By the Rev. Micah Krey
RCL reflection for the 6th Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
February 16, 2025
Key Verse: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” -Jeremiah 17:7
The readings from Luke 6 and Jeremiah 17 invite us to explore trust and priorities — two themes with profound implications for how we steward our faith, resources, and relationships. Both texts contrast two ways of living, one rooted in God’s provision and the other in human self-reliance.
Jeremiah 17:5-10 draws a vivid picture of the impact of trust. Those who rely on human strength are like shrubs in the desert, parched and struggling. By contrast, those who trust in God are like trees planted by water, flourishing even in drought. This metaphor invites us to reflect on how we steward our faith and resources. Are we planting ourselves in shallow, fleeting sources of security, or are we drawing deeply from the living water of God’s faithfulness? Stewardship here is about alignment—orienting our lives toward trust in God rather than fleeting human constructs like wealth or status.
Luke 6:17-26, Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, underscores this theme by flipping conventional priorities on their head. Jesus declares as “blessed” the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the excluded, while issuing woes to the rich, the full, the laughing and the well-regarded. This stark reversal challenges the assumption that material abundance is a sign of God’s favor. Instead, Jesus points to the Kingdom of God as the ultimate source of blessing — a kingdom where priorities are rooted in justice, generosity, and compassion.
So, how do we preach this? We lean into the tension of trust.
This is one of the great tensions of our time: Where do we place our trust? In a world where fear and self-preservation seem to rule, how can we live as people who trust in God’s provision enough to be generous with our resources, our time, and our relationships? Truthfully, I don’t think we have very much trust at all. Certainly not in our neighbor. And doesn’t that immediately show us that we don’t have trust in God?
The beautiful tension of Jeremiah and Luke together is that God ultimately calls us to trust God within our community. Trust in God allows us to live as stewards of hope, sharing generously with those in need and aligning our lives with God’s kingdom values. And generosity, in turn, becomes an act of faith—declaring that our security comes not from our possessions but from God’s abundant grace.
So how do we embody the radical priorities of God’s kingdom in our daily lives? By shifting our trust from personal security to communal care. By choosing generosity over scarcity. By recognizing that true abundance is found in God’s provision, not in individual success. By caring for the poor. By allowing ourselves to be cared for.
In Worship
Create a visual centerpiece in the sanctuary featuring a small tree or a large branch in a pot of soil to represent the tree planted by water in Jeremiah 17. Provide paper leaves and markers for worshipers to write a prayer, a hope, or a way they are placing their trust in God. Encourage them to add their leaves to the tree before or after the service, visually demonstrating how trust in God connects and sustains the community.
For music, consider hymns such as “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” or “We Walk by Faith.” Incorporate prayers that reflect on blessings and challenges, lifting up those who feel like “shrubs in the desert.”
Worship with Youth
Read Luke 6:17-26 together and ask the group to brainstorm examples of blessings and woes in today’s world. Write these on a whiteboard or large paper, highlighting how Jesus flips cultural expectations.
Lead a discussion: How does trusting in God shape how we view success and happiness? Invite the youth to share examples from their own lives where they’ve chosen to prioritize faith and community over popularity, material wealth, or other temporary happiness.
Conclude with a group challenge: For the week ahead, identify one action that reflects trust in God—whether helping someone in need, praying daily, or giving generously—and check in next time (or throughout the week if you have a text chain) to share experiences.
Worship with Children (150 words):
Show the children two plants: one thriving, rooted in water, and another dry and withered (there are lots of these images online). Ask, “Which one looks happier? Why do you think this one is strong?” Explain that Jeremiah says people who trust God are like the strong plant—they grow even in hard times because they’re rooted in God’s love (like a tree planted by water).
Give each child a small paper cup (or a small pot if you have them) with soil and a few grass seeds (or another fast-growing seed). As they plant the seeds, explain that just like trees need water and good soil to grow strong, we need God’s love, prayer, and kindness to help us grow in faith.
Have the children water their seeds and say a short prayer, such as:
“God, help us grow strong in your love and share it with others. Amen.”
Encourage them to take their cups home and care for their plants (give them a watering schedule) and encourage them to say this prayer every time they water the plant. Remind them that when we stay close to God—by praying, loving others, and learning about Jesus—we grow just like the tree planted by water.
Previous reflections for Epiphany 6C:
2019 – Uncomfortable Christianity
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