{"id":630203,"date":"2023-01-09T19:23:57","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T00:23:57","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-24T12:41:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:41:41","slug":"mining-the-riches-epiphany-6-a-february-12-2023","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/mining-the-riches-epiphany-6-a-february-12-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Mining the Riches, Epiphany 6 (A) \u2013 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=DFMS7140480943&#038;light=true\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/epiphany-6a\/\">[RCL] Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/E6-2023-Cover-FB-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-280206\" style=\"width:512px;height:268px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In today\u2019s Gospel, we may be tempted to hear Jesus set aside the Law of Moses in favor of a newer, more up-to-date version of God\u2019s teaching. His speech does have that sort of pattern to it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have heard that it was said&#8230; but I say to you&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was also said&#8230; but I say to you&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAgain, you have heard&#8230; but I say&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It sounds a lot like, \u201cNot <em>that<\/em>, but <em>this<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though we may be tempted to hear his words this way at first, getting rid of the old law in order to replace it with a new one isn\u2019t quite what Jesus has in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, he\u2019s reiterating established law to draw even deeper meaning from it. So, it\u2019s not so much, \u201cI am creating a <em>new<\/em> law for you,\u201das much as it is, \u201cI am <em>mining the riches of the law that God has already given you<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several examples in this morning\u2019s passage. In one, Jesus says, \u201cYou have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, \u2018You shall not murder\u2019; and \u2018whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.\u2019\u201d (That\u2019s good stuff. There\u2019s no updating necessary. Killing people is wrong, so don\u2019t do it. What could be simpler?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus continues, \u201cBut I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, \u2018You fool,\u2019 you will be liable to the hell of fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By adding that second part to his interpretation of the law, Jesus reveals meaning that we may not have heard at first. It\u2019s not <em>only<\/em> murder that\u2019s wrong. It\u2019s also name-calling, insulting, and unwarranted anger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These things may not be nearly as bad as murder, but like murder, they devalue human life. To kill is to render a life utterly meaningless, to totally and completely devalue God\u2019s presence in another. Of course, most people aren\u2019t murderers. Yet pretty much all people have a tendency to devalue human life. Even some of the saintliest folks in the world have, in a moment of outrage, uttered hateful, spiteful, or even violent words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Insulting or cursing someone\u2014even if only during the briefest period of lapsed judgment\u2014ignores the divine light within that person, and that\u2019s tantamount to wishing them dead, which, like the act of killing itself, devalues the sanctity of their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So no, it\u2019s not <em>just<\/em> murder that\u2019s bad. It\u2019s anything that disparages human life. You see, Jesus is not saying \u201cout with the old law and in with a new.\u201d He\u2019s saying, \u201cPlease, remember this other stuff, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding that Jesus is augmenting the law, rather than contradicting it, is a good lesson. But it\u2019s not the only lesson today\u2019s reading offers us. To conclude the sermon here might be to reinforce the moral that name-calling is just as bad as murder or that either or both of those things could have you burning for eternity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that\u2019s not what Jesus is getting at. Banishing us to the fiery pits of hell really isn\u2019t Jesus\u2019 style. Fire and brimstone preaching was developed much later by preachers with a very different agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus\u2019 overarching message is one of grace and peace, love and hope, forgiveness and redemption. If any of his words today seem particularly harsh, perhaps it\u2019s best to consider that it is because he wants our attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps it\u2019s because he wants us to understand that it is possible for us to live in right relationship with God and our neighbors. Perhaps it\u2019s because he wants us to understand that anger and insults too often keep us from doing just that. Perhaps it\u2019s because he wants us to understand that unbridled lust can lead us to depression and malcontent. Perhaps it\u2019s because he wants us to understand that the sacred bond of marriage should not be dissolved at a man\u2019s whim. Perhaps it\u2019s because he wants us to understand that there is no honor in making fancy promises that we cannot keep.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It could be any of those things. Or, perhaps most of all, it could be because he wants us to understand that our previous sins do not prohibit us from standing now and evermore secure in the grace of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When discussing murder, anger, and insult, Jesus offers the following advice. \u201cWhen you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These words may also seem a tad extreme, but we can rest assured that if Jesus isn\u2019t in the business of scrapping ancient Hebrew law, then he certainly isn\u2019t in the business of chasing anyone out of church. This is to say, Jesus does not require each and every person who momentarily recalls some interpersonal conflict to get up and head for the nearest exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, by offering the image of someone leaving a house of worship to go and be reconciled to their sibling in the faith, Jesus does seem to be making an urgent case for us to hone our habits of reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whenever we are reminded of a transgression that needs forgiving or a relationship that needs restoring\u2014even if it is during a time as important as worship\u2014Jesus expects us to take it seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoever we are, wherever we are, and whenever it is that we remember such a thing, Jesus calls us to the important work of reconciliation\u2014right then!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This advice is pretty pastoral. If ever we remember a fault of our own or the error of another, Jesus doesn\u2019t want one more second to go by without us orienting our minds toward the healing power of reconciliation. It is a reminder that such things are not the end of the world; there is wholeness yet to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In keeping with that same pastoral spirit, it is important to note that there are circumstances in life, such as in the aftermath of certain broken marriages, when personal reconciliation may not be appropriate, healthy, or safe. Of this we can be sure: Jesus understands and honors our individual contexts and personal choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for times when reconciliation is appropriate, Jesus believes that it is what is best. That\u2019s why he says to get up and go. As far as he\u2019s concerned, the sooner that we experience the peace of reconciliation, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, if any one of us decides to get up, walk out, and tend to something right now, that would be just fine. But we always have the option to stick around and soak up even more Jesus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That certainly can\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-5d066c33-cd5e-466d-a075-4bace1de79b5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sermon-Epiphany-6-English.docx\">Word \u2013 Epiphany 6 (A) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sermon-Epiphany-6-English.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-5d066c33-cd5e-466d-a075-4bace1de79b5\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-c9c7b9fa-3cd4-4f3a-8b82-a285fc473fa3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sermon-Epiphany-6-English.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Epiphany 6 (A) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sermon-Epiphany-6-English.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-c9c7b9fa-3cd4-4f3a-8b82-a285fc473fa3\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[RCL] Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 In today\u2019s Gospel, we may be tempted to hear Jesus set aside the Law of Moses in favor of a newer, more up-to-date version of God\u2019s teaching. His speech does have that sort of pattern to it: \u201cYou have heard that it&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201212,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[32,43,52,3],"tags":[258],"class_list":["post-630203","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epiphany","category-sermons","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-epiphany-6a"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":32,"label":"Epiphany"},{"value":43,"label":"Sermons"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":258,"label":"Epiphany 6A"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/630203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sermon"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/630203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950148,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/630203\/revisions\/950148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}