Breaking Open the Word

Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-32
 
The very first line in this piece of scripture should have us anticipating something dramatic has happened already or something is about to take place that we need to take notice of. When the Lord tells Moses to go down to the people he brought out of Egypt we ought to stop right there and ask ourselves what is happening. Up to this point we need to recall, that it was the Lord who led them through the desert, and encamped behind them at night for protection.
 
The Lord is angry because they have not followed His commands and laws. They have made a molten calf and have been worshipping it and not the Lord. He calls them a stiff-necked people for failing to follow Him. The Lord even says to Moses he wants to send His wrath upon them to consume them.
 
Moses has a choice to make at this point, to let the Lord consume the people, to punish the people or to stand up for them. He does not even consider for one second what his response will be. He immediately points out to the Lord that it was the Lord who led the people out of Egypt. He also says to the Lord, remember how you spoke to Abraham, Isaac and Israel and how you promised to make them into a great nation with their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.
 
Moses did not hesitate to remind the Lord of His promises to the people. He did not hesitate to remind the Lord that it was He who led the people out of Egypt. He takes this outspoken position with the Lord and is not afraid to speak his mind. It is a very bold move and shows Gods mercy when He relents of the punishment He had planned in inflict on them.
 
There has been much debate between three groups of scripture scholars over the authorship of the Epistles, and as one commentary puts it, “while it is important for historical studies, it is distracting” here while learning the value of the work itself. While it was common, especially in the Old Testament, for a particular writing being attributed to a particular individual, even one known to have been deceased for a long period of time, it was also a method employed in writings from the New Testament. As long as we keep focused on that fact that all scripture is inspired by God, that they are meant for us to be used in our own faith journey, we will not get caught up into all of the details. With that in mind, the style of writing and the content seem more similar to authors who wrote in the last couple of decades in the first century.
 
Typical of Pauline letters we hear a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing at the beginning of the letter. It is usually associated in thanking God for the gifts to the church. The author also gives thanks for the grace he has received at the forgiveness of his sins. We should be able to see that Paul always has a mention of when he persecuted the church and how his conversion had changed him.
 
This week’s gospel is devoted to the whole of chapter 15 from Luke. While it may seem to be a bit long winded, it none the less carries one theme from start to finish; that of Gods divine mercy. All three parables speak of something that was lost, but now has been found, from the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, all of which are returned and cause for a celebration.
 
We are called into the story when Jesus addresses the first parable when He says “Who among you…”. We can use this to look at our own lives and see where we were maybe the lost son, or the lost sheep or the lost coin. When we repent and return to the Lord, He will greatly embrace us and His joy will be complete at our return.
 
Each of the three parables ends with a joyous celebration, but what if you were on of the 99 sheep, or one of the 9 other coins, or like the angry son in the prodigal son story? Look at what the other son says and put yourself in his shoes. I was always there for you and yet you never acknowledged me. You never let me have my own celebration. How often have we felt that way about something in our own lives?
 
It we were always there we must not have been paying attention because He is always with us and doing things for us. God acts and we respond. Do we respond a little or a lot? Are we really paying attention?
 
Its always more dramatic when there is a explosive conversion that takes place. Paul’s own conversion should come to mind immediately. There are others that are profound changes and very dramatic, but more often than not our conversion is like that little tiny whisper we hear, that little voice in our head or that feeling deep within us saying THAT’S ME. I am changed, I am a new creation and I know that I am loved by the Lord.