The
Collect of the Day
O God, because without you we are not able
to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Pharaoh has finally relented and ordered Moses to take his people away
from Egypt. Pharaoh, however, has
another change of heart, and leads his army to destroy the Hebrews. Moses and his people have been led with a
pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, which also serves to
protect them as they approach the Sea (literally, “the Sea of Reeds”). In one last act against the Egyptians, the
Israelites are led through the water safely and the warriors of Pharaoh who
follow them are drowned. This story of
liberation from oppression will become Israel’s meta-narrative.
14:19 The
angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind
them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place
behind them. 20 It came between the
army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the
darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the
sea. The Lord drove the sea back
by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the
waters were divided. 22 The
Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them
on their right and on their left. 23 The
Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses,
chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At
the morning watch the Lord in the
pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the
Egyptian army into panic. 25 He
clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians
said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord
is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then
the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch
out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians,
upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its
normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the
chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed
them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But
the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall
for them on their right and on their left. 30 Thus
the Lord saved Israel that day
from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the
people feared the Lord and
believed in the Lord and in his
servant Moses.
Canticle
8 from The Book of Common Prayer (p.
85) consists of portions of Exodus 15. It could be called the Song of Moses &
Miriam, as the latter (Moses’ sister) is said to have led the women in such a
song also (Exodus 15:20-21). It is a
song of Israel’s liberation from oppression at the hands of their God. This is only one of two places in The Book of Common Prayer where the divine name, Yahweh, is used
rather than Lord because the name is called for directly (the other is at
Psalm 68:4, BCP p. 676).
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my
Savior.
This is my
God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
Yahweh is his Name.
The
chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea;*
the finest of those who bear armor have been
drowned in
the Red Sea.
The
fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right
hand, O Lord, is glorious in
might; *
your right hand, O Lord,
has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be
compared with you, O Lord, among
the gods? *
who is like you, glorious in holiness,
awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You
stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.
With your
constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
with your might you brought them in safety to
your holy
dwelling.
You will bring
them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,
The
resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,
*
the sanctuary, O Lord,
that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
for ever and for ever.
Psalm
114 is a song of praise for God’s primary act of deliverance at the Sea, spoken
in parallel with that other water-dividing story of crossing the Jordan to
enter the promised land (Joshua 4:23).
The lively metaphors of skipping mountains and trembling earth declare
that the God of liberation is Lord of all creation. The final verse is a reference to Moses’
striking of a rock to bring forth fresh water (Exodus 17:1-7).
1 Hallelujah!
When
Israel came out of Egypt, *
the
house of Judah from a people of strange speech.
2 Judah
became God’s sanctuary *
and
Israel his dominion.
3 The
sea beheld it and fled; *
Jordan
turned and went back.
4 The
mountains skipped like rams, *
and
the little hills like young sheep.
5 What
ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
O
Jordan, that you turned back.
6 You
mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
you
little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble,
O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
*
at
the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who
turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
and
flint-stone into a flowing stream.
Despite all that has taken place, Joseph’s brothers still mistrust him. When their father dies, they imagine it is time for Joseph to take his inevitable revenge. The story they tell feels made up, and this perhaps explains Joseph’s reaction. He weeps for relationships that have not healed, at least from the brothers’ perspective. Joseph speaks kindly. He understands all that has happened to them and him as within God’s providence. Even what we mean for evil, God can work for good.
50:15 Realizing that their father Jacob was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13 (Track 2)
Psalm
103 is a hymn of praise. The opening
five verses are a call to worship, cast in the first person, but undoubtedly
meant for corporate worship. The psalm
then goes on the give reasons for this praise, especially the miracle of God’s
forgiveness (“as far as the east is from the west”). Verses 8-13 are a fitting response to the
forgiveness practiced by Joseph in our first reading.
[1 Bless
the Lord, O my soul, *
and all that is within
me, bless his holy Name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, *
and forget not all his
benefits.
3 He forgives all your sins *
and heals all your
infirmities;
4 He redeems your life from the
grave *
and crowns you with
mercy and loving-kindness;
5 He satisfies you with good
things, *
and your youth is
renewed like an eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness *
and judgment for all
who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to
Moses *
and
his works to the children of Israel.]
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, *
slow to anger and of
great kindness.
9 He will not always accuse us,
*
nor will he keep his anger
for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us
according to our sins, *
nor rewarded us
according to our wickedness.
11 For as the heavens are high
above the earth, *
so is his mercy great
upon those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the
west, *
so far has he removed
our sins from us.
13 As a father cares for his
children, *
so does the Lord care for those who fear him.
2nd Reading: Romans 14:1-12
This passage from Romans is important for at least two reasons. First of all, it sets up the reality and necessity of different acts of piety within the Christian community. Such differences must be honored, not judged. Second, it establishes a fundamental equality before God, that is, “whether we live or die we are the Lord’s.” Verse 11 contains a quote from Isaiah 45:23.
14:1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6 Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew
18:21-35
Chapter 18 of Matthew’s Gospel is often referred to as “instructions to the church.” Matthew is the only Gospel writer who uses the word “ekklesia” (Greek for any assembly of people), for which we use the English “church.” Peter raises a concern that arises in every Christian heart, “How many times?” Jesus “seventy-seven times” is not meant literally but is an example of Jesus’ frequent use of hyperbole. It is meant to be heard as “however long it takes.” The parable of the unjust steward brings home the point clearly: our mercy/forgiveness is to match God’s.
18:21 Peter
came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me,
how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I
tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 For
this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to
settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When
he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to
him; 25 and, as he could not pay,
his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all
his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So
the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I
will pay you everything.’ 27 And out
of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came
upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him
by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then
his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I
will pay you.’ 30 But he refused;
then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had
happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their
lord all that had taken place. 32 Then
his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all
that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should
you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be
tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So
my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your
brother or sister from your heart.”
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