For
Sunday, September 10, 2017, 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans
13:81-14,
Matthew 18:15-20
Matthew 18:15-20
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months...I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. [Exodus 12:1-2b, 13b]
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful. [Psalm 149:1]
The commandments...are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself"...love is the fulfilling of the law...now is the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers...Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light... [Romans 13:9b,11b, 12b]
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven...For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." [Matthew 18:18, 20]
Five year olds have an often startling grasp of reality and a blessedly unrestrained capacity to speak to it. At a 90th birthday party for her Great-Great Aunt, Miss Rebecca, calculating and pondering the meaning of so many blazing candles, suddenly exclaimed to her with genuine dismay, "OH NO! You're almost died!" Our Aunt, taking it all in stride, replied with a broad smile and very natural tone, "Well, I'm a lot closer than I used to be." And so, as Paul says this week, are we all, a lot closer than we used to be.
This week we are given the details of the tricky, and likely nervous-making preparation for the LORD's pass over that spared only the families who were given, and accurately followed, the instructions. Jesus lays out a plan for conflict resolution in the Church, which if followed without a sense of sincere discretion, care, and responsibility, may have a similarly fatal effect for individuals and the community itself. He tells us again, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven which should have a chilling and sobering effect on how we decide to act. Conflict resolution is tenuous in the best of times, a huge responsibility for all parties. The pointing out of faults is always easier when you yourself have none. But if we each look deeply enough into that "troublesome person", most of us can see ourselves at some point or another in our lives. We must each consider, how would I want to be approached if my behavior or attitude was a problem for someone else?
Paul reminds, because we need to hear again and again, as Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I used to hear that as "love your neighbor as you love yourself" and, of course, if one has difficulty loving oneself it would be apparent in the way s/he treats others. Yet in the fuller sense, I now read it as written - love your neighbor as your self. THAT person is YOU. Loving him/her/them, is to love yourself, to discover a mirror image in another and love that part of them that is you. Jesus promises that in unity and community, when two or three or more gather in his name, we bring Christ into our midst. That may not make it easier for us, yet it gives us a place to start; a new song to sing. "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:10]
But of course the world is full of fanatics, psychotics, and sociopaths, and just plain disagreeable people who don't understand that MY opinion is the correct one! And I'd paint my doorpost with whatever God wants if that would protect those I love, but it appears that is no longer an option. Of course I must admit that I have trouble liking some people let alone loving them, especially the people that want to do serious harm. Try as I might, the reality is that I cannot change what anyone else does; I can only change my response to it. No easy task, no easy solution but one certainty exists: Salvation is nearer to us now, and every passing moment brings it closer. The time is NOW to turn to Christ, to act for Christ, to love in, through, and as Christ - whew, hard work when there are so many other pleasant distractions available and no guarantees that your efforts will be appreciated in this life. If only I could just wait a little longer to get in there and do all that I should. But, time's a-wastin' and for those of us who believe in and want eternal Salvation, this is THE wake up call!
This week we are given the details of the tricky, and likely nervous-making preparation for the LORD's pass over that spared only the families who were given, and accurately followed, the instructions. Jesus lays out a plan for conflict resolution in the Church, which if followed without a sense of sincere discretion, care, and responsibility, may have a similarly fatal effect for individuals and the community itself. He tells us again, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven which should have a chilling and sobering effect on how we decide to act. Conflict resolution is tenuous in the best of times, a huge responsibility for all parties. The pointing out of faults is always easier when you yourself have none. But if we each look deeply enough into that "troublesome person", most of us can see ourselves at some point or another in our lives. We must each consider, how would I want to be approached if my behavior or attitude was a problem for someone else?
Paul reminds, because we need to hear again and again, as Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I used to hear that as "love your neighbor as you love yourself" and, of course, if one has difficulty loving oneself it would be apparent in the way s/he treats others. Yet in the fuller sense, I now read it as written - love your neighbor as your self. THAT person is YOU. Loving him/her/them, is to love yourself, to discover a mirror image in another and love that part of them that is you. Jesus promises that in unity and community, when two or three or more gather in his name, we bring Christ into our midst. That may not make it easier for us, yet it gives us a place to start; a new song to sing. "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law." [Romans 13:10]
But of course the world is full of fanatics, psychotics, and sociopaths, and just plain disagreeable people who don't understand that MY opinion is the correct one! And I'd paint my doorpost with whatever God wants if that would protect those I love, but it appears that is no longer an option. Of course I must admit that I have trouble liking some people let alone loving them, especially the people that want to do serious harm. Try as I might, the reality is that I cannot change what anyone else does; I can only change my response to it. No easy task, no easy solution but one certainty exists: Salvation is nearer to us now, and every passing moment brings it closer. The time is NOW to turn to Christ, to act for Christ, to love in, through, and as Christ - whew, hard work when there are so many other pleasant distractions available and no guarantees that your efforts will be appreciated in this life. If only I could just wait a little longer to get in there and do all that I should. But, time's a-wastin' and for those of us who believe in and want eternal Salvation, this is THE wake up call!
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ Most High LORD, as Your Love, through
Christ, will pass over our sins, guide us to begin in this
moment to seek our true calling through forgiving the unforgivable, by living honorably,
and honestly work to love everyone we meet as ourselves.
Creator
God
RESPONSE:
Let
us sing You a new song with our lives
~
Most High LORD, strengthen our resolve that together, with Christ in our midst,
we will give witness of Your Love to those who lead us in our World, our
Country, and our Community, and express our expectations that they will act for
the safety, wholeness, and health of all Your people. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Creator
God
Let us sing You a new song with our lives
~ Most High LORD, comfort and heal all who
are chronically ill, live in the relentless demand of addiction, or have lost their
sense of home, and refresh all who give them care. We now join our voices
to pray aloud for those in need…
Creator
God
Let us sing You a new song with our lives
~
Most High LORD, grant peace for all who mourn through the faith of knowing that
our loved ones now blossom in the eternal sunshine of Life beyond mere living. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Creator
God
Let us sing You a new song with our lives
~ Most High LORD, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently.
Today in our congregation we pray especially for:
Creator
God
Let us sing You a new song with our lives
~
Most High LORD, prepare a special place in Your eternal Kingdom for those who
lead us in Your Church, who pray with us and for us, preach Your word to us,
and shepherd us to spiritual growth in this Community of Faith. We pray
especially for:
Creator God
Let us sing You a new song with our lives
The Celebrant adds: O God, Holy and Mighty, awaken our hearts, that in this short life, we now see ourselves as You see us, and as mirrors of one another, with love, compassion and understanding. Illuminate
our path with the Light of Christ, the armor that binds against the darkness of sinful action and evil intent. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer and Messiah, and
the Holy Spirit, our Fount of Wisdom, who live and reign together with You, One God, Timeless, Immortal, and Infinite. Amen.
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