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Moses and the Golden Calf B 19th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, October 11 – Saturday, October 17 • 2020 Proper 23 (28) 11 Things to keep in mind this week… Revised Common 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary (Year A) SUN Simchat Torah (Judaism) Exodus 32:1–14 the focus for age-level materials Thanksgiving (Canada) Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23 Materials for Thanksgiving can be found Philippians 4:1–9 12 12 on p. 17. Matthew 22:1–14 MON Seasons of the Spirit™ is based on the semi-continuous readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. 13 Planning ahead… TUES Liturgical colour: green 14 WED Lection Connection links 15 current events with this week’s scriptures. Go to www. seasonsonline.ca and click on THUR the link. October 2020 World Food Day S M T W T F S Ecumenical 16 1 2 3 Prayer Calendar 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 FRI FRI Bangladesh, Bhutan, 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Nepal 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 17 September 2020 November 2020 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S Based on In God’s Hands: 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Common Prayer for the 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 World, ed. By Hugh McCul- SAT 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 lum and Terry MacArthur 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 (Geneva: World Council of 27 28 29 30 29 30 Churches, 2006). Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2019 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2020 87 Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 2020 Biblical Background • October 11, 2020 Exodus 32:1–14 the focus in age-level materials God of freedom, Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23 your invitation to a life of liberation never ceases. Philippians 4:1–9 You call us to give faithful witness to your love, Matthew 22:1–14 justice, and freedom. May we be steadfast in faith, and our lives and community marked by Seasons of the Spirit™ is based on the semi-continuous readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. our thanksgiving and joy. Amen. Living as a Liberation Community his week’s readings centre around the conflict be- back into covenant. Who stands in the breach today? How tween fear and bold faith to walk with God despite can we be people who repair broken trust between different Tthe obstacles the world throws at us. Using the story of entities? What kind of faith, leadership, and patience would a golden calf as a mirror for the times we fall short of God’s that entail? vision, let us put on the robe of faith and justice. Having a sense of centredness helps. Paul calls for such a state of being in Philippians 4:1–9 writing the iconic phrase, Exodus 32 contains what is likely one of the most confusing “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” and dramatic stories in the Hebrew Scriptures. It has been His is a plea, like Moses’ plea, to not be afraid, even when interpreted in myriad ways, but mostly as a cautionary tale the world seems to let go of the possibility of liberation, of turning toward other gods. However, a reader with strong physical or social or spiritual. But how does one not fear? interfaith allegiances can glean different – perhaps deeper Paul seems to suggest that the lack of fear comes from a meanings from the story. Meanings that centre on liberation, grounding in the promise of a higher, more loving order. fear, and the challenge of working toward the social justice Amid these calls for peace and freedom from fear, and liberation that is God’s vision. The people, afraid that Matthew 22:1–14 seems jarring. At a surface level, it Moses will not return to them, turn to Aaron’s leadership. appears that the people who do not dress right are the ones They turn in all of their gold to create a golden calf to wor- whom God punishes. Why would God do this, forgetting a ship. Moses returns to deliver a message of God’s simul- preferential option for the poor and oppressed? God is the taneous anger and forgiveness. We might call the people one who teaches that fineries matter less than spirit. impatient, unfaithful, jealous, fearful – but we might also This is a parable, and parables speak in symbol and call them tirelessly determined, even though misguided, in irony. Read on a deeper level, the clothing signifies our their quest to find their freedom in the Promised Land. In spiritual preparedness for what God provides. Perhaps the a way, they are like all of us, doing the best we can with the robe is a robe of justice, or equality, or community. When information and ideas that we have. The people are fearful, are we so busy or fearful or distracted and forget to clothe and one could argue that they turn their backs on God but ourselves in these values? do they? They might lose some faith in God, but in turning • • • • • in their gold they continue to participate in the quest that is Together, this week’s texts ask us to slow down and recali- most precious to God: their freedom. brate. When we pray, do we search for security or justice? In the story of the golden calf, Moses stands, according Comfort for some, or comfort for all? When, in the search to Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23, “in the breach” that has developed for freedom for ourselves and all people, do we also miss the between God and the rest of the community. Moses repairs mark? Perhaps we can aspire to do the best we can to love the broken trust on both sides, calling God and the people God and to fight for freedom and equality for all. 88 Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation • Pentecost 2 2020 Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2019 Reflection and Focus • October 11, 2020 Season of Creation, Pentecost 2 2020 Reflecting on the Word ■■ What does the wrath of God mean in this context? What would it mean for us today? ■■ How does the psalm shift if we hear “I” in the context of Adapt and use for youth and adult studies, community? sermon seeds, lay worship teams. Philippians 4:1–9 Paul is especially concerned about the shaping of community. Connecting with life ■■ What norms are named by Paul that might be essential ■■ How do you combat fear and doubt? How does for a community of liberation? uncertainty feed your faith? ■■ What norms might undermine the life of a community? ■■ When have you done your best, only to realize that ■■ Why might the peace of God surpass all understanding? society, or the world, needed something other than What do you imagine it to be? what you were giving? ■■ How do we discern whatever is true, just, honourable…? How might Paul have defined it? Scripture ■■ What does lived faith look like? Exodus 32:1–14 might have us wonder about what it means ■■ How do you search for God’s peace? to lose our way even when we are trying our best. ■■ What is the anxiety and fear for the people of Israel, as Matthew 22:1–14 Jesus’ parable here is jarring, but it is also they wonder about Moses returning or not? a meditation on how we prepare for God and live intention- ■■ How, as people committed to community and justice ally in our spiritual lives. The biblical background suggests and creating the realm of God on Earth, do we that the robe might stand for the work of justice. What else sometimes miss the mark? might the robe symbolize? ■■ Who, like Moses, alerts us today when we miss the mark ■■ What spiritual garb do you want to don lately? (Faith, on the vision of a just world? justice, compassion…?) ■■ If a “golden calf” leads to missing the mark, what ■■ “Many are called, but few are chosen.” What “golden calves” do we build, personally and as a reaction do you have to this phrase? How might it be community, state, and nation? reinterpreted? ■■ What should we make of such an angry God? What ■■ What might be the dress code of righteousness? purpose does it have in the story? Does God seem wrong? Connecting scripture and life ■■ Can you think of a golden calf moment – a moment in Anxiety, fear, and a desire for quick solutions are an under- which people thought they did the right thing but did standable and common response to uncertain times. not – in today’s world? ■■ What are sources of anxiety and fear for your ■■ What type of leadership is needed for a community to community? remain faithful to the God of liberation? ■■ What are the sources of uncertainty in the world that evoke anxiety, fear, and a desire for simple answers? Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23 lifts Moses as a leader with moral ■■ Where do you see leadership reinforcing those fears, clarity who can remember God’s goodness and vision for and where do you see leadership challenging those humanity. fears? ■■ What does it mean that Moses stands in the breach? ■■ What might you as a community of faith do to address ■■ What might “righteousness at all times” look like? your fears? Focus for Worship, Learning, and Serving This week’s texts invite reflection on moments that that word aloud, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
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