Learning not to be Exclusive

Genesis 45, Psalm 133, Romans 11, Matthew 15

How good it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity! Today's Psalm celebrates the best of human society, but leaves out the essential question about who is accepted as family. One of the unfortunate characteristics of religious and ethnic groups is that, the stronger the sense of family, the greater sense there is that others do not belong.

In today's reading from the letter to the Romans, St. Paul continues agonising about the proper places of Jew and Gentile in God's eternal plan. A modern Christian reader might well wonder why he felt that it was such a complicated question, but our sense of ease about belonging in an ethnically diverse church is partly his gift to us. Perhaps other traditions need to identify their St. Pauls (plenty to discuss there).

Two other people are agonising about the same question in today's gospel. One of them is a gentile woman asking for Jesus' help, unable to see any sense in being categorised and treated as an outsider. The other is Jesus himself. The gospel writer clearly wants his readers to get the point that nobody is outside God's community. Perhaps this was the occasion upon which it became clear to Jesus.

Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers is a marvellous story of recognition and acceptance. What we don't know, of course, is the extent to which the Israelites were ever accepted in Egypt. My guess is that they were tolerated until employment and resources became scarce, then treated as undesirable aliens. How very contemporary.

Kenosis on Dr. Who

If you didn't see Dr. Who last Saturday (24th September), you should visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0156hh8/Doctor_Who_Series_6_Closing_Time/ before it's too late. It was a classic story - plenty of thrills, plenty of laughs - and contained one of the best escapes ever.

The Doctor was stuck fast in the grip of a cyberman, and Craig (his companion of the moment) was in the process of being converted into a cyberman. Only one thing could save them, and neither of them knew what it was.

In the end, the most powerful force in the universe was unleashed by a cry of distress from the most helpless person in the entire programme, and it made all the difference. It was as if Craig had read Philippians 2.5!

In case you were wondering, I don't really believe in cybermen. I do, however, believe that Philippians 2.5-8 is one of the most important declarations of the Christian way of life. What do you think?

More a set of guidelines, really.

The quotation is from 'Pirates of the Caribbean', and is the excuse given to Elizabeth Swann by the pirates who refuse to help her rescue her friends. Does the gospel lay moral requirements upon us, which we ignore at our peril, or is it (like the Pirates' Code) 'more a set of guidelines'?

Perhaps another question lies behind this. Is Christian faithfulness motivated by the thought of eternal rewards and punishments, or by the conviction that a Christian life is the best of all possible lives?

Restorative Justice

How should we treat offenders who refuse our attempts at reconciliation? Like pagans and tax collecters, according to Matthew's version of the gospel. How did Matthew understand this? Some Christian communities have practised a fearful regime of 'shunning' those who step out of line, but there is another possibility.

Traditionally, Matthew was himself a tax collecter. Perhaps this part of the gospel that bears his name should be understood as an encouragement to look more generously upon unpopular members of society. Who are today's outcasts? Is our treatment of them in any sense Christ-like?

Giving Ourselves

One of the most striking facts about Christian faith, setting it apart from many another transforming vision, that its ultimate aim is found in a person. After all the dehumanising ideologies that have pursued ‘the greater good’ without regard for individual people, that personal focus is worth holding on to. One of the key threads running through the entire Christian story is the idea of gift.

In Matthew chapter 16 (verses 21-28), Jesus invites our participation in the sacrifice which he himself makes complete. In what ways do people give their lives today (Christians and non-Christians alike)?

Don't Tell Anyone!

Take a look at Matthew 16.13-20. What do we mean by calling Jesus 'the Christ, the son of the living God'? Why shouldn't we tell anyone? Or should we?

Have we been 'defiled'?

Would it be fair to say that British society has been defiled by the events of the past week? Unsettling things have come out of the heart of our country, and we can't answer that the people involved 'don't really belong'. What are the signs of faith that can give us healing and renewed hope?