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“Are we there yet?” “Almost.” Seems as though we’re often (always?) on the doorstep, poised to make an entrance. What will tomorrow bring? Even though we’ve been wandering, will God’s Plan continue to prevail? Will we ever get past wearing masks and keeping away from each other? Is there any progress to the human condition? Or–the flip side–will the powers of destruction continue to win? Are we chasing rainbows??

The Hebrew remembrance (Joshua 3:7-17) is significant because it recalls how God keeps being God, whether or not the cultic leader is here. Moses has died, but we THINK Joshua is his successor. On the doorstep to the Promised Land (at last!) we’ve paused; how can we get across this river? But even in the absence of Moses, God looked after The People: priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant stood still in the middle of the Jordan and the waters separated and we all got across with our feet dry! It’s not over yet, but for today we’ve passed THIS barrier…

I Thessalonians 2:9-13 is also about The People. Our faith-community is unique because it’s not limited by the tarnish of the rest of the world. That is, Paul encourages each member to nurture and make safe this land beyond society’s river. What does it mean to “lead a life worthy of God”? We have personal responsibility to respond to Grace extended daily; but it’s not something we can do on our own. We need a mentor to show us the twists and turns, someone who’s done this before. Just as our ancestors rejoiced as they entered the Promised Land, we also have joy in affirming that Someone Who Cares has been walking along with us.

Matthew 23:1-12 is more seasonal: Jesus addresses those who wear masks and pretend to be someone they’re not. “…do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” I’ve gotta admit, I often act as one of these: I like my long fringes on my fancy prayer-shawls, the best seats at dinner, being recognized as a Teacher in the marketplace. Allen Hilton writes, “The light of self-promotion is always on in (us) hypocrites, because people do not stop having opinions about us, and these opinions are utterly important to us….Lacking confidence in the divine ‘yes’, we hypocrites make masks or broadcast our piety in order to win a human ‘yes’…THE ANTIDOTE FOR HYPOCRISY IS GRACE. (FEASTING on the WORD, A 4:265)

Who, then, are/have been my mentors? As I grew up, there were several men & women in my congregation at Dalton, PA who were instrumental in guiding my early life. And through my ministry there have been other clergy and laity who’ve mentored me. Even now–especially now–there are those who’ve nurtured and sheltered me in a time of old age. You probably don’t know who you are–but thanks for guiding me safely across the river!

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

My two mentionable hobbies are stamp collecting and gardening. Part of the pleasure from these is that there are always more stamps to sift through, or there’re seasonal adjustments to be made to the plot each day. Things are never done, are they? The older I get, the more I realize that nothing–even life itself–is ever finished; and that’s good! There’s always another adventure, another horizon. This weekend’s scriptures address and hopefully celebrate the process of Life with God.

The Hebrew Bible concludes the Pentateuch/Moses story with Moses’ death (Deuteronomy 34:1-12). Some regret that Moses never entered the Promised Land, although he saw it from a distance. But there was no need to: his work was done! The five “Books of Moses” gathered the fire-side tales of Creation and the Patriarchs–with the Exodus–and made them into “Israel’s Primal Narrative” (Brueggeman/Borg). These stories, plus the tribulation of forty years in the wilderness, serve to unite Judaism and form the People from habiru/ desert wanderers into a vital Nation. Was the Story over? Just that part of it: there’s a new season at hand…

We continue our exploration of Paul’s Letters with more of the Thessalonian Epistle, 2:1-8. Here the Apostle lets his earlier travails behind at Philippi and tenderly embraces new Christian friends. There are sometimes blood-spatters on the path we’ve already walked–but that was then, this is now. Verse 4, “…just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts”, seems to be central to a holy process of new and ongoing creation. Daily ministry involves words and actions which celebrate God’s works today plus looking forward in hope to whatever holy happens tomorrow.

Matthew 22:34-46 recounts Jesus’ final week as the ending of his earthly journey and the beginning (?) of his assumption of the Christ-mantle. The Pharisaic question about the Greatest Law is really an attempt to connect the Past with the Present, a question of ethical propriety despite the parade of history. Given all that’s happened previously, what’s important today? These can be the ultimate teachings of Christ: there’s nothing more to say. “From that day did anyone dare to ask (Jesus) any more questions.”

Marcus Borg (page 106, READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME) closes it out: “Indeed, the theme of promise and fulfillment is strikingly relevant to people in ALL times. In spite of threats to the promise and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, when birth and rebirth seem impossible, when pharaohs and the powers of empires seem to rule the world, God’s faithfulness can be counted on.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounters with readings assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

There was a meme going around the ‘net that showed a little boy at Mt. Rushmore admiring the four US presidents there, and asking his parents if they could go around to the backside and see the rest of them… J.B. Phillips’ famous book asked, “Is Your God Too Small?” Many token worshipers today are quite content to own a deity safely made to their own ideas, and never to change! Scriptures for this weekend may tweak this satisfaction.

In Exodus 33:12-23, Moses is wheedling with the Lord to see his “glory”. YHWH tells him that he couldn’t bear it, since living persons “shall not see me and live”. (Does that mean that when we die, we’re eligible to see God’s glory?) So God covered Moses’ eyes when God passed by, thus enabling Moses to see God’s back without corrupting his sight. There’s a lot of incon-sistency to this section about “face to face” meetings and the terror of God’s face: don’t inhale, but deal with the metaphors they represent. I could personally spin off of verse 17b: “you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Some scholars say that the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians differs in style from the “Asian” letters. Was there already a significant difference between the Church in East and West? In his introduction, 1:1-10, Paul offers grace and peace, affirming that the Thessalonian Christians are beloved by God because God has chosen them. Their witness throughout the adjacent countryside has been marked even in distant lands, especially how they turned to a living God from idols. Today, our Church needs to reflect upon the current idols we keep on our shelves: self-centeredness, militarism and our own billfolds.

The Gospel continues in the same vein. Here is the story of Jesus being asked about paying taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). Paying taxes to “the Emperor” has always been a thorny problem: should I support the oft-misguided policies of disaster which the administration has embarked upon with my money? “Well, whose picture is on the coin?” “The Emperor’s” “Then give back to the Emperor things that are his–and to God, the things that are God’s.” Where does our citizenship lie? Can we pledge allegiance to the flag? Are there moral conflicts between the City of God and the City of Man? Some groups have tried to create isles of safety–monasteries, Utopias–while others sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…” Will Rodgers is reputed to have said, “Washington’s face has been on our dollars; now Washington’s HANDS are on them as well.”

These readings won’t answer any questions: the hearer has to decide for themself what level of involvement they have with both “sacred and secular”…or is God in everything, even government and community life?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounters with lessons chosen for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

From time to time, an organization which I support will send me a pack of assorted greeting cards. They’re usually very nice, with appropriate sentiments and perhaps a Bible verse. One sympathy card I didn’t use expressed sorrow and a statement of hope–and the Bible verse was, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!” A joyful Golden Thread running through this weekend’s scriptures describes the process of God’s People learning to “go on to perfection”.

Exodus 32:1-14 has two thrusts: the backsliding “formation” (?) of the People; and the perceived anger of God which was turned aside by Moses. This is the story of Aaron’s crafting of the Golden Calf, a symbol of fertility and power. Moses had been on Mt. Sinai for a loooong time, and most of the camp at the bottom figured he had died or scarpered off. Needing a focus for worship, they pooled their gold and melted it into an idol. God was plenty mad about this and was going to erase the lot of them; but Moses acted as priest and reminded YHWH of all their holy-history. “And God repented.”

Paul continues to instruct the Philippians (4:1-9)in living the Holy Life, a source of inner Joy. He tells them that they can be joyful even in the midst of calamity: “the Lord is near”. “Unaffected, childlike rejoicing in the Lord is the hallmark of the Christian life….Joy is a discipline of perfection, not an emotion dependent on circumstances….Christian joy is subversive; it overturns threatening situations and frustrates those with selfish plans.” (Nathan Eddy in SOJOURNERS, A 4:161-163) A gracious attitude seems to be a vital part of building God’s People.

Jesus’ story of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) is yet another one reminding the Jewish leaders–and now us?– of their original selection but ultimate exclusion due to their apathetic response to Incarnation/God become human. The invitation had been issued for many centuries; but now that the Messiah appeared, the leadership declined to show up. The parable continues with bringing in all those in the streets, good & bad alike: ah, there’s hope for me! (Has God really wrecked the leaders/Jews and cast at least one into outer darkness?? or is this part of another Matthean story…?) The Medical Mission Sisters once wrote, “Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind (sic), if you’re slow in responding, (God) may leave you behind; (God)’s preparing a table for that great and glorious day; when the Lord and Master calls you, be certain not to say–I cannot come…”

What do we do when our health fails, the economy swoons and our political leaders seem out of touch? “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about THESE things.” “Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My wrestling with Scripture passages assigned to the upcoming weekend may be observed every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com