Third Sunday after Pentecost • Year C

Historical Collect

Lord of all power and might, you are the author and giver of all good things. Graft into our hearts a love of your name. Increase in us true faith, nourish us with what is good, and watch over all who are in your care. Grant this, we pray, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Beckoning God, you call us to follow your Son and experience abundant and everlasting life. Teach us to lead lives of obedience and love, bearing forth the fruit of the Spirit, and walking in newness each day ; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Common Thread

How are we to hear the gospel in the roar of the law? We are only frightened and withdrawn until we hear the Lord whisper the good news. Then he becomes our preferred portion and cup, always set before us, our only good. Led now by the Spirit, we may keep in step, walking by the Spirit, and God therefore, bears fruit in our lives. Only we cannot look back from where we have come; it must always be the Lord set before us, our eyes to his heels—our ears to his whisper: “Follow me.”

First Reading • 1 Kings 19:9b–21

Luther said that, “one-half of ourselves, our own reason, stands against us” (Commentary on Galatians). Elijah would agree. When he acted in the Spirit, he conquered false prophets. Soon enough, after a little thought, he realized how puny he was, and hid in a cave. The Lord’s counsel was to get out of the cave and take a stand face-to-face with the Lord. This is the best counsel when human reason gets in the way of faith. Face the Lord; realize who is really in charge. Reason will never convince you that God is in charge but standing face-to-faith will change your outlook.

Psalm • Psalm 16:1-11

A cave is a poor place to hide from life’s problems but God is a refuge. He is good counsel in the darkest night. Keep him before you at all times and when trouble comes (and it will), he will be as present as your right hand. God is holding on; you shall not be moved from faith.

Second Reading • Galatians 5:1, 13–25

It can be tempting to say, “God is for me,” so I can get by with this little sin. But even little sins violate the greatest commandment: Love God and neighbor with all your might. We walk in the Spirit by keeping this command close at all times. How does my little lie or my gratification of the flesh harm myself and displease the God I say I love? What can I do today that would be Spirit living? The fruit of the Spirit is a good meditation for a day’s work. If you are living by the Spirit, be guided by these things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law will never accuse you of sin if such fruit abound in your walk with God.

Nevertheless, we will fail in producing a constant supply of the fruit of the Spirit. When we slip into the ways of the flesh, the best practice is to confess it and receive God’s forgiveness. This gets our hearts back on the right track because it turns our attention back to God. Confession is a big part of walking in the Spirit.

Gospel • Luke 9:51–62

The real danger of sin is that it takes our attention off of God. When we sin, we have not just focused on gratification; our focus too often remains on the sin — no longer on the gratification but on the sadness that results. This why Jesus tells us to not look back. We must keep going forward with him by turning our faith back to him. “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first become a good man.” This will never do. If you have begun to follow Jesus, do not look back to doing things for yourself. Believe — even when you fail him — that he does not fail you.