Restoring Relationships, Pentecost 14, Sept. 10, 2017

14th Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)

Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017

Love requires that we address the inevitable conflicts that will arise among us. It is not enough to sweep them under the rug and thus allow them to fester. Unaddressed conflicts can render a community unable to function as God hopes.

– Eric Barreto

Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J

Theme: Restoring Relationship

Reflection: Some people have hundreds of friends. But acquaintances might be a better choice of words, because having real friendships, authentic relationships, is a struggle.

I can count the people to whom I’ve opened my heart fully on one hand. I’m cautious in being vulnerable with people. So when those relationships break, so does my heart. A relationship is an investment – a treasure worth safekeeping. And a treasure worth working to restore when it is broken.

My son has been a part of numerous marriage ceremonies in the nine years since he graduated. Some of those relationships still are going strong; others have ended in divorce. He laments the way that some of his peers marry and divorce without much of an attempt to resolve their differences. Yet our families are filled with examples of long-term marriages.

We’ve had the conversation over and over – he’s watched us struggle. Why didn’t you divorce each other when things were so rocky? Legally, it would have been easy. But we didn’t because we both are committed to our marriage. We made a promise not to quit, not to give up when we have differences. It’s a promise to love despite health challenges, financial setbacks, changing priorities, questioned beliefs or anything else that divides us.

He’s still looking for the right woman to share his life – and I hope someday, his marriage also is stronger than the challenges that will threaten to divide them.

Throughout today’s lessons, the law is contrasted with love. Ezekiel is the latest in a line of prophets who keep trying to turn God’s people back to God. In these verses, God lays a heavy burden on Ezekiel to be his people’s watchman.

Paul, too, says love is the fulfilling of the law. But God gave the law because we aren’t so good at loving – God, our neighbors, or ourselves. We try to find ways to go around it. Stop it, Paul says. Lay aside the works of darkness. Live honorably.

And Jesus, eyes now set on Jerusalem, starts giving the advice his disciples will need to live without him after he is put to death. When you are hurt by someone in the community, don’t just walk away, and don’t cause more issues by telling your side to others. Go to that person and work through it. If that doesn’t do it, keep trying. And trying. I think Jesus’s comment about Gentiles or tax collectors was brilliant. “You know how most people treat Gentiles and tax collectors. That’s not us. We love them. We include them. They are part of our community.”

Healing relationships is hard work. Patience and giving up one’s pride are required. I end up seeing my faults through another’s eyes as we forgive each other, again and again. But the joy of having those kind of relationships – that’s the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Relationships aren’t easy. So lean into one another when you are hurting and speak words of restoration, showing the love of God with one another.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace, ELW 716

Blest Be the Tie that Binds, ELW 656

God, When Human Bond Are Broken, ELW 603

Lord, Speak to Us, that We May Speak, ELW 676

In All Our Grief, ELW 615

Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether, ELW 470

Here Is Bread, ELW 483

Now It Is Evening, ELW 572

Broken Together, Casting Crowns

Turn Around, Matt Maher

Undo, Rush of Fools

Speak Life, TobyMac

Kindness, Chris Tomlin

LESSONS

Ezekiel 33:7-11 God appoints Ezekiel to tell the Israelites God is asking them to repent.

Psalm 119:33-40 Give me understanding, that I might observe the law with my whole heart.

Romans 13:8-14 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Matthew 18:15-20 Resolving division between members of the body of Christ.

Summary:  Let’s be honest, we all mess up. We all have been hurt and hurt others. Sin and brokenness is a cloud around us. Being a disciple means real, human, messy people making mistakes, accepting grace, and restoring relationship with each other.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 119:33-40

L:  If you point me in the direction you want me to go,

C:  I’ll walk down that road until my journey is through.

L:  Give me wisdom so your law becomes second-nature,

C:  And love will be the guide that is written on my heart.

L:  Walk with me until your commandments become clear,

C:  I overflow with joy when I understand your ways.

L:  Remind me to turn toward what you’ve said is right,

C:  Or my desires take over, and I focus on me, me, me.

L:  Assure this servant you’ve promised me the kingdom,

C:  Reveal it to your children as we learn to trust in you.

L:  The last thing I want to do is to fall on my face;

C:  Rescue me when I struggle, so I can live to honor you.

CONFESSION

L:  Our wounded and wounding hearts weigh upon us, Lord.

C:  Broken hearts long for restoration; how then can we live?

L:  We pull away from the words that could set each other free –

C:  Turn us from our distance, and bring us together in love.

L:  Hatred in the headlines cause us to distrust people, Lord.

C:  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; how then can we live?

L:  We won’t start a discussion that could lead to understanding –

C:  Turn us from our isolating ways, and help us reach out in love.

L:  We come to worship you but our words are so empty, Lord.

C:  Resisting our hunger to go deeper; how then can we live?

L:  We ignore the energy of your Spirit moving in this place –

C:  Turn us from our shallow words, and fill us with your love.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … living in relationship is a challenge for us. Quarreling and jealousy create wedges that stress our fragile bonds. And we struggle to resolve our conflicts, smiling on the surface but never speaking the pain within. Lord, you know so well the damage that our fearful hearts can cause. Lead us in reconciliation with each one, speaking words of love.

P:  Here is Good News: Our Lord promises to be with us in the our conflicts, telling us that when two or three are gathered in his name, he is there. So speak words of restoration that need to be shared: I love you; I don’t like the division between us; I forgive you. Because these are the same words by which God restores relationship with us: I love you; I don’t like the division between us; I forgive you.

In the name of…

C:  Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Reconciling God … you desire that we follow you and live. But your commandments represent a way of living that exalts you by treating God’s people with dignity, and all creation with care. Guide us in your loving ways until it is no longer about rules, but about living your way of love in everything we say and do. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the fulfillment of the law in this bread, the promise of your presence in this cup.  Send us now to be restorers of relationship, knowing that every time we reconcile with someone, it is a confirmation of the power of love.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  Love your God with everything you’ve got,

C:  Love God’s people as you want to be loved,

L:  And give yourself some love while you’re at it.

C:  In God’s kingdom, the law is fulfilled in love!

L:  Go now, doing the hard work of relationships, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Ezekiel 33:7-11 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The God of second-chances gives the Israelites prophet after prophet to instill in them a desire to repent. Here, the prophet Ezekiel sees a vision.

⁷ So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸ If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. ⁹ But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

¹⁰ Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” ¹¹ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Second Reading Romans 13:8-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Paul’s purpose in writing to the churches of Rome that he did not start was to share his understanding of law and Jesus fulfilling the law.

⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

¹¹ Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; ¹² the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; ¹³ let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Gospel Matthew 18:15-20 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Facing the journey to Jerusalem, Jesus begins sharing what his disciples will need to do to remain in community after he is put to death.

¹⁵ “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. ¹⁶ But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Forbearance, Pentecost 13, September 3, 2017

13^th 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)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

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

L:  We pray together, 

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

L:  We pray together,

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.

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.

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.”