Thursday June 20 Pentecost 4
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Psalm 85
Trust that God will save us, despite what we have done, and will fill us with plenty and fill the land with justice.
Psalm 86
O God, you have been so generous to me, I trust you, and ask you to uphold me when I am attacked.
Numbers 12.1-16 What’s Numbers about?
These are strange ancient memories of conflict with Moses’ leadership regarding his marrying outside Judaism. An ancient poem or hymn is inserted into the story, a sign either that the story may have been intended to illustrate the song, or that the song was inserted to explain the strange story. God intervenes almost physically, punishing the critics, and thus affirming Moses’ marriage to an outsider. However, after a week’s exile, the critics can return to the community. The story may be suggesting that God here sets a new standard of commitment to all, regardless of race.
At the time this story was compiled, the Israelites were returning to the same land following their defeat and a generation in exile, and would have found these stories from a thousand years earlier to be of great encouragement when they had formed relationships with outsiders from Babylon.
Matthew 18.10-20 What’s Matthew about?
Matthew is particularly concerned about the health of the early Christian community, which may indicate that conflicts within the community were arising.
Jesus then calls for a third act of irrational commitment—a shepherd incompetently abandoning an entire flock to save a single sheep. The Christian community is to be equally irrational about a single wavering Christian who is to be kept in the community at all costs. Jesus continues the theme saying that disciples are to go to extreme lengths to forgive and so to heal the community divisions. But in Matthew’s understanding Jesus acknowledges there are practical limits—if someone refuses to take responsibility for their offence they must leave the community. Jesus says he is always in the midst of the community particularly when it is in conflict. These can be helpful words in our time.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God, without you we are not able to please you.
Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.