On Sunday, August 31, Rev. Therese Starr delivered a message that spoke to the heart of Christian discipleship: humility, generosity, and radical welcome.
Drawing on Sirach 10:12–18, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1–8, 15–16, and Luke 14:1, 7–14, she invited the congregation to reflect on what it means to live faithfully in a culture that often prizes pride, wealth, and social position.
From the wisdom of Sirach came the warning: pride and arrogance are not only destructive but cut us off from God’s presence. Rev. Starr reminded the congregation that pride isolates, while humility opens the door to community and to God’s blessing. The text urges that true greatness is found not in exalting oneself, but in remaining grounded, aware that all good things come from the Creator.
Psalm 112 broadened the reflection, highlighting the blessings that follow those who live with integrity and generosity. Rev. Starr underscored the psalmist’s vision of a life marked by compassion, justice, and trust in God. “The righteous are not remembered for their possessions or power,” she said, “but for the way they bless others with their lives.”
The letter to the Hebrews calls Christians to continue in mutual love, show hospitality to strangers, and remember those who suffer. Rev. Starr reminded the congregation how radical this vision remains today. Hospitality is not just inviting friends and family but extending welcome to those who cannot repay us. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,” Hebrews insists, “for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” This, she explained, is the heart of Christian community: love put into action.
Finally, Rev. Starr turned to Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus observed people scrambling for the best seats at a banquet. Instead, he taught, choose the lowest place. And when you host, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind—guests who cannot repay your generosity. Rev. Starr said that Jesus redefines honor not as being seen and admired but as making room for those whom society often excludes.
In closing, Rev. Starr urged the congregation to take these words to heart in their daily lives. She asked, “How do we share our tables, our time, and our resources?
How do we embody humility and welcome in a culture that often forgets both? Her challenge was clear: faith is measured not by what we keep but by what we give.
You are warmly invited to join Trinity Episcopal Church each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., where you will find a welcoming congregation, uplifting liturgy, and the good news of God’s love shared in word and sacrament. All are welcome—come and be part of a community that seeks to stand tall together in faith and love. (The full text of Rev. Starr’s sermon can be found on our Facebook page, TrinityEpiscopal-ChurchEufaulaOklahoma.)
