“Wrestling with Pride”

Throughout August we have followed the Revised Common Lectionary. Every week our readings wrestle with a particular theme. This week we are still in the Book of Genesis, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. These texts wrestle with many things, but we will focus on the concept of “pride” in both the ancient world and our modern lives:

Genesis 45: 1-15

 Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared, “Everyone, leave now!” So no one stayed with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him. Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt. Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives. We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way.  You didn’t send me here; it was God who made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire household, and ruler of the whole land of Egypt.

 “Hurry! Go back to your father. Tell him this is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay. You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everyone with you. I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’  You and my brother Benjamin have seen with your own eyes that I’m speaking to you.  Tell my father about my power in Egypt and about everything you’ve seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder.  He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.

Romans 11: 1-2, 29-32

So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God hasn’t rejected his people, whom he knew in advance. Or don’t you know what the scripture says in the case of Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel?

God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them.

Matthew 15: 21-28

From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” But he didn’t respond to her at all.
His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.”
 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.”
But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.”
He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.”
Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.

Consider these resources:

We have followed the lectionary texts through the book of Genesis, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. To understand our texts we must first understand the historical context in which they were written and the literary styles of the authors. Please watch these videos and review other resources by the The Bible Project to gain a better understanding of our sacred texts:

1. Overview of Genesis Ch. 12-50
2. Overview of Romans Ch. 5 – 16
3. Overview of the Gospel of Matthew

Consider these questions:

This week’s stories in Genesis and Matthew contain uncomfortable imagery language that is hard to hear. When confronted with difficult texts, I have often found it helpful to write down and answer four important questions:

1. What in this text is making me uncomfortable?
2. Where is the “good news” in this text?
3. What does my discomfort teach me about my values and assumptions?
4. How can I apply the “good news” of the text to my life?

How would you answer these questions?

This Sunday we will address the uncomfortable passages in this text and wrestle with the issue of Pride. Pride can be considered positive or negative depending on its use and the context of its application.

1. Where do you see pride being used positively and negatively in this week’s scripture passages?
2. When have you been prideful in both positive and negative ways?