Book of Faith

Matthew 18:15-20
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.  If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.  But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in m name, I am there among them.  NRSV 

Once upon a time I invited Sr. Antoinette, a Benedictine nun from Mt. Angel, to present a workshop at a Eugene Assembly.  I can’t remember why I wasn’t there, maybe our kids were very young.  On Monday my phone rang and it was Sr. Antoinette.  She had served as prioress.  She had entered the community at age 18, and was now 70.  She has an incredible education.  She called to say that she’d enjoyed herself.  BUT, she wasn’t sure exactly where the workshop would be held at the hotel, there was no host, there was no one to introduce her, and those gaps made it difficult for her to do her best.  She wanted me to know that she’d appreciated the invitation, but found the hospitality lacking.  Ouch! I sent flowers,  and a note apologizing, and I learned several important lessons. We are still friends.

This is an example of Matthew 18.  The goal is reconciliation– a coming together again of what once was split apart, and now stronger than ever.  The goal for the community is shalom, a deep peace.  The kind of peace that comes from God when we listen closely to the other to understand them and their perspective.  Disciples have a choice to bless or curse our communities with every interaction.  May we be about the blessing and the listening.  ”The first duty of love is to listen.”  Paul Tillich

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Matthew 16:21-28
The Message
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive.

Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.” Then Jesus went to work on his disciples.

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat. I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.

What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for? “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

It changed so quickly didn’t it? Peter’s praise and Peter’s rebuke! This Messiah is one who rides a donkey, who dies on a cross. This is the way of suffering, not glory.Our saints this week are Bartholomew, Augustine and Moses the Black, monk and martyr, c.400.

Augustine led a party life for quite some time, but his mother Monica, continued to pray, and before it was all over, Augustine was priest, bishop and teacher. We still read his words today. Jesus, Peter, Bartholomew, Augustine and Moses, and Bishop Dave all ask us this question– What does the Spirit say, through the Bible, to you, for others? Can we follow Jesus and his humble, caring way? Who is in need? How can we help?

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Matthew 16:13-20
The Message

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. And that’s not all. You will complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is a no in heaven.”He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

There are several astounding parts of this passage we simply might miss-- This is the first use by Jesus of the word Church. We are so familiar with church, we don’t hear it anymore, do we? Then the announcement that Peter was the rock, the foundation of this new creation. Dear Peter, who would deny Jesus three times at the crucifixion. Our saint this week, helps us to see the church and the foundation- Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153. Bernard helped plant many monasteries in Europe– he was a leader, and he drew people to faith. He was another rock in the foundation of the church. He also wrote poetry and two of his hymns are in the ELW- 658 O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts, and 754 Jesus, the very thought of you. He is often pictured next to a bee hive, because his words were sweet. With Peter and Bernard and so many other saints as our foundation stones for the church, what do you give thanks for today for your congregation and for the larger church? Here we are in the end of August, beginning to turn the corner to the fall routine. How has the church uplifted, supported, fed, encouraged, celebrated, witnessed, and engaged you in your faith journey? As a member of the community, how have you done those things for others?

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Matthew 15: 21-28 The Message
From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills, and pleader, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit.” Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy.” Jesus refused, telling the, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged, “Master, help me.”He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to the dogs.”She was quick: “You’re right. Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.”Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well.

7 saints this week: Lawrence, Clare, Florence Nightingale, Clara Maass, Maximillan Kolbe, Kaj Munk, and Mary, Mother of our Lord. Mary’s discipleship teaches us so much- from her “Fiat,” or “Let it be to me according to your Word,” from her willingness to bear the Christ Child, through her daily love and care of Jesus, to traveling with the community around Jesus, to bearing the pain of his betrayal and death, to the joy of Pentecost. Many of us will know betrayal from our communities. Mary actually shows us the path through the pain and back to the community. In Milwaukie, Wisconsin, there is a wonderful bronze statue of Mary, as a peasant woman, striding. Instead of a passive, young Mary, this is an active, engaged, worker, with great joy on her face. May that Mary walk with you this week. The gospel is a hard one– it requires chewing. One pastor described it as gristle! What do we feel so passionate about that we would argue with Jesus for his healing?

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Matthew 14:22-33
The Message
As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Meanwhile, the boat was far our to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afriad.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water. “He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves, churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”

Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, is our saint this week. Along with St. Francis, Dominic changed the 13 Century. Born in Spain, of noble parents, ordained a priest– and then off to fight heresy! The Dominicans traveled wherever they were needed, and preached. Many were and are highly educated. Luther’s inquisitors were Dominicans. Dominic and Luther knew great storms. And they knew the Word. That is what Dominic preached and it was there that Luther’s heart was set free by grace. I hope your August is not stormy. And that in the storms that do come, we will seek the one who is our beginning and our end, the one who can still the storms and hold our hand when we are afraid.

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Matthew 14:13-21
The Message When Jesus got the news (that John had been beheaded), he sipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully - someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick. Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so that they can go to the villages and get some super.”But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.” “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.

I understand the disciples very practical advice to Jesus to move the crowd along to dinner somewhere else. But Jesus gave the job to the disciples. Up went their shoulders, don’t you imagine? But all we have are 2 fish and 5 loaves. Then the miracle- Jesus took, blessed, broke and gave, and there was more than enough! There comes a time in each disciple’s life that Jesus gives us a task, we respond with helplessness and shoulders that automatically go up– and then Jesus takes what we have, blesses it, and there is great abundance.The lesson, whatever we offer to God, a little lunch, a little of ourselves, a little prayer, Jesus will bless and in his blessing, there comes abundance! Here we are in August, saints. What do have to offer? Our saints this week might give us some pointers. Bach, Handel, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and Olaf, King of Norway. They gave their music, their harmonies, their hospitality, friendship, and shared the good news– converting those Vikings to Christianity. Now, that’s abundance.

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The dominion of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in a field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”Jesus told them another parable: “The dominion of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until it was all leavened.”“The dominion of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.

“Again the dominion of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.“Again, the dominion of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous and thrown them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the dominion of heaven is like a householder who brings out of the household treasure what is new and what is old.” -Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52 NRSV

Mary Magdalene is remembered on July 22. She is the only disciple we know of scripturally, who came to faith in Jesus because he healed her. She also was the preacher who convinced the apostles that Jesus had risen. And she faces that very difficult time in the Garden after Jesus has risen when she must decide whether to hold tight or to let go– a major theme for all of us as we journey. I believe that God thinks we are all pearls of great price. Ponder THAT in your prayer this week.

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: The dominion of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he relied, “No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at the harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Jesus answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son-of-Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of God’s dominion; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son-of-Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his dominion all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the dominion of their Father. Let everyone with ears listen!
Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 NRSV

Wheat farmers can look at a growing field and tell in an instant if there are weeds. Me? I was raised in the Olympics, on the Straight of Juan de Fuca– we found lighthouses and mountain peaks and learned the names of trees. It doesn’t really matter where we are raised– Jesus still calls us to the long obedience of God’s Word and God’s way.So, find a way to spend some time each day in scripture and in prayer. The new ELW, the cranberry hymnal has a daily lectionary in the back. You can use the Sunday lessons. You can do the psalms, BUT DO IT. And in the doing, God will shape your disciple’s heart for this journey of faith.

Pastor Susan Kintner
Assistant to the Bishop

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the crowds stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying:

Listen! A sower went out to sow. And in the sowing, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and chocked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower.

When anyone hears the word of the the dominion of heaven and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; that is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for awhile, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, an in another thirty.–Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23 NRSV

Our saints this week are Jan Hus, martyr 1415, Benedict of Nursia c. 540, and Nathan Soderblom, Bishop of Uppsala, 1931. Dear Brother Benedict wrote a rule, a guide to living in community, still in use today. Some scholars describe it as one long string of Bible verses. Sr. Joan Chittister has written a wonderful commentary, designed to read through the rule 3 times in a year, The Rule of Benedict, Insights for the Ages, 1992, Crossroads Publishing.

The rule has lasted because of its moderation, its emphasis on a balance between prayer and work, and Benedict’s wisdom that scripture and its study, connect us to the Living Spirit of God. The lesson from Isaiah talks about God’s word going forth and not returning empty. So, dear saints of the Oregon Synod, in order to be that good seed, are we daily in the Word? As we look around out complicated world, do we hear God calling us to care for the poor and those in need? This season of pentecost is all about our discipleship– where are we in this Gospel? What can we do to root ourselves even deeper in the word that calls us to justice and care?

Pastor Susan Kintner

Assistant to the Bishop

Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30Our saints this week are St. Peter and St. Paul, Catherine Winkworth, John Neale, both hymn translators, and Thomas the Apostle.  I am sure these saints encourage us with our yokes.  I used to shake my head with these verses– I was exhausted with the ministry, and yet here is Jesus promising an easy yoke and light burden!  What gives?!Finally it was a Sunday text, and in wrestling through it I finally understood the promise.  Jesus was a carpenter.  Wood was very precious.  Joseph must have taught him how to fit a yoke to a pair of animals.  Yokes are a custom fit.  So, there, Jesus is promising not only to make sure the yoke fits us, but that indeed, he will walk along with us.  Now, that would make the yoke easy and the burden light, to have him there as our companion, our partner, our workmate.   It is also very possible that in our prayer we give our concerns, burdens and worries to God, but then snatch them right back after the Amen.  Jesus is asking us to trust him with our concerns and worries.  I am sure that Peter, Paul, Catherine, John and Thomas knew the yoke of Christ and the promise of his presence in our day to day lives.  My prayer for you is that you open your eyes and your hearts to notice the daily blessings of our Trinity God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer and Guide.   Pastor Susan KintnerAssistant to the Bishop