Tuesday Lectionary Leanings: Weeding or Dreaming or Theologizing Edition

As another Sunday approaches we pray (prayer found here):

God-who-keeps-promises:

every word you have spoken

of hope found in the depths of life,

of healing surprising our pain,

of grace jumping rope with children,

will all come true -

even when our stubbornness

deafens us to your whispers.

Jesus-who-sows-seeds:

every hope you have for us

of kindness never ending,

of persistent patience,

of sacrificial service,

can be found -

even when others cannot

see them in us.

Spirit-who-leads-us-into-life:

every dream you have

of peace becoming our best friend,

of joy bubbling from our hearts,

of strangers welcomed as kin,

will happen -

even when we insist on

living out our fantasies.

Behind us, under us, beside us, over us,

you are ever and always with us,

God in Community, Holy in One,

and so we lift our prayer to you saying,

Our Father . . .

THe readings for this week can be found here

Sadly, we skip the story of Jacob and Rebekah conniving to steal Isaac's blessing which is why Jacob is running away this week.  But still it amazes me that the ancients kept these stories of the one who will become the father of the nation.  Are these the sort of stories we would tell about our national heroes? (Although as I ask that I remember the beginning of the series Newhart where Dick learns that during the Revolutionary War the Stratford had been a brothel)

It could be tempting to go with Psalm 139, one of my personal favourites.  Is it blessing or curse, threat or promise that God is so ever present?  The writer himself seems unsure somehow.

Some of us have been revelling in Romans these past few weeks, and Paul continues on with flesh and SPirit talk.  This week's essay at Journey with Jesus suggests that this passage could be used in a discussion of universalism.  Which might be tempting too....

And then we have the Gospel reading.  Another parable and another interpretaion of a parable.  I remember when I was in seminary a comment being made that at times Matthew seems to have a bloodthirsty approach to judgment issues.  As one who does lean to Universalism I have to ask what right any of us might have to decide who is a weed.  The story also reminds me of a tale from the Albigensian Crusade.  As the story goes, one of the leaders called out in the heat of battle "Kill them all and let God sort them out"  (which sadly seems to be a typical Christian approach to crusading).  But of course the parable gives to opposite message--let them all grow and let God sort them out.

Where is the Spirit leading you this week?  What message is God planting in your heart to share with the people with whom you worship?

Images found here