Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Readings – Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4: 1-9; Matthew 22: 1-14

In 1876, with the Civil War and Reconstruction over, industrialization was in full force.  And factory life was becoming more and more dangerous and demanding.  Big business was exploiting the common worker.  In this environment arose the “social gospel’.  The social gospel proclaimed that it was the Church’s responsibility to “elevate the common people not only spiritually and morally, but to be concerned about their social and economic welfare as well”.

In such a time Washington Gladden published the hymn, “O Master let me walk with Thee”.  He was born on a farm in Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, not far from Milton.  He graduated from Williams College, and was ordained a pastor in the Congregational Church, current-day United Church of Christ.  He served 32 years in Columbus, Ohio.  He believed a pastor was to be active in the civic life of the community.  In 1883 he negotiated the settlement at the end of the strike of the Telegraphers and in 1884 the end of the strike of the Hocking Valley Coal Company.   He stated the “if our friendship with Jesus does not lead us to concern for our fellowman, we better check to see how closely we are walking with the Master”. 

Hymn 660

O Master, let me walk with thee in lowly paths of service free; tell me thy secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love; teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me thy patience; still with thee in closer dearer company, in work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future’s broadening way; in peace that only thou canst give, with thee, O Master, let me live.

I enjoy walking, like walking to the Selinsgrove Post Office on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Leigh and I walk most early evenings, mostly in quiet, around our neighborhood.  Some days I just walk around downtown Selinsgrove.  I think walking is not only healthy, it promotes, it encourages patience.  Remember patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Love, joy peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, generosity, and self-control. 

Our reading from Exodus began, “When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from [Mt. Sinai]” they approached Aaron to create the golden calf.  They lost their patience.  In the same passage, even God was said to be impatient with the people, and Moses asked God to be patient. 

In our current times of Covid patience is often in short supply.  We need patience with hand washing and hand sanitizer, with mask-wearing and with non-singing protocols, with the absence of the usual family gatherings, and with the reduced nights out for football or soccer or concerts or movies or restaurants.  I think our current times call out for patience, for more quiet walks.  We do not know how this Covid crisis will end, or when it will end, do we?  So, in this interim time what are we to do?

The words to the Philippians long time ago ring so true for me today:       

First – “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Rejoice. 

Second – “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.”  Gentleness.

Third – “Do not worry about anything.”  Do not worry. 

Fourth – “… with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Be thankful.

Rejoice; Be gentle; Do not worry; Be thankful. 

These are the ingredients that will bring us “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding…” We walk for patience in these interim times remembering that “This, too, will pass”.  And in the interim we rejoice, we are gentle with others and with ourselves, we try not to worry, and we are thankful for the little things.  We are thankful for things like the fall colors, like the much-needed rain we will get tonight, like the rooves over our heads, like the food on our tables, like our community of faith, and our community of friends.  Blue Boxes can assist us with our thanksgivings. 

Our collect for today is a simple one:

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede us and follow us [on our walk of life], that we may continually be given to good works…

Let us conclude by once again turning to Hymn 660:

Keep on walking.

Amen