Year A Proper 16 21 August 2011
Exodus 1:8 - 2:10 Psalm 124 Romans 12: 1-8 Matthew 16: 13-20
When God gets involved in our lives amazing things happen.
Matthew 16:16-20 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”
Most often people read this verse and concentrate on the role that Peter played in the establishment of the church, but if we look beyond this we will see that Jesus is telling his followers some very important things, which will encourage and reassure his followers throughout the hard times to come.
Firstly, we read the statement of faith where Peter proclaims that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of the living God. It is this “rock” that is the foundation stone of the Church. Then we discover some aspects about this Church; Jesus says that the gate of death will not overcome this church. In some translations it says “the gates of Hades” or “the gates of Hell”.
It is important to realize that Jesus knew these followers were going to feel that Hell was fighting against them and winning. It would seem at times as though everything was so hard. There would be persecutions, imprisonment and throwing to the lions. It would certainly not always look like the gates of death would not overcome.
In our first reading we find out what it means when God says that the Gates of death will not overcome His church. We find that the descendants of those sons of Israel who sold their brother as a slave have now become enslaved. The Egyptians despised and enslaved the Israelites with hard labour, but still the Israelite population grew, and so the Egyptians killed all the males who were born to the Israelites.
An Israelite lady gave birth, during this time, to a beautiful health baby boy and she hid him from the authorities. When she could no longer hide him she made a basket, made it waterproof and set it in the Nile river with the baby inside. The baby’s sister stayed nearby to see what would happen. It would seem that this act was that of a visionary, who did not despair, but trusted in the providence of God. She may have given birth previously and lost the child.... we don’t know the dark and troubled circumstances which had previously been her life, but we know that she gave this baby every possible chance of life that she could. What happens next is amazing.
Pharaoh’s daughter went to the river to bathe, saw the basket and felt sorry for the baby. The baby’s sister, who had been watching the proceedings, seized the opportunity and offered to find a lady to nurse (i.e. to breast feed and care for) the child for Pharaoh’s daughter, indicating that Pharaoh’s daughter had taken on the responsibility for the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter was obliging and so the baby was taken back to its mother. Pharaoh’s daughter even paid the mother to look after the child, and then when he was old enough he went to live in the palace. This was the beginning of the life of Moses, the great prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery – but not until after many of his own struggles.
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
What is the thought pattern of this world? With the many on antidepressants and most of us stressed, I expect that we have succumbed to the conformity of this world.
People who can hope though there is great darkness, trouble and persecution around them are those who have given their lives to God and through all – trust God. These are not simply clergy and the odd special person, but we are all urged to be like this. We are all urged to entrust our lives into the hands of God.... and this is true worship. We are urged to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and we do this by getting our minds in line with God.... How? We are transformed by the gift of the Holy Spirit through studying the word of God, the Bible and by prayer and by being connected to the body of Christ – His Church. Remember, it is His Church that the gates of death will not overcome.
Within the Church, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, are people are called and gifted in many different ways.
Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Here we find seven gifts listed. There are others listed in other places and the point is to know that your gift is a responsibility. It is given to you for the good of the body of Christ. This particular list is one that someone, somewhere, at some point in time developed a bit of an idea about and called them the motivational gifts. This was an exercise that I went through a number of years ago and I found it really helpful in understanding where I fitted in and most particularly why I was so frustrated.
Sometimes we mistakenly “pigeon-hole” people into areas within the church where they are not really called to be. I remember going on a camp with some Papa New Guineans’ and there was a man who frustrated everyone. He tried very hard to be the “leader”, as that was what the culture seemed to dictate should be his role in the church as a male. He was a round peg in a square hole. Then at the end of the camp he sang some songs he’d written and the whole group was totally amazed at how wonderful it was. In his eyes, however, the singing and artistic things were the role of the women.
You can actually answer a few questions online and get a fair idea of what your gift is. (To do this go to www.gifttest.org and click the link that says “Take the Survey”).
What is important is to understand the part of the Romans reading that we haven’t yet looked at....
Romans 12:3-6 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
No gift is above another in the eyes of God. Each is meant for the good of the whole Church and is vital to the health and effectiveness of the Church.
Too often I see people in society think more highly of themselves than they ought. I had a brief conversation with someone recently about an experiment I heard about. I can’t remember much about it except that many good, moral people given the extreme circumstances gave way to some depraved behaviour. The person I was conversing with expressed that they’d like to think they were not they kind of person who would do those things. We all like to think that we’d hold true to our moral convictions under all circumstances, but I honestly believe that any good that we have, and can hold on to, is by the grace of God.
It is by the grace of God that we are born to families who impart values. It is by the grace of God that we can comprehend the good of those values. It is by the grace of God alone that if we were to be tested we might stand firm. I’m guessing this is the reason for the words of the “Our Father”, “save us from the time of trial”, or as it has been traditionally translated, “deliver us from temptation”. The reason we must pray it is because without the intervention of God we will fail.
It is an attitude of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought that leads to the judgment and un-forgiveness that I wrote about last week. Being particularly clever, or gifted athletically or artistically, is no reason for thinking more highly of ourselves – though many do this. Our abilities are gifts from God. We practise and improve, but ultimately our abilities are gifts.
It is also important to note that these gifts we read about in the letter to the Romans, have no gender attached and in God’s redeemed there is no longer a status difference between male and female, as all are one in Christ Jesus. Some of these gifts involve leading. It doesn’t specify that this is only for males. Some of the gifts involve teaching – it doesn’t specify that if you are female you can only teach women and children. If we take these gifts and put limits on them we are limiting, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.
One final point: It was the mother of Moses who went about making a basket for him. It was the sister of Moses who kept watch and then suggested the mother as the nurse for the baby, and it was the daughter of Pharaoh who rescued the child, protected it and took responsibility for its life. These were brave women who stood up for something good and life-giving in a time of great darkness, but it was God’s plan, and the gates of death did not overcome it.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Reflection on Readings for 14th August 2011
Year A Proper 15 14 August 2011
Genesis 45: 1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Our readings continue from last week and we hear more of the story of Joseph and his brothers. This week we find that Joseph has become ruler under Pharaoh in Egypt and his identity is revealed to his brothers.
Can you imagine the emotions of the brothers? They sold this powerful man as a slave when he was just a boy. He now has the power of life and death over them. I’m guessing that they were somewhat apprehensive.
The theme that runs through all of our readings is about acceptance and rejection. Joseph had been rejected by his brothers. What would his reaction be towards them? What would your reaction be? We often have our own experiences of rejection and we have a choice in how we respond.
Most recently I had an experience of a friend who needed to make some changes in their life - changes in how they were controlling in their relationship. This person set about with counselling and seemed to be trying to make amends. A third person commented that a person like this will never change. Wow! That is kind of harsh. If that is true then the logical consequence means that this person should never be in a relationship because they have failed as a person. In fact, most of us if judged just as harshly, would find ourselves similarly rejected.
As a society we have moved from being Christian minded, second chance giving and merciful to being judgmental. With the crimes that have come from church leaders the society no longer looks to the church to give messages of forgiveness and even within the church there is a sense of demanding that “pound of flesh” instead of responding with mercy. It would have been quite reasonable for Joseph to have ordered his brothers executed for their crime.
To put this story of Joseph in another way, it is similar to those stories we hear about someone being abused as a child and then taking the abuser to court many years later. We hear of this happening all the time and we all approve. We hear of priests being taken to court for dealing indecently with children and we are horrified, though we don’t even know the facts – only the accusations. It has been brought to my knowledge that some of these men are advised to plead guilty to the lesser charges so that they can avoid jail – EVEN though they are innocent. YET we pass judgement without knowledge and without mercy.
As Christians we have been so busy trying to support victims that we’ve forgotten to preach the message of mercy and forgiveness. Without mercy and forgiveness for others our own sins are not forgiven.
We seem to have this idea that some sins are little and some are big, but here is an analogy to try to explain... Imagine that each commandment is like a link in a chain and that chain is holding back a ferocious beast. Some of the links are seemingly big and some are seemingly small. Whether a small link or large one is broken, the result is the same.... the beast is free. The Bible tells us that the wages for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
Joseph was abused. His brothers wanted to kill him but didn’t really want to do it themselves. They certainly wished him dead and I expect they presumed he would have soon perished as a slave, otherwise when their guilty consciences caught up with them they would have gone looking for Joseph to rescue him.
What is Joseph’s reaction to his brothers after all this? He doesn’t immediately embrace them – He is genuinely hurt and grieving. With the gift of faith Joseph understands that God’s hand is in the situation.
Genesis 45:4-7 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
What is our reaction to harm done to us? It isn’t that we allow ourselves to be mistreated – we must not. And we must not allow others to be mistreated either. Where is God in all of this?
It is hard to forgive when we have been hurt. But to take an extreme example, do you remember the shooting at Columbine? It was a school where two students murdered 13 students and another couple were shot but managed to survive. There were others who survived by “playing dead” and plenty who witnessed the horror and so the story unfolds through these witnesses of the awful cruelty. Those who were targeted were Christians, sports jocks and black people. The diary of Rachel Scott has become quite famous as the amazing Christian girl who seemed to know that she was about to give her life for God. How can these people, capable of such cruelty and hatred be forgiven?
Here is the story of a Columbine survivor:
“Despite the trauma and years that have passed, Mark Taylor still vividly remembers the day he was shot as many as 13 times outside Columbine High School.
On Tuesday, Taylor recalled standing outside the school, enjoying a nice spring day with friends when a bullet slammed into his leg. In the next second, he saw a bullet slam into the face of a friend, and then he felt several bullets rip into his own chest.
"I was stunned," he said. "I wasn't quite sure what had happened. I could see out of the side of my eyes the gunmen go over and shoot Rachel Scott."
Taylor wants to be a pastor. And a book he's written has spiritual overtones. It's called "I Asked, God Answered ... a Columbine miracle."
Taylor, now 22, recounts the horror of that day and a recovery that has required multiple surgeries, an initial hospital stay of two months and the anguish of having tubes thrust down his throat and tubes placed in his side.
"The horror of what I went through in the hospital, I can't even put in words," said Taylor, who was shot by Eric Harris on April 20, 1999.
But the book is about forgiveness. He has forgiven shooters Harris and Dylan Klebold and their families. He has talked to gang members and Vietnam veterans about forgiveness. He said he especially remembers the Vietnam vets who have spent 30 years blaming the government for the friends they lost. Some have thanked him for the message.
"After hearing me on forgiveness and healing, it was able to help them," he said.”
From the website: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4785612
We know that God calls each of us into a relationship with him and that requires each of us to freely admit our sinfulness and need for a saviour.
Romans 11:29-31 “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ”
Joseph’s brothers were made aware of their very great sin, but then they were shown mercy. They were brought back into unity with their brother and their lives were saved. In fact their lives were blessed because of their relationship with Joseph. Our Psalm this week is Psalm 133 and speaks about the blessing of God that flows when His people live in unity. I suspect that we are not living in blessing of this unity in the body of Christ because we are not reaching out with mercy to each other, understanding that love covers a multitude of sin. Instead we judge and “reject” each other due to theological differences. If we are rejecting one another in this way over such matters, imagine how far we are from the attitude of Joseph who, though a victim, forgave his abusers.... even before they asked his forgiveness.
Our Gospel reading tells the story of a Canaanite woman. She was a reject in the society of which Jesus was a part. Jesus would have been considered unclean just for speaking with her. Jesus had just finished telling the Pharisees that it wasn’t things on the outside that make you unclean but from the attitudes of the heart.... such as the community’s attitude toward this woman. Jesus speaks out that prejudice by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24). The woman does not argue this fact but begs for mercy but stating that even the dogs eat the children’s crumbs from the table. But her words she show great faith – she was “clean” – In comparison, the Pharisees by their words showed they were lacking faith and “unclean”.
It seems that those who are in touch with their fallibility are those who are accepted by God. And the reason is simple: it is because those who know their failings can repent and accept the mercy of God.
Our readings show the rejection of Joseph, and the rejection of the Canaanite woman, but through forgiveness Joseph accepted his brothers and the Canaanite woman was accepted by Jesus because she revealed her faith in God – she called out, not to Jesus as a mere man, but by the title, “Son of David”. This woman was rejected by others in that area and by the people to which Jesus belonged, but she didn’t let that rejection keep her from requesting the blessing of God.
Is our own hurt and rejection keeping us from the full blessing of God? Forgiveness is not easy – it is divine. But we need to agree with God that we need to forgive. In the body of Christ we need to truly love – and that also is divine.
Psalm 133 “1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
Genesis 45: 1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Our readings continue from last week and we hear more of the story of Joseph and his brothers. This week we find that Joseph has become ruler under Pharaoh in Egypt and his identity is revealed to his brothers.
Can you imagine the emotions of the brothers? They sold this powerful man as a slave when he was just a boy. He now has the power of life and death over them. I’m guessing that they were somewhat apprehensive.
The theme that runs through all of our readings is about acceptance and rejection. Joseph had been rejected by his brothers. What would his reaction be towards them? What would your reaction be? We often have our own experiences of rejection and we have a choice in how we respond.
Most recently I had an experience of a friend who needed to make some changes in their life - changes in how they were controlling in their relationship. This person set about with counselling and seemed to be trying to make amends. A third person commented that a person like this will never change. Wow! That is kind of harsh. If that is true then the logical consequence means that this person should never be in a relationship because they have failed as a person. In fact, most of us if judged just as harshly, would find ourselves similarly rejected.
As a society we have moved from being Christian minded, second chance giving and merciful to being judgmental. With the crimes that have come from church leaders the society no longer looks to the church to give messages of forgiveness and even within the church there is a sense of demanding that “pound of flesh” instead of responding with mercy. It would have been quite reasonable for Joseph to have ordered his brothers executed for their crime.
To put this story of Joseph in another way, it is similar to those stories we hear about someone being abused as a child and then taking the abuser to court many years later. We hear of this happening all the time and we all approve. We hear of priests being taken to court for dealing indecently with children and we are horrified, though we don’t even know the facts – only the accusations. It has been brought to my knowledge that some of these men are advised to plead guilty to the lesser charges so that they can avoid jail – EVEN though they are innocent. YET we pass judgement without knowledge and without mercy.
As Christians we have been so busy trying to support victims that we’ve forgotten to preach the message of mercy and forgiveness. Without mercy and forgiveness for others our own sins are not forgiven.
We seem to have this idea that some sins are little and some are big, but here is an analogy to try to explain... Imagine that each commandment is like a link in a chain and that chain is holding back a ferocious beast. Some of the links are seemingly big and some are seemingly small. Whether a small link or large one is broken, the result is the same.... the beast is free. The Bible tells us that the wages for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
Joseph was abused. His brothers wanted to kill him but didn’t really want to do it themselves. They certainly wished him dead and I expect they presumed he would have soon perished as a slave, otherwise when their guilty consciences caught up with them they would have gone looking for Joseph to rescue him.
What is Joseph’s reaction to his brothers after all this? He doesn’t immediately embrace them – He is genuinely hurt and grieving. With the gift of faith Joseph understands that God’s hand is in the situation.
Genesis 45:4-7 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
What is our reaction to harm done to us? It isn’t that we allow ourselves to be mistreated – we must not. And we must not allow others to be mistreated either. Where is God in all of this?
It is hard to forgive when we have been hurt. But to take an extreme example, do you remember the shooting at Columbine? It was a school where two students murdered 13 students and another couple were shot but managed to survive. There were others who survived by “playing dead” and plenty who witnessed the horror and so the story unfolds through these witnesses of the awful cruelty. Those who were targeted were Christians, sports jocks and black people. The diary of Rachel Scott has become quite famous as the amazing Christian girl who seemed to know that she was about to give her life for God. How can these people, capable of such cruelty and hatred be forgiven?
Here is the story of a Columbine survivor:
“Despite the trauma and years that have passed, Mark Taylor still vividly remembers the day he was shot as many as 13 times outside Columbine High School.
On Tuesday, Taylor recalled standing outside the school, enjoying a nice spring day with friends when a bullet slammed into his leg. In the next second, he saw a bullet slam into the face of a friend, and then he felt several bullets rip into his own chest.
"I was stunned," he said. "I wasn't quite sure what had happened. I could see out of the side of my eyes the gunmen go over and shoot Rachel Scott."
Taylor wants to be a pastor. And a book he's written has spiritual overtones. It's called "I Asked, God Answered ... a Columbine miracle."
Taylor, now 22, recounts the horror of that day and a recovery that has required multiple surgeries, an initial hospital stay of two months and the anguish of having tubes thrust down his throat and tubes placed in his side.
"The horror of what I went through in the hospital, I can't even put in words," said Taylor, who was shot by Eric Harris on April 20, 1999.
But the book is about forgiveness. He has forgiven shooters Harris and Dylan Klebold and their families. He has talked to gang members and Vietnam veterans about forgiveness. He said he especially remembers the Vietnam vets who have spent 30 years blaming the government for the friends they lost. Some have thanked him for the message.
"After hearing me on forgiveness and healing, it was able to help them," he said.”
From the website: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4785612
We know that God calls each of us into a relationship with him and that requires each of us to freely admit our sinfulness and need for a saviour.
Romans 11:29-31 “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ”
Joseph’s brothers were made aware of their very great sin, but then they were shown mercy. They were brought back into unity with their brother and their lives were saved. In fact their lives were blessed because of their relationship with Joseph. Our Psalm this week is Psalm 133 and speaks about the blessing of God that flows when His people live in unity. I suspect that we are not living in blessing of this unity in the body of Christ because we are not reaching out with mercy to each other, understanding that love covers a multitude of sin. Instead we judge and “reject” each other due to theological differences. If we are rejecting one another in this way over such matters, imagine how far we are from the attitude of Joseph who, though a victim, forgave his abusers.... even before they asked his forgiveness.
Our Gospel reading tells the story of a Canaanite woman. She was a reject in the society of which Jesus was a part. Jesus would have been considered unclean just for speaking with her. Jesus had just finished telling the Pharisees that it wasn’t things on the outside that make you unclean but from the attitudes of the heart.... such as the community’s attitude toward this woman. Jesus speaks out that prejudice by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24). The woman does not argue this fact but begs for mercy but stating that even the dogs eat the children’s crumbs from the table. But her words she show great faith – she was “clean” – In comparison, the Pharisees by their words showed they were lacking faith and “unclean”.
It seems that those who are in touch with their fallibility are those who are accepted by God. And the reason is simple: it is because those who know their failings can repent and accept the mercy of God.
Our readings show the rejection of Joseph, and the rejection of the Canaanite woman, but through forgiveness Joseph accepted his brothers and the Canaanite woman was accepted by Jesus because she revealed her faith in God – she called out, not to Jesus as a mere man, but by the title, “Son of David”. This woman was rejected by others in that area and by the people to which Jesus belonged, but she didn’t let that rejection keep her from requesting the blessing of God.
Is our own hurt and rejection keeping us from the full blessing of God? Forgiveness is not easy – it is divine. But we need to agree with God that we need to forgive. In the body of Christ we need to truly love – and that also is divine.
Psalm 133 “1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
Monday, August 1, 2011
7 August 2011 Year A Proper 14
Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28 Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33
Genesis 37:1 “Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.”
Jacob lived in the Promised Land – physically and spiritually. He lived the faith of his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham. He lived a life that was connected to God and he walked that life with the hope in the promises of God’s covenant to make him a great nation. But tragedy struck the heart of Jacob. His favourite son, the son of his wife who he loved the most, was seemingly killed by a wild animal.
In some way each of the patriarchs experienced the death and resurrection of Christ. Abraham and Isaac were most dramatically connected to the story when God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. There was another son of Abraham, if we are looking at the story in a biological and physical sense, but Isaac was like the only son of Abraham... the son of his heart, the beloved son, he was the son born due to the miraculous providence of God. Isaac was the son that God promised to make into a great nation.
Joseph was the son that was also born to a barren woman and as an answer to prayer. He was cherished above all his brothers who were born to Jacobs other wife and his two wives maidservants. This made Joseph rather unpopular with his brothers, not to mention the special coat that his father had made for him and his prophetic dreams of ruling over his family and the fact that he brought his father a bad report about his brothers.
Similarly, Jesus was unpopular among his brothers. The religious people were resentful of the popularity of Jesus and the miracles that he performed. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, (there were 12 brothers altogether), and in particular by the one named Judah, who suggested selling Joseph as a slave for 20 shekels of silver. Jesus was betrayed by one of his 12 followers, a man of similar name, Judas, for 30 pieces of silver.
Ultimately, the betrayal of both Joseph and Jesus enabled the saving grace of God. The very people who betrayed and destroyed the lives of both Joseph and Jesus were the ones who God sought to save through the destruction of these beloved sons. And there was a special quality about each of these sons, as they willingly accepted hardship and suffering to save those who had betrayed them.
Judah was the 4th born son of Jacob and the one who suggested selling Joseph. After Joseph had become the right hand man of pharaoh these brothers came to Egypt to buy grain for food. They didn’t recognise Joseph as their brother, only as the harsh man who they needed to please to buy food. After many accusations about stealing and the threat of losing another brother, Judah finally takes the responsibility for his actions and offers to be put in jail instead of his brother, and at this point Joseph reveals his identity and all is forgiven. Judah is the human ancestor of Christ. Through the position of Joseph, and the seeming resurrection of this once dead son of Israel, the people of God’s covenant are saved.
The brothers of Joseph were not saved because they were good and righteous. They were saved by God’s will. To be in a relationship to enjoy the saving grace they did need to repent from their actions, but the grace was offered even before their repentance was expressed.
To then bring this message to our own lives, we know that the sacrifice, the death and resurrection of Jesus also happened in order to offer us the saving grace of God before any of us realised our human sinful and finite condition. The grace is offered, not because we are worthy of it, but simply because we are loved by God.
How can we enter into this covenant of Grace?
Matthew 14:25-33 “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter was saved by Jesus. Peter took a “leap of faith” and walked toward Jesus but when he looked at the situation around him from his own human perspective he began to sink.
We often do the same. We step out in a life of faith when we get a glimpse of Jesus in the situation and then the reality and obstacles of our situations become more highly visible than the goal of our adventure and we falter. This is a lesson for living the life of grace, but as far as being saved by grace, then next part of the story is the most important.
Peter doubts and begins to sink. He calls out “God save me!” Peter realizes that he can do nothing to save himself. Peter does not have enough faith to continue walking, but only enough faith to cry for help. The amount of faith you have is not what saves you, but who you have faith in.
Someone once described the faith that we have in a chair. We have plenty of faith that a sturdy chair will hold us... and it does. We have a little faith that a fragile chair will hold us and sit down carefully testing it as we go. But if a chair is too fragile to hold us, no amount of faith in that chair will change the fact. Peter may have only had a tiny grain of faith, but his faith was in someone faithful and with power and ability.
We have story after story throughout the Bible of God’s saving grace. The story of Joseph clearly shows us that God’s saving grace is provided for His people who are clearly not worthy of such care. God’s hand is always outstretched to us and the way into a relationship with him has been provided, but it is up to us to accept.
Our reading from Romans explains how this message of God’s grace was always available. It is referred to as the righteousness that is by faith. That is, being right before God due to faith in him. This first section of the reading is also found in the book of Deuteronomy and proclaims that there is a righteousness that is accessible and near – in your mouth and in your heart.
Romans 10:5-11 “Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “Whoever does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
The message here is that the Law of God is in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and our access into the way of grace is made easy as we are clearly told that if we declare with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. – Simple as that. In the same way that Joseph’s brothers were saved by their relationship to Joseph, and not by any good deed that they had done, we also are saved by our relationship with Jesus.
Peter was the only one who got out of the boat and walked to Jesus on the water, but all were saved because they believed and confessed that belief in Jesus.
Matthew 14:32, 33 “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28 Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33
Genesis 37:1 “Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.”
Jacob lived in the Promised Land – physically and spiritually. He lived the faith of his father and grandfather, Isaac and Abraham. He lived a life that was connected to God and he walked that life with the hope in the promises of God’s covenant to make him a great nation. But tragedy struck the heart of Jacob. His favourite son, the son of his wife who he loved the most, was seemingly killed by a wild animal.
In some way each of the patriarchs experienced the death and resurrection of Christ. Abraham and Isaac were most dramatically connected to the story when God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. There was another son of Abraham, if we are looking at the story in a biological and physical sense, but Isaac was like the only son of Abraham... the son of his heart, the beloved son, he was the son born due to the miraculous providence of God. Isaac was the son that God promised to make into a great nation.
Joseph was the son that was also born to a barren woman and as an answer to prayer. He was cherished above all his brothers who were born to Jacobs other wife and his two wives maidservants. This made Joseph rather unpopular with his brothers, not to mention the special coat that his father had made for him and his prophetic dreams of ruling over his family and the fact that he brought his father a bad report about his brothers.
Similarly, Jesus was unpopular among his brothers. The religious people were resentful of the popularity of Jesus and the miracles that he performed. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, (there were 12 brothers altogether), and in particular by the one named Judah, who suggested selling Joseph as a slave for 20 shekels of silver. Jesus was betrayed by one of his 12 followers, a man of similar name, Judas, for 30 pieces of silver.
Ultimately, the betrayal of both Joseph and Jesus enabled the saving grace of God. The very people who betrayed and destroyed the lives of both Joseph and Jesus were the ones who God sought to save through the destruction of these beloved sons. And there was a special quality about each of these sons, as they willingly accepted hardship and suffering to save those who had betrayed them.
Judah was the 4th born son of Jacob and the one who suggested selling Joseph. After Joseph had become the right hand man of pharaoh these brothers came to Egypt to buy grain for food. They didn’t recognise Joseph as their brother, only as the harsh man who they needed to please to buy food. After many accusations about stealing and the threat of losing another brother, Judah finally takes the responsibility for his actions and offers to be put in jail instead of his brother, and at this point Joseph reveals his identity and all is forgiven. Judah is the human ancestor of Christ. Through the position of Joseph, and the seeming resurrection of this once dead son of Israel, the people of God’s covenant are saved.
The brothers of Joseph were not saved because they were good and righteous. They were saved by God’s will. To be in a relationship to enjoy the saving grace they did need to repent from their actions, but the grace was offered even before their repentance was expressed.
To then bring this message to our own lives, we know that the sacrifice, the death and resurrection of Jesus also happened in order to offer us the saving grace of God before any of us realised our human sinful and finite condition. The grace is offered, not because we are worthy of it, but simply because we are loved by God.
How can we enter into this covenant of Grace?
Matthew 14:25-33 “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter was saved by Jesus. Peter took a “leap of faith” and walked toward Jesus but when he looked at the situation around him from his own human perspective he began to sink.
We often do the same. We step out in a life of faith when we get a glimpse of Jesus in the situation and then the reality and obstacles of our situations become more highly visible than the goal of our adventure and we falter. This is a lesson for living the life of grace, but as far as being saved by grace, then next part of the story is the most important.
Peter doubts and begins to sink. He calls out “God save me!” Peter realizes that he can do nothing to save himself. Peter does not have enough faith to continue walking, but only enough faith to cry for help. The amount of faith you have is not what saves you, but who you have faith in.
Someone once described the faith that we have in a chair. We have plenty of faith that a sturdy chair will hold us... and it does. We have a little faith that a fragile chair will hold us and sit down carefully testing it as we go. But if a chair is too fragile to hold us, no amount of faith in that chair will change the fact. Peter may have only had a tiny grain of faith, but his faith was in someone faithful and with power and ability.
We have story after story throughout the Bible of God’s saving grace. The story of Joseph clearly shows us that God’s saving grace is provided for His people who are clearly not worthy of such care. God’s hand is always outstretched to us and the way into a relationship with him has been provided, but it is up to us to accept.
Our reading from Romans explains how this message of God’s grace was always available. It is referred to as the righteousness that is by faith. That is, being right before God due to faith in him. This first section of the reading is also found in the book of Deuteronomy and proclaims that there is a righteousness that is accessible and near – in your mouth and in your heart.
Romans 10:5-11 “Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “Whoever does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
The message here is that the Law of God is in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and our access into the way of grace is made easy as we are clearly told that if we declare with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. – Simple as that. In the same way that Joseph’s brothers were saved by their relationship to Joseph, and not by any good deed that they had done, we also are saved by our relationship with Jesus.
Peter was the only one who got out of the boat and walked to Jesus on the water, but all were saved because they believed and confessed that belief in Jesus.
Matthew 14:32, 33 “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Reflection on the readings for 31st July 2011
Year A Proper 13 31 July 2011
Genesis 32: 22-31 Psalm 17: 1-7, 15 Romans 9: 1-5 Matthew 14: 13-21
Earlier this week I put a status post on my facebook that read, “The biggest struggle is the one within”. This week’s readings are about struggle and persistence.
There are always options when we face obstacles; face the difficulty and work through it or avoid the difficulty. Our Old Testament reading follows on from last week’s story of Jacob, but jumps ahead a little. Jacob had worked many years to gain his wives and he had also worked for his father-in-law to gain his flocks. Over these years his father-in-law and he himself seemed both to be playing deceptive games to stay a step ahead of each other. Jacob’s very name implied deception and the story of his life involved one deception after another. This trait had not left him endeared to his brother through whose territory he was passing by on his journey into the land where God had called him.
Our reading this week, about Jacob, tells of Jacob alone at night after sending his family and all his possessions across the stream. Through the whole night long Jacob wrestled with a man. Each time I read this I get the feeling that Jacob was wrestling with more than just a man... indeed we find out that this is true... but I feel that Jacob may have been wrestling with the consequences of his life and the various obstacles and difficulties.... a struggle within.... and a battle to continue on the path that God had called him into.
In each of our readings there is a sense of this struggle to continue in God’s call. St. Paul expresses his agony over the chosen people of God, Jacob’s descendants. So many refused to acknowledge Jesus and St. Paul says, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” (Romans 9:2-5).
The promises of God were first and foremost for this chosen race and still are, but we all are called and chosen and have free will, and we need to freely accept the gift of God in order to receive it.
The struggle of St. Paul was a struggle to properly proclaim the truth and good news about Jesus Christ to a people for whom the gift of eternal life was offered – even more than that- for a people loved by God. St. Paul felt the burden of life or death was on his shoulders and if this people did not accept God’s gift the responsibility was his.... I need to qualify this statement because the responsibility for the eternal life and death of God’s chosen people (those he calls us to minister to – i.e. those around us) is also ours if we do not proclaim the good news and make Jesus known. Once we have proclaimed the message and done what God has called us to, the responsibility to accept or reject then falls on those to whom we were called to minister.
St. Paul agonized over the people, but I feel that we are rather blasé. There may be a few of us who agonize over the fact that so many people do not properly understand the message of Jesus, but mostly it is a struggle that most of us have decided to avoid rather than work through. Perhaps we do not realize that it is our responsibility or perhaps we feel discouraged and need some divine encouragement.
Jesus understood discouragement and struggle. In our Gospel reading this week it begins with Jesus going away to a solitary place. What we might miss in the text is the emotions that Jesus was struggling with at this time.
John, the Baptist, had just been beheaded. This is why Jesus was withdrawing to a solitary place. No doubt this was a sad time for Jesus and I’m sure that he was aware that in some form this was a passing from one leader to another. With John’s ministry ended the people who followed would be now looking to Jesus. Not only that, but there must have been a fear among the followers about speaking out the truth – such things get you beheaded.
Even today, speaking the truth clearly can get you into a lot of trouble. In some countries it will get you killed, but even in Australia there are some things that will get you into trouble as we become more and more supposedly “tolerant” and politically correct. At present Scripture Union is battling a court case because someone is objecting to the presence of Chaplains in our state schools. How is it that a body responsible for doing such good and vital work is now being brought before the legal system like a criminal? Our tolerant society is not tolerant of Christianity in its true form; though they don’t mind the feel good “God is love and loves everyone” bit... they just don’t want to hear anything else. And whatever you do don’t tell anyone that they are a sinner because this deeply offends them! Reality bites!
And now I’ll try to get down off my soap box and focus back on the story of Jacob. Jacob’s life had a past history of deception. He knew that he had the call of God but he struggled. He struggled and didn’t give in. That fateful night Jacob even struggled and wrestled with God. Jacob did not give in and let go of God, but instead demanded a blessing..... It was at this point that God changed his name to Israel, which means “He struggles with God”.
This name change signified a confirmation of God’s call on Jacob’s life and a change from the past.... no longer was Jacob the deceiver, but instead he was one who struggled with God. His name and future was united to God. This call of God and blessing then shaped the future of the Israelite nation.
It is our call of God at our baptism that should have shaped our future. For many of us it was so long ago that it may not have been made conscious or forgotten as the business of life presses in. At baptism we are named. Jacob was named Israel to signify his future. Whatever our name, through baptism we too are united in our future to God and we have the responsibility to shape the world around us through the gifts that God has given to and through us. Are you feeling overwhelmed at that thought?
I love the story of the loaves and fishes that we find in the Gospel reading. Here was Jesus struggling with his own emotional battle. The grief and the weight of responsibility must have been wearying, but when Jesus sees a crown he is moved with compassion. He knows his call and even though battling with his own struggles he strives to make God properly and fully understood.
Matthew 14:14-16 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
It was evening and the disciples were tired. They wanted to be alone and they had nothing else to give but Jesus says, “You give them something to eat”. What?????
I’m sure you’ve been there..... maybe you are there now. “How can I give? I struggling with my own problems.... my financial problems, my family issues, my health, my depression”. We’ve become a very “Me” society and everyone is quick to tell you that you need to look after yourself first. But is this the way that it should be? It doesn’t seem to help at all but leads to more and more introspection and more and more self needs.
Ah... but I hear you say, “I have nothing to give”.
The disciples had nothing to give. But someone willingly offered what little they had. Many people have commented about this passage that maybe it wasn’t a miracle but that when someone was unselfish in their offering others all followed suit. When we look at the rest of the reading and note the response of the people, who wanted to make him king by force, we can only assume that these people truly witnessed an amazing miracle.
The same can be true in our lives. We don’t feel that we have anything to give - we just can’t do it. But because we sense the call of God we put one foot in front of the other and find that we not only can do the things we thought we couldn’t, but in fact we actually gain a lot of life in doing so. I once heard an international speaker put it this way: “our limited resources willingly offered and blessed by God are more than adequate to achieve divine purposes.”
What we learn in these readings is that the struggle is common to all. If we will hold tight to God and not let go of Him and His call, we will walk in a future of destiny, shaping the world around us, being blessed and being a blessing to others. Miracles happen and God will provide all that we need but we do need make an effort to willingly offer what we have and give it to God for His blessing. We too are Israel. We struggle with God. We struggle and wrestle with him and like Jacob did on that night sometimes against Him, but the important thing is to never let go and in our struggles of life God struggle alongside with us.
Genesis 32: 22-31 Psalm 17: 1-7, 15 Romans 9: 1-5 Matthew 14: 13-21
Earlier this week I put a status post on my facebook that read, “The biggest struggle is the one within”. This week’s readings are about struggle and persistence.
There are always options when we face obstacles; face the difficulty and work through it or avoid the difficulty. Our Old Testament reading follows on from last week’s story of Jacob, but jumps ahead a little. Jacob had worked many years to gain his wives and he had also worked for his father-in-law to gain his flocks. Over these years his father-in-law and he himself seemed both to be playing deceptive games to stay a step ahead of each other. Jacob’s very name implied deception and the story of his life involved one deception after another. This trait had not left him endeared to his brother through whose territory he was passing by on his journey into the land where God had called him.
Our reading this week, about Jacob, tells of Jacob alone at night after sending his family and all his possessions across the stream. Through the whole night long Jacob wrestled with a man. Each time I read this I get the feeling that Jacob was wrestling with more than just a man... indeed we find out that this is true... but I feel that Jacob may have been wrestling with the consequences of his life and the various obstacles and difficulties.... a struggle within.... and a battle to continue on the path that God had called him into.
In each of our readings there is a sense of this struggle to continue in God’s call. St. Paul expresses his agony over the chosen people of God, Jacob’s descendants. So many refused to acknowledge Jesus and St. Paul says, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” (Romans 9:2-5).
The promises of God were first and foremost for this chosen race and still are, but we all are called and chosen and have free will, and we need to freely accept the gift of God in order to receive it.
The struggle of St. Paul was a struggle to properly proclaim the truth and good news about Jesus Christ to a people for whom the gift of eternal life was offered – even more than that- for a people loved by God. St. Paul felt the burden of life or death was on his shoulders and if this people did not accept God’s gift the responsibility was his.... I need to qualify this statement because the responsibility for the eternal life and death of God’s chosen people (those he calls us to minister to – i.e. those around us) is also ours if we do not proclaim the good news and make Jesus known. Once we have proclaimed the message and done what God has called us to, the responsibility to accept or reject then falls on those to whom we were called to minister.
St. Paul agonized over the people, but I feel that we are rather blasé. There may be a few of us who agonize over the fact that so many people do not properly understand the message of Jesus, but mostly it is a struggle that most of us have decided to avoid rather than work through. Perhaps we do not realize that it is our responsibility or perhaps we feel discouraged and need some divine encouragement.
Jesus understood discouragement and struggle. In our Gospel reading this week it begins with Jesus going away to a solitary place. What we might miss in the text is the emotions that Jesus was struggling with at this time.
John, the Baptist, had just been beheaded. This is why Jesus was withdrawing to a solitary place. No doubt this was a sad time for Jesus and I’m sure that he was aware that in some form this was a passing from one leader to another. With John’s ministry ended the people who followed would be now looking to Jesus. Not only that, but there must have been a fear among the followers about speaking out the truth – such things get you beheaded.
Even today, speaking the truth clearly can get you into a lot of trouble. In some countries it will get you killed, but even in Australia there are some things that will get you into trouble as we become more and more supposedly “tolerant” and politically correct. At present Scripture Union is battling a court case because someone is objecting to the presence of Chaplains in our state schools. How is it that a body responsible for doing such good and vital work is now being brought before the legal system like a criminal? Our tolerant society is not tolerant of Christianity in its true form; though they don’t mind the feel good “God is love and loves everyone” bit... they just don’t want to hear anything else. And whatever you do don’t tell anyone that they are a sinner because this deeply offends them! Reality bites!
And now I’ll try to get down off my soap box and focus back on the story of Jacob. Jacob’s life had a past history of deception. He knew that he had the call of God but he struggled. He struggled and didn’t give in. That fateful night Jacob even struggled and wrestled with God. Jacob did not give in and let go of God, but instead demanded a blessing..... It was at this point that God changed his name to Israel, which means “He struggles with God”.
This name change signified a confirmation of God’s call on Jacob’s life and a change from the past.... no longer was Jacob the deceiver, but instead he was one who struggled with God. His name and future was united to God. This call of God and blessing then shaped the future of the Israelite nation.
It is our call of God at our baptism that should have shaped our future. For many of us it was so long ago that it may not have been made conscious or forgotten as the business of life presses in. At baptism we are named. Jacob was named Israel to signify his future. Whatever our name, through baptism we too are united in our future to God and we have the responsibility to shape the world around us through the gifts that God has given to and through us. Are you feeling overwhelmed at that thought?
I love the story of the loaves and fishes that we find in the Gospel reading. Here was Jesus struggling with his own emotional battle. The grief and the weight of responsibility must have been wearying, but when Jesus sees a crown he is moved with compassion. He knows his call and even though battling with his own struggles he strives to make God properly and fully understood.
Matthew 14:14-16 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
It was evening and the disciples were tired. They wanted to be alone and they had nothing else to give but Jesus says, “You give them something to eat”. What?????
I’m sure you’ve been there..... maybe you are there now. “How can I give? I struggling with my own problems.... my financial problems, my family issues, my health, my depression”. We’ve become a very “Me” society and everyone is quick to tell you that you need to look after yourself first. But is this the way that it should be? It doesn’t seem to help at all but leads to more and more introspection and more and more self needs.
Ah... but I hear you say, “I have nothing to give”.
The disciples had nothing to give. But someone willingly offered what little they had. Many people have commented about this passage that maybe it wasn’t a miracle but that when someone was unselfish in their offering others all followed suit. When we look at the rest of the reading and note the response of the people, who wanted to make him king by force, we can only assume that these people truly witnessed an amazing miracle.
The same can be true in our lives. We don’t feel that we have anything to give - we just can’t do it. But because we sense the call of God we put one foot in front of the other and find that we not only can do the things we thought we couldn’t, but in fact we actually gain a lot of life in doing so. I once heard an international speaker put it this way: “our limited resources willingly offered and blessed by God are more than adequate to achieve divine purposes.”
What we learn in these readings is that the struggle is common to all. If we will hold tight to God and not let go of Him and His call, we will walk in a future of destiny, shaping the world around us, being blessed and being a blessing to others. Miracles happen and God will provide all that we need but we do need make an effort to willingly offer what we have and give it to God for His blessing. We too are Israel. We struggle with God. We struggle and wrestle with him and like Jacob did on that night sometimes against Him, but the important thing is to never let go and in our struggles of life God struggle alongside with us.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Reflection on readings for 24th July 2011
Year A Proper 12 24 July 2011
Genesis 29: 15-28 Psalm 105: 1-11, 45c OR Psalm 128 Romans 8: 26-39 Matthew 13: 31-3, 44-52
When we look into God’s word we find that it isn’t only Jesus who used parables, but that often peoples’ lives were a parable for the promises and the working of God. We find this often and most obviously in the writings and the recorded lives of the prophets, but in this week’s readings we find it also in the 1st reading – in the story of Jacob.
The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven is the theme running through the readings. One thing that we read about in the Gospel is the parable of how the kingdom is like a mustard seed. It begins tiny and grows to be something of magnitude and a blessing to those in contact with it.
Matthew 13:31, 32 “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
The kingdom of God is not just a blessing to those who are part of the Kingdom, i.e. us, but when the Kingdom of God grows in our community we find the whole community will be blessed as the Kingdom impacts by showering the community with God’s love and justice. An organisational example of this is the community work of the Salvation Army, the Uniting Church’s Blue Care, Anglicare, St. Vinnies, Lifeline.... just to name a few. But beyond these organisations is the impact that we Christians have as individuals in the lives of those around us. Hopefully, we stand out in the community as true friends, those who are reliable and someone to turn to when the chips are down. Hopefully, we are those in whose company people delight to be because we are people of hope and of Spirit and show the love of God also.
In our first reading we follow the story of Jacob. Here we find the mustard seed. This is the beginning of one of God’s Kingdoms.... the beginning of the Israelite nation. In this story we discover that right there at the beginning was something that Jacob saw as being of great worth. Jacob was in love with Rachel he was prepared to work seven years to make her his wife, but as it turned out he happily worked fourteen years to make her his wife. Wow! Try telling that story to the young couples who are eagerly marrying!
Jacob saw such a treasure in Rachel that he committed his whole life and being into gaining her. Our Gospel tells a similar parable about how the Kingdom of God is like a man who found a treasure and sold all that he had to buy that treasure.
Matthew 13:44-46 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.””
Do we realize what a treasure the Kingdom of God is? Are we prepared to commit our live and being into gaining the Kingdom of God?
I believe that we forget how great a treasure we have, but if we look at our 2nd reading we are reminded of the amazing gift that we have.
Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
This is an amazing statement of positivity. It doesn’t matter what happens in our life, good or bad.... somehow throughout all, we know that God works all things for the good of those who are called according to his purpose.
Last week we read the psalm that speaks about God knowing us and calling us from the womb (Psalm 139). We find in the reading this week that God foreknew us and he also predestined us to be called. He also has justified us and in this he qualifies us for glory. It is the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice that justifies us. But what do we mean by being justified? Too often we don’t fully grasp the amazing gift and what it means to be justified.
We, in and of ourselves, fall short of God’s glory and are therefore separated from God, but Jesus died as one who was perfect and in union with God. We speak of the belief we have in the one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.... that one baptism is the one that Jesus spoke of when he said, “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!” Luke 12:50. Jesus was referring to his baptism into the sins of the entire world that he would take to the cross.
The Old Testament explains this forgiveness of sins by means of a “scapegoat” – a goat “baptized” with the sins of the nation. This too was a parable for the role of Jesus. Leviticus 16:21-22 “He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.”
When hands were laid on the goat it was “baptized” or “immersed” in the sins of the nation. Jesus is our scapegoat, he was immersed in our sins and through his sacrifice we are justified.
Finally we have yet another parable, that of the net. Matthew 13:47-50 ““Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Without taking things too literally, we read that in the 1st reading, although Jacob saw Rachel as his “kingdom”, he ended up with two wives and Leah was caught up into the kingdom of God also. In fact the lineage of Jesus was through Leah.
When we read the parable of the net we notice that all kinds of people are part of the Kingdom of God and not all are considered good. This is similar to the parable of the wheat and the weeds, where both were permitted to grow together and were separated at the end of the age. A wrong interpretation of this parable could lead to judgment within the Kingdom of God. Note that we are not those who collect the good and throw away the bad – this is solely the job of the Angels. If it was up to us we’d have probably accepted the “Rachels” of the Kingdom and left out the “Leahs” therefore crippling the Kingdom and thwarting the will of God – if that is possible.
If anything, this parable holds a message to understand that all are given every chance and opportunity to accept God’s grace right up until the very end. And don’t forget that those who’ve accepted God’s grace are justified. It isn’t about perfection, because none of us will ever be perfect – but it is about resting in the knowledge of the completed sacrifice of Jesus. We rest assured because we are told that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we have through the sacrifice of Jesus..... NOTHING!
Because Jesus has justified us we will not be condemned – our sins can not condemn us – they have been paid for. This is wonderful Good News and is a treasure that is worth committing our lives to gaining. But just to let you know that I’m telling the truth in this – because it really does sound too good to be true, I’m going to leave you with the quote from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans that affirms this wonderful good news:
Romans 8:33b-39 “It is God who justifies. Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Genesis 29: 15-28 Psalm 105: 1-11, 45c OR Psalm 128 Romans 8: 26-39 Matthew 13: 31-3, 44-52
When we look into God’s word we find that it isn’t only Jesus who used parables, but that often peoples’ lives were a parable for the promises and the working of God. We find this often and most obviously in the writings and the recorded lives of the prophets, but in this week’s readings we find it also in the 1st reading – in the story of Jacob.
The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven is the theme running through the readings. One thing that we read about in the Gospel is the parable of how the kingdom is like a mustard seed. It begins tiny and grows to be something of magnitude and a blessing to those in contact with it.
Matthew 13:31, 32 “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
The kingdom of God is not just a blessing to those who are part of the Kingdom, i.e. us, but when the Kingdom of God grows in our community we find the whole community will be blessed as the Kingdom impacts by showering the community with God’s love and justice. An organisational example of this is the community work of the Salvation Army, the Uniting Church’s Blue Care, Anglicare, St. Vinnies, Lifeline.... just to name a few. But beyond these organisations is the impact that we Christians have as individuals in the lives of those around us. Hopefully, we stand out in the community as true friends, those who are reliable and someone to turn to when the chips are down. Hopefully, we are those in whose company people delight to be because we are people of hope and of Spirit and show the love of God also.
In our first reading we follow the story of Jacob. Here we find the mustard seed. This is the beginning of one of God’s Kingdoms.... the beginning of the Israelite nation. In this story we discover that right there at the beginning was something that Jacob saw as being of great worth. Jacob was in love with Rachel he was prepared to work seven years to make her his wife, but as it turned out he happily worked fourteen years to make her his wife. Wow! Try telling that story to the young couples who are eagerly marrying!
Jacob saw such a treasure in Rachel that he committed his whole life and being into gaining her. Our Gospel tells a similar parable about how the Kingdom of God is like a man who found a treasure and sold all that he had to buy that treasure.
Matthew 13:44-46 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.””
Do we realize what a treasure the Kingdom of God is? Are we prepared to commit our live and being into gaining the Kingdom of God?
I believe that we forget how great a treasure we have, but if we look at our 2nd reading we are reminded of the amazing gift that we have.
Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
This is an amazing statement of positivity. It doesn’t matter what happens in our life, good or bad.... somehow throughout all, we know that God works all things for the good of those who are called according to his purpose.
Last week we read the psalm that speaks about God knowing us and calling us from the womb (Psalm 139). We find in the reading this week that God foreknew us and he also predestined us to be called. He also has justified us and in this he qualifies us for glory. It is the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice that justifies us. But what do we mean by being justified? Too often we don’t fully grasp the amazing gift and what it means to be justified.
We, in and of ourselves, fall short of God’s glory and are therefore separated from God, but Jesus died as one who was perfect and in union with God. We speak of the belief we have in the one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.... that one baptism is the one that Jesus spoke of when he said, “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!” Luke 12:50. Jesus was referring to his baptism into the sins of the entire world that he would take to the cross.
The Old Testament explains this forgiveness of sins by means of a “scapegoat” – a goat “baptized” with the sins of the nation. This too was a parable for the role of Jesus. Leviticus 16:21-22 “He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.”
When hands were laid on the goat it was “baptized” or “immersed” in the sins of the nation. Jesus is our scapegoat, he was immersed in our sins and through his sacrifice we are justified.
Finally we have yet another parable, that of the net. Matthew 13:47-50 ““Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Without taking things too literally, we read that in the 1st reading, although Jacob saw Rachel as his “kingdom”, he ended up with two wives and Leah was caught up into the kingdom of God also. In fact the lineage of Jesus was through Leah.
When we read the parable of the net we notice that all kinds of people are part of the Kingdom of God and not all are considered good. This is similar to the parable of the wheat and the weeds, where both were permitted to grow together and were separated at the end of the age. A wrong interpretation of this parable could lead to judgment within the Kingdom of God. Note that we are not those who collect the good and throw away the bad – this is solely the job of the Angels. If it was up to us we’d have probably accepted the “Rachels” of the Kingdom and left out the “Leahs” therefore crippling the Kingdom and thwarting the will of God – if that is possible.
If anything, this parable holds a message to understand that all are given every chance and opportunity to accept God’s grace right up until the very end. And don’t forget that those who’ve accepted God’s grace are justified. It isn’t about perfection, because none of us will ever be perfect – but it is about resting in the knowledge of the completed sacrifice of Jesus. We rest assured because we are told that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we have through the sacrifice of Jesus..... NOTHING!
Because Jesus has justified us we will not be condemned – our sins can not condemn us – they have been paid for. This is wonderful Good News and is a treasure that is worth committing our lives to gaining. But just to let you know that I’m telling the truth in this – because it really does sound too good to be true, I’m going to leave you with the quote from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans that affirms this wonderful good news:
Romans 8:33b-39 “It is God who justifies. Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Reflection on readings for Sunday the 10th July 2011
Year A Proper 10 10 July 2011
Genesis 25: 19-34 Psalm 119: 105-112 Romans 8: 1-11 Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
It is that time of year, here in Mackay, where cane is cut and cane is being planted. In the words of the song, Mm Bop, by Hansen, “Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose-You can plant any one of those - Keep planting to find out which one grows - It's a secret no one knows...”
Anyone who has planted something from a seed will know that some seeds sprout.... but some don’t. And then some of those that sprout will only last a while and die. Others will grow to maturity.
Jesus used the parable of the sower to explain about the kingdom of Heaven. When the disciples were confused about what he meant Jesus then explained to them: Matthew 13:18-23 ““Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When people hear the message about the kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to people who hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to people who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to people who hear the word and understand it. They produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.””
Our first reading tells the story of twin boys who lived a very, very long time ago. The elder of the twins was entitled to the birth-rite, his name was Esau and he was the father of the Edomite nation. The other boy was Jacob. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and so, as you can guess, Jacob was the father of the Israelite nation.
The first reading relates the story of how Esau sold his birth-rite to Jacob in return for some red lentil stew. Can you imagine that? Selling something as important and meaningful as a birth-rite for a lentil stew? We are told that Esau despised his birth-rite. This was a birth-rite that included the promise of God. It was connected to the history of being the child of Isaac, who was the direct result of God’s miraculous intervention. In fact Jacob and Esau were also a result of God’s intervention as we read that Rebekah, their mother was barren until Isaac prayed for her.
It would appear that Isaac learnt from his father, Abraham’s mistakes. Abraham tried to make things happen himself. He tried to do God’s work in his own human strength. The way the story reads about Isaac praying for his wife, seems very matter-of-fact, and portrays a trust and reliance on God. It was this faith that was a testimony to the power and providence of God, which was part of Esau’s birth-rite. This birth-rite included the destiny crucial to all of humanity, the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which was ultimately fulfilled through the line of Jacob.
I suspect we are often a lot like Esau. We don’t fully realize the magnitude of our birth-rite. We belong to a faith into which we were baptised. Being baptised means that we have died to our old identity and now we are identified through our union with Christ. Through this union we have a spiritual birth-rite. It is something quite amazing and the essence of which is captured in our second reading from St. Paul to the Romans:
Romans 8:1-4 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is the birth-rite that we receive when we are united to Jesus. We are set free from the law of sin and death. Do we understand the implications in being set free from the law of sin and death...???? This is something so good that we seldom even dare to grasp it. We have no need to fear the judgment of God because there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In death some may fear what comes next. We don’t need to fear because there is No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Often times there are things about our faith that we don’t understand, but it is important that we continue to grow in our knowledge because otherwise we will be subject to the temptation of Esau who sold his birth-rite for red stew.
Esau seemed to be more interested in the temporal things. He was hungry there and then and wanted food, but he paid a huge price for his lack of understanding. Do we act on how we feel here and now instead of understanding our spiritual birth-rite? Example number one (warning – me on my soap box again!!)... Sunday morning and it is time for church. We’ve had a late night and we are tired. Do we stay in bed or do we understand our birth-rite and the important responsibility we have as a child of God?????
Now I’m going to bring your attention back to the parable of the sower. Traditionally I’ve always thought of this as a way of understanding outreach, but look more closely. The seed sometimes falls on rocky ground and never actually takes root, but other seed that sprouts are those who received the message with joy. These are people who walked the walk, talked the talk and then hardships came...... because their roots were shallow these seedlings withered. There is a very real message and warning here for all of us.
We all experience hardships and some experience more than others. Regardless of our circumstances our faith will wither unless our roots are in fertile soil. To some extent that fertile soil is something that we have control over. We are remaining in fertile soil when we remember our birth-rite and the responsibility we have as a child of God.
I recall a section of the Anglican confirmation service where the confirmee promises to commit themselves to prayer and study of God’s word. This is what we need to do to grow in the knowledge of the Good News- our birth-rite.
You may well feel that your life is rocky ground and everything around you seems hard. Or you may feel overwhelmed with the troubles of this life. The Psalmist relates to suffering and worry, but understands that the statutes of God are a heritage forever and an enduring reward. Like him we need to come to the realization that the word of God is an illumination for the path of our lives and commit ourselves to keeping God’s decrees to the very end.
Psalm 119:105-112 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word. Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”
Genesis 25: 19-34 Psalm 119: 105-112 Romans 8: 1-11 Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
It is that time of year, here in Mackay, where cane is cut and cane is being planted. In the words of the song, Mm Bop, by Hansen, “Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose-You can plant any one of those - Keep planting to find out which one grows - It's a secret no one knows...”
Anyone who has planted something from a seed will know that some seeds sprout.... but some don’t. And then some of those that sprout will only last a while and die. Others will grow to maturity.
Jesus used the parable of the sower to explain about the kingdom of Heaven. When the disciples were confused about what he meant Jesus then explained to them: Matthew 13:18-23 ““Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When people hear the message about the kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to people who hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to people who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to people who hear the word and understand it. They produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.””
Our first reading tells the story of twin boys who lived a very, very long time ago. The elder of the twins was entitled to the birth-rite, his name was Esau and he was the father of the Edomite nation. The other boy was Jacob. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and so, as you can guess, Jacob was the father of the Israelite nation.
The first reading relates the story of how Esau sold his birth-rite to Jacob in return for some red lentil stew. Can you imagine that? Selling something as important and meaningful as a birth-rite for a lentil stew? We are told that Esau despised his birth-rite. This was a birth-rite that included the promise of God. It was connected to the history of being the child of Isaac, who was the direct result of God’s miraculous intervention. In fact Jacob and Esau were also a result of God’s intervention as we read that Rebekah, their mother was barren until Isaac prayed for her.
It would appear that Isaac learnt from his father, Abraham’s mistakes. Abraham tried to make things happen himself. He tried to do God’s work in his own human strength. The way the story reads about Isaac praying for his wife, seems very matter-of-fact, and portrays a trust and reliance on God. It was this faith that was a testimony to the power and providence of God, which was part of Esau’s birth-rite. This birth-rite included the destiny crucial to all of humanity, the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which was ultimately fulfilled through the line of Jacob.
I suspect we are often a lot like Esau. We don’t fully realize the magnitude of our birth-rite. We belong to a faith into which we were baptised. Being baptised means that we have died to our old identity and now we are identified through our union with Christ. Through this union we have a spiritual birth-rite. It is something quite amazing and the essence of which is captured in our second reading from St. Paul to the Romans:
Romans 8:1-4 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This is the birth-rite that we receive when we are united to Jesus. We are set free from the law of sin and death. Do we understand the implications in being set free from the law of sin and death...???? This is something so good that we seldom even dare to grasp it. We have no need to fear the judgment of God because there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In death some may fear what comes next. We don’t need to fear because there is No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Often times there are things about our faith that we don’t understand, but it is important that we continue to grow in our knowledge because otherwise we will be subject to the temptation of Esau who sold his birth-rite for red stew.
Esau seemed to be more interested in the temporal things. He was hungry there and then and wanted food, but he paid a huge price for his lack of understanding. Do we act on how we feel here and now instead of understanding our spiritual birth-rite? Example number one (warning – me on my soap box again!!)... Sunday morning and it is time for church. We’ve had a late night and we are tired. Do we stay in bed or do we understand our birth-rite and the important responsibility we have as a child of God?????
Now I’m going to bring your attention back to the parable of the sower. Traditionally I’ve always thought of this as a way of understanding outreach, but look more closely. The seed sometimes falls on rocky ground and never actually takes root, but other seed that sprouts are those who received the message with joy. These are people who walked the walk, talked the talk and then hardships came...... because their roots were shallow these seedlings withered. There is a very real message and warning here for all of us.
We all experience hardships and some experience more than others. Regardless of our circumstances our faith will wither unless our roots are in fertile soil. To some extent that fertile soil is something that we have control over. We are remaining in fertile soil when we remember our birth-rite and the responsibility we have as a child of God.
I recall a section of the Anglican confirmation service where the confirmee promises to commit themselves to prayer and study of God’s word. This is what we need to do to grow in the knowledge of the Good News- our birth-rite.
You may well feel that your life is rocky ground and everything around you seems hard. Or you may feel overwhelmed with the troubles of this life. The Psalmist relates to suffering and worry, but understands that the statutes of God are a heritage forever and an enduring reward. Like him we need to come to the realization that the word of God is an illumination for the path of our lives and commit ourselves to keeping God’s decrees to the very end.
Psalm 119:105-112 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word. Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.”
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
reflection on readings 3rd July 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
Year A Proper 9 3 July 2011
Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45: 10-17 OR Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 Romans 7: 15-25a Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
I recall hearing a hymn that begins with the words, “Come ye weary, heavy laden....” I can’t remember it properly, but I remember the last line was – “If you tarry ‘til you’re ready, you will never come at all”. And that, I think is the message in our readings this week....
Our Gospel reading ends with the invitation: Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
It is an invitation that reminds me of the song that I plan to sing at this weekend’s country music festival. It is a song that I wrote, about how we strive to be holy, but we stumble and fall over and over. The good news in the song and the Good News of Jesus Christ is that we can rest in the knowledge that through faith we have attained a holiness that is not our own – yet is ours through our union with Christ.
In our first reading we have an amazing example of some people of God who said “yes” to God. We read the story and often miss the facts about how hard it may have been for the characters involved.
The servant of Abraham set out to find a wife for Isaac, the son of Abraham. He prayed, and it seemed that Rebekah was the answer to that prayer.
I often wonder if God is constantly giving us opportunities to partake in His fantastic plan, but we continuously say, “No”. Rebekah was a woman in a time of danger. If she didn’t have the protection of a loving husband or family she had no protection from abuse at all. To leave her family and go to marry a man that she had not met was a big step of faith. The servant explained that hand of God was in the situation told them about his prayer and how God had answered it through her, indicating that she was the one destined to marry Isaac. So then Rebekah’s family blessed her with the prophetic words about her offspring: Genesis 24:60 “ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.” This Rebekah is the mother of the Israelite and Edomite nations.
The story ends well for Rebekah, as we are told that Isaac loved Rebekah. Many unions are recorded in the Bible, and many were recorded as being the fulfilment of duty – love seemed to be an optional extra – yet these early and significant unions, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, are those where there was love. Rebekah had to do some hard things in leaving behind her whole life – her family and friends. Rebekah said “yes” to God’s plan and she was blessed with more than a profitable union – she was blessed with the love of her husband.
We have many examples through the lives of people recorded in the Bible, which show us the blessings of those who cooperate with God’s plan. But still we struggle to cooperate with God’s plan. We are called to cooperate with God’s plan – We’ve been commissioned to go and make disciples. How are we going with that?
There is a fantastic song by Keith Green – you may know of his other songs, such as “There is a Redeemer” – the song that I find appropriate for us, is called Asleep in the Light. I know I’ve said this a few times, but I’ll say it again.... We are all so tired from our own battles that it seems no one is really partaking in God’s plan and partaking in the great commission that he gave us to go and make disciples.... Myself included....
Here are just a few words from the song, Asleep in the Light: “.....The world is sleeping in the dark, That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light, How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed, Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed,...” I strongly encourage you to have a listen to the whole song on you tube, as the song brings the message to life in a way that mere words can’t: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
We all know that it is right to proclaim the Gospel and encourage people into a relationship with Christ, but we just don’t seem to be able to motivate ourselves into action. Do you recall the words of that part at church where we confess.... call to mind our failings.... it isn’t just the things we’ve done wrong, but also the good we’ve omitted to do.
Paul puts the dilemma of not doing what we know we should very well in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 7:15-20 “ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
The reading ends with the Good News... “24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Most of us feel that we are not good enough to cooperate with God’s plan. We feel we are not worthy to be of any use to God. Surely it would make more sense for God to use the saintly and blameless people. We know that if someone was to scrutinize us we’d come apart at the seams, as we know our failings well. But.... if we tarry ‘til we are ready, we will never come at all. We will never measure up. If we are being honest with ourselves we will know that we can never be good enough, but thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord!
You see, we truly are made holy right now through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is why Jesus can invite us to come to him and he will give us rest.... rest in the knowledge that we have been made acceptable to God through our union with Christ. We are spiritually “ready”... there is no need to tarry and there isn’t any need to feel not worthy enough to be of any use.
To know our need for a saviour is the only pre-requisite to becoming a child of God, and being a child of God means being a child of the King. In the same way that we became a child of God by recognising our need for a saviour, we carry out the commission of Christ to “make disciples” by continuing to realise our need for a saviour and relying on Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which means that we rest in the knowledge of his provision and blessing, and just as Rebekah was blessed, God blesses and provides above and beyond our needs.
Year A Proper 9 3 July 2011
Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Psalm 45: 10-17 OR Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 Romans 7: 15-25a Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
I recall hearing a hymn that begins with the words, “Come ye weary, heavy laden....” I can’t remember it properly, but I remember the last line was – “If you tarry ‘til you’re ready, you will never come at all”. And that, I think is the message in our readings this week....
Our Gospel reading ends with the invitation: Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
It is an invitation that reminds me of the song that I plan to sing at this weekend’s country music festival. It is a song that I wrote, about how we strive to be holy, but we stumble and fall over and over. The good news in the song and the Good News of Jesus Christ is that we can rest in the knowledge that through faith we have attained a holiness that is not our own – yet is ours through our union with Christ.
In our first reading we have an amazing example of some people of God who said “yes” to God. We read the story and often miss the facts about how hard it may have been for the characters involved.
The servant of Abraham set out to find a wife for Isaac, the son of Abraham. He prayed, and it seemed that Rebekah was the answer to that prayer.
I often wonder if God is constantly giving us opportunities to partake in His fantastic plan, but we continuously say, “No”. Rebekah was a woman in a time of danger. If she didn’t have the protection of a loving husband or family she had no protection from abuse at all. To leave her family and go to marry a man that she had not met was a big step of faith. The servant explained that hand of God was in the situation told them about his prayer and how God had answered it through her, indicating that she was the one destined to marry Isaac. So then Rebekah’s family blessed her with the prophetic words about her offspring: Genesis 24:60 “ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.” This Rebekah is the mother of the Israelite and Edomite nations.
The story ends well for Rebekah, as we are told that Isaac loved Rebekah. Many unions are recorded in the Bible, and many were recorded as being the fulfilment of duty – love seemed to be an optional extra – yet these early and significant unions, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, are those where there was love. Rebekah had to do some hard things in leaving behind her whole life – her family and friends. Rebekah said “yes” to God’s plan and she was blessed with more than a profitable union – she was blessed with the love of her husband.
We have many examples through the lives of people recorded in the Bible, which show us the blessings of those who cooperate with God’s plan. But still we struggle to cooperate with God’s plan. We are called to cooperate with God’s plan – We’ve been commissioned to go and make disciples. How are we going with that?
There is a fantastic song by Keith Green – you may know of his other songs, such as “There is a Redeemer” – the song that I find appropriate for us, is called Asleep in the Light. I know I’ve said this a few times, but I’ll say it again.... We are all so tired from our own battles that it seems no one is really partaking in God’s plan and partaking in the great commission that he gave us to go and make disciples.... Myself included....
Here are just a few words from the song, Asleep in the Light: “.....The world is sleeping in the dark, That the church can't fight, cause it's asleep in the light, How can you be so dead, when you've been so well fed, Jesus rose from the grave, and you, you can't even get out of bed,...” I strongly encourage you to have a listen to the whole song on you tube, as the song brings the message to life in a way that mere words can’t: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
We all know that it is right to proclaim the Gospel and encourage people into a relationship with Christ, but we just don’t seem to be able to motivate ourselves into action. Do you recall the words of that part at church where we confess.... call to mind our failings.... it isn’t just the things we’ve done wrong, but also the good we’ve omitted to do.
Paul puts the dilemma of not doing what we know we should very well in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 7:15-20 “ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
The reading ends with the Good News... “24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Most of us feel that we are not good enough to cooperate with God’s plan. We feel we are not worthy to be of any use to God. Surely it would make more sense for God to use the saintly and blameless people. We know that if someone was to scrutinize us we’d come apart at the seams, as we know our failings well. But.... if we tarry ‘til we are ready, we will never come at all. We will never measure up. If we are being honest with ourselves we will know that we can never be good enough, but thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord!
You see, we truly are made holy right now through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is why Jesus can invite us to come to him and he will give us rest.... rest in the knowledge that we have been made acceptable to God through our union with Christ. We are spiritually “ready”... there is no need to tarry and there isn’t any need to feel not worthy enough to be of any use.
To know our need for a saviour is the only pre-requisite to becoming a child of God, and being a child of God means being a child of the King. In the same way that we became a child of God by recognising our need for a saviour, we carry out the commission of Christ to “make disciples” by continuing to realise our need for a saviour and relying on Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which means that we rest in the knowledge of his provision and blessing, and just as Rebekah was blessed, God blesses and provides above and beyond our needs.
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