Identify crisis

 Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10 and Psalm 124  • Isaiah 51:1-6 and Psalm 138  • Romans 12:1-8  • Matthew 16:13-20

The noun "crisis" is derived from the Greek  verb κρίνω krinō, which means 'distinguish, choose, decide.

In "But What Do You Think," Debie Thomas' essay on this Sunday's gospel lesson, when Peter confesses "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God," in response to Jesus' questioIn "Who do you say I am?", Thomas invites us to journey into the question. To do as Jesus did when he asked that question, preceded by his question, "Who do people say I am?" What did Jesus do? He listened. He patiently awaited the answers of his disciples. He neither praised, nor condemned. But then he pressed further. Why? It means nothing without personal investment, commitment - in to all that is the Christ.

Why does Jesus ask the question? For us to be come whole, to be totally invested and encompassed in the totality of God's grace. See The Rev. Anna Tew's "Totality." All of our Scripture readings today resound in the totality of God's grace. Read Marcea Paul's "Questions That Lead to Action ."

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.