Proper 15 A + God's power + 8.23.20

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Exodus 1:8-2:10, Ps. 124, Matthew 16:13-20)

They say that behind every strong man is at least one strong woman. But in the case of today’s scriptures, we can see strong women dating back many, many years from Jesus’ time, to the time of Moses. And it is their bravery that presages Jesus’ bravery and sacrifice for us, so many years from our time.

In the story we hear from Exodus, we have five brave women (at least). First, we have the Hebrew midwives, who although in relative terms powerless against Pharaoh, nonetheless defied Pharaoh’s wishes to kill the Hebrew boys and instead let them live. They trusted God, and God’s power was enough and more than enough. Through these humble but strong servants, Israel’s salvation is born through Moses. And three other brave women- Moses’ mother, Pharaoh’s daughter and Moses’ sister work together to save the baby who will later bring his people out of slavery to freedom. Talk about woman power!

And so it is that long history of resistance, of listening to God and following God even in the face of great obstacles, which we see echoed in this slender sliver of the gospel of Matthew that we hear today. The radio Bible study “Un Tal Jesus” has a striking re-enactment of this scene and I would like to re-cap it.

Jesus is hanging out, talking about the Kingdom of God and getting his followers all fired up. When into the crowd walks a very old Bedouin named Melchizedek. He is an old shepherd and he represents the ancient tribes that wandered the area. But if you recognize the name, not only from the book of Hebrews but all the way back to the book of Genesis, you will remember the priest to whom Abraham gives a tenth of the bounty of sacking a city after saving Lot. Melchizedek blesses Abraham (Genesis 14:17-20). And although Melchizedek is not of Hebrew descent, he shows us the model of an old priest. So this is all to say that as Jesus is hanging out with his friends an old priest-shepherd approaches Jesus. He is of the line of the priest who blessed Abraham many years hence. And he does something amazing. He hands Jesus his weathered, beaten up staff. After many years of shepherding, this is to be Jesus’. Jesus is the new shepherd of the sheep. And eventually the disciples begin to talk about this event. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. And in an interesting interpretation, Jesus at first asks them why they think this.

Why do they think he is the chosen one? And they tell him all their reasons. The healings, the miracles. And at first he appears unconvinced. Is he really unconvinced, or just wanting to hear their thoughts? Who do you say that I am?

But then he allows, yes, I have begun to see my ministry shift since the time that John the Baptist died. God is asking more of me. And he begins to speak of how this shift into living into being their savior in a new way will lead to difficulty. The staff he says is split in a place and so, too, will the disciples be. Even and especially Jesus will not pass through this without suffering, and death.

But he humbly resigns himself to carrying the staff.[1]

And it makes me think. As a Christian, every day we are asked by Jesus to pick up that staff just for a while. Not to carry all of its weight. We are not the great shepherd of the sheep. But we are his followers, and we have a duty to the other sheep to reach out, to care.

And this will not be without suffering. But there are also moments of great joy! And we may fall. We are human. But we can recall that it is not through our power that we are saved. It is through God’s power. God’s power that worked through five brave women so many years ago, and God’s power that was embodied in Jesus teaching and healing and making miracles and then giving his life for us, and then returning to life so many years ago. At this time, when other powers seem so strong in the world- the evils of disease and racism, the effects of fires- let us remember that in the face of those God’s power still shines stronger. Even through such seemingly weak vessels as us. If we keep taking up that staff and loving each other as Jesus has asked us to do.

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[1] Maria y Jose Ignacio Lopez Vigil, “Un Tal Jesus- El Baston del Mesias” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfoEtoD0O_0 (Posted Sept 20, 2012).