Buried in Christ, Raised to Newness of Life

 Scriptute: Genesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17  •  Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18  • Romans 6:1b-11  • Matthew 10:24-39

Jesus sends out his disciples telling them not to fear even though they may face resistance, even unto death. He says he came not to bring peace, but a sword. What does he mean? Contrast this with the peace he gives, as only he can give, and the account of telling Peter to put away his sword as Jesus submits to his betrayal and arrest. He is preparing his disciples as he sends them out to spread the good news even though it may turn brother against brother, and families against one another. In "Sent," Joslyn Ogden Schaefer helps understand this when read with Paul's letter to the Romans in which we learn about having to die to the old self to be able to live in Newness of life - in a new way. And in the story of Hagar and Ishmael, sent out seemingly to die by Abraham, but spared by God's grace. Read also Michael Fitzpatrick's "Buried with Christ," In the same gospel reading, Jesus reminds us of God's love, care and forgiveness, as he knows and cares when ever a sparrow falls.

Discipleship

 

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) and Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19  • 

Exodus 19:2-8a and Psalm 100  • Romans 5:1-8  • Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)

In this week's gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits and to cure disease and sickness. In this passage his disciples are named, imperfect and diverse. As he sent them out, seeing the crowds, he did so with compassion - from the  Greek, σπλαγχνίζομαι, to be moved so deeply as to feel it within the pit of your stomach - saying they are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

From Jesus's words to his disciples, but also from the depths of his compassion, we learn about the call to discipleship.  Read also, Joshua Samuel's "Discipleship and Mission ," and Sister Kim Harris's "Reflection ."

And for those who want more, Read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship." Here is a Wikipedia article on his book. 

God's Justice In An Unjust Society

 Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9 and Psalm 33:1-12  • Hosea 5:15-6:6 and Psalm 50:7-15 • Romans 4:13-25  • Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

In this Sunday's Old Testament readings, we see Abraham, at the age of seventy-five, leave his country and what he has known all his life, in faith, as God promised to make him a great nation. In the passage from Hosea, who married and showed the  compassionate love of hesed to an unfaithful prostitute foretelling God's covenantal love of even an unfaithful people, culminating in Jesus’s compassionate love in eating with tax collectors and sinners, and healing the unclean in this Sunday's gospel. 

This begs the question of what is God's justice and relationship to an unfaithful, unjust, people? Read Dan Clendenin's "Abraham's Journey," and consider William Bennett's homily.

The Trinity and the Great Commission

 Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 8  • 2 Corinthians 13:11-13  • Matthew 28:16-20

This is Trinity Sunday. In these troubled times of pandemic, economic uncertainty, division, and the pain and suffering so many are experiencing with issues regarding race, brutality, and civil and violent protests, why does knowledge and appeal to the Trinity - God in three persons - three in one - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - matter? What difference does it make?  What can we learn, and rely on to help us through these times? 

Debie Thomas, in The Undivided Trinity, gives us a timely and important lesson.
This Sunday's gospel also contains Jesus’s commission to spread the good news to all the earth, the ends of the earth. How and what does he mean? Read Dan Clendenin's "What I Do Is Me."