January 11, 2026: Fulfilling Righteousness

The Gospel: Matthew 3: 13-17  (pg 837)
Epistle Reading: Acts 10: 34-43 (pg 957)

In this reading, Cornelius, a Roman officer and a Gentile who worshiped the Jewish God, has had a vision of an angel who tells him to send for Simon Peter where he is staying and to invite him to come to his home so he can learn from him. He sends two of his servants and a devout soldier to get Peter. Peter was similarly told by God that these three had been sent by him and Peter must go and teach Cornelius. Our reading begins as Peter has arrived at Cornelius’ home. Cornelius told him of his vision and Peter is responding.

Sermon: Fulfilling Righteousness

As an English teacher and a pastor, I love a good play on words. In our Matthew scripture regarding the baptism of Christ, Peter is protesting about his ability to baptize God’s son when Jesus should be baptizing him, but Jesus replies, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Thus I came up with my sermon title: Fulfilling Righteousness which we can think about in two different ways. The first is that we have to fulfill our duty to be righteous and the second is that being righteous is fulfilling. In the end, both are true for Jesus and us. 

But what is righteousness? We hear the term bantered about in so many different ways. The one that pops into my mind first is the term righteous anger, which I have always thought of as justified anger, like being angry about an unjust law or action and fighting against it. But according to my Oxford Study Bible, to be righteous is to act in accordance with the will of God. 

And doesn’t that make complete sense around Jesus’ baptism when the moment he comes out of the water, the spirit of God descended like a dove landing on him saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” It certainly confirms that Jesus’ baptism was the will of God and it gave God the opportunity to pronounce Jesus as God’s son for many to hear, guiding them to follow him and to learn from him. After all, it was God’s will to become human in the form of Jesus so we could better learn God’s will. 

It was God’s will that Jesus would preach peace, do good, and heal the oppressed as we are reminded by the Acts scripture. 

And it was God’s will that a Roman Officer and his whole household be allowed into the faith community. For just after the Acts scripture today as Peter spoke to Cornelius in 10:44-46 it says, “The Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers (the Jews) who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.” After this, Cornelius and his whole household were baptized by Peter. 

As Peter said, “God shows no partiality” but don’t we humans show our partiality all the time?

God lets anyone who will hear into the faith community - Jew, Christian, Muslim and all the flavors of these and other religions. But what do we do as humans? We divide whether it be the type of Christianity or a different Abrahamic faith like Judaism or Islam. And yet, we of these different faiths have a lot in common - we believe in a singular God and we all believe in loving neighbors, strangers and enemies as taught by our God, and we all support one another as a part of our faith communities. 

We humans also divide by political parties and other belief systems. We sometimes forget that it is ok to disagree, as long as we can do it peacefully and with respect. 

I find hope in the fact that there seems to be a growing movement of interfaith cooperation. Maybe we humans can learn, like God, not to show partiality. In Rutland there is an Interfaith Council where various Christian clergy meet monthly along with the local Rabbi and Imam and even plan Interfaith Services like the Annual Thanksgiving service which I attended this year where different faith leaders each took a part in the service, sharing their traditions and music and coming together promoting peace and love. It was this group that I worked with to get out our letter of peace and cooperation, which was published in the beginning of December. Isn’t this righteousness, God’s will that we humans, all part of his creation, work together, promoting peace for all, rather than working against one another?

In Minneapolis Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Faith leaders gathered on Thursday to ask for justice after the killing of Renee Nicole Good. "Yesterday, a mother was killed, right here. Renee Good deserves justice, her child deserves justice; her family deserves justice. We demand accountability," said Imam Mowlid Ali of Abuubakar Mosque in south Minneapolis. "Today, I am feeling heartbroken for not only our community here in Minneapolis, but also our nation as a whole. Right here on this block, children who attend my church catch the bus every morning for school. And yesterday, their block, their bus stop, became a scene of terror," said Pastor Martha Bardwell of Minneapolis' Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Senior Rabbi Tamar MaGill-Grim of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights told the crowd, "We need an administration that values human life — and we need it now."  (Fischer, Samantha. “Faith, community leaders demand justice for Renee Good.” KARE 11, 8 January 2026, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/ice-in-minnesota/faith-leaders-community-members-demand-justice-for-renee-good/89-151e4d27-a961-4d5a-a4b7-916207cf3373. Accessed 10 January 2026.)

Faith leaders across the country are calling for peace, asking people and the leaders of our country to lead with love. That sure seems like righteousness, following God’s will,  to me. 

The United Church of Dorset and East Rupert has created a Truth and Justice Vermont website with great resources. Their mission statement states they are a  “A nonpartisan group in defense of our US Constitution” ​​​It goes on to say, “We seek to build awareness of social and environmental injustices, to provide a haven for resistance, and make sure that ALL are truly welcome in our community and our nation.  Faith, principles, and moral ethics compel us to respond to the suffering and cruelty we see around us today.
​
In particular, they state: Politics involves seeking to meet the needs of all people; partisanship seeks to meet the needs of only a select few. So we are willing to engage in politics, not partisanship.  

This sounds like righteousness to me. 

I skipped my VT Conference UCC Justice and Witness Ministry meeting on Thursday night so that Russ and I could go to the silent, peaceful candlelight vigil in memory of Renee Nicole Good on Route 7 in front of Main Street Park in Rutland. We were two of about 110 who turned out holding our candles and singing “Amazing Grace”.

We received honks of support from some and were flipped off and yelled at by others. But we will continue to lead with peace and love. 

While a vigil doesn’t solve problems, it shows that we can remember a life that was lost and call for justice peacefully. It shows that we want and will  work for a society that cares about all people, a society that leads with love and helps rather than harms. 

The Justice and Witness Ministry folks did meet on Thursday and jointly drafted A Prophetic Call for Justice: Statement on the Killing of Renee Nicole Good. As a member of the committee, I was able to help edit the draft the next morning and that draft has now been finalized. I have signed it along with 164 others so far, others who are interested are invited to do so by Monday when it will be sent out to the media, our governor and our Congressional representatives. The letter begins with a quote from Micah  6:8 that is my guiding scripture: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” The letter goes on to call for Vermont Legislators to publicly condemn the use of lethal force, to protect due process, and to demand transparency.

This too is righteousness, as the letter states, “Our faith is rooted in the conviction that every person bears the Imago Dei—the Image of God”. We believe that every human has value and dignity and the right to peace and security.

As Isaiah tells us, “I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” 

First Century Jewish Religious Leader and Scholar Hillel the Elder said “If not now, when?” President John F. Kennedy added to that "If not us, who? If not now, when?” 

God has called us to righteousness and given us the example of Jesus Christ who led with peace and love for all. We are called to be God’s light, opening eyes, leading people in peace. That is fulfilling righteousness. Amen.

Pastor Michelle Fountain