[Propertalk] Proper 5 b 2018 - part 1 a

[Robert P Morrison]

Here we go again -the moderator's black hole has struck again!
Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY     THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST 

	1 SAMUEL 8:4-20; 11:14-15   PROPER 5 b 

	2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 – 5:1      PSALM 138 

	MARK 3:2-35   10th JUNE, 2018 

	 “The sins of the fathers….” 

	 What a mess humans can inflict! But what on earth was going on in
the history of the people of Israel, around the time described in this
week’s first reading from Scripture. 

	 Last week we heard of the downfall of Eli, mainly because of his
weakness in dealing with his sons. Samuel came out of that smelling
like a rose. This week it seems that the tables have turned and Samuel
is accused of HIS children being out of control. 

	 What was happening? Was it something in the water? Or was it the
age-old story of greed, of self-stupidity, of a lack of compassion for
those around? Or all of the above? 

	 We have to be quite clear up front, though. There IS a difference
between what was going on last week and what’s described this week.
Several differences, in fact. 

	 First, Samuel didn’t hesitate to pray to God about this. 

	 Now you and I know that Samuel knew that God already knew about what
was going on. That is part of our belief about who God is. We believe,
as the old hymn puts it, that God is all-wise, all-knowing; so God, by
definition, was aware of what the people were up to when they started
to yank Samuel’s chain.  God knows what you and I are thinking, what
makes you and me anxious, what makes you and me really excited and
happy before our brains can even start to process what’s going on.
But here’s the important thing. God wants us to realise that when we
react, either out loud or internally; when we react and start to say,
“This really ticks me off.” Or, “I can’t believe how happy
this makes me.” Or, “What on earth am I going to do now?”; when
we start to formulate this in our minds, God is aware that we
ourselves are trying to come to terms with whatever is happening, and
we are also admitting that we feel that we can’t deal with the
situation appropriately or to the maximum benefit of everyone if we
don’t seek God’s help. 

	 Samuel, like us on many an occasion; Samuel was taking his anger,
his frustration, his apprehension and his sadness and laying it before
God, saying, “God, what a bunch of ingrates, such self-centred
people this nation is!” And God sighed and said, “I know! But
it’s not your fault. You’ve done as much as I could probably have
wished.” 


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