Sermon: The Twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost

Proper 24 Year A October 18, 2026

The Rev. Paul LeClair

Exodus 33:12-23 Psalm 99 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22

God, our Creator, bless these words.

Jesus, Redeemer, may this message reflect your grace.

Holy Spirit of Truth lead us to wisdom and peace. Amen

Adapted from D365 – Aram Bae

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In our opening collect this morning we prayed that the we, the Church, may persevere with steadfast faith, in the confession of God’s Name.

In our scripture selections today, we heard from four different sources, in different settings and cultures, over the course of thousands of years.

They each recorded a number of ways in which God’s people have attempted to do just that; to confess God’s Holy Name.

~ ~ ~

In the passage from Exodus, Moses appeared to be frustrated with the Lord.

After all, from Moses’ viewpoint, God chose Moses

and sent him to carry out a massive rescue mission.

Now Moses was getting flack and grumbling from the Israelites and he felt like God had left him hanging without any visible support.

It’s like Moses was saying, “Come on, Lord! Can you give me a hand here?”

In spite of Moses being so bold and sassy, God did reply.

“Just watch and see. I AM with you. I WILL do what you ask. You’ll see my mercy and you’ll proclaim my name.

Which, by the way, as you may recall, my name is:

I AM who I am. And … as you’ll see, I do what I do.

~ ~ ~

When Moses asked the Lord what his name is.

God replied, “I am who I am” In other words, God’s name is:

• I AM (I exist.)

• I AM (I’m real.)

• I AM (I’m the real deal!)

Just you wait and see!

So, as the ancient Hebrews developed their relationship with the Lord, with the leadership of patriarchs, judges, poets, prophets and kings, they each came up with their own names for the Great I AM.

Some of those names are expressed in Psalm 99

• The LORD is King.

• The LORD is great in Zion.

• His Name is Great and Awesome.

• He is the Holy One

• He is the Lover of Justice.

~ ~ ~

Although when Paul wrote his First Letter to the Thessalonians, he intended today’s passage to be the greeting section of his letter. But he also used a few phrases to describe God. One of those descriptions was: our God and Father.

At that time in history, people in Greek and Roman cultures would never have used such an intimate way to describe gods such as Apollo or Zeus.

A father is someone who to whom, a person would have

a close and direct relationship with.

Yes, a father was someone who should be treated with respect. A father in those times, also loved his children

and he had a responsibility to take care of them.

In the legends of Greek and Roman mythology,

their gods and goddesses behaved very badly and they abused their mortal subjects.

When Jesus, and later, Paul, referred to God as Father,

it was a shocking and an inspiring concept.

This may help us understand why the gospel message was seen as such good news.

It really was: truth that set you free.

In his letter, Paul also referred to God as the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s power inspires those who hear the gospel, to imitate how Jesus lives, and to follow what he taught. In addition, Paul wrote about the True and Living God. The true God sent his son from heaven and raised him from the dead. This living God also rescues us.

This is strikingly unlike mere sculptured stone, molded metal, or carved wooden idols, who have no life in themselves.

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In today’s Gospel selection, some Pharisees (a strict Jewish religious sect) and Herodians (a political group who supported King Herod and Roman rule) attempted to trick Jesus, by asking if it was lawful to pay taxes to the emperor.

Jesus’ reply was: to give the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to give God the things that are God’s.

Since the emperor’s name and face were on the coins,

they could be used to pay taxes to the emperor.

But what are the things that we’re to give to God?

As we enter into what many churches know as stewardship season, many of us are asking ourselves that very question.

What are the things that we’re to give to God?

If we think about it, everything we have comes from the creator. So, we can give God, our praise and our devotion;

we can give generously to people in need;

we can offer kindness to friends and to strangers;

or we can pledge financial support to our parish church.

In all of these, we are giving to God, the things that are God’s. And our intention for what we do and what we give is, known by us, and by God. That's why the pledge envelopes we’ll be placing on the altar in a few weeks

will never be opened. What we pledge, is strictly between us and God.

Interestingly enough, in today’s Gospel, it was the Pharisees and Herodians who provide us with some of the answer to the question, “What are the things that we’re to give to God? They addressed Jesus as the teacher who is sincere. When we share our faith with others, we too are teachers. And when we give God our worship and praise, this is done best with sincerity.

This means being conscious of the hymn lyrics we sing

and keeping aware of the meaning of the words in our prayers, rather than merely reciting words or mindlessly fulfilling a weekly obligation.

As a musician, I’ve learned that I need to be mindful of my sincerity. I need to ask myself, “Am I trying to honor God and inspire those who hear my music?

OR am I just trying to impress people with my extraordinary musicianship?”

Again, it was Jesus’ critics, Pharisees and Herodians, who were the ones who said that Jesus taught the way of God in accordance with truth.

We can see the contrast between truth and deception in this Gospel passage. The Pharisees and Herodians’ intention was to trick Jesus and entrap him.

Jesus’ objective was to help people understand that they are loved by God and that whoever they are, they deserve respect and compassion. And so, the Gospel has revealed more names for God:

Jesus, Sincere Teacher, the Truth.

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Several years ago, during a bible study class, we were asked to share, what name each of us used for God when we prayed. The intention was to see if the way we addressed God, reflected our understanding, our experiences, and our relationship with God.

One person may have prayed “Dear Heavenly Father”

while it wouldn’t occur to use that name to another person who grew up without a father.

A person who was now living a sober life because of a twelve step group, knew God best as their higher power.

Meanwhile another person’s primary devotion was to recite the 23rd Psalm.

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want …”

To the nurse, God was the Great Physician and Healer.

How each of us addressed God had a special meaning to us. No title was better than the other. I believe God likes them all. No one person had the right answer, because all of us did. God isn’t looking for right answers. God seeks open hearts. After sharing our own special names for God, those names became the lyrics to a song that has been sung only at St. Patrick’s.

I’m going to share it with you now.

As I sing it, I invite you to consider your own

personal, spiritual, relationship with God and by what name are you most comfortable using when you pray.

The words you see in your bulletin are from a well-known hymn which will serve as the closing prayer to this sermon.

By doing this, we, the Church, will persevere with steadfast faith, in the confession of God’s Name.

~ ~ ~

1. You are the music. Make me your instrument

You are the holy word, blessed and heaven sent.

You are the light guiding our lives, showing the way of truth and life;

Make us a symphony sharing our testament.

2. You’re the physician, compassionate healer

You are the comforter, blessed redeemer.

Fill us with hope, lighten our way, shine like a beacon night and day; You are the voice within, our guide and savior.

3. You are the holy one, listening mother

You are the Lamb of God, Abba,our father.

Almighty king, innocent child, one sacrifice and prince of peace;

Our higher pow - er, Alpha, Omega.

Now let’s pray together by singing.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love

Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, praising thee, their sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of im-mortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. A-MEN

Sources:

The New Interpreters Study Bible, NRSV with Apocrypha, Abington Press, Nashville, 2003

You Are The Music, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Madison Heights, MI, 2014

Ode To Joy - Ludwig van Beethoven