In his remarks today my friend, John Lewis, said, “Yesterday, February 12, was Charles Darwin's birthday. For that reason, some folks celebrate today as Evolution Sunday.
God created a universe that was initially formless -- a "quark soup" is what John Polkinghorne has called it -- but that had a lot of energy. God's universe also had -- still has -- a great capacity for change, a propensity for change, even. And because of all this energy and this propensity for change, and because the initial ingredients were present in just the right proportions and the forces between them were calibrated just right, God's universe was able to evolve... us. What a miracle.
So on Evolution Sunday, we should give thanks for the phenomenon that Darwin observed and named. And we should find hope in the fact that change, the potential for something better, is ongoing.”
I see this evolution in Jesus’s words today … what was proclaimed as an expectation in Moses’s time is perceived by Jesus as worthy of an upgrade. In today’s world we continue to examine our notions of right and wrong, good and bad, and follow God’s call to penetrate ever more deeply into the wisdom God planted in each of us. When we open to our truest selves we find we already know the path.
Namaste! Amen!
Namaste! Amen!
The Readings
Sirach 15:15-20
Psalm 119
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Matthew 5:17-37
17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 ‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
The reading is from the website below.
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