One of my fellow clergy had three daughters in rapid succession. The first was named Faith; the second one, Hope; and the third–Mary Anne! Lessons for this week seem to have a central thread of passing the torch to the next generation. Are there those in our churches who worry a bit about what they’ve left for their descendants? I sure do…it comes with age, I’m told. Have any of my virtues, my standards, my values succeeded to those who may bear my genes? Have I wasted my life proclaiming Justice in Christ and Release to the Captives? Are there those to carry on, or shall I pass and be forgotten like the rest? (Personal note to my sons and their families: GOOD JOB! I’M PROUD OF YOU!)
The Old Testament readings vary from Lectionary to Lectionary–I’ve decided to go with the passage from Genesis 18:1-15. Here Abram welcomes God’s visitants with lavish hospitality, and is told that he would soon have a son to carry on the name. He was surprised, and Sarai (Mrs. Abram) laughed, since they considered themselves too old for such things. But, as you remember, Father Abraham had MANY sons: and I am one of them, and so are you! Several inter-faith groups exist called Children of Abraham, involving Christian, Islamic and Jewish people. Abram’ faith-crisis was resolved, and he received peace in his later years. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
We don’t think that Paul had any biological children…but he considered himself a father-figure to the congregations throughout the Mediterranean world. And so he can speak to the Romans (5:1) about being made right (justified) by their faith, and thus receiving peace through Christ. Friends, we live in a non-peaceful age: the world is too much with us. So it’s nice to know that God is still in charge, that “though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!” (Maltbie D. Babcock) Paul reminds the Romans and us that the Holy Spirit continues to pour God’s love into our hearts.
The Gospel, Matthew 9:35-10:8, conveys Jesus’ urgency as he sent out his “children” to the byways of Israel to announce that the kingdom of heaven has come near. There’s plenty to do, he said, so travel light and don’t waste time kibbitzing. This was a training mission to ensure that the mission would carry forward even though the Lord’s time was drawing to a close. It’s not all skittles & beer–there’re occasions when you’ll meet opposition and ugliness. Yet Jesus’ kids are to explore the gap between glorious ideals and the agony of rejection–a good lesson to be learned by all who would follow after.
It’s pretty traditional, I guess, to scoff a bit at the advice of those who’ve met problems before. When I was a Young Turk, I listened to my elders…and immediately dismissed their wisdom as Old Fashioned. Now, in my dotage, the chickens have come home to roost, and my life-scars routinely go unobserved by those more modern than I. Our holy-history continues as we meld ancient truths with current needs and understandings.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My encounter with scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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