Monday, October 26, 2020                (today’s lectionary)
Two pastors (and a couple more)
Two of the pastors we listen to on Sundays these days are in Austin, Texas and Mahomet, Illinois. Today Matt Cassidy in Austin and Dan Powell in Mahomet spoke to the power of compassion.
As we read yesterday’s lectionary and devotion, Margaret remembered how moved she was when she first read the Exodus passages in Exodus about kindness and compassion toward immigrants, orphans and widows. God’s love pours out of those words. And his insistence on our own like-mindedness comes with not-so-hooded threats. If you hurt others, God says, don’t be surprised if I hurt you. This is not a joke. What’s that we say? “God is not mocked!”
Brothers and sisters be kind to one another, and compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
Paul starts slowly, gently, you might say compassionately.
You are God’s beloved children, so make of your lives an imitation of Christ, who loved and handed himself over for us.
God is not mocked, his will WILL be done, even to the point of his own self-sacrifice. Jesus “is my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Abraham was not forced to sacrifice his son Isaac, but that wasn’t the happy lot of God the Father. Paul must feel God’s pain as he writes, knowing the violent death of Jesus.
Now we must stop sinning.
None of this, none of it! Immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, suggestive and silly talk, none of it any more! Instead simple thanksgiving, over and over again.
Matt from Austin shared an insight from one of his elders: What is an idol? An idol is something you think about a lot, worry about a lot, and talk about with others. It’s something that gets into your head and you can’t get it out. For Matt, that “something” is social media-incited anger. So he’s turned off not only social media, but even the morning-evening-all-day-and-all-night news for the foreseeable future.
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments.
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So DO NOT be associated with them.
A week into this fast, he’s thinner, feels lighter, and has energy to go another week. Well, OK, I think I’ll join you, Matt. Turn it all off. I just turned off my NBC News notifications, and a few other things as well on my phone. And the TV is staying tuned to TCM when I’m in the room. Those old movies seem pretty safe.
You were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. So live as children of the light. Behave like the very dear children of God that you are.
Matt and Dan preached yesterday. In Luke’s story today Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. Imagine yourself into the story – but not as a member of the congregation, not even as the woman unable to stand up straight. Imagine yourself as the leader of the synagogue. What would Matt or Dan have done? And of course, that’s not fair, the only fair question is, “What would I have done?”
The indignant leader Jesus was replacing for the day must have known that woman for years. Imagining myself as her pastor, I must have known more about her than anyone, and prayed more for her than anyone. So when Jesus answered those prayers, why would I get so upset? Upstaged? In trouble with my bishop? Anyhow my words are shameful: “Come on the other six days to be cured, not the sabbath!”
As soon as  those idiot words are out of my mouth, I can’t believe I said it. The people look at me for answers and encouragement, not this beating down. And the woman herself, she isn’t listening at all anyway. She’s too busy with her joy, falling down, standing up, raising her arms above her head, shouting Hallelujah at the top of her lungs.
Jesus hears me, though. And he calls me out like God calls out the guy who won’t give his friend back his cloak at night (see yesterday’s texts). “You numbskull! Hypocrite! Won’t you lead your ox to water this afternoon, this SABBATH afternoon? Let this woman have the gift God has for her right now.”
When he said this his adversaries were humiliated, and the whole crowd rejoiced at Jesus’ splendid deeds.
No sense crying over my thoughtless words. This pastor is bound to join the folks and cry with joy.
(Ephesians 4, Psalm 1, John 17, Luke 13)
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