Lectionary Reflection
For Forest Sunday
Year A, Proper 18
The notes and reflections on this page are part of a request from
David Rhoads, Professor of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology
at Chicago, for MEESC members to offer ecological sermon notes for
the alternative lectionary lessons for Creation Season Sundays in
2005 for use by pastors. This is the first of the selected Sundays,
September 4, 2005, which corresponds in the Lectionary used
by the Episcopal Church as Proper 18.
In the "alternative lectionary lessons" of the Revised
Common Lectionary, the readings are Ezekiel
33:7-11, Romans
13:8-14, Matthew
18:15-20, and Psalm
119:33-40 (please click on the links to read the texts).
Psalm excerpt for today (Psalm 96, vs
12)
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
Sermon note for Forest Sunday
by the Rev. Tom Harries
Possible directions for a sermon:
One could pick up Romans 8:19 “For the creation waits with
eager longing…” Although we humans like to think of ourselves
as the highest and most important creatures, all of creation is
in relationship with the Holy One. The trees, and all the plants
of the forest, glorify God in their beauty, and love their neighbor
by providing food, shelter and oxygen. Many people receive the love
of God through immersion in beautiful forest settings. We can show
God’s love to the forest in return by protecting and caring
for it.
Here one could use the story of the monk who was distracted from
his meditation by the frogs. So holy was he, that when he yelled
at them to be silent, they were silent. But then he began to wonder
if the croaking of frogs might be more pleasing to God that the
silent meditation of a monk. Finally he went back and told them
to sing again.
For those who are comfortable with it, Process Theology provides
a way of talking about how God is present as the influence for creativity,
variety, and interrelatedness at every level, down to the smallest
microbe. Higher levels of complexity provide greater flexibility
in response to God, so that, for example, mammals are able to play,
and care for their young more fully that reptiles.
Tying in to the assigned readings:
The RCL readings for this Sunday are not too congenial to a sermon
on environmental spirituality, but there are a couple of possible
connections.
If you look past the threatening language, the Ezekiel passage
portrays God’s insistence that the prophet warn Israel of her
impending danger, whether they want to hear it our not. This might
serve as encouragement for us to speak up about the dangers inherent
in our destruction of forest lands.
Matthew 18:15-20 has a similar theme, this time giving instructions
on how to approach one who endangers the community. I would summarize
it as saying we should begin gently, but be persistent in attempting
to correct them.
The
Rev Tom Harries, is Co-Chair of MEESC and resides in Richfield,
MN. He originally wrote this
reflection in 2005. Tom and we welcome your comments. Please
address your comments or additional reflections to Tom
Harries or any MEESC
member, or mail them to:
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