For Sunday, June 25, 2023, Readings: Genesis
21:8-21, Psalm 69:8-11, 18-20; Romans 6:1b -11,
Matthew 10:24-49
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of
the boy and...your slave woman...do as [Sarah] tells you, for it is through
Isaac that offspring will be named for you. I will make a nation of him also,
because he is your offspring...God called to Hagar..."Do not be afraid;
lift up the boy...I will make a great nation of him"...God was with the
boy... [Genesis
21:12-13, 17b-18, 20a]
Draw near to me; redeem me; set me free because of my enemies. [Psalm 69:18]
...all of us who have been
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death...so that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might
walk in newness of life...So you also much consider yourselves dead to sin and
alive to God in Christ Jesus. [Romans 6:3b, 4b, 11]
So
do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows..."Everyone
therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my
Father in heaven...I have not come to bring peace, but a sword...whoever does
not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their
life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find
it." [Matthew 10:31-32, 34b, 38-39]
In a prior week's reading from Genesis, Sarah
was laughing ~ she got caught, denied it, and was brought up short. She was
then granted happiness in her old age, or so we thought.
This week we find a
different Sarah, jealous and vengeful, separating the child from his
father, Abraham, and willing to allow that child and his mother to die.
God calmed Abraham and later Hagar, by telling her Do not be afraid. And
we are told about this other son of Abraham, known to us as Ishmael, upon whom
God also founded a nation, that God was with the boy. The nation
that was founded upon Ishmael, is known today as Islam. As Isaac, son of
Abraham was the brother of Ishmael, son of Abraham, so are we: Jews, Muslims,
and Christians all children of Abraham.
Paul reminds us that in
Baptism we die, to sin that is, and if all goes well with us, we are alive to
God in Jesus. And then Jesus tells the disciples (us, too) to have no fear of
those who disparage him. Yet although the words those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul are indeed fearsome, Jesus reminds us that
even sparrows sold cheaply are valued by God. He echoes God in saying do
not be afraid because we are more valuable than many
sparrows.
THEN, BOOM ~ where did THIS Jesus come from: Not
bringing peace but a sword, setting family against family, households against
one another? Separating us from him if we love others more? We have arrived at
Part 2 of Jesus' teaching on what discipleship actually means. Last week we
were sheep in the midst of wolves and now we learn what can happen when
confronting those wolves, when we pick up His cross and follow Him. He has my
attention ~ he had me at I have not come to bring peace, but a sword...
But then, how different is this from what
we experience in life, especially in these tumultuous times, when we hold
differing opinions with those we love as well as with those we don’t love, but
we should love, so maybe we’re just not fond of? Political and even religious
rhetoric can be fiery and fierce, families and friends stop speaking to one
another. Strangers are yelling at each other in the streets and, of
course, on social media.
The world seems angrier than ever and us
vs them boils over all too often into violence. The difference is that
Jesus stops us in our tracks in this Gospel with his sword, because it begs the
questions to ourselves and each other: What really is our life all
about? How easily ~ like sheep ~ do we bolt headlong into everything except what
our Shepherd wants? He doesn't want us to stop loving each other, but we are to
love Him more than others. The glint of the sword blade is a clear warning that
being steadfast in faith, acknowledging Him above all else ~ family, friends,
job, lifestyle, etc. ~ is fraught with far more than separation anxiety, it can
be dangerous for a mere human. We are not the sword-carriers, we are bearers of
the Word, the Good News. And some days will be easier than others. But this is
not a part-time occupation, a Sunday thing, or a Christmas and Easter duty.
This is what we sign up for when we call ourselves Followers of Christ. It is newness
of life. The pay-off is full-time, eternal life. No easy road but if we
travel together, we can keep the wolves at bay while losing only that which
keeps us from finding our true life. Remember that pray without
ceasing thing? Start NOW and, oh yes: Twice in these readings, to Hagar
and to us: Do not be afraid. God in Christ is with us. At first we live the life
we Find, then by following Christ we Lose that life, yet through Christ we will
FIND the Life Eternal.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord, Good and
Forgiving, You bid us to choose between living now in false comfort or
with division by walking with Christ. Keep us grounded, strong in our
faith, willing to bear the cost in this life for the promise of Jesus in the
next.
O God of Glory
RESPONSE:
Draw us to newness of life
~ O Lord, Good and Forgiving, give us the courage to be
what we expect and demand of political leaders in this World, across our
Country, and in our Local cities and towns. Strengthen us to work in large
and small ways to end quarreling, power plays, and the violence that separate
and kill us here and across this Earth. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
O God of Glory
Draw us to newness of life
~ O Lord, Good and Forgiving, comfort and help all who are
seriously ill, addicted, or homeless, and grant extra blessings for all who
provide support. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your
own petitions
O God of Glory
Draw us to newness of life
~ O Lord, Good and Forgiving, we commend those we love
to the freedom of eternal life, resurrected and alive in Jesus, never to die
again. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
O God of Glory
Draw us to newness of life
~ O Lord, Good and
Forgiving, we pause in this moment to offer You our other
heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your
own petitions
O God of Glory
Draw us to newness of life
~ O Lord, Good and Forgiving, lift the hearts and
souls of those anointed to guide us in Your Church in these wearying times.
Grant unceasing energy as they endeavor to fortify us in our discipleship as we
seek to be worthy of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
O God of Glory
Draw us to newness of life
The Celebrant adds: O Lord, our God, rescue us
from the desert of denial, open our souls to the Spirit, awaken our hearts to
live first and always for Christ, and companion us to walk unafraid in
Your Light and Love. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, our Sin-Bearer; and
the Holy Spirit, our Fount of all Wisdom; who together with You are One God,
now and forever. Amen.
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