Our Old and
New Testament readings today provide two different methods of how God
accomplishes His own ends. Sometimes
people have been instructed, as Christ instructed his apostles before He sent
them out. And sometimes God needs
particular people in certain places, times or with experiences that are needed
for future events, as He stepped in and guided Joseph's life. Even our Psalm today, speaks to God's
guidance. But in all instances, God is
always shepherding the world as a whole, even as individuals act as His hands,
and even as each of us are provided the free will to do as God asks.
The portion of
the Psalm that we read begins, " He is the LORD our God; his judgments prevail in all the
world." Prevailing is an
interesting word. When looked at as a
verb, it can mean triumphing over, succeeding, overcoming, conquering – and
certainly those words can apply to the Divine.
But let's look at God Himself – the Divine Entity who provided only one
name for Himself – I Am that I Am. God
names Himself as Existence, how we define the verb to be. In this instance,
prevail can also mean existing, and this verse could be rephrased as "He
is the I Am that I Am, our God; His judgments exist in all the
world." Having that one verse from
one of David's Psalms literally points out that God is existence, and we live within that existence. It's rather enough to blow your mind.
But having
that underlying understanding, let's look at the two different methods found in
both the Old Testament and New Testament, and see where God's hand is, in guiding
humanity. In the Old Testament, we see
the mistakes Jacob made in raising his children, comparing the children of
Rachel and finding less worth in the multitude of the children of Leah. The comparison between how Joseph is
cherished and how Leah's children are raised created the resentment that
eventually led to Joseph being sold into slavery, and the lies told to his
father about Joseph's death. There's
more than enough blame, shame, and guilt for the whole family. While we know the story of Joseph's rise in
Pharaoh's household, we also know that Joseph was aware of God's hand, guiding
his life, guiding his choices and gifting him with knowledge of the need to
prepare for hard times. This leadership
prepared not just his own country, but the surrounding countries filled with
hungry people who otherwise would have starved.
Joseph had the wisdom to see the Hand of God in all of his preparations,
actions and determination to save the people who were living through years of
famine. But that wisdom was also seen in
his words to his brothers, "God sent me before you to preserve life."
We can see
God's hands in the lives of those in the Bible, how choices are made, where His
guidance protects His people, even as each person involved is provided the opportunity
to recognize and accept His guidance.
Each of them, as well as each of us, is provided that same opportunity –
to step up and say yes, or to retreat from what can sometimes be very difficult
choices and consequences. God,
obviously, won't fail, but if one individual is unwilling – not unable, because
God always provides the ability – but if unwilling, God can inspire another to
accomplish the aims He has planned.
This is an
individual choice. In our individual
journeys, if we have accepted God's instruction to go out, "Cure the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." This is not a
comprehensive list, and we ask ourselves today, what can we do? What I can give that requires no payment on
either side? My time? My expertise? My gifts? My forgiveness? I can give others
the benefit of the doubt. I can pray that the person who receives from me will
pass on the grace of giving, and that whoever I forgive will likewise forgive
someone else. We all have these same instructions. And Christ also tells us, "If the house
is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace
return to you." You're providing an
opportunity. You're allowing God to work
through you. You're giving each person
you meet the chance to choose God – and it may be that someone is not yet ready
to accept God, but you've opened the door.
Their freedom of will, their choices, their consequences – these belong
to them. In accepting Christ, your
baptismal vows help you to fulfill God's own ends.
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