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.