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Lectionary Notes -14th Sunday after Pentecost
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Readings for
14th Sunday after Pentecost, 8/17/08:
Genesis 45:1-15, Psalm 133, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32,
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Genesis 45:1-15:
- This is a great story of forgiveness. Is it a story of
redemption too? After all, though Joseph is quite moved to see his brothers,
the only word we get about how they feel is "dismayed." OK, he did trick them
over Benjamin and stealing, but they sold him into slavery and said he was
dead! Overall, Joseph's forgiveness seems quite impressive, and it is never
asked for by his brothers.
- Anyway, I think that forgiving those we love the most,
or we had expected the most form, is the hardest kind of forgiveness to give.
But the most needed. What enables you to be ready to forgive, even when those
you must forgive aren't ready to repent?
Psalm 133:
- Short and sweet?! Check out
Chris
Haslam's notes on this Psalm. The image of Aaron's beard dripping with oil
signifies total consecration to God.
- Haslam also notes the connection between this Psalm and
our Genesis text in that verse 1 here declares, "how very good and pleasant it
is when kindred live together in unity."
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32:
- "for the gifts and calling of
God are irrevocable." That is a powerful verse. irrevocable=irreversible,
can't be taken back, or taken away. That means that God does not un-gift us or
un-call us. We are gifted, and we are called. We can wish we were not
connected to God in this way. We can reject our gifts, ignore our call, but we
can't get rid of them.
- "so that [God] may be merciful
to all." Paul's logic here is ... interesting. He suggests that God
'imprisons' us in disobedience so that God can show us mercy. I'm not sure I
agree with Paul on his take of God's motivations. But I like his inclusive
vision of God's mercy - it is for all.
- Paul is interested in showing
God's continued special relationship with Israel (the irrevocable
relationship) at the same time as he wants to convince his Gentile audience
that they can have a special relationship with God too.
Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28:
- What comes out of our mouths and not what goes in that
defiles. We forget this one, even today. We may not follow kosher food laws
today, but we are worried in different ways. Sometimes Christians want to
shelter themselves from the 'evils' of the world, and especially from others
judged unclean, instead of examining themselves for right hearts.
- The second part of this text is one we have a harder
time dealing with. "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to
the dogs," and "he did not answer her at all." - These are hard sentences to
construct in a way flattering to Jesus. I don't have good answers. I don't
want to explain away Jesus' words by trying to translate the Greek
differently. Was Jesus just joking with the woman? I don't see it. What I see
is a woman who is as persistent as the widow Jesus tells a parable about
elsewhere in the gospels, and she receives her reward. And what I see is a
Jesus who is focused on the mission he sees: to the Jews - who lets his own
vision be expanded. The woman shows him a way to spread more grace.
- Even with his resistance, we can be comforted that
Jesus heard her out, despite his apparent skepticism: the disciples wanted to
send her away, but Jesus heard her, and really listened, until he recognized
great faith in one whom he did not expect to find it.
Pastor’s Note: (I use the Greek-English
Lexicon from Liddell and Scott, the “little Liddell”
and the Metzger et. al Greek New Testament in my translation work.)
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