January 27, 2008
Third Sunday in Epiphany
Pastor Lynne Lorenzen
Isaiah 9:1-4, I Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4: 12-23
Once again in this text from Matthew we see his concern that what he says about Jesus follows texts from the Hebrew Scriptures. You will notice as we read through the gospel of Matthew this year that he quotes the Hebrew Scriptures more than the other gospel writers. It is very important to him to be able to demonstrate to his readers or hearers that this Jesus fulfills the pictures of the messiah that they are familiar with. It is important that in hearing these quotations, even if they are not exact, that the people will recognize them and nod their heads and understand that Jesus is the messiah.
Today Jesus goes from Nazareth to Galilee, a Gentile territory because Isaiah says so in chapter 9. There is conjecture that the reason that Jesus goes to Galilee is because the current Roman ruler, Herod Antipas, has decided to build a new and wonderful city by the sea, named Tiberius after the Roman Emperor. If Jesus is to challenge the current power he needs to do so at the site of the building program and where the citizens are being taxed and their fishing is being taken away by larger firms that pay taxes to Rome. Herod is in the process or urbanizing the area around Galilee, raising rents, and taxes and putting the family fisheries out of business.
In Isaiah, the situation is different. The Israelites are in exile in Babylon and are trying to maintain their identity in an alien land. The prophets are helping them keep up hope for return to Israel and to keep their community together by keeping the Sabbath and the Commandments. Thus the prophet proclaims to them that while they have walked in darkness and been oppressed by the Babylonians, they have seen a great light that has shined on them and the rod of their oppressor has been broken and they are to rejoice as at the time of harvest. The light imagery is familiar to them. They know that Moses and the Israelites were led across the desert by a pillar of fire at night. Whenever things have been frightening, God has provided a light to show them the way, to the Promised Land from Egypt and eventually in Isaiah, back to Israel from Babylon.
The people listening to Matthew would have made these connections. Jesus has come to make things different in Galilee, to challenge the new ruler who is oppressing the people and ruining their livelihoods. He has come to bring light in the darkness, just as Moses did. In this case Jesus comes preaching the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew uses heaven instead of saying Kingdom of God because he knows that devout Jews never say the name of God because it is too holy and he does not want to offend his listeners. Unfortunately this use of heaven has made possible the interpretation that the reign of God is only in heaven and not something to be expected on earth. Thus we have preachers today who seem to think that having the earth destroyed is a good thing because then the kingdom of heaven will replace the earth at least for the chosen few who are raptured into heaven. I think this is a great misunderstanding of the text. Matthew only meant to honor the language of his hearers, he did not intend to create a way to devalue the earth that God had created and proclaimed to be Tov Mahod, very good.
Jesus proclaims, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Another translation reads “Change your ways because Heaven’s imperial rule is closing in.” The point is that, the way things are in heaven is the way things should be on earth. The earth does not go away but the way people relate to one another changes and justice, peace and love prevail on earth as in heaven. Jesus is offering a new way to operate in the world, one that is rooted in justice that creates peace and that is motivated by love. Like Matthew, Jesus is reminding his listeners of the covenant that God made with Israel and how they were to relate to God, one another and their neighbors so that everyone has what they need. The reign of God had prevailed in Israel in the past, even if only for short periods of time. It is there in the creation waiting for the light to shine on it. The problem in Jesus’ day was that the religious leaders were in cahoots with the Roman rulers and the covenant was being ignored and many were hungry and suffering yet the religious leaders ignored the people and feathered their own nests, becoming wealthy and turning away from God, so Matthew considers the time to be one of darkness. So Jesus calls the people to repent, turn around, and change your ways. This reign of God is a vision for better way to live that honors the dignity of every person as made in the image of God and is the way God would have us live together. It is a vision worth working for and it is not easily achieved as we can see in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians where some wish to be more important than others based on who baptized them. Paul cannot believe what has been reported to him that this community he started could be so petty, yet there it is. He makes his argument finally in Chapter 13 that love is the more excellent way, the way of the vision of God.
This vision that the love of God includes gay and lesbian persons became a ministry here at St. Paul Ref in 1982 and we became the first Reconciling in Christ congregation in 1983. There are now RIC congregations across the U. S. and Canada and Wingspan is engaged in developing a model for wingspan type ministries across the church. Between now and August of 2009 when the next Churchwide Assembly meets in Minneapolis, we will join with many across the U. S. to bring this vision of justice, love and peace to the assembly. There is hope among God’s people that the rules can be changed so that persons who are gay or lesbian and in partnerships can be ordinarily ordained and rostered in the ELCA. It is important that this vision be kept in front of us so that when the shadows seem to overwhelm us, we can be reminded that this is God’s vision for the world. The light is here shining, as it did last weekend at the extraordinary ordination of Pastor Jen Nagel, so that we can at least catch a glimpse of it as it breaks through in Jesus and in others who work to make this vision a reality. This is so important that we pray at least every Sunday, “your will be done on earth as in heaven.” Amen.