I almost didn’t read this gospel text this morning. It’s a text that has been used to shame people who have been divorced. It’s been used to persuade people to remain in harm-filled relationships so they will not violate the sanctity of marriage. But I read it because I think the assigned texts of the lectionary ask us to look at texts we don’t like and ask why we have them and what God is saying to us through them.
My colleague Pastor Shimota, who’s been divorced, encouraged us as preachers to remember that the people who
“are heading toward divorce, in court about
divorce, managing custody in court, learning a new and painful normal after the
court appearances are over, missing their children, or figuring out the
financial consequences of divorce…are exhausted and grieving. They may feel
ashamed. They are definitely disappointed.
But they are not confused about how much better it would be to live the lifelong faithful relationship they promised the day they walked down the aisle. They wanted that. And it died.”
So as with any other death, we don’t pretend it hasn’t happened. We don’t avoid speaking about it. And we don’t blame the people who are living with its repercussions.
What Jesus says in this text is that we are created for relationship and
partnership and Jesus asks us not to destroy the unity we’ve been given.
And as Pastor Shimota told us,
“He’s not wrong, and if we were perfect, we
would obey and live abundantly. And in our imperfection, we try to obey. But we
aren’t perfect. And we do destroy the unity we have been given.
And as he does with every grieving, exhausted, shocked and disappointed one of his children, Jesus takes divorced parents and their children in his arms, lays hands on them and blesses them.”[i]
And I think that’s good news for us all – for every one of us who is grieving, exhausted, shocked or disappointed for any reason.
Don’t we all want to be held in the hands of God and blessed? Don’t we all want the assurance of God’s love for us?
At the center of Psalm 8 the psalmist asks God,
“What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?”
It’s a question most of us have probably asked God at some point:
“Who am I that You care for me?”
We witness the handiwork in all creation – star gazing, searching out waterfalls or catching a glimpse of a rainbow; in the fingers of a newborn, or the wisdom stories of an elder. And often, when we come face to face with the glory and majesty of what God created, we feel small, like we’ll be swallowed up by the strength and power of the world that surrounds us. [ii]
But we won’t.
We are not here by mere chance. God desired to make us in God’s image and created
us to be in relationship with God. We are wholly desired by God just as we
are.
And not only that, but God now entrusts us with the responsibility to care for the rest of creation.
The psalmist says we have been given “dominion over the works of your hands.” But “dominion” isn’t power for its own sake. It isn’t physical might that can intimidate and coerce. Instead, God calls us to take responsibility to care for the rest of creation. The challenge is to bear the responsibility with humility. To recognize that we are not God, but every day we are entrusted with what is dear to God’s heart.[iii]
We know what failure looks like. From Adam to Saul to Judas, there have been any number of leaders who turned away from God’s will out of selfishness and conceit. Even David, to whom so many of the psalms are attributed, was flawed.
But, God never loses sight of us, and when we fall down, God pick us up again, holds us and blesses us.
Trusting God’s own intention for us, and for all creation, may we watch for the ways God entrusts the care of others to us, and strive to bring good news to the people we meet.
Let us pray…
Good and gracious God,
Thank you for creating us and loving us wholly as we are.
Thank you for entrusting us with the care for all you hold dear and
forgiving us when we fail, for your abundant mercy when we fall down.
Guide us by your Holy Spirit and give us a wisdom and understanding of the
care you ask us to provide.
We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
[i] The Rev.
Jennifer Shimota. Used with permission.
[ii]
Shauna Hannan. “Commentary on Psalm 8". Luther Seminary. workingpreacher.org
[iii] Nancy
deClaissé-Walford. “Commentary on Psalm 8". Luther Seminary. workingpreacher.org
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