Year A Proper 22 2 October 2011
Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Philippians 3: 4b-14 Matthew 21: 33-46
I’ve known some pretty wonderful people. I’ve also known some great people who told me quite openly that they are pretty good people. I think I’ve touched on this subject before about people who are fine and upstanding citizens who like to believe that they would never succumb to the pits that others do. But it is from someone with greater wisdom comes the saying, “There but for the grace of God go I”.
One of the biggest pitfalls for “good” people is the misconception that they might be “good” enough to earn a place in heaven. The old fashioned term for this is actually “Self righteousness”, and it is a “right-ness” that comes from obeying the law of God. Good people will tell you that they keep God’s commandments. In fact some influential baby boomers and generation Xs have been so effective in encouraging the next generation, that you will find most people see themselves as good. The evidence of this is in how offended people become if you should hint that they may be sinners. Most people, without knowing what God’s commandments are, will assume that they keep them all.
Our first reading for this week lists those commandments, the first one being, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2,3
Following on from this is the next command: Exodus 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
We live in a country that worships the god of football. Our culture idolizes the god of good looks and intellect, and all of us to some extent serve the god of materialism. We live in a globally connected society that constantly misuses God’s name as an exclamation. My own little “hobby horse” is to try to get children to understand that some people may find it offensive to use the exclamation, “Oh my God”. But this little phrase has become such a catch phrase that the Legally Blonde musical actually has a song titled, “Oh my God”.
Generally we know that nothing is meant by the phrase and it is as meaningless as “bust my buttons!” However, there is a tradition among Jewish writers of writing G-d this way. They put a dash in the middle so that they are not technically using God’s name. They knew that God was serious in His commands and so they treated his name in all aspects with the upmost respect.
We live in an age of the Grace of God. We overlook sins because we know that Jesus died and took all the punishment for these things, but does that mean that the commandments are no longer valid?
As in many things to do with God, we are dealing with a two sided coin. On the one hand we have the commandments which are in every way valid and eternal, but on the other hand we have the fact that we simply cannot keep these commands perfectly and thankfully we have the grace of God to save us.
In our readings this week we find St. Paul striving to teach the Philippians about human goodness, because he was once a very fine, admirable and upstanding citizen. St. Paul was one who kept the commandments perfectly – at least as far as the “letter” of the law was concerned, yet he failed when it came to the “spirit” of the law and was ignorant that he was lost, until he was confronted by God.
Philippians 3:4b-7 “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
St. Paul considered all his confidence in his own goodness to be complete loss for the sake of Christ. Why? Because he was aware that his “goodness” left him ignorantly misled and hardened him from any awareness of his need for a saviour. He was persecuting the followers of Christ and thought he was doing the “right” thing, yet the sick, the poor, the tax collectors and prostitutes and those who were acutely aware of their sinfulness were able to easily receive the grace of God and the gift of eternal life.
Our self perceived goodness is a stumbling block to seeing things as they really are, just as is our self perceived cleverness. The Psalm this week explains that the Heavens declare the glory of God. Nature itself is testimony to the person of God, but the self perceived clever won’t listen. Our cleverness gets in the way of allowing us to be vulnerable enough to simply say, “Wow! This is the work of God” and instead we labour for another explanation.
Our Gospel reading shows us the seriousness of self perceived “right-ness”. Jesus tells a parable which seems so outrageous. It is about a land owner who planted and established a vineyard then rented it to tenants. These tenants refused to give the land owner his fruit and they abused the servants that the land owner had sent. Finally the Land owner sent his son, but the tenants actually killed the son, thinking that they would then receive his inheritance.
It seems ridiculous that these tenants could be so foolish as to think that thinks would turn out okay for them. But this is a parable about the religious leaders, the Pharisees, who were listening to Jesus. They were so convinced of their own goodness that they couldn’t see the harm they were doing. It is a parable that was told to try to awaken and warn the people of Jesus time, but it is written down to be a warning to us.
The commandments of God have not been nullified by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. What has happened is that those who realize their need for a saviour and confess Jesus as Lord are completely forgiven any failure to keep those commands. – But first to be forgiven we must admit our sin.
Philippians 8- 9“ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Reflection on readings for 18th Septemer 2011
Year A Proper 20 18 September 2011
Exodus 16: 2-15 Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45 Philippians 1: 21-30 Matthew 20: 1-16
We are an upside down people. For a minute just imagine an “opposite day”. Kids know about opposite days and will tell you when you say “No” to them that it really means “Yes”! If everything was upside down we wouldn’t get a proper perspective on anything and things would be a little chaotic.... but here’s the thing... life is chaotic and we don’t have a proper perspective – we are an upside down people!
Shakespeare, in the words of Hamlet’s soliloquy, writes the thoughts that would be common to humans if we were clever enough to analyse and think it through. He writes the famous, “To be or not to be...” and he deliberates whether it is better to end his life or face the trials to come. In the end Hamlet decides that he doesn’t know what death entails and suspects that there may be more to it than a peaceful sleep. So fearing the “nightmares” that may await him after death he supposes that those trials of life may be the easier option.
Shakespeare obviously thought things through more than the average human being and articulated our inner fears and desires. The ancient Israelites, we read about this week were not so inclined to analyse and after being miraculously rescued by God grumbled that He had brought them out into the desert only to kill them by starvation. Not a very logical conclusion – but seemingly logical to an “upside down” people - and probably the one we’d all jump to in the same situation.
Are we more inclined to accept the wisdom and sovereignty of God when our life is in shambles and troubles surround us, or do we believe that God is punishing us and really dislikes us? The key to our being an upside down people or right way up depends on our perspective and unless we’ve been the “right way up”, we won’t realize that we are upside down.
Many of Jesus’ parables seemed to be “upside down” to the people – and they seems that way to us also. This week’s Gospel is no exception, and it tells of workers being paid the same amount even though some worked all day and some only worked for a short part of the day. This doesn’t seem fair to us and it didn’t seem fair to those listening to Jesus story either.
The Gospel is actually about us who work in God’s kingdom. Some have been working faithfully all their lives. Others have only just begun to be involved seemingly at the very end of their life. Is it fair that all be rewarded equally?
St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 1: 27-30 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Is it fair that someone who worked as hard as St. Paul (persecuted and martyred) should share the same reward as the elderly lady who just started coming to church at the age of 80 and really didn’t do very much except pray and encourage those in her congregation? Whether it seems fair or not, Jesus proclaims that this is how the kingdom of God works. Certainly it is Good News for those like the elderly lady – and yet it is something that those like St. Paul will willingly suffer and struggle their whole lives for. St. Paul knew that his reward was the same as those for whom he was struggling and he willingly continued. His reward is the love of God, forgiveness of sins and eternal life.... to want for anything more is to not understand the gift.
St. Paul also writes some famous words that are similar and yet opposite to those of Hamlet – yet written many years before the time of Shakespeare:
Philippians 1:21-26 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”
St. Paul was completely aware of the hardships of life. This is one who lived his life right on the edge of glory and suffered injustices and persecution for the faith he not only believed in, but knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was the truth.
Where Hamlet feared the punishment that awaited him due to his sins, St. Paul knew that Christ loved him and his sins were atoned for. St. Paul knew that to die meant to be with Christ and this was a good thing. But St. Paul knew that there was a reason and a purpose for his every day on earth and he lived that purpose without apology in the face of great affliction.
This week I taught a new song to one of my students, “clinging to a saving hand”. Because there were some old terms and words and this was a 10 year old student, I explained what the song was about and some of the terms, like, “sleep eternal”. The words of the song are: “Sing me a song of praise and glory. Help this wondering child to understand, that when I close my eyes in sleep eternal, I’ll be clinging to a saving hand”.
I explained that the saving hand was Jesus and that many people are scared of dying because they don’t know if Jesus will accept them. I explained that it is important to know Jesus now so that when we face death we can rest assured and know that Jesus will be there for us.
The Israelites that Moses led out of Egypt were the chosen people of God, but they didn’t KNOW him. They knew about Him and saw the amazing things that he did. More than this they were saved by Him from the land of slavery – and even, after them grumbling and complaining against God, they were miraculously given quails to eat and manna (bread). There was a difference between these people and St. Paul which caused them to interpret things differently. St. Paul was not an upside down person – he saw things as they really are.
We can be an upside down people if we don’t know Jesus. We can know about Jesus and still be “upside down”. We can experience Jesus and still be “upside down”. But to know Jesus and be the “right way up” is to be in a relationship with him. It means spending time with him.... learning about him... being led by his Holy Spirit and taught about him. It means making him the first propriety in our lives – because in the end our relationship with Him will one day be all that matters.
Spoken by Hamlet, Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover’d country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.–Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember’d.
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/hamlet-to-be-or-not-to-be/
Exodus 16: 2-15 Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45 Philippians 1: 21-30 Matthew 20: 1-16
We are an upside down people. For a minute just imagine an “opposite day”. Kids know about opposite days and will tell you when you say “No” to them that it really means “Yes”! If everything was upside down we wouldn’t get a proper perspective on anything and things would be a little chaotic.... but here’s the thing... life is chaotic and we don’t have a proper perspective – we are an upside down people!
Shakespeare, in the words of Hamlet’s soliloquy, writes the thoughts that would be common to humans if we were clever enough to analyse and think it through. He writes the famous, “To be or not to be...” and he deliberates whether it is better to end his life or face the trials to come. In the end Hamlet decides that he doesn’t know what death entails and suspects that there may be more to it than a peaceful sleep. So fearing the “nightmares” that may await him after death he supposes that those trials of life may be the easier option.
Shakespeare obviously thought things through more than the average human being and articulated our inner fears and desires. The ancient Israelites, we read about this week were not so inclined to analyse and after being miraculously rescued by God grumbled that He had brought them out into the desert only to kill them by starvation. Not a very logical conclusion – but seemingly logical to an “upside down” people - and probably the one we’d all jump to in the same situation.
Are we more inclined to accept the wisdom and sovereignty of God when our life is in shambles and troubles surround us, or do we believe that God is punishing us and really dislikes us? The key to our being an upside down people or right way up depends on our perspective and unless we’ve been the “right way up”, we won’t realize that we are upside down.
Many of Jesus’ parables seemed to be “upside down” to the people – and they seems that way to us also. This week’s Gospel is no exception, and it tells of workers being paid the same amount even though some worked all day and some only worked for a short part of the day. This doesn’t seem fair to us and it didn’t seem fair to those listening to Jesus story either.
The Gospel is actually about us who work in God’s kingdom. Some have been working faithfully all their lives. Others have only just begun to be involved seemingly at the very end of their life. Is it fair that all be rewarded equally?
St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 1: 27-30 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Is it fair that someone who worked as hard as St. Paul (persecuted and martyred) should share the same reward as the elderly lady who just started coming to church at the age of 80 and really didn’t do very much except pray and encourage those in her congregation? Whether it seems fair or not, Jesus proclaims that this is how the kingdom of God works. Certainly it is Good News for those like the elderly lady – and yet it is something that those like St. Paul will willingly suffer and struggle their whole lives for. St. Paul knew that his reward was the same as those for whom he was struggling and he willingly continued. His reward is the love of God, forgiveness of sins and eternal life.... to want for anything more is to not understand the gift.
St. Paul also writes some famous words that are similar and yet opposite to those of Hamlet – yet written many years before the time of Shakespeare:
Philippians 1:21-26 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”
St. Paul was completely aware of the hardships of life. This is one who lived his life right on the edge of glory and suffered injustices and persecution for the faith he not only believed in, but knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was the truth.
Where Hamlet feared the punishment that awaited him due to his sins, St. Paul knew that Christ loved him and his sins were atoned for. St. Paul knew that to die meant to be with Christ and this was a good thing. But St. Paul knew that there was a reason and a purpose for his every day on earth and he lived that purpose without apology in the face of great affliction.
This week I taught a new song to one of my students, “clinging to a saving hand”. Because there were some old terms and words and this was a 10 year old student, I explained what the song was about and some of the terms, like, “sleep eternal”. The words of the song are: “Sing me a song of praise and glory. Help this wondering child to understand, that when I close my eyes in sleep eternal, I’ll be clinging to a saving hand”.
I explained that the saving hand was Jesus and that many people are scared of dying because they don’t know if Jesus will accept them. I explained that it is important to know Jesus now so that when we face death we can rest assured and know that Jesus will be there for us.
The Israelites that Moses led out of Egypt were the chosen people of God, but they didn’t KNOW him. They knew about Him and saw the amazing things that he did. More than this they were saved by Him from the land of slavery – and even, after them grumbling and complaining against God, they were miraculously given quails to eat and manna (bread). There was a difference between these people and St. Paul which caused them to interpret things differently. St. Paul was not an upside down person – he saw things as they really are.
We can be an upside down people if we don’t know Jesus. We can know about Jesus and still be “upside down”. We can experience Jesus and still be “upside down”. But to know Jesus and be the “right way up” is to be in a relationship with him. It means spending time with him.... learning about him... being led by his Holy Spirit and taught about him. It means making him the first propriety in our lives – because in the end our relationship with Him will one day be all that matters.
Spoken by Hamlet, Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover’d country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.–Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember’d.
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/hamlet-to-be-or-not-to-be/
Friday, September 9, 2011
Reflection 11 September 2011
Year A Proper 19 11 September 2011
Exodus 14: 19-31 Psalm 114 Romans 14: 1-12 Matthew 18: 21-35
I’m reminded this week of the Shakespearean quote from “The Merchant of Venice”. Those familiar will most probably know already what quote, “The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
Last week we were told how to deal with a brother or sister who has sinned against us. This week, we are again told how to deal with someone who sins against us..... but it is different:
Matthew 18: 21, 22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.””
So you will note that we have two different approaches that are both correct. How can this be? This calls for the gift of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying wisdom. A parent will often understand and forgive the wrong doings of their child, and they will forgive infinitely, but for the good of the child certain boundaries may need to be enforced – the forgiveness and love, however, is limitless.
In our Gospel reading Jesus continues then, to tell the story of a servant who owed some money to his master. When his master demanded the repayment the servant begged for mercy. The master responded with mercy and forgave him, completely cancelling the debt, but the servant then went angrily and found a fellow servant who owed him money and had him thrown in jail. When the master founds out what had happened he was very upset with the servant as he was shown mercy and should have responded to his fellow servant with mercy.
We are shown great mercy by God. In some of the ways in which we are shown mercy we have no idea about. Our debts have been paid by Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Some of these debts we are aware of.... we know our failings. But there are many ways we fail and in our self assured ignorance we are oblivious to these. In one of the Psalms it says, “Who can discern his own errors?” We are actually much better at seeing others errors.
Jesus gives us these two different directives to ensure we understand that love and mercy and concern for the wellbeing of the other are the underlying motivation in all we do.
In our second reading we are urged to bear with those whose faith is weak. The reading goes on to explain that there are some whose faith permits them not to eat meat. In the early church there were people who had come from back grounds where meat was sacrificed to demons, therefore, because they were now Christians, they couldn’t eat that meat. Others realized that they could give thanks to God for the meat and eat it with a clear conscience.
Romans 14: 5-8 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
From one church denomination to another we have the same issues. We have people who believe that it is good to observe special days and others who refuse. We have some who fast and others who don’t see the need. There are very many different things that I haven’t listed and we do get very passionate about them and can see very good and important reasons for these and the other issues that divide us. The issues in the times of the Romans were no less important. St. Paul is urging that we see beyond the issue and recognise that the heart of the person desires to please God.... and this is what matters to God above all, and therefore, above all, this is what we should recognise.
With all the various issues that divide us it truly is a miracle that the Christian Church remains. In many ways we are like those ancient Israelites who were living in the land of Egypt. Egypt is symbolic of the powers and principalities that come against the Church.
Our church lives in the world, surrounded by the forces of evil and those dark forces impact us, as we do take on some of the world’s way of thinking. The ancient Israelites were God’s people and yet they were affected by the beliefs of the Egyptians. Even though this was a fact, God did not reject His people, but He called them out and He both led the people and came between the people and Egypt to protect and teach them.
Exodus 14: 19-20 “Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
Our first reading is the story of the parting of the Red Sea. Some have tried to justify the miracle as something ordinary and that there is a place where the Sea is very shallow. But that is not how our Bible describes it:
Exodus 14: 21-22 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”
Not only did the Israelites cross over on dry land, but when the Egyptians pursued them they were thrown into confusion and drowned. To put this in very human terms; the Israelite were a group of over worked and mistreated slaves and they had with them their women and children. The Egyptians were the strong army of only men, yet these are the ones who perished. There is only one explanation; God did something miraculous!
The message for us: We are called to be apart from the world and learn who God is. We need to let go of the "false Gods" that we picked up while out there in the world. We do this practically by spending time with God and without distractions. No matter that we come against powers and principalities that seem gigantic, when God acts for us the victory is ours. But know that God acted on behalf of his people who were less than perfect. We are less than perfect and have been shown great mercy. We need to be merciful with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Exodus 14: 19-31 Psalm 114 Romans 14: 1-12 Matthew 18: 21-35
I’m reminded this week of the Shakespearean quote from “The Merchant of Venice”. Those familiar will most probably know already what quote, “The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
Last week we were told how to deal with a brother or sister who has sinned against us. This week, we are again told how to deal with someone who sins against us..... but it is different:
Matthew 18: 21, 22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.””
So you will note that we have two different approaches that are both correct. How can this be? This calls for the gift of the Holy Spirit and the accompanying wisdom. A parent will often understand and forgive the wrong doings of their child, and they will forgive infinitely, but for the good of the child certain boundaries may need to be enforced – the forgiveness and love, however, is limitless.
In our Gospel reading Jesus continues then, to tell the story of a servant who owed some money to his master. When his master demanded the repayment the servant begged for mercy. The master responded with mercy and forgave him, completely cancelling the debt, but the servant then went angrily and found a fellow servant who owed him money and had him thrown in jail. When the master founds out what had happened he was very upset with the servant as he was shown mercy and should have responded to his fellow servant with mercy.
We are shown great mercy by God. In some of the ways in which we are shown mercy we have no idea about. Our debts have been paid by Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Some of these debts we are aware of.... we know our failings. But there are many ways we fail and in our self assured ignorance we are oblivious to these. In one of the Psalms it says, “Who can discern his own errors?” We are actually much better at seeing others errors.
Jesus gives us these two different directives to ensure we understand that love and mercy and concern for the wellbeing of the other are the underlying motivation in all we do.
In our second reading we are urged to bear with those whose faith is weak. The reading goes on to explain that there are some whose faith permits them not to eat meat. In the early church there were people who had come from back grounds where meat was sacrificed to demons, therefore, because they were now Christians, they couldn’t eat that meat. Others realized that they could give thanks to God for the meat and eat it with a clear conscience.
Romans 14: 5-8 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
From one church denomination to another we have the same issues. We have people who believe that it is good to observe special days and others who refuse. We have some who fast and others who don’t see the need. There are very many different things that I haven’t listed and we do get very passionate about them and can see very good and important reasons for these and the other issues that divide us. The issues in the times of the Romans were no less important. St. Paul is urging that we see beyond the issue and recognise that the heart of the person desires to please God.... and this is what matters to God above all, and therefore, above all, this is what we should recognise.
With all the various issues that divide us it truly is a miracle that the Christian Church remains. In many ways we are like those ancient Israelites who were living in the land of Egypt. Egypt is symbolic of the powers and principalities that come against the Church.
Our church lives in the world, surrounded by the forces of evil and those dark forces impact us, as we do take on some of the world’s way of thinking. The ancient Israelites were God’s people and yet they were affected by the beliefs of the Egyptians. Even though this was a fact, God did not reject His people, but He called them out and He both led the people and came between the people and Egypt to protect and teach them.
Exodus 14: 19-20 “Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
Our first reading is the story of the parting of the Red Sea. Some have tried to justify the miracle as something ordinary and that there is a place where the Sea is very shallow. But that is not how our Bible describes it:
Exodus 14: 21-22 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”
Not only did the Israelites cross over on dry land, but when the Egyptians pursued them they were thrown into confusion and drowned. To put this in very human terms; the Israelite were a group of over worked and mistreated slaves and they had with them their women and children. The Egyptians were the strong army of only men, yet these are the ones who perished. There is only one explanation; God did something miraculous!
The message for us: We are called to be apart from the world and learn who God is. We need to let go of the "false Gods" that we picked up while out there in the world. We do this practically by spending time with God and without distractions. No matter that we come against powers and principalities that seem gigantic, when God acts for us the victory is ours. But know that God acted on behalf of his people who were less than perfect. We are less than perfect and have been shown great mercy. We need to be merciful with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)