Pentecost 18, Proper 26

The Gospel according to Mark, 9:38-50

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.”

Mo. Mantelle’s thought for September 26, 2021

This Sunday’s gospel is an interesting one. The Disciples come to Jesus because someone, who is not a disciple, is casting out demons in Jesus’ name and they are upset about it. I guess they are worried that that person is somehow doing it incorrectly or against Jesus’ commands. However they are casting out the demons and it is working. Jesus’ name is invoked, and the demons leave the person that they have inhabited. Jesus tells the disciples that this is a good thing and to let them continue.

Do you ever pray to Jesus or God for help to do something? I often call on Jesus to help me throughout the day. Sometimes I am in need of patience or calmness when my girls are saying or doing something that upset me. On Tuesday I asked Jesus to help us put up the new light and pole in the parking lot. I’m sure Tom, Eddie and I were more than capable of getting it up, but I believe that I can always use a little help from Jesus. I also asked Jesus to keep me safe as I used my chainsaw and cut up a tree.

There are many amazing ways that Jesus has helped me on different occasions. Jesus has helped me put back on a mini van door that slide off it’s tracks in my church parking lot. Jesus has given me directions when I was lost. He hasn’t called me and told me, but it is as if I feel in my heart what way to turn and go. It is really strange, but it has happened many times. That was before we had GPSs and cell phones.

Jesus’ name is a powerful name. If we invoke the name of Jesus, we need to be ready for the response. It might come in a quiet whisper or a power jolt. Jesus is very much here with us each and everyday. Call on Him and you might be surprised!

Celebrate St. Francis Day!

Gather your finned, feathered, and furry friends and join us at 2 p.m. at the Rectory as we Celebrate St. Francis Day with our 2021 Blessing of the Animals.

St. Peter's Rectory is located at 200 Kings Hwy in Mt. Royal. This is an outside event, weather permitting.

All manner of animals are welcome, we just ask that you are able to keep them under your direct control. If your friends are too large or otherwise unable to attend, a picture can be blessed in proxy.

Mo. Mantelle's thought for Pentecost 15

In this Sunday’s gospel the disciple Peter hit the nail on the head and then missed the nail completely. Peter finally “got it” and then “lost it” in the next breath. When Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?” The other disciples told Jesus what the people around were saying, John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. But Peter deep down knew who Jesus was, he had walked the closest to Jesus once he was called. Peter knew that Jesus was far greater than any prophet of old. So, Peter proclaims, Jesus “you are the Messiah!” Peter was the first to proclaim it, the first to say it out loud, the first to feel it deep in his soul. And because of that Jesus tells Peter that he will be the rock on which His Church will be built.

But Peter is also human like you and me. Even though Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, he still dreamed of Jesus ascending to the throne in Israel. So, when Jesus started talking about how He was going to be betrayed and killed and then rise on the third day, Peter couldn’t take it. That was not Peter’s picture of what the Messiah was to become. The Messiah wasn’t supposed to die. Peter didn’t understand the “rise in three days” part. So, Peter takes Jesus aside and quietly corrects Him. But Peter is offering Jesus a way out. Peter is saying “You don’t have to do it that way, you can become the Earthly King because you have power over everything.” So, Jesus tell Peter to stop and stop tempting Him like Satan did in the wilderness. Jesus knew from the start that in order to free the world from sin, He must be the sacrificial lamb. Jesus knew that the only way to save humanity was to die for it. Jesus knew that He must continue to walk the path that His Father in Heaven set for Him.

We each have a path laid out for us. I believe God gives us free will many times in our lives to choose which way we will go when we come to a fork in our path. But God definitely has a dream for us, a vision of what we are to become. If we don’t have God in our lives, we can’t see the path that God plans for us. If we do have God in our lives, then I believe that God helps us choose when way to go at the forks. The path is not always smooth or easy, but with God it is doable.