good news!

God does not deal with us according to our sins

but delights in granting pardon and mercy.

In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.

You are free to love as God loves.

Amen.

Gathering Song – Borning Cry (ELW #732)

            Listen Here

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.

Sovereign God, ruler of all hearts, you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom. Keep us faithful to the ways of your Son, that, leaving behind all that hinders us, we may steadfastly follow your paths, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen.

Readings

A reading from the Second Book of Kings. (2:1-2, 6-14)

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.

Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. 

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

                Listen Here

I cry aloud to God,

    aloud to God, that he may hear me.

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;

    in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;

    my soul refuses to be comforted.

I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;

    I will remember your wonders of old.

I will meditate on all your work,

    and muse on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

    What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

    you have displayed your might among the peoples.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people,

    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

When the waters saw you, O God,

    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;

    the very deep trembled.

The clouds poured out water;

    the skies thundered;

    your arrows flashed on every side.

The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;

    your lightnings lit up the world;

    the earth trembled and shook.

Your way was through the sea,

    your path, through the mighty waters;

    yet your footprints were unseen.

You led your people like a flock

    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians. (5:1, 13-25)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

            Listen Here

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke. (9:51-62)

Glory to you, O Lord.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

May only truth be spoken, and truth heard. Amen.

 

Living in Canada means you have certain rights. You know you have these rights because they're guaranteed to you in two documents: the constitution of Canada and the charter of rights and freedoms.

 

The constitution is a legal document that outlines how Canada's government operates and what laws are recognized. The charter is embedded in the constitution and describes the basic civil rights of all people living in Canada.

 

Every government decision and law in Canada must respect our charter rights. So what does the charter guarantee us exactly?

·         Fundamental freedoms – anyone living in Canada is free to believe what they choose including religion, politics, or personal beliefs; we’re also free to express them publicly

·         Democratic rights – citizens have the right to vote and run for office

·         Mobility rights – anyone living in Canada can travel and work anywhere in the country

·         Legal rights – all people are innocent until proven guilty and have a right to a fair trial

·         Language rights – all people have the right to speak the language of their choice; French speaking people have the right to be educated at French language schools

 

Within the charter is a clause that guarantees our equality regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.

 

Not only does the charter guarantee Canadians these rights, but it says the government must actively protect them. Canadians have a right to be protected from certain actions that infringe on their rights such as hate speech and violence. This means that you're free to express and act of your beliefs, provided they don't interfere with the rights of other people.

 

And if a person feels their charter rights have been violated, they can bring their case before the courts.

 

The goal of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms is to create a just society based on equality, freedom, and democracy.

 

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m giving this little history lesson.

 

We, as a culture, are confused about freedom. We think freedom means “I can do whatever I want, whenever I want to.”

 

We think it means “I can do what I want, as long as it’s not hurting anyone.”

 

However, unbridled self-indulgence is rarely harmless.

 

We confuse freedom with “license.” License means you don’t care about anybody else, so you have no qualms about doing whatever you want, regardless of how it affects others.

 

Our freedoms are always in tension with the freedom of the people around us. When we think of our neighbors, freedom isn’t just the ability to do whatever we want, especially if that action puts our neighbors at risk.

 

And if we are honest with ourselves, our freedom isn’t as fully inclusive of our neighbours as we think it might be.

 

As we approach the 155th celebration of Canada Day, I think we need to closely examine what freedom truly exists in this country.

 

If you have been at a public event in recent years where our national anthem is sung, the boos from the crowd will tell you that not everyone believes Canada is a free country.

 

While we would love to think that we, and our government, follow our Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the letter, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that not everyone is treated equally, not everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, not everyone is free to speak their language (or to be taught their language), not everything is fully accessible.

 

There is an aspect of “not about me” in Canadian culture. But we can make no progress as communal human beings, which is inherent in being fully human, unless we let go of our attachment to self.

 

When community is inward looking, and concerned with its own problems and survival, the marks of the Flesh are more prevalent and problematic. This is where Paul is trying to take us.

 

Our second lesson today tells us that, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” The freedom Paul writes about here is in contrast to the “yoke of slavery.” Sin is slavery because we lose our freedom to do good.


Paul’s call to freedom is a call to freedom from a certain style of religion which he believes misses the point and does harm rather than good – in the name of God and on the basis of the Bible.

 

He makes it very clear that freedom is not just release from something – in this case the demands of the Law – it is also freedom for something, namely a relationship with the God who loves.

 

It is possible to enter a relationship with God, but then abandon God's priorities and follow after selfish impulses at the expense of others. Just to follow one's impulses and to gratify one's own needs without regard for others is to live "according to the flesh".

 

Not that our normal human impulses, whether sexual or for food or anything else, are wrong. They become wrong when they are handled in such a way that we do harm to others – and to ourselves.

 

God wants us to turn that freedom into care for our neighbours. Our inheritance as God’s children are secured solely by God’s promise made good in Jesus Christ. God’s unconditional, self-giving love is the only power that can set us free to love our neighbors as ourselves.

 

We are all free to love. And faith working through love is the only thing that counts.

 

To love someone is to not allow them to suffer, and to treat them with compassion, kindness, and grace. When you love someone, you do not have the freedom to sit idly by while they are harmed. If you exercise that freedom to do so, you can no longer claim to love that person.

 

The freedom that we have been given does not exclude an inner struggle. We must wage this struggle with confident trust because we must never underestimate what the Spirit is able to produce in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...”

 

But the freedom that Jesus gives us is not freedom for self-indulgence, but freedom from self for service to others.

 

Jesus set us free on the cross, embracing us, just as we are in our sin. Our enslavement to the cycle of self-destruction is forever broken as we share his broken body and drink his shed blood.

 

We are given freedom in Christ – freedom to do good things, and not to indulge our desires to control other people or have power over them.

 

Each of us is free in Christ to be for the world what he was for the world: an agent of reconciliation and love.

 

Paul is telling us that if we have right relationship with God, goodness will be the consequence. Goodness within will bring goodness without. Love generates love.

 

The ultimate freedom is the freedom to love those who do not love us.

The ultimate freedom is the freedom to love our enemies.

 

Freedom to love our enemies is empowered by the Holy Spirit; it cannot come from our own willpower or self-determination.

 

We can practice this kind of freedom when we are filled with Spirit and begin manifesting the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Only the truly free can live out these fruits.

 

When we experience the freedom to practice the fruits of the Spirit, we become a blessing of freedom to everyone we meet.

 

This is the freedom we were created to experience, and it is the freedom that Jesus calls us to today.

 

“Come, be free,” Jesus says. “Follow me, and you will bless the world with your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and gentleness.”

Amen.

Hymn of the Day – Just a Closer Walk with Thee (ELW #697)

            Listen Here

Apostles’ Creed

Let us declare the faith of our baptism as we say together the Apostles’ creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

United in Christ and guided by the Spirit, we pray for the church, the creation, and all in need.

Silence.

God of faithfulness, set the face of your church firmly on you. Rooted in your self-giving love, may the church find freedom in loving our neighbors.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of gentleness, strengthen the earth’s ability to heal. Where there are dangerous storms, bring calm. Where there are destructive fires, bring rain. Protect homes, habitats, and livelihoods threatened by climate disasters.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of peace, guide all who govern, that they place the good of their citizens above self-promotion. Anoint leaders of nations with your Spirit of neighborly love. Protect refugees and all who live under tyranny or conflict.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of kindness, reveal your healing presence to all who are sick or dying. Uphold those who grieve. Support the needs of any who are unemployed, hungry, or have nowhere to lay their heads.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of love, attend to those struggling with addiction, depression, or uncontrolled anger. Provide support systems and loving companions as they work toward health, that they may rest in hope and know the fullness of joy in your presence.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of joy, we give thanks for all wh o have died and now celebrate the inheritance of life in you. Keep their examples of faithfulness always before us, that we trust your promises in life and in death.

God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of every time and place, in Jesus’ name and filled with your Holy Spirit, we entrust these spoken prayers and those in our hearts into your holy keeping.

Amen.

Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Offering Hymn – O Jesus, I Have Promised (ELW #810)

            Listen Here

Offering Prayer

Let us pray.

God of abundance, you have set before us a plentiful harvest. As we feast on your goodness, strengthen us to labor in your field, and equip us to bear fruit for the good of all, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Dialogue

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Savior Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave,

and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy

            Listen Here

Thanksgiving at the Table

Holy God,

our Maker, Redeemer, and Healer,

in the harmonious world of your creation,

the plants and animals,

the seas and stars

were whole and well in your praise.

When sin had scarred the world,

you sent your Son to heal our ills

and to form us again into one.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore,

his acts of healing,

his body given up,

and his victory over death,

we await that day when all the peoples of the earth

will come to the river to enjoy the tree of life.

Send your Spirit upon us and this meal:

as grains scattered on the hillside become one bread,

so let your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth,

that all may be fed with the Bread of life, your Son.

Through him all glory and honor is yours,

Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,

in your holy Church,

both now and forever.

Amen

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

In Christ’s presence there is fullness of joy.

Come to the banquet.

Sharing of the Eucharist

Table Blessing

The body and blood of our Lord

Jesus Christ strengthen you

and keep you in his grace.

Amen.

Prayer After Communion

As we have feasted around the table, let us pray.

Life-giving God, through this meal you have bandaged our wounds and fed us with your mercy. Now send us forth to live for others, both friend and stranger, that all may come to know your love. This we pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Blessing

The God of peace,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you, comfort you,

and show you the path of life

this day and always.

Amen.

Sending Song – Will You Come and Follow Me (ELW #798)

            Listen Here

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve your neighbor.

Thanks be to God.

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