We are settling into Common Time, the "long green season" after the Advent through Pentecost journey. This is time for the church to live into the promise of Pentecost, to embody the Great Commission from last week's gospel reading: "Go into all the world and make disciples of all people ... and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."
In this week's readings, I am feeling sorely tested by the gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus tells the listeners not to worry about what to eat or drink or what to wear. I am tested, because after a week in Haiti, where people don't have nearly enough to eat or drink, where they mostly wear our American castoffs from items even the Salvation Army doesn't want, I wonder how the people of Haiti hear this message.
There is more hope in the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, when the prophet promises that God has not forgotten the people, any more than a nursing mother forgets her child.
I'm not sure where I'm going yet for Sunday's sermon. Join me in wrestling along with these readings.
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I must not understand that part well - the 'do not worry' part. I always read it as something like, all the kosher food laws - to stop worrying about those, and fashion, or the Jewish tassels-on-the-corners of clothing, or hair-cutting rules, and that kind of thing, like that Jesus was saying that is not the important stuff to worry about. But sometimes I get things completely wrong (okay, more than sometimes). But I do struggle with the idea of God providing, especially where there is extreme poverty like what you just saw. But then I feel like it comes back to us - - keeping our two coats instead of giving one away. The needed stuff is here (provided) on earth, it is just hoarded, and I completely include myself in this category.
ReplyDeleteApologies in advance to anyone who reads this really clumsy reply.
Steph