"Samaritans one and all" - Sermon for 3 Pentecost 6-29-25

I don’t think it’s ever been called a miracle: Was Jesus the rare man in history to turn down the opportunity to label a group of people as the enemy and to destroy them? The “Sons of Thunder” James and John wanted to do just that.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it. Wouldn’t we would be much better off if they didn’t exist? Or at least if they were made incapable of bothering us anymore? Surely God must agree with us.

But Jesus chose another way, saving his words of rebuke not for the inhospitable Samaritans but for two of his closest disciples and friends, men he loved. It must’ve stung them, James and John, who thought they could do God’s will with heaven’s weapon. Turns out God’s will is our own conversion of life, not theirs; our own journey to Jerusalem and to the cross. And heaven’s weapon is the cross; our daily reminder of just how challenging it is to do the work.

Leave behind your family and your livelihood, said Elijah to Elisha. Set aside the works of the flesh and the impulse to bite and devour one another, wrote Saint Paul to the Galatians. Give up the hope of comfort and don’t dwell in the past, said Jesus to three of his would-be followers.

I wonder … How is God calling you to conversion of life these days? Have you considered who your Samaritans are. Who might you want to fire-bomb in thought and word, if not in deed? Did you think about them a few minutes ago when you recited the Confession of Sin?

Conversion of life is a life-long process. And it is one of the signs of God’s love for you. God longs for you to transition ever nearer to the divine image in which you were made. You’re not there yet. Heaven awaits. And as lovely as you are, maybe you’re someone else’s Samaritan.

God loves you, and God trusts you. God trusts you to do the work, and so God gives you the grace to keep going. So keep going, and be a miracle yourself.

Father Daniel S.J. Scheid, SCP

Third after Pentecost C: Proper 8 – June 29, 2025

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, San Francisco

“Samaritans One and All”