Divine Possibility

 Charlotte Collins Reed

Christ Church Episcopal

August 30, 2020

17 Proper A 

          In a week that has seen wildfires in California destroy almost 400,000 acres of land and livelihood, hurricane Laura leave a wake of devastation destroying homes and whole communities, racial violence and protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, political strife and turmoil as we approach a political election, on a Sunday when we ask God’s blessing on our teachers and students for a school year like no other, we hear the story of Moses and the burning bush.  Moses is out beyond the wilderness, keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, when he has an encounter with God in the form of a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire.  In the face of all that challenges us, about which there seems to be precious little we can do to make a difference, a respite out beyond the wilderness, away from the problems of the world, where we could tend sheep, metaphorically at least, and perhaps encounter the Divine along the way sounds pretty good.

          Moses, however, is not just out enjoying a nice pastoral respite.  When we last saw Moses, he was a baby.  Last Sunday, we heard the story of his birth and how he was hidden from Pharaoh until he was three months old, because Pharaoh wanted to kill all the Israelite male babies.  When his mother put him in a basket in the river, one of Pharaoh’s daughters found him, took him as her own, and hired Moses’ own mother to nurse him.  Now, Moses is grown, married, and working for his father-in-law. That’s a lot of growing up in a week!  And between last Sunday and today, Moses has killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew and fled for his life.  So, when we find Moses out beyond the wilderness this morning, he is in hiding from the Pharaoh who is ready to exact revenge for the murder of an Egyptian.  Moses’ plan for his life is to stay out of harm’s way, work for his father-in-law and put the past behind him.

          God has other ideas, however.  God has heard the cry of God’s people, who are enslaved in Egypt.  God knows their suffering and God has a plan.  God’s plan is for Moses, a fugitive on the run, to return to the scene of the crime and ask the person who most wants his life, Pharaoh, if he can please release the Israelite people, who we know Pharaoh fears losing because that is why he enslaved and oppressed the Israelites to begin with.  No wonder Moses protests “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  What part of God’s plan makes any sense at all?

            Jesus has a plan this morning that makes no sense whatsoever to Peter.  Last week we heard Jesus ask the disciples “Who do you say that I am?”  And we heard Peter reply “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  This week, Jesus predicts his own suffering, death, and resurrection.  Jesus’ words do not fit with Peter’s plan for Jesus at all.  When Peter responds “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you!”, Jesus’ rebuke cuts to the bone.  “Get behind me Satan.  You are a stumbling block to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”  Peter, who last week was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, is now being called Satan.

          Moses and Peter have two things in common.  Both are flawed people who are asked to do big things by God.  Moses killed someone and Peter is so totally wrong about who Jesus is that Jesus calls him Satan. Yet God still intends for Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and Peter still holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Secondly, both are setting their minds on human things rather than divine ones.  Moses cannot wrap his head around the idea that he should be the one to lead the people out of Egypt, not understanding the power of God to work through him.  Peter cannot imagine that the Son of the Living God would suffer and die, not understanding what God will accomplish through Jesus’ suffering and death.  Both are focused on human limitations rather than divine possibility.

          In the midst of all that is going on in the world today, Jesus calls us to set our mind on divine possibility, not human limitations.  In the face of natural disasters, disease, racial unrest, political turmoil, and decisions we never thought we would have to make for our children, what could Jesus possibly mean?

          I believe at least a piece of the answer is found in the reading from Romans.  “Let love be genuine….hold fast to what is good…outdo one another in showing honor…contribute to the needs of the saints…extend hospitality to strangers…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Setting our mind on divine possibility rather than human limitation is to focus on what God can do through us, not what we cannot do alone.  What amazing work can God do through us when we love, hold fast to what is good, contribute to the needs of the world, or offer hospitality to strangers, whether people we do not know or people with whom we disagree.  What can God do through us when we rejoice in hope, practice patience in suffering, and persevere in prayer?  When we believe that there is precious little we can do in the face of so many challenges, we are setting our minds on human limitation.  Jesus calls us to set our minds on divine possibility and ask what God, working through us, can accomplish.  God working through Moses will liberate God’s people from Egypt.  In Jesus, Peter will see God triumph over death.  What might God accomplish through us in these challenging times when we set our minds not on human limitation but on divine possibility?                                                                       

                                                                        Amen.