The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost | St. James 2023
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“True Religion: An Invitation to Encounter the Living God” by Rev. Jay Sidebotham
Drawing from Romans 12:9-21 and Matthew 16:21-28, Rev. Jay Sidebotham’s sermon from St. James Parish in Wilmington, NC, dives into the heart of what true religion embodies.
Inspired by Evelyn Underhill’s candid letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1930s, which emphasized that God should be the center of our religious focus, Rev. Sidebotham suggests that too many view religion as mere routine or ritual. He contrasts this with the teaching of Jesus and insights from Richard Rohr that separate the constructs of religion and the gospel: while religion is the path to encounter God, the gospel is the transformative realization and embrace of God’s grace once met.
Highlighting the call of Moses, Rev. Sidebotham notes that sacred encounters aren’t reserved for mountaintop moments. Instead, they can be found in daily acts of worship, love, giving, and forgiving. Just as Moses’ initial willingness to serve (“Here I am”) shifted to uncertainty (“Who am I?”), Christians are also reminded of God’s assuring promise, “I will be with you.”
Through the Eucharist, hymns, and everyday interactions, believers are invited to see the world as full of divine possibilities, echoing Barbara Brown Taylor’s sentiment that the Earth is abundant with “altars” for worship. Howard Thurman’s words remind us that everything has the potential for holiness.
In conclusion, Rev. Sidebotham beckons the congregation to reflect on their understanding of true religion, urging them to remain open to encounters with the Living God. Only then can the essence of true religion – an invitation to a deeper relationship with God – truly flourish.