Paul (Proper A22)

God’s voice is fearful and awful.  

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or

  His law is impressed on the heart of his people with fear and trembling.  It thunders and shatters our hearts.  

It also caresses us and whispers to us.  His beauty is seen through out creation.

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

Paul says he had every reason to be confident, blameless under the law. But then he found in knowing Christ Jesus his Lord the whisper of love that shattered him and traumatized him until he counts everything as dung compared to knowing him!

Has the word of Love shattered us? Have we been so overwhelmed that we feel privileged to share in his suffering?  I just went on a Walk to Emmaus, and now at last know what it is to be traumatized by his love and be joined to the body of Christ. Have you ever felt it?

The Gospel

Isaiah declares that the vineyard that yields only wild grapes will be left alone to grow wild. Destroyed. Desolate.

“He expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!”

With love and expectation he planted us. The psalmist responds to the voice of Isaiah saying:

Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.

But we would not be restored. God sent prophet after prophet, voice after voice, and we killed them all. How often do we cut off the voice of the Father trying to tend to us. Finally he sent his son. How do we respond to him? Do we let the light of his face light our hearts with grace, or do we reject him like the builders of old?