Sunday, October 20, 2019

Jacob


Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8



The interactions of God with humans as recorded in the Jewish Scriptures is frequently expressed through sparse, though deeply symbolic narratives. The story of Jacob today is really more like an outline, and the depth of the symbolism packs these few words with a breadth of meaning to encompass human history. Of course, it  is set by a river, because rivers are fringes dividing one side from another. Crossing the river is dangerous and if its waters bring life they also bring death. Bodies of water are at the brink of chaos and are a simile for the (hostile) nations of the world. we are told that Jacob he divided his family into two troops in the hope come might survive if his brother is hostile. It is dark because it has to be dark. Being alone in the dark is required in such a story. Jacob encounters a man with whom he wrestles. we have no other information about the man, until we learn that Jacob says it is God. This brings Jesus into the story and hints of incarnation. The man is also a symbol of all the conflicts Jacob has had, not least with himself. 

Jacob was born clinging to his brother's heal--he was always a grasper. He manipulates the robust, though simpler Essau and later stole his brother’s blessing. Now he demands a blessing from the wrestler. He, like us, is hungry for blessing. He receives the blessing with a new name, Israel, "the one who struggles with God and man and prevails," but it comes at a cost. His hip is damaged and he leaves with a limp.

Jacob's story is also an outline of Israel's story. The nation, called the chosen people, receive the blessing, but their history is littered has been crippling pain. In our own day there are peoples which do not have Israel on their maps, and many of her neighbors would like to repeat what the Nazis did in the middle of the last century. If the brief story of Jacob and the wrestler are somewhat baffling, it also rings true.

The biographies of the saints report similar experiences. Those who love God most seem also to struggle and suffer greatly for it. Jesus does not make their lives easier or "better" as we would understand the word, yet He makes even the suffering worth it.

Jesus' life is helpful in reading of Jacob’s encounter with God. Jesus, the man who is also God, also stood beside a river. He was baptized by John and heard the Father say, “This is my son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Next, alone in the desert, Jesus wrestles with demons and hunger, for six weeks. The Beloved Son will also wrestle with God and man upon the cross, suffering graver wounds than a dislocated hip. The Father loves the Son, yet there He hangs, crucified.

Jacob is refined son, preferring the life among tents. His brother vowed to kill him for what he had done. Forced to flee for his life, Jacob repeatedly experiences deception and abuse of others, culminating  in the  last great deception, the loss of Joseph. Salvation can be a long, painful process.

Modern conversion stories too often proclaim a prosperity Gospel message. They have no dark encounter with God, no wrestling for the blessing, and certainly no life altering wound. Yet Jesus makes it clear that faith is not for the faint of heart. Jesus says that we must pray day and night. The Father will hear us, but God is not at our beck and call. The Father’s love is a burning fire shaping us into our true self. He is not a soft God, nor can He be—our hard hearts require a hammer at times. Salvation is cruciform, like Jacob we must prepare to struggle and suffer for the blessing. Jesus says that a cross awaits us all. First the cross, then the tomb, and only at the breaking light of the new day comes life. We will receive our new name, but until then we must wrestle in the dark, we must pray, day and night, and we must never, ever, lose heart.

  

Sunday, October 6, 2019

More Faith

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Ps 37:1-10
2 Timothy 1'14
Luke 17:5-10

The most important thing in the world is that we are in union with God. Loving God and loving each other is the meaning of salvation and the purpose of life. Each week the Sacred Scriptures provide us insights into this salvation-union.

The Bible is absolutely honest about the human condition on a fallen earth. God is sometimes inscrutable, the heroes have flaws, and the people of God are frequently unfaithful. The Bible has no lack of books which ask hard questions and wrestle with God.

Habakkuk is a perfect example of this. The prophetic book begins with these words:  "How long must I call for help and you do not listen? Or cry out to you 'violence' and you do not save?" The prophet is disgusted by the corruption and disappointed with God.  God speaks to the prophet, declaring that judgement is coming in the form of the Babylonian invasion which will topple the holy city and all its institutions. Afterwards, Habakkuk again complains, declaring that things are actually worse under the Babylonians.  God exhorts Him to trust and endurance. Believe in My promise the Lord declares. Hope sustains us when our lives are unbearable. 

The spiritual practice of praying psalms provides us daily meditations on this difficult life of faith. Psalm 37, part of which we prayed today, is a particularly deep meditation on a world where all is not right, and the light of God is hidden in dark shadows. The underlying Hebrew can be paraphrased in our vernacular: "Chill out" says the Lord, life is a journey, and shalom, a peaceful heart, is the fruit of the spiritual practices: hope in God, do good, make Him your heart's center. It is an apt reminder that we spend too much time "worried about others and what they are getting away with." A huge part of saving faith is really believing-- God knows. God cares. I can trust God will make it all well.

Trusting anyone, even God, is hard. Our hearts are sick with doubt and fear. Like the disciples we say, "Lord increase our faith!" Like them we are confused by His words "if you had faith the size of a mustard seed you could uproot a tree." Based on that criteria, it seems I do not even have faith the size of a mustard seed, and I don't know anyone who does.....

But perhaps we are misunderstanding Him. Notice how He suddenly starts talking about how slaves should do their jobs and see themselves as slaves doing their job--not expecting the Master to gird Himself and serve them? Maybe real faith means loving Jesus, serving Jesus and focusing on Him not me. It means living a life of loving faith, not talking about trust and love.

One more thing, there are many subtle connections between the Gospels of John and Luke and here is another. In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus did in fact gird Himself and wash the disciples' feet. Jesus said you call me Master, because I am, but I serve you. Jesus says that the powerful of this world demand that slaves serve them, but I think that the rest of the story is if we understand our place then Jesus will do the same for us.

Summary:
The Bible is clear
*the world is a tough place to live, for some it is very hard.
*God is faithful and He is saving the world, even  if you don't see it.
*we are not the first to ponder hard questions of faith, the Bible is full of them.
*we must forgive others, trust God and do good to receive salvation.
* we are servants of God, be humble and thankful.
* Jesus loves you more than you love Him.
*Chill in the Holy Spirit!