How do we become what God wants?

 Link to the Collect and Scripture. 

Another week of grumbling and complaining in the wilderness. God rained manna on his people, not punishment in last week's lesson. This week, acting through his agent, Moses, who strikes a rock with his staff, life giving water gushes forth. Living bread, living water. 

What do we look for, what do we find when we are in wilderness times? Do we see our glass half empty? Half full? Is it wrong to question God? Is God present in the good times, but not the bad times? Do we look for mirages instead of the truth in times of want, need or trouble? Security instead of facing our fears and troubles? Read Kate Matthews' "Everyone's a Critic."

And Jesus, speaking with authority (ἐξουσία - a liberating power, not a dominating force), gives us the parable of the two sons who are asked to work in the vineyard. One says he will, and doesn't. One says he won't, but does. Who does the Father's will?

In Paul's beautiful letter to the Philippians, we have the kenosis (κενόω - to empty out). After telling us we need to have the mind of Christ, Paul tells us a love story of Christ's sacrifice from the beginning to the cross. Jesus, "though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross." 

So, with all the grumbling and complaining, how are we to do the Father's will? How can a grumbling church become the church God wants us to be? How can a divided nation become one nation, under God? Consider Will Willimon's "One in Christ." Debie Thomas tells us Words Are Not Enough. 

When life is not fair

 Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15 and Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45  • Jonah 3:10-4:11 and Psalm 145:1-8  • Philippians 1:21-30  • Matthew 20:1-16

Life isn't fair. So said the murmuring Israelites when they complained about being led into the wilderness from the fleshpots of Egypt. And Jonah when God spared Nineveh,  capital of Assyria which conquered Israel and took the brightest and best into captivity. And what about Jesus' parable of the last arriving workers in the vineyard being paid the same as the first to arrive?

How did God respond to the Israelites? To Jonah? And what is Jesus teaching us?

Read Debie Thomas' "On Fairness," and "The Generosity of God," by The Rev. Dr. Michael Foss.

What forgiveness is, and is not

 Scripture: Exodus 14:19-31 and Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21  • Genesis 50:15-21 and Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13  • Romans 14:1-12  • Matthew 18:21-35

Jesus tells Peter, in answer to his question, how many times must I forgive, "Seventy times seven." What does he mean? Does he mean to forgive indiscriminately? While forgiveness should be our everyday practice, is there anything which is not forgiveable?

What is involved in forgiving, for ourselves, and others? What should we expect? To avoid the rush to "cheap grace," we should ask what what forgiveness is, and what it is not. Especially in the age we live in, in the face of injustice and inequity, which we are also called to address.

There is work to be done before there can be reconciliation, not the least of which is honestly addressing denial. Read Debie Thomas' "Unpacking Forgiveness." Forgiveness is not meant to be hollow, or cheap. For Christians, there is always the cross before new and everlasting life, and peace

When two or more are gathered

 Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14 and Psalm 149  • Ezekiel 33:7-11 and Psalm 119:33-40  • Romans 13:8-14  • Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus' beautiful saying that when two or more are gathered in his name, he is in their midst is often read at weddings, and, in fact, is sublimely present in one of my favorite songs of Peter, Paul and Mary, "The Wedding Song," but Jesus said this in regard to matters of church discipline. What do we do when there is conflict in the church?

In this week's gospel lesson, Jesus  instructs the church which will carry his good news as a mission to the world about what do if another member of the church "sins" against you. The Greek word for sin is αμαρτάνω, which means "missing the mark. A discreet one on one meeting with the offending person is the step, followed by another discreet meeting, and finally a meeting of the church itself. All of this respects the dignity of persons. If that doesn't resolve it, then what? We should look at the context in which Jesus speaks. Immediately prior to this message, Jesus teaches the disciples about humility when they ask who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, saying that unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Immediately after this week's gospel, Jesus answer's Peter's question of "how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me," with "seventy times seven," which means what?

Humility, forgiveness and reconciliation are at the heart of Jesus' instructions for resolving church disputes. Many have interpreted the gospel to authorize shunning. What should we do when one leaves the church? How is "power" or "authority" to be exercised and received?

Finally, if we remember that when two are three are gathered in his name, he is with us, how can we not come together in humility in the presence of the one who gave his all that all might be saved?

Consider these articles: "What kind of Community Will We Be?" by David Lose; "Unforgiven," by William L. Hawkins; "A Careful Read," by Deanna Langle; and "The Power to Bind or Loose ," by The Rev. Whitney Rice; The Beloved Community by Debie Thomas.

The Name of God

 Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15 and Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b  • Jeremiah 15:15-21 and Psalm 26:1-8  • Romans 12:9-21  • Matthew 16:21-28

Naming is important to us.  In the Jewish tradition, baby boys are named at a brit milah on the eighth day after their birth. Girls are named within the first two weeks. Common Ashkenazi custom maintains that girls should be named when the father is called up to the Torah on a Torah reading day closest or close to when the girl is born, although practice often has baby girls named at the Torah reading on the first Shabbat following birth. A resurgence in recent generations of the less popular simchat bat ceremony for naming baby girls has recently taken hold in many modern Orthodox Ashkenazi communities. In our tradition, the name of the child is announced at baptism when we joyfully welcome and receive the child as we renew our baptismal covenant. God charged Adam with naming the animals.

This week we are given the name of God. Last week Peter was blessed and given the keys of the kingdom when he confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. In Exodus, when Moses asks the name of the God who will deliver his people, he is given the answer "I am Who I am, and I shall be Who I shall be."John's gospel contains several "I am" sayings of Jesus. This week Peter is rebuked by Jesus when he seeks to deter Jesus from his mission, as he looks on the Lord from a human perspective, as opposed to the divine perspective of the redemption and deliverance through a suffering God, who lives and dies with us, and is raised to new and everlasting life. Consider Susan Butterworth's "A Paradox of Faith ."

This week's epistle from Paul to the Romans is one of my favorites. It teaches us about vengeance. Consider The Rev. Dr. Peter Marty's "Trusting God to Settle Scores." 

We also read about Moses and the burning bush. How did Moses overcome his excuses to become the leader of the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt? Read The Rev. Amy Richter's "Unquenchable Love."

When Jesus rebukes Peter for Peter's comments when Jesus says that Jesus must suffer death and humiliation, after praising Peter for confessing Jesus as the Messiah, Debie Thomas, in "Losing and Saving," offers thoughts on what Jesus means about suffering and loss, especially relevant in our culture today.

In "Loving Your Life," Bernie Pearson's compares life, and death, and how we go about living from human and divine perspectives. 

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.