Reflection on reading for 4th September 2011

Year A Proper 18 4 September 2011
Exodus 12: 1-14 Psalm 149 Romans 13: 8-14 Matthew 18: 15-20

Romans 12:13 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.”

There is a sense of “it is time to get serious” about this week’s readings. Time to get serious for three reasons; one is because of our relationships between each other, the other is because God’s judgment is near, and the third reason is because there is a move of God about to occur.

In our first reading we have God’s instructions to the Israelites who were in Egypt and in slavery. God gives very direct and specific instructions that these Israelites must follow. They must take a perfect male lamb on the 10th day of the month and on the 14th day at twilight, they are to slaughter it, painting the doorways of their homes with its blood and then eating the lamb roasted (not boiled and certainly not raw), leaving nothing until morning – all had to be consumed or thrown to the fire.
It was to be eaten with their cloaks tucked into their belt. In other words, as if they were about to leave in haste. God also explains what else was to occur that night:
Exodus 12:12-13 ““On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.””

The blood of the lamb painted on the doorways seems such a weird and revolting thing to us, but it is important to note that it was the blood of the lamb that saved the people. It was NOT that if the people had been really good that goodness saved them. It was NOT if the people had kept all the commandments that action saved them. It WAS the blood of the lamb and nothing else that meant these people were saved.

I’m guessing it was a very late dinner that night. If it wasn’t until twilight that the animal was slaughtered and all the requirements were fulfilled then the Israelites were kept very busy while the LORD passed over. The Israelites would have gone to sleep with the thought, “the night is nearly over and the day is nearly here”. In more ways than one, was their night nearly over, as the following day they would begin their great exodus from Egypt. They would witness the greatness of God as they walked through the parted sea, following the cloud of God by day and the pillar of fire by night, through to the desert.
God did not rescue this people because they were good. He rescued them because they were His people and he loved them. It is important to understand this as we look at our Gospel reading:

Matthew 18:15-17 ““If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

It is the words of Jesus..... the same Jesus who urged us not to judge, but to first take the speck out of our own eye... and the same Jesus who, when a lady caught in adultery was brought to him asked the crowd that whoever has not sinned to cast the first stone. So, how are we to interpret this?

In the passage, Jesus is speaking about brothers and sisters as those who are such in the body of Christ – i.e. the followers of Jesus, but it is probably best understood in the family situation, not just any family, but one that is closely united in love.

In my extended family at the moment, there is a somewhat dramatic situation. There is one member who we all have known for many years has been doing things to cause others grief. Finally things reached boiling point and boundaries have been laid down. In many ways there were one on one loving conversations, first within the primary family and then there were conversations with the extended family and even with counsellors. But there has been a refusal to listen and change.

In the end for the good of others in the family this person was told they were not welcome to live in that family home. Other family members provide temporary accommodation, and love and openness toward the person is still there, but basically the house rules are set and if this person won’t abide by them, they must live independently. This person is no longer a child, so living independently is not a cruel boundary to impose, but a necessity for the good of others in the family who are yet dependant.

I see this situation as being very similar to the instructions of Jesus in this passage. Within the body of Christ none is perfect. But we have new and young Christians as well as firm and mature Christians and all in between. We have a duty to care for each other in love and that is not always easy – in fact, very often it is hard.

Our reading from Romans tells us:
Romans 13:8-10 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.”

Relationships are two sided and sometimes there is nothing you can do but walk away. Put some distance between yourself and the person who has offended you. And that is sometimes the most loving thing to do. Not only does it send a definite message to the person involved, but it allows you to continue loving, caring and praying for the person instead of simply being irritated by continued close contact.

I don’t think that we as church, really follow the directives of Jesus quite the same as in the passage of Matthews Gospel, but more often than not, we don’t have the one on one conversation, but instead make judgement without even discovering the facts. We confide in two or three, but not with the person with whom we’ve had the problem. This is not loving and caring for that person and not what Jesus intended. In all situations we require the wisdom of the Holy Spirit because, as we know, sometimes Jesus calls us to “walk the extra mile”, “turn the other cheek”, etc...

It is also important to note that this passage refers to a person who has personally offended you, not just someone who sins (because we all sin), but someone who has sinned against you.

When all is said and done we need to be reminded constantly of how God has dealt with us. We too are saved by the “blood of the lamb”. The Israelites were saved by the blood of a perfect male lamb, not because they were perfect themselves, they were far, far, far from perfect. In fact even as a nation, I’m sure there were others that more deserved God’s favour. But God chose them not because the deserved him – he just chose them! And then he rescued and saved them.

We are saved by the blood of the perfect male “lamb”.... Jesus is the “lamb of God”. There isn’t anything that we do that deserves his favour. It is really important that we understand this. We have nothing to boast about. We are simply chosen, rescued, saved and favoured because we accept the sacrifice of Jesus.

In the understanding of this we need to realize that the night is nearly over and the day is almost here– God’s salvation is here and in one sense we already enjoy it, but in another it is still becoming the reality in our lives - it is time to act accordingly.