These are
not-so-easy readings this week with uncomfortable choices between blessings
and curses. Deuteronomy, [doo-ter-AH-nah-mee] is not merely a “practical cat” named by poet T.S. Eliot. It is a
series of sermons by Moses to the Hebrews as they have a first view of the
entry to the Promised Land. He speaks to the new generations of those who left
Egypt 40 years earlier. The word “deuteronomy” is from the Greek, meaning
“second law.” In this use, Moses is recounting the original laws of God, the
Commandments, that God gave to him at Sinai. The book also relays some of the
history of the mighty acts of God on behalf of the ancestors to this group who
never lived in Egypt or experienced the Exodus. We are only given a taste of
this final book of the Pentateuch [pen-teh-too-k], the name also from the Greek, meaning “5 books.” These first five
books of the Bible were traditionally ascribed to the hand of Moses himself,
but later and current scholarship hold it to be from the ancient texts that
compile the Jewish Torah. Moses, in this piece, is stressing
that the importance of obeying God’s Commandments as the way to authentic life and
that turning away is to perish. The psalmist echoes his words by
telling us that the wicked…are like chaff which the wind blows away.
Paul is writing to
Philemon [pick one: fuh-LEE-muhn,
FILL-uh-muhn, fye-LEE-muhn] in what is quite an amazing little letter in only 25 verses. There
are far more paragraphs written about it than there are in it and it has a very
interesting back-story that leaves so many unanswered questions ~ for one, is
Onesimus [oh-NESS-ih-mus] a runaway slave? We won't ever know the fine details of the life of
Onesimus, but Paul ~ following the law and culture of the land and its time ~
reminds us even now, regardless of this or any other man's, woman's, or child's
status, he, she, they are to be welcomed as a beloved brother or
sister. Nothing is more true, necessary, or timely in this day and time
than this! Paul tells Philemon that when we understand all the good that comes
from sharing our faith, we will become even more effective.
And
then there's the discomforting passage in Luke’s Gospel, admonishing those of
us who would travel with Jesus, to hate family and even life itself and give up
all possessions or we cannot become disciples. But in pondering and reading all
the words such as Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus [Luke 14:25a] it occurs to me that maybe he was tiring of the party groupies who
were merely enjoying hanging out with him as a celebrity and not quite
understanding the full importance of his teaching. This certainly would have
gotten their attention, it does mine! Perhaps that was the point. He goes on
with the analogy of building a tower ~ reasonable for us to consider now ~ who
wouldn't begin a building project by estimating the cost? As for warring kings,
there are other parallels for us to envision such as the long-term costs and
implications of political policies and pronouncements that help or hinder the
lives of God's people and Creation itself.
The Israelites knew, or at least learned, about following God, and
we know that traveling with Jesus isn't all just loaves and fishes. It IS a
hard road but who of us are able to imagine the cost of giving up our families
and all of our possessions? We aren't told that we MUST do that, only that we
MUST IF they or that stand in the way of our faith and our work as
disciples; in other words, the taking up of the Cross. Last week Paul told us
to be content with what we have and in Luke, Jesus was telling us how not to
exalt ourselves. I think this is much the same in this week. A recurring theme
of Scripture is not getting caught up in earthly delights or gathering wealth
or possessions but rather to focus on the goal of everlasting life in Christ.
Missteps, loving community, disagreements, estrangements, reconciliations are
all along the way and we can use them wisely as tools for climbing out or
digging deeper. This isn't just a hobby for groupies to follow when convenient,
although sometimes looking curiously is the start of finding something much
bigger and deeper. This is a Life-calling and there is a price. Some days we'll
feel blessings and other days will seem like curses. We'll have many wrong
turns and unholy moments, but, if our intent is true and we keep turning back
to Christ, we will be made whole and sanctified when we arrive at our ultimate
destination. We are called to a life that continues to build on Christ as our
One Foundation, not merely counting the cost of constructing a tower to enjoy
the view. We’re seeking the full price of admission to Forever.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God, Almighty and Boundless,
grant us the grace, the peace, and the courage, to accept discipleship of the
cross of Christ throughout our length of days, however steep the price or the
path.
O Lord our
God
RESPONSE: Refresh our hearts in Christ
~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, guide the hearts of all who
build the towers of governments to step away from the costs of wicked counsel
and choose the life-prospering benefits of justice, mercy, and peace. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord our God
Refresh our hearts in Christ
~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, send comfort and healing to all
who are ill, feel hopeless, or are addicted, and replenish the energy of those
who give support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in
need… add your own petitions
O Lord our God
Refresh our hearts in Christ
~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, let grieving hearts be lifted,
for those from whom we are now separated will be back with us forever, in Your
glorious and eternal Land. We pray especially for… add your own
petitions
O Lord our God
Refresh
our hearts in Christ
~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
O Lord our God
Refresh our hearts in Christ
~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, we give You thanks for all who
have dedicated their lives as true disciples of Jesus, who teach us to count
the blessings more than the cost, to grow and live in faith. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O Lord our God
Refresh
our hearts in Christ
The Celebrant adds: O God of Blessings and Curses,
You offer us a choice for life through the blessing of carrying of Christ’s Cross
as His willing prisoners of and for love, or the curse of throwing our souls
like chaff into the winds of the wicked. Turn us toward You, in the time we
each have, to stand upright in Your Knowing Presence sharing our faith with
joy. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Source
of Wisdom; who together with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.
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