Readings for today (Proper 8, Track 1)
As a parent, I cannot skip over the near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis. Reading this story several thousand years later, on the other side of the world, from a fully industrialized and city-centered life, this story is horrifying!
Biblical interpreters have told us that we should “have the faith of Abraham” to be willing to give up all that is most precious to us. Others that we should “submit like Isaac”, who must have had some inkling of what was happening as his trusted father trussed him up and laid him atop a newly laid bonfire. Or that God will intervene and save the day if we just have enough faith.
These interpretations can lead to theologies that make permissible physical and emotional abuse of children, women, domestic partners, and ourselves. Theologies that crush spirits and lives.
The explanation that makes most sense to me is that this story is here because it IS memorable. It reminds us that, unlike other religions in Abraham’s day, we do not sacrifice the lives of children (or anyone else) to please God.
God desires life for us, not death. God’s fullest expression of love is for us to love one another. Love one another so that all people and creation are living fully, growing, learning, in healthy and nurturing relationships.
The reading from Romans emphasizes that we human beings possess the power of choice. We can choose to live by our human instincts, which are naturally self-interested and competitive. Or we can focus our lives on God, striving to worship God with our lives by trying to respect the dignity of every human being and preserve creation for future generations.
Part of discipleship is acknowledging that we are all doing our imperfect best at living holy lives - and we all fail. In our moments of feeling like a failure, a disappointment, unworthy or unlovable, our most broken and vulnerable moments, God never forgets or abandons us. God’s grace ensures that we can always return to favor with God by asking for forgiveness. Choosing to follow God to our best abilities at any given time is choosing life over death, even if we cannot immediately see the growth that will result.
At Trinity, we love and welcome all people - because we believe that every person is uniquely and beautifully created in the image of God. The Holy in each of us recognizes and delights in the Holy in every other living being. We rejoice when we come together for worship, conversation and learning, and for service to our community and one another.
The word ‘welcome’ appears 6 times in our 3 verse Gospel reading today. This reading is the final installment from Jesus’ instructions when he sends the 12 disciples out on their first mission trip to heal all people, exorcize demons, raise the dead and generally proclaim God’s kingdom of life and health and full inclusion. Jesus reminds his disciples to recognize and receive welcome where it is offered - even something so small as a cup of cool water.
Welcome. Originally wil- (meaning desire or pleasure) and -cuman (meaning come). When we say it aloud, we address it to another person. “Welcome” as a greeting when arriving. Or “You are welcome” when someone thanks us. Literally, ‘I desire that you are here’ or ‘my desire agrees with you coming here.’
Trinity welcomes people of every race and nation, LGBTQ+ and straight folx, people of all ages, those who have lots of religious experience, and those who have none. People who live in houses and those who don’t, from every socio-economic location. And people who have lots of questions about God. When we say we welcome all people, we proclaim that our hearts desire a community that reflects the incarnation of many different reflections of God’s image.
Desiring the diversity of God’s people to come, as our neighbor or our faith community, challenges us. Every new person who joins our community, for a single service, a few weeks, or much longer, changes the constellation of relationships in our community. Every person brings their own set of life experiences, passions, and expertise. In this new life post pandemic, we are learning again and still how to welcome all God’s people.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, my heart, our Trinity heart, desires that you find a place of joy and peace, comfort and strength, learning and service here at Trinity. We welcome your imperfectly beautiful best self!
Welcome begins by simple acts of hospitality: introducing ourselves by name and offering a cup of cool water. In doing so, we meet the Holy in one another and we welcome God into our midst.
Our journey toward God brings us again and again back to water, living water at the well or the font, to be refreshed, reminded, renewed in our faith and curiosity for God. Welcome!
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