For Sunday
Proper 22A
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Reading
Reflection
How do we respond when we realize a challenging parable is about us? Do we reflect on it, trusting that Jesus has told us something invaluable?
Nah. We probably get mad.
Jesus’s criticism of the Temple leaders is withering. It leaves them to stew in inept rage.
But this parable comes when those leaders hold all of the legal power; and are looking to use it. Jesus, on however, had the authority with the people. Of course, these measures aren’t equal. Authority isn’t going to keep him from the cross.
It is hard to cast this in our own lives. We have far more freedom than the Hebrew people did. And most of us would align with the Temple leadership if this were our church.
For people of faith who read the gospel of Matthew, we’ll find that most of Jesus’s teachings in his final week seem dark. Almost like a collection of what-not-to-dos. We receive them when we’d rather think about what-to-dos.
Hear, then, a command to love. To be generous. Trust. Reject greed and self gain; choose community gain and hope. Be the grace you long to receive.