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Trinity Sunday Scripture:
Notes from Fr. Cathie Caimano’s sermon:
Preaching on Romans
to avoid dividing sons from their fathers on Fathers Day!
Paul was the first Christian theologian.
He was writing Scripture in real time.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again;
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Baptizing babies at seminary
We used the ‘baby baster’! a huge copper pot.
We baptized babies by immersion.
Holding them up, we quickly and gently ducked them under the water:
In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit
It was so moving.
Made me regret the ‘birdbath’ baptisms we usually do in the Episcopal church.
We really go the sense that we are baptized into the death of Christ, as well as his life.
Life and death. Sin and Grace.
Around and around we go!
Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means!
I think this is humor on Paul’s part - just because we ARE always forgiven doesn’t mean we should sin just because we can.
The Prodigal Son
Once he knew that the Father responded with joy at his return, he could say:
‘I’m going to go back to that dissolute living! I can come back whenever I want’ (much to the older brother’s chagrin…)
OR - he could just stay at the party!
We DO sin. No matter how hard we try, we will.
But we don’t have to keep ourselves from GRACE.
Jesus and hyperbole
He really wasn’t saying, ‘don’t love your family’!
He was using hyperbole to compare how the love of God is infinitely larger than even the most intense love we experience.
‘I would give my life for those I love.’ How often we think or say that.
But we don’t have to - because Jesus gave his life for us.
And we dare to love because know that even death will not separate us from those we hold most dear.
This is where faith comes in.
Jesus says ‘be not afraid’ three times in this Gospel
It’s hard - it can be scary - the ups and downs of Life and Death, Sin and Grace.
I’m a sinner - you are, too. We will go on sinning no matter how hard we try not to. But still we believe in grace.
I’m going to die. So are you. We all are. We will lose those we love. But still we believe in eternal life.
We cannot truly live in a world full of sin without believing in the power of grace.
We cannot truly love in a world bound by death without believing in the power of resurrection.
When you’re up - don’t look down. And when you’re down - keep looking up.
Life is up. Love is up. Hearts up! (You knew I would say that…)
We’re glad you’re here, and we’re already praying for you.
In fact, if you have a prayer request, you can make it right here:
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