This week we will read from the book of Exodus, the letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew. These texts wrestle with many things, but we will focus on the concept of “freedom” in both the ancient world and our modern lives:
Exodus 12:1-4, 12-14
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb per house. If a household is too small for a lamb, it should share one with a neighbor nearby. You should divide the lamb in proportion to the number of people who will be eating it. You should eat the meal in a hurry. It is the Passover of the Lord. I’ll pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I’ll strike down every oldest child in the land of Egypt, both humans and animals. I’ll impose judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be your sign on the houses where you live. Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over you. No plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
“This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the Lord. You will observe it in every generation as a regulation for all time.
Romans 13: 8-14
Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have, and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself. Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.
As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.
Matthew 18: 15-20
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”
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:
Consider these questions:
This week’s story in Exodus presents us with the first “passover”, the day a deadly plague “passed over” the Israelites’ homes in Egypt. This story gives me mixed emotions. I’m happy for the rescue of the Israelites and their eventual liberation from slavery, but I’m also devastated for the Egyptian children who lost their lives and the families who mourn them. This story is a good reminder that we can feel both joy and sadness when we read our scriptures. I want to remind of you of the questions I ask myself when I feel this way:
- What in this text is makes me uncomfortable?
- Where is the “good news” in this text?
- What does my discomfort teach me about my values and assumptions?
- How can I apply the “good news” of the text to my life?
How would you answer these questions?
This Sunday we will talk about wrestling with freedom. After the first passover, Moses led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and into freedom. They quickly learned that freedom comes with a lot of individual and collective responsibilities. They had to learn how to live together in harmony, how to develop a just system of governance, how to care for the poor, and how to manage their resources. The rest of the Torah provides the Hebrew people with a framework for governance. This week’s scriptures from the letter to the Romans and the Gospel of Matthew provide us with more wisdom about how to live in a society based on freedom. How do we engage with one another as spiritually and politically free people?
Let us dwell on these questions before service week.