Proper 5 (10)
June 11, 2023
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:1-12 or Hosea 5:15-6:6
Psalm 50:7-15
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Our gracious, eternal God, we are reminded this day of so much that is ungracious in our collective religious unconscious. When Jesus called Matthew and ate with sinners he set off an emotional firestorm.
He provoked feelings of disgust.
He provoked feelings of anger.
He provoked feelings of distrust.
He provoked feelings of resentment.
He provoked feelings of betrayal of the favouritism which the folk around him thought was their due.
He provoked strong feelings of disappointment.
They were not prepared for, or willing to accept, or to receive, Jesus’ statement of grace that “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Unfortunately we are not unlike those angry folk.
Like them we so easily get caught up in thinking how bad others are.
Like them we get entrapped by the trappings of our faith and lose its central truth of grace.
Like them we long for special privilege.
Like them we think we should be rewarded for our grand religious performances.
And like them we are reluctant to make room for the sinners and the lost and find it easier to push them away.
Save, us gracious God, from this destructive behaviour. Redeem us once again. Grow our souls large that we might make room for those who struggle, those who stray, and those who have lost their way. Help us to withhold our judgment which is often so harsh. And help to embrace each of your children you present to us. Amen
June 11, 2023
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:1-12 or Hosea 5:15-6:6
Psalm 50:7-15
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Our gracious, eternal God, we are reminded this day of so much that is ungracious in our collective religious unconscious. When Jesus called Matthew and ate with sinners he set off an emotional firestorm.
He provoked feelings of disgust.
He provoked feelings of anger.
He provoked feelings of distrust.
He provoked feelings of resentment.
He provoked feelings of betrayal of the favouritism which the folk around him thought was their due.
He provoked strong feelings of disappointment.
They were not prepared for, or willing to accept, or to receive, Jesus’ statement of grace that “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Unfortunately we are not unlike those angry folk.
Like them we so easily get caught up in thinking how bad others are.
Like them we get entrapped by the trappings of our faith and lose its central truth of grace.
Like them we long for special privilege.
Like them we think we should be rewarded for our grand religious performances.
And like them we are reluctant to make room for the sinners and the lost and find it easier to push them away.
Save, us gracious God, from this destructive behaviour. Redeem us once again. Grow our souls large that we might make room for those who struggle, those who stray, and those who have lost their way. Help us to withhold our judgment which is often so harsh. And help to embrace each of your children you present to us. Amen