2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A
Called Out
God calls us to follow an unpredictable path – born of the Spirit from above – and calls this a blessing.
This week's lectionary Bible passages:
Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9
Who's in the Conversation
A conversation among the following scholars and pastors
―These texts, in one way or another, describe ways that we encounter God: through other persons, through faith, through questions, through God ̳coming out‘ in Jesus." Holly Hearon
―Abraham comes out, Nicodemus stays closeted, and Jesus looks fabulous! In each of these readings, whole worlds are turned on their heads." Charles W. Allen
―The dynamics of growth involves movement beyond the established and normative -- which often undergirds what is considered normal.‖Michael Miller
―These readings affirm the power and mystery of faith. Faith is a relational category — it is about one‘s relationship with God. Faith is the human response to God‘s call. It is the human side of the divine relationship. Grace is God‘s side.‖ Helene Tallon Russell
What's Out in the Conversation
A conversation about this week's lectionary Bible passages
For those of us who push at the boundaries of ―normality,‖ Abraham‘s call in Genesis 12:1-4a sets the stage for understanding these Bible passages. Charles Allen is intrigued by the fact that, while Abraham has no Bible to authorize his calling with a few choice proof-texts, he ventures forth from the only family values he knows. He follows a voice that apparently only he has heard. But this is not a choice for private spirituality, for as Helene Russell points out, his decision is meant to bring blessing to all families everywhere. His family may not have gone with him, but they were not forgotten.
Holly Hearon is struck by two aspects of this Genesis passage: First, the passage can describe the experience of many LGBT persons – we leave behind the ―house‖ of our parents (verse 1) to go to a new land (somewhere over the rainbow?) where God shows us our identity as GLBT persons. We are taken to a new land not only in terms of our identity, but also in terms of the communities we belong to and a way of being in the world. But it is a place that God‘s own self reveals to us.
Second (echoing Helene Russell‘s point), God tells Abram that he will be blessed so that he may be a blessing. It invites LGBT people to consider the particular blessing that they bring to the world. Such blessings include qualities like hospitality, welcoming the stranger, the importance of community, and the capacity to celebrate life with joy and humor. Similarly, Michael Miller finds it important to stress that whatever might have been the familial, social and religious pressures placed upon Abram, his growth involved a new understanding of God and of self in relation to the rest of the world. With confidence in Abram‘s new understanding of God and self, he was able to stand against the status quo and set out on a risky journey of self-discovery, other- discovery and further God-discovery
When have you had to strike out on your own, without any guarantees from your family or faith community? What voice did you hear? How might this be a blessing for everybody — even those who did not go with you?
Paul‘s reflection in Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 on Abraham‘s faith has been used by later Christians to downplay the importance of Torah – Jewish Scripture and tradition. But Holly Hearon and Charles Allen both insist on remembering that Paul‘s attitude toward Torah is complex. Here he is trying to show why non-Jews are and always were included in God‘s promises.
Abraham, Holly points out, was still in a sense a Gentile when he believed God — he had not yet received the sign of circumcision. For Charles, Paul‘s point that the promise did not come through the law is another reminder that Abraham had no Bible to back up his risky decision. It doesn‘t mean that Torah, or the Bible, is unimportant, but it suggests that even they do not confine God‘s voice. Michael Miller concurs that Torah points not to a constricting orthodoxy, but to an ideal way of being that reflects God‘s common life with us. It is not meant to confine God‘s working or God‘s voice.
Like many of us today, Paul is wrestling with how to honor his own Scripture in a way that leaves room for God to speak in new, seemingly unprecedented ways. God spoke before Torah. God spoke through Torah. God spoke after Torah. And God still speaks.
How do we honor the voice of God in the Bible and still listen for God to speak in unprecedented ways? What room do we make for other voices? What room do we make for God‘s voice?
The wind blows where it chooses, says Jesus in John 3:1-17. God‘s voice is not confined. Michael Miller hears Jesus telling Nicodemus that faith creates the kind of openness to the dynamic presence of God (depicted by the notion of Spirit) that enables changes so radical that they are only adequately represented by the notion of being born again or ―from above‖ (verse 3). For Holly Hearon, the story of Nicodemus reflects the story of those of us who have not yet come out in whatever way that phrase can apply. It‘s the story of any who catch a glimpse of their identity, but can only approach it in the shadows because they fear being ―found out‖ or losing status – jobs or positions of privilege. To be born of the spirit (from above) is to embrace our status as children of God. God‘s intention is that we may have life – even if we have to approach God from the shadows: it is a beginning.
The alternative gospel lesson in Matthew 17:1-9 recounts the Transfiguration. It is almost too predictable that Holly Hearon and Charles Allen would see this as another story of Jesus being outed by God. Charles quips, ―And doesn‘t he look fabulous!‖ Helene Russell hears Jesus‘ ―do not be afraid‖ (verse 7) as an assurance that we do not need to fear our own transformations
Psalm 121 reminds us that God, our creator, embraces us, desires for us abundant life and honors our integrity as children of God.
Where is the wind of the Spirit blowing in your life? Can you afford to respond with openness? If not, what other responses are available to you right now? How can God transfigure your circumstances?
Prayerfully Out in Scripture
Call us out, O God, from familiar settings. Lead us into unexplored regions,
and make our lives a blessing to all whom we meet.
Give us courage to explore you and to explore ourselves openly. Amen.
Bible passages are selected based on the Revised Common Lectionary, copyright © 1992 by Consultation on Common Text (CCT). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church's Welcome Statement
Welcome to Oak Grove! We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, LGBTQ, straight, filthy rich, dirt poor, or don’t speak “Minnesotan.” We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, broken-hearted, or in need of a safe place.
We don’t care if you are more Presbyterian than John Calvin or haven’t been to church since little Jimmy got baptized. We welcome you if you can sing like Dessa or Prince, or if you are like many of us who can’t carry a note in a bucket.
You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you believe in God or if you’ve never been to church.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60, but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome fourth-graders and 90-somethings. We welcome those who are liberated by wheelchairs or walkers.
We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers and Mountain Dew drinkers, vegetarians, carnivores, junk-food eaters and even Packers fans. We welcome you if you have some memory challenges. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted.
We welcome you if you’re having problems (who isn’t?) or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like organized religion. We’ve been there, too. If you blew all your offering money partying, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. And we welcome those who could not imagine being inked or pierced. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake…We are glad YOU are here!
(We modified this from someone else’s original, but we mean every word of it!)
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