Fourth Sunday after Trinity (24 June, 2018)

Not Worth It

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him."  So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died: 'Say to Joseph, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants."  But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  Genesis 50:15-20

Of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.  On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.  All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.  For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.  Psalm 138

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:14-21

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  Romans 8:18-23

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." He [Jesus] also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."  Luke 6:36-42

Sometimes a common theme is obvious.  That doesn't make the teaching any easier to grasp, understand, or even practice.

Both Joseph son of Jacob and St. Paul had experienced this, though in different ways.  Joseph had been treated horribly by his brothers while the pharisee formerly known as Saul was imprisoned and beaten multiple times.  Joseph only was a mouthy brat to his brothers, while Paul had once been the number one persecutor of early Christians.  After his time in prison, Joseph was placed in charge of all of Egypt.  After Paul spent a few days blind, he became a Christian, then an itinerant missionary.

Two stories, same common theme.  As St. Paul wrote to the church in Rome "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," and "never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God."

That is a level of patience that most of us cannot usually muster.

Joseph did.  He was in a died-out well, then sold into slavery, and then wrongfully imprisoned.  The whole time he did not complain, he did not argue, he did not fight against the authority he was under.  Rather he waited for the Lord.  And in his situation, things worked out greater than anyone could ever have imagined.  A literal "rags to riches" story.

But not every experience is like that.

St. Paul as a "pharisee of pharisees" who was being given great honor and authority in his persecution of the Church.  From the perspective of the "food chain" in Roman empire Judea, Saul of Tarsus had a lot of power and prestige.  And one trip to Damascus changed all that.  Blinded by the Light of Life, he converted to the very faith he was previously trying to destroy.  He searched the Scriptures for years then was commissioned to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.  Three long missionary journeys filled with debates, prison stays, floggings, stoning, sneaking out of town came to a climactic finale with a trip to Rome where he would be beheaded.

Quite the dramatic difference.

Christ makes it clear that it is not our duty to "fix" people.  We are to care for, support, even encourage, but it is not for us to execute judgement.  Not we are forbidden from judging, since as Christians we know the standards by which to judge, the Law of God.  But judging and being judgmental are not the same.  We should judge things to determine if they are right or wrong.  We should not look down upon people because of real or perceived "flaws."

Instead we are to love our neighbor and, like Joseph and Paul, wait for God.