Sunday, March 24
Readings: EX 3:1-8A, 13-15; 1 COR 10:1-6, 10-12; LK 13:1-9
We have a powerful set of readings in front of us today
In Exodus, Moses meets God through the burning bush. One of my favorite lines from this reading is, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” In my mind, God could say that about EVERY place we find ourselves. This may be the ultimate call to an environmental consciousness let alone a recognition that everywhere we go participates in divinity. You might consider that as a mantra for the rest of Lent – just stopping and remembering that you are on holy ground.
And God also says, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people…so I know well what they are suffering.” God sees the injustice. God hears the cries of the afflicted. This is good news for the oppressed, bad news for the oppressors and those who prop up and benefit from an oppressive system. It reminds me of the famous (albeit ironic) Thomas Jefferson quote, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” There’s a lot that this country will have to account for.
Paul then tells the Corinthians to watch their grumblings. He cites the sufferings of the Jews in the desert – especially those who complained – and how they did not survive. While Paul’s God seems a bit vengeful, my sense is that this reading is a warning for us to stop complaining so much about our lives. Paul is reminding people that even while they were in the desert, God fed the Israelites, gave them water and brought them through. Maybe you can relate. We can get so hung up on what’s NOT happening that we can easily lose sight of what is happening. This is a wake up call for gratitude.
Finally, Jesus hears about some bad things happening and takes on the theology that bad things only happen to bad people. There are subtle (and not so subtle), toxic theologies out there that often spring up after tragedies where some Christian pastor gets up and says that the floods, fires or whatever happened because there was so much “sin” in that place. It’s pretty clear from the gospel that Jesus rejects this thinking. He says the places where tragedies happen are no more sinful than anywhere else and that we’d do better to pay attention to our own spiritual lives and stop comparing. Sin is not “out there” somewhere. It’s “right here” – wherever we are. And don’ forget, sin for Jesus was essentially the rupture of our relationship with God and each other. So wherever there was some form of abuse, harm, oppression, violence, exclusion, etc. there was “sin”. In short, it was everywhere.
Here’s a little prayer I wrote to try to reflect on what I see as the major themes from today:
More often than I’d like to admit
I forget that I stand on holy ground
No matter where I stand
Or who I am standing with
I forget that sin is not what bad people do
But is as close as what I do and fail to do
To repair what is broken in this world
I forget that God pays special attention to the afflicted
And hears the cries of those in need
Inviting me to do the same
As God’s ambassador in the world
I forget that God has brought me through so much already
I can get so focused
On my disappointments and expectations
Neglecting all that is good
In and around me
For today, God
Help me remember
To re-member myself in the glorious world
To re-member myself with my brothers and sisters
To re-member myself with gratitude
So that I may re-member myself with you.