Bible Challenge
Clergy Reflection
Day 81
Joshua 10-12; Psalm 68; John 2
O.K. This one’s really tough. How is someone, namely me, to demonstrate redeeming Grace using today’s readings from Joshua 10-12 and Jesus’ anger- filled, whip assaulting behavior, driving the business dealers from the Temple? If I were a biblical literalist, I would confidently embrace the fact that God was a conquering God, accomplishing Godly purposes, for the Israelites. Indeed, God was for the Joshua writers a violent, murderous, merciless, destroyer of life and property of the “enemies” of Israel. I would further conclude the Divine seed of Righteous anger and judgment didn’t fall far from the Paternal tree. Jesus’ exercise of fury upon the money changers in the Temple would certainly be considered Righteous anger by some. If it was as simple as I being a literalist, my task would be far easier. Alas… I am not…Thanks, Mother Corey, for this Bible challenge.
So, what is your reflection of Joshua 10-12? My offering is, although the “ite” nations may have been historically and violently routed by the Israelites, it was not the loving God of my personal experience who sanctioned the slaughter of those people. When it comes to Jesus clearing the Temple, he had a right to be angered. Which one of us would not be repulsed if our sacred spaces of worship were used for purposes of commerce, other than BINGO?
The core message I bring away from our readings is this… God’s Promise. God promised Abraham and Sarah that He would give to His chosen a land flowing with milk and honey. It would eventually be the land of the “Ite” people: the Hittites, Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites. The redeeming Grace is God was faithful to His promise to fulfill God’s covenant to His people, however it may have historically unfolded.
Let’s explore now the meaning of our covenanting with God… The first story in John’s gospel, Chapter 2, is that of Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. He did this to demonstrate the great significance of the marriage covenant. After all, the marriage vows are a covenant. Theirs are a sacred promise made between those being married, and God, and our community.
Now think about the covenants God has called you to enter upon, be they religious or secular. In your covenanting, promising, legal contracting, did you see the hand of God moving your choices and decisions? Was the will and purpose of God an integral part of your personal or business preference? Or, were the covenants you made to better your self-driven advancement and success?
Hey, we’re human… Don’t feel bad if your answer was the later… OK, you can feel bad… Please remember, that we’re all on the journey of becoming “Christ- like” as we live into our baptismal covenant. We are not there… But, our loving God calls us forward empowered by the Holy Spirit and Grace to become like His son. A BIG AMEN?
Today is Maundy Thursday. It was the night Jesus was put to the test. His love for his Father God was so perfectly intense that He freely chose to take upon Himself the sin, the pain, the failures, the dehumanization of our thoughts and actions, and all activities of Darkness. No human could bear the pain of the world’s sin that Jesus took upon Himself! He did this to fulfill the ultimate Promise/Covenant of the Father to bring us back to God’s Self. We are now living in the Promise, knowing one day we will be raised to the Joys of Heaven.
My friends, we live in a violent world. I pray your God is not a violent God hell bent on an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... Let us remember, that God sent His son because God loves us so deeply and intimately… This Passion Week, I hope you have encountered our God of Love and Promise, Forgiveness and Healing. This is our God who wants nothing less for His people than the Joy and Peace of His loving Heart.
Blessings for a Holy Week and Joy-filled Easter!
Fr. Bernard J. Pecaro,
St. Martin, Pompano Beach
Clergy Reflection
Day 81
Joshua 10-12; Psalm 68; John 2
O.K. This one’s really tough. How is someone, namely me, to demonstrate redeeming Grace using today’s readings from Joshua 10-12 and Jesus’ anger- filled, whip assaulting behavior, driving the business dealers from the Temple? If I were a biblical literalist, I would confidently embrace the fact that God was a conquering God, accomplishing Godly purposes, for the Israelites. Indeed, God was for the Joshua writers a violent, murderous, merciless, destroyer of life and property of the “enemies” of Israel. I would further conclude the Divine seed of Righteous anger and judgment didn’t fall far from the Paternal tree. Jesus’ exercise of fury upon the money changers in the Temple would certainly be considered Righteous anger by some. If it was as simple as I being a literalist, my task would be far easier. Alas… I am not…Thanks, Mother Corey, for this Bible challenge.
So, what is your reflection of Joshua 10-12? My offering is, although the “ite” nations may have been historically and violently routed by the Israelites, it was not the loving God of my personal experience who sanctioned the slaughter of those people. When it comes to Jesus clearing the Temple, he had a right to be angered. Which one of us would not be repulsed if our sacred spaces of worship were used for purposes of commerce, other than BINGO?
The core message I bring away from our readings is this… God’s Promise. God promised Abraham and Sarah that He would give to His chosen a land flowing with milk and honey. It would eventually be the land of the “Ite” people: the Hittites, Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites. The redeeming Grace is God was faithful to His promise to fulfill God’s covenant to His people, however it may have historically unfolded.
Let’s explore now the meaning of our covenanting with God… The first story in John’s gospel, Chapter 2, is that of Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. He did this to demonstrate the great significance of the marriage covenant. After all, the marriage vows are a covenant. Theirs are a sacred promise made between those being married, and God, and our community.
Now think about the covenants God has called you to enter upon, be they religious or secular. In your covenanting, promising, legal contracting, did you see the hand of God moving your choices and decisions? Was the will and purpose of God an integral part of your personal or business preference? Or, were the covenants you made to better your self-driven advancement and success?
Hey, we’re human… Don’t feel bad if your answer was the later… OK, you can feel bad… Please remember, that we’re all on the journey of becoming “Christ- like” as we live into our baptismal covenant. We are not there… But, our loving God calls us forward empowered by the Holy Spirit and Grace to become like His son. A BIG AMEN?
Today is Maundy Thursday. It was the night Jesus was put to the test. His love for his Father God was so perfectly intense that He freely chose to take upon Himself the sin, the pain, the failures, the dehumanization of our thoughts and actions, and all activities of Darkness. No human could bear the pain of the world’s sin that Jesus took upon Himself! He did this to fulfill the ultimate Promise/Covenant of the Father to bring us back to God’s Self. We are now living in the Promise, knowing one day we will be raised to the Joys of Heaven.
My friends, we live in a violent world. I pray your God is not a violent God hell bent on an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... Let us remember, that God sent His son because God loves us so deeply and intimately… This Passion Week, I hope you have encountered our God of Love and Promise, Forgiveness and Healing. This is our God who wants nothing less for His people than the Joy and Peace of His loving Heart.
Blessings for a Holy Week and Joy-filled Easter!
Fr. Bernard J. Pecaro,
St. Martin, Pompano Beach
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