Musings for Pentecost 18

September 26, 2010

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Joshua Brown

Facing the Truth

Why is it so hard to live simply and make life easier than it is? We face daily a complex world of our own making. We feel pushed and pulled by forces beyond our control. And when things feel

like they are out of our control, we often feel afraid. We become like the disciples in

the boat with Jesus. We are afraid that we are perishing, tossed about by the “wind and

the waves” in our lives.

Prayer of the Day

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son. Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred that infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and, through our struggle and confusion, work to accomplish your purposes on earth; so that, in your good time, every people and nation may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Lessons

Micah 6:6-8

⁶"With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
⁷Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 51:10-12

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

⁶Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; ⁷for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; ⁸but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. ⁹But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Mark 4:37-41

³⁷A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" ⁴¹And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Reflection

From the prophet Micah’s text two passages have become well known and beloved. Chapter four’s promise of peace and security as God’s arbitration causes nations to “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” and this passage from the sixth chapter that challenges the nation of Israel to meet God’s requirements.

In chapter 6 Micah has brought a lawsuit against the people of Israel on behalf of God. He calls on the no less than the mountains and foundations of the earth to serve as witnesses as he presents the case. The people of Israel have turned from God and God demands to know why they no longer remember the promises God has fulfilled.

This sets the scene for this passage beginning at verse 6. As many good lawyers and debaters do, Micah turns to hyperbolic rhetorical questions to make his point. Will it please the Lord if you offer a deluge of earthly riches? Would this God accept the sacrifice of that which you most value, say your children, as an atoning offering for your sins?

Of course we know that the answer to either question is no. Additionally, we know God radically changed the equation through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. God gave God’s first born son for our transgressions, the fruit of God’s body for the sins of our souls.

We cannot gain salvation through the sacrifice of earthly things to God. God has already sacrificed his beloved son Jesus Christ for our sins, a price beyond repayment. Yet we have no burden of indebtedness to God only an invitation to walk with the Lord. Because the humbling knowledge of God’s promise fulfilled overflows in our hearts we choose kindness and seek justice. We offer our earthly lives and worldly possessions not to win our own salvation but to reflect God’s abundant love for us with as much fullness and brightness as we can muster.

Prayer Concerns

• For our people and our world – Help us to release the burdening chains of consumption that threaten our physical and spiritual environments.
• For new Mothers and Fathers – As they welcome a new child may they experience a glimmer of the love God has for us
• For those who work for peace – Guide the hearts and minds of those working for a lasting peace in the Middle East
• For those who seek justice – Illumine the path to true justice for all those who serve in this nations courts

Quote

“We must bear in mind, that as soon as God condescends to enter into trial with men, the cause is decided; for it is no doubtful contention.” – John Calvin