Proper 6A + Relationships: familial and with God + 6.18.23

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M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7);  Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23))

For all its crudeness at times, “Ted Lasso” is one of the most truthful and moving shows I have watched in a long time. The other day I watched an episode framed around parental relationships. Ted’s mother comes to visit, and it is clear from the get-go that he, who is usually always sunny, has a conflicted relationship with her. At one point he confronts her about how she didn’t deal well with the loss of his dad, and she in turn tells him that his son misses him. You can tell that he feels awful about it, and when she asks why he isn’t closer to him, he says he is afraid that he will leave, and that is why he is afraid to get close. She issues words of wisdom, that in the game of parenting, we win some, we lose some, but mostly we just tie and have to keep on playing.[1]

Today may be Father’s Day in the secular realm, but we also see a lot about relationships in the scriptures we read. First, Abraham and the three strangers who may personify God. Here, Abraham notices the divine in these three strangers and invites them in for a meal. They in turn share an amazing revelation -at her advanced age, Sarah his wife will give birth! It is so unlikely that she laughs, causing what can only be described as an awkward interaction with God- “why’d she laugh?” The strangers say. “What’s so funny about God blessing you?” “No I didn’t!” She says, even though she clearly did and is embarrassed. Many folks say that God essentially rewarded Abraham for showing hospitality. But I like the interpretation that Abraham, already having a relationship with God, recognized the divine and invited the strangers in as he would a friend.[2] Friendship with God is glorious and I believe is one helpful way for us to see our covenantal relationship with the Divine.
In today’s psalm, the psalmist’s relationship with God is one of gratitude for God’s abundant provision. This may be something we relate to some days, even as some days we relate more to the laments of other psalms. Today, I give thanks for God’s abundant provision of six baptisms in the past three weeks!

In today’s epistle reading, Paul is pointing out that our faith justifies us but at the same time that we were saved while sinners. God does not wait for us to be worthy before saving us. We have faith as a response to being saved, but it is God’s action that saves us. So many of our human relationships, says Paul, are all about whether someone has proven themselves first. Perhaps, as in the Lasso example, in some human relationships, such as healthy parent-child relationships, we see unconditional love in the willingness to keep “playing” despite both sides’ imperfections and mistakes. But on days like this we are also reminded that God is the one who is perfect in love, not us. If we seek perfection in our human relationships, we will likely fail. But we keep playing. For God and for those we love.

In the last passage we read today, from the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is sending out his disciples for the first time. You may notice that he only sends them to the Jewish people- the lost sheep of Israel. At first this surprised me, seeing this passage because I was remembering the end of Matthew and the great commission, where Jesus sends the disciples out to preach to the ends of the earth and to all people. But here he is beginning with baby steps. Start with the people you know, and/or share common language with. Start with the people who may understand God similarly to you. Share the good news. Heal people. Cast out demons. Minister unselfishly, without being focused on the reward. Reading this list, you might get overwhelmed if you imagine yourself to be a disciple or an apostle- a sent out one of Jesus. How on earth can one person do all of this? The truth is, you can’t. This is why we are in relationship with God. It is God’s power that does all of this. We are simply vessels, praying, ministering as we are led, and most importantly pointing out what God is doing.

Secondly, some of this seems odd to 21st century ears. What do you mean, casting out demons? Yes, some of these folks may have been affected by spiritual forces. But others may have been dealing with mental health issues. We don’t know. But the point is that they experienced healing of whatever was disconnecting them from human society. They were restored to relationship. That is what we try to do today, albeit in a different way. On Saturday, we will have a booth at Oxnard Pride and speak in support. Not because anyone there is sick and in need of healing, at least because of their identity. But because God is good and loving, and we want to counter the sick narrative that makes people feel as if they have to change who they are in order to be loved and accepted by God. We want to welcome folks to our community and restore relationships in whatever way we can.

Because we have felt God’s love in our baptism, we can share God’s love. We can help heal the world. We can seek relationships that build us up and form communities that heal, with God’s help. We can’t do it all alone, and we do need to be sustained also- the laborer deserves to be fed! We may need to cast off some dust of some people and places that don’t understand God’s love like we do. But in seeking likeminded folks and in building community together; in seeking to faithfully follow God, we will be sent out to heal.

Will we fail? Yes? Will we win? Yes. Most times we will draw. But we just keep playing. For the love of God and for the love of all who are our family and like family to us.

Amen.


[1] Ted Lasso, “Mom City,” Season 3, Episode 11, May 24, 2023.

[2] AnalyticalPerspectiveonGenesis 1115.pdf – see Keun and Ventner, at this link.

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