Musings for the 9th Sunday of Pentecost

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Lectionary 17
Proper 12
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Persistence in prayer evoked the admiration of Jesus and wins the attention of the Lord when Abraham intercedes for Sodom. The life of the baptized—to be rooted and built up in Christ Jesus the Lord—is to be rooted in prayer. God hears and answers prayer and so strengthens God’s own. "When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me."

James, Apostle
James and his brother John were the sons of Zebedee, fishermen by trade before their call from Jesus. He was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, and his death is the only one recorded in scripture (Acts 12:1-2).

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Almighty and ever-living God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray,
and you gladly give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us your abundant mercy. Forgive us those things that weigh on our conscience, and give us those good things that come only through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Genesis 18:20–32

In today's reading, Abraham undertakes the role of a mediator between God and sinful humanity. Appealing to God's justice, Abraham boldly asks for mercy for the city of Sodom, for the sake of the few righteous people who are in it, including Abraham's nephew, Lot.

²⁰Then the LORD said, "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! ²¹I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know." ²²So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. ²³Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" ²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? ²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" ²⁶And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake." ²⁷Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the LORD, I who am but dust and ashes. ²⁸Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." ²⁹Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." ³⁰Then he said, "Oh do not let the LORD be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." ³¹He said, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the LORD. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." ³²Then he said, "Oh do not let the LORD be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 138

Your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands. (Ps. 138:8)

¹I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with ^| my whole heart;

before the gods I will ^| sing your praise.

²I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast ^| love and faithfulness;

for you have glorified your name and your word a- ^| bove all things.

³When I called, you ^| answered me;

you increased my ^| strength within me.

⁴All the rulers of the earth will praise ^| you, O LORD,

when they have heard the words ^| of your mouth.

⁵They will sing of the ways ^| of the LORD,

that great is the glory ^| of the LORD.

⁶The LORD is high, yet cares ^| for the lowly,

perceiving the haughty ^| from afar.

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you ^| keep me safe;

you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right ^| hand shall save me.

⁸You will make good your pur- ^| pose for me;

O LORD, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works ^| of your hands.

Second Reading

Colossians 2:6–15 [16–19]

Paul warns his congregation in Colossae about "the empty lure" of philosophies and traditions that compromise faith. Through the gift of faith, the church is mystically connected with Christ in his death and resurrection, which is enacted in baptism.

⁶As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. ⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. ¹¹In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; ¹²when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, ¹⁴erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. ¹⁶Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. ¹⁷These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, ¹⁹and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

Gospel

Luke 11:1–13

In teaching his disciples this prayer, Jesus also reminds them to focus on God's coming reign, God's mercy, and the strengthening of the community. Jesus encourages his disciples to child-like trust and persistence in prayer.

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." ²He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
³Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
⁵And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' ⁷And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
⁹So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Reflection

50, 45, 40, 30 20, 10. It sounds like a countdown and at one very real level it is just that. Abraham is pushing God on how far God will go to save the righteous. It is a story riddled with persistence and a pushing of God to test the limits of God’s righteousness and patience.

I was pretty good at that as a child, pushing the limits of my parents’ patience. I could be as persistent as the next three or five or twelve or seventeen year old, in fact, I’m still pretty good at it today although I am learning to let go with greater frequency.

Persistence in prayer or conversation with God is essential to our relationship. Sometimes we get what we ask for, sometimes it seems we never see an answer. A poster in a New York subway station once said “God answers prayer”. Someone scrawled underneath it, “Sometimes the answer is no.”

Sometimes the answer is no, but at all times the posture is persistence. Pray without ceasing it says in scriptures. A tag line for our synod is ‘Pray First’

Let us pray.

Let us pray

For those who mourn the death of a friend or loved one

That life might be restored to the gulf coast area

For an end to partisan politics that seek only to divide

For generous hearts and lives

To be open to the Spirit’s direction

Quote on Persistence and Perseverance

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. ~Josh Billings

Musings for 7th Sunday of Pentecost

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Lectionary 15

Proper 10

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

MIDWEEK MUSINGS

Reflection by Ann Patterson

INTRODUCTION

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind is to reflect God’s mercy in responding to one’s neighbor. That mercy found its most profound expression in the "gospel that has come to you"—namely the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That gospel mercy comes to us again today: at the font, at the altar, and from the pulpit. It is very near to you.

Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, died around 540

Benedict is known as the father of the Western monastic movement. Educated in Rome, he went to live as a hermit, and eventually gathered a community of monks around him. He wrote a rule for living in monasteries that is used by Benedictines and adapted by others.

First Reading Deuteronomy 30:9–1

Moses calls the people who are about to enter the promised land to renew the covenant God made with their ancestors. Through this covenant God gives life and asks for obedience. God's commandment is neither burdensome nor too far off, but dwells in the people's own hearts.

9and the LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, 10when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 13Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" 14No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

Psalm 25:1–10

To you, O LORD,

I lift up my soul.

My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Let none who look to you be put to shame;

rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.

Show me your | ways, O LORD,

and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.

Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love,

for they are from everlasting.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;

remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.

You are gracious and upright, O LORD;

therefore you teach sinners in your way.

You lead the lowly in justice

and teach the lowly your way.

All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness

to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.

Second Reading Colossians 1:1–14

The letter to the Colossians was written to warn its readers of various false teachings. The first part of the letter is an expression of thanks for the faith, hope, and love that mark this community, including a prayer for strength and courage from Paul.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Gospel Luke 10:25–37

Jesus is challenged to explain what is involved in obeying the greatest commandment. Jesus tells a parable rich in surprises: those expected to show pity display hard hearts while the lowly give and receive unexpected and lavish mercy.

25Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Reflection

In this week’s gospel, a lawyer confronted Jesus with the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus threw the question back, inviting the lawyer to state his understanding of the law’s requirements. The dialogue continued and ultimately morphed into a clash between two different notions of what it means to be the people of God. “Who is my neighbor?” asked the lawyer. Jesus responded with a parable.

A man, probably a Jew, traveling the desert road between Jerusalem and Jericho was attacked by robbers, beaten, and left for dead. First a priest and then a Levite saw the man and ignored him. Despite decades of hatred between Samaritans and Jews, a Samaritan who later passed by put this history of animosity aside. He bandaged the man’s wounds, took him to an inn, and paid his bill in advance.

The lawyer may have found this shocking. After all, Jews and Samaritans didn’t mix. It’s probable that he believed in a God who belonged to Israel alone. He likely regarded only fellow Jews as his neighbors. What changed the world forever was Jesus’ certainty that the God of Israel extended his love to the entire world. As his followers, we cannot do less.

QUOTE

Each one of them is Jesus in disguise - Mother Teresa

Let us pray for the courage to show compassion for

• Those on the margins: the disabled, the poor, and the lost

• Those who live with pain

• Those whose lives are diminished by bigotry and injustice