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My alter ego, Ecaroh Gnik, believes that every person has his/her price.  I’d like to dismiss this as typical cynicism, but it sometimes does seem that even the most altruistic among us can yield integrity to a bauble dujour.  Certainly our path of discernment as we ponder any new project includes the question which marks us as human, “What’s in it for me?”  Which Future should we bank on?  Why behave responsibly when there’s so much fun to be had?  Why waste precious commodities on someone else?  Lessons read during worship this weekend will acknowledge these life-questions.

Just as everything is going OK, in walks Jeremiah.  Hananiah, one of the Temple Prophets, had told the crowd that God would restore the exiles and the sacred vessels from Babylon (Jeremiah 28:5-9).  But is this idle dreaming, or has God really promised this?  “…when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”  Trace Haythorn comments, “…such moments compel us to invite God into our discernment, to listen more deeply than we have ever listened before, to pray that we may get far enough out of the way that God’s will may find its way in.” (FEASTING on the WORD, A 3:174)

Paul’s address to the Christians at Rome speaks to the “Who’s On First?” question (6:12-23).  His logic is perhaps too simple, for he describes the Human Person as either in or out of God’s camp.  This binary formula has caused despair in many, and a few (?) have given up integrity as too saintly to realize.  Yet Paul continues to tell of those who like himself have been dragged into the Kingdom by a persistent God. “But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification [being made righteous].  The end [of this long journey] is eternal life.” (v.22)  That’s what’s in it for me…

“What’s a Reward?” is a question we may well ask Matthew.  The Gospel (10:40-42) mentions “a prophet’s reward”, “the reward of the righteous”, “and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple–truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”  In the old Westerns, a reward was sort of a bribe offered to someone who would rat on Black Bart or Nasty Canasta.  In the daily paper, a reward is offered to someone who could shed light on the whereabouts of a missing pet.  Jesus’ words here are pretty misty:  in Greek, they seem to indicate “just wages/recompense/just desserts”.  Should I offer cool refreshment to a believer?  What’s in it for me?

So what’s the incentive?  Will I have an advantage over my fellow-travelers?  Will there be stars in my crown?  Better News is that Doing Right FEELS good, and somehow ties us together with others in the lifeboat.  Is that the reward?  Being part of a holy mission, knowing that Creation is a bit better because I followed through?

God Bless Us, Every One                        Horace Brown King

My ponderings on assigned lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

There’s a growing perception that the Church is “losing” members because too much is being asked.  One solution, as proposed by some mega-churches, is to dumb-down expectations and faith–directions.  “Everybody come, we’re here to have fun, doesn’t matter what you believe (if anything).”  Doesn’t work for me.  I’m heartily in favor of leaner congregations, united in common ministry and mission, validated by knowing what  they stand for.  This weekend’s readings remind us that discipleship isn’t for wimps.

One definition of the Prophetic role is to speak FOR God AGAINST idols.  (An idol is a rival “god” which dilutes worship of the True God.)  Jeremiah speaks of his weariness and burn-out as he contends with a steady stream of popular and patriotic idols:  “O Lord, you have seduced me, you have wrestled me to the ground and pinned me there…whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction’.”
(20:7-8)  And I’m sick of being the sole voice in a corrupt society.  Yet when I remain silent, a fire rages…”the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail.” (vv.7-12)  “Prophets go after everyone indiscriminately…[and] turn on us…they lay our lives bare, down to the bone, marrow & soul.  They break through our well-planned worlds to say that we are the problem.”  (Megan McKenna, PROPHETS: WORDS OF FIRE)  “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.”

Psalm 69:7 ff carries this even further.

Paul, writing to the Roman churches,  has some back-door Good News: “The death [Jesus] died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (6:10-11)  So, then, once we’ve admitted that we live in God and that God lives in us, there’s no going back?  Not even for a Summer holiday?  Every once in a while I’ve tried to vacation from Discipleship–and a persistent God tells me to “rest, enjoy, but stay close ’cause I’ll be expecting to speak through you again shortly”.

Matthew’s Gospel remembers a whole lot of Jesus’ teachings, many of which are scary in their intensity.  (10:24-39)  My paranoia really clings to v.26: “nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.”  And it gets worse:  he brings a sword, not peace, and will set family members against one another.  (My disappointment for the week is a White Supremacy/anti-immigrant email forwarded by a dear friend.  Do I tell her she’s a bigot?)  AND, “whoever does not take up my/the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”  Not much wiggle-room here, God…

I’ve often mentioned the statue which is on the campus of the University of Scranton.  Two figures interlocked represent Jacob wrestling with the Angel.  It’s hard to see which is which.  Only at dawn after the dark night of struggle does holiness win, the story says.  Personally, my entire life has been driven by this sort of struggle: how much shall I give to God, and how much am I allowed to keep for myself??  “An idol mind is the devil’s playground.”  God has given no alternative…

God Bless Us, Every One                        Horace Brown King

My wrestling with Scripture for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

My physician once told me that he’d practiced medicine for 30 years; I asked him when he was gonna stop practicing!  God-followers are expected to keep on practicing mercy and compassion, worship and spiritual growth.  It’s difficult to weave together the lections for this weekend–if there is a thread, it’s a reminder of unwarranted grace and a direction to respond to this through public concern.

We begin with an old tale of the newly-released Hebrews encamped in the wilderness near Mt. Sinai (Exodus19:2-8a).   Yahweh, through Moses, reminds Israel of their “eagles’ wings” salvation from the Egyptians–and promises that if they remain loyal to the Covenant, they “shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation”. (v.6)  As all through scripture, Yahweh shows an initiating relationship, despite the Peoples’ faltering faith.  There’s also an expectation that, once touched, the People will adhere to the unfolding covenant.

“Therefore”, says St. Paul, “since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand…” (Romans 5:1-2a)   The result of our faith is Peace with God, whether as refugees in the wilderness or as comfortable middle-class folks with more money than sense!   Paul continues to list the results of our predictable  “sufferings” as we attempt to live in grace: endurance, character, hope…  Hearers of these words will be comforted and strengthened, confident of God’s Peace despite the frustration of daily life in a coarse and profane culture.

Matthew remembers how Jesus “went about all the cities and villages,teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.” (9:35)  Crowds upon crowds needing a dose of Divine Peace:  and Jesus compassionately sent out the Twelve to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons.  Successors of the Twelve are still sent to bring wholeness and renewed life, to overcome bias and banish the evils of greed and anger.  (There’ve been times when this disciple has really desired to raise the devil and cast out the dead; but that’s a different story.)

One of the great symptoms of this post-Christian era is that abandonment of the wandering multitudes.  Having tasted God’s Peace ourselves, our passing of the gift is often relegated to “Tomorrow”, if at all.  The opening thought in all these readings is that God cares enough to make the first move; and that we who’ve received it are thus expected to live within our societies with an accordant sense of spreading the wealth.

God Bless Us, Every One                         Horace Brown King

My thoughts about lectionary readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

This weekend we’ll celebrate Trinity Sunday.  “We” is probably a misnomer, since hardly anyone beside clergy and parament-changers will realize this.  Better thinkers and more articulate writers than I have attempted to explain the Trinity with little success–although I still appreciate St. Patrick’s reference to the shamrock, which has three leaves on one stem.   So I’m content to accept the Trinity as one of those Holy Mysteries which paint light into an otherwise gloomy historical scene.

Genesis begins us well:  “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters…” (1:1-2)  I resonate with the image of “wind”:  invisible, unpredictable but powerful, it flows over Creation  lending its force to Make Things Go.  In Hebrew, this is called “ruach”, the breath of God.  In Greek, it’s “pneuma”; and in Latin, “spiritus”.  Our worship explores this life- energy which roams the earth and presents God when things become formless and dark.

Perhaps the first reference to Trinity comes at the end of the Corinthian correspondence, in Paul’s benediction, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” (II 13:13)   Jesus (here “Lord” and not “Son”) is primary, as the conduit of grace.  God is seen as the ultimate repository of love; and the Spirit knits together the community.  (Daniel N. Schowalter, in THE OXFORD COMPANION TO THE BIBLE, p.782)  As an apostle to the Very Diverse, Paul knows that the infant Church must be anchored on some common ground, and sees the Spirit as that glue which can unite varied cultures and mores.

Matthew reports that the final earthly words of Jesus are to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (28:19-20)  Matthew isn’t as much interested in promulgating the Trinitarian formula as he is in encouraging the team to see the limitless possibilities.  Remembering the recent Wind of Pentecost, they’re also to remember the promise of Jesus to send them an Advocate (paraclete, one who stands alongside for strength and comfort), “even the Spirit of Truth”. (John 14:16)

Most of those sitting in pews this weekend are content to pass over the mystery of Holy Trinity, acknowledging its presence, and then re-shelving it for another year.  My own prayer is that this Divine Wind will not only Roam the Earth, but will touch where my small boat is moored and fill its limp and tattered sails once again.  The journey is at hand!  What ports await??

God Bless Us Every One                      Horace Brown King

My musings on scripture for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook, or at horacebrownking. com