Few plot points in movies and plays get to me emotionally like those in which the persecuted stand up and say “no.”

The strength and courage that comes from their desperation and hope connects to something deep in the core of my soul.  

This week I went to see the movie “Harriet.”  Based on the story of Harriet Tubman and her heroic work as a conductor for the underground railroad, this movie was full of moments of fierce desperation and hope.

Can I have an adult volunteer to help me with this sermon?

Great.  Could you open your wallet and give all the loose cash to a person you don’t know?  Could you do the same with your credit cards?

Could I get another adult volunteer?  No?

I learned, at a very young age, never to raise my hand until I knew what I was volunteering to do. 

One of the many delights of engaging in a journey along the Way of Love, exploring the seven practices that ground us in life with Jesus, is the discovery of how these practices overlap, intertwine, and reinforce one another. In our parish journey along the Way of Love, we’re coming to the end of a season of focusing on blessing, and our readings for today invite us to imagine another practice joining the dance – that practice is prayer. Prayer and blessing, blessing and prayer.

It can only be called divine humor that the text assigned for the kickoff of our Annual Pledge Appeal is this one, from Luke, or the one from Amos, for that matter.  

Divine humor, and a perfect fit, though not for the reasons you might think.

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they many welcome you into the eternal homes.” Wait…what? What did Jesus just say? Did he just instruct us to embrace financial corruption in order to secure friends and a future for ourselves?

My son grew up in the age of “participation medals.”  Though now the cause of eyerolls and fodder for stand up comics, when my son was playing little league, or soccer, entered an art contest or science fair, everyone got a trophy.  Everyone got a ribbon.

His bureau was covered in medals and trophies in a way mine never was.  When I was young there were no participation medals. You either won, or you got nothing.