words 7.29

[a day late - we were at camp]

This Sunday’s lessons -

Psalm 17.1-7, 15  Hear a just cause, O Lord, by the word of thy lips I have avoided the ways of the violent; wondrously show thy steadfast love...

+in vs 1-2 the psalmist stresses God’s faithfulness

+vs 3-5 are the psalmist’s protestation of innocence.  Note the importance of words – the psalmist does not transgress with his/her mouth and by the words of God the psalmist has avoided violence.  

+the key comes in vs 7 – because God is steadfast/faithful, the psalmist can trust God to act.  The psalmist’s faithfulness engages with God’s faithfulness to bring vindication.  It would be good to be able to come to God with a feeling of righteousness.  In a way it’s maybe the ‘original blessing’ vs ‘original sin’ issue.  Do you more often feel faithful/innocent or sinful/faithless?  Does our unfaith hinder God’s faithfulness?

+salvation/vindication will come, but it might not come right away – even the psalmist has to wait for morning (vs 15) or maybe even longer if “morning” is poetic for “after death”?

Gen 32.22-31   Jacob wrestles with “a man” after sending his family and company over the river, before meeting with Esau...

+the context is really interesting.  This is the fourth of five “conflicts” in Jacob’s story -

   Gen 25-27       Gen 28         Gen 39-31         Gen 32         Gen 33-36 

   (Birth/Canan)   (Bethel)         Haran              (Peniel)         (Return/Canan)

     Jacob             God              Jacob                   God               Jacob

     Esau             Jacob             Laban                 Jacob              Easu

so if anything is going to happen to resolve the separation between Jacob and his brother, it has to happen here. (Not much really happened to change Jacob in Gen 28 – Jacob’s ladder.)

+Jacob started off “second brother” and with Laban was “vulnerable son-in-law” – his story has been one of God looking after, or choosing, those who are fighting against the odds.

+names – Jacob (and his descendants) get the name “Israel – one who struggles with God”; and God (assuming that’s who “the man” really was) gets to keep his name a secret!  If you could pick a new name, what would it be? Would you pick it for the sound, or for the meaning, family tradition, or for some other reason?  Think of a friend – if you were going to give them a new name, what would it be?

+Jacob is known as ‘One who Struggles with God’ as opposed to his grandpa, who went off in blind obedience to sacrifice his son.  Do you suppose God learned that blind obedience is not as interesting as conversation/collaboration?  Did God enjoy watching Jacob the Trickster more than Abraham the Faithful?  Is God a Trickster when Jesus’ death brings life?

+so back to the beginning – what does happen to Jacob? 1) he gets this new name, and 2) he gets a physical weakness.  Will that influence how he relates to Esau in the morning?  How do your weaknesses affect the ways your relate to others?  Is a word from weakness an effective evangelical word?

Isaiah 55.1-11    (a few extra verses from the track 2 lesson)

Now me lads and lassies, sure and b’gorah but isn’t it a lovely day?

And isn’t it nice to see you all here - 

sure and it’s a sight that would warm the heart of the blessed Patrick himself.

But perhaps you’re after being thirsty?

Won’t you come and drink water.

Perhaps you’re after being hungry?

Won’t you come and eat the finest bread.

And what – would you be getting out your pocketbook?

No, no, no – there’ll be no charge.

Come lads and lasses, drink wine and milk,

for sure there’ll be no charge.

Why now would you be wasting your money on things that are not food?

Why then would you be working hard all day

for things that don’t satisfy your heart?

Now me lads and lasses

let you listen carefully to my words,

even as your ancestors listened to the blessed Patrick when he walked among us.

And then won’t you be enjoying the best of foods?

Now pay close attention to my words - come to me and live.

Won’t I be promising you that same eternal love and loyalty

that I promised to David, and yes, even to the blessed Patrick?

Didn’t I make him the leader of nations,

wasn’t he my witness to them?

And won’t you be after calling out to nations you have not known,

and nations who have never known you -

won’t you be calling out and they’ll come running;

because I am the Lord, the Holy God of Israel

and I have honored you.

Then turn to the Lord.  For he can still be found.

Call out to God.  He is near.

Won’t you give up your crooked ways,

sneaking around,

thinking evil thoughts?

Won’t you return to the Lord our God

and won’t he be merciful and be forgiving your sins.

Now me lads and lassies, the Lord says this -

For my thoughts and my ways – would they be like yours?

No, they would not.

Just as the heavens are high above the earth,

just as the blessed Patrick, when he was climbing the mountain,

he was higher than you or me,

even so, says the Lord, my thoughts and my ways

wouldn’t they be higher than yours?  Sure and b-gorah.

But now, when the rain and the snow fall from the sky -

would they be returning to me without watering the blessed earth,

the green hills of Ireland?

No, surely they would not.

They would be after making seeds to plant and grain to eat,

oh, the hot bowls of oatmeal,

oh, the Sons of Erin bread.

And aren’t we grateful to the blessed Patrick that there are no snakes in the grass

to bite at our heels when we go to harvest the grain?

And now the words that come from my mouth -

would they be after coming back to me

without first they do all those things I sent them to do?  No, they would not.

Now when you are set free, won’t you be celebrating 

and won’t you be going home in peace?

Ay, it will be such a parade -

The mountains and the hills will pass you by, and won’t they be singing?

And the trees – won’t they be clapping their hands?

Cypress trees and myrtle trees -

won’t they grow up in the fields where now there are only thorns?

Sure and b’gorah -

And won’t those trees be an everlasting witness to the glory of the Lord?

Matthew 14.13-21   Feeding the 5,000

+this comes right after Herod’s birthday dinner that ends up with John the Baptist/Forerunner getting beheaded.  John was in prison, Jesus tries to “go into hiding?” but is somewhat “captured” by the crowd.  Herod lives out a prideful, self-centered vision; Jesus has compassion and heals.  Interesting comparison.

+the disciples begin to take on aspects of Jesus’ ministry – they see the crowd and have compassion.  Jesus challenges the disciples to meet their need.  When they note their limited resources [five loaves and two fish – there is no “little boy” in Matthew’s telling], Jesus instructs them to bring what they have to him.  The story is about the power of Jesus, but the role of the disciples is also significant.  Again, collaboration more than just blind obedience.

+12 baskets gathered up – because there were twelve of them gathering?  or because the twelve would be sent out to share?

+obvious connections with Eucharist/Holy Communion (taking, blessing, breaking, sharing) and with other meals as well. 

A Prayer -

Eternally Faithful God,

how grateful we are for those times when we hae been faithful and feel it;

and how grateful we are that for those times when we have not been faithful,

your inclination is not to just punish, but to wrestle and collaborate,

and finally, forgive.

Help us bring more of what we have and what we are to you -

to accept, bless, break, and share.

And as we gather up what is left, limping a little,

may we find the joy that comes with the morning.

Words 7.27

Words Twice a Week

Liturgical days

July 28 The church remembers JSBach, GFHandel, and HPurcell on July 28. Bach and AVivaldi both died on this day in 1750 and 1741, respectively.  W Paul Jones writes [Bach] was not widely known in his day and largely forgotten after his death. His rediscovery occurred in the nineteenth century, when Felix Mendelssohn became his special advocate.

July 30 The church remembers William Wilburforce  He was a British politician, a leader in the fight to abolish slavery and reform prisons.

August 1 Feast Day of Joseph of Arimathia – the Wikipedea page notes that there is no known location named Arimathia. [I never knew that.] W Paul Jones [again] concludes his paragraph with Joseph placed Jesus in a tomb he had prepared for himself. I find that touching and thought-provoking. It reminds me of St Patrick ‘placing the power and grace of God between himself and the power of darkness.’  Joseph was placing Jesus between himself and the power of death.

Historical -

Buggs Bunny made his debut on July 27, 1940  What's up, Doc?

Vincent Van Gogh died on July 29, 1890. [He had shot himself 2 days earlier.] He sold only one painting during his lifetime. Now he has a whole museum just for himself. He wrote Let us go forward quietly, forever making for the light, and lifting up our hearts in the knowledge that we are as others are (and that others are as we are), and that it is right to love one another in the best possible way – believing all things, hoping for all things, and enduring all things.…And let us not be too troubled by our weaknesses, for even he who has none, has one weakness, namely that he thinks he has none, and anyone who believes himself to be so perfect or wise would do well to become foolish all over again.

Also on July 29, Tolkien published The Fellowship of the Ring. 

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep  

   your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost."

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

JKRowling was born on July 31; Antoine de Saint Euxpery [The Little Prince] died.  Quick now, is it a hat or a snake that swallowed an elephant?

This is part of a prayer by Derek Webber, sent out by Discipleship Ministries as part of their anti racism effort -

We have seen ourselves as a light on a hill, O God of the ages;

  we have believed ourselves to be

  the shining example of all that is good in the world.

But lately our light has been dim,

and our good has been muddied by a hidden hate we try to deny.

  We can’t help but wonder how the world sees us now,

  We who have held a banner for rights and for equality,

  We who have pointed fingers at those who abuse others,

  We who have condemned acts of injustice in other lands,

How shines our light now?

Yet, despite our failings, our brokenness and our sin,

  you still call us, each of us and all of us,

  to be the light of the world.

Help us, now especially;

  help us bring light to a world roiling in the gloom.

  Help us claim the hope that we can be light,

  as a nation, as a church, as followers of the true Light of the World.

Help us find the way into the light. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

And here's another prayer just for this week -

Creative and Creating God -

from Christmas and through all The Four Seasons, 

from the Shire all the way to Mordor,

from Hogwarts to one small planet [B 612],

from Sunflower Afternoons to Starry, Starry Nights,

from Buggs to Porky to Elmer and the rest,

thank you for the many ways your creative Spirit

moves through writers, musicians, painters, artists of all kinds.

Help us open our lives and allow that same Spirit to tame us and guide us 

as we decide what to do with the time that is given us

as we face the issues of our day.

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Words 7.23 addendum

Words Twice a Week  

This is a piece by Frederick Buechner on government - it really should have been part of last Thursday's post with regard to Solomon's prayer and the qualities we look for in our leaders -

IT SEEMS SAFE TO SAY that if you were to take a confidential poll of the private citizens of the nations of the world, all but a handful of firebrands and crazies would come out in favor of peace at pretty much any price. They have their conflicting political systems, ideologies, and holy causes to be sure, but by and large they give the strong impression of asking little more than a chance to raise their children as best they can, keep the wolf from the door, have some fun when they're through working at the end of the day, find some sort of security against old age, and all such as that.

 

Their leaders, on the other hand, are continually delivering ultimatums to each other, plotting to confound each other any way they can manage it, spying on each other, vilifying each other, impugning each other's motives, spending billions on weapons to destroy each other, and all such as that.

 

If at this most basic level, governments don't reflect the dreams of the people they govern or serve their wills, you wonder what on earth governments are. Reading the papers, you get the sense of them as small, irascible groups within each capital—far more of them men than women—who behave in ways that under normal circumstances would land them in the slammer in no time flat. They seem to have a life and purpose of their own quite apart from the lives and purposes of anybody else. They are perpetually locked in desperate struggles with each other that have little if anything to do with the general human struggle to live and let live with as little fuss as possible. It's we ourselves who have given them the power to pull the whole world down on all our heads, and yet we seem virtually powerless to stop them.

 

We need governments to collect taxes, keep the roads in repair, maintain order in the streets and justice in the courts, and so on, but we certainly don't need this. They don't pay us—we pay them—yet they're the ones who call the shots while the rest of us stand by with our knees knocking. Gulliver in all his travels never came across anything to equal it.

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Words 7.23

Words Twice a Week 7.23

Lessons for this Sunday -

Genesis 29:15-28 Jacob and Laban and Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel

It’s just a neat story – Jacob [the Trickster] gets a taste of his own medicine as Laban gets the best of him. Then Rachel was beautiful; Leah [elder daughter] had eyes that didn’t sparkle, or did sparkle, or were weak, or were lovely – we seem to have some trouble translating that verse. I’d like it to be ‘Leah of the lovely eyes’, but maybe not.

Here’s a wonderful and poignant note from Thomas Dozeman – God is essentially absent from the story of the confrontation between Jacob and Laban, but does come into the story if we look ahead to vs31 and what has been lurking under the surface – the fate of Leah. “The primary victim in the confrontation is Leah, a pawn in a trick that was not her choosing, and now she is condemned to a life of hatred. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, God opened her womb.” So Leah has a bunch of sons, and it is years before Rachel has two. God was watching, even if not seemingly involved, and acts finally for the littlest, the least, and the lost.

[alternate first reading] 

1 Kings 3.5-12 In a dream, God says to Solomon "Ask what I should give you." Solomon asks for ‘an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil’. God is pleased that Solomon did not ask something just for himself and gives him the legendary wisdom.

So what are the qualities most critical in a good leader? While the bible accords great wisdom to Solomon, he also heavily taxed and made life hard for the people. When his son Rehoboam continued the heavy-handed approach, it led to revolution. If this is the word of God for the people of God, what do you hear for us today?

Romans 8:26-39 All things work together for good….Who/what will separate us from the love of God?... neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do all things really work together for good, even for those who love God?  I could maybe see it meaning something like even in the worst of times [say, a coronavirus pandemic], there are still moments of goodness here and there.  That's a stretch from All things work for good, but it's what seems real to me.  and then the rest is just a nice, nice word of assurance.

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed;...is like leaven a woman mixes into a lump of dough;…is like a treasure hidden in a field;...is like a pearl of great price;...is like a net full of fish...

‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ – what terminology do you like? I like ‘the Time of God’s Peace’.

Robert Farrar Capon suggests the Kingdom [Time] is already here and growing throughout the Creation – like leaven in a lump of dough. I love it – that makes me a big lump a dough. Yeah, some days I feel like that [though not really very often!] Or am I a little speck of yeast in a world of dough?

‘God longs for God and uses us, rises in us...becomes in us.  Let us be silent, a quiet dough where God moves into every pore…where God lives as God pleases. Let us rise simply, a quiet dough’ – Gunilla Norris

So you are digging the foundation for your new garage, or you are spading up the back yard for a Victory Garden, or you are bringing in the groceries, or you are looking through the jackets at Getz's, or you are knocking back a cool one at the Ore Dock - and all of a sudden, there it is!!!  And you cash in your IRA, you take out a reverse mortgage on your house, you say Adios to family and friends[?], you sell your car - all to acquire 'it.'  Now, what is it? What would you do that for?

And then I really love the disciples here – “Have you understood this?” Jesus asks. “Oh, yah, you betcha!”

God of good times and bad times, of the loved and unloved, you are always there, watching our plans and schemes.  Let the time of your peace grow and come to fruition in our lives and in our world, through us or in spite of us. Grant us wisdom, grant us love, grant us peace.

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Words Twice a Week 7.20-7.26

Words Twice a Week 7.20-7.26

Well, this is harder than I thought – there were and are a lot of significant things about this week! And then figuring out what the Blogger formatting allows -

From the liturgical calendar,

• Wednesday remembers Mary Magdalene,
• Saturday remembers St James(the Greater), the disciple/apostle (not the infirmary!), one of the Sons of Zebedee, and of Thunder,
• Sunday (if it were not a Sunday and a Feast Day of Jesus) would be the Feast Day of Anne and Joachim, his maternal grandparents!

The stories about Mary Magdalene are a little convoluted – but she was a good friend of Jesus, traveled with him, and is said to have witnessed his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Anne and Joachim are somewhat legendary, mentioned only in the Apocrypha. So – a good friend, a disciple, and grandma and grandpa – it’s a nice week.

Mother/Father God, you set the solitary in families and watch closely over those who are alone. Jesus was maybe more alone than anyone else [except maybe Adam before Eve]. We are grateful that he had good friends, co-workers, and grandparents. I’m grateful for my friends, co-workers, and the memories of grandparents.

Geographical -

• Friday 24, 1911 Machu Picchu rediscovered
• Sunday, 26^, 1965 Maldives becomes independent – just in time to sink beneath the waves due to sea level rise!
• Monday 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong walked on the moon
• Tuesday 21, 1983 lowest temperature ever recorded on earth [in Antarctica, where else] -128.6F

Creator God, our Earthworld is continually growing, evolving, changing. Your Creationworld even more so. Each day there are new things to discover and rediscover and explore; each day some things are no more to be seen. Help us enjoy this moment. Help us live so that any change we might engender will lead to the health and beauty of your creation.

Historical

• Monday 20, 1848 The second day [voting day] of the Seneca Falls Conference which led ultimately – 72 years later – to the voting rights for women [well, effectively, white women]
• Saturday 25, 1941 Birthday of Emmett Till
• Sunday 26, 1990 ADA signed into law

Dear God, Parent of all, each child born is such a joy, such a promise, such a hope. We grieve for all those whose lives are limited by laws or cultures or conditions. We grieve for those whose life is cut short by violence or malnutrition or sickness, and for their families. We grieve also for ourselves at the promise and potential lost to our world in these limited lives and premature deaths. Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream; let peace guide the planet, and love steer the stars.

Haiku of the week...Pick something and write a haiku?  Put it in the comments?

  Footprints on the moon

  Machu Picchu found once more

  Maldives soon - no more...

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