Sermons at Emmanuel Episcopal Church: The Best Bad News: The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Jesus' rebuke of Peter in Mark's Gospel is jarring. He sounds angry with Peter's naming Him as the Messiah, but He is actually concerned that Peter and the Disciples must fully understand that He is not the warrior Messiah but rather one of non-violence and love. He must be betrayed and sacrificed, must die and rise again. Peter and the Disciples must be the ones to carry on Jesus' message and healing, and they must have been very afraid that they were not up to the task without Jesus with them. This is where we at Emmanuel find ourselves today, as Mother Andria announces her move home to Portland. We love her and Jordan and Coby so much, and have all shared so much and seen our church family grow so, that we may be afraid that we cannot do it without her here with us. But as she tells us, we are going to be okay. The things that make us Emmanuel are not going away, and God has done so much for us and through us. He is not yet done with us, and He is certainly not done with the Very Reverend Andria Skornik. Our relationship is not ending, only changing, and we will all be greater for the time we have spent together.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 116:1-4, and James 3:1-12. The Gospel reference is Mark 8:27-38.