The Adventurous Lectionary – August 13, 2023 – The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Today’s passages probe the nature of divine providence, or the movements of divine intentionality, in our lives. Providence is often seen as deterministic and compelling; it may also be seen as open-ended and an invitation to agency and creativity. The very assumption of providence in an ambiguous world raises many questions. Is God the sole cause of the events of our lives or does God work within apparently random and possibly malevolent acts to bring about the best possibilities? Even though God does not choose these events, does God work “in all things” for God and even do greater things for those who trust God’s presence in their lives? Is God the primary actor in the negative as well as positive events of our lives? Is providence at work in destruction as well as creation?
In the Genesis reading we encounter the interplay of divine providence and family dysfunctionality, characteristic of the stories of Israel’s spiritual parents. Joseph, the baby, is his father’s favorite and everyone knows it and, if they don’t, Joseph makes sure they do! He can do no wrong in his father’s eyes. His father lavishes him with gifts. What’s worse – he’s a dreamer and his dreams suggest that he will be the greatest in his family and that his brothers will eventually bow down to him! You can imagine the family polarization and undisguised animosity toward this youngest, favored son, destined to supplant them. Outside his father’s circle, Joseph is defenseless and his brothers determine to murder him. But, two of his brothers intercede, first, to save his life and then to sell him to some Midianite traders who pass their way.
There’s nothing laudable in the two brothers’ behavior or intent but their counsel saves Joseph’s life and enables God eventually, through a series of successes and missteps, to providentially raise Joseph to power in Egypt and, at the right time, ensure the survival of his family. The philosopher Alfred North Whitehead asserts that God’s aim is the best for that [particular] impasse. It may not always be good, given the realities of a particular situation, but it interjects a higher good than we – or Joseph’s brothers – can imagine at the time. Could divine providence be at work in incremental ways, in contextual ways, to save Joseph’s life? Could God be at work in the fallible and self-interested behaviors of Joseph’s brothers to set in motion a chain of events that leads to Joseph becoming one of Egypt’s political leaders? Is providence, gentle and contextual, rather than coercive and all-determining? Does God work through many events, subtly, rather than dramatically? Is God at work in our ambiguous lives, our congregation’s challenges, and the apparently diabolical machinations of politicians who identity their missions with God’s and conflate themselves with God? Is God at work in such apparently idolatrous and blasphemous behavior?
In the spirit of Psalm 105, do God’s “wonderful works” occur in the context of very human and fallible behaviors that lead to Joseph’s saving of his people? Does God use our imperfection as a means of bringing about positive outcomes? Certainly, in personal, corporate and congregational life, we deal with limits of time, resource, and personnel. We deal with the limits of our pasts. Our imperfections haunt and often limit us. But, do these ultimately defeat us? Is God working “for good” in all these concrete realities, seeking our wholeness and the well-being of our constitutions? While we cannot impute evil intent to God, what is God’s role in the evils we confront and the evils that call us to spiritual stature or prophetic action?
Paul’s Letter to the Romans proclaims that God is working in the lives of all people. God is working to bring wholeness to all creation. God will not do this independent of our efforts but through our sharing of God’s word across the boundaries of race and ethnicity. God’s providence nurtures our freedom such that we can call upon God and experience God’s wholeness. Divine providence does not abrogate our freedom but nurtures greater freedom and creativity. Divinity works through humanity in all its limitations to bring forth something holy and beautiful. God’s aim in all things is salvation – all who call upon God’s name will be saved?
The Gospel story highlights the importance of prayer and faith in personal transformation. First, Jesus goes to a quiet place for prayer. Prayer is essential to action. Apart from a commitment to prayer, our actions are unfocused and ungrounded. Jesus needs to take time away for prayerful centering. The nature of Jesus’ prayers is unknown. Yet, Jesus prays. Jesus’ relationship with God is nurtured in times of solitary openness to God’s providence. Pastors need to accent the importance of prayer and solitude in our busy and overprogrammed social context. We need to take time for spiritual nurture as a prerequisite for social transformation.
From prayer comes dramatic action. Jesus walks on stormy waters! We don’t need to understand the mechanics of Jesus’ actions – or even if they occurred as described. At the very least, Matthew focuses on Jesus’ power and presence amid the storms of life. God is with us when we our sinking. The waves cannot divert or defeat God’s providential care for his disciples or ourselves. In response to Jesus’ walking on the waters, Peter wants that same power. He jumps out of the boat and heads toward Jesus. As long as he looks toward Jesus, he does amazing things. But, when he turns away, mired in his fears, he falters and sinks. When he calls upon Jesus, Peter is “saved.” Our faith meets divine providence and awakens us to God’s providential movements in our lives.
Today’s scriptures invite us to look toward the far horizon. To immerse ourselves in the present challenges of life, in the calls of family, church, and politics, and also look beyond these to discern the movements of the moral and spiritual arcs of history and their call to us. Providence is at work in the world, not as compelling and deterministic, but as calling forth our gifts and energies to create situations in our lives that reflect God’s vision “on earth as it is in heaven.” Moreover, this providence is undergirded by prayer and meditation. In the “sweet hour of prayer,” we gain insight, inspiration, and energy to embrace possibility, expand compassion, and confront the evils of our time.
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Bruce Epperly is a pastor, professor, spiritual guide, and author of over seventy books, including JESUS – MYSTIC, HEALER, AND PROPHET; THE ELEPHANT IS RUNNING: PROCESS AND OPEN AND RELATIONAL THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS PLURALISM; PROPHETIC HEALING: HOWARD THURMAN’S VISION OF CONTEMPLATIVE ACTIVISM; MYSTIC’S IN ACTION: TWELVE SAINTS FOR TODAY; WALKING WITH SAINT FRANCIS: FROM PRIVILEGE TO ACTIVISM; MESSY INCARNATION: MEDITATIONS ON PROCESS CHRISTOLOGY, FROM COSMOS TO CRADLE: MEDITATIONS ON THE INCARNATION, and THE PROPHET AMOS SPEAKS TO AMERICA. His most recent books are PROCESS THEOLOGY AND THE REVIVAL WE NEED and TAKING A WALK WITH WHITEHEAD: MEDITATIONS WITH PROCESS-RELATIONAL THEOLOGY. He is currently serving as Bridge Minister at Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda, MD, and can be reached at drbruceepperly@gmail.com.
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