The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 7A), June 19, 2005
BCP: Jer. 20:7-13; Psalm 69:1-18 or 69:7-10,16-18; Rom. 5:15b-19; Matt. 10:(16-23)24-33
RCL: Gen. 21:8-21 or Jer. 20:7-13; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or 69:8-11, (12-17), 18-20; Rom. 6:1b-11; Matt. 10:24-39
When scripture presents accounts of people announcing the word of God, whether by prophets proclaiming the will of God in the Old Testament or evangelists preaching the gospel in the New Testament, it is greeted either with rejection or welcome. The authentic word of God is of such force that only rarely can it be received merely with indifference.
In our lessons for today, messengers are entrusted with proclaiming the word of God, and they are endowed with power to endure, even if they are persecuted. Jeremiah finds his charge to be nearly intolerable: "For me, Yahweh’s word has been the cause of insult and derision all day long" (Jer. 20:8b). The verses that follow the appointed lesson (20:14-18) are alarming for their intensity of anguish: "A curse on the day when I was born!" (vs. 14). Jesus’ charge to the disciples is only a little less daunting: "If they have called the master of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household?" (Matt. 10:25b).
Episcopalians generally find evangelism to be difficult or uncomfortable, perhaps because we are uncertain of our welcome — perhaps even because we are uncertain of our message. We do not want to appear to offend or be narrow-minded. Often we fail to bear testimony when we should. It is much more difficult to bear a message of the word of God when it is certain that the message will be rejected.
Jeremiah knows that even those who had supported him now look for his downfall: "All those who were on good terms with me watched for my downfall" (Jer. 20:10). Jeremiah has become offensive, yet his calling remains unrelenting. God’s assurance to him that he will be "invincible" to opposition means that there can be no rest for him.
In the gospel, the disciples’ perseverance is for the sake of the messenger at least as much, if not more, than it is for the hearers. In fact, in the lesson nothing is said about the recipients. It is all about the messengers. Perhaps this is a timely message for Episcopalians. Can we identify the essentials of the Christian faith and separate them from "issues"? Can we understand, accept, and obey that we are indeed to proclaim the gospel by word and example, whether it is popular or not to do so? And whether we will be successful or not? And whatever the cost?
Look It Up
Four animals in two contrasting pairs are mentioned in Matthew 10:16. What is the meaning of the rich analogies in this verse?
Think About It
The seventh verse of Psalm 7 addresses the possibility that people might come to shame or disgrace because of the psalmist. How could this happen?
Next Sunday
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 8A), June 26, 2005
BCP: Isaiah 2:10-17; Psalm 89:1-18 or 89:1-4,15-18; Rom. 6:3-11; Matt. 10:34-42
RCL: Gen. 22:1-14 or Jer. 28:5-9; Psalm 13 or 89:1-4,15-18; Rom. 6:12-23; Matt. 10:40-42
