Balancing priorities and Reconciliation

Proper 22B, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Moses Lake, WA, October 6, 2024 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Christ. Amen. Reconciliation is a six-syllable word and one of the most difficult things we are to do as Christians. What does reconciliation mean? Here is a list. 1. Cause to be friendly again, 2. Adjust or settle, 3. Bring to acceptance. Also, establishment of harmony. Synonyms are “harmonizing, rapprochement; reconcilement.” The definition of rapprochement is the “state of having or establishment of cordial relations.” In the first definition, “cause to be friendly again,” we realize that it implies something other than a previous friendly state. Prior to reconciliation, people often feel offended, incensed, angered, miffed, frustrated, disappointed, and a whole host of other feelings. In the second definition, “adjust or settle” we may think of settling an argument or a disagreement by our adjusting our thinking, our feelings, and our behavior. Sometimes our hearts are in the wrong place and our hearts do not match our feelings and behavior. Sometimes we simply have conflicting values. We tell ourselves that we should give to the ministry of the church, but we hesitate. We hesitate with our money, we hesitate with our behavior, we allow our non-humble, non-sacrificing self to take over. We say we agree to our vows made at baptism and marriage and then break them. We agree to accept the children of the world, the vulnerable, the weak, those who have different values from us; the people that society considers to be somehow “less than.” But our actions betray us. Sometimes it is a matter of balancing our priorities and taking the initiative, having faith that God will bless our way. God has blessed us with many gifted people here at St. Martin’s. Whether or not you are aware of it, you and I are gifts not only to the community, but to this congregation. Although October 4 honors St. Francis who was known as a lover of animals, today is Sunday. In a congregation I was with in 2006, this day was Mental Health Sunday. If you look at the lessons for today, you can see why. Take a quick look at all three lessons and what do you find mentioned? Animals, men, women, children, another lesson about the Pharisees. Right? He says about the Pharisaical law that marriage was to be a life-long commitment, not allowing a writ of divorce where men could divorce their wives. But because they were hard-hearted, Moses allowed it. The heart was the seat of emotions. We talk about people who have a good heart or wearing your heart on your sleeve. When we talk about someone having a soft heart, we see that person as someone who is vulnerable to manipulation. We are to protect and teach our children about the ways of the world and how to be in the world, so they learn to act in ways that are both humble and assertive, being able to be their own selves and encouraged to grow into functioning adults. Talking about things openly and making a connection with our children and grandchildren, in my case my siblings’ children and grandchildren is necessary. Each subject is necessary at every level of maturity. We need to talk about everything, not just abuse, drugs and alcohol although those subjects are in the forefront. Children see us as a role model. If we want our children to be involved in the ministry of the church, we need to take ownership and be involved ourselves. God values children, as demonstrated to us when Jesus blesses the children. We should value them as much as God does. We need to advocate for them because they are vulnerable and need our guidance. Families are important. They make up communities and are intergenerational. Some adults are in that place where they take care of parents as well as children. Sometimes the grandparents are the ones who raise the children while the parents work or in place of a marriage gone bad.