Themes in the lections for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost:

Genesis 18: 1-15, (21: 1-7): The text of this Sunday’s reading states that “The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre.” However, the appearance is in the form of three strangers. Christian tradition interprets this as another Old Testament expression of the Trinity. Indeed, Orthodox iconographers often use this story as the basis for their depiction of the Trinity. Three points that emerge from the story are Abraham’s extravagant hospitality to the three strangers, Sarah’s incredulity at the declaration that she and Abraham will have a child, and her denial that she had laughed.

Romans 5: 1-8: In this Sunday’s Epistle we have a shift from the focus on justification by grace through faith to a new theme of hope for the fullness of salvation, the hope of obtaining the glory of God. Glory in this passage suggests “likeness of God” based on the bearing of God’s ‘image.’ This hope for glory rests upon God’s saving action in Christ, not human action.

Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 8 (9-23): The Gospel text makes clear that the mission of the 12, and of the church, is not just to preach about the Kingdom of God, but also to make it real by reaching out to those who are sick, or lost.  The twelve were commissioned to heal the sick and broken, to bring spiritual wholeness to those who are lost.  They were to live in imitation of Christ. Intriguingly, Jesus sent the twelve to the lost sheep of Israel.  He specifically forbade them from going among the Gentiles and Samaritans.  This stands in stark contrast with the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 16-20 in which Jesus tells His followers to “Go, make disciples of the Gentiles, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit.”  Perhaps in this initial commission the disciples are being sent to those they know best, before reaching out to those they don’t know.  It may well be more risky to proclaim the Kingdom to those one knows, to ones closer to home, than it is to strangers and those at a distance. 

Note also the 12 who are sent out.  This is an imperfect and diverse group.  Jesus didn’t wait until they had realized the “fullness of glory” to send them out.  He knew that there was no timetable attached to that reality and that the mission of the 12 and the church today was to continue the work of Jesus.  May we boldly proclaim the Kingdom and share God’s healing love with those we know and with strangers.

God’s peace,

Bill+