Good Monday morning. We had lovely outdoor worship services yesterday. We got a tiny sprinkle toward the end of the 10:00 o’clock service, but otherwise it was sunny and warm. President Matt said, I sure hope we’re inside by December! No worries, I’ll finally put on a jacket.


Let’s get back to the writings of St. Peter.

1 Peter 2:9-12 (NRSV)


9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.


10 Once you were not a people,

but now you are God’s people;

once you had not received mercy,

but now you have received mercy.

Live as Servants of God

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.


The readers were formerly Gentiles, but are now a part of the chosen race of Israel. Peter uses language that describes God’s special relationship with Israel. We have taken that to mean God’s special relationship to God’s church and to us a Christ followers. This choosing does not mean that we are better than others; it means we are chosen by God’s grace.


These next few passages have been used to rationalize slavery, white supremacy and patriarchy. But, it is more of a spiritual race with one spiritual Father that we belong to. Luther wrote about the “priesthood of all believers.” As Christians, we are all chosen as priests to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to be different or separate from the world; we are called to be salt, light, and good soil. How have you shown your faith by being different in the world around you? Your family, your workplace, your home?


Blessings on your day,

Pastor Sue