Loading...The brevity and format of this sermon are due to the fact that it was translated into Dinka and Arabic.
Beloved sisters and brothers: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
I am filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for the opportunity to be with you this morning to share the Holy Eucharist.
My heart is also breaking with sorrow, knowing that many members of this congregation have lost loved ones and friends due to the violence in South Sudan.
I am here today to assure you of the prayers and love of your sisters and brothers throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky and the Indiana-Kentucky Lutheran Synod who wish to share your burden.
My heart is filled with trust in God, and the hope of the world who is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Jesus calls us to place our whole trust in him. He is with us, our Good Shepherd, leading us, even through the valley of the shadow of death.
Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers. The Church in South Sudan is making peace.
We here in the United States can learn much from the Episcopal Church in Sudan about being faithful to God at all costs.
So must we all be peacemakers!
Courageous reconcilers!
Filled with the unconditional love of God for all people, including our enemies.
This what Jesus taught us as he was nailed to the cross. "Father, forgive them”
It is such radical forgiveness that makes new life in us and in the world possible.
Only love can drive out hate. The love of God at work in us will lead us from darkness to light.
We commemorate today the Martyrs of Sudan. We add to those great witnesses for Christ the new Martyrs of South Sudan.
These saints teach us that this mortal life can change in an instant. It is eternal life in Christ that endures forever.
There are many praying for you today, that the risen Christ will dry your tears and give you comfort.
Now my sisters and brothers: All of us now must make a choice.
How will we respond to the evil done to millions in the Sudan over the years?
And how will respond to deaths of loved ones and friend?
We will work for justice for all people.
We will show mercy, and not return evil for evil.
We will seek God’s help to be beacons of hope!
We care bear each other’s burden
We will stay faithful to Jesus who died and rose again.
He has destroyed death forever.
He is our hope, the way, the truth, and the life.
May God continue to be with the Episcopal Church of the Sudan.
May the bishops and clergy and people show all people that peace is God’s will for all.
May we support them with our love and prayers.
May we honor their work by being peacemakers here in Louisville.
Amen.
Let us live as people of hope!
Let us live as people of new life!
Let us live as people who forgive others.
Most of all, let us faithfully follow Jesus, and love one another as he loves us.
