The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Sunday of Proper 17: Year A
“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Matthew 16:23)
Who of us can really set aside our own yearnings, even to do the will of God, that is, if we even know what the will of God is? Divine things are about the welfare and benefit of the human community and of the believers of this earth, our fragile island home.
In our Exodus reading for today (Exodus 3: 1 to 15), Moses is instructed by God to go back to Egypt where he is wanted for murder, to advocate for the release of the Israelites. Moses has just learned to be a shepherd and now God wants him to go and shepherd his people Israel. Sometimes we don’t know what our cross looks like, but we must bear it when it is God’s will for us.
As I was about to retire from 30 years of military aviation service, I had an opportunity to accept a high paying position with a major aircraft company. My parish priest at the time told me to first see if God was calling me. I prayed, went through the ordination discernment process, and here I am. This is a cross I am so proud to bear.
Our Lord Jesus came among us to be a moral light. He came among us to model for us the way we should live harmoniously with one another. We first must rid ourselves of all sordid self-centeredness and look for the good of all of us. Looking for the good of all of us is the Divine thing to do. Anything short of community enhancement should be considered a stumbling block to us that we should put behind us. At the end of the day, we need to each ask ourselves, “how have I made this place, or even the world, a better place?”
I sometimes stop and marvel at an ant or a bee colony. The individual insect is never concerned about the individual self – only the life and wellbeing of the colony. As fellow citizens and neighbors of the same planet, we too should be most concerned about the livelihood of the whole human population. This is a giant cross to bear. But with God’s help, we can do it, thus set our minds on divine things and putting all selfish ambitions behind us.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (Proper 17 The Sunday closest to August 31 BCP p. 233)
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 