For
Sunday, September 3, 2017, 13thSunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 105:1-6,
23-26, 45c, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28
Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. [Psalm 105:3]
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;...outdo one another in showing honor...never avenge yourselves...for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."...overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:9, 10b, 19, 21b]
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem...and be killed and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." [Matthew 16:21a,b-23]
From out of the flaming bush, God called Moses to lead the Israelites
out from the torture and horrors of their existence as slaves in the ancient
world. Moses, probably still trying to grasp that God is speaking to him from a
burning shrub, gives a most human response, "Who am I" to do this
unimaginable task? Moses had just been minding the sheep in his everyday,
ordinary life and suddenly he's called to save a nation - reluctance is the
mildest emotion I would have felt! Of course this is a great story worthy of
the many dramatic renderings in films and other media that it has inspired. And
perhaps because of the magnitude of this command, the primary message seems
obscured.
The world of today is not so far away in attitude from the times of Moses. Around the world and in each of our own countries, as many of us go through our days just minding our sheep, there are ever-growing pockets of racial and ethnic hatred, senseless mass killings, and unchecked imposed power creating enslavement through poverty, war, and robust greed, all elements that have never left the human realm.
But God, through Moses, reminds us that, however reluctant, we are each called to step up to Holy Ground and find our own ways to save nations, if only by one sheep at a time.
It is much easier to wander in the wilderness of apathy or cling to the false gods of power and profit as if to save us from ourselves and each other. But last week Paul reminded us of our individual gifts that work in concert with the gifts of others so that we are one body, with many members, charged to live in and through Christ. This week, Paul, gives us a rapid-fire list of how to begin to be the Living Sacrifice that Jesus calls us to be: Let love be genuine, hate evil, hold fast to good, love one another, outdo, don't lag, rejoice, be patient, persevere, contribute, extend, bless, rejoice, weep, live, associate, and don't claim to be wiser than you are, etc., etc., etc.
I'm nearly exhausted at the thought of it all yet Jesus reminds us that all that has been done will be repaid in kind by God. If we only Follow him, Jesus says, not setting our minds on human things but on the divine, we will gain the life we were created to live. We must take care to suspend our natural impulse to argue with Jesus out of doubt, fear, or unwillingness that turns us into stumbling blocks obstructing the path of others. We must come back from hiding behind the devilish desires for human treasure and move to the front of the line, as did Peter, seeking to overcome evil with good. One day, one small act, one prayer at a time that leads to another and another and another...
The world of today is not so far away in attitude from the times of Moses. Around the world and in each of our own countries, as many of us go through our days just minding our sheep, there are ever-growing pockets of racial and ethnic hatred, senseless mass killings, and unchecked imposed power creating enslavement through poverty, war, and robust greed, all elements that have never left the human realm.
But God, through Moses, reminds us that, however reluctant, we are each called to step up to Holy Ground and find our own ways to save nations, if only by one sheep at a time.
It is much easier to wander in the wilderness of apathy or cling to the false gods of power and profit as if to save us from ourselves and each other. But last week Paul reminded us of our individual gifts that work in concert with the gifts of others so that we are one body, with many members, charged to live in and through Christ. This week, Paul, gives us a rapid-fire list of how to begin to be the Living Sacrifice that Jesus calls us to be: Let love be genuine, hate evil, hold fast to good, love one another, outdo, don't lag, rejoice, be patient, persevere, contribute, extend, bless, rejoice, weep, live, associate, and don't claim to be wiser than you are, etc., etc., etc.
I'm nearly exhausted at the thought of it all yet Jesus reminds us that all that has been done will be repaid in kind by God. If we only Follow him, Jesus says, not setting our minds on human things but on the divine, we will gain the life we were created to live. We must take care to suspend our natural impulse to argue with Jesus out of doubt, fear, or unwillingness that turns us into stumbling blocks obstructing the path of others. We must come back from hiding behind the devilish desires for human treasure and move to the front of the line, as did Peter, seeking to overcome evil with good. One day, one small act, one prayer at a time that leads to another and another and another...
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader:
~ O LORD, our God,
Your Sacred Fire sanctifies our faith, transforms our souls, and guides us to
find our footing on the holy ground of this earthly life. Keep our faces turned
toward You, that we may not be consumed by human things, but set our minds on
all that is divine.
Forever
God
RESPONSE: Let
us seek and rejoice in You
~ O LORD, our
God, kindle the Spirit within us to prevail upon the leaders of this world, our
country, and our community to take on actions of honor, dignity, and humanity rather
than repay evil with evil. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Forever
God
Let us seek and rejoice in You
~
O LORD, our God, guide us to be a listening ear and helping hand to care for
those with physical or mental illness or desperate life circumstance, and for
those who are struggling to meet those needs. We now join our voices to
pray aloud for those in need…
Forever
God
Let us seek and rejoice in You
~ O LORD, our
God, Grant us the joy to celebrate all who have now risen in Glory, free of
misery and tears. We pray especially for:
Forever
God
Let us seek and rejoice in You
~ O LORD, our
God, we pause in this moment to offer
You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…
Forever
God
Let us seek and rejoice in You
~ O LORD, our
God, expand your enduring grace for those among us who, like Moses and Peter,
are reluctant but willing to take on Your mantle of leadership in ministry on
our behalf. We pray especially for:
Forever
God
Let us seek and rejoice in You
The Celebrant adds: LORD
God of Yesterday, Today, and Forever, free us from our desire for the superficial
milk and honey of this life, and ignite our passion to Follow, not obstruct, the course of Christ, the ultimate and Divine
reward for our living sacrifice. We ask in the name of Jesus, Son of Man, and the
Holy Spirit, the Divine Fervor in our hearts, who reign together with You as One,
Living and Eternal God. Amen.
All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment