13th Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)
Sunday, September 3, 2017
“There will be days when these are hard choices. We will want to lash out and hurl insults. We
will want to unload the venom we feel coursing through our veins. We will want to plot our revenge and catch
our enemy unaware. There will be days when we do not want to be the church –
and those are the days that we need church even more.”
– Annette J. Cook
"The only way to conquer evil is to absorb it. Take it into yourself
and disarm it. Neutralize its acids. Serve as a charcoal filter for its smog.
Suck it up, put a straitjacket on it and turn it over to God, so that when you
breathe out again the air is pure."
– Barbara
Brown Taylor
Theme: Forbearance
Reflection: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world
blind.” Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated non-violent resistance, spoke this truth.
You can find similar words in the holy texts of every faith. Returning violence
for violence solves nothing. Someone always comes along who is stronger, faster,
carrying a bigger weapon.
Most of the people alive today have never known
sustained peace. And today’s youth have lived their entire lives with our
country at war.
We would like to push off the past months’ actions
by hate groups as an aberration, but hate never has disappeared. It has
simmered in privilege and boiled over in racially diverse communities. It has
gone underground in militia groups and showed itself in “right to discriminate”
legislation and gerrymandering and voting restrictions. It lives in our homes,
our schools, our workplaces and governments. Even our churches.
Paul’s “overcome evil with good,” is a
countercultural statement. Little in our society backs those words. We are
taught to seek the best job, highest pay, most power. And let nothing get in
your way of going for it all. Little boys learn to fight back, girls are
coached to be aggressive. Road rage, anger management, stand your ground … the
list of our society’s acceptance of violence goes deep into our daily lives.
David, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Paul faced the violence
of wars, occupation, persecution and other conflicts. And each saw the strife
as an evil. Jeremiah railed against God for unceasing pain and incurable
wounds, calling God a deceitful brook, with waters that fail. David expressed
his hate for evildoers and the wicked. Paul told the church at Rome to live
peaceably, bless those who persecute you, and overcome evil with good. And
Matthew’s Jesus foreshadows his death by telling his disciples to deny
themselves and take up their cross.
In a world full of trouble, what’s your cross? What
is the injustice that rages in your heart and incites your passion? For what
wrong would you give your life?
Everyone’s fire burns differently – it’s the way
God made us. Often, something we’ve experienced ignites that passion. John and
Reve Walsh’s son Adam was abducted, and abducted and exploited children became
their passion. Jim and Sarah Brady, and Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly became
gun safety advocates after assassination attempts that nearly took the lives of
Jim and Gabby.
Other times, people just respond to the injustice
or need. Medical professionals who volunteer with Doctors Without Borders,
people who become Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children in the court
system, people who volunteer at food banks. Disability rights and refugee
activists. The needs are unlimited.
Sometimes the need can seem overwhelming and the
battle unending. And instead of continuing, people turn their crosses into
weapons. Not the point. Change doesn’t
necessarily come quickly, and suffering, patience and perseverance are the
hallmarks of cross-bearing.
Sometimes people carry their cross for a lifetime,
or die in support of the cause. Most recently, Heather Heyer was killed while
protesting white supremacy and racial injustice.
What’s your cross? Jesus didn’t say “pick up your
cross if you want to,” or “bear your cross if you find a good cause.” Each of
today’s lessons urges us to find our passion, carry our cross, and act with
forbearance, showing patience and restraint rather than returning evil for
evil.
(You always are
welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section
at the bottom of this post.)
Faith App: What is your cross, the injustice that breaks your heart and moves you to tears? Let that passion move you to work for good.
HYMN/SONG
SUGGESTIONS
Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said, ELW 667
Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake, ELW 799
Day by Day, ELW 790
Will You Come and Follow Me, ELW 798
O Jesus, I Have Promised, ELW 810
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus, ELW 802
I Come with Joy, ELW 482
Here Is Bread, ELW 483
Sometimes by Step, Rich
Mullins
Devotion, Hillsong
United
The Motions, Matthew West
He Knows, Jeremy Camp
They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love, Peter Scholtes
LESSONS
Jeremiah 15:15-21 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound
incurable, refusing to be healed?
Psalm 26:1-8 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in
my integrity.
Romans 12:9-21 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do
not curse them.
Matthew 16:21-28 If any want to become my followers, let them
deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Summary: How does returning evil for evil make us any
better than those we call enemies? If we are intent upon following Jesus, we’re
going to do our share of suffering, and forging ahead anyway.
OPENING
LITANY based on Psalm 26:1-8
L: Assure me this is the right way, Lord;
C: If I hear it from you, I’ll keep on going.
L: I’ve kept my head up, done what is right,
C: Trusted you to protect me in the crossfire.
L: Search my heart and my thoughts, test me
well;
C: I need to stay focused on you and your love
alone.
L: I’ve distanced myself from those who lead me
astray,
C: Plotting their revenge and planning their
next strike.
L: I’ve kept myself clean, tried to fight the
infection,
C: Of settling scores and creating new wounds.
L: Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in my
failing,
C: Welcoming me into your arms of mercy again.
CONFESSION
L: Lord, we confess how we divide your people
into us and them.
C: Caring for those most like us, ignoring those
we don’t understand.
L: Indifferent to the wounds we cause, the
constant pain we inflict –
C: Lord, teach us to rejoice in diversity, and
see your image in all.
L: Lord, we confess the violence in our words,
our thoughts, our hearts,
C: Scarring and prophetic, destroying your
children’s hopes and dreams,
L: Instead of building up the body, we cut down
those we judge weak –
C: Lord, help us to encourage our families and
the people of God.
L: And Lord, we confess our vengeance for those
who offend us,
C: Protecting our pride, we hold grudges and
boil with rage,
L: Unforgiving, we withhold peace from ourselves
and each other –
C: Lord, show us the way of compassion,
overcoming evil with good.
(Silent
reflection)
C: Most Merciful
God … we struggle to live in peace in a world that values power and violence.
The world teaches us we must be the best, the wisest, the strongest, the
richest, even at the expense of others. Then we hear this counter-cultural
message that values patience, kindness, goodness and compassion. Help us learn
to follow Christ, by living the way of love.
P: Hear this Good News: Every direction for how
to live well comes under Jesus’ Great Commandment: Love the Lord with all your
heart, your mind, your soul and your strength, and love your neighbor as
yourself. Sounds easy, but it’s hard to do. We mess up again and again, in
putting God first, in caring for others, and taking care of ourselves. In great
love for us, God forgives us, over and over, letting us try again. You are forgiven,
set free from everything that separates you from God’s love.
In
the name of…
C: Amen
PRAYER
OF THE DAY
C: Loving God … The hardest lesson for many of
us is to turn away from the fight. We see, hear and feel violence all around us
and respond in kind, and the world becomes more harsh, isolated and oppressive
each day. Teach us your ways of peace and compassion. Do not let us be overcome
by evil, but show us how to overcome evil with good. Amen.
COMMUNION
BLESSING
C: We give you thanks,
most gracious God, for the patience in this bread, the compassion in this cup.
As you overcame evil with good on the cross, you invite us to carry our crosses
of whatever tears at our hearts and moves us to tears. Help us to find our
passion for caring for our neighbors, or for this beautiful world you created
with such care. Amen.
SENDING
L: Love one another, even when it’s hard,
C: When life hurts, be patient and forgiving,
L: Live humbly, be grateful and generous,
C: Turn away from violence, learn to live in
peace.
L: Go now, forgiven and forgiving, to love and
to serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God!
First
Reading Jeremiah 15:15-21 (NRSV)
Setting the Scene: Jeremiah was known as the lamenting prophet,
as he listened and spoke to God about the people of Israel and their
destructive ways. God was forever encouraging this young prophet to stay
strong.
15 O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
remember me and visit me,
and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
know that on your account I suffer insult.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart;
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
nor did I rejoice;
under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail.
19 Therefore
thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
says the Lord.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
says the Lord.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Second
Reading Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV)
Setting the Scene:
After giving the churches of Rome a huge dose of Christian theology, he moves
on to how to live as a Christ-follower.
9 Let
love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love
one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do
not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice
in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute
to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in
harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do
not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil
for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If
it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No,
“if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them
something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their
heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Romans
12:9-21 (The Message)
9-10 Love
from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil;
hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice
playing second fiddle.
11-13 Don’t
burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully
expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy
Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16 Bless
your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re
happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up.
Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
17-19 Don’t
hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.
Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,”
says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
20-21 Our
Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch,
or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with
goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing
good.
Gospel Matthew
16:21-28 (NRSV)
Setting the Scene:
Poor Peter. The Rock had his ups and downs, sometimes back-to-back. Moments
after Jesus praises Peter for understanding Jesus as Messiah, he gets off-track
again.
21 From
that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem
and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and
scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord!
This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to
Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are
setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
24 Then
Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those
who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my
sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain
the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for
their life?
27 “For
the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then
he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly
I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they
see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
No comments:
Post a Comment