Following as Stepping Out

Our readings this week touch upon many important subjects. When read together I am challenged that the decision to follow, to be obedient, begins for us with a decision to step out, often into a place of discomfort or vulnerability, but to actually get started with the living of our faith before we are sure of everything. (Third Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 6 [11]. Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 [or Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100]; Romans 5:1-8; and Matthew 9:35-10:8 or 23 )

Sentence:

“Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for the journey …” Matthew 10:9-10

Collect:

God of the journey and the destination,

Grant us the courage to step out on the path you reveal

and to follow where you would have us go.

Bless all that we meet

and may all things work together for our good

and the sharing of the good news. Amen.

Reflection:

Long ago, when I was trying to discern whether or not I was called to the priesthood, I went for a long walk on the beach in which I attempted to bargain with God! “If I am accepted into training I cannot afford my mortgage and my car repayments. What are you going to do about it?” I got back to the car park to find my car gone – stolen. It turned up a day later burnt out. The insurance pay out allowed for my loan to be paid off and a very old but reliable second hand car to be bought!! Not the solution I had imagined but clear enough. And the parish priest at that time chose the above verse at my send off.

Responding to the call, or claim, of the gospel often involves taking the first steps into a less than certain situation. For Sarah and Abraham they are called to provide hospitality to strangers.

You may like to read what I have previously written about Genesis 18 and hospitality.

God of Hospitality

For the people of Israel they enter the wilderness of Sinai and camp while Moses goes up the mountain to speak with God. Likewise, our journey of faith often includes times of wilderness and waiting, trials and problems, initiations and discipline. Especially at the moment of commitment to the faith journey but at many other times besides.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he writes the beautiful encouraging but challenging words: “… we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 The struggles we face on our faith journey or not merely obstacles but part of our formation and character development.

You may like to revisit a blog on Romans.

Romans and Faith

The journey of faith will often have us leaving behind the familiar and comfortable, at least for a time, and a making ourselves available to the needs and gifts of others. I have come to interpret the instructions to not take extra clothing and currency as pointing to the need to allow ourselves to become vulnerable to the mystery and needs and opportunities of ministry and become more reliant on God. Which are not easy concepts in our contemporary society where we admire self sufficiency and initiative. Especially as the disciples are not promised success in any worldly sense!

And yet neither are we to be naïve! While called upon to trust God we are not instructed to blindly trust all that we meet for another powerful saying from this story is: “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” 10:16

You may like to read a reflection on this text.

Wise as Serpents

Like those first disciples we are called into a life that does not protect us from complexity, conflict or challenge but means that everything that happens can be part of our building of character and making of room in our hearts for the Spirit of God. This is for our own good and for the good of our world in need. And yes, of course, we must consent but our readings this week remind us that we are less in charge than we might like and not so much captain of our own spiritual journey. This is partly why we can revisit this story every year, or three, and still find challenge and encouragement.

Even so, come Lord Jesus the Christ, come call us to follow into fields of beauty and surrender until we are truly yours. Amen

Intercessions:

Creator God, in whose hands the whole world rests

May your Life Force renew the face of the earth

and all who live upon, above and below her surface.

Help us to be wise and obedient custodians

and to share your earth with all peoples and creatures

We particularly pray for those places and beings

who have been endangered and harmed by greed and poverty …

Awaken us to beauty and need that we may live in gratitude and responsibility.

Creator God,

Hear our prayer.

Christ our teacher and redeemer,

Bind us together in love and obedience

and open our hearts and minds to your people and work.

We particularly pray that we in your church would be obedient to your command to love and care for your vulnerable ones …

Help us to grow in courage and compassion

until we are a beacon of light in our dark night.

Christ our redeemer,

Hear our prayer.

Spirit of the living God and new beginnings,

Beckon us to follow you into your kingdom

and make real your promises

as we seek to share the path with others.

We give thanks for those who have gone before us

and those who have been our companions.

May we be faithful friends of one another

that we may all come to be at home in your embrace.

Spirit of God,

Hear our prayer.

Living God,

Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,

Call us into forward into the journey of faith and life. Amen.

This is my work informed by all that I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others.