The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (NRSV, Ro 10:8).
After an Easter season spent in the heady gospel of John, summer in year A brings us back down to earth with a long stretch of texts from Matthew’s gospel. We begin with Holy Trinity Sunday, and a reading of The Great Commission from the very end of Matthew. Over the course of fourteen Sundays, experiences from Jesus’ ministry bring the practical matter of faithful living into clearer focus. Thankfully, Matthew’s gospel helps us sort out real life ministry post-resurrection/outpouring of Holy Spirit. Let us not reduce Jesus’ teaching to a simple morality code, or only a “what are we to do?” conundrum, but also a call for prayer, faithfulness, and grace filled living in light of the great mystery of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Our summer readings will also invite us into the mystery of seemingly conflicting theologies between Matthew and Paul in Romans. Matthew may lead us to believe that discipleship is about “having enough faith,” causing us to lose ourselves in the thorny theology of glory. Or, we may despair at the thought of “losing ourselves” in order to be found. On the other hand, Paul reminds us that salvation does not rest on our good intentions. We were baptized into Christ so that we may live with him. Thanks be to God, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Balance seems to be key in keeping those two sacred foundational writings in check.
All together, our texts help point us toward the reign of God even if we cannot see it clearly. Like invisible yeast, we see its effects and know that it is there. We may also be assured that which ever reading we delve into, the Holy Spirit will help us interpret its meaning within our context. Our sacred scriptures were not written in a vacuum, and we certainly do not live in one. We live in the tension of real life, sometimes within spiritual struggle, and always with a dash of emotional investment and community influence. At the end of the day, Jesus welcomes us into the conversation and into the struggle of how to love our brothers and sisters. Let us enjoy the journey together. Happy Summer!
Peace,
Pr. Ernie +