[Lectionary: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28]
We do not see God, because we cannot see God. There is a veil
separates us, we need an apocalypse (an unveiling) to Know God. This unveiling has already begun as God reveals Himself to save us. We cooperate with the Holy
Spirit by guarding our thoughts and heart from sinful thoughts and passions, by prayer and Bible reading, and by
acting in love toward others and faithful ministry.
Salvation is a major theme of Isaiah 55-56. God asks, "For what does your heart hunger and
thirst?" God then offers, “Come to me, real eat and drink! It’s free." The Lord
also declares “My word will not return to me empty, but it will go forth and accomplish what I intend.” This same Word became flesh in the Lord Jesus, who accomplishes God’s salvation. He is the apocalypse of God the Father.
The section of Isaiah we read today begins "Keep watch over justice and
do righteousness, for God is coming to reveal His righteousness." To keep or watch is to tend, it is the purpose of the human in creation. To "watch the Garden," and what is the true Garden? It is the covenant and Torah, God's instruction on the life of faith and salvation. We are exhorted to do the right thing and God promises that He is coming to the right thing as well. Our righteousness
is trusting the Father and being loyal servants; God's righteousness is salvation. The sole purpose of life is perfect union with the God of Israel; and this salvation includes the outcast and foreigners. This is the Gospel message already found in Isaiah. The
Lord of Israel invites all people to Himself. Each one, every one, where we are,
as we are, in any condition. "Come," He says, "turn from sin and turn to me.
Leave your old life behind and receive real, abundant life."
This transformation through union with God, theosis, is always a
process. Sometimes a very long process! Isaiah tells the Gentile, 'do not think you are excluded, just
keep covenant and the Lord includes you among His own.’ And so we Gentiles, you and I, are welcome by God into His covenant people, as we are, to become who He created us to be. There is no one moment which completes salvation, the covenant
with God is a way of living and it is hard—each day we battle against the
thoughts and desires which would ruin us forever--but it is the way of life.
There are other, easier paths, which many choose, says Jesus (Matthew 7:13) but
they lead to death. No one is excluded from the invitation, but understand, no
one is exempt from narrow conversion path of discipleship.
The application of Isaiah's words, however, was a challenge for Israel in every age. The
Gentile question can be discerned in
differing streams of the Scripture. Gentiles are also the enemy who is excluded
from God’s people (see Ezra and Nehemiah). High ideals run into the complexities of real life.
The reality is, Jews were a small, vulnerable people. Gentiles disdained and
persecuted them. For six hundred years foreigners dominated them. Gentiles
were a threat to the Jews’ existence. God had to take care of His people whom He had set apart; that was His covenant promise to the Patriarchs and the people. Sending Jesus fulfills His promise.
Matthew writes that Jesus' mission is to
"the lost sheep of Israel." These are the Jewish outcasts and sinners;
God's plan was for the Jewish Messiah to bring back all Jews. In recent years, enlightened folks have determined that Jesus is a racist. In their narrative, Jesus, a racist male, must be taught the truth of multiculturalism and inclusion by a foreign female. I think this borders on blasphemy. Jesus is on a mission, He is fulfilling the promise of God to the covenant people. The mission to the wider world is not yet, although already Matthew indicates that several times salvation reached out to Gentiles. God's global vision is still in play, but there is an order, first the Jews, then the Gentiles. It is the humble faith of the Gentile woman
which opens the door to her salvation. She proclaims Jesus Messiah, using the Jewish
title Son of David. She accepts Him on His terms. She is not a protestor demanding her rights, she is a concerned mother begging for mercy. She receives it.
We Gentiles must understand that the Jewish Messiah Jesus is our Lord. Trust
and keeping our covenant with Him is the road of life, the way of theosis.
Covenant faithfulness means worship, prayer, study, and proclaiming His rule, teaching,
healing and exorcising. Each day, every day, leaving behind the old life and embracing the new. And it is the Holy Spirit Who accomplishes all that we do!
No comments:
Post a Comment