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The sense of estrangement seems prominent as the starting point in today’s psalm, the second lesson (1 Kings 19), and in the gospel narrative. We may begin in estrangement in the human predicament, but through God’s saving actions, we need not remain stuck there. In all of the cases hope looms large and transformation becomes a possibility.

PSALM 77:1-2; 6-14-UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE

This psalm begins as a cry from an individual who is in deep spiritual anguish. The lamenter describes the anguish by noting sleeplessness, moaning, seeking, and cries to God. Such anguish triggers past remembrances of God’s favor which, under the present circumstances, only adds to the distress. A series of indicting rhetorical questions lead the psalmist in a depressive downward spiral to such a point that she/he wonders if God’s attributes has been changed. The remaining psalm moves back up the stairwell and into faithful anticipation of God’s action: God is the silent partner who leads "your people like a flock" (v. 20).

2 KINGS 2:1-2, 6-14-PASSING THE TORCH

We continue the Elijah cycle this week, though this will be the last we’ll see of him; Elisha, his prophetic heir-apparent, will now take up the mantle. The story before us describes Elijah’s departure and also Elisha’s adhesive quality of sticking to Elijah wherever he goes. Like Aladdin’s lamp, the greater grants the lesser a wish: "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you" (v. 10). Elisha wishes for a double share of the spirit of Elijah and when he meets the stipulation that Elijah sets down ("if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you . . ."), Elisha grabs the Elijah-mantle and begins his prophetic call.

GALATIANS 5:1, 13-25-THE PRESENCE-DRIVEN LIFE

Perhaps the greatest of Christian behavioral teaching, Paul describes the nature of the freedom that we have to live a life worthy of the calling we have from God. Two lists form this lesson-the first list of behaviors are what Paul calls "works of the flesh," and include an unsavory list of behaviors that most folks seek to avoid. In stark contrast, Paul then juxtaposes a second list-the fruit of the Spirit list. The qualities here are familiar to Christian teaching and values-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thus, the path of our lower nature as well as the Spirit-filled life is our call.

LUKE 9:51-62-RESISTANCE, REACTION, AND REFLECTION

We’re on the way with Jesus and the disciples from the place of Transfiguration and illumination to the suffering of the Cross. At this juncture of the journey we have a village’s resistance to Christ and the disciples’ knee-jerk reaction plus, a call to discipleship that Jesus gives along the way. It may be difficult to combine the two paragraphs to form a sermon, but either one could provide enough truth from which to prepare a sermon that will be useful to the congregation.