July 7, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

On Tuesday of last week I listened to a discussion of The Science of Spirituality on WBUR's "On Point". On the show, renowned psychiatrist George Vaillant made the claim that we're hardwired for the realm of the spirit: It is in our genes. Today's Gospel passage might support this assertion, but it adds an important nuance. We all may be "hardwired" for the spiritual, but we each respond to the spirit in different ways. As the parable of the sower illustrates, we need to be open to receive the gift of God's spirit or else we will never achieve our full spiritual potential.

THEME FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

God invites us to a loving spiritual relationship, but God does not coerce our decision. God respects our freedom and desires our freely-given response. In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that God's word, like a fruitful seed, gives new life, but only if we become the fertile ground that embraces this gift. In the Collect, we pray: "O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

The reading from Genesis tells the story of Esau and Isaac, twin sons born to Rebekah and Isaac: "When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob ... When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob." (Genesis 25:19-34)

Psalm 119 expresses the prayerful commitment of the person who desires to live in relationship with God: "Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path. I have sworn and am determined to keep your righteous judgments ... Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, and teach me your judgments ... I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes for ever and to the end."

The epistle to the Romans urges us to chose the life of the spirit over the life of "the flesh," which for St. Paul symbolizes all that is unworthy of a child of God. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law --indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:1-11)

In the Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus uses a short story called a parable to illustrate his teaching. "And he told them many things in parables, saying: 'Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.'" (Matthew 13:1-9,18-23)

Jesus, risen and transformed, is the Living Christ who shows us the way to God. He is present in our worship to teach us in the Liturgy of the Word and to nourish us in the Liturgy of the Sacrament. Please join us at the Holy Eucharist Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

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Worship Services for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, July 12-13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Brian Gearin
Sunday, July 13, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer
Sunday, July 13, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer

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EVENTS at All Saints Parish

• For a schedule of worship services, please click here.
• For information about the Faith Formation Discussion Group that meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, please click here.
• For information about the "I believe" course on the Apostles' Creed and Baptism that meets on Sundays at 11:30 a.m., please click here.
• For information about the Beacon Street Fellowship for those in their 20s and 30s that meets on Sunday, July 13 after the 6:00 pm service, please click here.
• To see the current issue of Saints Alive, our newsletter, please click here.

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