Wrestling With Jerks - 8.2.20 The Rev. Teri Waldron

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost   The Collect:  Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament:  Genesis 32:22-31 [Alternate: Isaiah 55:1-5] 22The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day is breaking.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go, unless you bless me.' 27So he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' 28Then the man said, 'You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.' 29Then Jacob asked him, 'Please tell me your name.' But he said, 'Why is it that you ask my name?' And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.' 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Alternate: 1Ho, everyone who thirsts,     come to the waters; and you that have no money,     come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk     without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,     and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,     and delight yourselves in rich food. 3Incline your ear, and come to me;     listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant,     my steadfast, sure love for David. 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples,     a leader and commander for the peoples. 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know,     and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,     for he has glorified you. Psalm:  Psalm 17: 1-7, 16 [Alternate: Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-22] 1 Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord;    give heed to my cry; *        listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips. 2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *        let your eyes be fixed on justice. 3 Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *        melt me down; you will find no impurity in me. 4 I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *        I have heeded the words of your lips. 5 My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *        in your paths my feet shall not stumble. 6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *        incline your ear to me and hear my words. 7 Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *        O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand        from those who rise up against them. 16 But at my vindication I shall see your face; *        when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding        your likeness. Alternate: 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, *        slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is loving to everyone *        and his compassion is over all his works. 15 The Lord upholds all those who fall; *        he lifts up those who are bowed down. 16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *        and you give them their food in due season. 17 You open wide your hand *        and satisfy the needs of every living creature. 18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *        and loving in all his works. 19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, *        to all who call upon him faithfully. 20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *        he hears their cry and helps them. 21 The Lord preserves all those who love him, *        but he destroys all the wicked. 22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; *        let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever. Epistle:  Romans 9:1-5 1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Gospel:  Matthew 14:13-21 13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.' 16Jesus said to them, 'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.' 17They replied, 'We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.' 18And he said, 'Bring them here to me.' 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.