SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2023 | AFTER PENTECOST (Proper 7A)
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Prelim
Prelim
Jeremiah - Lord has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
Romans - We are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus - sin is still around, but will not overcome us anymore…instead, we are freed to rejoice in the Lord and serve the Lord.
Matthew - Matthew can be apocalyptic as well
Good morning,
And Happy almost Pride! I find it important that it is spoken out of the pulpit - as our sign says: our LGBTQIA+ siblings are beloved children of God! Are they sinners like the rest of us? Yes, they are, but not any more for whom they love, live with, and/or are attracted to! Or for just being a different identity than you or me. Scapegoating someone for their identity or otherness has been convenient for the church for far too long - it keeps the rest of the sinners feeling good and it has saved the church the trouble of facing their own problems and biblical challenges. Gays etc., “witches” and indepedent and industrious women in general, divorcees, scientists in conflict with the church doctrine, scholars and reformers challenging the status quo, people of different ethnicities and skin colors in and out of the colonies, …you name it, many of them have found themselves on the wrong end of what the church has considered “divine judgement” - excluded, ousted, condemned, mutilated or killed.
And Jesus predicted that - people will go up against each other, often in my name. However, not always for the right reasons - they search to build their wealthy, privileged, and cozy lives in Jesus’ name, on the expense of the well being of another. They are the one that dished out judgment onto others, but according to Jesus, they are the one that will face His judgement for it. And those needy urgently calling upon Him for deliverance from these evildoers WILL be delivered and find their abundant life in Him.
I personally believe that one is denying God by not spreading God’s love and grace - not being like Jesus who welcomed the stranger, the sinner, the tax collector, and the outcast… And let’s be real, we all do that sometime, because it is hard to be in “wide open” mode all the time. Sometimes even the most welcoming of people need to close those doors and have some quiet time. But as Paul would say: just because grace abounds, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try! Sure, it is not a life or death situation, but to be “alive to God” means a new perspective, one that is much more inclusive, loving, and perhaps scandalous by society’s norms. Being homophobic and xenophobic has been fairly normal behavior in the society at large for a long time , so the church has actually aligned herself with the society. Nowadays, it can be a mixed bag - depending where you go and who you meet. That however makes our witness even more pressing - to affirm those that seek inclusivity and diversity and to send a message to those that fear and perhaps even hate otherness. One way is to be alive to God in Christ Jesus and the other one is to remain dead in sin, rather than TO sin.
Again, nobody’s less human or more of a sinner - we can believe that even people like Pat Robertson with his Islamophobia, anti-ecumenism, homophobia, anti-feminism etc. will meet a merciful and loving God after they die, not a wrathful and angry one. To believe otherwise would be rather paradoxical and deceiving - believing all will be just dandy here on earth and then bam, here comes judgement for the naughty ones! I believe that no matter what we do in this life and what we believe, we will meet God that is understanding and loving after our earthly journey concludes.
There are many forces that try to divide us - economical, ethnical, political, ideological… but Jesus brings a division that truly matters - Will we stand up for what is right in God’s eyes after we get to know it through study and the Holy Spirit or do we remain indifferent towards it even though our conscience and guts compel us otherwise? The first one may not be an easy road to walk, it is one that is often less traveled and you may meet with resistance as if you were a fish going against the stream. It is no surprise that many do not choose it - it can be overwhelming to be honest about ourselves and the world that all is not dandy and there is so much to keep working on…it is not just about a constant progress and more of the same.
It is interesting to watch how the Wagner Military Group is turning against their employer Putin - it is really hard to find anyone to root for in that situation as both sides are responsible for so much violence, destruction, and death in Ukraine and beyond, but as Eric Law believes - truth is often revealed when the power in the situation shifts. When farmers take to the street to protest their mistreatment by government, when marginalized groups share openly about the violence and oppression they experience by the dominant culture, when women revolt against patriarchy that wants to keep them powerless and controllable, when a mercenary group turns against their employer that keeps himself warm and safe in a palace…or when slaves are being led out of Egyptian bondage....Then we should pay attention for the truth being revealed about the world and the people in it, including us. Beloveds, just a few days before the day of Pride, let us take to heart
the affirmation that not all division and conflict is bad - sometimes it is necessary for goodness and mercy to prevail. Martin Luther once said: “it is better to be divided for the sake of the truth than to be united in a lie. Don’t get me wrong, Means ARE NOT pardoned by the desired outcome for the consequences of our actions remain, but we are all judged by God that is understanding and loving, not one that is quick to judge and punish. Let us not focus on who is a bigger sinner, but rather how to make sure that God’s goodness and mercy prevails over violence, exclusion, and hate. It may be impossible for us alone to do, but it is, I trust, more than possible with God’s help and guidance. Amen.