Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
It seems to me the characteristics of the faithful Christian as described by Paul in his Letter to the Romans (12:9-21) offer us an extraordinary, comprehensive invitation to have our lives transformed. It is an invitation which will take our whole life to absorb, understand and practice. The text from Paul’s letter acts as a bridge between the two readings, in Exodus (3:1-15) and in Matthew’s Gospel (16:21-28), as we hear the conversation between God and Moses, where God asks Moses to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt and Moses is resisting the invitation. His resistance is built out of fear, a strong sense of inadequacy, a lack of trust, and a desire to not get involved in God’s plans!
In contrast, Matthew’s gospel describes Jesus deliberately raising awareness with his disciples and companions about his growing expectation of the nearness of his death and the manner of it as he trusts God while stepping into this wilderness. Jesus knows he must travel to Jerusalem, to confront the heart of power, be denied and betrayed; where he knows he will be subjected to, and experience enormous suffering at the hands of his own leaders and people; and be killed, in collusion with the Roman authorities. As Peter tries to deny this reality, Jesus has harsh words for him, and calls him Satan. Jesus absolutely rejects Peter’s generously offered temptation to choose a different path. In doing so, Jesus reminds us all, by choosing to follow Jesus, we too must take up his cross, and although we might lose our lives for his sake, in doing so we will find new life.
Both stories speak hard, confronting truths about our choices, about life and death. And Paul reminds us how we can choose to step into these truths in a way that gives us life and brings us each day into God’s kingdom. We must learn to look honestly and directly at the world and not flinch; nor should we avert our eyes and close our ears. God calls us to learn, know, and act very differently to the world’s expectations.
As I think about the choices we face today, for many people it feels as if there are no positive choices. The only choice might be between two evils so we might as well go with the flow. We feel powerless and so retreat, away from danger, from insecurity, from needing to think about other people, reassess or change our minds, hearts and actions, essentially retreat, away from God. Yet Jesus is calling us repeatedly to live into God’s kingdom and not to remain stuck in this world’s culture and expectations.
So, by choosing Jesus, we are choosing to confront the world’s powers: we contribute to improving the needs of those around us, extending hospitality to strangers, praying at all times, not persecuting or becoming angry, not yelling and shouting at strangers or rebuffing them, living peaceably, not returning nastiness and unkindness with the same response, and Paul reminds us, always we must leave room for God.
In this last month, I discovered, the immigration agents in the US have picked up over 50,000 people to deport as these numbers increase month on month. This country is looking to copy these ideas. In the US, the cruelty is increasing: judges are abandoning children who are now without their parents; or ‘trying’ children in courts who are without parents or lawyers, as they seek to increase pressure on people who are rejected and despised to leave. The rules are being changed continuously, to increase the suffering, the injustice and the cause the death of hope.
In this country, money for homelessness is being reduced, money and any intentional focus for women and children who are facing family, domestic and intimate partner violence is being pulled back, the numbers killed are rising; the consequences of climate change are still being challenged as are solutions to slow down our human impact; and offering help for our neighbours is considered unreasonable; our culture wars are escalating, and our church both nationally, and locally has the capacity to become a battleground in a ghost war over Jesus’ invitation to follow him and how this is interpreted and acted upon.
In some places and circumstances, people are choosing to scapegoat and blame the ‘other’; shouting out their fears, directly and on social media, ever more loudly, to drown out the voices of suffering. In the quiet of our hearts, we know all are welcomed by God: so our courage to resist Christian nationalism, misogyny and abuse is frequently called into question by the world around us.
So, what does God’s call to us look like here in this place, between ourselves and the wider community as we look and see the suffering and unkindness, the hypocrisy and contempt: and, the immense love, care, compassion and courage offered by so many in our community? Are we prepared to keep on responding clearly, lovingly, courageously to God’s call, as Jesus invites us, and as Paul has made so plain?
Because it was at this point in his teaching and conversation that Peter wanted Jesus to change trajectory, to look after himself and comply with the world, like so many around us: and, it was at this point when Jesus turned on Peter and said, ‘Stop!’
You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ (Matt. 16:23)
Our choice is as clear as we want it to be. Jesus has asked us and so let us deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus, each and every day. Let us not be the stumbling block for those around us or for ourselves.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; …persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:9-21)
The Lord be with you.