Today's Scripture Readings
Genesis 50:15-21 (NRSV)
Psalm 103 (BCP. p.733)
Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)
Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
The life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis was full of ups and downs like all of us. Sold as a slave, yet, he had the ability to interpret dreams. His abilities gave him a unique relationship with Pharaoh, to the point that after Pharaoh's death, Joseph rose to the throne. The conversation between Joseph and his brothers in today's reading is enough for us to believe that reconciliation is possible. All reconciliation needs is the humility to come to terms with what we have done and what we are willing to do to fix it.
Among the things that so many of us who are Caucasian cannot figure out is why African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and so forth are so weary of trust that Americans are really prepared to end racism. Even well passed the time of President Abraham Lincoln when the thirteenth Amendment was passed and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. America continues to hold that white people are superior. The shooting and death of Trayvon Martin and now Michael Brown, along with the various slanderous statements made to and about President Barack Obama, show how racist Americans remain. The many gains of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their equal rights protections are a cause for celebration. Yet, the tragic losses in terms of no actual immigration reform, equal rights for Native Americans who still cannot vote, African Americans and women fly in the face of what we are all about. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers, because they were able to see the error of their ways. If we are to see a better relationship with other races among us, we will have to recognize and seek reconciliation for the many ways in which we continue to deny equal rights to individuals because of their race. Check out this article about 10 ways in which white people can fight racism.
It is very interesting that the reading from Genesis, as well as the other optional reading from Exodus that have a connection to the subject of slavery. It is interesting that these readings are included with the Gospel reading from Matthew. These readings have two themes moving through them. Interwoven within them is life has so many challenges that remain out of our hands. Though we cannot control many of them, we can affect change in and through how we address them. We can choose how much we allow what happens through the ignorance and/or full knowledge of others to affect our interior relationship between ourselves and our God. We can also choose how much we allow what others do or do not do, to make a determination on how we will respond either in this moment or as we move forward.
Tomorrow, the Church will celebrate the transferred feast of The Holy Cross. The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross granted us forgiveness of all our sins. God in God's infinite love and mercy gave all of us the opportunity to be redeemed from all that keeps us from embracing our true vocation of divine daughters and sons. We are also sisters and brothers in Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The parable in Matthew's Gospel reminds us that no matter how grave our sins and faults may be, God in Christ has forgiven us. We are asked to respond with gratitude for that forgiveness, by seeking by the same grace through which we have been forgiven, to forgive others. God is not unsympathetic to the struggles we have in forgiving others who have hurt us so deeply. God is willing by God's mercy to aid us towards an authentic and transparent experience of that amazing grace that helped us to see, when we were blind.
Forgive us, Lord as we forgive. We have heard these words, sung them, and prayed them in the Lord's Prayer. We repeat them, because we are human. Today's Gospel reading tells us that authentic freedom comes because we forgive, and forgive, and forgive again. May we never stop praying those words.
Amen.
Prayers
Genesis 50:15-21 (NRSV)
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?" So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, `Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves." But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Psalm 103 (BCP. p.733)
Romans 14:1-12 (NRSV)
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.
Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)
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 life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis was full of ups and downs like all of us. Sold as a slave, yet, he had the ability to interpret dreams. His abilities gave him a unique relationship with Pharaoh, to the point that after Pharaoh's death, Joseph rose to the throne. The conversation between Joseph and his brothers in today's reading is enough for us to believe that reconciliation is possible. All reconciliation needs is the humility to come to terms with what we have done and what we are willing to do to fix it.
Among the things that so many of us who are Caucasian cannot figure out is why African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and so forth are so weary of trust that Americans are really prepared to end racism. Even well passed the time of President Abraham Lincoln when the thirteenth Amendment was passed and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. America continues to hold that white people are superior. The shooting and death of Trayvon Martin and now Michael Brown, along with the various slanderous statements made to and about President Barack Obama, show how racist Americans remain. The many gains of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people and their equal rights protections are a cause for celebration. Yet, the tragic losses in terms of no actual immigration reform, equal rights for Native Americans who still cannot vote, African Americans and women fly in the face of what we are all about. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers, because they were able to see the error of their ways. If we are to see a better relationship with other races among us, we will have to recognize and seek reconciliation for the many ways in which we continue to deny equal rights to individuals because of their race. Check out this article about 10 ways in which white people can fight racism.
It is very interesting that the reading from Genesis, as well as the other optional reading from Exodus that have a connection to the subject of slavery. It is interesting that these readings are included with the Gospel reading from Matthew. These readings have two themes moving through them. Interwoven within them is life has so many challenges that remain out of our hands. Though we cannot control many of them, we can affect change in and through how we address them. We can choose how much we allow what happens through the ignorance and/or full knowledge of others to affect our interior relationship between ourselves and our God. We can also choose how much we allow what others do or do not do, to make a determination on how we will respond either in this moment or as we move forward.
Tomorrow, the Church will celebrate the transferred feast of The Holy Cross. The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross granted us forgiveness of all our sins. God in God's infinite love and mercy gave all of us the opportunity to be redeemed from all that keeps us from embracing our true vocation of divine daughters and sons. We are also sisters and brothers in Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The parable in Matthew's Gospel reminds us that no matter how grave our sins and faults may be, God in Christ has forgiven us. We are asked to respond with gratitude for that forgiveness, by seeking by the same grace through which we have been forgiven, to forgive others. God is not unsympathetic to the struggles we have in forgiving others who have hurt us so deeply. God is willing by God's mercy to aid us towards an authentic and transparent experience of that amazing grace that helped us to see, when we were blind.
Forgive us, Lord as we forgive. We have heard these words, sung them, and prayed them in the Lord's Prayer. We repeat them, because we are human. Today's Gospel reading tells us that authentic freedom comes because we forgive, and forgive, and forgive again. May we never stop praying those words.
Amen.
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. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted
high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to
himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery
of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and
follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for Holy Cross Day. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 244).
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love
our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth:
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in
your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Our Enemies. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).
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