Boundaries. Could you use some good news?

 Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133  • Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67  • Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32  • Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

This week we have what I call the stretcher. Jesus has crossed over into Gentile country where Jews and Gentiles do not mix. From afar there is the sound of the Syro-Phoenician woman crying out to the "Son of David" for mercy on her, pleading for the healing of her daughter. Why does she cry out for mercy on her, not her daughter? She knows the boundaries between Jews and their age old enemies, the Canaanites. And she is pressing the boundaries, praying that the Lord of life will cross them and heal her daughter. This is  not just a stretching moment for Jesus. It is a teaching moment for his disciples, and us, who seek to put her away, cast her aside. Read the Rev. Cannon Joseph Pagano's "Borderlands,".

You've undoubtedly seen many memes about what could possibly happen next in 2020. Remember the murder hornet news? I like the meme "The murder hornets. Did we skip the murder hornets? I think we skipped the murder hornets." There is so much bad news, many of us have turned to doomscrolling from one bad news item to another, wondering what could possibly go wrong next. Remember Murphy's Law. "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong." 

Well, it seems we all could use some good news. And Debie Thomas's article, "Is It Good News Yet?" really strikes a chord with me, as Jesus experienced an eye opening watershed moment in his ministry as the Syro-Phoenician woman told him "Even dogs  eat crumbs that fall from their master's table." As Barbara Taylor Brown said,"You can slmost hear the huge wheel of history turning as Jesus comes to a new understanding of who he is and what he has been called to do." And, as Debi Thomas says, the same Lord who eats with sinners,  prostitutes,  tax collectors,  and touches and heals lepers,  sees his mission as offering God's Good News of welcome, healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness to everyone. All are welcome at the Table of the Lord of life,  of love,  of mercy, and forgiveness. Thanks be to God.

Just when we think we've got it

Scripture: Genesis 29:15-28  and  Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128  • 1 Kings 3:5-12  and  Psalm 119:129-136  •  Romans 8:26-39  •  Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

This week our Scripture ranges from Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery after deciding not to kill him, an exhausted, despairing and depressed Elijah needing desperately to hear from God as Jezebel seeks to have him killed, to Peter and the disciples cowering in a storm tossed sea when they see what?

Although I delighted in the story of Jesus walking on water as a child, and Peter trying to step out of the boat to go to Jesus, I confess, as I grew older, I had my doubts about the literal account. I believe he was both human and divine, and in his real presence, then and today.  I study Greek, and look at the story from the perspective of Jesus' words, "Take heart!" "Have courage!" θαρσεῖτε in Greek. He is the One who reaches out to lift us up, with grace, forgiveness - whatever we need to get through stormy seas.

Professor Alyce MacKenzie gives us so much more about this passage in "Walking Toward Us ," on our gospel account from Matthew. It is on three web-linked pages, not very long, and is worth reading. As she says, Jesus is "...someone who never stands on the shore watching us suffer, but is always walking toward us on the sea, stretching out a hand to us—with forgiveness, with love. Reaching out a hand to us that is both very human, and the very hand of God."

In "Out on the Water ," Debie Thomas examines issues of fear, where fear takes us, and trust in the One who always moves toward us, regardless of our fear or circumstances, to give us what we need in the storms of life, reaching out for us, saying "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid."  

Peter, the boldest, most confident, and sometimes rash stepped out on the sea toward Jesus, and then as doubt set in, he called out for Jesus to save him.  Jesus's reply to Peter and to his other disciples in the storm was "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" The word Jesus used for doubt comes from the root word διστάζω, which means "to stand in two ways" - an uncertainty which way to take. In her "Reflection ," Rev. Cheryl Lindsay reminds us that it's not just in the valleys of life that we have our doubts, or lose faith, sometimes it is on the mountaintop, or when we have a feeling of confidence and certainty, that we stumble or hesitate about which way to go. Jesus did not chastise Peter, but came near, and lifted him up. It is sometimes in doubt and uncertainty that we experience the Lord of life. And even just when we think we've got it. 

Wrestling with God

 Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 17:1-7, 15  • Isaiah 55:1-5 and Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21  • Romans 9:1-5  • Matthew 14:13-21

This week's Old Testament reading is the nocturnal wrestling match between Jacob and what some commentators say is God, others an angel, and a few, a demon.  In The Limp and the Blessing, Debie Thomas tells us why struggling with God matters. What are your thoughts about "struggle," with your faith, fears, doubts, failures - you name it. Especially with struggle, in our journey with Jacob, we see the amazing and wonderful persistence of blessing, even if we end up with a limp. 

There is an ancient Greek proverb: Καλεπα τά καλα: "Beautiful things are difficult," translated in a practical sense: "naught (nothing) without labor." How does this relate to our reading from Genesis?

And then there is the gospel account of a tired Jesus, wanting to get away from it all, but moved with compassion for them he healed them, and with their own 5 loaves and fishes, tells  his disciples to feed them - those hungry for bread, for love, for mercy, for answers, for forgiveness, and hope. Hungry for life, and the abundance of life which God offers. "You feed them." Therein lies the miracle, The Rev. Jason Cox tells us in "Which Party?." 

In Jesus, and each other, we can see the face of God. If only we care to look. 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

 Scripture: Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128  • 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129- 136 •   Romans 8:26-39  • Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

I really like the articles for this week's lesson. As Jesus gives us the parable of the mustard seed, the yeast, the pearl, and the basket of fish, we are shown that we can live with a sense of wonder and surprise, and, as we experience in the beautiful sacrament of baptism, we learn that we belong to God. See "Wow! Would You Look at This?" by Peter Woods, and "You Belong to God," by Daniel P. Clendenin.  Michael Fitzpatrick says he sometimes fears that we have forgotten how our faith is supposed to be Good News, not just for us, but everyone. Read his "The Good News is that God Is For Us," Read also Danae Ashley's "Finding Value in What Others Overlook. "

Living in the kingdom. Even when things happen which we don't understand, or we can't make everything right, Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, chapter 8, that the Spirit intercedes for us in sighs "too deep for words," and that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. So, let's open our eyes in wonder, to make way for the surprises God has in store for us. And let us respond in gratitude, and giving.

Jacob's ladder and gardening among wheat and weeds

 Scripture:Genesis 28:10-19a and Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24  • Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8 and Psalm 86:11-17  • Romans 8:12-25  • Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

This week our Scripture takes us from Jacob's ladder, to a stone, to gatdening the wheat among tared. This week we study Jesus' second parable of sowing seeds. Again the sower broadcasts the good seed, and this time the wheat and weeds grow up together. Should we weed the field so the good plants can grow? They become entangled. Is this about judging others? What can we learn about judging others? Is this about the good and bad in all of us? 

For the significance of the biblical account of Jacob's ladder and a stone or rock read Susan Butterworth's: "Stone, Wheat, and Weeds,"and Whitney Rice's "A Rock, A Ladder, A Promise ."

Life is not all black and white, as we all know. There is something greater than ourselves and it takes time, patience, and faith to look for the light in times of darkness, and the sun in times of rain. As Jesus said, it rains on both tge good and the bad together. So it is with wheat and tares. Read Debie Thomas' "Let Them Grow Together." All creation experiences growing pains. Read "Inheritance," by The Rev. Kellan Day. May we discern and grow through the lens of Christ. 

Joy in Uncertain Times

 

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112  • Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13  • Romans 8:1-11  • Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Jesus gives us one of his parables of the sower in this week's gospel reading. Here, it seems, is a wild, perhaps reckless sower. Some seeds fall on rocks and hard ground. Some among thorns. And others on good soil. Several years ago I learned an important life lesson from a now retired Episcopal priest, Fr. Rodge Wood. He taught me something like this: When you make a gift, it is no longer yours to worry about how it will be used. Otherwise, in seeking to control the consequences, you have taken it back. Such is forgiveness. Be set free by giving your gift, and yourself. I texted him about this this week, and he told me that I taught him how to live an abundant life. This week's lesson is about "reckless" giving without worry or control, but trusting that every good gift comes from God, whose love is abundant, and will see us through every second of our lives together. And we can teach, and learn from each other - if only we care and try, which is what Jesus calls us to do. Read Debie Thomas' "The Extravagant Sower," for a much needed lesson in these times of pandemic and economic uncertainty about the relationship between divine extravagance and 

Consider The Rev. Joseph Evans' "The Sower's Lesson," and "Life and Death
: God's Care Package is Bursting, " by Enuma Okoro, published in Sojourners.

Beyond just being a good person

 Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13  •  Zechariah 9:9-12 and Psalm 145:8-14  • Romans 7:15-25a  • Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

This week's gospel is iconic for most Christian's wearied and burdened  by life's challenges, personally and communally. These are trying times for Christians, and all of God's children. What can Christians bring to the table in these times other than being a good person?

After giving us answers you might expect, such as hope, purpose, a sense of companionship of a loving,self giving God, of vocation, and the beauty of a divinely ordained and created world, a home in the real sense - all good and life sustaining - Debie Thomas gives us an eye opening answer to the question "What does being a Christian give you that being a good person does not?" in her "A Lighter Burden." A searing and incisive look at that which separates us from the peace we need - sin. This isn't just semantic, or condemnatory. It is something we, individually and in community, must seriously examine in our individual and communal lives in order to move on. Please for your sake, and that of our community, nation and world, read it, along with this:

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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."

Also read The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pagano's "Come to Me."