Exodus 17:1-7 ; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 Ordinary 26A; Proper 21 Who do we follow? Whose authority holds sway over us? While initially the parable Jesus tells in response to the questioning of the religious leaders seems steeped in works righteousness regarding as it does which son does the father’s will, the main point is one of authority. Whose instructions do we obey? In our Old Testament reading for this week, Moses faces a crisis of leadership: those he is entrusted to lead not only grouse and complain, they appear to be on the cusp of violence. Moses pleads with God for help because the people “are almost ready to stone me.” The Philippians text encourages Christians to emulate Jesus’ leadership, the one whose power was made evident in humility and self-emptying. To whom do we listen? Whose guidance do we heed? Who do we refuse to follow? How do we exercise leadership when it is entrusted to us? More to the point for us: Does Jesus have authority over … [Read more...]

Exodus 16:2-15; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16 Ordinary 25A; Proper 20 Grumbling in the face of grace. So often that is our human response to God’s generosity. The Israelites grumble, telling Moses they would be better off back in Egypt given the state of their current circumstances in the wilderness. The workers in the vineyard grumble when those who came to work later get paid the same amount as those who started their labor early in day. (No matter that a wage had been agreed upon from the outset.) The phrase that jumps out from the parable appointed for this week is: “They thought they would receive more.” Those first laborers, seeing that the last received the amount the master had agreed to pay them, thought they would receive more. Why wouldn’t they? If those who only worked a few hours got a denarius, surely those who worked double, triple, quadruple that amount of time would get paid more. It is, after all, only fair, right? Would we not expect this to be … [Read more...]

Exodus 14:19-31; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35 Ordinary 24A; Proper 19 The early Christians quarreled over opinions. The members of the church in Rome judged each other, disagreed and failed to fulfill all those marks of Christian community spelled out in Romans 12. Peter quizzes Jesus on the limits of forgiveness within the Body of Christ. What is required? Seven times? That sounds generous, right? Disciples of Jesus struggle, perennially, with how to get along and demonstrate the love and mercy of the One we follow. Is this a relief or a disappointment to us? Perhaps it is simply a reality each generation of Christians must confess and address. While we know we are united in, with and through Christ, demonstrating our oneness takes work and we will inevitably fail and need to ask God’s for help. Living in community requires commitment, humility, patience, every fruit of the Spirit and Christ’s constant prayer — perhaps especially now, when we are stretched, stressed … [Read more...]

Exodus 12:1-14; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20 Ordinary 14A; Proper 18 The institution of Passover. Admonitions regarding love of neighbor. Instructions for conflict resolution among Christians. What do this week’s lectionary readings have in common? The communal nature of all three texts stands out — especially during this time when all of us are impacted by the pandemic, many of us are reeling in the wake of natural disasters and our entire country must wrestle with past and ongoing racial injustice. God put us together and expects that we steward that community, nurture those relationships and understand that our fate is tied that of others. We learn in Exodus that Moses is to tell the whole congregation of Israel that this is a group undertaking. Further, if one household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to join with their closest neighbor; no one will be left out of this ritual. Provisions are made for everyone to participate in God’s plan for their escape. … [Read more...]

Exodus 3:1-15; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Ordinary 13A; Proper 17 Moses talks to God via a burning bush. Peter confronts the Messiah face to face. Two heavenly and human encounters via very different modes. In between Exodus and Matthew are some detailed instructions on how to live a Christian life. A thread woven throughout these texts is the reality that hearing the Word of the Lord requires a response that entails our entire ways of living and being. I noticed while reading the Exodus story this year that Moses did not get God’s visitation until after trudging with the flock through the wilderness and up the mountain. Somehow the idea of shepherding a flock through such an arduous journey resonates right now. There would have been many days of silent shrubs before the enflamed-but-not-consumed bush got Moses’ attention. Nonetheless, he led the flock. Regardless, he cared for the sheep entrusted to him. Faithful leadership requires steadfastness in the midst of … [Read more...]

Exodus 1:8-2:10; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 Ordinary 21A; Proper 16 Are we not always learning, really, who Jesus is? Who we are? As circumstances change and we change over time, our understanding of who God is and who we are as a result morphs and transforms. The church reformed, always reforming, right? God is doing a new thing, do we not perceive it? We are made new creations in Christ, we pray. Jesus’ question to the disciples resounds through the ages to us: Who do people say that I am? How am I depicted in culture? Used as a means to justify human goals? Manipulated by believers and non-believers alike? Who do you say that I am? Who we say Jesus is has implications for how we see ourselves and others. Our belief in who Jesus is shapes the way we live. But can we ever know fully who Jesus is? In Matthew’s version of this exchange, not only does Peter name correctly who Jesus is (the Christ, the Son of the living God), Jesus then tells Peter who he truly is … [Read more...]