I always grin when I see the sign, “In God we Trust; all others pay cash”. Truly a Sign of the Times! We build secular connections to keep us safe–or do they? Long-term contracts; military spending; bank accounts to get us through rainy days… But how much do we trust God? Enough to concentrate our wealth and well-being on God? Scriptural texts heard this upcoming weekend call us to complete reliance upon the God who does the impossible…
HOSEA 5:15-6:6 speaks to the elite of Israel (the northern kingdom), and also nods to the southern kingdom, Judah: “Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early”. Professing to trust in YHWH alone, the Powers-that-Be were also busy toadying up to Assyria, who wanted control over Palestine to thwart their rival, Egypt. Did this relationship keep them safe? Not in the long run. Where have we–individually and collectively–sold out to the smart money?? Have we denied funds to the marginalized in order to build up the Pentagon? Are people falling through the cracks because the government is subsidizing fossil fuel? OK, so how do we show trust in God? Begin, I suppose, with justice, kindness and a willingness to let God BE God. “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the Knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
In ROMANS 4:13-25, Paul pushes on with his case to have faith over lawful tradition. He spends a good bit of time recalling the stories of Abraham, who didn’t give up on being the “father of nations” even though he and Sarai were past childbearing age. But Abraham trusted that God would do as promised, not turning to fertility drugs… Abe was fully convinced that God was in charge! (This is the same fella who packed his ox-cart and drove off believing that God would show him where he should be.) If Abraham trusted this much, and if Jesus trusted even beyond the Cross, then why can’t YOU? These are examples of God’s restorative and creative power: do you know anyone who seems to have accomplished the impossible only by God’s Grace?
The Gospel account is from MATTHEW 9:9-13, where the writer recounts the story of his own call and acceptance. Matthew was a tax-collector, in league with those awful Romans and generally suspected of fudging the books for his own profit. Yet Jesus saw the Image of God in him, and brought him AND HIS FRIENDS to dinner! When questioned, Jesus said that “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners”. This is what God meant when he said through Hosea, “I desire mercy (steadfast love) and not sacrifice”. The dinner-hosts were correct in all their legal worship–sacrifices, food laws, Sabbath observance–yet still stayed aloof from loving Creation.
Who wrote that sinful third verse to “O Say Can You See”? It says, “then conquer we must, when our cause it is just (!), and this be our motto, “In God Is Our Trust”….how blasphemous! The Church, the Living Alternative to business as usual, stands to embrace the Holy and move past the Secular…
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
Join the fun every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com as we unpack the Lessons to be read and heard on the upcoming weekend.
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