July 11. Scripture. Lectionary # 390

Scripture: Lectionary # 390. Exodus 2:1-15. Psalm 69:3.14.30-31.33-34.
Matthew 11:20-24:

Scripture has a way of nudging us forward in our own stories. We are
generously gifted in the liturgical use of the stories that show us models
of faith and love and courage. Abraham's story teaches us how to believe
in God and form a covenant with God. Isaac is an excellent model for
listening and being obedient to God by obeying his father and carrying out
his wishes. Jacob shows us how to be creatively faithtul and daring in the
relationship with God; he even wrestles with a messenger from God! His name
Israel means the strength of God. Joseph's saga of thirteen chapters in
Genesis showed us how to mature and take responsible positions and make
great decisions that save many peoples. And now we are entering into the
story of Moses as we have the primordial reading from Exodus chapter two
where he is introduced.

Moses will lead the people of Israel to their freedom and establish a new
way of looking at covenant commitment. He will received the "Ten Words"
from God (the commandments) and help people learn how to make the covenant
a daily practical commitment with the living God. Thus we have many Old
Testament saints who show us how to love, obey, and carry out God's plan of
salvation. We are to become creative instruments of this salvation in our
own stories and our living at this time in history.

We are helped by these stories to appreciate what we Christians call "the
greatest story ever told" as Jesus enters the scene with his story. He
will keep teaching us to learn how to have "agape" love which is totally
selfgiving and self-effacing. This is difficult for us who live in a
culture that adores self image, individualism, and, yes, even greed.
Agape love calls us to love all of our brothers and sisters not only those
whom we naturally love or like. To do this we need to become aware of the
presence of others and not always be searching for people to admire us and
say how great we are. In today's reading from Matthew we learn that Jesus
is very upset with the behavior patterns of people who surround him. They
refuse to have their mindset changed and are not open to conversion. It
does not look good for their future and Jesus even tells them that
non-religious cities will fare better than theirs. He uses strong language
to shock them from their self satisfaction and their sins. We too are
given this message and are stunned to realize we suffer the consequences of
our bad behavior and sinfulness. Yet, we have hope each day, for the Lord
is always there waiting for our "metanoia" or repentance and conversion.

Our thought for this reading comes from the Psalm response: "Turn to the
Lord in your need (this turning is the Hebrew word for a metanoia) and you
will live." Amen.

July 6, 2011 (added meditation) Lectionary # 385:

Scripture: Lectionary 385. Genesis 41:55-57,42:5-7a, 17-24a. Psalm 33:2-3,
10-11, 18-19 Matthew 10:1-7:

Jesus respects the individual persons by calling them by their name. This
is easily seen in the calling and naming of the Twelve Disciple who will be
called his apostles--those sent to do what he tells them for the mission of
bringing people into the kingdom of God. We have the second listing of
those twelve who are given the vocation of an apostle. The lists will
differ as we move further on to the last grouping of four, but all are
remembered in Mark and Matthew and Luke. John does not give us a listing
of twelve but does show us the call of five of them in his first chapter.
Judas who will betray Jesus has to be replaced to keep the original
symbolism of the twelve tribes of Israel representing all of the people of
God. Fortunately, Luke will open up the vocation of an apostle to every
Christian as we will see in his Acts of the Apostles. What a noble calling
we all have and should reverence.

We are somewhat startled that Jesus sends them only to the land of Israel,
but as we come to the end of the Gospel of Matthew we will see that all
nations are to be a part of their mission as they baptize all in the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus promises to be with the twelve
and with us to the end of the world.

The early Christians venerated these twelve and even in the succeeding
centuries created Gospels written in their names even a Gospel for Judas.
Our focus however is not on the apocryphal gospels but always on the
canonical gospels that give us the living voice of Jesus and his messages,
his revelation, and his love.

We respond to our naming and calling by receiving the sacrament of Baptism.
Once called we are his forever. We are supported in this call by our
parents, godparents, and then later by our believing friends who are aware
of their baptism and ours. We all fit into those final words of Matthew's
Gospel and should cherish that every day of our lives. Amen.