Opening Prayer:
O God, you turn things
upside down for us. When we think our
days have settled nicely into place, you upset our plans. Your word breaks into our agendas, and shakes
us from complacency. And yet when our
lives are in disarray, O God, you are the one who gives it meaning, who puts
our feet on the earth, who points us to hope.
Help us this day, O
God, to hear through the familiar words of beloved scripture and to be moved by
the unlikeliness of finding ourselves in the midst of YOUR gospel story, for we
pray in the name of the one we followed into the story, Jesus the Christ, Amen
READ Micah 6:1-8 - the lectionary is verses 6-8, but we should
look at the whole passage
Background on Micah
Likely comes during
reign of Hezekiah - 711-701 BCE
Came from “the
frontier” Moreshesh-gath, one of the first communities attacked in war
Judah buffer between
Egypt and Assyria
Micah went to
Jerusalem to “deliver” his prophecies, he was not same social strata as Isaiah
Micah`s mini-drama – Law and Order: Promised Land
Narrator speaks in
verses 1-2, 8
Plaintiff (God) speaks
in 3-5
Defense (Israel) speaks
in 6-7
The Judges or jury are
the mountains and hills, they are mentioned in 1-2 but are present throughout,
imagine mountains with the image of timeless wisdom, enduring foundations. They know the way the world is supposed to be
ordered. Human society has not lived up
to God`s intention.
Opening: The setting of the trial is up to the
plaintiff – God is the one who has brought case to court – God has “a
controversy” (Hebrew legal suit) with “his people” – check translations.
Verses 3-5 – What has
God done wrong? Clearly nothing! Israel (the people not the
country!) given opportunity to complain, but has no charge.
God is in the
right: verse 4 - past history with the escape
from Egypt
Verse 5 – the story of
Balaam and the talking donkey
Shittim – camp on one side of Jordan
before entering promised land
Gilgal – camp on other side before
attacking Jericho
Verses 6 – 7 – Israel is
already acknowledging their guilt – the recompense is offered in exaggerated
terms - but reflecting the ornate
rituals of king and privileged classes.
Human sacrifice –
still practiced in that time by other cultures, though criticized by Hebrew
scripture, it was an option for desperate people.
Verse 8 – you already
know`… if you have been paying attention
Justice, kindness, walk humbly with
your god (translations?)
What does the Lord
require of you? Sacrifice your pretensions to righteousness!
Question of Reflection:
What “pretensions” could we sacrifice in order
to free up more energy for living the 3fold way?
READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The pastoral situation
in Corinth: A diverse community, with
different ethnic groups, economic status, lots of conflict over who is the “right” teacher, has the “highest”
gifts, has authority?
Paul overturns familiar
values – v.18 ``the cross (Blasphemy to Jews) is foolishness (blasphemy to
Greeks) to those “who are perishing”`` – not dying but missing the boat to
eternal life.
The saved can see that
the cross is the power of God.
Verse 19 contains a
quote from Isaiah – 29:14 in a situation where corruption, duplicity are tripped
up by God’s foolishness.
There is no true
worldly wisdom, says Paul. Wisdom didn’t
work, so God to go for belief (faith relationship – loyalty, trust) Jews believe
in signs, Greeks believe in wisdom – these are stereotypes only!
But we proclaim Christ
– in spite of appearing foolish, to those who are called, regardless of their cultural
background
Verses 26 – was Paul speaking
to the lower class believers? Taking a swipe at the wealthy, perhaps. The humble may not be the best but are the
ones God CALLED.
Corinthian unity will
be based on the belief that it is not our own qualifications that matter but being
God’s tools.
Question for Reflection:
In what ways has the “wisdom” of the church
appealed to you? In what ways has it
been its foolishness that has appealed?
Read Matthew 5:1-12
Look at different translations
(Oremus Bible Browser has several, we used King James, The Message,
Contemporary English Version.)
Jesus is not telling
the crowds to become poor, or go into extended mourning.
Jesus is consoling
those who are poor, or mourning, or meek, reminding them of the values in God`s
kingdom, as contrasted to human society.
Thus, when we hear
them we should not think “Oh, I should be like that...” but “When I feel that
way, I should remember what Jesus said...”
3 ways to read the Beatitudes
–
- Allusion to mountain, where Moses was teaching 10 Commandments,
Jesus is the NEW MOSES teaching
NEW COMMANDMENTS ethics of promised land
(God’s kingdom).
- Indirect quotations to Isaiah 61 – 2nd or 3rd Isaiah – speeches to exiles, disenfranchised, seeking hope that is not traditional “wisdom.”
- Christological – understanding Jesus’ mission – eschatological (my kingdom is not of this world) Jesus embodies the blessed, and inherits the promise.
In English, “meek” can
mean submissive, weak, powerless.
Applied in translation to the original Hebrew or Greek, however, it
sends the wrong impression of this important spiritual quality.
Numbers 12:3 –
“Now the man Moses was very meek, more so than
anyone else on earth.” (from the KJV – our more contemporary translations, NIV
or NRSV, say humble or devout.)
Clearly Moses might
have been meek, yet as the leader of God’s people, not weak.
Matthew 11:29 –
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for
I am meek and lowly in heart: and you
shall find rest for your souls.”
Likewise, Jesus was a
leader passionate about God’s mission and ministry. Yet he knew that he needed gentleness and
compassion to really demonstrate God’s spirit.
The Greek word used in
both the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures) and in the
Christian scriptures, which we translate meek is “praos”.
Beyond the Bible, it
was used to describe (1) a soothing medicine, or (2) by sailors to describe a
gentle breeze, or (3) by farmers to describe a broken colt. All describe power or energy channeled under
great control.
Ephesians 4:1-2 – (KJV)
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with
all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love.”
Paul called the early
Christians to “meekness”, knowing that it would take self-control to live
together faithfully, with all their differences. Christian witness required courage, not
wimpiness! But to work together in a
ministry that crossed boundaries of class, ethnic origin and gender,
“gentleness” (NRSV) was also required.
Jesus’ beatitude
includes a more eternal understanding of “inherit the earth”. When the reign of God on earth begins, the
faithful (everyone?) will have what they need, there will be no more poverty,
we will share in creation’s wealth with justice.
We end with a quote
from Chilean version of the Beatitudes, written by P. Jacob
P. Jacob, from Chile:
Blessed are the poor …
not the penniless
but those whose heart is free.
Blessed are those who mourn …
not those who whimper
but those who raise their voices.
Blessed are the meek …
not the soft
but those who are patient and tolerant.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice …
not those who whine
but those who struggle.
Blessed are the merciful …
not those who forget
but those who forgive.
Blessed are the pure in heart …
not those who act like angels
but those whose life is transparent.
Blessed are the peacemakers …
not those who shun conflict
but those who face it squarely.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice …
not because they suffer
but because they love.
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