September 2019 – Page 4

Matthew 15:1-20: The Tradition of the Elders

Matthew 15:1-20: The Tradition of the Elders

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Written on April 24, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.

I wish I had more time to sit with this today. Since I do not, I promise myself that this evening, when dinner is done and the papers graded, I will turn back to this before falling asleep. I love when Jesus has to explain things to his disciples. It makes me feel less silly! When the people who lived, and walked, and worked and played with Jesus get things wrong, I do not feel so bad when I do as well.

Footnotes from the NAB tell us this dispute about the washing of hands before eating was more than a struggle about the rules. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of these elders who pledge to take care of their own parents but who do not. They accuse others of being slackers when they themselves truly are. Jesus escalates things a bit as he poses new thinking about the Mosaic Law concerning clean and unclean things. He, as the New Law, embodies God’s Word to us, incarnates the Law of Love for us.

At this time of year we are always reading from Acts of the Apostles – and I love this – because we see the young church struggling to form itself as the bride struggles to ready herself for union with the groom. And today’s reading is chapter 15 verses 7 to 21. It dovetails nicely with the challenge we reflect on in Matthew 15. When newness happens, it will be accompanied by conflict. This is not a bad thing.

I am looking at the morning intercessions in MAGNIFICAT.

To you we turn! Hear us!

You are our stronghold in time of trouble: grant us the wisdom and the courage to place out trust in you. To you we turn! Hear us!

You are our defender against all evil: teach us always to call upon you in prayer. To you we turn! Hear us!

You have delivered your people from death by the power of the cross: strengthen us to bear one another’s burdens in love. To you we turn! Hear us!

Amen.

Image from: http://heartofflesh.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/mans-religion/

Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 4.24 (2008). Print.

September 3, 2019

Acts 15:7-21, hypocrisy, New Law

Revelation 4: Heavenly Worship

Revelation 4: Heavenly Worship

Monday, September 2, 2019

Written on August 2, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.

Footnotes tell us that much of this imagery can also be found in Ezekiel, where God is seen as surrounded by worshiping figures. All of these creatures and people are symbolic; and good footnotes or a good commentary are helpful when sorting and understanding all of these ideas. What makes so much sense to me is the idea that it is right and good to live a life in constant praise of God. I like this thought. It brings me comfort to know that the angels, saints and all creatures celebrate God in heaven just as we do here on earth. I think that being in God’s presence necessitates a willingness to worship, to praise, to thank and to petition. What will we do in heaven if we have not practiced coming together to be near to God? How can we expect to understand any heavenly rite if we do not accustom ourselves to ritual here on earth? Why would we think that we might get along with lambs who frolic among lions . . . if we cannot live in harmony here on earth?

We have many earthly opportunities to demonstrate our willingness to be humble, to build bridges between ourselves and our enemies, to be peacemakers. Where do expect to stand when we arrive at the heavenly throne room? How do we expect to know how to behave? Why do we expect that in another place we will suddenly be able to love . . . when we have not learned to do so here?

We have this idea so often that God is in his heaven while we are in the world. We have forgotten the lesson of this story . . . that the kingdom is now, the kingdom is here. We are every waking and sleeping moment in God’s presence . . . and how do we behave?

Today we might begin anew with our lessons for Heavenly Worship. We might begin anew in our lessons of Love and Unity.

Image from: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com/2012/06/gods-institutes-of-praise-prayer-and.html

September 2, 2019

bridge building, Ezekiel, humility, love, unity

Mark 9:24: Belief and Unbelief

Mark 9:24: Belief and Unbelief

September 1, 2019

This summer I participated with a group of women who explored their ideas about the enormity of God’s generosity. In a culminating session, we shared our thoughts on faith.

What do I believe? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth . . .

As a child, I struggled to understand why Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart when he changed the ruler’s mind about letting Moses’ people go (Exodus 8:15). I still spend time as an adult remembering this story and I always end with the same two thoughts. 1) Life is a mystery, and 2) ancient and modern times consistently remind us that we are not in charge.

When suffering happens, we remember that God turns all harm to good. We remember the story of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, and we open our hearts to the Spirit. We forgive those who transgress against us and remember that . . . life is a mystery and we are not in charge.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered, died and was buried . . .

In Mark 9:24, a man whose son likely suffers from epilepsy encounters Jesus and asks for a cure for his child. When Jesus asks if he believes the boy will be healed, the father cries out “I believe; help my unbelief!” When we read another translation of this same verse, we hear again the boy’s father, “I believe. Help me with my doubts!” The world around us asks us to doubt much of what we hear with our own ears and much of what we see with our own eyes. We, like the boy’s father, might call to the Christ, “I do trust — help my lack of trust!” Or we might admit our human limits: “I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!”

Jesus is counter-cultural and lives on the edges of society and we can see that when we follow Christ’s example, we may find ourselves in opposition to family, colleagues and friends. Our beliefs will surely be shaken. Our unbeliefs may grow. As we discover the complexities of our world, we understand that dual thinking will not serve us and so we learn that we will have to find a way to live with our beliefs and unbeliefs in constant competition with one another. And we will ask ourselves, what carries us forward? What halts our journey? What do we believe and how intensely do we believe it?

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting . . .

The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit brings us comfort and joy when we need them most. The Spirit heals all wounds, and as we pass along the stories of these healings, we rejoice in God’s care and love, we celebrate Jesus’ presence and mercy in each moment of our lives. We encourage one another to show compassion to all, especially our enemies. We remind one another to keep hold of the gift of faith that God so generously bestows on us. And we collectively remember . . . Life is a great and wondrous mystery. We are not in charge and this is good. We believe in God the creator, Jesus the redeemer and their Holy Spirit the healer. This is what we hold in hope and faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us: (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.

In faith, we believe. In hope, we forgive, and in love we are healed and live again. This is what I believe.

Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/3RRqtXN6H9QxAc1q6

September 1, 2019

Hebrews 11:1, Mark 9:24

Month: September 2019

Matthew 15:1-20: The Tradition of the Elders

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Revelation 4: Heavenly Worship

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Mark 9:24: Belief and Unbelief

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