Scriptural Basis
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, `Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Blog Reflection
The tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 does not quite seem the right Sunday for the reading from Matthew. Yet, that is what the Revised Common Lectionary chose. Not only does that mean a group of people planned on this Gospel to be used today before they knew what date it might fall on, it also means that there is something important that we should think about.
When a horrible tragedy like the attacks on September 11th, 2001 happen and we are consumed by sadness, grief, loss. While we are remembering with gratitude those who gave their lives so others could live. Even while we cry again even after ten years of remembering of maybe trying to forget what happened on that terrible day. The grace of a compassionate God is still speaking, calling and consoling.
In the days and weeks following September 11, 2001 something happened that rarely takes place. People from all walks of life for just while forgot our differences and came together because we recognized that each of us was touched by the other person's sorrow, loss and fear. While one person hurts deeply from things she/he cannot understand, all of us really suffer together.
The first reading for today's Liturgy is the story from Exodus 14: 19-31.
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
A story was written somewhere and I regret I do not know the location, that after the Egyptians were killed by the sea, the angels looked at God and God was crying. When the angels asked God why God was crying, God answered: "The Egyptians are my people too."
Regardless of our race, class, wealth status, health status, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, language etc, we are all created in God's image. God has placed the masterpiece of God's creative beauty as an important part of every human being. Whatever our differences and/or disagreements may be, there is no situation with which God cannot work and perform acts of mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
The human race is so full of violence, disease, torture, death, prejudice and class warfare that we do not stop, think and act with a sense of respect and compassion towards those who are different from ourselves. But on September 11, 2001 and the days and weeks that followed, people from all walks of life overlooked them, and embraced one another.
This afternoon Jason and I attended a ceremony of remembrance for September 11th. It was organized by Minnesotans Standing Together. Individuals from every religious tradition, political position, musical style etc came together to remember our diversity and unity as one people.
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman of Temple Israel in Minneapolis told the story about a Muslim man who had fallen on his back after the first plane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on 9/11/01. He was unable to get up. People walked past him and left him. Until a man who was an Orthodox Jew stopped, offered his hand and helped me get up and walk to safety. Two traditions that had a history of misinformation and misunderstanding were able to put all of it aside so that someone who was hurt could be helped.
As I regularly write about in my blog, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people are human beings like everyone else. Among them are people of faith, and others who prefer to practice no religion at all. Among LGBTQ people are folks who are out and others who are closeted. LGBTQ people are rich, poor, intelligent, simple minded, terrific spouses and others not so good.
Yet even as much of the smoke and debris from September 11, 2001 has dissipated and the memories of individuals of all walks of life lingers in our hearts and minds, there still remains a prejudice and a desire for political, social and religious based oppression. Such oppression flies in the face of the peaceful standing together that Americans of all walks of life shared that day, and in the months after. The sacrifice of those many people looks like we still have not learned the lessons September 11th was about.
What our Gospel challenges us to do, is to face the reality of what we all experience. We all experience grief and hate at the hands and mouths of others. There are people that are just way too cruel, even with the best religious zeal to understand and appreciate who we are. Some people are not happy, unless they are doing all they can to make others as miserable as they are. Each one of us can be one of those people. Others very close to us, could have been one of those who was cruel, miserable etc.
God in God's merciful grace seeks to help us through the pain of our experiences, and find healing, consolation and yes, forgiveness for us and those who hurt us. Some of us are better at it than others. There are those that can let go, but not quite forget. There are those who carry wounds so deep, that they just cannot face seeing themselves on the inside. Yet, they like the rest of us are God's loved children.
Dean Spenser Simrill at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral gave us a good idea today. The lamenting Psalms can help us reach inside ourselves and allow us to lament our loses. When we lament what we have lost, God works with it to help us heal and eventually forgive.. If we try to do it all on our own, we won't heal as we would like to.
The best lesson we can all learn today comes from Paul's letter to the Romans 14: 1-12.
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
- Prayers
O God, because without you we are not able to please you mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 19, Book of Common Prayer, page 233).
Almighty and everlasting God, pillar of fire and cloud to the Israelites, your command is for justice between the nations. Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, your word is forgiveness even upon the Cross. One this day, we remember the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the conflicts that have followed in this last decade. Help us to grieve and remember, to forgive and find peace, to seek justice and courage. In all we do, give us the faith of your servant Paul, to know that we are yours in living and dying. We ask these things, O God, that we and all creation might be reconciled to you. Amen. (Prayer Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11).
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 which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).
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