Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18

Proper 7 (12) - Year A

Are we patient or demanding when a result we would have is so slow in coming?

     Patient: “at an acceptable time ... answer me.” –NRSV

     Demanding: “God, it’s time for a break!” –MSG

Whichever tone is taken, is GD’s time now or later?

     Now: “But I pray to you, O Lord, at a time most favorable to you.” –CCB*

     Later: “So when the time is right, answer me and help me....” –CEV

Ah, the joy of many translations. Which one do I choose? For what reason?

Is your habit to look at choices through one lens or several? And what, would you say, are the pros and cons of your habit? Are there certain choices where you tend toward a single lens and other choices where you gravitate toward multiple lenses?

Knowing how we choose helps us clarify where a growing edge is for us and also gives hints about what sort of assistance we need when stuck.

At any rate, in the midst of choices, may we know G*D’s freedom as our own.

As found in Wrestling Year A: Connecting Sunday Readings with Lived Experience

Are we patient or demanding when the choice we would have is so slow in coming?

Patient: NRSV - "at an acceptable time ... answer me."

Demanding: The Message - "God, it's time for a break!"

Whichever tone is taken, is G*D's time now or later?

Now: Christian Community Bible - "But I pray to you, O Lord, at a time most favorable to you.

Later: Contemporary English - "So when the time is right, answer me and help me...."

Ah, the joy of many translations. Which one do I choose? For what reason?

Is your habit to look at choices through one lens or several? And what, would you say, are the pros and cons of your habit? Are there certain choices where you tend toward a single lens and other choices where you gravitate toward multiple lenses?

Knowing how we choose helps us clarify where the growing edge is for us and also gives hints about what sort of assistance we need when stuck.

At any rate, in the midst of choices, may we know G*D's freedom.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/june2002.html

Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18 or Psalm 86:1-10

Here we are - - poor and needy, sunk in deep mire without a foothold. We look around for a way out and there is none.

Our behavior is that of bargaining with G*D. What else is there to do? Oh, yes, plead. We plead with G*D.

Both of these behaviors indicate the grief we are still feeling from the metaphoric time of garden leaving. The kids recognize this and murder foul is afoot. Time after time we find ourselves going awry and trying to get back into good graces on our terms.

This is a tough cycle to break. If we remembered that G*D was outside the garden as well, steadfast in presence, if not in rescuing us from consequences, we might open our eyes to the possibilities of life and thankfulness and not focus quite so much on the disasters and petulance.

In the abundance of steadfast love we have the crack in our defensiveness, our sense of entitlement. Let's not settle for being free because of our enemies, but simply because freedom is what it means to be present to the Freedom of G*D. Whether rescued or not, we are already saved. It is G*D's intention.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/june2005.html

Psalm 69:7-18 or Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Genesis 21:8-21 or Jeremiah 20:7-13
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39

How do I arrive at a place of "fearing not"? A significant view of this is the magical concept of correspondence - if I am like something else, then I am that something else. This is similar to much of the self-help therapies. In each case it is important to identify the specific correspondence and run with that one little thing in expectation that it will grow into a fuller identity or protection.

"It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master." In what way does this happen without a disciple becoming a teacher or a slave, a master? Is this perpetual adolescence?

"Everyone who therefore acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." What are the limits of acknowledgement? Is it naming only? How much emulation or becoming of Christ in one's own setting is needed for acknowledgement?

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." What death is a death like his? Is it the form of crucifixion? Is it looking beyond the current principalities and powers until they unite to legally murder? And what happens if you live like him, rather than die like him?

"Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac." When did Sarah stop laughing? What died in her? What fear rose up? It is one thing to begin to move from disciple to teacher, slave to master, and quite another to move from teacher to disciple and master to slave. Again we see limits of external correspondence.

- - -

finding our fearless place
pushes us beyond the surface
where crosses around necks
are protective amulets
saving one from so living
that a cross come to our back

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

While this Psalm is seemingly chosen to reflect on Jeremiah’s difficult experiences as a prophet. And yet, Jeremiah’s fierce cry that the “Lord is with me” doesn’t quite ring true to a call for redemption.

Jeremiah seems not to have applied for the job of prophet. There is a component of being called that keeps us from claiming the right to some answer or the privilege of being exempted from any distress. There is no calling out for rescue, there is only proceeding.

Embedded in verse 13 (yes, easily left out) comes a choice:

“At an acceptable time, O G*D, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.”
or

“With or without an organizing “answer”, this is an acceptable time to simply proceed in the experience of abundant, steadfast love.”

Our work today is to not work at our call, but to let it loose and follow as best we can.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/06/psalm-697-10-11-15-16-18.html