Sunday, June 3, 2018

Telling the Truth June 3,2018

Worship on Sunday, June 3 …

 We begin to delve deep in the power of story exemplified in Pilate’s interrogation of Jesus and the drama of Nathan and King David.
╬ Telling the Truth!  It seems that even Truth has been relativized today.  As Pilate says to Jesus, “What is truth?”  Yet truth remains truth, even in an age of perception-as-reality and “alternative facts.”  Truth is intrinsic to the well-being and integrity of human community.  But telling the truth challenges us all from time to time.  “Speaking truth to power” can be fearful, even dangerous.  That’s where the element of story comes into play.  Story can be a powerful way of communicating deep truths with the greatest effect and impact. 

 The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.

 Let’s have some fun with this topic, and discover a thing or two along the way!

 Blessings all,
- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

  
PRAYER OF THE DAY ---------------------
God of light and life, we give you thanks for the gift of your Spirit, the Spirit of Truth at the very center of our being.  Guide us by the power of your Spirit in living truth, speaking truth, demanding truth and settling for nothing less or otherwise.  Amen.

 READINGS --------------------------------
First Reading:  2 Sam 11:14-18,26-27
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die." 16 As Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant warriors. 17 The men of the city came out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite was killed as well. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting.  26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.

 Psalm 86:11-17
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

 Second Reading:  Ephesians 4:11-16
11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

 Gospel:  John 18:33-38
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." 38 Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"
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