June 20, 2025 - Rev. Jennifer Masada
This week’s scriptures invite us to explore pathways to unity through the inner healing of Christ's divine light. At first glance, the stories in Psalm 42 and Luke 8 can feel distant—one is ancient poetry about a soul thirsting for God, the other is a dramatic tale of demons and deliverance. How do these passages speak to our ordinary, modern lives? The psalmist reminds us that our soul longs for us to connect with the Divine within. Through the wild tale in Luke 8 about a man possessed, we are shown that we can be inhabited by a legion of voices. In our increasingly chaotic world, systems of politics, money, and social status wield power and distract us from our soul's identity and purpose. Today, just as in Jesus' time, loud and relentless voices try to name us, shape us, and scatter our sense of self. These stories invite us to a sacred practice of clearing. We can step away from the noise by:
The man in Luke is restored not by effort, but by encounter. The psalmist finds hope not in answers, but in trusting that presence will return. These stories speak to us still—calling us to clear the clutter, to name our longing, and to be met by the One who sees us clearly and calls us beloved. Like the psalmist, we can name our longing. Like the man filled with "Legion," we can recognize the voices that distort our true selves. Jesus meets us in that place—not to condemn, but to restore. As we are healed and cleared, we become vessels of light, capable of love and unity not based on sameness, but in the unity of shared Divine presence. If you use any of the text in this or any sermon posted on this web site, please ensure proper attribution to the author.
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AuthorThe Rev. Jennifer Masada serves as vicar alongside the people of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church and the many people and organizations in North Kohala who partner with our church to provide economic relief, work toward food sustainability, support creative arts, and gather in unity, peace, and joy. ArchivesCategories |
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