"Creation flavored" thoughts on the lectionary texts
Date: November 23 (I'm almost back on
the track - Jack!)
Text: Psalm 100 Make a Joyful Noise
Thoughts
We are God's people, the sheep of God's pasture - God made us as an integral part of this whole Creation adventure.
Note that despite what Gen 1 sounds like, we surfaced in, evolved from, appeared out of the Creation; we were not "stuck on"
as some afterthought!
I guess I'm cool with being a sheep - although I think chipmunks are cuter! If the psalmist said to you - "Quick,
I need an animal reference," which one would you suggest?
Text: Ezekiel 34.11-16,20-24 God will be the
shepherd and gather the sheep
Thoughts
Sheep, again. And "their own land". Could that mean "where they are meant to be",
instead of "the land they conquered/bought/own"?
Good pasture and mountain meadows. How do we manage "pasture" for our animals? As feed lots?
as Confined Animal Feeding Operations (Let's make a joyful noise over the proposition that passed in California!)? as
free-range fields? And how do we take care of the topsoil? Wendell Berry notes that we can't make topsoil, we
can only help it make itself! (And without it, we are in fairly big trouble!)
And then it's interesting that the lectionary leaves out vs 18 and 19! I think I would be inclined
to put them back in.
"the fat and the lean" - I assume, the "strong" and the "weak". So the vision here goes somewhat against
the "survival of the fittest", or could it be that teamwork, relationships, collegial style, favor in God's eyes, makes
one "more fitting" than just brute strength?
Again in vs 16 - the fat and strong. God will feed all with justice. It becomes a "Creation
flavored thought" when environmental justice issues surface.
Text: Matthew 25.31-46
Final Judgment - the sheep and the goats
Thoughts
Again - the sheep. And the goats. Is this an "un-natural separation"?
Do we also "do unto Jesus" when we take care of endangered species, trees, rivers, tracts of land that God enjoys "as
is" without being developed? Do we ignore or even abuse Jesus when we ignore the concerns of Creation or even abuse
it.
Prayer
Shepherd of Creation,
forgive us for trampling your good pasture,
for muddying your clear water,
for pushing aside those who are smaller,
or weaker,
or slower (or even stationary!),
or just less fortunate than we are.
Let your justice flow into our world
that all Creatures great and small, human and non,
might find a good life and bring joy to your heart.
Bless the sheep and those who care for them. Amen.
One Thing to Do This Week
This (Nov 23) is Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. Pause for a moment to think about how your world is governed.
Are there laws or policies that do not resonate with the Reign of Christ, the Time of God's Peace? How could you protest
them? A yard sign? A letter to the Newspaper? An email to Congress?
And Enjoy the Moon! I hope it's clear and shining on you the way it's shining on me!
