This week's sermon

 

RENDER UNTO CAESAR….

        In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees (as always) “went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said.”

        So, the followers of the Pharisees said to Jesus: “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth….” (Boy, that is buttering him up with faint praise!)

        “Tell us, then, what you think,” they say getting ready to drop the bomb!

        “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

        If Jesus says ‘no’—they’ve got him from treason against the Roman Empire.

        If Jesus says ‘yes’—they can tell the people he sides with the Romans against the Jews.

        They’ve got him either way…at least they think so.

        But Jesus knows what they’re up to and tells them: “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?”

        Jesus can be depended upon to be a step ahead of his critics. I admire that about him.

        So, he asks to be shown what is given to the tax.

        They show him a coin and he asks who’s likeness is on the coin.

        They answer, ‘the emperor’s.”

        So, he tells them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

        Point, game, set, match to Jesus!

        Don’t try to play tennis with this guy….a

        In another translation, Jesus says, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, the things that are God’s.”

        It’s my contention that over 2000 years ago, Jesus set the stage for our country’s ‘separation of church and state’ which is a part of our constitutional legacy.

        And now, it is my belief that our constitutional legacy of ‘separation of church and state’ is in danger of being uprooted.

        Let me be clear—it is not the state that is trying to uproot that legacy—it is the ‘church’.

        Evangelicals and Roman Catholics are asking the state to infringe on the church and on individual freedom.

        I could give you several examples, but let me cite one—abortion rights.

        I’ll be clear, I abhor abortion, detest it—but it is the right of the woman to choose, not my ‘right’ to tell her she can’t.

        The Evangelicals and Roman Catholics are urging state governments and the United States’ government to take away rights that should be protected and upheld.

        I’ll talk to you more, if you wish, about this—but let me be clear: the church—at least parts of it—are trying to blur the separation of church and state.

        Render unto Caesar and render unto God may soon be tarnished. I pray it won’t be, but fear it will be. What can we do to prevent that? I’m not sure. I wish I did.

Amen.

 

 

Sunday sleep-in

 I slept until 9:30 this morning.

Luckily, I didn't have church today since the service in Milton started just as I woke up.

To wash, dress, eat a little something, drive to Milton and get vested would take about an hour.

But this was  "Sleep-In Sunday".

I feel really rested....

Confirmation Sunday

 Trinity, Milton--which is actually in the town limits of Litchfield--which I serve very part time, joined St. Michael's, Litchfield on Sunday for Confirmation.

I presented 3 for confirmation, 2 to be received and 1 to reaffirm her vows.

Both buildings of Trinity would fit inside St. Michael's sanctuary--leaving room for the altar!

Bishop Laura told me before the service that I was in her sermon.

I was nervous since most of my career I have annoyed Bishops.

But it was about serving the outsiders and she told about my work at St. John's in Waterbury with a Soup Kitchen that served 100 or so a day and a food pantry and restrooms open to the homeless.

All in all a good day.

But Trinity's coffee hours are better.

I really hate Halloween!

 I hate everything about it.

A block and a half from our house is a house that has 14 huge, scary displays in it's yard.

I wouldn't let my kid Trick or Treat there. If they're that into terror, what might they give children who come to their house==bed bugs, maybe.

My hatred of that night goes back to my early childhood.

My parents would dress me up in a costume and mask.

I was 7 before we knew how near-sighted I was.

Seeing people dressed in scary costumes through the eye holes in my mask freaked me out.

And some people in my day (and probably still) would do bad things to private property if they didn't get enough candy.

Fear and destruction aren't for me.

So, I hate Halloween.

Brigit found her voice

Our dog, Brigit, was a silent creature the first few years after we rescued her.

But she has found her voice and now barks--at the mailman, anyone on our front porch, even at me if I come in unexpectedly!

It annoys me but I guess it means she feels it's okay to bark--she won't be punished.

But she can really bark!

She'd let us know now if someone was breaking into our house--that's good.

But it still annoys me.

I'll get over it because I love her so.

 

As frustrated as I've ever been

 This afternoon has been a nightmare!

First I get a mail from Consumer Cellular that I need to update my SIM card.

Lots of email and phone calls get me nowhere.

I'll try again tomorow.

And then an email bill for $599 from Norton--a company I've never heard of.

I spent nearly an hour on line and the phone with them before I realized it was a scam and they wanted my bank number.

What a scam!

Bern found it on line and it was exactly what happened.

Elder folks are victims of scams a lot.

They tied down my computer for a couple of hours but it back now.

I'm as depressed as I get--which isn't very depressed.

Glad it's over.

The Voice comes on in 22 minutes--so I have reason to cheer up.

A sunny day at last!

 At Trinity Church in Milton this morning the sun was shining bright and someone said, "what is that golden orb in the sky?"

It's been a while since a sunny day--but today it was!

The other 'sunny' thing is that the Speaker of the House darted away from his MAGA right-wing folks and passed a bill to keep the government running for 45 days.

A shut-down would have been a disaster. Good for the Republicans who joined most Democrats to pass it.

Matt Gaetz plans to try to remove the Speaker and several Republican House members plan to try to expel Gaetz from the chamber.

The Republicans are at loggerheads with each other.

Hopefully, Democrats can take back the House in 2024.

That would bring sanity to DC.

I pray that happens.

I am a Democrat from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

No kidding.