I love jigsaw puzzles! They’re just a box of messy pieces ’til I spread them out; and then the corners are identified, and pretty soon the frame develops. There’re two schools of where to go next, both of them valid. Many folks like to assemble an identifiable block: a red barn, a white church-steeple, etc. My Dad always searched for the next piece on the tier in process; and I too like this kind of order. No matter: when the picture is complete, there’s an artistic-almost-holy satisfaction in owning its “done-ness”. Look there! All those pieces came together and made something! This weekend’s scriptures are for those who believe (or want to believe) that they’re on the road to Completeness, by God’s Grace.
People can really get bogged down in Leviticus: is it OK to eat ostrich? When should I consider stoning my children? Yet the multitude of instances named are all to acknowledge God’s Presence in daily living, in our internal integrity and outward relationships. Chapter 19 begins with God addressing Moses, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy…” The People of a Divine Image are expected to be on the way to completeness, being Whole in body, mind & spirit.
Paul’s Letter to the Corinthian congregations reprimands them for their brokenness. He tells them that it’s not Apollos or himself, but Jesus alone who has cast the footprint for the community. Whatever super-structure develops must be compatible with Christian teachings, as the Indwelling Spirit resides in such a temple. Be intentional about your daily church-life, he says, “for all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future–all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” (I Corinthians 1:21-23)
The Gospel is another installation of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:38-48. Jesus is taking ancient authority (“you have heard it said…”) and bringing it to himself within the contemporary society (“but I say to you…”). Pretty radical stuff: turning the other cheek, going the second mile, generosity to all; loving the enemy, praying for your oppressor… These, of course, are undoable without a dose of external Grace. The call here is for the remnant of Israel and the community just beginning to solidify around Jesus to display the patience and wholeness of those who know God. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“Jesus himself is never upset at sinners. He’s only upset with people who don’t think they’re sinners….The moment you become whole and holy is when you can accept your shadow self, or, to put it in moral language, that is when you can admit your sin..” (Richard Rohr, in THINGS HIDDEN) Being Complete is a journey, a sacred process. But we have a valid Guide for the route, whatever the terrain and the detours may be.
God Bless Us, Every One Horace Brown King
My musings on the lectionary scripture to be read in the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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