Proper/Propio18A +What Time is It? + 9.6.26

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

Proper/Propio18A +9.6.26

(Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20)

The readings today ask us, what time is it? En que momento estamos? We might think about this literally. We’re in this weird time where? It is the first official sort of end of summer and the harbinger of fall on Labor Day weekend. Literalmente estamos en un tiempo de cambio entre el verano y los días largos y a veces más tranquilos y el otoño y estar regresando a reuniones, productividad y más.

At the same time, we've just passed through some very hot days. And it's also pumpkin season in the in one coffee shop. Wow, hemos pasado por unos días calientes. Y a la vez es el tiempo de la calabaza en las tiendas de café. Es el empiezo de spooky season para algunos.

On a more serious note, we are sobered by what we witness in the world. Things like the flooding in Nepal. We pray for continued recovery efforts and for all the helpers. Estamos orando por los impactados por los diluvios en Nepal. And we've also lost some beloved figures. Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Gloria Steinem and Wendell Berry. Perdimos a unas figuras en las artes y letras.

Aunque no los conocimos, sentimos que son importantes para nosotros. Even though we may not have known them, we felt like we did through their art and work.

And on a very local level, we've also heard that there was a shooting at the Collection in Oxnard last Friday. It is one of the areas known to be fairly safe in Oxnard and that was shocking for the community. We pray for the young man who was struck by a stray bullet. Levantamos al joven quien fue fusilado por error en la Collection en la tienda Five Guys.

So we are lifting up folks locally and internationally. Levantamos situaciones locales e internacionales. Este también es un tiempo de cambio. This is also a time of shift. From Summer to Fall. Estamos moviendo del verano al otoño, un tiempo más enfocado. The kids are going back to school. Teachers are starting at school. Those who are retired are now figuring the new way of being. Los niños regresan a la escuela y los maestros también. Los padres entran un nuevo ritmo, y los recién jubilados están encontrando un nuevo ritmo aún. Even with workers who may have been continuing to work through this time, there's a new focus. Por los que siguen trabajando horario normal o los jubilados, todavía sentimos un cambio. Y tal vez también descansamos este fin de semana. And hopefully we get some rest this weekend.

The readings today are very interesting from that standpoint. We look at the reading from Exodus. It's talking about a formative moment in the history of the people of Israel. This is something that the Jewish people will act out every single year. To remember their history to remember what their people went through, and so the Passover is a very important. La Pascua de los Judíos es muy importante para la gente de Israel. Y es un momento en que ellos recuerden como Dios los protegió y los guio tras la historia.

Here in Exodus, the Jews are reminded of how God has guided them and given them a sense of identity through history, even through times of persecution and oppression. I think this can speak to some of us today. Those who may feel that they are experiencing persecution or oppression.

Tal vez hay algunos quienes ahora se han sentido como están en un tiempo de opresión. Si es asi, Espero que sienten apoyo de Dios en este pasaje, un recuerdo que Dios los esta acompañando en este momento.

In times of oppression, different power dynamics are at play.
And the scriptures, particularly the gospel, remind us that building intentional Christian community takes a certain skill set. It takes a certain way of being together. It's never just about how individuals interact with each other. It also has to do with the impact on the whole group. Cuando estamos en comunidades cristianas no se trata solo de que los individuales estén bien tanto como que es el impacto en toda la comunidad.
 
And so that's part of what Jesus may be getting at here with this passage. In Matthew, he's saying in order to be unified, you have to find a way to relate that will not harm the community. And if there's somebody in the community that is actually sinning against another person that could harm everyone too.

Si alguien está pecando en contra de alguien en la comunidad, puede tener un efecto en toda la comunidad. This is important, not just for those individuals, but also for the survival of the Christian Community. I've had a couple of occasions where we have had to work with individuals who have in effect sinned against other members in the community.

And we've had the set limits. We had to tell them we loved them, but we had to have some time apart and reset boundaries. This is to protect the community but also has to do with protecting the person at a certain level. Because if they are sinning, that's not good on their soul either, right?

Esto se trata de proteger tanto la comunidad como la persona. Porque alguien quien no esta actuando bien no ayuda ni a si mismo ni a la comunidad.

Lo que me encanta de este pasaje es que nos da los pasos. Primero, hablas directamente con la persona que considera que esta fallando. Luego, si no escuchan, hablas con un par de personas. Y luego vas a la comunidad mas grande.

What I love about this passage is it has the steps, right? For conflict resolution with someone you feel is doing wrong. You talk directly to the person. If they don’t hear you, then you involve another person or two if necessary. It's always the last step to involve the whole church, because it's a more complicated thing. Es más complicado involucrar toda la congregación. But at the same time, those steps are very important. No one person can make the whole decision, though it is the priest’s job to help make the community safe.

Es algo que se hace en comunidad, aunque también es el papel del clero de tratar de mantener una comunidad segura lo más posible. Another thing is important here- if it comes to the point of restricting someone from community, we never do this with a wish to cut people off. Even that part about tax collectors is a reminder that they were the first to be evangelized to in many cases.

Asi que tratar a alguien como un cobrador de impuestos no es decir que van a estar fuera de la comunidad para siempre. Pero tienen que mostrar un cambio de vida para mostrar que esten bien para regresar.
The person who is like the tax collector is never just cut off, but we must look for a way to make sure that if they return, they are safe to be around others. We are always about trying to restore relationship as well as maintain a safe community. That is why, even if we do something wrong, we try to work it out not just cast people out unless a harm could continue. No solo echamos a alguien sino tratamos de trabajar juntos para sanar.

And if we live like that, we really can do focused and good work together, and follow Jesus together. Todos trabajando juntos de buena manera nos ayuda a vivir el evangelio de una nueva forma.

With God’s help, we can do wonderful work together and spread the gospel. Spread the good news. Now, that's the exciting part. If we can live a good life together and share the good news with others, we all experience abundant life. Se trata de vivir y compartir el mensaje de Jesús para juntos tener una vida abundante.
 
So, today isn't just about strict rules or regulations, but it's also about how to live an abundant life together as we recommit together. In this time of fall, of return and of the last part of ordinary time, let us recommit. Nos comprometemos a Cristo de nuevo y tratemos de relacionar bien el uno con el otro. Para una vida abundante para todos.
 
We ask God's blessings as we recommit to this time together. We try to live better together and continue to do justice, and love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Así continuamos de hacer la justicia, amar la misericordia y caminar humildemente con nuestro Dios. Hoy y siempre. Now and forever. What time is it? ¿Qué hora es? Time to recommit to building healthy and loving communities together. Es la hora de compromiso de construir comunidades saludables y llenos del amor de Dios. Amen