Proper 26

Reformation Sunday

Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34

Saying "God is one" is easy. Working out all the implications of monotheism is hard.

Two implications are made clear in this Sunday's readings from Deuteronomy and Mark. The first is that there is no neutral ground, no neutral spaces, because God is one. The second is that our relationship to God is a relationship of the whole person, again, because God is one.

Since we do not offer our whole selves to God, our consciences are stricken. We are easily manipulated by guilt. The good news (gospel) is that while other mediators (priesthood, temple, church, the cause du jour) fail to quiet our consciences, Christ, by offering His whole self, leaves our consciences clean.

Watch or read this sermon to find out how we can begin to cede our whole lives to the one true and living God.